by Joseph Epstein | illustrations by Davide Bonazzi The Four-Way Testin a post-truth era I only recently learned of The Four-Way Test, profession. What else is “spin” — that one of Rotary’s central principles. It is of word much revered by politicians, public special interest in the current day, when relations experts, and others for whom truth — or, more precisely, truthfulness — truth is often a serious inconvenience seems to be losing its prestige in public life. — but twisting the truth in a manner that favors one’s own position, needs, or mo- Examples are not difficult to find. A cur- first of the Four Ways — “Is it the truth?” tives of the moment? rent member of the U.S. Senate claimed — would seem more and more in danger to have fought in Vietnam, which he of going by the boards. Then there is the new use of the word didn’t, a major lie that seems not to have “narrative.” Narrative once meant, sim- impeded his being re-elected to his Sen- Poet Marianne Moore believed that ply, “a spoken or written account of con- ate seat or to his continuing to make se- “verbal felicity is the fruit of ardor, of dili- nected events; a story.” In recent years vere moral judgments about political gence, and of refusing to be false.” Refusing it has come to mean little more than “my opponents. Our current president, with to be false is a simple yet somehow majes- version” of events. Narrative, as histo- his taste for braggadocio and hyperbole, tic phrase that recalls the Houyhnhnms in rian Wilfred M. McClay has written, would appear to operate outside the nor- Gulliver’s Travels, those intelligent horses “provides a way of talking neutrally mal bounds of accuracy and precision of who had no word for “lie” but fell back on about [events] while distancing our- statement that once upon a time used to “the thing that was not.” selves from a consideration of their demark truth. Everywhere you turn, the truth.” Nowadays, several movie stars as Saying “the thing that was not” has well as a Supreme Court justice have become a minor specialty, almost a laid claim to, or been accused of, “chang- ing the narrative.” In an article in Vanity Fair, Monica Lewinsky writes that she intends to “take back my narrative and give a purpose to my past” — which, May 2019 The Rotarian | 49
after all these years, she, as much as has never provided fruitful ground for being at the heart of Western philoso- anyone, may be justified in doing. truth; quite the reverse. No single group phy and science. is perhaps less noted for consistent And let us not forget the contempo- truthfulness than politicians. The reason Few people at any time are equipped rary notion of “reinventing” oneself, as if for this is that politics does not seem to to be truth seekers of the kind and mag- people could easily shed their personal- allow for neutrality; in politics people are nitude of Socrates, Galileo, and Bruno. ity, their character, all that has gone regularly asked — “forced” may be closer The best most of us can hope for, in Mari- before in their life, by changing jobs, to it — to choose sides. Once they do, their anne Moore’s phrase, is “refusing to be neighborhoods, spouses. I myself have version of truth takes on a coloration that false.” Bishop George Berkeley, the 18th- always liked the saying, in contravention is likely to preclude fairness to people century Irish philosopher, wrote, “Few of the notion of reinventing oneself, with politics different from their own. men think; yet all have opinions.” To be “Anywhere you go, there you are.” able to distinguish thought from opinion, Truth and fairness are most elusive no easy task, is perhaps a first step on the Spin, the new use of narrative, and where passions are engaged, and few way to truth and fairness. A second step the notion of reinventing oneself are all things engage the passions more readily may well be cultivating a certain detach- subsets of relativism. Relativism is the than politics. Left/right, liberal/conser- ment that allows people to get outside doctrine that holds that, outside math- vative, Democrat/Republican, each side themselves to view truth apart from their ematics and certain physical laws, there in the political debate encapsulates a ver- own personal interest. are no central truths, only contending sion of virtue: If you’re of the left, then versions of what passes for truth. Un- the virtue of social justice is central to In his masterwork, The World as Will der relativism, one opinion may not be your beliefs; if you’re of the right, then and Representation, 19th-century phi- as well-informed as another, but no one that of liberty is central. The reason argu- losopher Arthur Schopenhauer, taking point of view, religion, or philosophy holds ments about politics can get to the shout- up the concept of the sublime, describes the monopoly on truth. It’s all, so to say, ing stage quicker than arguments on just what he calls “the sublime character”: relative, dependent on a person’s time, about any other subject is that they are background, or position in life. Truth? For really arguments about competing ideas the relativists, who play a major role in of virtue. Attack my politics and you at- Such a character will accordingly con- contemporary higher education, the word tack my virtue. sider men in a purely objective way, and carries little weight, has no real authority. not according to the relations they All the more reason, of course, for those What, then, is to be done? One thing might have to his will. For example, he of us who believe in the truth to defend to do is keep in mind the aspirational will observe their faults, and even their it, which, surely, is one of the chief inten- impulse behind the Third and Fourth hatred and injustice to himself, without tions behind The Four-Way Test. Ways. You’re likely to build goodwill and being thereby stirred to hatred on his better friendships, to be beneficial to all own part. He will contemplate their hap- The Second Way — “Is it fair to all concerned only if, even as political pas- piness without feeling envy, recognize concerned?” — is of course inextricably sions swirl about, you keep your eye on their good qualities without desiring lashed to the First Way. Truth may be the goals of truth and fairness. Easier closer association with them, perceive difficult, trying, painful, and much else, said, of course, than done. Yet I wonder the beauty of women without hankering but if it is unfair it isn’t quite truth. For if the reason our country is so divided, after them. His personal happiness or truth is impartial, disinterested, by our politics so divisive, is that the spirit unhappiness will not violently affect its very nature without favoritism — behind The Four-Way Test has largely him. ... For, in the course of his own life and hence fair. If you are unfair in your been abandoned by the nation at large. and in its misfortunes, he will look less judgments or pronouncements, you at his own individual lot than at the lot are, ipso facto, being less than truthful, Building goodwill and better friend- of mankind as a whole, and accordingly and if you are truthful you are, again ships has in history proven more diffi- will conduct himself in this respect ipso facto, fair. The two, truth and fair- cult than being beneficial to all. Think rather as a knower than as a sufferer. ness, do not so much follow, one after or of the great historical heroes of truth: from the other, but travel, like well-trained Socrates, Galileo, Giordano Bruno, When it comes to The Four-Way Test, horses, in tandem. A third horse, making among others. These were men whose Schopenhauer, this darkest of philoso- a troika, is to ask, “Have I succeeded in truths did not find easy acceptance in phers and a profound pessimist, would treating my subject with the complexity their time — Socrates was forced to have made a good Rotarian. n it deserves?” suicide, Galileo silenced by the church, Bruno hung upside down and burned Joseph Epstein’s most recent book, Charm: Often when we think we are being by the Roman Inquisition — but whose The Elusive Enchantment, was published truthful, we are being less than fair. This thought has since been recognized as in October by Lyons Press. seems especially so in politics. Politics 50 | The Rotarian May 2019
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VIKTOR MILLER GAUSA 52 | The Rotarian May 2019
[ THE ROTARIAN CONVERSATION ] GREGG EASTERBROOK Optimism has gone out of style, the best-selling author argues, but he thinks the world is in better shape than ever IF YOU WATCH THE NEWS, you could be forgiven for believing government policies and the efforts of organizations such the world is on the brink of collapse. In the current media as Rotary to find solutions to the problems we face. environment, that message is in heavy rotation, and it Why is this so hard to believe? Some of the reasons gets heavier all the time. In 2017, 59 percent of Ameri- are psychological, some are economic, some are cultural. cans said this was “the lowest point in U.S. history that But the misperception matters, because pessimism can they can remember.” To many, it seems obvious that the be a self-fulfilling prophecy. To solve problems, we must present is far worse than the past. believe they can be solved. But Gregg Easterbrook has some news for them: Easterbrook is the author of 11 books, including the The facts don’t support that conclusion. In his new book, best-selling The Progress Paradox: How Life Gets Better It’s Better Than It Looks: Reasons for Optimism in an Age While People Feel Worse, which examined why our stan- of Fear, he argues that the developed world is mired in dard of living and our sense of well-being have not risen “declinism” — the belief that things are getting worse all in tandem. Easterbrook is a contributing editor at The the time — when the opposite is true. In almost every area Atlantic and a member of the American Academy of Arts — the environment, the economy, education, health — and Sciences. He spoke with frequent contributor Frank Easterbrook says conditions are improving thanks to Bures from his home in Washington, D.C. May 2019 The Rotarian | 53
THE ROTARIAN: What gave you the idea for Another factor is that government parents did.” Check your parents at the this book? controls an ever-larger share of the GDP. same age [as you are now], and see what When my parents were growing up in the their material living standards were — EASTERBROOK: The Progress Paradox was 1920s and 1930s, government controlled what their education level was, what about what’s subjective — how we hardly any of the GDP. There was a lot their longevity was at that point in life, feel about our current moment. Things wrong with this arrangement. There was et cetera — and see whether you’re actu- are mainly good, yet people don’t feel no Medicare or Medicaid, no federal ally not living as well as your parents did. happy about them. That was the big ques- housing assistance, almost no federal help tion of that book. But I was left thinking, for transportation, less federal funding TR: What are some of the things that are OK, things are mainly good. Why are for education. It’s good that we have those getting better? things mainly good? What caused that to things now. happen? Maybe some of it was just luck, EASTERBROOK: Practically everything. but it can’t all be luck. Today, in the United States, govern- Take the last 30 years: Criminal violence ment controls [through direct spending has been declining steadily. It peaked in In It’s Better Than It Looks, I show that on goods and services and transfer pay- the early 1990s and has declined since most of the improvement of society is the ments such as Social Security, subsidies, then. The number and the intensity of result of policy choices, by both institu- and financial aid] 41 percent of the GDP. wars in the world have gone down. Many tions and individuals, that worked. Not In the United Kingdom, it’s 48 percent. forms of pollution are in decline every- only do people not generally understand In some Scandinavian nations, it’s more where in the world. The big exception is that, but they believe the reverse. They than half. Increasingly our lives are tied climate change. think that everything that’s been tried to government benefits, which isn’t nec- has failed. But the facts are that the essarily bad; the expansion of the enti- The current Western generation is the United States and Western Europe have tlement state resolved a lot of the most educated generation in the history never been in better condition. Most, al- structural problems of poverty and des- of our planet. And education is rising ev- though of course not all, of the world has titution. But it also drilled into our heads erywhere. India, for example, is a very never been in better condition. the words “woe is me.” If you want some- well-educated country. Not a century ago, thing from the political system, you almost everyone in India was illiterate. TR: You trace the rise of declinism in your claim to be the victim of some injustice. Now, a majority of people have received book and suggest that it accelerated You claim that the world is in terrible a pretty good education. in the early 2000s, when social media condition and that the only possible so- took off. lution is for government to give you a Disease rates are declining in almost special benefit. It gives us a huge incen- every nation in the world, including the EASTERBROOK: The trend of thinking that tive to claim that things are worse than big killers: cancer, heart disease, and things are worse than they are was al- they are. And the political parties have stroke. Longevity is rising everywhere. ready in progress before Facebook was responded to that. We’ve had a little bit of sputter in Ameri- turned on. But social media has acceler- can statistics because of painkiller abuse. ated that trend and made it worse. I’m not TR: So the belief that the world is getting That’s a big concern and a huge problem. saying social media was the only reason. worse isn’t just the province of the left or But in general, longevity is increasing It was one of many. But it amplified a the right? almost everywhere in the world. It’s been trend that was already in progress. increasing for a century and a half. EASTERBROOK: You can find it on both the TR: Why do we want to believe that things left and right. But there are also many Material living standards are increas- are going downhill? people who have what I call “abundance ing. Buying power is increasing. In the denial.” Most Americans now live better, United States and Western Europe, EASTERBROOK: One reason is that we’ve in the material sense, than any genera- the level of income received by the been trained by schools and colleges to tion of the past. Anybody who tells you he middle class clearly has been stalled for think that everything is bad and that any- or she would rather live in the 19th cen- the past 30 years or so, but buying power body who’s telling you anything good tury either is lying or has no idea what has continued to increase at 3 percent must be a Pollyanna or an apologist. 19th-century life was like. Almost every- per year. He must be secretly in the pay of the body today lives better than any genera- super-rich. Americans have been trained tion in the past, but they don’t want to Those are the big trends. It’s hard to to a specific type of selection bias to only admit it. They want to deny it. People say, think of any underlying trend in the see negative news and not positive news. “It’s so terrible, I don’t live as well as my Western world that’s negative. And the same goes for most of the underlying trends, although sadly not all, in the larger world. 54 | The Rotarian May 2019
TR: Are you even optimistic about climate people starving to death. Now the global you have a choice, choose the optimistic change? population is double what it was, and candidate. malnutrition is at the lowest level ever. EASTERBROOK: I am. It would be wrong to Runaway, unstoppable diseases were TR: How do you define optimism? say it will be easy to correct climate supposed to cause millions, or billions, change. But I think it can be done, and I of people to die. But they’ve never been EASTERBROOK: OptimismisnotbeingaPolly- think it will end up costing a lot less than observed in society, and they’ve never anna. That’s what people say to try to dis- people think. Inequality is a much been observed in nature. So far as we credit it. Pessimists believe that problems tougher nut to crack. In a free society, you know, there has never been a runaway cannot be fixed. Optimists believe that want freedom of opportunity, but it’s hard disease, and the likelihood is that there problems can be fixed. Optimism is a to imagine equality of outcomes and re- never will be a runaway disease. The bio- hopeful point of view. You can be a cynical tain that freedom. I’m much more opti- sphere is elaborately designed to resist optimist. You can be an optimist and be mistic about climate change than all forms of runaway effects. That plants, furiously angry about all the things that inequality. But I don’t think we should mammals, and people are here is proof are wrong with the world, which I am. But give up on inequality. the diseases don’t win. if you’re an optimist, you think those things can be fixed. In my book, I quote the TR: You also say that climate change might We were supposed to run out of oil. We economic historian Deirdre McCloskey, be less apocalyptic than we think. were supposed to run out of ferrous met- who says that throughout history, the pes- als. We were supposed to run out of rare simists were almost always wrong and the EASTERBROOK: I think an apocalyptic out- earth materials. We were supposed to run optimists were almost always right. come is very unlikely. If you look at the out of natural gas. Not only have none of range of possibilities for climate change, those things happened, but we now have TR: That sounds good, but it is hard for there’s a tiny chance it will be apocalyp- significantly more of all those resources people to trust that optimism, given that tic. There’s also a tiny chance it will be than when people predicted they were the news we consume about the world is beneficial. The more likely outcome for about to run out. A hundred years ago, so insistently negative. climate change is that it will gradually everybody thought we were about to run cause social problems like higher disease out of coal. EASTERBROOK: If you, or me, or anybody rates in the equatorial countries. But I wants to make a choice to be negative think those problems could be avoided. In general, one should be skeptical of about life, you can do that, but it is impor- It won’t be easy. It’s just more practical sweeping statements, but I don’t think tant to remember it is a choice. Being a than people think. Greenhouse gases are this statement is too sweeping: No pre- declinist is not something that’s imposed fundamentally an air pollution problem, dicted apocalypse has ever occurred. So on you by factual understanding of and the last two big air pollution prob- it’s possible that predictions of doom that events. It is your choice. But if you make lems — smog and acid rain — both were swirl around climate change could come that choice, the improvement of the solved much more quickly and cheaply true, but it’s not likely. world becomes a lot less likely. than anybody predicted. If society gets serious about greenhouse gases, we’ll ad- TR: You make a great case for the fact that TR: Rotarians are fundamentally optimis- dress it faster and more cheaply than things are slowly and steadily getting tic; they believe problems can be solved. people think, too. better. Aren’t you afraid that people How do you think polio eradication fits might see that as a reason to sit back and into this mindset? TR: What would you say to people who do nothing? have a feeling of dread about the future? EASTERBROOK: That’s a great example. EASTERBROOK: Often when you say things People said eradicating polio was impos- EASTERBROOK: If you look at all of the pre- are getting better, pundits and politicians sible, and we now know it is possible. dictions of doom in the past, none of say, “Oh, that leads to complacency!” Today people say that eradicating ma- them have ever come true. It’s not that a That is not what I am saying. I am simply laria is impossible. That’s because we few of them came true. None of them saying that things are getting better. The haven’t yet figured out how to do it. came true. Population growth was sup- success of past reforms is the reason to That’s all. posed to destroy us in the 1960s. Fifty support reforms for the future. Nobody years ago, it was commonly predicted expects me, or you, or any one individual People who make the optimistic that there would be mass starvation, to change the world. But we do expect choice — not to deny the problems but to hundreds of millions or even billions of each individual to influence the things believe they can be fixed — make the that he or she is able to influence. Sup- world better. n port reform programs. As a voter, when May 2019 The Rotarian | 55
Your story is Rotary’s story. Let’s share it with the world. Rotary has launched a global campaign, designed around you. The more clubs that tell their People of Action stories, the further our message carries. Go to rotary.org/brandcenter for step-by-step guides, easy-to-follow templates, ideas and inspriation to tell your club’s story. Help spread our inspiring message around the globe.
IAN MACLELLAN our clubs Rebels with a cause Rotary Club of Evening Downtown Boston, Massachusetts On the night the Rotary Club of Evening Downtown Boston was chartered in 2010, co-founder Scott Lush called it a “100-year-old startup.” He and two co- founders had respectfully broken off from another club because, he says, “we felt the existing model did not have mass appeal.” May 2019 The Rotarian | 57
our clubs continued from page 57 They wanted their new club to be a test tary experience. In addition to the Membership Chair Jim Hogan’s par- model for Rotary — a place where they monthly evening meetings, it holds could experiment with the club experi- members-only social events once a ents are Rotarians in Vermont. Past ence while retaining Rotary’s commit- month — recent ones have included ment to fellowship and service. They hiking, bowling, trivia nights, and ski President Hélène Vincent’s grandfather envisioned a vibrant club that show- trips — as well as volunteer events once cased stimulating speakers, focused on or twice a month. Those have included and father are Rotarians, in France and members’ needs, and welcomed every- serving meals at food kitchens and tutor- one, no matter who they were or why ing adults for their high school equiva- Rhode Island, respectively. “My dad they had come. lency test. was shocked when I told him I joined Fast-forward nine years to a cold win- The board members continue to come ter evening in a private room at a popular up with innovative approaches. But they Rotary. I think he thought it wasn’t cool, Boston pub. Every seat is taken and there don’t only try new things; sometimes are visitors at all the tables: friends, they go back to tradition. The co-found- but I always thought my dad was cool,” strangers, Rotaractors, a Rotarian from ers had promised, for instance, that they Brazil, the assistant governor of the dis- would never do happy bucks at meetings, Vincent says. trict. Nearly half of the 40 people present but they eventually reversed course be- are not members of Rotary. cause new members liked the idea (with Samantha Drivas was in Interact and a twist: They accept electronic payment The room buzzes as everyone social- via the Venmo app). participated in Rotary Youth Leadership izes over sliders and drinks. People come in, fill out name tags, give hugs, and join The board members also use technol- Awards. Her grandfather, like Vincent’s, ogy to help make decisions. Based on “We’re the opposite click-through metrics, they discovered was a Rotarian, and she remembers help- of Facebook. that they get the best bang for their mar- Here you have to keting dollars from Facebook. On their ing him sell Christmas trees as a club show up and website, they offer a $10 off coupon for work together.” the first meeting (visitors usually pay fundraiser. “I wanted to be a Rotarian $20). They also promote their meetings conversations. There is an informal rule on Eventbrite and use an email marketing from age five,” she remembers. for club meetings: No one should be platform, Mailchimp, to manage member standing alone. With so many visitors, communications. They even test differ- Club leaders know that to compete members’ socializing exclusively with ent versions of their welcome email for other members is gently frowned upon new members to see which subject lines for members’ attention in a city that has — that’s what the club’s members-only prompt a higher “open rate.” The con- events are for. The monthly meetings are stant influx of new members helps keep an abundance of cultural activities, they a way to introduce the club to, and a that innovation going. chance for members to meet, new people. need to offer a consistently positive and Members also do some old-fashioned In the beginning, the club tinkered marketing by “outing” themselves as uplifting experience. Meetings are ca- with just about all the aspects of the Ro- Rotarians and talking openly about Ro- tary at work and with friends. A few sual but efficient, and the emphasis is Previous page: Evening Downtown Boston Rotarians years ago, the club gave out Rotary mugs Scott Lush (from left), Hélène Vincent, Samantha and encouraged members to use them at still on excellent speakers, who have in- Drivas, Jim Hogan, and Jennifer Smith at Boston’s work, hoping to create opportunities to Old State House. talk up the club. cluded former Massachusetts Governor Many of the club’s 40 members have Michael Dukakis and Doug Rauch, the walked in the door with a connection to Rotary through a family member, boss, former president of Trader Joe’s and or friend. President Jennifer Smith is a transfer from a Connecticut club. now co-CEO of Conscious Capitalism. Smith opens meetings with a short welcome that she practices at home. “I always try to tell a story or make people laugh,” she says. “I want it to be fun and I want people to walk away with something interesting.” This effort is not lost on those who attend. “You leave with a good feeling,” says David Hart, assistant gov- ernor of District 7930 (parts of Massa- chusetts and New Hampshire) and a member of the Rotary Club of Malden, Massachusetts. Then he leans in and low- ers his voice: “When I recruit people, I love to send them to this club.” Lush says the club is “the opposite of Facebook. On Facebook, you can have a million shallow friends. Here you have to show up and work together. We are the antidote to digital life. We are help- ing people get back what Facebook took away, and helping Rotary find a new formula.” — SUSIE MA 58 | The Rotarian May 2019
5 Rotary Friendship Exchange with Göran Anderberg District 2400 (Sweden) Friendship Exchange chair 1 How long does a Friend- applying very transparent to avoid rumors that 5 Not every district has a ship Exchange typically we favor our friends. Friendship Exchange last? program. Do you have 3 Who pays for the trips? any tips for other districts We are very experienced in our district; this The participants pay for their own year we will have had our 55th exchange. travel; Rotary doesn’t pay anything. that want to start one? We’ve concluded that the ideal amount of time Once you’re in the country, it depends on the sit- is 12 days, spread over three places. We usu- uation and the country. The rule is that you make There has to be somebody who is really inter- ally have groups of 12 people — couples, fami- an agreement with your counterparts in advance lies, and single people. It’s often retired people, so everyone knows what they’re paying for. ested in international relations to facilitate the but in our district we’ve introduced a five-day mini-exchange to make it easier for working 4 Can you tell me about a program. Each district’s governor has the option people to participate. Friendship Exchange you’ve participated in? to appoint a Friendship Exchange Committee to 2 How does a person apply to go on an Through Friendship Exchange, you can make coordinate participation. Individual Rotarians exchange? friends all over the world. You may end up vis- iting each other again and again. In 2007, we should contact their district’s Friendship Ex- It differs from district to district. We have had a group from South Africa visiting us here, 3,000 Rotarians in our district, and about and my wife, Kerstin, and I got close to a woman change Committee chair to find out how to ap- 20 percent have participated in a Friendship who stayed with us. Since then we’ve been in Exchange as a host or traveler. fairly regular contact over email. They have a ply for exchanges in their district. If your district time-share apartment close to Kruger Park, the To make Rotarians aware of the program, largest national game reserve in South Africa, doesn’t have a committee for this program, con- our district has built an organization. We have and we’ve stayed with her and her husband a Friendship Exchange representatives in 80 to couple of times and then driven into the park to tact your district governor to offer to help start 85 percent of clubs. When we are planning watch the animals. In 2016, we brought toys an exchange, these representatives present with us and gave them to an orphanage where one. Even in Sweden, only five of 10 districts the opportunity to their clubs, and then a our friends and the Rotary Club of White River, week later we have the district governor South Africa, were involved. have a Friendship Exchange Committee — it’s send an invitation individually to every Rotar- ian in the district. We made the process for a well-hidden secret. — DIANA SCHOBERG VIKTOR MILLER GAUSA Göran Anderberg will answer questions during the Friendship Exchange break- out session at the Rotary International Convention in Hamburg, 1-5 June. Rotary has launched an online tool for district Rotary Friendship Exchange Committees to find exchange counterparts and plan exchanges. Visit rotary.org/friendship-exchange. May 2019 The Rotarian | 59
our clubs Future leaders Rotary Club of Genève International, Switzerland Chartered: 2015 CLUB INNOVATION: Original membership: 31 Membership: 53 The club is committed to bringing young people into Rotary through Rotaract and Interact. As one of their first actions, members drafted a plan to establish an English-speaking Rotaract club, followed by an Interact club — a goal it met within two years. Rotarians and Rotaractors work together on projects, and mentoring is central to the club’s culture. BUCKING CONVENTIONS: management job,” Flude says. “We’ve held career fairs and In Geneva, a cosmopolitan city that is home to tens of events on interviewing techniques. Rotary is providing thousands of expatriates, a club for English speakers was an apt idea. As the European seat of the United mentoring — not just in career enhancement, but in life.” Nations, the city hosts 179 permanent missions, along with the offices of hundreds of nongovernmental The club encourages Rotaractors and Interactors to attend organizations and multinational corporations. The Rotary Club of Genève International reflects this diversity, with its meetings, always mindful of practical matters such as members representing more than a dozen nationalities. expenses. “The InterContinental isn’t the cheapest place,” The Rotary Club of Genève International wasted no time in getting to work in 2015: Members including Walter Gyger, a re- Flude says of the luxury hotel where the club meets, so the tired diplomat and RI’s principal representative to the UN Office at Geneva, worked their connections to organize a fundraising Rotarians fund meals for Rotaract and Interact members. gala to support Syrian refugees in Lebanon. The event was a joint effort with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. More important, the Rotarians never underestimate their With a number of former Rotaractors among its members, younger cohort: “We park ego,” Flude says. the club decided to focus on young people. “We call it engag- ing the next generation instead of working the pipeline,” says A case in point is the club’s involvement in the Classroom Royston Flude, who led the youth outreach initiative. Thanks to that effort, the Rotaract Club at the Graduate Institute of to Boardroom entrepreneurship program, offered through International and Development Studies was chartered in 2016 and, the next year, an Interact club was established on the La the International School of Geneva. “Students create a Châtaigneraie campus of the International School of Geneva. quasi-business and go to an international organization such “It is absolutely crucial to create a cascade into Rotary,” Flude says. When the club took on the ambitious task as the World Bank or Interna- of running events for the 2017 Rotary Day at the United Nations in Geneva, the Rotaractors stepped up as active tional Committee of the Red partners. The gathering drew 1,200 attendees representing more than 80 nationalities, Gyger says, adding that “because Cross, and over a week, they of the involvement of the Rotaractors, about one-third of participants were younger than 35.” offer solutions,” Flude says. The Rotary club has a robust mentoring program for Ro- “The Interactors showed taractors. “You have people going through large career jumps, especially those just coming from universities to their first these organizations how they could digitize the marketing and appeal to young people.” Rotary benefits when young people get involved in its programs, Flude says. From top: Rotaractors, shown here “When you get someone who on a social outing, are integrated into is an Interactor, immediately the life of the Rotary club; the club you’re connected to the par- organized a trip to Istanbul. ents, the grandparents, and a community in the classroom and the school. For every Inter- actor you get on board, you probably get a connection with four to 10 people. It’s a brilliant opportunity.” — BRAD WEBBER What is your club doing to reinvent itself? Email [email protected]. 60 | The Rotarian May 2019
CONVENTION COUNTDOWN A message from Foundation Trustee Chair Info on the go Ron D. Burton Before you head to Hamburg, Germany, for the Rotary International Conven- Many good fundraising ideas come from you, Rotarians in the field. tion, 1-5 June, download some free Over the years, I can think of a couple that have caught on. They both apps that will help you get the most out of the began in the creative minds of committed, dedicated Rotarians who saw a need to raise awareness of The Rotary Foundation and took action. event — and the city. One is the Paul Harris Society. In 1999, Rotarian Wayne Cusick Rotary Events is essential for navigating the from District 5340 in California had the idea of creating a special group of individuals who would contribute $1,000 to the Foundation convention. With it, you can plan your daily on an annual basis. That first year, 55 members signed up. The number doubled the next year. Today some 119 districts have a Paul Harris schedule, learn about featured speakers, and Society program with a membership in excess of 22,000. For more information, go to rotary.org/paulharrissociety. download session handouts. You can also Another is the White Hat Society. While attending a Rotary insti- connect with other Rotarians, share photos, tute in 2004, Ed Mullen and Bill Bryce from District 5870 in Texas challenged each other to contribute $5,000 and recruit another rate sessions, and send feedback to convention Rotarian to do the same. They raised $75,000 in one day. Today, there are some 450 members in 38 districts in five countries. Contributions organizers. The app will be available on have exceeded $5 million. Various giving levels are available, and each one is eligible for special White Hat Society recognition. Membership 9 May; find it in your app store by searching for does not require an annual contribution. Visit taptrain.com/rotary to find out how you can join. “Rotary Events.” I would like to share with you one more opportunity that is of spe- The HVV app will help you navigate Ham- cial importance to me. It is the preservation of the longtime home of Paul and Jean Harris. Rotarians involved in the Paul and Jean Harris burg’s transit system. When you open it, you’ll Home Foundation have acquired the property and are renovating it. The project has been spearheaded by RI Director Robert C. Knuepfer see a map of the area around you. Remember Jr., a member of the Rotary Club of Chicago, so that this piece of Rotary history is preserved. Learn more about this worthy project by that your Hamburg convention registration visiting paulharrishome.org. includes a pass for the city’s trains, buses, Please consider joining me in becoming a member of the Paul Harris Society or the White Hat Society, and in supporting the and even ferries, so you’ll never need to worry Paul and Jean Harris Home Foundation. about tickets. Make the most of your free time with the city’s Hamburg app, which offers themed tours, audio guides to attractions, detailed information on boats and ships entering and leaving the port, and suggestions for what to do next based on your location. You can access a detailed city map even when you don’t have an internet connection. — HANK SARTIN Register for the 2019 Ron D. Burton Rotary Convention in Hamburg at FOUNDATION TRUSTEE CHAIR riconvention.org. May 2019 The Rotarian | 61
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MAY I REMIND YOU... Across 51 Online appointment 18 Comic Sandler 1 Lots of paper 52 Fortuneteller’s 19 Solar cycle By Victor Fleming 6 Writers’ degs. claim, for short 24 Male hog Rotary Club of Little Rock, Arkansas 10 Harshly criticize 53 Centipede maker 26 Has finished 14 Miss ___ 56 Actor Stephen 27 Contemptible Ewing on Dallas 58 Current with 28 Chocolate sub 15 Car ferry need 62 Clue to the last words of 29 Star Trek bridge officer 16 Little Cuban? 17-, 28-, and 47-Across 30 “Drive ___ or get 17 Magic water source 66 Tiny amount pulled over” 20 California’s ___ Valley 67 Ford or Chevy 31 Most aged 21 ___ Leppard 68 Of some benefit 32 Strand at a chalet, perhaps 22 Rock finale? 69 Hightailed it 33 New Yorker cartoonist Roz 23 Entrepreneurs 70 High schooler 34 Venus neighbor support org. 71 Spot in the sea 39 Fitzgerald of song 25 Point toward Down 41 Convenience store fixtures 28 Complaint-receiving 42 Lags up, then taps in department 45 Do business 1 NBA officials 35 Now, in Tampico 2 The Time Machine race 48 Check for errata, perhaps 36 “___ and the Swan” 3 Class reunion invitee 49 Check for errata (Yeats poem) 4 Clergy 50 ___ Window 37 Doubled, a 5 Established (Hitchcock thriller) ballroom dance 6 Appetizing spread 53 Price tag qualifier 38 Color associated with 7 Burst of publicity 54 ’Vette roof option Dorothy’s slippers 8 Start of a Latin 101 55 Comic actor Johnson 40 Carousing 57 Preppy jacket 43 Stuff to smelt conjugation 59 Sandbox plaything 9 Sunblock letters 44 Home of the Rotary Club 10 Adspeak for plugs 60 Shield border of Decatur County, Iowa on the tube 61 Red Square rejection 46 Joey Dee’s 11 Ill-mannered type 63 Tabby or calico “Peppermint ___” 12 Entr’ ___ (musical 64 Indigo or violet 4 7 Petroleum interlude) 65 61-Down production stat 13 Talc-to-diamond scale opposite, in France Solution on page 20 Proudly preventing the preventable. In 2017, UNICEF helped immunize 123 million children from preventable diseases, including measles, pneumonia, polio, and tetanus—a record number. It was only possible because of extraordinary partners like Rotary International. We’re working toward a day when no child dies from preventable diseases. PROUD PARTNERS AGAINST POLIO SINCE 1988 May 2019 The Rotarian | 63
last look INTERACT CLUB OF TUNIS INNER CITY WAT C H The Tunis Inner City video celebrates, as one Interactor May is Youth Service Month. The annual Interact Video Awards is a great showcase of what young puts it, “the memories that people around the world are doing through Rotary. The Video Awards, which started 10 years ago with we have created without 32 entries from nine countries, had grown to 198 entries from 35 countries last year. The short videos, realizing because all we knew created by the Interactors themselves, range from 30 seconds to three minutes. was that we were having fun.” In 2018, the Interact Club of Tunis Inner City, Tunisia, was awarded Best Video for its piece on having fun while making a difference. The club received $1,000 to use toward a service project. Watch the videos and learn more about the Interact Video Awards at facebook.com/interactofficial. 64 | The Rotarian May 2019
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