story by: MAX THORNE

The internet has been with us a long time now and, love it or hate it, being online ​is very much part of modern living.

To mark Rotary International’s membership month for August, it is a good ​opportunity to turn the spotlight on one particularly successful Rotary eClub ​which has proved that it is the perfect means through which to develop and ​expand a global group of Rotarians.

Despite not ever meeting face-to-face, the Rotary eClub of Innovation is making ​its mark with diverse projects in many countries. Not only that, being an online ​Club means they can reach far and wide to raise funds as well as attract new ​members.

Now celebrating their tenth anniversary with an enviable membership of 56 from ​15 countries so far, this eClub also adopts a unique approach to the way they run ​their club.

Martin Brocklebank co-ordinates the Club from his home in Blofield, Norfolk. He ​is also Chair of the Rotary eClub Fellowship, sometimes called the Global ​Fellowship in a Digital World. With distance being no barrier, Lina Soukischmidt is ​the current President of Rotary eClub of Innovation based in Perth, Australia.

Martin explained what makes the Innovation approach so unique and successful ​in attracting members. He said: “We use different ways to work as a club and this ​opens up opportunities to offer different ways to work together.

“For example, we focus on member attraction rather than member recruitment; ​we accept anyone who wants to join unless there’s a compelling reason not to. ​We also have a Whole Club Council (WCC) which is scheduled every six weeks and ​where every member can have their say. It can be a bit daunting at the beginning ​to see so many people on-screen at the same time, but everyone experiences a ​sense of belonging which is important, as is a sense of fun.”

This approach has led to a strong and diverse eClub. From a starting number of ​33, and having initially lost around a dozen people who found an eClub was not ​for them, Rotary eClub of Innovation is working steadily to increase that number ​even further.

Initially, 26% of the club were women and this has risen to 42%. At the beginning, ​the eClub’s average age was 70 but is now 60.

Another interesting divergence is the separation between projects and ​fundraising, often linked together in more traditional Clubs.

For the Rotary eClub of Innovation, projects can be initiated by any member ​without prior approval. This is done by posting an outline on a ‘channel’ on the ​club’s Microsoft Team facility. Other members can see what’s been posted and ​join the project if it’s right for them. Should funding be required as the project ​develops or to deliver it on-the-ground, financial input is requested during a ​Whole Club Council meeting.

Martin emphasised the importance of this, saying: “We have a global fellowship ​that translates into land-based action as a result. We can have a project put ​forward, developed and acted upon. Global means local Rotarians can go where ​the project is needed and help.”

Fund-raising, as a separate focus, has also had a great deal of success thanks to ​this eClub’s ability to engage a global audience with unusual and attractive ​options. One that took centre stage at the International Convention in Singapore, ​was the Rotary eClub of Innovation’s Virtual Poetry competition.

Another fundraiser which drew on the many gastronomic cultures within eClub ​of Innovation, was the ‘Food the World Over’ initiative. Recipes were collated ​from every corner of the world to sell for £5/$7. A Kindle edition is on its way and ​funds raised will go to End Polio and the club’s Water Project called ‘Roll Out The ​Barrel’ , an Isle of Wight-based project led by Adrian Brewer, which provides ​barrels with a handle to enable water to be transported more easily from river to ​dwelling.

One enabling project that has its roots in the economic differences between ​countries is membership subsidies. One example is Barundi, where Rotary fees ​would be the rough equivalent of 10% of the average wage, whereas in the UK it’s ​only about 0.6%.

Closer to home, the Rotary eClub of Innovation is closely involved with the ​Bradford Rotary Peace Centre which enables Peace Fellows to study for their ​Masters’ Degree.

It is clear that every option and opportunity made possible by the internet and ​global communications is being utilised in every way possible by the Rotary eClub ​of Innovation and, doubtless, as more openings emerge their membership will ​be quick to adopt them.

Martin is justly proud of all the Rotarians in the eClub, and commented: “We are ​more diverse because of the global membership. Member prospects accept us ​rather than us accepting them. Ten years since starting, we continue to focus on ​the core tenets for Rotary eClubs - connection, communications and ​collaboration.”