January was Vocational Service month for Rotary but, what is Vocational Service? This excerpt taken from the monthly letter from club member and Rotary District 5040 Governor, John I. Anderson explains this part of Rotary.
 
Vocational Service is one of Rotary’s Five Avenues of Service.Vocational Service calls on all Rotarians to aspire to high ethical standards in their occupation and to contribute their vocational talents to the problems and needs of society. To new members we emphasize this with words like: ‘your fellow members believe you to be a worthy representative of your calling and also to possess qualities that will permit you to exemplify the true sprit of Rotary in your public, business and private life.’
 
We are urged to highlight vocation in club activities through mentorship and business networking and to emphasize the connections between the Four Way Test and the Rotary Code of Conduct. Promoting integrity through ethical behavior is an essential part of what it means to be a Rotarian.
 
What is Vocational Service?
Vocational Service is one of Rotary’s Five Avenues of Service.
Vocational Service calls on all Rotarians to aspire to high ethical standards in their occupation and to contribute their vocational talents to the problems and needs of society. We emphasize the importance of vocation and classification in new member recruitment and during the induction ceremony itself we again stress the importance Rotary places on personal and professional ethics with words like: ‘your fellow members believe you to be a worthy representative of your calling and also to possess qualities that will permit you to exemplify the true sprit of Rotary in your public, business and private life.’

We are urged to highlight vocation in club activities through mentorship and business networking and to emphasize the connections between the Four Way Test and the Rotary Code of Conduct. Promoting integrity through ethical behavior is an essential part of what it means to be a Rotarian.

Vocational Service is alive and well in our district. The Rotary Clubs of Ladner, Tsawwassen and North Delta hold a Business Ethics Award Dinner each January to honor those businesses in their communities who place emphasis on fairness, honesty and goodwill. The Burnaby Club has a renewed emphasis on networking encouraging members to give back to their community while benefitting professionally as well. Prince Rupert, Prince George-Yellowhead and Powell River Clubs run Adventure programs for New Generations and the New Westminster Clubs stress mentoring between Rotarians and youth Most clubs provide scholarships and bursaries to local high school and college students and many take part in career fairs and graduation transition programs. Plans are underway for a mentorship dinner in the spring, which will pair graduating Interact students with Rotarians in their chosen profession. Watch for further details from Jim Ling on this new and exciting District 5040 venture.

Cheers,
John
John l. Anderson
District Governor 2015-16
Rotary District 5040