Frank Deaver Rotary Editorials

     March is designated on the Rotary Calendar as “Perfect Attendance Month.”  It’s a challenging but worthy goal for a Rotarian to attend every week, even for one year.  But many clubs count in their membership a Rotarian who has amassed multiple years, sometimes 50 or more, of perfect attendance.

     For many Rotarians it may be an impossible attainment, for reasons of extended illness or unavoidable conflicts – a physician on-call for emergency duty, for example.  Still, the challenge to perfect attendance, or as near perfect as possible, has a noble purpose.

     No, not just one purpose, but at least two.  In case we have forgotten, let’s review the benefits of attendance at Rotary’s weekly meetings.

     Rotary’s reason for existence is often summarized in two words – fellowship and service.  Neither of those can be fully realized in absentia.

     Fellowship.  It is at Rotary meetings where we engage in conversation with fellow members, where we sit together and share information and ideas, where we eat and drink around a table while deepening the bonds of friendship.  The weekly gathering allows us to become acquainted with a broad array of local citizens, breaking us free from the limited contacts we have at work or in our residential neighborhood.

     Reflecting on one’s circle of truly good friends, a Rotarian is certain to include other Rotarians among those who have become important in his or her life.  This is the reward of Rotary fellowship.

     Service.  Rotary defines four Avenues of Service:  Club, Community, Vocational, and International.  While an individual Rotarian certainly serves in one or more of these areas outside Rotary, it is in corporate effort that the service can be maximized. 

     Members serve on club committees and in club projects, facilitated by meeting with fellow-members at weekly meetings.  Members become better acquainted with others of the same vocation, and jointly they can promote high ethical standards in a profession, or share in a vocational project such as mentoring young people seeking direction in their lives.

     Community and international needs are discussed in meetings, and plans are laid for activity or support in these areas.  A local civic project may be organized and undertaken.  Group Study Exchange hosting or scholar nominations may be discussed.

     Attendance.  Clearly, attendance at Rotary meetings facilitates the purposes of the organization, Fellowship and Service.

     Although attendance is strictly defined in the Standard Club Constitution, many clubs choose to ignore the consequences of absence until and unless it becomes pervasive.  If questioned about non-compliance with the constitution, they may offer reasons that go beyond simple negligence.

     Clubs that include meal charges with dues, equally collected monthly or quarterly from all members, have observed that absences create a lesser charge the club pays for those who attend, thus benefiting the treasury.  They may contend that increased finances make possible greater support of club service.  Critics reply that Rotary does not exist merely as a conduit of money for activities, no matter how worthy or needy.

     Rotarians do, in countless instances, serve society individually, but identified as Rotarians.  Some defend that they are faithful to Rotary goals, perhaps more so than others who attends but do not serve.

     These justifications have certain merit, but the fact remains that Rotary is best supported by those who maximize their membership benefits – fellowship and service – through faithful attendance.