Adopted by Rotary International in 1943, the Four-Way Test is read or displayed at Rotary Club meetings globally, presented on Rotary swag such as challenge coins and t-shirts, and is foundational to how Rotarians treat their fellow Rotarians and present themselves in the world. It inspires Rotarians to ask these four questions in all we think, say, and do: 1) Is it the TRUTH? 2) Is it FAIR to all concerned? 3) Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? and 4) Will it be BENEFICIAL TO ALL?
During our Tuesday, May 27th club meeting (6-7:30 pm, Zoom only), members of the Rotary District 5170 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee, including our club president Cheryl Lander, also co-chair of the District DEI Committee, will be our featured speakers in our In their talk entitled "Is it Fair to All Concerned: DEI in Rotary and Beyond." You'll hear more about the history of the Four-Way Test, the values associated with each of these statements, how the values of the Rotary Four-Way Test and DEI overlap, and how DEI expands upon those values.
This refreshing view, grounded in Rotary language and practices, is very different from what you hear in the news about DEI, so even DEI naysayers are encouraged to listen in with an open mind. Rotary International sees great value in promoting DEI because it expands our view about who is welcome in Rotary and ensures that all prospective members feel welcomed by our clubs. It's also a way to ensure that Rotary has an even bigger and deeper impact in our communities.
For non-Rotarians reading this session description, you'll gain information about Rotary that you'll find helpful if you're looking for an organization that aligns with your values.
