NEXT MEETING: March 27, 2020

How is COVID19 Affecting "Business As Usual"?

During our online meeting on Friday, we will focus on businesses that are now designated as “essential” or “non-essential.” Some of our own business members will tell us how they are adjusting to these unprecedented times. Are new avenues opening? Are they facing or contemplating lay-offs?

We’ll have a conversation about ways Rotarians can help. We’ll also encourage everyone on the video call to tell us about other kinds of challenges they are facing.

Friday, March 27 meeting
Begins promptly at 12:30 PM
To join meeting, go to https://zoom.us/j/9025473436
and enter Meeting ID: 902 547 3436
—
On mobile phones, call +1(669)900-9128.
When prompted enter meeting ID shown above.

Haven’t used Zoom before?
You can download the Zoom app in advance. Here’s help on getting started that includes links to short videos on getting connected and using features like Chat, microphone muting, and more.

Finally, remember that you can always find our online meeting URL, ID and call-in numbers on our calendar page.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Richmond Rotary Cares 2020 – During this health pandemic, Richmond Rotary is reaching out to our membership by phone and email to respond to needs and opportunities. Pam Jones and Alan Baer and his family are organizing care packages.
• We’ve also set up an easy way to let us know if you, a family member, neighbor or acquaintance needs help coping with some of the more common challenges presented by the pandemic; for example, a grocery pick-up or delivery, tech assistance, or simply a phone conversation. We will match requests for help with people in our club who have offered to help. Links to pages where you can Request Help or Offer Help can be found the top of the right column for the duration of this public health emergency.
• Speaking of adapting to the new conditions, we’ve come up with a cool way to monetize our desire to share (a cynical way to describe what we’ve been doing all along): We’ll continue Happy and Sad Dollars online, as we did at last week’s online meeting. But instead of dropping dollars into a wooden box, you’ll click them into our PayPal account. What’s more, when you do that, you can also leave us a note giving the reason you’re happy or sad. We’ll post your notes in the following week’s Flywheel. Sound familiar?
• Stacey assembled a new Communications Committee. It includes one of our newest members, Iris AlRoy, as well as President Jan, Nick Despota, Nakele Rechenauer and Pierre Thompson. The tech-savvy group will discuss options for meetings and ongoing communication moving during this “new normal” of physical distancing. Our goal is to build greater participation among our members.
• The challenges and corresponding opportunities we face connect to some of the ideas Stacey shared from the PETS (President Elects Training Seminars).

[showhide type=”report” more_text=”Read Stacey’s takeaways” less_text=”Hide takeaways” hidden=”yes”]
The weekend just prior to the shelter-In-place directive was amazing. The training format shifted to online seminars prior to PETS so that president-elects would have time working with each other on case studies, or sharing the strengths and challenges of each other’s clubs. The focus was on increasing participation from members, expanding reach, and being adaptive, all especially important now in light of COVID-19. It was very heartening to build relationships and share ideas with the incoming BARSHEEP Presidents, and to make connections with other PEs in the District, and there are great opportunities to increase impact and participation through these partnerships.

A few highlights and takeaways:

• Build on the Centennial project at Miraflores by connecting with other local service clubs like Kiwanis, Soroptimists, Lyons (especially since Jim Becker, Stacey’s boss, is Kiwanis President this year and next!). Do more in partnership with them to expand reach and PR. Don Lau suggested having joint meetings with shared speakers and focused conversations, which people supported. In fact, Kiwanis is considering moving meetings to CoBiz Richmond, right in downtown, and it would be great to have some joint meetings there!
• Adaptability: we can consider having some of our meetings online to accommodate those who can’t attend regular lunch meetings. Online meetings can be shorter, can be recorded, and can allow for participation outside the area, including program speakers! Rotary as an institution is very open to looking at new ways for clubs to meet and encourages having different opportunities for members to engage, especially as Clubs include a more diverse range of age and backgrounds. We look forward to exploring new options in the coming year.
• Highlight the faces of our club: we have increased diversity and added so many wonderful new members in recent years, so we can tell the stories of our members and show the broader community that our club now represents the community.
• I mentioned a “listening tour” with all current members to get an understanding of your personal commitment to and connection to Rotary, why Rotary is important and what goals and ideas you might have for the coming year. This is a key element of member engagement, and I am more committed than ever to listening to each of you in the next couple months. I look forward to learning more about what makes Richmond Rotary so special – all of you!

I am very much looking forward to working with all of you more closely in the coming year, and thank you so much for your ongoing commitment to our community.[/showhide]

RECOGNITIONS AND HAPPY/SAD DOLLARS

LAST WEEK’S PROGRAM

Richmond Rotary held its first-ever virtual Rotary Meeting last week with 25 participants, many video conferencing for the first time. We used desktop computers, laptops, tablets, voice-only phone lines, and even a smart phone attached to David Brown’s bike as he cycled his way to lunch.

We all agreed to keep meeting virtually as the coronavirus pandemic continues to sweep through our communities. President-elect Stacy led the meeting and gave a report on PETS (President Elect Training) held earlier this March. A central (and timely) theme of the training focused on building flexibility into programs and membership opportunities. The 2020-2021 year will be a year of positive change for all Rotarians.