District 5020 Vocational Service Bashir El-Khalafawi, Chair Rotary Club of Parksville AM 250-752-1160 bashir@shaw.ca

Vocational Service Vocational Service Is the second of Rotary’s Five Avenues of Service, encourages Rotarians to serve others through their professions and to practice high ethical standards. Rotarians, as business leaders, share skills and expertise through their vocations and inspire others in the process. Observed each October, Vocational Service Month spotlights Rotary club projects related to this avenue, offering an opportunity for clubs and districts to use their professional skills in service projects.

Vocational Service Vocational Service calls every Rotarian to: Aspire to high ethical standards in their occupation; Recognize the worthiness of all useful occupations, and; Contribute their vocational talents to the problems and needs of society.

Vocational Classification When professionals join a Rotary Club they have dual responsibility of:- Representing their particular business or profession Representing their vocation within the club Exemplifying the ideals of Rotary within the workplace

Ethical Standards One of the central goals of Vocational Service is to promote and advance Rotary’s high ethical standards. Two useful tools Rotarians have to assess these standards are The Four-Way Test and The Declaration of Rotarians in Business and Professions.

THE FOUR-WAY TEST 1. Is it the truth? 2. Is it fair to all concerned? Of the things we think say or do 1. Is it the truth? 2. Is it fair to all concerned? 3. Will it build goodwill and better friendships? 4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

DECLARATION OF ROTARIANS Declaration of Rotarians in Businesses & Professions The Declaration of Rotarians in Businesses & Professions was adopted by the Rotary International Council on Legislation in 1989 to provide more specific guidelines for the high ethical standards called for the Object of Rotary. As a Rotarian in Business or Profession I am expected to: *Consider my vocation to be another opportunity to serve. *Be faithful to the letter and to the spirit of the ethical codes of my vocation, to the laws of my country and to the moral standards of my community. *Do all in my power to dignify my vocation and to promote the highest ethical standards in my chosen vocation. *Be fair to my employer, employees, associates, competition, customers, the public and all those with whom I have a business and professional relationship. *Recognize the honour and respect due to all occupations which are useful to society. *Offer my vocational talents to promote opportunities for young people, to work for the relief of the special needs of others and to improve the quality of life in my community. *Adhere to honesty in my advertising and in all my representations to the public concerning my business or profession. *Neither seek from nor grant to a fellow Rotarian a privilege or advantage not normally accorded others in a business or professional relationship.

Ethical Standards A 2009 article in Forbes Magazine on Leadership suggests that ethical business practices depend on three things: - Honest and explicit use of language. Insisting on proper behaviour. Refusing to allow for gray areas.

Ethical Standards In modern business terms this can also mean:- Communicate openly and honestly Treat all people fairly and with dignity Encourage the diversity of opinions Recognise and reward achievements Respect people and our community Be accountable for our own actions

RI Strategic Plan Clubs should follow the RI Strategic Plan as the basis for developing their own plans. The strategic plan comprises three priorities, all of equal importance to Rotary's future: - Support and strengthen clubs Focus and increase humanitarian service Enhance Rotary public image and awareness

Vocational Service & RI Programs Several of RI’s programs offer opportunities to exercise Vocational Service, including: Rotary Volunteers: put your vocational talents to work on a service project Rotary Fellowships: start or join a vocational fellowship group RYLA: teach young people leadership skills Rotary Friendship Exchange: conduct vocational exchanges with Rotarians in other parts of the world

Vocational Service Month Every October, Rotarians are encouraged to focus their attention on Vocational Service Vocational Service Month is an opportunity to begin year-long vocational service activities It is a good idea to start by completing a “Community Needs Assessment”. Note; the best projects responds to real community needs While Vocational Service month is a good time to focus on Vocational Service. Planning should start at the first of the year by having an active Vocational Service Committee

Vocational Service Projects Individual Rotary Clubs can support the RI Strategic Plan by following any or all of these recommended project ideas: Post the Rotary Four-Way Test on prominent billboards about the town. Display the Rotary Four-Way Test at your work place and tell colleagues of your commitment. Have regular classification talks at Club meetings.

Vocational Service Projects Support the RYLA program with its special emphasis on ethics Sponsor a youth essay contest on how they would apply the Rotary Four-Way Test Include regular “place of employment visits” in your Club meeting programs

Vocational Service Projects Encourage Club members to join and take leadership roles in Business Associations Create a Vocational Award programs - “Most Courteous Business Persons” “Top Shop” or “Pride of Workmanship” “Walk The Talk” by ensuring that your actions always demonstrate high ethical standards

Promote Rotary in the workplace Your everyday interactions with colleagues offer some of the best opportunities to promote Rotary. Here are tips for spreading awareness of Rotary in your workplace: Share information about Rotary’s work in the community with your business associates. Have your club sponsor a career day for Rotarians to bring students to their places of business. Display the Rotary Code of Conduct and The Four-Way Test in your office or workplace, and use them as conversation starters to tell your colleagues about Rotary’s commitment to business ethics and personal integrity.

Canadian vocational project seeks employment opportunities for the disabled More than 180 people with disabilities have landed jobs because of a vocational service project initiated by Rotary districts in Ontario, Canada. Launched in 2008, Rotary at Work, in partnership with Community Living Ontario, teams up with local businesses and employment agencies to develop job opportunities for residents with disabilities. From coffee shops to banks to law firms, Rotarians are helping companies recognize the value of hiring people with physical or mental impairments.

Vocational Service Resources The following resources can be found by visiting www.rotary.org: Find general information on Vocational Service and the other Avenues of Service Download a promotional flyer for Vocational Service Month Subscribe to the free Vocational Service Update electronic newsletter (produced quarterly) Search for examples of successful vocational service projects, or add your own project to RI’s ProjectLINK database The links are also available in the Vocational Service section of District website.

Vocational Service Resource Links. RI Print Resources. An Introduction to Vocational Service (255-EN), http://www.rotary.org/RIdocuments/en_pdf/255en.pdf   Declaration of Rotarians in Businesses and Professions (200-EN) http://www.rotary.org/RIdocuments/en_pdf/200en.pdf Vocational Service Month handout http://www.rotary.org/RIdocuments/en_pdf/voc_service_month_en.pdf Vocational Service PowerPoint presentation http://www.rotary.org/RIdocuments/en_ppt/elearn_voc_service_en.ppt Communities In Action: A Guide to Effective Service Projects (605A-EN) http://www.rotary.org/RIdocuments/en_pdf/605a_en.pdf Community Assessment Tools (605C-EN) http://www.rotary.org/RIdocuments/en_pdf/605c_en.pdf The links are also available in the Vocational Service section of District website.

District 5020 Vocational Service Resources

DISTRICT 5020

District 5020 Vocational Service Resources Visit Vocational Service on the District Website for Downloads and VS information and Updates.

Vocational Service on Social Media There is Search Vocational Service on Social Media you will find several district with various projects ideas and updates.

Vocational Service on Social Media Here is our Zone 25 on Facebook.

Vocational Service Committee

Vocational Service Support District 5020Vocational Service Committee District 5020 Vocational Service Chair Bashir El-Khalafawi North Vancouver Island VSC representative Ernie Rose Mid Vancouver Island VSC representative Bob Brown South Vancouver Island VSC representative Vacant North Washington State VSC representative vacant Mid Washington State VSC representative Vacant South Washington State VSC representative Vacant AG representative Vancouver Island Vacant AG representative Washington State Vacant Or contact your Assistant Governor We need you help develop an effective vocational Service committee to better serve the clubs in our District, the meeting will be conducted on-line using Go to Meeting and during DLTA and District conference.

THANK YOU