Week of Oct. 19-25, 2008

By Dr. Larry Hashimoto
President 2008-09
Redondo Beach Rotary Club

(REDONDO BEACH, Calif.) Not only is this month Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but it's also Vocational Service Month in Rotary. When Paul Harris formed the first Rotary club back in Chicago in 1905, it was a way for men from different vocations to meet on a weekly basis and to network amongst each other.

Therefore, Vocational Service is probably the first Avenue of Service in Rotary. As a tradition of our club, October has always been the time to promote and advertise your business to the club. Any member can bring business cards, promotional flyers, displays, etc. to our weekly lunch meetings to inform other members about their vocation. It promotes Rotarians doing business with other Rotarians, the basis on which Rotary was started back in 1905.

Today, our focus has changed somewhat to more humanitarian efforts in our community and throughout the world, thus our motto, "Service Above Self". But, doing business with other Rotarians is always encouraged because of "The Four-Way Test" every Rotarian lives by. Banzai! Larry