From staff reports
What’s the difference between corporate responsibility and spin? According to Matt Wise of Mountain Home High School, the answer can be found in the Rotary Four-Way Test.
Wise won first place in the 2009 Rotary Four-Way Test speech competition, earning a $100 cash reward and a slot in Rotary District 6110 competition representing Mountain Home Rotary Club and Baxter County. The winner at the Rotary 6110 District Assembly in May will receive $1,000. Runners-up will receive $350.
Wise faced stiff competition from four other entrants, all of whom were selected from their schools after writing essays on the subject, “What the Rotary Four-Way Test Means to Me.”
In the speech taken from his essay, Wise talked about the early Rotarian who developed the Four-Way Test, Herbert J. Taylor. In 1932, 11 years after Rotary was founded by attorney Paul Harris, Taylor created the code of ethics, which he used in his business, according to Wise.
Taylor thought truth, fairness, goodwill and beneficence should be center-stage in personal and business relationships, Wise said.
Diana Turnbo, also of MHHS, placed second in the competition; Josh Duggins of Cotter High School placed third.
Other students participating included Melissa Harkreader and Rebecca Villiger of Norfork.
Mountain Home Rotary is one of more than 32,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries. Rotary International is a global network of volunteer business, professional and community leaders who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards, and help build goodwill and peace in the world.
- The Baxter Bulletin (Feb. 13, 2009)

The Rotary Four-Way Test:
Of the things we think, say or do
1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?