In 1932, Rotarian Herbert J. Taylor took charge of an aluminum company that was facing bankruptcy. Concerned about the 250 employees who would lose their jobs if this company went bankrupt, Taylor created the 4-Way Test and saved his company by incorporating the ethically-based principles of this test.

Our world is to Rotary what the aluminum company was to Rotarian Taylor. Today, there is no country in our world which is corruption-free. Rotary can combat this evil by promoting the Rotary 4-Way Test so that this test becomes an integral part of the psyche of people everywhere.

All countries of our world can be divided into two categories. The first category is comprised of those countries where public funds are largely siphoned off into the pockets of the well-to-do when these funds are meant for the welfare of the poor. The second category is comprised of those countries where public funds are not largely siphoned off into the pockets of well-to-do when these funds are meant for the welfare of the poor.

In initiating this project to promote the 4-Way Test, two essential criteria were identified to qualify a candidate country for consideration: (i) the country must have a strong Rotary base where Rotarians can financially sustain this project for a few future generations; and (ii) the people of the country must have a strong history of high moral and ethical values.

This effort to promote the 4-Way Test was initiated in 2004-2005 by Rotary Club of Windsor (1918) and Rotary International (RI) District 6400. India met the envisioned requirements. India is a country where public funds are largely siphoned off into the pockets of the well-to-do when these funds are meant for the welfare of the poor. India has a very strong Rotary presence and Rotarians can financially sustain this project for future generations. Furthermore, the concept of “Rit” – explained in the Vedas, which are believed to have been written some 5,000 years ago – has deeply ingrained the significance of “truth” as an indispensable value. People living in villages live by this concept and most people in India live in villages. They are basically, essentially, and inherently honest because “Rit” has been a part of the fabric of their existence for thousands of years.

Mahatma Gandhi was a genius in realizing this fact. He used ‘Truth and Non-Violence’ to unite and to free India from foreign rule without any use of force. This historical precedence confirms that the usage of the 4-Way Test will regenerate and revise the age-old moral and ethical concepts. This project will also bring Rotary closer to the future generations in India. Therefore, the Rotary year 2005-2006 became the first year of a National Essay Competition for school children in India. The topic of this essay was ‘Adopt the Rotary 4-Way Test in Your Life to Eliminate Corruption’. The details of this project are published on the website www.rotary1918.com. Centennial Past District Governor Yogananda of Rotary International District 3190 is the administrator for this project.

We could now expand upon these efforts. The time has come to select one country from the second category of countries. Canada is a country that is a model of tolerance and multicultural strength that other countries of our world would definitely wish to follow. Canada has a very strong Rotary presence where Rotarians can financially sustain any project for the betterment of future generations. Canada is a country where public funds are not largely siphoned off into the pockets of the well-to-do when these funds are meant for the welfare of the poor.

There is definitely room for improvement. Canada is neither a totally corruption-free country nor is she the least corrupt country in our world. The present state is a wake-up call. Centennial Past District Governor PDG Jim Ives’s wise advice, that youth are our future and if we want to see change in the world it will be through the children, holds true for every country. It is incumbent upon Rotarians to promote high ethical standards by initiating a national essay competition among school children to spread the message of the 4-Way Test in coming generations. As such, Canada is an excellent choice.

A project should be designed that meets the needs and requirements of the present generation of school-going children. This project could be in the form of a National Essay Competition for school children where four levels of Awards should be established. These will be School level, Rotary Club level, Rotary District level and National level.