When people first started to embrace online communication, it was only possible to do a few things at once. But the possibilities of online communication have since been transformed by technologies that allow us to speak, listen, write, share screens, to see each other and hold private group conversations – all at the same time.

This new form of technology has revolutionised the way we do Rotary, and you don’t even have to be an e-club to see the benefits. Rotarians have started to use programs like Zoom and Goto meeting to watch Rotary-specific webinars or to conduct meetings, or even to invite others to watch a traditional club meeting being streamed live!

Not only can we do far more than was previously possible, we can do it with fantastic quality.

The benefits of online meetings for Rotary clubs in economic and human terms is potentially massive – so why are many clubs still slow to explore what an online meeting can offer? It could be a combination of factors, like fear of a tech failure or a sense that an online meeting can represent a poor “second best” option to a face-to-face equivalent.

One of the biggest mistakes is when clubs take the traditional Rotary meeting format and just try to replicate it online. An effective online meeting requires an interactive atmosphere and engaging style of encouraging contributions from everyone.

Helping people to understand what’s expected of them before the online meeting starts is pretty critical; without that, people may sit quietly and not contribute. So, stating the “rules of play” – how to interact; whether to interrupt freely or indicate your wish to speak; how to join and leave the meeting – is crucially important to make it a successful outcome for everyone participating.

So, maybe your next board meeting you can do it online and be comfortable in a pair of pyjamas, following the action from behind your computer screen.

You never know, it may just become the norm.

Article by Evan Burrell