Eight
SERVICES RENDERED
(cont'd - 2)
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The opportunity to be able to contribute to the welfare of the community as a sort of way of 'paying back' to society the benefits which they have derived or the opportunities which they have been given has been a major factor for many Club members which has bound them closely to Rotary and its activities. For some, it has also provided an excellent course in leadership.
On the other hand, it is very easy to be cynical about Rotary and Rotarians. Former Rotarian and P.P. Dato' Kok Wee Kiat comes close to being one of the cynics, who feels that Rotary clubs could do more than they do, should be more innovative, and should try to break out of their narrow, English-speaking circle and 'form a nucleus for multi-racial integration'. He also went on to say, and asked to be quoted, that 'the Rotary Club sometimes benefits Rotarians first, then non-Rotarians'. In other words, it is a case - on a few occasions of 'Service before Self' meaning 'Self-Service', while (not mentioned by the Dato') there has been the odd Rotarian of the PJ Club who has betrayed the trust put in him by his fellow Rotarians. None of this would have surprised Paul Harris, who was the first to admit that the inclusion of some dross as being inevitable amongst all the gold.
It is easy to criticize, and Rotary itself goes in for never ending rounds of introspection and self-criticism, never failing to find causes of frustration and disappointment in its organization and performance, some of which have been touched upon in these pages. However, no organization can amount to more than the sum which is put into it, and in the final analysis, it is the attitude of the individual Rotarian that counts. This theme was on one occasion taken up by Dato' James Peter Chin, when he spoke on 'The Importance of the Individual'. Starting by quoting the English poet, Alexander Pope - 'The Proper Study of Mankind is Man' - he concluded by saying:
If you - as individuals - can encourage others by your example to work for the common good with less regard for yourself, you will be helping to build a stronger society, a society which will be better able to cope with the onslaught of destructive influences. By your individual determination, by your influence and example, you can reflect society's sheer and passionate desire to be self-reliant as well as [to demonstrate] an unquenchable optimism to move itself from its tragic past into a very hopeful and brilliant future. Yes, my fellow Rotarians, remember the importance of the individual, for you are one...
His message is loud and clear, and has been said on many occasions in other ways by other Rotarians. The progress achieved by a Rotary club will be the yield of each of its individual members. It is the quality of membership which decides the difference between a good Rotary club and a weak Rotary club. One is happy to be able to record that the input of the Rotarians who have formed the membership of the PJ Club has enabled it to be numbered amongst the best clubs in the region.
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