Page 5 - 2020-05-Rotary-on-the-Move-Newsletter-Zone-8

‘FINDING OPPORTUNITY IN ADVERSITY’

Article by President Rajeev Wadhwa, Rotary Club of Rowville-Lysterfield, Melbourne

As soon as face to face club meetings were unable to proceed due to the COVID-19 restrictions, our
Board held an online emergency meeting to review impacts and implications to our upcoming public
events and weekly club meetings.

Although several planned events could not proceed due to social distancing rules, focus was to keep our club
members engaged, happy and positive during these unknown and challenging times.

Effective immediately, we agreed to move the weekly meeting online – using Zoom as the meeting platform. A
friendly light agenda helped get everyone comfortable with the platform; and by the end of the first meeting,
members were enjoying their friendly banter as they would in face-to-face meetings! During this first online
meeting, we also inducted a new club member!
Since then, we have conducted our regular meetings online - including speakers, interactive segments via Q&A
sessions and inclusion of humorous visuals.
Knox art Show – a collaboration between Rowville-
Lysterfield and Bayswater Rotary clubs - was to kick off the
week after these restrictions were imposed. The combined
Boards met and agreed to hold a Virtual Art show instead.
Sponsors supported this new format, and artists were very
pleased with this outcome. More than 5000 people have
visited the virtual Knox art show website so far- that’s five
times as many visitors compared to last few years at the Art
Gallery!!!
Our members have taken to this new platform like fish to
water. Attendance is all time high. Many of them are now
organising zoom meetings with their other friends and
community groups.
Our satellite club, Knox Business Network, has also moved to online meetings.
We will conduct ANZAC service to honour our war heroes, virtually. We are hoping to get 100+ viewers.

Whilst new situation poses new challenges, it also offers new opportunities.
• The online format has made it easier to invite Rotarians from other clubs regardless of physical distance,
state or country.
• This also gives us opportunities to invite speakers from anywhere around the world.

• The biggest opportunity, however, is to be able to engage with vulnerable communities and sections of our
society who may be feeling lonely and unable to connect in-person with their regular support networks.

During these challenging times, I would encourage all Rotary clubs to move to online meetings and continue to
support their members by facilitating much needed fellowship.
Get inspired and inspire others

‘NEW TYPES OF ROTARY CLUBS - PART 2’

By Lawrence Furbish, ARC, Zone 32
From Rotary Zones 24 & 32 Beyond Borders’ Newsletter,
April 2020

Here is the latest video about starting a new club.

Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bYfGa63xds&feature=y
outu.be
To find all the Membership videos, go to
http://tinyurl.com/MembershipVideos.

Rotary on the Move Mayl 2020 Page 5