Two events happened similtaneously that has started me to think "outside the box" of traditional service on a local level: 1) I saw what could be done when talents are mixed in our twinning with the Provo Rotary Club and many hands from our eClub of the SW (some actually flying there to work and many contributing outside the physical realm with virtual knowledge) and 2) a comment made by several of us that we should have a global union between eClubs in service. Is it clear yet what that service might be? No, it is not clear.

So, when walking in the unknown, sing loudly and others might join the making of music. That is what this is: singing loudly and calling out one clear question: "How can eClubs come together with other eClubs in the world to create a body of knowledge, talents, experience, skills that can be used by others in the world so that "service without borders" is a real and on-going SERVICE?" I wrote to our previous member, Federico in Italy, who recently joined the London eClub and asked him to bring the question up in that eClub so that they will start a dialoque with RECSWUSA. I am asking you all in our eClub to join this dialogue so that we can determined who might be interested in a service that jumps borders, cultures, time zones and all the other things in today's world that stops peace and fellowship. A simple list with individuals who are willing to share what they know and can tell others how to create is a beginning. Who would be willing to work on this and twin in virtual space so that the planning, expertise, and fund raising could be done to get things done that others would do and get the credit for doing.

It is an idea now. What I need is others who might be willing to help flesh out the idea into something that Rotary would be proud of in the 21st century, the information age, the Internet Age.

Joe Kagle, President, Rotary Global History Fellowship, 2007-2008 and member of Rotary eClub of the Southwest, USA and ROTI.

Well said Joseph, 

This is clear and needing to be read, that is what Joe just wrote. What I've mostly seen in our eClub are members (doing fine work) acting as Terry Club members and doing the work that can be and is being done by Terra Rotarians. We need to leap out of the box and become virtual and internet based. There is much that we can do without ever touching ground.

For the past 7 years I've been engaged in the process of recording Rotary's history. There are nearly 200 of us and 1,000,000 visitors who read what we're doing, and over 30,000 each week who receive, directly or indirectly, our four features. We are making a difference and that effort is growing. When I first joined this eClub, in January of 06, I suggested this as a eWorthy project with absolutely no reaction. It was suggested that I distribute dictionaries in Pueblo, very Terra in nature, and it would be at my own peril from the very territorial Terry clubs in our small town.

With the exception of my Catholic parish, I've made my home on the internet. My client work is mostly virtual, and I even have a Catholic website that requires no Terra contact.

It can be done, we can work together with other eClubs, though I suspect you'll find some territorial issues even in cyberspace.

I do know that this enormous history project is open to anyone willing to participate.

Meantime, I've been fortunate to be allowed to continue my 32nd year in Rotary as a virtual Rotarian. I have no interest in those things that Terra clubs do and I warn all of us to consider what eClubs can do so that RI will see the value and allow us to continue past 2010.

Jack Selway

Jack  Selway, Founder & CEO of RGHF, Rotary Global History, Pueblo, CO, USA

After some time thinking about the nature of an eProject and as a member of the service committee, I guess that I see this on two levels: 1) anything that we do can be an eProject: dividing the work of service into planning, advice and expertise support with the actual work on the ground and 2) a totally virtual project that is creating materials that any Rotarian can use, also using planning, advice and expertise support mixed with experience. We have the first now within our eClub: the Peace project starting with Ryofu's photographs, the Dictionary Project and our fund raising projects. At any time, we can add more to those: using planning on a global scale behind the work on the ground. What I do not see is the creation of a new "creature," the making of a total eProject which does not enlist people on the ground to do something. The closest that we come to this is supporting the Peace Centers of Rotary with our efforts of finding the right people to do this work. What we may need is a council from eClubs worldwide to create an "eClub think tank" for eProjects. We could ask eClub members for suggestions on the nature of these eProjects....

You know, we already have the mission, "service above self without borders." For some of us who now live a part of our lives on the Internet, this eProject should be right job for the right people. It is just hard to give up the old "terra" ways of solving global problems. And in many cases, we need not.

Joe 

I am glad that Joe came back a second time to explain his thinking process.  I think that all of us are trying to get away from the terra club concept, but most of us have spent most of our Rotary years in terra clubs and are still very much fascinated by the many hands-on projects accomplished by terra clubs.  I think that it would be a tremendous leap to cut the link to all hands-on activities.  I for one, enjoyed the distribution of dictionaries and have very fond memories of my work as International Director when we purchased an ambulance for a city in Mexico. We have recently seen the fascinating and exceedingly satisfying experience that one of our present members experienced in doing a very complex project in the Sierra Norte Region in Mexico.  I am sure that it was very hard work, but it was also fun to see a project (terra in nature) take life.  I do agree that we need more close ties with other eClubs to see if we can work on programs or projects that are completely virtual in nature.  We now have Federico in another eClub, but perhaps we need a liason committee that will explore possibilities with all of the other eClubs.  The time may come when we will have more virtual projects than we do terra projects, but I think that we will have to continue being excited about what we do when we do hands-on projects.  All one has to do is to look at the magnificent interaction that took place between our twinning clubs recently.  Ryofu keeps stating that we are all one big Rotary family, and I think that we should be patient and keep working towards the goal of becoming a totally virtual eClub, if that is possible.

Keep your eye on the goal: COS 2010 

Keep thinking "e" a new concept and one yet to be fully proved. We do need to see how the others are doing this at their eClubs. This does require new thinking.

I can't be a virtual singer at our parish, but I could be a management coach in cyberspace. However, I need that personal contact when I do exit interviews, or help a manager make decisions. However, Rotary saw fit to create an experience for those who could not easily do hands-on.

Let's make this work, virtually, in cyberspace, and in fellowship.

Jack  Selway, Founder & CEO of RGHF, Rotary Global History, Pueblo, CO, USA

Jack, you may be able to be a virtual singer at some point in the future. Of course, it would be a halogram of you or, like Andy Warhol and Suddam Hussein- a double. Art has had virtual creations since Rubens was Ambassador to England and Italy. His studio created the works and he made a few finishing strokes plus signed the painting. The same for Rembrandt. We now believe that his studio created The Man in the Golden Helmet (he signed it though, too.) In our time, Robert Wilson lays out his ideas for a play or an opera, then leaves the country, having his assistants finish the work. Dale Chahuli, a Seattle glass master, did a rough sketch for a glass outside sculpture in the state of Washington, all in white glass, went to Japan to install one of his new glass lighting sculptures in a new theater, kept in contact with his crew over the Internet, and only made the unveiling of the work several months later. Chahuli does not blow the glass, even when he is in his studio (although he is a master at it when he does it) with the seventeen workers that travel the world with him for installations and refinements. Virtual is part of creating "real" experiences and things.

Virtual is a real tool today with more skilled workers to do the labor. But you are right, Jack and Frank. We know about the past and what has been done in these other fields but not in Rotary (although we know, those of us who live parts of our lives on the Internet, that it is a real possibility,) I will try, after the first of year, to imagine a virtual eProject that only happens on the airwaves of the Internet and in the connections of the mind of the Rotarians using and experiencing it.

In Los Angelos, there is a house with a square open to the sky which is a work of art that shows the viewer viewing him or herself viewing space and the passage of time. You lie on your back and watch the blue of a day pass into the dark of twilight. It is inspiring and all virtual color, space, time and self. Ryofu, on becoming a Buddhist monk, cleared his mind over a ten-hour period so that he could feel the rush of emptiness into his being. That was his test to get into the monestary. We spend that kind of time on the Internet some days.

Joe

Yes, and I believe that that would certainly lead us to the next step. That is, to try to think of several virtual activities or projects that could be part of this eClub´s agenda. It is difficult right now to think of possible projects, but once they appear on the drawing board it would be a lot easier to visualize them and conceptualize them, and execute them. What are the types of virtual projects that we could realistically accomplish? Do we have examples somewhere, or do we have a list? If not, can we develop a list of possibilities? Shall we do this alone or should we do it within the family of eClubs? I know, I am full of questions. This is an indication that I do not have the answers.

A BEGINNING STUDY OF ePROJECTS FOR eCLUBS 

Introduction: An eProject, as explained below, is something that exists in virtual space with participants who may never meet face to face but know each other in important ways. It is a tool that can be used in many fashions but here are two: 1) the planning process for service projects on the ground and 2) a joining of skills, talents, minds and ideas that help Rotary grow in this ‘information age.” To explore the thinking behind an eProject, I took some material that I knew well from Rotary Principles and combined it with recent studies in language and how we understand when we read information in context. I did this first because it was a process that would clear my thinking from the “known” to the “unknown.” In this final version of this beginning study, I reversed how I presented it: supplying you with what I did first last and visa versa. It is the way that song writers create a new song. They find what they call “the darling part,” that phrase or melody that sticks in the listener’s mind and sells the recording, and then places that in the middle (or end) of the musical score or song. Now, here in this final draft, I present the process in the traditional manner, “a process” then some “conclusions”, and finally “an exercise” to clear the head for new ideas. 

A PROCESS: 

The purpose: to study the opportunity of exploring the idea of eProjects for eClubs in virtual space and time. 

First: clear the mind so that things can be seen as if for the first time: explore the workings of the mind, re-walk ground that had already been traveled but not for Rotary and create something that catches the imagination of Rotarians in virtual space and understanding.  

WHAT IS AN EPROJECT? IT IS A PROJECT BY ROTARY AND E-ROTARY CLUBS THAT EXISTS EXCLUSIVELY ON THE INTERNET IN VIRTUAL SPACE. Examples: Rotary’s creation of the Peace Centers and eClubs around the world (not the day to day operations but the creation), the research of fellowships in Rotary (collecting history and other important information about the nature and background of Rotary.)  

IDEAS FOR CREATING GLOBAL e-PROJECTS: 

1)    CREATE A WORKING COMMITTEE with 2-3 members appointed from each of the world’s eClubs (a kind of on-going “thinktank” for eProjects).

2)    CREATE AN e-DISTRICT FOR eClubs where e-Projects take place and are created.

3)    WORK COOPERATIVELY WITH each eClub for eProjects:  Such as: a) A skills listing of and for Rotarians. b) Fund raising and grant writing assistance through the Internet. c) Projects that are created by Rotary eClubs and shared with the eRotary districts.                      

4)    SHARING A COLLECTION OF INFORMATION ABOUT ROTARY (possibly working with fellowships, such as: Rotary Global History Fellowship and its 3000 pages of Rotary history and one million Rotarian visitors each year.) 

WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN THIS ADVENTURE? SEASONED ROTARIANS AND NEW RISK-TAKERS WHO WISH TO PUSH THE BOUNDRIES OF SERVICE IN ROTARY AND WHO ARE NOT AFRAID TO EXPLORE AN “UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY” FOR ROTARY IN THIS INFORMATION AGE.

 Second: An exercise: take a body of information, such as a well-known paragraph, misspell all the words (using all the letters while confusing the order, except for the first and last letter of the word), when a word is MISSPELLED once repeat that pattern of spelling when using the word again, and then read what you have written. Small words of two or three letters are spelled as they normally appear. This could be an example, taken from Rotary material.  

Something to consider:  

RTRAOY                           Gdiiung Pciernipls 

The Ojcebt of Rtraoy 

The Ojcebt of Rtraoy is to ecnoagure and fsoetr the ieadl of svrciee as a bsais of whrtoy epitresnre and, in prcluatair, to ecnoagure and fsoetr:     

FSRIT. The dpnvmeleeot of acctqianunae as an ortpipuntoy for svrciee.    

SCNEOD: Hgih echtail sdtaradns in bssienus and pfreossonis, the rgncoeiiton of the wrnesohtis of all ufsuel oupccantois, and the dgnnfiiyg of ecah Rtroarani’s oupccatoin as an ortpipuntoy to svree sceitoy.    

TIRHD: The alpacipcoitn of the iadel of svrciee in each Rtroarani’s parosenl, bssienus, and cmmonutiy lfie.    

FRUTOH: The amdveencnat of itrnnaaeonitl urdeudnniastg, gldooiwl, and pcaee trhgouh a wrlod flwoelhsip of bssienus and pfreossonial prsnoes utinid in the iadel of svrciee.    

The Fuor-Way Tset 

The tset, wcihh has been tlsrnaratd into mroe than 100 lggnuaaes, asks the fwnilloog qtoinseus: Of the tnhgis we tnihk, say or do: 

1.       Is it the TTURH?

2.       Is it FIAR to all cnconred?

3.       Wlil it bliud  GLDOOIWL and BTETER FRDHSNEPIS?

4.       Will it be BNEFEAIICL to all cnconred? 

Mssoiin 

The mssoiin of Rtraoy itrnnaaeonitl, a wddlroiwe acaissooitn of Rtraoy culbs, is to pdrovie svrciee to ohtres, to pmrtuoe echtail sdtaradns, and to acvadne wlord urdeudnniastg, gldooiwl, and pcaee trhgouh its flwoelhsip of bssienus and cmoniumty ldreeas. 

__________________________________________________________________  Note: Rotary eClubs are the “undiscovered country” of Rotary International. They must challenge themselves with eProjects and relearn the old rules and principles of Rotary. The above material in its misspelled version was created by using the recent research into understanding what reading English is all about, done by Oxford University. It is context, more than spelling, and it is recognition within a context for each word when the first and last letters of the word are given and consistent. This was created, from that idea, using Rotary principles and word structures. It is a lesson for every Rotarian to study the words and their context well so that units like Rotary eClubs can exist and be used for eProjects (a new virtual creation). 

Therefore, when we think about eProjects, we take what was done in the past (accept or reject it) but reform it to fit new research, new information and new technologies.

Kinds of eProjects

Introduction: In the business system under the title, Systems in Motion, there are four kinds of endeavors that a leader confronts, depending on the sophistication of  his or her audience: a) if they know nothing, you tell them; b) if they know a little, you show them; c) if they know as much as you, you partner with them; and d) if they know more than you, you get out of their way but find them the resources to get a job done. In the discussion of eProjects for eClubs, these audiences are kept in mind as the creators of eProjects divid their efforts into Workers, Supervisors, Planning and Research Specialists and Visionaries. 

Humanitarian eProjects for Workers and Supervisors: 

1. Workers: In this kind of eProject, preliminary help and support skills are needed by the eProject team from the eClub, added to knowledge of experience from senior Rotarians. The eProject team may join the “terra” workers on the local ground but also they may not and just act as the planning, procuring and fund-raising team.
2. Supervisors: In this kind of eProject, there is more direction on how, where and for what purpose the eProject is created and carried out by others on the ground. In this service, the eProject planning team may have to journey to the site to supervise the work of the workers.

Long-term eProjects for Planning, Research and Strategies: 

1. Planning and Research Specialists: In this kind of eProject, the work is done over the Internet exclusively, across borders, time zones, cultures and the outcome is the product of collective minds working together in virtual space. In this kind of eProject, Rotary history and data may be gathered so that others may record and post it on the Internet, working with History Fellowships and Rotary International. For this kind of eProject, the work is to discover the past and present of Rotary so that this information is available to visionaries within the Rotary eProject team.
2. Visionaries: In this kind of eProject, the goal and work is all about “future thinking.” As the written job description for the CEO for Exxon Corporation states, “He plans for the future.” The eProject that are discussed and created are all in areas that have not been solved on a long-term basis and continue to arise in every Rotary region and district. Some of these are: a search for stories about peace and peace initiatives, helping educators and others solve the problems of global education and poverty, and the collecting, recording and coming up with guides to survival skills.

The same people on an eProject team works as one of these four models (although it has been found in business that some people tend to be better at one of these than another.) The eProject team does not change personnel from one kind of eProject to the next, although special consultants within eClubs may be called in for unique skills and information. 

Evaluation of the present: eClubs have been successful in the first and second kind of eProject (since these are an extension of what had been done by “terra” Rotary clubs, with slight variations). Terra and eClub Rotary organization are familiar with being workers and supervisors. It is in the Planning and Research Specialists and Visionaries that the future of eClubs and eProjects lies.    

Here is the final work on this beginning study of eProjects and working with eClubs world wide, if possible. I have also completed the wording on a powerpoint presentation of this strategy, which I will send to anyone who wants to see it. Joe Kagle

ROTARY eCLUB ePROJECTS 

“Change is Mandatory. Growth is optional.”—Anonymous. 

Role of eClubs in Creating eProjects: “To provide each eClub member with world-class planning/implementation strategies through the creation of eProjects.” 

Vision: Enabling each Rotary eClub to be a top performing service organization through strategic leadership, partnering with ‘others” globally, and by building a world-class eClub membership through a virtual media. 

Mission: We will accomplish our vision by: 1) Maintaining our leadership role in aiding the future vision of Rotary and each eClub, 2) Leveraging global best practices to become a truly global eClub network for excellence and service, 3)becoming a Rotary leader in attracting, developing, and retaining a highly-skilled global membership who understands virtual planning and service, 4) equipping leadership with effective global processes and tools to support eClub members focused on excellence, service entrepreneauship, and expansion in eProjects to help “terra” workers in humanitarian service, 5) maintaining our focus on service values and meeting our commitments as an Internet Rotary eClub, and 6) leading change with flawless execution through thorough eProject planning, leading to humanitarian values and service.  

One Key Strategy: To make significant progress toward the stated vision, eClubs must partner with ‘others’ to execute its key strategy: which is, Provide the tools and processes necessary to attract, engage, develop and retain the right talent required to achieve a long-term Rotary global strategy for service. 

In executing this strategy, eClubs must focus on six key result areas with the intent of enabling our fellowship with a talented, skilled, and stable global membership; common people (terra workers) management processes that are effective globally; and well-developed leadership capable of engaging and retaining members through service in borderless planning (then contribute to ground execution on a local level.) 

Six Key Result Areas for Rotary eClub eProject Strategy 

1. Rotary eClub Planing: Stategic Intent: Ensuring we have the right mix of talent to achieve the long-term Rotary eClub eProject global strategy.
2. Recruitment and Retension: Strategic Intent: Aggresively attracting and retaining the best to capitalize on our ‘virtual’ advantages.
3. Service Development and Performance Management: Strategic Intent: Developing all Rotarians, including critical skills to improve our individual and eClub performance through eProject-thinking.
4. Engagement: Strategic Intent: Creating a baseline for measuring future changes for member engagement in service and provide specific data to support improvement areas.
5. Rewards and Recognition: Strategic Intent: Leveraging our rewards and recognition programs of outstanding service to eRotary to attract, develop, and retain the right talent for our eClubs.
6. Knowledge Retention and Research: Strategic Intent: Understanding the impact of lost knowledge and developing effective knowledge retention plans to keep critical knowledge and skills within Rotary and eClubs.

 “Rotary eClubs may be Paul Harris’ ‘undiscovered country’ of the 21^st century.”                                                                       --Anonymous. 

Our Next Steps: 1. Communicate the eProject Strategic Plan with each eClub leadership team, key internal RI leadership and staff, and our membership, 2. Align organizational eProject objectives, individual goals, and action plans to compliment the overall strategic plan, 3. Act upon and reinforce the strategic plan, 4. Be one voice, one team of eClubs working together worldwide, and 5. execute, execute, execute (in virtual and real space)! 

Why a Stategic Plan for eProjects? 

 ü    Create a common road-map.

 ü    Quantify our performance.

 ü    Plan for a healthy, sustainable future.

 ü    Align eClub initiatives with business strategies.

 ü    Exploit technology advances/advantages.

ü    Agree on “what matters most.”

Joe Kagle, President of Rotary Global History Fellowship; member: Service Committe of Rotary eClub of the Southwest, USA and ROTI; professor of Art and Art History, Lone Star College-Kingwood, Texas.

Additional Contribution from an eClub member: Ideas about Giving any Service: 

I.                  The Motivation for Meaningful Service Projects

 A.  The motivation for the individual

 1. Meaningful service defines the individual’s reason for being     

 B.  The motivation for a Rotary club              

 1.  Meaningful service projects define a club’s reason for being             

 2.  Meaningful service projects define an individual’s reason for being a member of a Rotary club.                   

     a.      To the degree that any organization loses its perceived relevance to the meeting of recognized needs, the Interest, commitment, involvement and association of its membership will decline.                  

     b.      Conversely stated, it is equally true that to the degree any organization is deemed to be relevant to the meeting of recognized needs, the interest, commitment, involvement and association of its membership will increase. 

Therefore, it is in the vital interest of every Rotary club to address significant and relevant needs, and to involve as many of its members as possible in the process of meeting those needs.
 

II.  Where To Begin — What Will Be Your Project? 

A.      Identification of needs: Humanitarian and Information.            

     1.  Within our own community                

         a.  The value of an annual community needs assessment.           

     2.  Within the world community                  

         a.  Recognition of needs in conjunction with a GSE Team visit.                 

         b.  Recognition of needs in conjunction with a friendship exchange.                 

         c.  Recognition of needs via an international projects fair                 

         d.  Recognition of needs via Rotary’s World Community Service Projects Exchange.

         e.      Recognition of a need by a traveling member of your club. 

B.      How important and/or urgent is the need you have identified?            

     1.  Compared to other needs that also exist?           

     2.  Compared to other things your club could be spending its time, money & resources on?           

     3.  How relevant will your members be able to perceive this need to be?a.      How could you convince them of its importance, relevance and urgency? 

C.      The defining of your project.            

     1.  Exactly what do you intend to accomplish?             

     2.  What would it take to accomplish what you perceive needs to be done?           

     3.  What would it cost? 

II.              The Motivation & Rationale for Collaboration.      

A.  How big is the need to be met?           

     1.  Could one individual meet that need?           

     2.  Would your club be able to meet that need? 

     3.  Would meeting this need require more resources than your club has or can raise?     

B.  How long would it take to meet that need?           

     1.  Could the need be met in a shorter time if you had more resources?           

     2.  Could more be helped with the same kind of need if you had more resources?     

C.  What would it take to address the need or problem at its core?           

     1.  Are we simply applying a band-aid with this project?           

     2.  Or are we preventing the problem from continuing to occur?           

     3.  Upon its completion, will there be local ownership of the problem and its solution?     

D.  What could you learn from the experience of others?          

     1.  Who else has done a similar project?             

     2.  What can you learn from their successes and mistakes?      

 Would any of these be willing to help you with your project?     

E.  The answers to all of these questions could provide the motivation & rationale for collaboration. 

III.          Choosing Your Partner(s) in the Project.      

A.  Who else would possibly be willing to buy into your project and help you?     

B.  What could each partner “bring to the table” that is needed?     

C.  How qualified, committed and dependable would each partner be?     

D.  What liabilities and/or baggage would a partner bring?     

E.  Would you ultimately be better off with, or without, that partner? 

IV.            Packaging Your Project.      

A.  By what means could you best help your members to visualize the need and the solution?       

B.  How could you most effectively convey the importance and urgency of meeting this need?     

C.  How would you go about convincing your members that the project could succeed with their help?     

D.  How would you accomplish a sense of ownership of the project by your members? 

V.                Promoting Your Project.      

A.  How could you best make others aware of your project, enthuse them and persuade them to buy into it?     

B.  What networks would be available within your club?     

C.  What networks would be available within Rotary?     

D.  What networks could be tapped outside of Rotary? 

VI.            Financing Your Project. 

A.      What financial resources could your club commit and raise toward this project?

B.           B.  What financial resources could your partner(s) commit and raise for the project?      

C.  What kinds of Rotary grants might be available to leverage these resources?      

D.  What gap would be left between the need and the combined leveraged resources?      

E.  What resources outside Rotary and your partners could be solicited?      

F.  What donations in kind could be solicited? 

VII.        Perpetuating Your Project.        

A.  Do you have the essential requirements to invest in the success of your project (Norma’s 6 “P”s)?           

1.  Passion for your project (perhaps the most important):    2.  Patience — infinite patience: 3.  Perseverance — to maintain your project over whatever period of time it takes to reach your goal: 4.  Personal commitment of time and possibly money: 5.  People — who will help you and who will also believe in your project: 6.  Plurality — how can you add auxiliary projects or programs to augment your original project?      

B.  Are you planning on following up on your efforts to assure their success?           

1.  Are you willing to personally visit your project?

2.      How can you enlist others who would be willing to go with you to visit your project?            

3. Could you persuade some of your donors to go visit their project?   

Norma Taylor       

How can I help?  I think the idea of getting several or all eClubs involved in projects is a great idea.

Carol

Carol Anderson

Sometimes one feels in an eClub that no one is reading your "stuff". As Dartmouth College's motto says, "Vox clamatis en deserto," a voice crying in the wilderness. And then, someone asks: "How can I help?" It is refreshing to hear. Thank you, Carol. I will send you by email an answer. You have helped me already.

Joe

Tom and I both really want this eClub to be a fixture in Rotary.  This is the only true way we can maintain membership.  We travel more than we are at home, so traditional clubs have not been working as well for us.  We have the time and inclination to maintain membership and to be active, and love visiting clubs as we travel on our way.

Carol

Carol Anderson

Wanting the eClub concept to succeed is my wish also. And for many of the same reasons: my head is global and my business contactS are worldwide. I got a yellow-enveloped letter this afternoon and just glanced at the address (it gave a town that I did not reconize but it said that it was from Georgia.) My first thought was "a New Year's card from the Republic of Georgia" (I guess that I expected it since I wrote several letters of recommendation for some academicians there). Anne was laughting at me since she knew that we were selling our Palauan living room table to a collector in Georgia, USA (which I forgot for the moment.) It is one small indication that I think global first and national second, just today (it is not always true.) eClubs are that and more. Of course, for my error, Anne got the check.

If you look at our meetings each week, the average of those making up is 3/1 up to 5/1 (National and Global makeups by outside Rotarians to our members.) One of the pluses for an eClub is the service to worldwide Rotarians. It is one of the service success stories for all eClubs. The other is what you say: the chance for those who travel, work, think and do business globally while still serving Rotary and its aims/ideals. What you and Tom are doing with your life is not the exception, it has become a way of living in the 21st century. We do live in a global village where our neighbors may not be physically next door. Some of our friends live in India, China, Mongolia, France, etc. I think that is why Rotary International accepted this experiment in "virtual" assembly for a Rotary Club. The opportunity for us all is to think outside the box of "luncheon meetings" and embrace the world as it has become. It is not easy but it is worthwhile to meet new Rotarians with different ideas, cultures and mind-sets.

"Yours in service without borders above self" is a powerful concept. I once asked a good friend in Guam why he traveled and his answer was: "To meet myself coming around the other way." Travel, even if it comes in the form of the Internet, helps us to meet our other self (and learn from our other side of ourselves.) Gosh, I do not know what my Rotary life would be like tomorrow without our eClub or some similar Fellowship. In fact, I do not wish to think about that right now. We must work to make our eClub exist after 2010 (and work for that end all WE COLLECTIVELY can) but it is nice putting it aside for a moment and do something else. Your question to me, "What can I do to help?" is one that I ask myself about "helping our eClub exist after 2010" and I do it purely for a selfish reason.

Way to go, Carol, you are adding much to this eClub,

Joe

Joe Kagle, President, Rotary Global History Fellowship, and also member of ROTI (besides our eClub.)