Dear Rotarians,

The Four-Way Test

The Four-Way Test is the foundation of the Rotary organization. We can treat these four questions as absolutes, as bright line guides to the ethical behaviors that Rotary’s founders intended, or we can, as humans are so fond of doing, interpret them. Some of you may remember the concept of “situational ethics” that was popular not that long ago. That concept argued that there are no ethical absolutes, that the ethical answer to any question depended on the circumstances of the situation. That concept faded in popularity somewhat as people realized that it allowed a person to justify whatever they wanted and to ignore anything that they found to be inconvenient or uncomfortable.

Rotarians never had the temptation to take that wrong fork in the road, Rotarians had the Four-Way Test. Rotarians knew that truth, fairness, and goodwill are not subjective suggestions, they are ethical absolutes.

This past weekend we celebrated the lives of two of our greatest U.S. Presidents, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Both are persons who any Rotary Club would be honored to have as members because both clearly understood that truth and fairness were not negotiable. Their actions clearly demonstrated that building goodwill in a way beneficial to all concerned was an absolute goal in their minds.

As the public health and economic devastation of the Covid-19 virus lingers seemingly without end, it would be easy to forget the Four-Way Test, to think that truth is what we want it to be, or what is fair is what is most beneficial to us personally. As George “I cannot tell a lie” Washington, “honest Abe” Lincoln, and the founders of Rotary remind us, that might be easier, but it will never be right.

Richard Jost
President
Las Vegas Rotary Club

• President Richard Jost called the meeting to order.
• Jerry Engel gave the invocation.
• President Richard Jost played Viva Las Vegas by Elvis Presley as a tribute to our guest speaker followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
• Michael Cudiamat served as the Sergeant At Arms.
• We had one guest of rotarians.
• Super Bowl square winners were announced; First Quarter – Joan Murdock; Second Quarter – Rene Gamero; Third Quarter – PEE Caty Crockett; and Final – Susan Ziobro
• We still have rotary face masks for sale. Please contact Shawn Noorda if interested in purchasing.
• Annual tax receipts have been mailed. If you have not received your receipt, please contact Shawn Noorda.
• Toni Kern and Rosalee Hedrick gave an overview of the successful new inductee orientation that was held Tuesday, February 9 at a venue space donated by PP Tom Thomas.
• John Williams announced that PP Jim Hunt was in Mesquite to make a wheelchair delivery and that a 20’ box truck had been donated to the program.
• The club received thank you cards from Spread the Word Nevada, Cristo Rey St. Viator, and the Salvation Army.
• The Nevada Department of Veteran’s Services recognized The Las Vegas Rotary as the December 2020 Veterans Supporter of the Month.
• PE Michael Ballard provided an overview of the club’s board of directors midyear retreat. The BOD reviewed results of the Start. Stop. Keep. Survey to determine future programming. It was decided that the club would like to be more supportive and grow the 25 Club, as well as create more events with social interaction.
• The raffle ticket winner was PEE Caty Crockett who received a prize of $10, and the Lawry’s Bucks winner was John Williams.
• Lisa Motley introduced our guest speaker, the LVCVA’s SVP of Communications, Lori Nelson-Kraft. Lori educated the group on what the LVCVA’s plans are to reopen the destination post Covid and gave a comprehensive presentation on the Las Vegas Convention Center’s West Hall Expansion and the Convention Center Loop, a project in conjunction with Elon Musk’s Boring Company. She also discussed the future of the Vegas Loop project. 
• President Richard Jost then adjourned the meeting.