Spread the Flame of Service

Dear Club Presidents,

When you have a matchstick out of a match box, you have to strike it to produce a flame. This flame can give you light or can light a candle which will dispel darkness for a longer period. After a while the matchstick burns out and its function is over. Rotary is very much like a match stick. Unless you strike it, it will not produce flame. The function of a leader is to strike it to produce a flame that can, then light other flames and once the function is completed, the objective is achieved. It is this personal participation that spreads the flame of Service. It is this “giving your personal participation” that counts.

The sun gives light without gaining anything for itself. The rains nurture this earth with no returns. Rotarians must learn the art of sacrifice without expecting anything in return. Returns you will get — satisfaction, happiness, a beautiful smile or a warm hand clasp. Returns are not measured in rewards or awards you may get from your fellow Rotarians. Rewards are much more lasting than a gift or a plaque when you count your blessings derived from the blessings of the community.

Individual acts of kindness are as important as acts by groups or bodies. When you go to the community and take care of one or more of their needs, they will often recognise you as the person who helped. They may not — and often will not — recognise Rotary as the force behind. However, when you continue to solve problems, reduce miseries, share sorrows and promote goodwill, you can promote Rotary too and that is how Rotary becomes known. The community is often illiterate and the word “Rotary” may not enter their memory database but in due course of time, as you increase your inter-personal relationships and as you bring more Rotary volunteers to the arena of Service, the community will understand what Rotary means. That is public relations at its best.

Rtn. Ashok Mahajan
RI Director 2007–2009