Hayes reflects on the lessons of Rotary

Any Rotarian can tell you of a moment, or two, or more that imparted valuable knowledge on them.
It is in these moments that the true message of Rotary can be seen to them.
For District 6200 Governor Mike Hayes, he’s had a few, all pointing him to the belief that Rotary’s avenue of service isn’t the heart of the matter, merely the catalyst for the real heart of Rotary: compassion.
“Rotarians are the most compassionate people,” he said Tuesday as he spoke to the Rotary Club of Crowley.
The district governor has continued his official rounds across the district’s many clubs and was quick to add congratulations for the more than $11,000 raised by the local club during October’s Polio Eradication Month for Rotary International’s Polio Plus.
It all harkened back, however, to Hayes’ exploration of Rotary International’s Four-Way Test of the things Rotarians think, say and do.
First, is it the truth?
Rotary is a value-based organization. It, in part, is what has driven members to the club for years.
It’s also what has made Rotary a known name outside of its membership walls. The values of honesty and integrity being at the forefront.
Second, is it fair to all concerned?
To Hayes, this charge is the hardest. In essence, it’s one thing to present equality, it’s another to be fair.
“I could perfectly cook a chocolate chip, oatmeal, walnut cookie and give it to you and treat each of you equally,” he said. “But, have I treated you fairly?
“If you have a gluten intolerance, no. If you’re allergic to nuts, I have not treated you fairly. If you’re a diabetic, the answer is no, I haven’t.
“If you’re one of those people, and yes, they do exist, that just doesn’t like chocolate — I know, I know, they’re like unicorns, you hear about them, but you don’t see them — I haven’t treated you fairly.”
To be fair, one must recognize and address the needs of all. He pointed to Rotary International’s efforts with polio as a prime example of this.
Third, will it build goodwill and better friendships?
Friendship, for Hayes, is another big one, as it is a founding principle of Rotary.
Rotary International was born through Paul Harris’ desire to find friendship and fellowship in his new home of Chicago. He began this through the Rotary Club’s first meeting with a couple of clients. They would rotate the meetings between offices, creating the Rotary Club.
Hayes recognizes that through Rotary he has found friends in places he never thought he would.
He remembered back to the summertime where he attended the three Houma-area clubs’ group installation banquet, realizing that this was the first time he had visited Houma really, despite the fact that he walked into the room knowing many and recognizing them as friends.
Fourth, is it beneficial to all concern?
This one is simple, ideologically speaking. Modifying yourself and your club as the world changes, as the community needs and as members do.
He reflected back to a story he told regarding Kodak at the beginning of his talk. The company lost sight of its true identity — not making film, but making memories — and threw away a breakthrough in the 1970s that could have saved and blossomed its company.
Engineers at Kodak created the first digital camera in 1975, as Hayes explained. But, management, short-sightedly seeing itself as a creator of film, hushed that move away. Kodak filed for bankruptcy in 2011 and exists more as one of its photographs now — a memory.
Had Kodak gone about that discovery differently in the mid-’70s, things could have been different. It didn’t modify itself to a then-slowly changing world, Hayes explained.
Rotary, however, seemingly has, using blogs and websites to disseminate information and stories, documenting its progresses and setbacks. It hasn’t just kept up technologically speaking, but in many other ways as well.
That, and its core values are why Hayes believes Rotary will be just fine moving forward.
The district governor’s speech was not only heard by the Crowley club’s membership, but several from its locally sponsored youth organizations: Ross Elementary School Early Act Club officers and sponsor, Crowley Middle School Youth Act Club members and principal and Crowley High Interact Club officers and sponsor.
A visiting Rotarian from Peru and his wife also attended the meeting, presenting Crowley Club President Pat Miers and District 6200 Gov. Mike Hayes with the flags of his club, hand stitched in gorgeous perfection.