The Rotary Balita no. 769 (April 14, 1955)

Example: Supposing the prospect is a Rice Grower, and the classification of "Rice Growing" has already been loaned to another member, do not propose him as "Peanut Growing" just to get him in as a member when you know very well that he is not in the Peanut growing business. In other words, DO NOT MISREPRESENT YOUR PROSPECT before the membership of the club. If you have a prospect whom you wish to propose for membership in the club, the following is the correct procedure: 1. Do not tell your prospect that you intend to propose him for membership. 2. Find out exactly what his business is and whether he is actually dedicating 60% or more of his time to that particular business under which he is to be classified. 3. Find out from the classification committee whether the classification describing the particular business of the individual is open. If the classification is not open, ask the classification committee to request the board of directors to declare the classification open. 4. If you are not certain as to how your prospect should be classified, ask someone who is well informed on classifications for advice. 5. If the classification has already been loaned to another member, do not propose him under any other classification which does describe the business of the prospect to which he is dedicating 60% or more of his time, nor should you ask the committee to create a special classification just to accommodate you and have the prospect accepted as a member of the club. Example: Supposing the prospect is a Rice Grower, and the classification of "Rice Growing" has already been loaned to another member, do not propose him as "Peanut Growing" just to get him in as a member when you know very well that he is not in the Peanut growing business. In other words, DO NOT MISREPRESENT YOUR PROSPECT before the membership of the club. 6. Supposing his classification is open, invite him to attend one or two meetings of the club without telling him that you intend to pose him for membership, in order that you may size him up and see for yourself whether he would make a good member. Explain Rotary to him and the obligations of a member. You will be able to find out for yourself whether he would like to be member without asking him. 7. Once you are convinced that he would make a good Rotarian, file your application with the secretary without the prospect know that you have proposed him for membership. 8. Once the application card has been acted on favorably by the classification, membership committees and the board of directors, then you may inform your prospect that you had proposed him for membership. WHY THE PROSPECT SHOULD NOT BE INFORMED THAT HE IS GOING TO BE PROPOSED The reason why the prospect should not be informed that he is being proposed for membership is obvious-in order to avoid embarrassments. The moment you inform your prospect that you intend proposing him for membership, the prospect will probably inform his friends that he is being proposed for membership in the Rotary club. Supposing his application is rejected, who will feel embarrassed? The proposer and the prospect. So in order to play safe, do not inform your prospect that he is being proposed for membership. In case of any doubt as to whether a man is being proposed under the proper classification, the following questions should be considered: 1. Has the classification been declared open by the board of directors? 2. Does the classification under which the prospective member is being proposed describe or defines clearly the principal and recognized business or profession of the prospect? 3. Is the individual dedicating at least 60% of his time to the business or profession under which he is being classified? 4. Does the service to society rendered by the firm or concern with which the individual is connected not duplicated by any service already represented in the club? 5. Does the minor classification exceed 10% of the distinctive minor classification falling under the major classification as recommended by the board of directors of R.I.? Why is it important for Rotary clubs to adhere strictly to the classification principle? A Rotary club has the reputation-or should I have it at least-of being composed of men who advocate higher standards of business and professions. Rotary cannot reform the world it is true, but if we are to have our influence felt locally, our most effective medium is through the example we set to others. How much weight is our example to have in the community if it is generally known that we talk of high standards and then turn right around and evade our own classification rules or principle upon which Rotary is built, by taking into our membership two men who are engaged in substantially the same line of business or profession? To save our conscience, we classify one man under "Education-University", and another man under "Education Private University", or a man under "Sugar Planting", and another man under "Sugar Growing", when we know full well that both men are in the same kind of business and we could use properly and accurately the same term to describe the business or professional activities of both men. To accommodate a prominent and popular business man in the community, dedicating his time exclusively to Life Insurance, we create a special classification of "Insurance-Automobile" for him. because the classification of "Insurance-Life" is already loaned to another member, and he is proposed and elected to membership in the club. When the club was admitted to membership in R.I., the club promised to comply with the Constitution and By-Laws of R.I. When a man is admitted to membership in a Rotary club, he is told that it is an honour and a privilege to be elected to membership under his classification because as an outstanding businessman in that particular vocation, he was chosen to represent Rotary in his vocation under which he is classified, and he is told that the membership of the club represents a true cross-section of the business and professional and institutional life of the community, and that as a Rotarian he is expected to advocate higher standards in business amongst the members of his craft. The following questions now arise: 1. Has the newly elected member been admitted under the proper classification? (Is it the TRUTH?) 2. Has the club been fair to the member who holds the classification of "Insurance-Life", who was told that he was the only insurance man in the club? Has the club been fair to other members of the club who were told that the membership of the club was composed of only one man from each business, professional and institutional life in the community? Has the club been fair to the public or community who were made to believe that the membership of the Rotary club consisted of only one representative, of each of the business and professional life in the community? Has the club been fair to the newly elected member in admitting him under a false classification, thereby misrepresenting him before the club members and the community? (Is it FAIR to all concerned?) 3. Will there be dissatisfaction amongst the members of the club who are jealous of their membership, and who realize that the club has violated the very principle upon which the Rotary club is built, which makes the club unique and different from other organizations? (Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIP?) 4. What will the Rotarians in the districts and the communities where there are Rotary clubs established think of Rotary? What will non-Rotarians think of Rotary International? (Will it be BENEFICIAL TO ALL concerned?)