Ethics, integrity a winning guide for success

Posted by Peter Roaf on Jan 29, 2019

On starting in the car sales business long ago, having already committed to Rotary’s "4-way test" for truth and integrity, Gene Vickers asked the owner of the car dealership whether he could make it in the business if he was completely honest, contrary to the general perception of those in that field. The owner responded, “It’s the only way.” Eventually Gene ranked the top in car leasing at Ford dealerships in Western Canada in three different years.

Club Aluminum cookware company was founded in Chicago in 1923. Having gone through a slump in business by 1932 the company rebuilt itself around the 4-way test and continues to thrive. Having been founded in Chicago, by Paul Harris and a few others, Rotary learned about the 4-way test and adopted it 1948. So the code of ethics and integrity did originate with a business so long ago and has proven to be a valuable guiding light for that company and Rotary ever since.

Gene Vickers speakes to Ladner Rotarians and is thanked by Ty Morris

Having started is career in the RCMP in Cranbrook, Gene came to know and respect Ladner Rotarian Leo Nimsick, who was at the time a provincial court judge in that city. Gene has since served actively in Rotary over many years as District 5050 membership chair and a leader over 19 years for the Presidents Elect Training Session (PETS), in Seattle, which now attracts 500 incoming club presidents and other leaders in Rotary Districts on the west coast of Canada and the United States. Leo Nimsick was for a long time the leader of PETS during that period.

He has also served as a district governor in Toastmasters International where he introduced a highly popular statement of values on a coin, modeled after a similar coin minted by Rotary International.