你們今天參加的扶輪社例會乍看之下或許與50年前大不相同。如果你們把扶輪34,000個扶輪社走訪一遍，你們會看到來自各種不同背景的男士及女士 ，他們所說的語言幾乎全世界每一種語言都有，而且參與從當地到全球都有的服務計畫。你們會看到一些扶輪社一起在週末整修社區的兒童遊戲場，另外還和其他扶輪社結為夥伴一起合作，要在數千英里之外的一所學校安裝衛生設施。你們還會看到一群人矢志要以大大小小的行動來使世界變得更美好 。
今天的扶輪社與以前有很多地方不同。但扶輪的基礎並未改變。扶輪是建立在我們的核心價值之上：服務、聯誼、多元性、正直、及領導。這些價值構成扶輪社員的定義。這些是我們賴以生存的價值，也是我們努力要帶到我們服務的社區的價值。我們每一個人之所以在扶輪，是因為有人邀請我們加入扶輪，而且我們作出選擇，接受了邀請。從那時起，我們每天都面對另一個選擇：是只要當扶輪社的社員就好 ，或是要成為一個真正的扶輪社員。
身為扶輪社員的承諾不僅只是每週出席例會而已。扶輪社員必須以獨特的角度來看世界，在其中扮演我們的角色。這表示要把我們的社區視為己任，並付諸行動：採取主動、付出努力、為所應為，而不是挑容易的做。
我們每一個人來到扶輪是要來參與，以及改變社會。在扶輪服務方面，如同生活上幾乎其他任何事物一樣，你們付出越多，收穫也越多。如果你們只是象徵性地努力一下，你們的成就會很有限，而且你們不會從中找到很大的成就感。但當你們決定要真正地參與扶輪──把扶輪服務及扶輪價值帶入你們每一天的生活──由此你們就會開始看到你們能發揮令人難以置信的影響力。從那一刻起，你們就會找到靈感、熱情、及力量去真正改變人們的生活。而且任何人的人生改變都不及你們自己的多。
在2013-14扶輪年度，我給你們的挑戰是「參與扶輪，改變人生」。
你們選擇了佩帶扶輪領章。
作為扶輪社員的責任就落在你們肩上。
朗‧伯騰 Ron D. Burton
2013-14 RI President
Engage Rotary Change Lives
The Rotary club meeting you walk into today might, at first glance, seem very different from the weekly meetings of 50 years ago. And if you could pay a visit to every one of Rotary’s 34,000 clubs, you’d see men and women from all different backgrounds, speaking just about every one of the world’s languages, involved in service projects from the local to the global. You’d see clubs that are getting together to repair a neighborhood playground this weekend, while working in partnership with other clubs to install sanitary facilities in a school thousands of miles away. And you’d see a group of people who are absolutely committed to making the world a better place, in ways large and small.
There’s a lot that’s different about Rotary today. But the foundation that Rotary is built on hasn’t changed. Rotary is based, as it’s always been, on our core values: serves, fellowship, diversity, integrity, and leadership. There are the values that defines us as Rotarian: they’re the values we live by, and the values we strive to bring to the communities we serve.
Every one of us in Rotary is here because we were invited, and because we made a choice to accept that invitation. Every day since then, we’ve been faced with another choice : whether to just be a member of a Rotary club, or to truly be a Rotarian.
Being a Rotarian is a commitment that goes far beyond just showing up at meetings once a week. It means seeing the world, and our role in it, in a unique way. It means accepting our communities as our responsibility, and acting accordingly: taking the initiative, making the effort, and doing what’s right, not what’s easy.
All of us came to Rotary to get involved, and to make difference. And in Rotary service, as in just about everything else in life, the more you put into it, the more you get out of it. If you only put in a token effort, you won’t accomplish very much, and you won’t find very much satisfaction in what you do accomplish. But when you make the decision to truly engage Rotary ─ to bring Rotary service and Rotary values into every day of your life ─ that is when you start to see the incredible impact that you can have. That’s when you find the inspiration, the excitement, and the power to truly change lives. And no one’s life will be changed more than your own.
In the 2013-14 Rotary year, our theme, and my challenge to you, will be Engage Rotary, Change Lives.
You’ve chosen to wear a Rotary pin.
The rest is up to you.