Cogs in the Wheel

Whenever someone is described as a cog in a wheel or machine, what is usually referred is a small but necessary and important part of a large organization or group. Literally, a cog refers to the wheel or bar that contains projections or teeth on another wheel or bar, generating torque. It also refers to the projections on a cogwheel. For the Rotary Club of Manila, the cogs in the wheel are the individual members who constitute the heart of the organization. Each Manila Rotarian is considered a cog, which has kept our more-than-a-century-old and ever-reliable wheel turning.

The role or contribution of every Manila Rotarian is not considered small, minor, or insignificant. The input of each member, when done from the heart and in the spirit of true volunteerism, invariably keeps the RCM wheel moving. Indeed, as a volunteer organization, whatever time or talent is shared by a member, or whichever role he plays to fulfill the Club’s mission is, and must be, applauded and welcomed. Every cog in the RCM wheel contributes to keep it turning and achieve its goals.

RCM is fortunate to have many outstanding cogs in its wheel. But, while it is one thing to have numerous cogs to create the needed torque and push, it is an altogether different thing to have a competent machinist to perfectly put all the components of a wheel or a machine together. Precision machining is imperative in order to ensure the perfect intersecting and meshing of the cogs.

As can be seen in any wheel, most notably the logo of Rotary International, all cogs (the projections in the wheel) are evenly sized. Equally noticeable are the uniformly spaced and punctiliously measured gaps in between the cogs. These combined features are essential to enable the wheel and all the cogs to seamlessly and properly operate. Hence, whenever one cog is not properly molded and ends up out of shape or bigger than the others, the wheel will malfunction; and whenever the space or gap between cogs are not evenly measured, the cog will not fit and the same disastrous and problematic result will surface. A bloated or oversized cog, therefore, has no place in an otherwise perfectly functioning wheel.

While some cogs may be built or polished to shine better, they cannot be made bigger than the others. The sizes must be equal, for the spaces and gaps that they are meant to mesh with are evenly and keenly measured. Cogs who shine are recognized. Achievers are applauded, and RCM holds the distinct pride of having a lot of them within its ranks.