The Rotary Club of Newlands has moved into the digital age by chartering the first Rotary e-club in the Western Cape.
The e-club will run in the same manner as a traditional Rotary club. the only difference being that members will join meetings through online meeting platform, Zoom.
The Rotary E-Club of Greater Cape Town for District 9350 was officially launched on Tuesday July 18 and is open to international members.
The District 9350 includes Western Cape, Namibia and Angola, but participants from as far afield as New York, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom linked up and were able to join the launch on the Zoom meeting platform.
The e-club has been created to connect those who are working and don’t find time to attend social enrichment projects to participate in the comfort of their homes.
The e-club also hopes to draw different members of society who are eager to embrace the Rotary’s ethos of “Service Above Self” and make a difference.
“We are living in a digital world and it is important that Rotary moves with the times. There are many people who would like to become part of Rotary, however, due to work commitments aren’t always able to physically attend the meetings, said Newlands Rotary Club President Graham Finlayson.
“Through this e-club, we believe we are casting our net wider to give more people an opportunity to become part of a web-based Rotary club.
“It also aims to reduce boundaries and be even more inclusive,” said Mr Finlayson.
The Rotary e-club will also allow the club to invite speakers from all over the world to give a presentation to members on subjects of interest.
Previously speakers would normally have to come to the venue but the e-club bridges the divide.
Projects the Rotary club is currently involved in include sponsoring Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres and National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) boats. The Rotary Club of Newlands also works very closely with False Bay College to support them with their entrepreneurial programme.
The Rotary E-Club of Greater Cape Town has also started a book project which provides underprivileged schools with additional books donated by a Rotary Club in Australia. Another project will give tracksuits to children in a caravan camp so they can stay warm during winter.
The e-club meetings will take place every second Wednesday of the month at 7pm and every fourth Thursday of the month at 12.30pm. Non-members can join as guests.
Members and guests can connect by clicking the link on the website www.rotaryeclubgreatercapetown.
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