The Four Way Test and Good Will

Rotary started something with the Four Way Test.  Rotary started people thinking about their actions and words and deeds.  Because of Rotary, the Four Way Test elevated itself from a national standing to international standing; how wonderful!

As with etiquette and good manners, the element of good will found in Rotary’s Four Way Test is also found in etiquette on a national and international level.  There is so much to learn from one another and about one another.  We need to embrace international good will by embracing, first, each country’s own ‘Good Will Bill of Rights’ as well as their proclaimed code of ethics.

Cultural etiquette stands just as tall and sings the same praises as Rotary’s Four Way test.  In one hand we have cultural etiquette which opens its vast numbers of books and pages to anyone who would venture to learn.  In the other hand we hold Rotary’s Four Way Test that teaches us, in a heart beat, the important of good will which equates to better friendships.  Etiquette also teaches the importance of good will and how it embraces friendship.  Rotary and etiquette teach compatibility that begins between our two eyes and travels to the center of our heart.  One depends upon the other; think ‘four way’ and see ‘good will.’

As we travel the world let us first study the humanitarian efforts of the world to see if the net truly spreads across the vastness of the world and encompasses one and all.  How wonderful that Rotary includes all and forever thinks that there is no limit to what we may do.  It is just as etiquette knows that with civility we will all matter, we will all be counted, and we will all – together – signal the next decade of excellence and good will.  Rotary and etiquette remain forces that go hand-in-hand.

Rotary International remains limitless in what each Rotarians may do.  As with etiquette, ‘may’ indicates permission and ‘can’ continues to bring to mind the ‘can-do’ spirit.  All who know Rotarians know Rotarians equate to the ‘can-do’ spirit.  Only a person without an active imagination falls by the wayside and is left wondering what happened to the window of opportunity marked ‘good will.’   Show what you are made of by projecting your civility and your can-do spirit.  You may step up to the plate; you have my permission.

by: Miss Etiquette
www.missetiquette.com

An Essay: Rotary’s Four Way Test

Truth, fair, concern, beneficial, good will, and friendship.   These words are the heart and soul of Rotary’s Four Way Test.  What these words have in common with civility, good manners and etiquette is that they are all a part of civility, good manners and etiquette.

Telling the truth is what we learn as a child.  It is part of your code of ethics at home.  That particular code of ethics takes you from home to school to business and into your social and professional life.  When you hear something that seems out of the ordinary, it is common to ask, “Is it the truth?”   Rotary, just as etiquette, teaches each of us to ask “Is it the truth?” as the first question that comes to mind with an issue or a problem.  Your automatic, first answer to the question is always the truth.

The importance of truth brings you to the benefit the truth will provide to those concerned.  Fairness, concern, and beneficial; these are all part and parcel of truth.  The word “truth” beams of quality, sincerity, honesty, and genuineness.  It is ‘the quality of being in accordance with experience.”  When you choose truth you are telling others that you hold yourself to the highest level of quality.  Reality sets in; jokes and foolishness are dismissed.  Fairness comes to the surface immediately after truth. If the truth is real then fairness is the next stepping stone.

Good will and friendship are attainable by being truthful and by having a concern for others.  That concern for those concerned will benefit from your desire to build good will.  The bridge to your concern for those concerned begins with your quest that the road be beneficial, advantageous, and favorable.   Rotary’s Four Way Test is asking if your statement of words that exits your mouth is beneficial to those around you.  Take that in, decipher it, and realize how important the reality is of what you said.

You are your own truth.  If others know you as someone who is not one of his words, you may want to take a minute to examine what you have become.  Find out how far you have strayed from your childhood ‘code of ethics.’  Find out if there is time to tighten your belt and make yourself more accountable for your actions.  Perhaps you have slipped into a habit of bending the truth in order to harness a basket of friendship.  If so, the acquired friendships were harnessed far from the truth and if the truth were known, you might find yourself more alone then you were when you started your journey.  Take Rotary’s Four Way Test to heart and redefine the truth; it will set you free.

Rotary’s Four Way Test of twenty-four words is a comfort each day.  Memorize it, recite it, believe it; and live it; I challenge you.

by: Miss Etiquette
www.missetiquette.com

Etiquette and The Four-Way Test

Rotary’s Four Way test and the life lessons found in an etiquette book go hand in hand. The simile of truth and etiquette bring a vivid picture to the mind, one that focuses on upbringing, support, benefit, fairness, and graciousness. All of the lessons a young person should be introduced to are found in etiquette just as all of life’s lessons a grown person should be aware of are found within the twenty-four words that are the make-up of the Four Way Test.

The first question asks, “Is it the truth?” The first time we ask this question regarding a particular puzzle we already know the answer. Etiquette, too, teaches to be civil and to know the truth. Just as this is the Four Way Test’s first question, it is the first subject discussed in an etiquette book as your private life must be the first place you start as home life is truly the beginning of a person’s education. If you behave at home you understand your home’s code of conduct and you will be able to venture out knowing what the truth is and how to keep your self-centered instincts in check.

When asking “Is it fair to all concerned?” we immediately peruse the theater of the mind and research the pros and cons of the argument and immediately know if what we are about to do is fair to all concerned. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know if you are pitted against a national debate champion and you have never spoken in public that the person who picked the two of you to debate didn’t ask this question. Etiquette would teach to be fair by weighing and evaluating all the details by putting pen to paper. Only by seeing the pros and cons on paper would you be able to see if the assessment is a fair one.

“Will it build goodwill and better friendships?” has a huge scope of possibilities when banded together with a team approach to a problem. As etiquette teaches, a team approach at home is the best way to go about chores as opposed to doing only what you want and only what you enjoy. Yard work may not be the highlight of your weekend but sharing the rake and the broom with your little sister may build goodwill and enhance your sibling friendship. That particular weekend of sharing the yard work may make a prized entry in your little sister’s journal and one that will have an impact on her for the rest of her life. Etiquette teaches to lead by example and sharing is certainly showing the way; sharing is goodwill.

“Will it be beneficial to all concerned?” has enormous depth far beyond these seven words. ‘Useful’ and ‘helpful’ equate to beneficial. Etiquette teaches that knowing etiquette is your ticket through life and is truly the way you should treat others. Going hand-in-hand with etiquette is Rotary’s Four Way test for all issues, and this last question asks you to decipher the benefit of your deed to all concerned. It isn’t difficult or complicated; it is a mandatory code of ethics to be civil in order to honor civilization.

The Rotary Four Way Test was created in 1932 and Emily Post’s Etiquette original etiquette book was written in 1922. The correlation between Rotary’s Four Way Test and the etiquette book has a deep association. The Four Way Test is straight-to-the-point and has twenty-four words which should be learned quickly; it will benefit you on a daily basis

by: Miss Etiquette
www.missetiquette.com

Promoting Your Four-Way Test Essay Contest

Many people have written for advice to assist them in promoting their Four-Way Test Essay Contests. I have accumulated a some basic points to help drive school and community participation:

• Promoting Participation – Getting Ready for the program
  • Create a one-sheet brochure targeted to the students that focuses on the prizes money and community service.
  • Create a one-sheet “teacher’s helper” which will provide historical information, community benefits, contest guidelines and dates that all assays are due for judging.
  • Offer to be a guest speaker to middle school or high school classes to introduce the essay contest. Please provide historical information as well as why and how this program benefits your community today.
• Student and Teacher Recognition
  • Provide a monetary prize to each student winner.
  • Provide monetary support of a school program at the choice of the winning teacher, this will help drive participation in future years .
  • Invite winning students and teachers to your to read their essays to your membership .
  • Create a printed booklet of all winners to hand out to members and guests.
  • Publish the winners on www.thefourwaytest.com
  • Request your local newspaper to publish the winners.
  • Enter your winning essays into your district essay contest.

I hope these ideas help. I am sure there are many more ideas and comments. Please feel free to leave your comments and I will update this article with the ideas that are submitted.