Submitted by: PDG Craig Loughery, District Membership Chair
Has membership been affected by the Pandemic? Affected, yes; negatively- well, yes and no...Unlike the dinosaurs which were obliterated by the effects of a huge asteroid hit, we have been able to quickly adapt, and avoid disaster- not only avoid disaster, but capitalize on recently developed technology...and evolve a new pattern of functioning.. Thru the use of ZOOM, many clubs have been able to keep meeting, stay in touch, even come up with ideas on how to create improvements in their operations...and thus help membership goals.
1.) Use ZOOM to improve programs...One thing that has always been a problem, and a deterrent to both recruitment and retention, has been boring, repetitive, or even non-existant meeting programs..Using ZOOM, it makes it convenient for guest speakers to drop in, deliver a program, and use less of their valuable time- while at the same time, be a new and different program.
2. Use ZOOM to replace other gatherings, and invent a new way to help the venue used previously.. A club recently replaced their holiday dinner, by arranging for the restaurant to prepare a number of holiday dinners-to-go, which club members would drive by and pick up, then go home and zoom in to a club party via ZOOM...
3. Use ZOOM and adapt the concept of Visioning for your club...Makes it easy for many members who might otherwise be "lightly engaged" or even "on the fence," to zoom in and be a part of the planning- a sure way to increase engagement and improve retention!
Has your club created a new use for ZOOM? Tell us about it!
And, so what's next? As vaccines take hold and the pandemic possibly winds way down, we will find many clubs using a hybrid-style of in-person gatherings and ZOOM meetings...get the best of both, and keep Rotary "On the GO" and "On the GROW"...
