Mankind Was My Business – A Rotary Lesson from the Ghost of Jacob Marley

In the movie, “A Christmas Carol.” One of my favorite scenes from the movie is when the ghost of Jacob Marley visits his old partner Ebenezer Scrooge. Marley tries to warn Scrooge to change his ways before it is too late. It’s too late for Marley, who drags the chains of sin and neglect with him for all eternity; for he had turned his back on mankind.

Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, benevolence, were all my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!” – Charles Dickens

Mankind is Our Business!

Wow! These are the same values and principals that Rotary follows. Today it is “Service Above Self”. Rotarians are fine examples of a reformed Scrooge…. but are we? Now take a look at your own life. How many chains of sin and neglect might you be carrying around? How are you doing at expressing charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence toward your neighbour? Do you understand that mankind is your business?

In our society of ever-growing individualism, are we are losing sight of the fact that mankind is our business? Today Rotary serves as an opportunity to demonstrate that Mankind is our Business! As Rotarians, we share in the common goal of using our time, talents and treasures to make our local and international communities better.

Mankind is our business, service is our product. As Rotarians, you and I are engaged in the most important business on this earth. Every second of the day, Rotarians are making a difference across our world, fighting Polio, providing clean water to feeding the hungry and providing books to local children. Our product is sold but we must continue to improve our business in 2018.

As the new year approaches, Rotarians must look after the business in order to continue to have a great product. To continue to make a difference in the lives of so many, we must look after our Rotary Club.

In 2020 we as Rotarians must look at ways to improve our business, which will help our product – SERVICE!

Grow our Membership – It is estimated that 90% of Rotarians around the world have never sponsored a single new member. As Rotarians, we need to take up the challenge in 2020 to invite a colleague, a business associate or co-worker to join Rotary. When asked, most Rotarians will tell you they would have joined years before, but had never been asked. Make the ask!

Increase our public image – We do such important work. We are applauded for the service project that we do to make a difference. We just don’t tell people about the good work we do! In 2020 let’s make sure we wear our Rotary pin to have people ask what is that pin? In 2020 let’s post on social media the great work and how proud we are of the work we do in Rotary. Let’s brag about the service projects we do that help make a difference in our community, in the lives of children!

Engage our members – As we grow, retention of our members is important. We have great weekly meetings, filled with networking opportunities, great speakers and service projects. Make is at New Year’s resolution to attend more Rotary meetings. Take a break each week and spend some time investing in yourself, join us for our weekly Rotary meeting. Get involved, there are many committees and projects that need your help. Experience Rotary!

We must keep Rotary healthy. If we do not build for the future, we are destined to become a relic of the past. The children and youth in our community are relying on us, Rotarians to continue our service, to grow our product…remember Mankind is our Business!