Dear Fellow Rotarians,
Have you done this?
Last week, I washed one of my Rotary pins that I had forgotten to remove from my jacket. I was thankful that I did not need a service call for either my washer or dryer. And, once more, I thought how much I appreciate the upgrade to magnetic pins and badges. No more holes in blouses, dresses, or jackets.
All of that led me to think about the symbolism, meaning, and traditions around our Rotary wheel. Most of the earliest Rotary clubs had a wheel as an image on their publications and letterheads. It illustrated “Civilization, Movement and Service work in action.” In 1919, the Rotary Club of Philadelphia added cogs to create a working wheel, symbolizing members working together, literally interlocked with one another to achieve the organization’s objectives. The six spokes represented an inward movement to show the path of Vocational Service and an outward one to the community and world.
In 1922, it was decided that all clubs would adopt a single design as the exclusive emblem of Rotarians.
A group of engineers advised that the geared wheel was mechanically unsound and would not work without a “keyway” in the center of the gear to attach it to a power shaft. So rather than have any idle clubs or club members, the change was made in 1923. The blue and gold colors were added at the 1929 Rotary International Convention. It is the official Rotary International emblem. The Rotary wheel is also referred to as “The Mark of Excellence”.
Our two newest Emmaus Rotary members- Keith Heffner and Eileen Teyim - will receive their pins when they are ceremonially inducted into Emmaus Rotary this June. Soon Mike Waddell, our President-elect, will receive his official President pin. One of his first fun actions will be to hand out the Rotary year 2021-2022 theme pins. So we all have a variety and choice of pins to wear to our regular meetings. Remember that Don Blose, our Sargent at Arms, may fine members found not to be wearing their pins to meetings.
More importantly, please consider wearing your Rotary pin during the week as you move around the community. Let it spark a conversation so others know Rotary is active in East Penn. Let it be a mark of excellence. Let it mark you as an active, trusted leader who is interconnected with other Rotarians, And that --
Together, we see a world where people unite and take action
to make a lasting change across the globe,
in our communities, and in ourselves.
Rotary International’s Mission Statement