RI President Sakuji Tanaka
In Japan, we place great importance on the value of work. Whatever we are called to do, we should do it to the very best of our abilities, with dignity and with pride. Whether the job is running a country or shining shoes, there is honor in every vocation.
I grew up embracing this belief, but I had never stopped to contemplate it. One day, in my third year in Rotary, we had a speaker at our club who talked about the purpose of one’s livelihood. He asked, why do we work hard? What is the importance of our work?
I had never thought about this before. I never saw it as a question. We work to earn money. We work to be successful. We work because it is required of us. To me, this was all.
On that day, I learned about the idea of vocational service. It was the idea that through our work, we can serve others. We think about others’ needs, and grow to care more for the needs of our communities. We build positive connections between people, and a more peaceful world.
This is the idea that has changed my life. It did not change how much I worked, or how hard I worked. But it changed why I worked, and how I experienced my life. It has made me see a higher purpose in everything I do.
The idea of Service above Self is an idea that is unique to Rotary. But it is an idea that can be embraced by anyone. And I believe very much that in Rotary, and beyond Rotary, we can build Peace through Service.
Read more about RI President Tanaka and watch a profile.
職業奉仕を通じて平和を築く
日本では、仕事の価値というものを大変重要視します。「どのような仕事であれ、尊厳と誇りを持って全力を尽くさなければならない。一国を治める仕事であろうと、靴磨きの仕事であろうと、すべての職業には名誉があるのだ」と考えられています。
私は、この考え方を受け入れて成長した世代ですが、それを真に理解できたのは、ロータリー入会3年目のある例会で、人生の目的についての卓話を聞いた時だったと思います。その卓話者は、「私たちはなぜ一生懸命働くのか」「私たちの仕事の重要性とは何か」と私たちに問いかけました。
私はそれまで、このことについて考えたこともありませんでした。自問すべきことであるとも思っていませんでした。仕事をするのはお金を稼いで、事業で成功するためであり、必要だから仕事をするのだと思っていました 。
この例会で、私は職業奉仕の理念を学びました。その理念とは、私たちは仕事を通じて他者に奉仕できるのだということです。他者のニーズを知ろうとすれば、おのずと地域社会のニーズにも心を傾けようとするようになります。そして、人々同士がつながり、より平和な世界が築かれるのです。
この考え方が私の人生を変えました。仕事の量や仕事に対する情熱が変わったわけではありませんが、仕事をする理由や人生の目的についてより深く考えるようになりました。自分が行うことすべてにおいて、より高い目的を見出すようになりました。
超我の奉仕の理想は、ロータリー独特のものですが、誰にでも実践できる理想でもあります。そして私は、ロータリーで、またロータリー以外の場所でも、「奉仕を通じて平和を」実現できると確信しています。
Rotary Voices 
Hola.-
Presidente Sakuji Tanaka.-
Para mi es un gusto poder escribirle, ya que tuve la oportunidad de verlo en la Ciudad de Puebla México.
Felicidades! por su mensaje es muy alentador, en verdad reconocer el trabajo a personas valiosas y sobretodo el preocuparse por servir a los demas, MI CLUB ERANDI ZAMORA, que está integrado por 17 señoras.
El pasado mes de Octubre entregamos reconocimiento a dos mujeres que han dedicado parte de su vida y mucho de su tiempo, siempre dando lo mejor de si para servir y mejorar a nuestra comunidad.
Ellas comentaron que han desempeñado tareas que les gustan y que les han proporcionado muchas satisfacciones.
Que bueno que Rotary da este reconocimiento por el servicio a través de la ocupación.
ANA BERTHA ARRIAGA MARIN
PRESIDENTA 2012-2013
CLUB ROTARIO ERANDI ZAMORA D4160
MEXICO
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Dear President Tanaka,
Thank you very much for your inspirational message. I’m from Rotary E-Club of District 2750, Tokyo Yoneyama which is a newly established Rotary Club and we are learning about vocational service this week. It’s a pleasure to read other comments from Rotarians all over the world as well.
Dina F.
President
Rotary E-Club of District 2750, Tokyo Yoneyama
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Vocational Service is the cornerstone of being a Rotarian. We are proud of what we do and how we do it but I often under estimate the powers of uplifting others in service. Having visited Japan a number of times I understand the sentiment behind President Sakuji Tanaka’s story.
Vocational Month gives Rotarians an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate in others achievements in the workplace. It is not about focusing on our achievements it is about how we have helped others to fulfill their goals or rise above adversity.
In Australia we encourage clubs to participate in the ‘Pride of Workmanship Awards’ where we ask the corporate business world to acknowledge people in their employ that have given ‘Service Above Self’. While most of these events can be quite localized such an event as New South Wales Police Officer of the Year is quite a prestigious event. The Commissioner of Police sees this as a way that the community can get to understand the police in their communities a little better, sanctions these awards.
I would love to hear from other Rotarian of events that Rotary Clubs become involved in to celebrate Vocational Month.
Cheryl Deguara
District Secretary, Rotary International District 9750 (Sydney, Australia)
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Dear President,It is with immense pleasure to read your idea of vocational service and its multifaceted advantages while doing the job with full satisfaction understanding the need of others by which we are generating peace through service.
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Dear RI President Tanaka, I want to thank you for your message on the importance of our everyday work in service to our community. What we do in life is of little consequence if it is not applied to helping our fellow man. As a Rotarian this is a message I have seen lived out repeatedly through our organization’s work both locally and internationally. Our club in Thomasville N.C. has just finished a community service project that involved the renovation of seven children’s playgrounds. This project called the “children at play initiative” is designed to re-educate the community about the importance of physical activity and proper nutrition in the pathway to improved health for our children. This project has brought together our city government, our Rotary Club, our communities churches, and our schools to create a community wide movement. To see our community pull together in such a collaborative effort and to see our children out of their homes and using these playgrounds really does exemplify peace through service. A project designed to promote health of our children bringing a whole city together to accomplish the goal. The result of this and all the other Rotary projects we are involved in as Rotarian’s makes our everyday work mean so much more. Thank You Rotary K. B. Milliren President Thomasville Rotary Club
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My dear RI President,
You are dead right right. Vocational Service to me, is an important anchor of Rotary activities because it resides in Service above Self.
It is indeed two-prong:
1st is, Vocational Service by the Rotarian to the communities which in turn can help to build peace.
2nd is, Vocational education projects and activities by the Rotarian to the New Generation (the future leaders) in grooming them up in Rotary’s Ideal of Service, that can
in future yield great dividend in building Peace through Service.
Rtn Albert Mike Dipeolu, PP and Editor, Weekly Bulletin of RC of Lagos West, Dist.9110, Nigeria.
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Dear President, you are 100% right. When we do the job for satisfaction instead of monetary benefits, we enjoy peace with is us. ” Work is Love in motion” says a Yogi. In Rotary too we enjoy doing the service oriented projects. Yes,we can radiate peace through Service.
R.Jeganathan,
The Editor, “The Soul” official monthly bulletin of RC of Karur Texcity, Dt.3000. Tamil Nadu, India.
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I am also one of the rotary members of India based in Kalimpong, West Bengal under Darjeeling district in the year 2011 to 2012, I was a president of Rotaract Club of one of the college called as B.B Pradhan Management College Rotaract Club. I was really inspired by the club activities and gained lots of experiences too. But now, i am in country called as Bhutan going to join our club called Rotary Club of Bhutan which was recently opened in our country. So i even gone through the Rotary Club of Thailand, which has inspired by lots of activities done in your country. So now my intention and interest with your club was to gain access through your club and get linked with you all which i will be highly appreciated….
Sangay Dorji
From Bhutan
Ex-President of Rotaract Club of B b Pradhan College, Kalimpong
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Dear Prsident,
We have in our ancient scriptures stating that ‘Duty is God’. One must religiously follow it.
Rajesh C Jampala
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Dear RI President
In Germany we have a saying ” Pride yourself in a job well done” and that encompases what you expressed if we take pride in what we do we automatically serve the community by example and help to create peace through service
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