Community & Clubs -- Jim de Boom

We are facing an ethics crisis in America and around the world. Every

day we are finding ethical lapses in business as demonstrated by Enron

and Anderson, in politics by the Gray Davis TV ads, clergy taking

advantage of the weak, the environmentalist who sets fire to other

people’s property, a “pro-life” activist shooting an abortion doctor, a

parent beating up a youth sports official, and the list goes on. It seems

today that no part of our lives goes untouched by ethical lapses. This

week and the next several weeks, I will explore the code of ethics of

service clubs and their members, this week beginning with Rotarians.

“Rotary International’s simple Four-Way Test is the basic foundation

of Rotary that could and should be used in all business, family and

personal transactions,” says Rotary District 5320 Gov. Jim Parsons of the

Newport-Irvine club.

Rotary’s Four-Way Test was crafted some 70 years ago by Herbert Taylor

to “apply to the things we think, say or do” and includes the following

four questions: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it

build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all

concerned?

Rotarian Robert Hamill of Cullum & Sandow Securities and a member of

the Newport-Balboa club says: “The Rotary Four-Way Test has been a ‘bench

mark’ in achieving success in my business. We would not be reading about

the Enrons and the like if big corporate CEOs were Rotarians practicing

the Four-Way Test. In that I am now working on fifth-generation clients,

it proves to me that following and practicing the guidance of the

Four-Way Test has rewarded me well. Last year in this terrible down

market, I had my best year ever and I have been a broker since 1957.”

Others have seen similar success.

“The Rotary Four-Way Test is a simple, basic test of personal

intentional integrity,” said management consultant and author Millard

“Mac” MacAdam, a member of the Newport-Balboa club. “Honor it!

Intentional integrity is the proven, right foundation on which to build a

stellar life, marriage, family, business and government. Today’s

operating norm of conditional integrity always leads people to thinking,

saying and doing the wrong things and experiencing wrong results.”

MacAdam’s latest book, “Intentional Personal Integrity,” can be

reviewed in the Integrity Books section of his Web site, o7

www.PALConsulting.netf7 .

“‘Ethical corporate behavior.’ ‘Professional responsibility.’ In

today’s corporate environment, these phrases seem to be no more than

sound bites with a nice ring,” said Andrew Johnson of Prudential

Financial, who is a member of the Newport-Irvine club. “As a financial

advisor, I feel myself to be at the vortex of the public’s distrust of

and anger with corporate America. However, the attention that is being

focused on the financial service’s industry has given me an opportunity

to demonstrate as never before, the application of the Four-Way Test in

my professional relationships. The knowledge that there are tens of

millions of Rotarians, in all walks of life, in all professions, and

throughout corporate America, all being guided by the spirit of the

Four-Way Test, leaves me feeling that things are not as bad as they may

appear.”

“How many decisions are made in business, family and personal life

without the concern for truth, fairness, goodwill, friendship and that

may be beneficial to some but have quite the opposite effect on somebody

else?” Parsons asks. “You don’t have to be a Rotarian to use the Four-Way

Test.”

For a free copy of the Four-Way Test, call the Rotary District office

at (949) 660-0001.

WORTH REPEATING:

From the “Thought for the Day” provided by Greg Kelley of the

Newport-Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council: “The activist is not the person

who says the river is dirty. The activist is the person who cleans up the

river.” -- Ross Perot

SERVICE CLUB MEETINGS THIS WEEK:

MONDAY

6 p.m.: The Harbor Mesa Lions Club will meet at Zubies Restaurant.

TUESDAY

7:15 a.m.: The Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club will meet at Five

Crowns Restaurant for a program on Gen. Douglas MacArthur.

6:30 p.m.: The Costa Mesa-Newport Harbor Lions Club will meet at the

Costa Mesa Country Club.

WEDNESDAY

7:15 a.m.: The 20-member South Coast Metro Rotary Club will meet at

the Center Club (www.southcoastmetrorotary.org), and the Newport Harbor

Kiwanis Club will meet at the University Athletic Club.

Noon: The 35-member Exchange Club of the Orange Coast will meet at the

Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club.

6 p.m.: The Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa will meet at the Bahia

Corinthian Yacht Club to hear Julie Chan, director of literacy for the

Newport-Mesa Unified School District (www.newportbalboa.org).

THURSDAY

7 a.m. The 20-plus-member Costa Mesa-Orange Coast Breakfast Lions Club

will meet at Mimi’s Cafe.

Noon: The 50-member Costa Mesa Kiwanis Club will meet at the Holiday

Inn (www.kiwanis.org/club/costamesa), the Newport Beach-Corona del Mar

Kiwanis Club will meet at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club, the 80-member

Exchange Club of Newport Harbor will meet at the Newport Harbor Nautical

Museum to hear Carl Kotman discuss “Your Brain and the Aging Process,”

the 100-member Newport-Irvine Rotary Club will meet at the Irvine

Marriott Hotel to hear Robert Sternfels, a World War II B-24 Pilot

(www.nirotary.org).

* COMMUNITY & CLUBS is published Saturdays in the Daily Pilot. Send

your service club’s meeting information by fax to (949) 660-8667; e-mail

to jdeboom@aol.com or by mail to 2082 S.E. Bristol St., Suite 201,

Newport Beach, CA 92660-1740.