There actually is a reason we try to get our club members involved in at least some aspect of what we do as a service organization — fundraisers, program assignments, committee work, member recruitment, etc. — rather than limiting themselves to thinking of Rotary only as a weekly dinner or monthly breakfast club.

These Chinese characters —

不闻不若闻之，闻之不若见之；见之不若知之，知之不若行之；学至于行而止矣。

— translate from the writings of the Confucian philosopher Xun Zi (circa 312–230 B.C.) to say:

Tell me and I will forget.

Show me and I may remember.

Involve me and I will understand.

That is why we ask you to “Be a Rotarian,” not just “a member of Rotary.”