Old Wheel New Model

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.

Localism is about empowering our Communities

I was so excited when Mr.Cameron and his government talked about 'Big Society' and 'Localism', at last a government who could see the importance of communities and the need to empower the people who live in them. I'm not sure though Government initiatives are helping this to happen, but I still remain a believer that if we want things to happen it needs to be lead from a community and to meet the needs of that community.

So why my doubts? We've moved into a modern estate that lacks the community spirit, although we do our bit in trying to get the togetherness feeling. For instance on our walks with our dogs we always try to smile or say hello, very many people keep their heads down and perhaps think strange people don't reply! So I also felt perhaps I better try harder to get involved, I joined the Parish Council; I'm wondering now why we have these, they ought to be about empowering the local people, but no one really seems to listen, (the Vicar of Dibley Sketches spring to mind). We are asked a lot about our planning thoughts, but these are over ridden and we are invited to attend District Council Locality Meetings, so our voice can be heard, so why can't it be heard through the Parish Council? No not impressed with whether I can help my community through the Parish Council, I plan to do it until the elections in May and then slip away, as I'm not convinced localism is helped through this process. I've now become the secretary of the Resident's Association, however this seems to me to be another non starter, although this isn't helped by the lack of community meeting place.

So how do we get this localism or big society into gear? I wonder if in the future it needs to be tied up in the planning regulations?

When we brought our house we were promised a community and all we got was broken promises, bad parking and the builders ability to over-ride community need and continue to build more houses without better infra-structure or community facilities.

So I propose that the funds builders have to pay for Community infra structure or facilities is be put into the hands of the community itself, not the Council (much of our 106 Funding has disappeared into the ether and yes we can have little back for a community centre, but only if we find ways to make it pay!) Where is our promised vibrant village centre, shops, cafes, a pub, church, doctors surgery, etc?

We don't need continuous consultation that I'm sure is not listened too, we want to be part of the decision making that will help communities grow together, develop initiatives together and for my part care for each other, I call this putting the 'C' back into Communities.

So Mr Cameron, if you read this blog (wishful thinking perhaps), if you are intent on the Localism agenda and creating the 'Big Society' I'm up for helping, but let us have mechanisms that really empower communities and that help create opportunities for development and meet the needs of local people, not just processes that turn people off.

Giving young people life experiences

Yesterday the Prince's Trust published a new report stating that young people 'feel they have nothing to live for' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-25559089

I do believe we all need to think creatively as to how we can reignite young people's passion, how we inspire them to want to change the world and the communities they live in. How can we come up with projects that will engage their enterprise and create opportunities that give them a sense of worth, hope and aspirations?

Wouldn't it be good if Rotary could develop a scheme that gave opportunities to young people finding it difficult to find employment or a role in life? The new Vocational Training Teams perhaps could be adapted to build a Youth Empowerment Scheme, that asked young people to apply to do humanitarian work possibly for six months or a year. A scheme that would be offered to young people perhaps who have served on a Prince's Trust Team experience and need to develop the skills they have learnt. Or it might be another similar Youth Experience, I saw a great programme developed by a Rotary Club called YES - Youth Empowerment Summit, not for the ones who are already empowered, but for those who need a greater encouragement.



YES! Promo 2014 from Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise on Vimeo.

It's time to stop talking and to take some action. As Rotary, can we not create Social Enterprises, Life Experiences, Community Development Projects, that create opportunities to get our young people dreaming and involved in building better futures for themselves and others.

This needs us all to think outside the box, so can we take ACTION?