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Service Above Self and Rotary eClub One

By Carol Lightfoot Steen, President-elect, Rotary eClub One

Before I begin, let me assure you that, yes, Rotary eClub One is made up of live Rotarians. We are real people with real life situations. We have chosen to become members of this Internet club for various reasons. Many of our members travel for business and cannot make the required weekly meetings. Several are Rotarians based in countries where there is no local Rotary club, or the Rotarian is not comfortable in the local language. Some of our members are homebound, others are facing life changes. Still others are retired and are now able to maintain their Rotary ties yet travel when they wish. On the other end of the age range, we find a number of young people interested in our club because of the freedom of movement that an Internet-based club allows, yet giving them the foundation of Rotary’s Service-Above-Self. 

Our current membership is hovering around the 50 mark, with members in 10 countries. So, how can we call ourselves Rotarians? Where’s the Service?

When we become members of Rotary eClub One, we agree that we will participate in Community Service.  And this is where our club becomes exciting, because our community is THE WORLD.  One of our members, on his own, weekly cleans up an area along a riverside in his Japanese community. A member who lives in the US works with a Romanian orphanage, while a Canadian member works with a Mexican orphanage. Our members run foundations in such contrasting places such as Bangladesh, Texas, Washington, D.C, and Evanston, Illinois.

Often, our members work with local Rotary projects. One member travels regularly between two areas of the US, so he attends the local meetings when he is away from home and often participates in the projects of that club. Another member helps out with Rotary projects while at home in Wyoming, or with projects at his children’s Rotary clubs while traveling.  

In Australia, we have a member who is active with animal rescue while another member works with health and human rights.  In the Philippines, one of our members runs art programs while another recently assisted local Rotarians with a GSE visit. A member in the UK is active with a community garden project. A member in Germany is now participating in the E-Mentoring program started by the Latino-American Rotary E-Club. Other members spend time with local Elder Care projects.

Many members are involved in youth programs, whether they are Advanced RYLA in District 5450, International Rotaract, scholarships for youth in Mexico or North Carolina, or working with Down Syndrome children in Italy.

Time isn’t the only thing we contribute in our community work, however. Our club has special Community Service Grant funds that can be sent directly to a member’s project.

When I visit Rotary clubs or attend conferences in our club’s home District 5450, I am often asked, “What International projects are you involved with?” My answer may seem to be a little brusque, but I reply, “All of our projects are International.”  I hope you can see now that I am not giving a curt answer, but a true one. Rotary eClub One members are actively engaged with communities throughout the world.

*Yes, we do have weekly meetings in our Fellowship Forum!