Posted: 5 years ago

As President of Rotary Global History Fellowship, I see some similarities with our eClub. They are both eFellowships and are managed by eMeetings. You do notice that the "e" is not separated from the "Meeting." In an eMeeting, it cannot by the nature of the type of meeting. I know that we hold onto what we have experienced and resist anything that seems new but the reality of an electronic meeting forces us to consider our language. It is interesting that earlier in the year some Japanese "terra" Rotary Clubs saw Rotary separate from electronics and tried to disband Rotary eClubs. Wisely, RI did not agree and voted their motion down. Here is my discussion with the board of RGHF.

Thoughts on Monthly Board eMeetings                          

Introduction: In reviewing how we conduct monthly board eMeetings, it is interesting that RGHF is combining the best of the past (what was learned in “terra” meetings) and what is needed in our electronic age (eMeetings over an extended time, vast spaces and different cultures over the internet). “eMeetings” are the undiscovered country.

We do have and need an agenda set by our Secretary and tradition: that is, reports from special areas: minutes, financial, committees, old and new business. We need discussion.

What are different, caused by our advances of crossing borders, time, space and cultures, is the same disadvantages caused by these factors: no motions/seconds and votes in the same time, no face to face discussion, and no immediate results. All this is obvious. An eMeeting cannot be or run like a “terra” meeting (again, with some similarities and some carry-overs).

How a board member might see themselves interacting in an eMeeting: Each board member might think of themselves as a chess master playing multiple games with many different players over the airwaves in several countries in different time zones. Luckily, the result sought is not win-lose but win-win. Participation and decision making in all the games are the only criteria for attending. The only winner is this process is RGHF and Rotary. Therefore one may be voting on one motion while considering seconding another while discussing a third or fourth issue all at the same or different times. Another analogy might be a juggler keeping balls in the air while they are needed for the desired result. Mostly the “juggler” is the President but each member has to be flexible about keeping all the balls (issues, motions and discussions) in sight so that the process does not become “chaos.”  The Secretary is the score keeper (keeping minutes about the process in motion and keeping score when a vote is taken). The Secretary has to keep score of all the games that are being played at the same time. No one guaranteed that serving on an electronic fellowship board was going to be easy.

Time limits for RGHF’s eMeetings: 12:01 Friday morning until 12:00 Sunday night: an eMeeting at 72 hours, using Central Standard Time, USA. During this time, it is the duty of the President to act as judge for the “games” and the Secretary to keep score. Things may not happen sequentially in this process and some may get lost in the interchange of emails but it is up to each player, board member attending, to email the other board members or the President or Secretary when they get lost in the “juggling act” of the 72 hour eMeeting. There has been a suggestion, which we have verbally embraced, that motions and seconds could be made between monthly eMeetings (the vote, though, must be done during the 72 hour eMeeting). If the President or Secretary has to be away from the eMeeting, other officers will fill those jobs.

If any of our board members have attended a Kabuki play which goes on for hours, you have seen the audience leave for breaks for many reasons and then return to resume the play. The actors in the drama expect this. The others in the audience expect this. So it is with an eMeeting over 72 hours.

1. Voice your participation: first by telling the Secretary that you will attend and then by raising your voice (an email) in motions, seconds (if not made previous to the opening of the eMeeting), discussions and votes. The latter is no different than one sees in “terra” meetings, except for the time, space and cultural gaps.
2. Remember that there is no such thing as a “stupid question.”  In 72 hour eMeetings, anyone can get lost. Everyone must go away and come back to the eMeeting. We sleep, we eat, we work, we play, and we have other business while still juggling the eMeeting.
3. Also remember that cultural differences come into play when framing a question or a reply. It has always interested me that the Southern States in America and business in Japan were similar: first you get to know the person in common courtesies/respect and then you do business. In the Northern states, particularly in New England, where I was educated, you check the pedigree first (where I went to college and my background) before you start to know the person and do business with them.
4. Our goal for the eMeetings is to solve problems, exchanges visions for the future and share ideas, feelings and hopes. In brainstorming sessions at the end of each eMeeting, there are no such things as “bad ideas.” Our votes make them accepted or not. Time is both our challenge and our advantage.
5. Always remember that an eMeeting cannot be a “terra” meeting but we can learn from it and use those things that carry over. An “eMeeting” starts with an opening, an agenda, and then a period of sorting out the elements of the agenda, and finally an official close. We work on the whole while we keep track of the parts.    
6. Every voice is important. Every vote is important. Every idea is important. Every service improves us all. The real winners for eMeetings are Rotary and Rotarians.

Joe

Posted: 5 years ago

It is interesting responding to yourself but on the internet that is possible (which is a major difference from a "terra" discussion or meeting and an eMeeting). Anyway, here is an observation after sleeping on the subject of the word "eMeeting."

It is important that some sense is used when we start to change language. Changing one word, or a few words (like eClub, eForum and of course eMeeting), is important to make the point that an eMeeting is not the same as a traditional Rotary luncheon meeting (that is, the electronic, the "e" goes hand in hand with the concept of "Meeting").To start to place "e" in front of all words when working on the Internet destroys what one is trying to accomplish. "eGads, I am writing eSomething on the eInternet, called an eForum." You get the idea! Calling an electronic meeting an "eMeeting" is important at this stage of Rotary's development (just as it is to call our club, a Rotary eClub).

eYours in eFellowship and eService (now that is going too far),

Joe

Posted: 5 years ago

I will not make a habit of discussing a topic with myself but ideas come and I might as well add them when that happens. Here is the idea: I hope in time that the words "eClub" and "eMeeting" dissolve into the past so the they are replaced with just "Rotary International Club" and "Rotary International Meeting."

It is my hope that the "e" (electronics) becomes so much a part of our everyday life that it disappears in the creation of new words for what we do. Watching young people with I-Pods and cell phones, one can see that time is already here. It is we older ones who need the "e" before the "Club" and the "Meeting" (at least for a time until Rotary International (the parent organization of all our efforts) embraces eClubs and eMeetings as "more than an experiment that will be evaluated in 2010."

We should, too, as we use the terms eClub and eMeeting recognize that the human interactions that are behind the electronics are never an "e" experience. We are not ePeople with eEmotions doing eService. We are Rotarians (not eRotarians)!

Yours in fellowship and service,

Joe kagle

Posted: 5 years ago

SUPER GREAT JOE AS ALWAYS !!!!

"Fatti non foste per viver come bruti ma per seguir virtute e canoscienza" - Dante Alighieri, La Divina Commedia.

Posted: 5 years ago

What is really cool about an eClub is that you meet people who are interesting all over the world. Federico, I just love your recent photograph that goes with your profile. If you can believe it, I used to attempt to look like that.  At one time in my career, I had a photographer friend take pictures of me from an art history perspective but you can see earlier images which are similar to yours on my Profile's Photo Gallery, under Joe Kagle.

Also what is cool about an eClub is that we are not restricted by time or space. I can send you a photograph that was taken over 40 years ago when I was 35 or 70 years ago when I was 5. That should be something that our Rotary eClub of the Southwest, USA should exploit. We can do something that "terra clubs" have not even conceived of yet (but will, I am sure). "eClubs" are leaders in some areas of discovery for Rotary. To have fellowship, we must share. To have service, we must have fellowship.  

Joe

PS Pavarotti will always live.