The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1923-04-11

CSIeSl anu grow III notary. l0lS
growth out of regular attend
ance and willing activity.
One of the outstanding requisites
of a successful and effective Rotary
Club is acquaintanceship and fellow
ship. To appreciate and work with
others, we must know them. We call
each other by our first names. This
is not merely a Rotary requirement,
but testifies to familiarity. At first
this use of the first name embar-
rasses the new member somewhat,
but very soon it becomes easy and
natural. He thinks he has become
used to it. What has really hap
| pened is hat his mountaineering
has reached the level where familiar
address is entirely in place
That Rotarians should know each
other is requisite if a foundation on
J which Rotary spirit is to be built NJ.
If we are to respect, appreciate and
work with our fellow townsmen, we
must know them. If our community
is to profit through a group WORK
ing for interests aside from self, the
membership of this group must know
each other. AS Rotarian Edgar
Guest puts it:
when you get to know a fellow,
Know his joys and know his cares;
When you've come to understand him
And the burdens that he bears;
When you've learned the fight he's
making,
And the troubles in his way,
Then you find that he is different
Than you thought him yesterday.
You find his faults are trivial
And there's not so much to blame
In the brother that you jeered at
When you only knew his name.
You are quick to see the blemish
In the distant neighbours style;
You can point to all his errors
And may sheer at him the while,
And your prejudices fatten
And your hates more violent grow
AS you talk about the failures
Of the man you do not know.
But when drawn a little closer,
And your hands and shoulders
touch,
You find the traits you hated
Really don't amount to much.
When you get to know a fellow,
Know his every mood and whim,
You begin to find the texture
I Of the splendid side of him;
You begin to understand him,
And you cease to scott and sheer,
For with understanding, always
Prejudice disappear.
You begin to find his virtues,
And his faults you cease to tell,
For you seldom hate a fellow
When you know him very well.
When next you start in ~sneering
And your phrases turn to blame,
Know more of him you censure
Than his business and his name;
For it's likely that acquaintance
Would your prejudice dispel,
And you'd really come to like him
If you knew him very well.
When you get to know a fellow
And you understand his ways,
Then his faults won't really matter,
For you'll find a lot to praise.
Yes, Rotarians must learn the i'm
portance of attendance. 1t is essen
tial, if growth in Rotary is to be
come possible.
Embryo ROtarians are sometime
impatient because their club does no
do some single thing and have some
thing to show. They ask, "Well
what are you doing?" This is nat
ural, for the true Rotarian is a MAJ
who does things, and he does no
want a membership in any organic
alton without a definite objective
This impatient fellow is the raw ma
terial of a good Rotarian, if tn
clubs educational committee is on til
job.
While Rotary has much to show j
the way of definite accomplishment
through the boys work and other de
partments, its great major service