I attended the 30th birthday party for the Eden Prairie A.M. Rotary Club last night at Olympic Hills Country Club. I've been a member of the Rotary Club since I came to Eden Prairie in 2002. The celebration included several of the original founding club members sharing stories about what the club, and Eden Prairie, was like 30 years. Both of grown up very nicely.
The philosophical base of the Rotary Club is the Four Way Test. I found this on the Rotary International website. I think it speaks for itself:
The Four-Way Test
From the earliest days of the organization, Rotarians were concerned with promoting high ethical standards in their professional lives. One of the world's most widely printed and quoted statements of business ethics is The Four-Way Test, which was created in 1932 by Rotarian Herbert J. Taylor (who later served as RI president) when he was asked to take charge of a company that was facing bankruptcy.
This 24-word test for employees to follow in their business and professional lives became the guide for sales, production, advertising, and all relations with dealers and customers, and the survival of the company is credited to this simple philosophy. Adopted by Rotary in 1943, The Four-Way Test has been translated into more than a hundred languages and published in thousands of ways. It asks the following four questions:
"Of the things we think, say or do:
Is it the TRUTH? Is it FAIR to all concerned? Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?"
Whether you're a Rotary Club member or not, the Four Way Test is a good philosophical guide to live your life. So Happy Birthday Eden Prairie A.M. Rotary Club. Here's to another 30 productive years in the community!
