Rotary strives to achieve it’s objective of “Service Above Self” through activities in five primary areas. These are often referred to as the Five Avenues of Service. (Note that the Fifth Avenue, New Generations, was added in 2010.)
This “Avenue” promotes the development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service. It involves the activities necessary to make the Club function successfully and achieve its goals.
This area represents the opportunity that each Rotarian has to represent the dignity and utility of one’s vocation as an opportunity to serve society. Rotarians promote and foster high ethical standards in business and professions and promote the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations. (Click here for 2009-2010 RI President John Kenny's remarks on Vocational Serivice.)
This “Avenue” relates to the activities that Rotarians undertake to improve the quality of life in their community. Particular emphasis is given to helping children, needy families, the aged, the handicapped, and those most in need of assistance. Rotarians strive to promote the ideal of service in their personal, business, and community lives.
In this area, Rotarians strive for the advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service. International Service Projects are designed to meet the humanitarian needs of people in many lands, with particular emphasis on the most underprivileged children and families in developing countries.
This fifth Avenue of Service, adopted 2010 by Rotary International, recognizes the positive change implemented by youth and young adults through leadership development activities, involvement in community and international service projects, and exchange programs that enrich and foster world peace and cultural understanding.
The Object of Rotary page on the Rotary International web site
The ABCs of Rotary by Clifford L. Dochterman, published by Rotary International.
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LOCAL COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES (in no particular order) (January 2012)
Snipes Farm and Education Center
Explore opportunities for Rotarians to assist the Snipes Farm either with their Farm Share program (public offering) or in after school educational programming (see Ivins House). Efforts would be more along the lines of administration, sales and promotional assistance as opposed to actual farming. (21st Century).
Generations: Educating, Mentoring (GEM)
Seniors meet one-on-one during school hours with students who are struggling academically or with mild behavioral problems. Activity can range from tutoring to simply talking or playing games.
Faith In Action
Volunteer drivers take elderly or "shut-in" individuals to doctors' appointments using the driver's personal vehicle. Assignments are handled by Dave Sample at the Ivins House. Drivers always have the option of accepting or declining an assignment. Extra insurance is provided by the Ivins House. The TLC that patients receive during these trips is worth almost as much to them as the actual transportation.
Trenton Area Soup Kitchen
We already send a group of 4 to 6 people every second Thursday of each month. Unfortunately that assignment is covered by the same six or seven Rotarians. There is another group currently populated by MUMC and MPC folks (mostly Rotarians) who go every 3rd Monday. That group usually consists of 4 to 5 people. We have the personnel to strengthen both efforts in numbers or by spreading out the participation so volunteers don't have to go every month. There is also the possibility of taking on another evening. The operation needs a coordinator that can personally recruit for each engagement.
"I Like Me"
This is a nifty program that gives Rotarians a special opportunity to read to kindergarteners. More participating Rotarians are needed. The commitment is only one or two times during the year. The program needs and deserves more publicity.
"Four Way Test" Plaque Presentation and Speech Contest
This in the past has been a great program but has not gotten off the ground in recent years. (Tom Mack is reputed to have an awesome 4-way test presentation.) This year the District is encouraging clubs to conduct Four Way Test speech contests and have the local winners participate in a District contest. The Leadership Academy would seem to be an ideal place to implement a local contest but a Rotarian is needed who will work with the District and bring back the rules and procedures and help implement the program. The contest also could be a program to "penetrate" the Pennsbury school system , where the club currently has no presence. A Rotarian dedicated to making it happen is needed.
Publicity
We need an individual who can establish appropriate publicity contacts with the Yardley News, the Morrisville Times, the Yardley Voice, the Courier Times, and our own web-site (and maybe even Face Book). It should be the responsibility of people involved with other programs to provide both copy and pictures so this publicity person can place them.
We also need an individual to email some of this information periodically to people on our contacts list who are prospective members. The list should be expanded to include friends who just want to "stay in the know" and to other Rotary Clubs and organizations in the area.
Salvation Army Bell Ringing
The more people who participate the more time we can put in and the more money we can raise. Simple as that.
Leadership Academy (Morrisville High School)
This is a new program with huge potential that we are getting credit for thinking of - but in which we have not yet found an on-going role. Bill Ferrara is the key and is doing a world of good promoting Rotary. So far our contribution has been interviewing and helping select candidates and sponsoring members of the Academy for Camp Neidig. Dave Sample has some great ideas about having Academy students participate in Rotary meetings, but we have to learn how to conduct ourselves when they attend.
Odyssey of the Mind (OM)
The Morrisville School District had its first year of participation in Odyssey of the Mind in 2011 and did as well as could be expected in the Bucks County competition. Plans are to build the program and there are ways we could help, e.g. mini-fund raisers by the kids, assistant coaches, etc.
Speakers Bureau
Pete Wisnosky wrote the quintessential Rotary speech for organizations that are looking for a speaker. It would be nice to train a few speakers on delivery of that speech and see if we can "market" it. We also should have a prepared talk on the Peru Water Filter Project. Others could cover Rotoplast, Wheel Chair, Shelter Box, and Polio Plus (the later four already prepared}. Modifications of these talks could also be used as "releases" to the local media.
Annual Fund Raisers
Two Gourmet Breakfasts
One in late February/early March; one in late October/early November.
We need everyone we can get, especially on the day of the event. Do we want to alternate venue with other churches, e.g., MPC, or Baptist. MUMC facility is probably the best, but moving to different church venues may increase our "following".
Carnival
One plan would be to try and have something in Lower Makefield in the Spring and either donate or share proceeds with Pride Day. There are a lot of pros and cons that need to be explored.
The Fall carnival would be in Morrisville and be marketed locally and in Trenton. The number of people needed will depend on our arrangement with Bartlebaugh (the carnival people) and how actively we want to market Rotary on site. We also need people to get sponsors - that's a make or break deal as far as financial success goes.
Other
There also are many internal "Club Service" opportunities and needs within the club. Many of these are one person activities that can be done at any time. Contact the President if even remotely interested!!! (And there are opportunities at the District level for anyone who likes to drive!)
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