Posted: 2 years ago

"Now that we have accomplished this milestone, you can expect some new discussion to be springing up on our forums about having our own foundation, developing a club banner, re-arranging our banking situation and more. "

What do you see as "next" for us?? What kinds of changes should we make? What should we consider adding to how we currently operate??

Both club members and visitors, please add you input here.

 Larry Levenson / Prescott Valley, Arizona USA

Posted: 2 years ago

Next is taking a breath, allowing the magnitude of what has been accomplished set in. After that, we clean up our member's profiles (again and again, if necessary, everyone should have a picture of themselves, either what you look like or what you wish others to consider when they look for you, plus all the information about each member should be there so that we can plan for the future with all hands helping.) Then we consider how we will work after many areas become "working groups" (more than a few isolated members from an area working together on projects and plans for their District, Region or culture- using our Monterrey friends as a pilot beginning). Then we continue the dialogue with other eClubs to think about creating an eClub "working group" where talents, skills and knowledge are exchanged and published on each of our websites to help other Rotary clubs in emerging nations (and locally) plan their services, raise funds for their plans, and then communicate their success (for future funds for future projects). Then we take another breath as we also do all the administrative things that must be done to retool our eClub for expansion, meeting all the criteria of being a legal Rotary club, etc., etc., etc. Maybe we start with "A job for every eClubber" and "To know is to grow." It could be a banner year.

Ha, there is almost nothing left to do. Joe

Joe Kagle, President-Elect, RECSWUSA, 2010-2011

Posted: 2 years ago

Not sure what's next... but I know that I am celebrating the outcome of the vote... and I am looking forward to forming a working group in Kenya (East Africa)... and rotary has moved with the times, it is no longer a club for old tradtional minded men!

Maloba

Posted: 2 years ago

Begin the work of creating eDistricts since few of us actually live in the physical districts as now assigned. The internet is not terra. It always strikes me as strange to be invited to functions 900 miles south of home.

Use eClub since E-

Club can become separated. eClub is more elegant and shows a closer relationship to "club."

Jack M. B. Selway, RGHF Founder & CEO

Posted: 2 years ago

I think we ought to try to arrange volunteer trips to each other's countries and states so we can meet f2f on a volunteer project.

Francine Hardaway, Ph.D

Stealthmode Partners

http://www.stealthmode.com

http://blog.stealthmode.com

Posted: 2 years ago

I think that having E-districts sounds like a great idea for the long term.  However, in the short term, I feel that each district should provide an opportunity for the formation of E-Clubs within the existing districts.  My concern about E-Districts is that the COL has approved the concept of E-Clubs, but nothing has been approved concerning E-Districts.  Therefore, we need to concentrate on the formation of E-Clubs withing the existing districts, and keep our eyes on the future for the formation of E-Districts.  I feel like Jack, that getting an invitation to participate in district activities in a district that is 600 miles away or more is a logistical problem.  Any way, we should continue to work on it one step at a time until we have the formation of viable E-Districts.

Posted: 2 years ago

Notice what happened, in Frank's comment, when "E" comes toward the end of the sentence. eDistrict and eClub, just like our banner says. Let's use the logical and elegant expression. Particularly now that we're going to be around for a while.

Good night all.

Jack M. B. Selway, RGHF Founder & CEO

Posted: 2 years ago

Jack: "Begin the work of creating eDistricts since few of us actually live in the physical districts as now assigned. The internet is not terra. It always strikes me as strange to be invited to functions 900 miles south of home."

Ryofu: Totally agreed!

Jack: "Use eClub since E-Club can become separated. eClub is more elegant and shows a closer relationship to "club."

Ryofu: Again agreed. Or "e-Club". Is the "E-" the official designation now, as decided by RI?

Posted: 2 years ago

I agree with Jack and Ryofu that it is probably more elegant and perhaps even more appropriate to use eDistrict instead of E-District. Also, Jack is right about the hyphen problem at the end of a sentence. However, I believe that Rotary International has approved E-District as the proper designation. I think that we need to work on getting it changed. If we are going to insist on creating eDistricts in the near future, I think that we need to proceed in finding out from Rotary International if this would be acceptable.

Posted: 2 years ago

I also agree with the use of 'eClub' and eDistrict'. That way we are honoring and emphasizing Club and District, rather than the process which is "e" (electronic). An eClub member has to have more than one means to communicate, therefore we use archaic tools sometimes of telephone and (God forbid) face to face (which is why many of us go to the RI Convention each year or a District Conference or PETS). "e" (electonic communications) is like 17th and 18th century letter writing (another powerful tool used in the past (to create neat things like "Democracy" and a "Free Society"- not bad). Robert Wilson called his 19-hour play (which never happened in its total form, scheduled for the 1984 Olympic Festival in Los Angelos): "civilWars" because it was about "Wars" more than being "civil" (although Wilson cannot help throwing civility into his creations).

Recently Eileen has suggested that we look into a project for "citizens with special needs" where they have a chance to experience fellowship on a ship cruise (great idea, I believe, as long as we get the information about it before the final decision, which Eileen is now working on). In terms of the future of eClubs globally, I would like to see, at some point in the future (after each eClub gets its own house in order) to begin to share a listing of what our members have in terms of "talents, skills and knowledge" which can be exchanged electronically. Many of us, individually, are already doing that globally. Eileen's idea for the 'Special Needs Individuals" and our project with them (possibly next year) could be shared with other eClubs (and their successes shared with us- how to use the 'e' in our name as a real tool for service). We might even start some "eProjects" which transcend the limitation of "terra thought" among some of the eClubs and any other Clubs who can use the knowledge gained. We have to examine what is and has been our strength (as an eClub), using it as a tool for service.

The night that I gave a talk (with others from other places in the world) at the Rotary/One club in Chicago and saw the lighting of the Chrysler Building with "Stop Polio Now" and then the next day saw that it was repeated at historic sites all over our world, I thought: "That is the kind of thing that eClubs can do all the time in the future. We have the tools now!" Just a thought.... Of course, all we have left are things like poverty, illiteracy, violence (war), etc. One thing that eClubs have done,  will and must do (in my opinion) is think big.

Posted: 2 years ago

Right on, and with Joe, we're in good hands.

Jack M. B. Selway, RGHF Founder & CEO

Posted: 2 years ago

A couple final thoughts: 1) although we will keep the "classifications" for members (the timing is not right to fight that battle now), I really think that it is somewhat archaic in its important for the future of eClubs (that is why I suggested that we record and share "talents, skills, and knowledge"); 2) mentoring will be critical to the future of eClub (actually, the future of Rotary) and one important aspect of that must be 'flexibility of thought' (we do 'multi-tasking' already). What I mean by that term is: thinking on a local (close and trusted partners), district (proven partners who may not live close but are close in thought), cultural (your culture and others), and finally global (thinking without borders and boundaries- but finding universal human needs and tools to communicate and serve) (as most business men and women know, you do not train people to feel a 'real smile', you recruit them, hire them and connect that person with a job where it is used and essential).

Posted: 2 years ago

IP Joe: “Of course, all we have left are things like poverty, illiteracy, violence (war), etc. One thing that eClubs have done,  will and must do (in my opinion) is think big.”

Yes, I agree.

IP Joe: although we will keep the "classifications" for members (the timing is not right to fight that battle now)”

Hahaha.

IP Joe: “, that is why I suggested that we record and share "talents, skills, and knowledge..."

... in our database. I agree.

Maybe we can get some more club-wide discussion on this evolving out of this thread.

Posted: 2 years ago

I believe that Ryofu is correct:  more club discussion is needed now to determine the long-term future of our evolution as an eClub.  I know that Larry stated that Rotary International had approved the idea of "no more than one internet-based club" in each existing district.  If I remember correctly, no mention was made about edistricts by Rotary International nor by Larry.  We need to find out if the concept of edistricts is even a possibility at this point.  I am not trying to play the devil´s advocate, but I  simply urge you to take a look back at our recent history and you will notice that all or nearly all of our projects have been the same type of projects that are popular with terra clubs.  We are still talking of Matching Grants, dictionary projects, water projects, shelter boxes,sending tons of materials to Haiti, purchasing equipment for ambulances, etc. This, in my opinion, does not distinguish us from regular clubs. So, in the meantime, it appears to me that we need to continue to view our association with "terra" districts as a necessity.  For the "working group" from Arizona the present district is a clear choice.  For the "working group" from Monterrey, the district of Garza García is a clear choice.  I realize that some of our present members will not have a clear choice, and their choice would be to remain with the present district.  It is very apparent that we need a full discussion on these issues.  We have over 60 members in the eClub and only 4 or 5 have joined in the conversation.  We need everyone to jump in!

Posted: 2 years ago

I like this idea. Hope more folks chime in. . . let's get a gauge of interest. Would ou consider traveling to do one of our projects? Would you consider hosting is some of us came to you area to work on a project?

We have a great example of this from last October, when 5 of us went to San Juan Capistrano, CA, USA to work with Mamie on her organization's event. Those that wanted hosting were hosted by local Rotarians who were not members of the eClub. It was a lot of fun!

 Larry Levenson / Prescott Valley, Arizona USA