What you can do during this Rotary Vocational Month

I congratulate you all upon the successful completion of the previous calendar year 2015 but more specifically in Rotary, I congratulate you upon the completion of the first half of the Rotary year 2015/2016. For the first time in history, the vocational service month will be celebrated this January as opposed to the previously celebrated in October. Allow me share with you more about this month which  focuses on the second avenue of service in Rotary: First and foremost within this month, the  adherence to and promotion of the highest ethical standards in all occupations, including fair treatment of employers, employees, associates, competitors, and the public is very important. Secondly the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations, not just those that are pursued by Rotarians and thirdly the contribution of your vocational talents to solving the problems of society and meeting the needs of the community.

During January, Rotarians are encouraged to focus on this important avenue of Rotary service. Discussions on vocational service can lead to projects that not only develop the ethical consciousness and vocational skills of Rotarians but also the talents within their communities. Vocational Service Month is an opportunity to begin year-long vocational service activities, ranging from Rotary discussions to awards to community projects. Following are some suggested activities to undertake during Vocational Service Month:

Devote a meeting in January to examine the second Avenue of Service, including The Four-Way Test and The Declaration of Rotarians in Business and Professions. After expanding members' awareness, solicit their input in planning projects for the remainder of the year.

Introduce a "mini-classifications talk" series in which each member gives a five-minute talk on his or her vocation. Schedule one speaker for the beginning of each meeting until everyone has made a presentation. The purpose of these talks is to promote vocational awareness among Rotarians and help them recognize the worthiness of all useful occupations.

Present a vocational award to someone in the community who has exemplified outstanding professional achievement while maintaining very high ethical standards. Promote the presentation within the community, and consider making it an annual event.

Invite experts to give a presentation on the vocational needs of the community and develop a project in response to those needs. Possible projects could focus on developing character, providing career information to youth, mentoring small businesses, or organizing workshops that provide employees with new skills.

We have got less than two weeks to the end of this Vocational month, the big question is “What have you done to honor it?” With the above tips, I encourage you all to implement at least one to commemorate every vocational month. 

Sharifa Nanziri

President Rotaract club of Bukoto