Rotary Helps YYC - an Update
Franco Savoia
RCCD and other clubs (Centennial, Chinook, East, Fish Creek, North, Sarcee and West) launched Rotary Helps YYC in February 2023. This is a demonstration pilot for a “one window” access for Rotary support.
To date we have received 41 applications with donations ranging from $0 (seeking to volunteer) to $200,000 for a playground. Fourteen projects have been supported totalling $239,500. Seven projects have 2 or more clubs provided support thus leveraging Rotary Club of Calgary dollars.
What we have discovered:
- The steering committee, with representation from each club, works well. Trust has been built. Each committee member is taking responsibility to help monitor the platform.
- Getting familiar with the program took longer that anticipated.
- The system needs rigor in follow up: the system automatically notifies all steering committee members of any changes including new applications. Committee members need to review the changes and new applications noting their actions on the platform.
- The Rotary Helps YYC platform uses Google Forms as its base and thus has limitations on what is possible get our the system
- We are building a shared data base of projects being submitted. A summary report is reviewed by the Rotary Community Services Directors group at its monthly meeting.
- Processes are taking longer. Each club has its own processes. Some are able to make decisions more quickly than others. Some clubs need more information than is included in the application form.
- However, all participating clubs are overall pleased with the progress made.
Going forward:
- The application form is being updated to include more information.
- Each club is designating a second representative.
- Each club is contributing $100 annually to maintain Rotary Helps