Stephen Shearin's Blog
Rotary thoughts
Internet Chair Annual report
Apr 21, 2008 9:09 am
(This IS this week's meeting, and there is information on how to complete the meeting at the bottom of the entry.)
First off, I'll say that this Internet thing is fantastic. This was going up last week, but due to unforseen circumstances it didn't make it. So, it lurked here all week as a blog and today, due to some more unforseen circumstances, it (meaning my annual report) finally gets its day in the sun.
I had considered posting a meeting as a blog for some time to a) use the system we have and b) see if it would work as a meeting. Hopefully it does, please let us know. It could well prove to be a simple way for members and guests to create meetings with photos and the like without requiring upload or download.
It was written last week as I was en route to Cabo san Lucas. I was 'stranded' in Cabo, sitting in a hotel lobby lounge, forced to glance up from time to time to see the Sea of Cortez roiling out the window (and a couple of whales - outstanding!) It was brutal, I tell ya. The part where I was tapping on my laptop instead of playing in the ocean that is, but I got there soon enough and have the sun burn to prove it.
There are worse places to be I guess.
Why was I 'stranded?' Well, you don't find wi-fi everywhere there. But find it I did and I blogged from my seat with a view to produce the majority of this annual report. Pretty 21st Century eClubesque if you ask me (which I say knowing no one will ask!)
I found wi-fi by the pool. What a great office.
So here we go; my thoughts on the year as the Internet Communications Director.
First off is a big thanks to those people who have continued to support the process that is the site, starting with PP Karen Naranjo whose site kicked this wild experiement off.
Nextly I must give a nod to the Rotary alum and general supporter Kent Steiner. The current rendition would not exist but for him.
Finally a big thanks to all the eClubbers who have used the site beyond reading the meeting. And this goes for some visitors as well who have blogged, joined groups, posted in the forum, sent PMs and genereally used the site to emmulate real world communications.
This charge has been led by Jack Selway. He has found and reported bugs, tirelessly welcomed new users on the site, posted in the forum, and generally used the site in such a way that if we all did it, it would be a thing to behold. Though all of his ideas have not been adopted, I want to say 'thanks Jack' for caring enough to do the things you do. I wish we had even one more 'greeter' as it is always great to go to a visitor's profile and see one of your custom welcomes.
Honorable mention must go out to new member Mamie Yong Maywhort for her great forum thread 'What's up Doc' and to new members Steve Canter and Carlos Calzada. They are easy to reach online and willing to contribute to this online mess without any prodding.
SAA Frank Longoria took his job to heart and has done a great job of frequenting the site and providing a rundown of activities and justifcation for contributions to the 'pot.'
Naturally the officers have been online here using the facility. President Ryofu did a masterful job of getting all the meetings set up for the year. The board had generally used the BOD forum to meet and discuss, and we have utilized the online Club Membership form a few times. Hopefully this kind of online utilization will grow in the future.
In the nine months since we have been up, we have accumulated over 1,480 accounts (people who have signed up and probably returned.) We have had even more anonymous visits. Donations are our primary source of income and that has gone well, though I'll look to the Treasurer's report to know how well.
But think about it; if we wanted to do a project and get global support, we could email almost 1,500 Rotarians who have visited us in the past and ask for their help. If only 10% responded, we could realistically have 150 online Rotarians spreading information or helping us to raise funds within nanoseconds. Pretty impressive.
We have left a lot of the site unused. I believe that if we all put in just ten more minutes a week blogging or commenting or welcoming or making forum posts, we could blossom into something truly stunning.
We have a couple years until the COL of 2010. I don't think there is much of a question that eClub will be here to stay, but why settle for that? Let's see where we can take this by stepping up our online interaction a little!
I hope this blog gets some comments and becomes something of an interative meeting and a testament to what eClub is and can become. Next time I do it, I'll have some photos to add as well. IN fact, I might add some this week - just because I can!
Also, do you have a friend who needs a make-up to stay current? Be a friend and pass it on. Send them here to do a make-up in their underwear, or their favorite moo-moo, or frankly in whatever they wish to wear. Yay eClub.
5pm EST, Edit 1: So, by popular requst, here is my first add. To finish this meeting, please click your browswer's "back" button and click on "Finish Meeting."
Thanks!
Jun 27, 2007 6:59 am
Edit: 4/27(not part of this weeks meetings, but you're welcome to read it) For three years now, I have been thinking how to do an online fund raiser. One thing I have observed in Terra club meetings is, if you want $2 from a Rotarian, tempt him/her with happy bucks. If you want $10, sell them a raffle ticket or 5. Especially when...
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Jun 26, 2007 9:53 pm
Edit: 4/27(not part of this weeks meetings, but you're welcome to read it) Recently I've observed and been involved in some conversations with Rotarians regarding eClub theory that have ranged from absurd to hilarious. The conversations oscillated from general modicums of Rotary behavior/protocol to specific Rotary mandates. One...
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Thanks for the opportunity
E-meetings make it all possible
Stephen,
I have a story pretty similar to Rushton Hurley's in that without the e-meetings, i could not participate in Rotary. I am semi-retired, and live in three different places, Chicago, SW Michigan and Tucson, at various times of the year. My home club is in Tucson, but I am only there about 1/3 of the time.
I am learning a lot about Rotary from the e-meetings, and I truly appreciate all the effort put into making them available.
Sent by: TOMTURRIFF
Jun 03, 2008 10:09 am
Comment
to Stephen
What a great idea. I am not generally a blogger, but it would certainly make programs easier to present. I like the fact it could be more interactive than our meeting format so far. And as you can see from the fact that i am actually adding a comment, it would encourage people to be more involved in the meetings. Way to go, Stephen.
-Beth Levenson
Sent by: blevenson
May 11, 2008 11:09 pm
Pushing the eEnvelope
Let's keep exploring!
Hi Stephen,
Thanks for pushing the envelope to see how the blog option can work. The work you and the other RECSWUSA members do is so important, and the reason I am still in Rotary.
I'll explain. I'm a member of a Rotary club in Santa Clara, California (USA), but in the last few months my work schedule has changed, leaving me mostly unable to attend the meetings. Were there not an online option, I would have lost my 100% attendance, and, quite honestly, probably chosen to step away from Rotary.
However, Rotary has been a source of strength for me for the four years I've been a member. In the face of the awful news we get continually fed, it is energizing for me to spend time regularly around people who creatively and cheerfully work to make the world a better place.
Being able to get a reminder of the great things that are happening near and far is surely something important for the vast majority of Rotarians, and eClubs can make that happen in ways we are only just beginning to realize.
I invite you and anyone interested to visit a short (about two minutes long) video I made about inspiration that came from a visit to our Terran club two years ago. Perhaps the piece I made will help others remember that there are those who devote themselves to the neediest among us, and challenge us to see how else we can help others.
The video is at: http://www.nextvista.org/rhvideos/PAVolunteer.mov
Best wishes for continued growth and active exploration of what it means to be pushing the eEnvelope!
Rushton Hurley
e) rh@nextvista.org
Sent by: RushtonH
May 02, 2008 7:32 pm
Stephen's Blog
Internet Chair AR
Thanks for blogging. I blog occasionally as a way to communicate with students at the university where I serve as library director. I am not very adept at this; librraians on my staff are far better than I at this (they are younger too!). As I'm confident that all of us will "get there" in time and b use of blogging will be as normal as e-mailing is now.
Tim Richards
Sent by: TFR
Apr 29, 2008 12:18 pm