Vocational Service

Vocational Service is the opportunity provided to Rotarians and Rotary clubs to live up to the second part of the Object of Rotary which has three concerns

High ethical standards in business and professions;
Recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations;
Dignifying of his occupation as an opportunity to serve society.

How to translate these abstract and high ideals into actual practice is the challenge posed to every Rotarian and his Rotary club – and in particular to the Club’s Vocational Service director or committee chairman.

Vocational service can be better understood if we view it from two perspectives – that of the individual Rotarian and that of the Rotary club.

Vocational Service to the Individual Rotarian

From the perspective of an individual Rotarian, practical Vocational Service could mean –

A life lived with the highest ethical standards – using the 4-Way Test and the Declaration of Rotarians in Businesses and Professions as a fundamental guide
Giving due respect, courtesy and goodwill for all other occupations, no matter how lowly or unglamorous;
Offering one’s personal technical, professional and managerial skills to serve others.

From the perspective of a Rotary club, the scope of Vocational Service is much wider. The latest R.I. policy on Vocational Service recommends that all clubs form at least four subcommittees under Vocational Service –

Career Development

to undertake educational and training-oriented projects that will develop human resources;

Vocational at Work

to undertake projects that will generate employment and livelihood, promote positive employer-employee relations, and encourage high ethical standards. Promoting the 4-Way Test and the Declaration are part of this subcommittee’s work.

Vocational Awareness

to undertake activities that will give Rotarians and others more familiarity with other vocations, in the process of recognizing the worthiness of all useful occupations;

Vocational Awards

to encourage and recognize, through formal awards programs, those who achieve excellence or demonstrate high ethical standards in their vocations.

Many Vocational Service projects will naturally overlap with Community Service because they both result in benefits to the community at large. But the distinguishing elements of Vocational Service are that it is service emanating from the individual occupations or vocations of Rotarians.

Thus it is the avenue of service that directly encourages all Rotarians to give of themselves — to render personal skills, time and energy for the benefit of others.

Various RI programs have also been established to encourage Vocational Service. Among these are the adoption of October as “Vocational Service Month” and the international Rotary Volunteers program. The volunteers program was established to assist clubs and districts in identifying Rotarian volunteers who are willing to travel overseas and help service projects of local clubs.

7.3 Club Projects for Vocational Service

Vocational service is an obligation of both the individual Rotarian as well as the Rotary club itself. More often than not, Rotarians would not usually undertake any vocational service activity if the club does not initiate it.

Below are some suggestions on how a Rotary can establish a more effective Vocational Service program:

Step 1 – Organize for Vocational Service.

While RI recommends that vocational service activities be handled by the Service Projects committee, many clubs create a separate Vocational Service committee with four principal subcommittees -- Career Development, Vocational Awareness, Vocation at Work and Vocational Awards. These subcommittees serve as the umbrella groups for different types of vocational service projects. Clubs are encouraged to appoint a chairman for each of these subcommittees.

Step 2 – Observing October as “Vocational Service Month.”

The month of October is an R.I. special emphasis month which aims to highlight the involvement of clubs, and not just individual Rotarians, in the everyday practice of the ideals of Vocational Service. Specific activities recommended are:

The recognition of a Rotary Volunteer at a district-level event;
Promotion of involvement in the Rotary Recreational and Vocational Fellowships;
Sponsorship of a Vocational Service activity or project; and promotion of membership development in open classifications.

Step 3 – Conduct Other Vocational Service Projects.

Using the various Vocational Service subcommittees, clubs are asked to conceptualize and undertake many other projects. Some project ideas are suggested below:

1 – Career Development.

Career guidance seminars for High School students with Rotarians serving as speakers and resource persons;
Apprenticeship programs with students, usually done during the
summer break;
Special seminars for specific professions, usually for college
students.
Job fairs and projects to assist college graduates find employment.

2 – Vocational Awareness.

Classification talks by individual Rotarians during club meetings;
Field trips to visit a Rotarian member’s plant, factory or business;
Inviting speakers to talk about new professions or specialties;

3 – Vocation at Work.

4-Way Test projects:
- 4-Way Test signs on the streets, in schools, etc;
- Posters, plaques, mementoes;
- Oratorical contests or essay contests.
Promoting the Declaration of Rotarians in Businesses and Professions.
Helping trade and professional associations to adopt a code of ethics Using Rotary ethics as their model or pattern;
Projects to promote industrial peace between management and workers, between trade leaders and union leaders, etc.
Projects to assist new arrivals in a community assimilate into their new working environment.
Participating in the Rotary volunteer programs.
Participating in RRVF (the Rotary Recreational and Vocational Fellowships.

4 – Vocational Awards

Recognition of outstanding professionals, outstanding workers, etc.

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