What’s in a Name? - #RotaryAfrica
Did you know… 7.6% of the Anglo-Saxon world have the surname of either Smith or Johnson. That is over half a BILLION people!
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The name Smith harkens back to the word smite, which means to “strike with a hammer.” In medieval Europe, professional smiths (blacksmiths, goldsmiths, coppersmiths, and more) were among the most skilled and respected citizens in a community. Eventually, occupational names like “Tim, the Smith” were shortened. Today, Smith is the most common surname in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia.
The surname Johnson owes its popularity to the New Testament. The given name John is one of the most popular in Christian world, and for good reason — The Bible is full of beloved Johns: John the Apostle and John the Baptist to name a few. The spread of Christianity helped make John one of the most popular first names in the western world. When patronymic surnames became popular in the Middle Ages, Johnson would become an obvious frontrunner. It’s now the second most common surname in the English-speaking world.
By the way, “Wang” is the most common name in the world with 107 million Wangs on the planet! It’s represented by the Chinese character for “King” or “Monarch.”
Names are important. When a child is born, parents choose a name that means something to their family. Many boys carry the first name of their father – becoming “Junior” for the rest of their lives. When my children were named, we looked for the meaning of possible moniker – significant meaning… easy to spell… easy to pronounce.
On the other hand, I know several people with unusual names. I have a friend in Zambia named “Fewdays.” He was born prematurely and his parents were told that he would not survive more than a “few days.” He surprised his parents and the doctor, but to this day he is still called “Fewdays.” He retired as a teacher several years ago at the age of 55.
On 23 February 1905, Harris, Gustavus Loehr, Silvester Schiele, and Hiram Shorey gathered at Loehr's office in Room 711 of the Unity Building in downtown Chicago. This was the first Rotary club meeting. They decided to call the new club “Rotary” after the practice of rotating meeting locations. Today most Rotary Clubs have a set meeting place or – as is the case with my club – a set link for our virtual meetings.
So… Why keep the name “Rotary” when we no longer rotate meeting places? The name remains because it is part of our heritage. The name and the wheel have been symbols of Rotary since our earliest days. The first wheel design was made by Chicago Rotarian Montague Bear, an engraver who drew a simple wagon wheel, with a few lines to show dust and motion. The wheel was said to illustrate "Civilization and Movement."?
That wheel has changed over the years, but the spirit and purpose of Rotary remains the same – Fellowship! Being a Rotarian means having the opportunity to experience the warm fellowship of a Rotary Club which can greatly expand one's circle of acquaintance, foster lifelong friendships, and help one do for his or her community what he or she might never accomplish alone.
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Our motto – Service Above Self – is the principle of Rotary because it best conveys the philosophy of unselfish volunteer service.
The object of Rotary (Note, not plural object – singular and all encompassing) is "to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise." The statement then lists four areas by which this "ideal of service" is fostered:
through the development of acquaintance as the opportunity for service;
the promotion of high ethical standards in business and professions;
through service in one's personal, business and community life; and
the advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace.
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We all know this… or we should.
THIS is why we call ourselves Rotarians
THIS is why the name is so important to us.
THIS is why the wheel we wear on our lapels, T-shirts, golf shirts, hats and bumper stickers on our vehicles (or wherever else we may find it) is so important.
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It identifies us as someone who will provide the opportunity to talk about Rotary as well as letting people know you are part of one of the best organisations in the world.
That pin on your lapel changes you. It makes you think more before you speak, think before you act and remember, all the time, that you are a Rotarian – and that as Rotarians, we are here to “Bring Hope into the World!”
What’s in a name? You are!