Page 7 - 2021-02-Rotary-on-the-Move-Newsletter-Zone-8

‘3 WAYS TO CREATE A HARASSMENT-FREE ZONE AT ROTARY’

From Rotary Voices, posted on December 7, 2020. Article by Katey Halliday

We have no place for harassment in Rotary. People won’t join or stay if they are exposed to harassment.

Rotary’s policy on maintaining a harassment-free environment at meetings, events, and activities
makes it clear that harassment will not be tolerated. It even stipulates that all Rotary leaders, including
club presidents, shall be provided with annual training on Rotary International’s policies on the topic.
But is it just up to leaders to ensure that Rotary is a harassment-free zone? Of course not. It takes each one of us to
create and maintain a culture that does not condone, ignore, or excuse harassment.
1. Educate yourself
Harassment is broadly defined as any conduct, verbal or physical, that denigrates, insults, or offends a person or
group based on any characteristic (age, ethnicity, race, colour, abilities, religion, socioeconomic status, culture, sex,
sexual orientations, or gender identity). (Rotary Code of Policies 26.120)
There is nothing in this definition about intention. None of us are immune to unwittingly engaging in behaviour
which could be viewed as harassment. The fact that it might have been ‘just a joke’ is no excuse.
It is not the job of victims of harassment to educate us, we must educate ourselves. The more aware we are about
the diversity of the communities we serve, the less likely we are to inadvertently offend someone.
And if we do get called out, we must not get defensive, but reflect, learn and change our behaviour.
2. Educate others
When we hear or see something that is not OK, we must have the courage to do something about it. There are many
ways to be an active bystander, but the key is to do something. Here are some ideas:
§ Interrupt the inappropriate conversation by changing the subject.
§ Call out offensive comments by drawing attention to it not being OK.
§ Provide support to someone who feels they have experienced harassment. Make sure they
know they aren’t alone or overreacting.
§ Challenge the behaviour of the person/group responsible but be sure to challenge the
behaviour and not the person. (“you’re a creep” vs “that joke you told was creepy” will prompt
very different responses)
§ Seek advice from someone you trust about what to do.
§ Report the behaviour through the appropriate channels.
3. Educate your club
Use your Rotary club meetings to foster meaningful discussion about diversity and inclusion on one of the topics
outlined in this blog post. This could include approaching a large business or organisation to share their experiences
of creating harassment-free workplaces.
This kind of conversation is common in workplaces recognising not only the risks associated with failing to
adequately address harassment, but the benefits of creating safe, respectful, and inclusive work environments.
You can also review Rotary’s Preventing and Addressing Harassment course in the Learning Center (My Rotary log-
in required).
Ultimately, creating a harassment-free zone at Rotary is about creating a culture of respect and inclusivity. While
culture change can take time, it’s worth it if we want to ensure the sustainability of our clubs by ensuring they attract
and retain a diverse range of members.
About the author: Katey Halliday is currently serving as a member of Rotary International’s inaugural
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force. She is a past president and charter member of the Adelaide City
Rotaract Club and a member of the Rotary Club of Adelaide Light. She has also served as a team leader,
coordinator, and trainer for Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA). She is a project officer and training

facilitator in the Diversity and Inclusion Branch of the South Australia Police.

SHARE YOUR CLUB OR DISTRICT SERVICE PROJECT AND MEMBERSHIP BEST PRACTICES.
We would like to hear from Clubs or Districts telling us what they have done. Please include a summary,

contact details, a couple of captioned photos, and email to Issa Shalhoub, this Newsletter’s editor.

We would also like readers to share their experiences and stories on Best Practices in their Clubs and what has worked for
their Clubs in gaining new members and also what has helped in keeping members.

Rotary on the Move February 2021 Page 7