Member Value Message from Past DG Russ Michaletz

First and foremost: Stay safe!!!  As far as I know, all clubs have taken the advice of our government and terminated in person meetings for some period of time into the future.

However, Rotarians are People of Action and we are compelled to want to help each other and our community.  The purpose of this communication is to give you some ideas on how to bring value to your members even when you don't meet in person.

This year I have focused on retention through providing value to your members.  I have contended that there are three emotions that keep us tied to Rotary in different mixes depending on our personal needs: (1) Enjoyment through fun and fellowship, (2) Fulfillment through giving back to our communities, and (3) Pride of advancing one's personal brand.  

Enjoyment through fun and fellowship: 
Facebook Live:
Suggestions:
  • Create an event that can be shared
  • Go Live from the club page rather than a personal page. If going live from a personal page, it should be shared to the club page for better visibility
  • Make sure you do some sort of test first for internet connection, camera angles, and volume.
How To:
  1. Click Create Post
  2. Select Live Video from the options below
  3. Give a description of your live video
  4. Click Go Live in the bottom right
Other Technology Options:
  • Zoom meetings. There are free options for up to 100 participants in 40-min (or less) meetings. There are paid subscriptions for additional participants and/or extended meeting length.
  • Google Hangouts- free video conferencing. Can be recorded if you have a G Suite account (paid) rather than a free gmail account.
  • Free Conferencing Call- primarily audio conferencing that allows for screen sharing and video conferencing. It also has the ability to record. Entirely free service. 
Rotary Resources:
  • Michelle Bell & Larkin Scholla are working on a Google sheet to compile cross-District information on clubs holding virtual meetings. It looks like we will be leveraging the documents SMME started compiling earlier this week- all found here. 
    • Within this, I will also be adding the passport/e-clubs around the world
  • Look for videos/content that can take the place of a speaker on Rotary.org. The District will work to share these resources as well.
  • Bill Tobin (btobin@shelterboxusa.org) has offered online presentations on Shelter Box
  • Take a tour around the world by "visiting" e-clubs or passport clubs. Start on the West Coast with Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley. Then visit the Rockies with Rotary eClub One before moving onto the Midwest with Rotary E-Club of District 6600 Ohio Pathways and Rotary e-club of District 6630. Then head over to the East Coast with Rotary Club of District 77330 Passport. Hop the pond and brush up on your French with the Rotary E-Club 9920 Francophone- then make a pre-convention stop at the Rotary E-Club of Hawaii. 
  • Find groups/clubs/resources on Facebook- search for other clubs in the district, look for Rotary groups that are sharing content and events, search for passport and e-clubs that already know how to meet online, look for district and RI pages (including the Club & District Support page). Determine who you can partner with for content and events. 
Fulfillment through Giving Back
Resources to Engage in the Community:
  • Facebook Groups for Deliveries- Search COVID-19 Delivery TC Metro. There are 22 subgroups set up to cover the metro area.
  • HandsOn Twin Cities has a coordinated volunteer group here.
  • Many news articles have been published on various ways to support groups- Postcards for the Elderly, Supporting Healthcare Workers.
  • Check the websites and Facebook pages for your favorite non-profits to see how you can stay engaged- donating online, looking at their wishlists, etc. 
  •  
Turning Panic into Action:
  • Look for the gaps in your community. How can your club step in right now? How can they address that gap in the future? Can any of this turn into a grant idea? While District grant funds are depleted for the year, new grants will be reviewed in June. 
  • Continue to incorporate fun into your meetings and events. 
  • Provide resources to your club members and community however possible. Share those resources with other club leaders via email or the D5950 Club Presidents Facebook group. 
  • If you are willing and able to open your virtual meetings to other clubs, please share your event with the District via email or Facebook. 
Pride of Advancing Your Personal Brand
Do you have a skill that could help other members? Let's use your vocation to help others
  • Skills around financial management during tough times
  • Technology skills to connect loved ones
  • To alleviate boredom, book, TV, or movie recommendations
  • Food recipes/ Take out options
  • Helping to entertain member children
  • Singing, piano pieces, for fun.
  • Human Resource expertise