Boys hate rules. I know this because I was a boy – many years ago – and I hated rules. There were rules in my parents’ home about when to get out of bed in the morning, how to keep my room in an orderly fashion, chores both in the house and in the garden and even on who took care of the needs of our dog. Someone had to feed him, clean him and clean-up after him. As the first-born in my family, I had a part in all of these rules growing up and even though I “grew out” of some of them (The youngest brother had the nasty job of cleaning up after the dog), I was still responsible as a member of the family and as the first-born child to make sure that all the rules were kept. My wife was also the first-born in her family so we know the responsibilities expected of us by virtue of birth order.
Nature also has certain, unbreakable and unchangeable rules. What goes up will always come down… Always. Never has anyone thrown a stone into the air and had it stay there. Even the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is bound by the rule of gravity. When NASA sends a space shuttle into space they know that the fuel storage units that get the rocket off the ground will fall back to earth someplace and they have to plan for that fact. When someone forgets or neglects this rule, tragedy happens.
In business there are rules: Buy low and sell high is an important rule in stock trading. Break this rule and you are not in business very long. Another rule is to treat your customers and clients well of they will find someone who will. Break the rules – Lose your wealth.
We have rules for driving. If you drive on the wrong side of the road you will be stopped – either by a police officer or by oncoming traffic. (This is especially important when driving in countries where the rules are different than your home.) If you drive faster than the posted speed limit, then you will pay a fine (not my favourite rule, actually). Break the rules – Lose your privilege to drive (or maybe even your life).
In sport we are all aware that rules make the games playable. Only one person on the football team can touch the ball with their hands. If this rule is broken, the ball changes possession. Break it in the wrong place and the penalty kick is almost always a point for the opposition. Imagine the chaos if everyone started catching the ball. Break the rules – Lose the game.
Not surprising, Rotary also has certain rules for how to operate at club, district and international level. There is a constitution and a set of by-laws for individual clubs as well as for the operation of Rotary districts, zones and all the way to the top office of Rotary. Rotary has a code of policies for both the operation of Rotary International as well as the Rotary Foundation. These rules help us to operate efficiently and productively.
Sometimes we feel the rules “get in the way” of our success. We drive too fast; we spend too much; a player sticks out his hand to stop a ball. We try to find ways to get ahead by ignoring the rules and hoping that nobody will notice. Sometimes we get away with it. Sometimes we don’t. In every instance, however, we know that we broke the rule. Victory is never so sweet when we cheated to win.
The Rotary Four-Way Test of the Things we Think, Say and Do is our constant reminder that we – as leaders in our professions, communities and families – are responsible for making sure that rules of life and service are followed. We are the “first-born” among service organisations. We have a responsibility to be right, do right and act right.
So, here it is:
1. Is it the truth? Don’t lie… Ever!
2. Is it fair to all concerned? Don’t cheat anyone… Ever!
3. Will it build Goodwill and Better Friendships? When I walk away from a situation – whether in business, community or family – be convinced that I have done all I can to leave the place better than I found it.
4. Is it Beneficial to all concerned? There are winners and losers in almost everything we do, but I want even those who lose today to learn how they can win tomorrow.
Is this an easy task? Certainly not. Only the best of the best can accomplish this. That is why Rotarians have taken on this task. We can do this because we must. It is our responsibility. It is our destiny.
President Ray Klinginsmith asked us in Montréal to be Bigger, Better and Bolder.
We know the rules. We have the playing field before us. Let’s Build Communities and Bridge Continents!
