Each year our Rotary Club has a program for the Four Way Test. This contest has been a highlighted program for many years. One of the world’s most widely printed and quoted statements of business ethics is The 4-Way Test, which was created in 1932 by Rotarian Herbert J. Taylor (who later served as RI president) when he was asked to take charge of a company that was facing bankruptcy. This 24-word test for employees to follow in their business and professional lives became the guide for sales, production, advertising, and all relations with dealers and customers, and the survival of the company is credited to this simple philosophy. Adopted by Rotary in 1943, the 4-Way Test has been translated into more than a hundred languages and published in thousands of ways. Our club member, PDG Ernie Jensen, was the emcee for this program and he introduced each of the four contestants by number, their identity to be revealed at the end the contest. Ernie also gave back ground information on the contest history, the rules and the identity of the three club judges and timer (speeches need to be between 6-8 minutes.)

The four contestants were three freshmen and one senior from Arcadia High School. Mrs. Ashley Novak is the speech coach at Arcadia High. The students task was to create a speech to address RI theme 10-11 Building Communities, Bridging Continents and include the four way test as integral part of the speech. From our club, we offered four prizes. First prize was $400, 2nd prize was $200, third and fourth prize was $100 each.

The first student to speak (who was later identified as Albert Gianatan) a freshman at Arcadia High. His speech was around the theme that you can do anything you want to do. Some of his activities are; he is the freshman Class Treasurer, Speech and Debate team, his church’s Youth Ministry and an active member of the Boy Scouts. In his leisure time he enjoys kayaking, hiking and designing buildings and cities.

The second student to speak (who was later identified as Amit Akula) a junior at Arcadia High. His speech was around the theme of globalization of the world. Some of his activities are; the Speech and Debate team, multiple voluntary organizations over 350 hours of donated time, and he is captain of the Arcadia High Water Polo Team.

The third student to speak (who was later identified as Nicole Wei) a freshman at Arcadia High. Her speech was around the theme of appreciating different cultures from around the world. Some of her activities include Speech and Debate team, French Club and creating posters and projects for History and English classes. In her leisure time she likes to sing and play guitar in her room. She attended the Rotary Teen Leadership Camp last year and thought it was the most inspirational and joyful weeks of her life.

The fourth and last student to speak (who was later identified as Valarie Cheing) a freshman at Arcadia High. Unfortunately the microphone went off in the middle of her speech, but she recovered nicely. Her speech as around the theme of that frames are the basis of houses, and houses form the basis of the world community and understanding.  Some of her activities include the Speech and Debate Team, a Colorguard for Arcadia High, and she enjoys math and english classes.  In here leisure time she enjoys dancing, volleyball, and getting into her pajamas and watching TV in her room.

All of these Arcadia High students did an outstanding job in their speeches.

Our Rotary judges, Ken Mallory, Mike Real and Frank Griffith excused themselves and left the room to make the final decisions on the placements of the speakers. The timer was Mike Hoey.

It should be mentioned that the winning student goes on to group competitions leading up to a regional contest.  The winner of the regional contest will compete for $5,000 for the winner and $1,000 for the runner up at the District Conference. Scholarship to be used for future college expenses.

Our judges returned and Ernie announced the judge’s decision that Amit and Nicole were third and fourth. Albert was second and Valarie was the winner (in spite of the microphone failure problem).

The program recharged our members and the whole club rose and recited the four way test (luckily the Four Way Test banner was hanging on the wall to help most of the members to recite the words)