Belleville Rotary Club presents 4-Way banner to Van Buren Township

34th District Court Judge David Parrott, representing the Belleville Rotary Club, presented a 3×5’ cloth Four-Way Test banner to the Van Buren Township Board of Trustees at the board’s regular meeting on Feb. 4.
Judge Parrott, a past president of the Rotary Club, draped the banner across the podium and gave a prepared statement:
“The Belleville Rotary Club thanks you for your Four-Way Test banner request,” he said. “Rotary International is the world’s first and oldest service organization with the Belleville Rotary Club serving the tri-communities for over 80 years.
“We provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through our non-sectarian and non-political fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.
“The Four-Way Test of the things we think, say, or do is a test used by Rotarians world-wide as a moral code for personal and business relationships. In our dealings with others we ask, first, is it the truth? Second, is it fair to all concerned? Third, will it build goodwill and better friendships? And, fourth, will it be beneficial to all concerned?
“The test can be applied to almost any aspect of life. We think it is a particularly appropriate decision-making model for our leaders in government. As such, we are glad to donate this Four-Way Test banner to the Van Buren Township Board of Trustees and hope that is will be appropriately displayed as an inspiration to the citizens and leaders of the Charter Township of Van Buren. Thank you for your thoughtfulness!” he concluded.
Treasurer Sharry Budd, who was chairing the meeting in the absence of ailing Supervisor Kevin McNamara, told Judge Parrott she had a hook on the side wall of the meeting room waiting for the banner.
Judge Parrott handed the banner to Sgt. Jeff Gueli and Sgt. Gueli reached up and placed it on the hook and then straightened it out to make sure it was perfect. It fit exactly in the place Treasurer Budd directed them to in the newly renovated board room.
On June 11, Judge Parrott delivered a similar banner to Sumpter Township after Trustee Tim Rush had asked the Rotary for a banner for the Sumpter meeting room. The board unanimously approved accepting the banner. It took several months before the banner actually was hung on the wall.
On May 6, Judge Parrott attended a Belleville City Council meeting and at the end of the meeting, he explained the Four-Way Test banner and said the Rotary is offering to donate one for the city meeting room. He said he wanted to give them time to think about it. They are still thinking about it. In the past the city had a Rotary banner because at a recent meeting a council member pointed to the back wall of the meeting room and said that’s where the Rotary banner used to be.