Posted: 2 years ago

I had the great pleasure of speaking at the Goodyear - White Tanks Rotary Club (Phoenix, AZ, USA) this past week. Many of you know I speak frequently at Rotary Clubs, so why was this one special?? It was the first time I've spoken publicly about eClubs since the COL, and this club is in District 5490, where there is no eClub.

So after giving an overview of the history of eClubs and some of the stats about our club, I talked about the process of starting a new eClub. You'll note that the website is the last thing I discussed. . . much thinking and discussion needs to be done before designing a website. I give you these bullets from my talk for your consideration and input.

"Your vision for an eClub should respond to the perceived needs of your district, and the willingness of your district to think creatively as situations arise. Some things to consider:

Why do you district yeaders support forming an eClub? Where do they see the value? How can they support an internet-based club?

Who can join? Would your eclub be restricted to your district's geography? Regional? Global? Specialized along some other dimension (like young professionals)?

Why would people join this club?

Are you looking for existing/past Rotarians or new Rotarians? If both, what is your initial focus?

How will your meetings be conducted? All online? What technologies? Some face-to-face? How often/where? How will you handle "speakers" at your meetings?

To fit all the above, what will your Bylaws look like? What committees will you need? What board positions?

How will your eClub members receive ongoing training in Rotary? Will they come to district events? How will training be delivered?

How will your club embrace the five avenues of services?

It's clear that Rotarians value fellowship very highly. How will your eClub address this issue?

What functionality will need to be on your website to encapsulate all of the above? Cost of developing website? Cost of maintaining it?

An eClub is a very different kind of club than a traditional Rotary Club. Given this, what existing club will charter this new eClub? Who will be the charted president? Where will its founding members come from?"

Of course, I invited them to make up with our eClub anytime, and gave them each a handout about making up with us.

Add your thoughts and ideas on creating and sustaining an eClub. Please join the conversation!

 Larry Levenson / Prescott Valley, Arizona USA

Posted: 2 years ago

Hello Larry,

I read very carefully what you told about the eclubs and the things we have to consider for creating a eclub. Thank you , it is great. Yours. Françoise.

Posted: 2 years ago

I have been reviewing your writing Larry about an eClub and I find that two statements that you made are true (and appear, for anyone who is outside of an eClub, contradictory and confrontational).

You made the statement in your notes when giving a talk to the Goodyear-White Banks Rotary Club (Phoenix, Az): "An eClub is a very different kind of club than a traditional Rotary Club" which I totally agree with. And then, in a recent email to Maureen McKinley, about a new piece of your writing in Facebook, you say, "I think what we do is unique...in that we don't do anything unique", which I also totally agree with. The second statement is discussing the universals of Rotary (the WHAT) and the first is discussing the reality of how we communicate those universals (our HOW).

There is a story by Randy Pausch, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh (who died last year of cancer) in his Last Lecture where he talks about discussing joining Walt Disney's most creative unit for his sabatical. The first Dean, after hearing Pausch's request, says: "I do not have enough information about this. You cannot do it." At which point, Pausch takes an 'end run' around this Dean by stating that it may be the decision of another Dean on this since Pausch is in his Division.

Pausch walks into the second Dean's office, making the same request that he wishes to take time away from his teaching to join Disney's most creative unit making imaginative digital images. The second Dean says, "I do not know much about this, but if one of my best and brightest staff comes into my office excited about an idea and opportunity, which might help our college in the long run, I listen, Now, tell me more about this!"

Both Dean's were saying the same thing, "I don't know and do not have enough informaiton right now," but what a difference in the message that was given. Many of us in education know that the brightest and best students take teachers, not courses. Many of us have found out in business that to stay energized, alive and interested in our jobs, we work for 'bosses' who are supportive partners who reinforce what we do and encourage independent thinking.

In the 21st Century, 'HOW is WHAT!' An eClub is unique (different that a 'terra' Rotary club), while still being, somewhat, the same. RI's COL recognized this truth by making eClubs a permanent part of Rotary. We are Rotarians who embrace the new 'HOW". The old 'HOW' has lost members who cannot communicate globally while making local meetings.  To keep the WHAT alive we must give service locally as well as globally, but the 'HOW' of communication is what is important after some of the universals are established (which were started in 1905 and have not changed much since then). All eClub members agree upon the WHAT (although it is good to be reminded from time to time). The change that has taken place dramatically in our time is 'HOW' (and even that has not changed if we look to 18th letter writing helping to communicate a change in a Greek/America democracy). An eClub is 'unique in its 'HOW' and the HOW helps to shape a new understanding of the 'WHAT'.