6 ways to take action during Vocational Service Month

Vocational Service calls on us to empower others by using our unique skills and expertise to address community needs and help others acquire or refine skills and advance their professional opportunities. By bringing together people from diverse professions and backgrounds, Rotary recognizes the importance of all skills and occupations. A vibrant Rotary club reflects the businesses, organizations and professions in its community, embracing diversity in experiences and perspectives.

Your professional life and vocational service go hand in hand. Rotarians have a dual responsibility: represent their occupations within their club and exemplify the ideals of Rotary in their places of work.

January is Rotary’s Vocational Service Month, a great time to start leveraging vocational service! How can you take action?

  1. Join a Rotarian Action Group and support service projects around the world. These autonomous groups consist of Rotarians, family members, and Rotary program participants and alumni with expertise in a particular field. Members advise and collaborate with clubs and districts on service projects. If your expertise fits one of the current 25 Action Groups, contact the groups’ leaders to get involved.
  2. Join or form a Rotary Fellowship related to your vocation. Rotary Fellowships are international groups of Rotarians, family members, and program participants and alumni who share a vocational or recreational interest. There are many vocationally-oriented fellowships such as: Authors and Writers, Editors and Publishers, Health Professionals, Lawyers, Photographers, Police and Law Enforcement.
  3. Volunteer on a service project and use your vocational skills to serve others. Think about the underlying skills that make you successful in your profession: maybe you have training in some branch of science or medicine, are handy with tools or machinery know how to start a business, have expertise managing finances, or can influence others through public speaking or writing. Use your unique set of talents to make a difference in your community.
  4. Share your expertise through your district resource network. If you have technical expertise in one of Rotary’s six areas of focus, or with project planning and implementation, community assessment, measurement and evaluation, or other important aspects of large scale projects grants, let your district international service chair know. Lend your skills to local clubs and help develop more impactful projects.
  5. Participate in a vocationally-oriented Rotary Friendship Exchange. Work with your district Rotary Friendship Exchange chair to organize an international, reciprocal exchange between two districts interested in exploring a professional field in a new cultural context. Involve young professionals, and organize activities allowing exchange participants to experience cultural immersion while exploring their field in a new environment.
  6. Join TRF’s Cadre of Technical Advisors The Rotary Foundation Cadre of Technical Advisers is a group of volunteer Rotarians who provide technical expertise and advice to Rotarians planning and carrying out Rotary grant projects around the world. Cadre members review, monitor, and evaluate projects and ensure grant funds are being used properly. Apply online to be considered for the Cadre
The Vocational Service in Action handbook can help you gain a better understanding of vocational service and provide you with ideas to practice it through your service activities, in your personal life, and in your career. Download the handbook and share it with your club members.