For years now I've felt I was a disaffected Rotarian, loved being part of Rotary International and giving Service above Self, loved doing the networking and certainly Social Media has helped this enormously, loved the fact that Rotary is about change and community development. So the concept of eClubs appealed as a possible way of doing all these things without having a formal structure. Unfortunately our current structures force conformity and I just don't like conforming, therefore my thinking doesn't fit with a Club Model of working.
Choices are to stay in Rotary as it is and conform as much as is possible or leave and do something else. I have left Rotary a number of times, but I'm drawn back because actually I love Rotary and being part of it. However being quite shy, not really liking small talk or not really getting the banter stuff, at a normal Club meeting I feel the odd bod and wonder what I'm doing here, plus the food is like having school dinners again! In some cases I've had to just really build up my courage to attend and when I have been at a function think about the quickest way to go home. Yes I'm definitely odd, but I love networking with people and doing service with them to make a difference. So the concept of eClubs appealed, we found lots of people who were interested in being connected to a 21st Century way of doing Rotary without the need to attend a formal Club. However this has its draw backs, as there is a tendency to be drawn back to the old style Club Model, my worries start to appear and I wonder if again I'll be made to conform.
So perhaps the answer is to create a Rotary Network, where people join to dip in or out of things they are interested in, no attendance rules or expectations, just a commitment to undertake the Four Way Test and Service above Self. Certainly no formality, bells, toasts and bling, just encouragement to get involved, learn about how their skills, talents and experience can help change things in their community or the world, by being part of a wider network. No officers, council or board meeting or those dreaded committees, just discussions on social media or an informal meet up over a drink whenever you happen to be passing through someone else's part of the World.
So how could this be achieved in the present structure? I think the concept of forming a District eClub has been O.K. but it relies too much on the Club Model. So perhaps a consortium of Clubs in a District could agree to have satellites linked together with a District eRotary Platform. Could satellites be just one or two people? People join 'traditional Clubs' however they stay in touch through the District Network and get involved in activities in their locality when time permits or they develop projects within communities as a Rotarian without having to formalise it.
I am convinced that a new Rotary Network Concept could help to give new birth to doing good in our communities under a tested and established brand like Rotary International, already established as a 1.2 million network, so it would be plain insane to re-invent the wheel. What is needed is a new mechanism for making it turn and moving forward in new directions.
I believe this could also work at a national level taking away the need to develop individual eClubs, just forming the Rotary International Network in the United Kingdom, probably a new dynamic name would help, I think the Scout Association iScout is really cool. Because of the current Rotary membership rules Clubs could sign up to be members of the consortium, people join local Clubs, but do most of their connections through an IT based platform and dip in or out of Rotary depending on time, capacity and what excites their passion.
