In this uncertain time, we understand family and work are top priorities. When your thoughts do turn to Rotary, District 6440 stands ready to support you and your club.
For many of us, our Rotary family is also an important part of our lives. These friendships connect us to our communities and the world and provide avenues for soul enriching service.
All our clubs cancelled in-person meetings for the foreseeable future. But that does not mean we need to give up on our regular fellowship opportunities. In fact, several clubs already met this week, virtually, using Zoom. I participated in several, and can report that for most participants it was a welcome connection with friends, opportunity to catch up, and to begin making club plans for our “new normal.”
Zoom is a very easy to use and powerful communications platform for holding virtual meetings. For many of us, it is new, and seems a bit challenging. It was for me. But I tried using it, and now use it all the time - for Rotary and even to connect with family. I encourage you to give it a go!
And District 6440 will underwrite the cost for your club to have a one year Zoom Pro account! Read on to learn more.
I am pleased to announce that district leadership has agreed to underwrite the cost of a Zoom Pro license ($120 for the first year with Rotary discount) for each club. Details on this offer are outlined in the attached "Summary of Suggested Virtual Meeting Action Items". We encourage clubs to hold regular virtual meetings at a convenient time. To help our members become familiar with Zoom, the District will hold two Introduction to Zoom sessions next week for recipients of this email.
To attend either of these sessions, click on the link below: Click on this link to join the Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/743949644 Meeting ID: 743 949 644 You can view a one minute video on how to join a Zoom meeting at this link. It also includes documentation about how to install Zoom on a PC/Mac, Smartphone or Tablet. To learn more about Zoom:
I encourage you to consider appointing a member of your club to serve in a new club leadership position, Virtual Meeting Coordinator(VMC). The person serving in this role should be enthused about virtual meetings with the desire to help members of your club become proficient participants. The VMC should have good technical skills and will receive Zoom training. If your club is participating in this program (a D6440 paid Zoom Pro account), you will need to appoint a VMC. The VMC training will include these functions:
If you choose to appoint a Virtual Meeting Coordinator, please send their name to Erin Rams by March 27. A schedule for VMC training will be sent in a separate email. The attached “Rotary Club Zoom Installation and Training” document is intended to be distributed to members of your club to help them get started with Zoom prior to your club’s first virtual meeting. Rich Lalley will be serving as our District Virtual Meeting Coordinator, with assistance from PDG Bruce Baumberger. Reach out to Rich if you have questions about how to proceed. If you would like help to create the Zoom Pro account for your club, watch this video that Rich prepared. Please review the attached Summary of Suggested Virtual Meeting Action Items. Mark and I send best wishes to you and your family during this uncertain time. And thank you for your service through Rotary and your friendship. Stay well, Suzanne |