result have confined their efforts to
those projects which individual members
can support without bringing the club
into the picture, This tendency became
so prevalent that it became necessary
to amend the resolution to make it
clearer that Rotary clubs are not pro-
hibited from engaging in service activ-
ities as a club. As a result of this
amendment (1936) three ds a
developed: —

a) Many Rotarians still maintain that
all Rotary activity should be by in-
dividual Rotarians and that the club
should merely be a source of informa-
tion and encouragement and inspiration,

b) Many Rotarians just as sincerely be-

lieve that there is value: in collec-
tive action in Rotary, that Rotary clubs
should do some things in a body.

c) A third group believes in harmoniz-

- ing the two ideas so that every Ro-
tarian will continue to feel his indi-
vidual responsibility to be of some
service in his community, and at the
same time some things will be done by
the club as a whole or directed by the
board or committees of the club, so
that the members my feel that they »
are doing something worth. while as | a

group.

At the present time sat three SiscSilires
are in operation, Each club must de-
cide for itself whether one plan should
be advocated in preference to another.

CHOOSING THE PROCEDURE

In deciding what procedure is to be
followed with regard to a proposed ac-
tivity, the Rotary club may wish to
take into consideration wees such
as the following:

1) Can the activity be saa duende as
vocational service, international serv-
ice, or community service?

2):Does the activity involve the pass-
-ing and publishing of a resolution? If
So, and such a resolution does not con-
‘ form to the general opinion of the

From Secretariat - Central Office - Rotary International - (File 602B) - Page 3

community, will its adoption jeopardize
the local standing of club members?

-Are the club members prepared to stand

up to any criticism which my result?

3) Will the resolution be passed unan-
imously by the club? Will there. be a
dissatisfied minority?

4) Is a club resolution the most ef-
fective means of action, or can inde-
pendent action of individual Rotarians
accomplish more?

5) Would a combination of individual.
and club action be desirable?

6) Is there any controversial issue in-
volved? If so, will action split the
club?

7) Is there any possibility that club
action will involve it in politics?

8) Will there be any duplication of
the efforts of other local agencies?

There are other questions which my
also be asked, all depending on the
kind of project considered and local
conditions in the community. In the
following paragraphs are further
thoughts which may well be considered
before any club project is launched.

PROJECTS INVOLVING LEGISLATION

Many projects do not involve legisla-
tion. On the other hand, the club may
become interested in or be appealed to
support some cause that requires the
enactment of legislation. A club my
be asked to support the passage of 4
proposed bill in a state legislature.
The measure proposed may be a very —
worthy and humanitarian one, which
would certainly merit the sympathy of
all, and at first thought would seem a
raat opportunity. for community service.
But when we ask ourselves a few of the
questions previously mentioned, we may
decide that there are good reasons why
individual action is ne es to
club ae

In this pertigular case, the 5 Rotary

(over)