2014 Rotary 4-Way Test Essay Winner: McKenna Eisenzimmer

Rotary 4-Way Test Essay Contest

By Makenna Eisenzimmer
St. Paul’s Lutheran School – 5th Grade
Ogallala, NE

The Rotary Four-Way Test is important because it teaches people how to work together to build a better community with good leaders of all ages. The Four-Way Test provided hope for people following World War II that times would get better and they could trust each other again. The Four-Way test is a good statement to live by for everyone today.

Is it the TRUTH? People should always tell the truth because it is the right thing to do. Telling the truth is sometimes difficult. Sometimes people lie because they are scared of getting in more trouble than if they tell the truth. I will admit that I have not always told the truth? When my friend asked me if I had $5 that she could have for the book order, I told her “no” because I didn’t want her to have my money. She was upset with me the rest of the day once she found out that I did have the money in my pocket. Telling the truth will help to build better friendships, keep you out of trouble and people will trust you more if you don’t lie to them.

Is it FAIR to all concerned? People need to be fair to every one they are around. When people are not fair to each other it can hurt someone’s feelings and it may cause them to loose friends which nobody wants to have happen to them. My little sister doesn’t think my parents are fair to her because they always let me do things that she is not allowed to do. I got a new horse and she didn’t. They go to my ball games and not to hers. I get to take guitar lessons and she doesn’t. This hurts her feelings and she always says that it’s “not fair.” Some day she will be older and understand that it’s fair but she just has to wait until she is old enough to be in activities.

Will it build GOODWILL and better FRIENDSHIPS? Good friends are important no matter what your age is because then you always have someone to talk to and that you can trust. I have learned a lot about being a good friend to someone by watching my Grandpa and his friend Harold. They went to kindergarten together and grew up as neighbors and friends. Now that they are both old they like to talk and drink coffee and they worry about each other. They will be friends for a lifetime and they have built goodwill, better friendships and have respect for each other and their community.

Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned? It is important to make sure that all decisions for a group or a classroom provide a benefit for everyone. When everyone gains it makes it a better and stronger group and makes the community a better place to live. Leaders sometimes have to make tough choices but they need to think about how their choices will be beneficial to everyone so that everyone gains and nobody loses. It has been beneficial to the students at St Paul’s and St Luke’s Schools that we held a combined volleyball camp. Everyone improved their volleyball skills and we also met new friends from the other school.

The Rotary Four-Way test is a great saying for me to think about as I get older. It will help to teach me how to be kind and build better friendships within a community and hopefully others will also think about the Four-way test. When I’m making decisions I will ask myself these four important questions and use my answers to help me make the best decision that I can for myself and for those within my community. I will always remember if it is the truth, is it fair to all concerned, will it build better friendships and be beneficial to all concerned. If I can answer yes to all these questions, than I am making a good decision for myself and my community.

Makenna Eisenzimmer is a 5th Grader at St Paul’s Lutheran School in Ogallala.

In her spare time she enjoys playing volleyball, basketball, dance, guitar and spending time on the family farm and with friends.

McKenna is an active member of the 4-H program and enjoys participating in various projects including shooting sports, showing pigs, rabbits and horses.

McKenna participated in the Miss Nebraska Little Sister program last summer and organized her first community service project during the holidays with a Tree of Remembrance for Veterans raising $500 for the Ogallala VFW and Operation Remember Me founded by her “big sister” Miss Nebraska 2013 JaCee Pilkington.

McKenna’s favorite part of attending Rotary with her mom is going to the fun activities like the Dam Run for Polio at Lake McConaughy and attending weekly meetings when they serve broasted chicken for lunch!

McKenna is the daughter of Keith & Mary Eisenzimmer and hopefully a future Rotarian. Makenna would like to thank Becky Dailey for organizing the essay contest and District 5630 for the $300 she plans to use for future educational opportunities.

Saturday, April 26

District Governor Elect Sarah Cathcart (Kearney Noon) began the morning activities with a powerful flag ceremony with our guests and RYE students parading their respective flag. Representing 11 nations were; Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, India, Japan, Mexico, Romania, Spain, Ukraine, Nebraska, The United States of America and of course the flag that unites all of us, Rotary International. The US colors were presented by the VFW Color Guard Commander Gary Bush followed by the pledge of Allegiance and the national Anthem’s of Equador and United States.

District RYE Coordinator, Paula Witt (Hastings Sunrise) presented “Passport to Possibilities” to the two outbound RYE Students (25-26) with a gift for their upcoming exchange. Owen Phelps (Hastings) will be traveling to Brazil, while Mac Whitehead (McCook) will be traveling to Japan. Following we heard from the current inbound students themselves as Paula interviewed each of them about their exchange year in Nebraska.

Visiting DG Shawna Secker D-5390 (Montana) presented the “Exchange Effect: Changing Lives, One Journey at a Time” An inspirational story of how RYE is transforming lives across the globe, one student at a time.

Saturday Presentations

The Exchange Effect: Changing Lives, One Journey at a Time DG Shawna Secker, D-5390

Download (.pptx)

Rotary’s Secret Sauce: Attracting & Keeping Members, PDG Deb McCaslin, DMCE Toshia Jones

Download (.pptx)

Unlocking Growth: Transforming Rotary Membership in India, PAG Neeraj Bhatnagar, D-3011

Download (.pdf)

Branding Rotary: Making a Lasting Impact, DG Whitney Smith, D-5470

Download (.pptx)

Up next PDG Deb McCaslin (Broken Bow Area) and incoming District Membership Chair Toshia Jones (Cheyenne County) presented “Rotary’s Secret Sauce: Attracting & Keeping Members“, sharing fresh ideas and proven strategies to help grow and strengthen clubs.

Visiting Rotarian Neeraj Bhatnagar, PAG District 3011 (Dehli, India) presented his first of two presentations, “Unlocking Growth: Transforming Rotary Membership in India.” PAG Neeraj demonstrated how innovative strategies are driving incredible membership and engagement across one of Rotary’s most dynamic regions.

Visiting DG Whitney Smith D-5470 (Southern Colorado) presented “Branding Rotary: Making a Lasting Impact” teaching how to harness the power of storytelling, social media and visual identity to effectively share Rotary’s mission and amplify its impact in your community.

Luncheon Keynote

Davanne Moul; Sr. Sales Director Mary Kay, delivered a powerful message of how passion, planning and perseverance has lifted her to tower above others. Ms. Moul intertwined messages of hope with her stories of growing up on a ranch in Aladdin WY. Ms Moul described how she has lived a life of service to others and how that has empowered her to become a top sales leader for Mary Kay nationally for many years. Her message most certainly encouraged all to pursue their dreams.

Pride Points: 60 Years of Inspiration, Innovation & Impact, Davanne Moul Mary Kay

Download (.pdf)

Rotary’s Blueprint for Global Impact: The 7 Areas of Focus, PAG Neeraj Bhatnagar, D-3011

Download (.pdf)

How it Began... PDG Pedro Zanini & Elba Bernat D-4945

Download (.pptx)

Global Grants: Turning Vision into Action, PDG Dale Schultz

Download (.pptx)

CRMC Clinic: Honoring Life through Service, Dr. Kim Baxter

Download (.pptx)

PRIP TRF Trustee Chair-Elect Mark Daniel Maloney Bio

Download (.pdf)

PRIP TRF Trustee Chair-Elect Mark Daniel Maloney [Speech w/ cues]

Download (.pdf)

PRIP TRF Trustee Chair-Elect Mark Maloney

Download (.pptx)

PAG Neeraj returned to the stage to present “Rotary’s Blueprint for Global Impact: The 7 Areas of Focus“, a message of how one person with a single focus can drive meaningful change in communities around the world.

PDG Bob Mayber, DRFC (North Platte Noon) shared “The Heart of Rotary: Transforming Lives Through Giving.” Bob shared a hopeful message of how the simple act of giving can be a force multiplier in Rotary’s mission and provide immeasurable impact on the lives of people whom he thought he would never meet.

PDG Pedro Zanini D-4945 (Argentina) and his wife Elba Bernat presented “This is How it Began“, sharing how a chance meeting of two DG classmates PDG Pedro and PDG Don Peterson (Kearney Dawn) on ZOOM and later in Person in Atlanta, GA would lead to a lasting friendship, and a “Ripple-Effect” of many wonderful projects.

PDG Dale Schultz (Hastings Sunrise) walked everyone through four individual Global Grant projects between D-4945 and D-5630 totaling more than $140,000. Sharing how Rotary has made a lasting impact through the power of collaboration.

Dr. Kim Baxter (North Platte) presented “CRMC Clinic: Honoring Life through Service” A global grant in Kenya. Dr. Baxter shared the incredible work being done to improve healthcare and make a lasting impact in Kenya through this vision to honor his son, Craig Baxter.

Past President Mike McQuillan (Ogallala) served as the emcee for the Dinner and District Celebration. The event was held at the historic Haythorn Ranch Arthur, NE recognizing the efforts of everyone across the district. The Haythorn Family was so gracious hosting and providing a world class Nebraska beef dinner.

Our most honored guests were Past Rotary International President, Mark Daniel Maloney and his lovely wife Gay. It was very special to have PRIP Maloney attend our District Conference because the PRIP is only allowed ONE official appointment from the current RI President each year. Having Lorena’s PRIP from her year as President of the Ogallala Rotary club accept her invitation was truly an honor.

Mark delivered an inspirational message with a little humor tossed in for good measure. “Marks Magical Markers” should be something that every Rotarian should strive to achieve. Download the speech and use the cues to view the Powerpoint and follow along with his message. Mark’s Bio is also provided on the right.

District Awards

Club of the Year (Small)

Arnold

Club of the Year (Medium)

Kearney Dawn

Club of the Year (Large)

Holdrege

Rotarian of the Year

PDG Deb McCaslin