This year’s theme as you know is “Rotary Connects the World”.
I feel that this theme is prophetic – in that, we do have an opportunity to “Connect the World”
as we are all going through the current pandemic. How? – through Service into our communities.
Whilst we must all keep ourselves as safe as possible – we have an opportunity to show love and support to our neighbours – maybe through that unexpected telephone call to check if they are OK – or need anything.
As we are unable to meet physically at the present time – we are also learning to “Connect” using the internet – using such programs as Zoom. Whilst this might be daunting to many of us – it is not frightening when you get into it. Get one of your friends who has Zoom to invite you to a meeting. The invite will tell you how to connect – it’s easy – so long as you have a computer with a camera and audio. Give it a go!! Several Clubs are holding club meetings using this medium – if yours hasn’t yet – why not?
If we are not careful during this time of lockdown, our thoughts can dwell on negative feelings – so stay positive. I am a great believer that “every dark cloud has a silver lining” so long as we are prepared to look for it. There are a fantastic range of modules to help us to learn more about Rotary. A few examples are
- Rotary Learning Centre see https://learn.rotary.org/members/learn/catalog. You will need to have registered as a Rotarian onto Rotary’s main website “My Rotary” https://my.rotary.org/en/user . The process is easy. There is a vast range of modules to choose from – so have a look.
- Rotary International South Pacific and Philippines Office (RISPPO) is Rotary’s Regional Office based in Paramatta. They has done several informative YouTube videos - see https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo6EnzgkGsh2SXlBy3OttVw and are planning to add more shortly.
- Our own training Team is also looking at creating online modules to take the place of those that were going to be delivered in May at the Club Leaders Seminar. Watch this space.
In addition, whilst we cannot move freely about, we can still dream, think and plan. The lockdown is not going to last forever (maybe, I feel, a bit longer than the current 4 weeks perhaps) so let’s start thinking and planning about what we are going to do when we can. Existing Committees can still have “virtual” committee meetings to plan their amended programs. President Elects – you can have “brainstorming” meetings to discuss and agree what projects you would like to see your club being involved with next year. The planning could also include starting the preparatory work for a District or even Global Grants. Club Secretaries – when did you last review your club’s records – especially online? For example, according to Club Runner Records 53% of members do not have their age recorded. We currently have time to do these things – so let’s get on and do them – and please include as many of our club members in these discussions as we can.
Another example of “silver linings” is from the very sad news that a stalwart member of Gisborne Rotary Club – Les McGreevy recently died. Just before our lockdown we received news from his Estate that he has left $176,240.00 to the Rotary Foundation. This money has been put into an endowment fund – which means that every year we will receive an additional sum of money into our District Designated Funds account for distribution through such avenues as District Grants. Les’ name will now continue to be know by generations to come. Thank you Les.
The Archbishop of Canterbury has called for Christians around the world to light a candle at 7.00pm local time each Sunday Evening during the pandemic. Can I suggest that, whether you are a believer or not, that we also light a candle at this time and spend a little time thinking about what is currently going on around the World.
If we can stay positive during this difficult time – we will find life a lot easier – let’s focus on what we can control – not what we can’t.
(CDC is the Centre for Disease Control the US equivalent of our Ministry of Health)
Kind regards
Keep safe and well
Peter Maxwell
