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The Four Way Test Is Explored In Divisional Competition

photo by Photo Provided Competing at the divisional level and representing three different Rotary Clubs were LtoR Sophia Parker, Noah Kiernan and Makalya Foster.

Tuesday March 3, 2015

By Cookie Steponaitis

The conversation was lively and camaraderie was present this past week when members of three local Rotary Clubs came together to eat, sing and listen to the speeches of three local teens competing at the divisional level.  It was hosted by the Vergennes Rotary “Mavericks” and the competition featured students from Vergennes, Middlebury and Charlotte/Shelburne areas. Each of the three students presented a three to five minute speech on the Four Way Test, which is a set of guiding principles used by Rotarians around the world for personal and business decisions and was created in the 1930’s by Rotarian Herbert Taylor. The four questions are designed to focus on ethical actions and choices the world over and can apply to situations both small in nature and large is scope.
Each of the teens addressed the four questions and chose to focus on the issues of bullying and service as ways to measure and use the Four Way Test. Each speaker was passionate about their views and made many valid points about the role of social media today as a source of good and bad but in the final analysis it is the choices of the individual that govern the path they take.  The Four Way Test reads:
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?
When the contest was over Middelbury Rotary speaker Makayla Foster was the winner and will move on to the state level of the competition. All Rotarians present congratulated the three contestants and remarked on how wonderful it was to listen to caring, articulate and involved young people. Also speaking was Vergennes Rotary Contestant Sophia Parker and Charlotte/Shelburne Rotary Contestant Noah Kiernan.

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