Threat or Opportunity?

Having spent many years trying to get Rotarians out of their comfort zone, I’m finding myself out of my comfort zone. After years of being referred to as a disruptor I am feeling disrupted.

These are unprecedented times.

I don’t have all the answers, but as a membership specialist I do have concerns, I do have observations, I do have hopes, and I do have some ideas. So tonight I want to share some of those concerns, observations, hopes and ideas.

Threat or Opportunity?

When was the last time you sharpened your axe? We have time for introspection.

Many clubs have used online meeting formats for years, but there have been many cases recently of this technology being utilised for the first time by our members.

I’ve been calling for the increased use of video conferencing in Rotary for years, especially for training and meetings where considerable travel is required. Sparse districts with outlying clubs, RI board, committee, trustee meetings. Could the multimillion dollar triennial COL work via zoom? How much time could we all save if we travelled less to meetings? Let alone travel and accommodation costs, and their associated carbon footprint. How much of our RI dues and district levies we all pay as members is spent on travel and accommodation for meetings which could (and currently are) being held online? I do recognise there’s nothing quite like personal contact and interaction.

Sooner or later, we need to start looking outside…

Zoom meetings are great, but where is our service impact? Last month my good friend Rebecca Fry spoke to you about service options during isolation. Congratulations to Rebecca on that presentation, it was first class as always.

I would pose the question; whose needs are we servicing?

Club closure interviews revealed many projects serving member needs, maybe not community needs.

Resources: Local MP, council, police, school counsellors, church based outreach groups, other NGOs.

Partnerships. Social Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Mentoring Hubs

COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT TOOLS 605

We have a great opportunity to promote a united front as we emerge from this crisis.

Clubs working together in your groups to take on regional projects and initiatives in addition to your local needs. We need to prove our relevance to the community.

This is also a great time to review and update our branding, signage, etc. It’s now almost 7 years since the “NEW” Rotary logo was introduced, and I still see daggy, superseded logos everywhere.

Social media opportunities

As much as I love seeing images of groups of Rotarians in a grid participating in zoom meetings, I question what benefit that imagery conveys to the wider community. Maybe if when we share imagery like that we need to also use words to the effect of “we’re preparing a plan to get back into our community and help those in need”

Here's a great tip about sharing Facebook stories…

Rotary Down Under, Australian Rotary Health, Rotary International. RAWCS. Shelter Box. End Polio Now. Other clubs… share their stories to show that Rotary is still active. We’re an international organisation – it’s OK to share stories of our global humanitarian initiatives.

COVID-19 stories – DIK, hospital equipment – Bali Women’s group making Facemasks thanks to donated sewing machines, Rotarians delivering food hampers, groceries, pharmaceuticals,

Rotary club of Central Launceston – members donated computers to the migrant resource centre, where recent immigrants were unable to use their local library because of COVID-19. There are countless stories of clubs donating facemasks, sanitiser and other medical supplies. THESE STORIES MUST BE SHARED!

CLUB FLEXIBILITY

I predicted about 5 years ago that the most important word in Rotary moving forward would be FLEXIBILITY. Bruce Lee ; Notice that the stiffest tree is most easily cracked, while the bamboo or willow survives by bending with the wind.

We can either drive change, or become victims to it. Many clubs are being forced into flexible platforms at the moment, but I am convinced it will be good for them. The more nimble, agile and flexible clubs will survive this. But I fear some of the more stringent, traditional and vulnerable clubs could struggle.

We always have a membership drop off prior to June 30, when districts and RI calculate dues and prepare invoices. Smart clubs get ahead of this and try to prevent where possible resignations in July, meaning no incoming subs but outgoing fees. I feel there’s a real risk of rapid membership decline from July 1 this year, as Rotarians all over the world have seen little or no Rotary activity for a number of months. Clubs, districts and RI MUST be prepared for this. Many districts have suffered enormous financial hits as a result of cancelling conferences at short notice, my own included. RI has had to cancel the international convention and that would have also had enormous financial consequences.

Despite this, travel costs must be down for districts and RI. I wonder if there will be room to temporarily reduce member dues?

Many Rotarians have lost their jobs, many Rotarians have lost their businesses. I dare say the Rotary Foundation will suffer a hit from the market exposure of their investments, and less loose change available from regular contributors. Clubs haven’t been able to fundraise effectively, and despite all of this, the need in the community has never been greater.

In challenging times, when people are feeling vulnerable and anxious, the demand for community leadership is stronger than ever, and Rotary is in a unique position to be able to provide that leadership. We have an unparalleled global network of humanitarians and innovators, and I’m confident we WILL innovate our way through this.