Why Do We Do What We Do in Quota?
This is not really a hard question to answer. We know that all Quotarians are bound by the same laws. Laws that we, ourselves, have written, to govern our international organization. We know that as members, we uphold a proud tradition, established in 1919, as the oldest international classified service club in the world. We know that our successes and failures will reflect on all Quotarians. We also know that when we are accepted into Quota International membership we accept the Business, Purposes and Objectives of this organization, which is to unite professional and executive women for service.
Today, in this world of great conflict, confusion and perplexity, we should be stimulated to study the OBJECTS of our organization. The OBJECTS OF QUOTA were formulated by our Founders and have never been changed!
The 1st Object of QUOTA
TO SERVE COUNTRY AND COMMUNITY
This object is carried out in many ways in all Quota communities. In all areas there have been changes in economy and structure, but Quotarians faced the challenge and have succeeded in establishing in their clubs more aid to the deaf and speech handicapped; more aid to Senior Citizens; more financial aid to high school and college students with special emphasis on students interested in teaching the handicapped; more aid to disadvantaged women & children with emphasis on women's shelters and womens health issues. It would be difficult to estimate the hours that Quotarians have contributed to Community Service Programs. Thus we enthusiastically respond to the needs of the hour. This is our interpretation of Quota's mission of SERVICE TO COUNTRY AND COMMUNITY.
The 2nd Object of Quota
Perhaps it is wise to define ethical. We usually think of it as morals, which covers the entire sphere of human conduct as coming under the distinction of right and wrong. As individuals who know the difference between right and wrong, how are we to act in our relationship in a social, business and professional world? How are we to promote the adoption and application of high ethical standards?
As Quotarians, we must have high ethical standards in our own lives if we are to promote them. When we speak of an individual with high standards, we refer to a person who is of fine character with high ideals.
Character is also
hard to define. We are apt to regard character and reputation as almost the same thing, but there is, perchance, a difference. The difference has been vey well put in the wise saying - "Reputation is what people think you are. Character is what God knows you to be." We might say that the essentials of character are "uprighteousness", "truthfulness", "sincerity", "sympathy","courage", and "service".
Quotarians endowed with a sense of these ideals should not find it hard to promote the application of Quota International's second object: TO PROMOTE HIGH ETHICAL STANDARDS.
The 3rd Object of Quota
Robert Browning once said "...my Business is not to remake myself but to make the absolute best of what God made..." We can interpret this to mean, "It is not so much the talent we have, but the use of it. Not so much the job we do, but how we do it." At one time in our history, not so long ago, a person in "business" was defined by where they worked, what profession they followed, how they dressed and business was conducted on an extremely formal basis. Now, at the dawn of the 21st century, the way that we do business is being rewritten. Home businesses are springing up all over the landscape. Workers, supervisors, CEO's make use of flex time, and telecommute. That stay-at-home mom may have an advanced degree and work out of a home office. Members of Quota International have had the forsight to revise membership criteria to encompass an entirely new work force. Thus we EMPHASIZE THE DIGNITY OF ALL USEFUL OCCUPATIONS.
