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Note from your editor - I subscribe to a periodic newsletter called "Ten Things to Enjoy" published by Neal Davis. The following is an article published in his most recent newsletter. I gave a Rotary Presentation featuring The Four-Way Test to the Rotary Club of Ft. Collins, Colorado circa October, 2012. A Rotarian from that Rotary Club, Past District Governor Max Getts, like me, has had an uncommon and impressive interest in the Four-Way-Test through the years. He shared this item with me: THE 4-WAY TEST The 4-Way Test is 24 words, which we as Rotarians use to try and make the right decisions in our business and professional and personal lives of the things we think, say or do. The 4-Way Test is: 1.) Is it the Truth? 2.) Is it fair to all concerned? 3.) Will it build goodwill and better friendships? 4.) Will it be Beneficial to all concerned? Twelve years ago, the Rotary Club of Fort Collins met with the Poudre School District Curriculum Committee to brainstorm ways Rotary and the School District could do a program on Character Education by means of a classroom skill the students were learning to do. It was decided that the ideal place to do this program would be speech classes as group discussion is taught and it would be a great opportunity for the students to practice the skill of group discussion they had learned. The Rotary 4-Way Test provides a tool which students can use to make good decisions in the problems that they want to discuss, but it also gives the young people a chance to interact with business and professional leaders of the community. With the 4-Way Test as their point of reference, Jr. High teenagers engage in round-table discussions of hot-button topics such as cheating, violence, family breakdown, drug use and suicide. Teachers handle the discussion format and preparation, but the students choose the ethical situations themselves and take turns leading the discussions. “I learned a lot about making good decisions and what is okay and what is not,” commented one student. Another student said this of the 4-Way Test Program: “Being a teenager and not being able to talk to people your age about issues we handle in everyday life made me happy we had a chance to interact with the Rotary Club. I liked the way you put yourself in our shoes and understood the difficulty of our everyday lives. Knowing that there are people in our society that want to understand teens everywhere makes me very thankful.” Rotarians sit in on the discussions and voice their opinions as well, but don’t impose their views on the students. But, for example, if we’re talking about petty theft, we give our perspective of the businessperson in the community who might be hiring the young people. At the end of the discussions, the Rotarians grade the students—not on their responses but on the level of participation. Teachers as well as students applaud the program for the communication skills and community responsibility it instills. The two original teachers who help start this program said: Carol Ballain “saw the questions of the 4-Way Test defining credibility. It provides a tangible tool for empowering students to make constructive decisions.” Tyann Kuehnast said: Rotarians, you made a difference in my classes as follows: •You made students think about their values. •You made the students feel important as you donated your time for them. •You made a statement that there are adults who are willing to be attentive listeners to teens. •You made them think. •You made them wonder. •You made them question. •You made them feel valuable. From this 4-Way Test Program in the Fort Collins Schools, Fort Collins Rotarians wanted to share this successful program throughout the world to help young people learn how to make good decisions; so a video, a floppy disk, and a “how to manual” was produced in kit form and 800 of these kit have gone out to Rotary Clubs throughout the United States, Canada and nine foreign countries, so other Rotary Clubs can develop program in their area … The Better Business Bureau has now been sponsoring a 4-Way Test essay contest with the grand prize of a $5,000 scholarship. Community leaders have voiced their thoughts on this program in the schools: Former District Attorney Stu VanMeveren: “Sharing the 4- Way Test makes a process to help kids provide a positive effect on their future.” Former Superintendent of Schools Dr. Don Unger said: “The 4-Way Test is a valuable STEP in character education.” Fort Collins Mayor Ray Martinez: “It’s a test of yourself…what will you do in making the right decision.” Many positive things have happened in the lives of many people as a result of the 4-Way Test which include the solving of the civil war in the Solomon Islands, the giving of young people a tool to help them make right decisions in their lives, and a young man life spared from suicide as he realized from his round-table discussion and the 4-Way Test that his life had purpose and meaning. At the end of each session, we pass out a 4-Way Test coin to the students, which give them a tangible object to be able to pull out of their pocket or purse and have the tool to make the right decision in life’s problems. We have started a program in the Elementary School with end result of the students helping with PolioPlus and each student is to find a need in the community and find a solution to that need. The top six come to a Rotary meeting and present their project and the Club votes on the best. With what has happened in the business world (like Enron), we have had our first session with the Business School at Colorado State University discussing many topics using the 4-Way Test to provide a guide in the solution to each problem that might come up in the business world, using the 4-Way Test as a “Rule of Thumb” in making prudent decisions. We are on the threshold of time with the Rotary 4-Way Test positioned to help bring back morals and ethics to our world! |
Be prepared for the outside temperature to change - bring a sweater or jacket.
This is a REALLY big year for Mesa West.
Mesa West Rotary Foundation, Inc. is the funding and fundraising arm of our own Mesa West Rotary Club. It is a 501(c)(3) charity. We have had successful sponsorship campaigns the last few years enabling us to spend our energy on service rather than on holding fundraising events. Charitable grants that we get involved with are funded through our charitable foundation, Our signature Gift of Hearing Project in Guaymas Mexico is funded through this foundation. Scholarships are awarded annually to Westwood High School Students (the high school where Mesa West Rotary sponsors an Interact Club). Funds are used to support a variety of activities in four of the Rotary Avenues of Service:.png)
