Our President of 2005/2006 Andy Forgham with the District Governor exchanging banners.

Our then Vice Chairman Dr Neil Douse sharing a joke with fellow Rotarian Andy Montague at Presidents Night in May 2006

Gibson met with Mexican President Vicente Fox and told him he would donate US$1 million to help families rebuild, with one condition: He would make the donation through The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International.

The Hollywood actor and director learned of Rotary from several of his relatives who had traveled with members of the Rotary Club of Tarzana Encino, California, USA, on medical missions to Central America. Gibson and his wife, Robyn, were impressed that The Rotary Foundation had matched their family members' donation to participate.

"The key in their minds [to] the money coming [through] Rotary is that they felt it would be responsibly handled," says Clare Short, of the Tarzana Encino club. Following the Gibsons' donation, the Foundation has set up a hurricane disaster recovery committee, along the lines of similar national committees appointed after the South Asia tsunami, to oversee rebuilding efforts. Foundation Trustee Chair Frank J. Devlyn heads the committee, and Past RI Director Francisco Creo is serving as an adviser.

Rotary clubs closest to the affected areas will help the committee identify people most in need of assistance.

Devlyn is in talks with a nongovernmental organization specializing in low-cost housing about help with rebuilding efforts. Through a cosponsorship, the Gibsons' funds could be matched and homes for disaster survivors built at nearly half the normal cost.

"The Mexican government is giving the land and the services, such as electricity and drainage, in this unique [collaboration]," says Devlyn. The government will also provide a new school and clinic near the planned homes.

To give them a true feeling of ownership, beneficiaries of the low-cost homes will be asked to contribute a small amount, about 10 percent, of the commercial value of the homes.

By Vanessa Glavinksas and Vukoni Lupa-Lasaga of Rotary International News

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?"

One of the most widely printed and quoted statements of business ethics in the world is the Rotary Four-Way Test. It was created by Rotarian Herbert J. Taylor in 1932 when he was asked to take charge of a company that was facing bankruptcy.

Taylor looked for a way to save the struggling company mired in depression-caused financial difficulties. He drew up a 24-word code of ethics for all employees to follow in their business and professional
lives.

The Four-Way Test became the guide for sales, production, advertising and all relations with dealers and customers, and the survival of the company is credited to this simple philosophy.

Herb Taylor became president of Rotary International in 1954-55. The Four-Way Test was adopted by Rotary in 1943 and has been translated into more than a hundred languages and published in thousands of ways.

top