My friend Frank has pushed me to start a thread about why I am a Rotarian in our eClub. I see it as two things: what I get from the fellowship and service; and what I give (which is getting in a different form) to others while being a Rotarian in our eClub, plus my guarantee.

What I get: I get, in the best of times, when others in a Rotary club (virtual or luncheon) share their expertise, their knowledge and their fellowship, is the opportunity to grow because we grow through learning from others who are superior to "self" in some fashion. I get pieces of knowledge from others in the eClub and examples of giving when my time is such that I cannot give at that moment. I get friends which lasts as long as we share (some of my friends from 37 years in Rotary still email me and share their joys and hardships.) I get something fundamental from Rotary itself which is a compulation of the best in many fields of knowledge and experience from the past, the present and visions of the future.

What I give: I give when my skills are needed and it warms me to share. I give to see the joy that little acts of service can do to the face of a child or adult who needs just a little help, a little push. I give because giving is its own reward. Any individual who in involved in business knows that service is the reward that keeps on giving.

What I guarantee: I guarantee to new members in our eClub (a virtual commitment to share and serve) is that if you share your full name so others know what to call you, you share your image so that others can identify you and feel that they know a little about you, you share your thoughts and visions on the forum and in comments on our weekly meetings (not much to ask), you share your time which is your life's precious existence, and you share your expertise in the services that all of us do in the Rotary eClub of Southwest, then you will be a full and productive member of RECSWUSA. More than that, I guarantee that you will be a better human being for fellowship, goodwill and peace. Now, that is a bonus for anyone!

Those are my 3-G's for being a Rotarian in RECSWUSA. Now, I expect others to share too!!!!! 

Yours in service above self and without borders,

Joe

Member of the Service and Membership Committees

While reviewing the replies on our Forum, I find that only a few members use this tool which we as an eClub have voiced (asking Stephen to use his valuable talents and time to create with the help of other leaders) is critical to the future of our existence as a valuable addition to the history of Rotary. I am, I know, not alone in my assumption. Certainly, outside Rotarians care enough to comment on our weekly programs- at least 3 to 5 outside Rotarians to 1 eClub member. Certainly, every new member of the eClub should add their comments to this area: Why I Am a Rotarian in our eClub. This information would help our leaders when we need hands across borders to give service, fellowship and goodwill.

More than those new members, we should have all our leaders, especially those on the Board of Directors and our founders, add their voices to this wealth of information for us all.

If you do not agree, give your reasons so that we can have a dialogue. Yes, I know, silence is a statement in itself. I guess this is a challenge. I want to see who cares enough to share: Why I Am a Rotarian in our eClub. If only a few of us share on the Forum, maybe it is not the tool that we envisioned when this eClub was created.

Joe

I believe in Rotary and the wonderful work that continues year after year. To have a home club, I needed one that was as flexible as my life style and still allowed me to belong, share and give back to the world in which we live.

On our travels we visit clubs along the way.  Yesterday we stopped by to see firends at the Pantano Club in Tucson.  We as members of the eClub have an obligation to spread the word about eClubs.  No one we visited with had any knowlegde of an eClub.

The more I visit with, and meet with other members in forums, the more I feel I am apart of this club.  I hope others join in and make new friends.

Carol

Carol Anderson

Some weeks ago I suggested that we had too many forums and too few participants and, unfortunately, I still feel the same way.  Then, for this week's SAA Minute I gave you my thoughts on why I became a Rotarian and why I am still a Rotarian after so many years.  As we grow as an eClub, learning about our eClub members becomes even more necessary!  I am very happy that Karen thought of doing the program on our new Rotarians so that we can begin to know them better.  But isn´t it important also for those who have been in Rotary for a while do the same?  Joe Kagle has started this dialogue by eloquently posting his own reasons for being a Rotarian and Carol has joined in on the conversation. Joe also mentioned that he had noticed that more visiting guests than members are posting a comment after the meeting.  We need all of you to stop in and say hello!  Recently one of the visiting guests mentioned that it was an excellent idea to do programs such as the one Karen did.  But he also remarked that it is very important to include full names and pictures so that we know who that person is. Thanks to Karen, I now feel that I know some of our new members a lot better.  However, I still don´t know some other members that well.  Come in and introduce yourselves soon!