Values in Action

The Rutland Institute for Ethics partnered with several Rotary Clubs in the Upstate in hosting events that supported programs with values that align with the Rutland Toolbox Approach: veracity, justice, fraternity and beneficence. As we all aspire to a better world, we can each take small steps; these are a few.

On October 27^th Dr. Randall Parr, creator of the Early Act First Knight character education program endorsed by Rotary, was invited by the Rotary Club of Greenville Evening to address a gathering of roughly 40 Upstate citizens interested in learning about the program that brings the Four Way Test and the virtues of knighthood to middle schools http://www.eafk.org/. Dr. Parr and his troupe joined in a jousting event for hundreds of school children the following day at Riverbend Equestrian Park. They also stayed on as part of the Joust For Fun event, a fundraiser held on October 30 to assist in supporting the EAFK program in two middle schools in the Upstate, Powdersville and Wren (to start in January). Dr. Parr stated that the Powdersville program is not only the first EAFK program in the eastern US, it is one of the best programs in the country!

On November 3^rd Linda Tarr-Whelan, esteemed friend of the Rutland Institute for Ethics and the Women’s Leadership Creative Inquiry at Clemson, returned to the Upstate to speak at several programs. We were able to leverage that visit and initiate the “Women Lead the Way to End Polio Now” event at which the institute hosted over 60 attendees in the beautiful atrium of Clemson at the Falls. People heard Linda speak about the proven economic successes of businesses and countries alike, which make the conscious decision to have at least 30% women in leadership roles. Part of the fundraiser included proceeds from the sale of her book, Women Lead the Way: Your Guide to Stepping Up to Leadership and Changing the World, a nation-wide best seller recognized in Top 10 "Best Business Books of 2009" for Library Journal; "Best 10 Business Books for 2010" for American Library Association. Over $1800 was raised and credited to 7 Rotary Clubs towards their commitments to Rotary’s End Polio Now campaign. Those funds are enough to protect more than 3000 individuals from contracting polio!