When you’re known for being “The Carpet Capital of the World,” you spend a lot of time talking about carpet. But in this carpet town, we’re a community of more than just fiber and proper cleaning tools — we’re a community that helps others. We’re a community of “Service above Self.”
Do you know the saying? It’s the mission statement of Rotary International. For the past 11 years, I’ve been involved with the Rotary Club. As an international foundation, Rotarians provide individuals and communities with humanitarian service while encouraging high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. As a club, it allows communities to become involved in local activities that help to unify all — young and old.
As a Rotarian, I’ve been thinking on how our local Rotary Club could make a broader audience aware of the Rotary and all that it does for the community. Last fall, it occurred to me that we needed to get younger generations involved, as the young people of today are the Rotarians of tomorrow.
My son Bay is in the eighth grade at Dalton Middle School. I approached his language arts teacher, Gretchen Abernathy, with my ideas of how we could get our young people interested in the Rotary. We decided on an essay contest sponsored by the Carpet City Rotary Club, where Mrs. Abernathy’s eighth-grade students could hand in an essay on the theme “What the Rotary ‘Four-Way Test’ Means to Me.”
What is the “four-way test,” you might be asking yourself? It is a tool all Rotary members use to remain accountable in all “the things we think, say or do.” The test, which is made up of four questions, reads, “Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?”
All the applicants wrote impressive essays — I was personally impressed by the candid tales from such young people about truthfulness, honesty and fair play in their everyday lives. I couldn’t state the importance of the “four-way test” better than how our winner, Lauryn Little did:
“The first thing you know about truth is that it is unchangeable; it is ageless and constant, you can never take it back. Truth does not vary or shift; it’s a piece of reality that will always be there. It is always good to be truthful to one another.”
Lauryn captured the “four-way test” genuinely and “truthfully,” as did second place winner Courtney Coffee, and third place, J.J. Moncus. All top three entries won personalized certificates, tickets to Lake Winnepesaukah Amusement Park, and a marble desk plaque engraved with the Four-Way Test.
Seeing Lauryn grin from ear to ear made me think back to why the Rotary means so much to me. My family immigrated to the U.S. from Germany and through this move we were able to realize the American dream. For years, I looked for ways to pay back — and in the end, Rotary’s motto, Service above Self, articulated what I was looking for.
And it was hearing the applause from Lauryn’s classmates that made me realize what good work the local Rotary is doing in our community. For example, the Carpet City Rotary Club has taken up the cause of Special Kids in our community. It’s rewarding and brings enjoyment to a lot of young people (and older generations alike).
As for the essay, we’re planning on making it an annual event. It was obvious when reading each entry that the students captured the essence of the four-way test and hearing their personal stories is reason enough to do it again. Because the bottom line is simple: Our future is our children and the future of Rotary as well. If this contest can encourage them to take time out of their hectic lives and think about an idea with a higher meaning, that’s very powerful.
Werner Braun is president of the Dalton-based Carpet and Rug Institute.
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