When I first became a Rotarian, I did not fully understand the word "classification" as it related to membership and its significance for the club. But I had heard from several club members that the classification speeches were among some of their favorite meetings. A few weeks into my membership, a classification speech was given and I instantly understood what makes it so endearing.

 

I came to learn that a classification is a category of profession lent to a member upon joining and typically reflects that member's primary occupation and source of income. A classification speech is given by a member (typically early on) as an opportunity for others to learn more about their fellow Rotarian. And while the framework of the speech typically chronicles a cadence of career and family, it is usually embedded with interesting tidbits and a flavor of the speaker's personality, leaving members to say, "I never knew that about so-and-so!".  It too has become a cherished component of Rotary for me.

 

Rotary is rich in tradition and history and I am proud to learn how thoughtfully designed and deliberate these traditions are. In the interest of sharing more detail, I'm including a link to an article that provides the history behind the classification design and how to deliver a classification speech. Perhaps my biggest take-away from learning about the classification design is that its purpose is to cultivate a diverse club and foster a membership which consists of a cross-section of the community at large.  The very nature of which is intentioned to create an environment full of ideas, connections and interests to be shared for all.