THE FOUR WAY TEST
- Is it the truth ?
- Is it fair to all concerned ?
- Will it build goodwill and better friendships ?
- Will it be beneficial to all concerned ?
"Many Rotarians have questioned the relevancy of The 4-Way Test in today's challenging business climate. Yet these four simple questions have withstood the test of time in serving as a moral compass for Rotarians throughout the decades. Today more than ever, it is imperative that Rotarians serve as role models in their businesses and personal lives. It is not enough that we recite The 4-Way Test; we must actually live it."
- Bhichai Rattakul,
2002-03 President,
Rotary International
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Rotary recognizes four "Avenues of Service" : Club Service, Vocational Service, Community Service, and International Service.
Vocational Service is defined in the second Object of Rotary which is to encourage and foster "high ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations, and the dignifying of each Rotarian's occupation as an opportunity to serve society."
In seeking to apply high ethical standards in their vocation Rotarians are guided by "The Four Way Test," (see side-bar), first formulated in 1933 by Chicago Rotarian, Herbert J. Taylor.
In 1989 Rotary adopted the following Declaration of Rotarians in Businesses and Professions which aims to provide more specific guidelines for the implementation of high ethical standards:
- As a Rotarian engaged in a business or profession, I am expected to:
- Consider my vocation to be another opportunity to serve;
- Be faithful to the letter and to the spirit of the ethical codes of my vocation, to the laws
of my country, and to the moral standards of my community;
- Do all in my power to dignify my vocation and to promote the highest ethical standards in
my chosen vocation;
- Be fair to my employer, employees, associates, competitors, customers, the public, and
all those with whom I have a business or professional relationship;
- Recognize the honor and respect due to all occupations which are useful to society;
- Offer my vocational talents: to provide opportunities for young people, to work for the
relief of the special needs of others, and to improve the quality of life in my community;
- Adhere to honesty in my advertising and in all representations to the public concerning
my business or profession;
- Neither seek from nor grant to a fellow Rotarian a privilege or advantage not normally
accorded others in a business or professional relationship.
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