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EDITORIAL: Civic Organizations As Models

Posted on: Sunday, 2 April 2006, 06:00 CDT

By The Centre Daily Times, State College, Pa.

Apr. 2--One of the best ways to learn about public service, management, governance and leadership is to join a civic organization in your community -- the closest thing to democracy in action.

Organizations have three important membership-development factors that can determine their potential growth and success: engagement, learning and participation.

There are four Rotary clubs in the State College area, including one at Penn State.

I am a member of the State College Evening Rotary Club. As club president, I have been impressed by Rotary's organizational structure, operation, ethic of service and giving and its idealism.

When we speak of democracy, most Americans think of Abraham Lincoln's words of, for and by the people. This represents government's purpose to serve at the behest of its citizens.

As population increases and services grow exponentially, it becomes harder for government to hear from all of its citizens. That is why we have a democratic republic.

By voting people into office, we expect them to act and represent us in the legislative and executive branches of government.

We also expect sound and good decision making.

Like government, civic organizations have a charter and a set of bylaws.

Rotary does not have a creed or require an oath. Rotary emphasizes what it calls the Four-Way Test:

u Is it true?

u Is it fair to all concerned?

u Will it build good will and better friendships?

u Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

Since its inception in 1915, Rotary International has grown to more than 1.2 million members in 168 countries.

Rotary members operate and are guided by the Four-Way Test and its motto of "Service Above Self."

I can only wonder what our world would really be like if all governments and officials operated under that test and motto?

John R. Vincenti is president of the State College Evening Rotary Club, coordinator of special projects in the mechanical and nuclear engineering department at Penn State, and a former township supervisor.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Centre Daily Times, State College, Pa.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

For information on republishing this content, contact us at (800) 661-2511 (U.S.), (213) 237-4914 (worldwide), fax (213) 237-6515, or e-mail reprints@krtinfo.com.

Source: Centre Daily Times (State College, Pa.)

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