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 ZOOM! ZOOM! ZOOM! The Rotary Club of Jamestown New York is continuing its weekly membership meetings at 12:15 pm every Monday by utilizing ZOOM, a very simple video communications application that allows web conferencing. Since our President, Cheri Maytum Krull, worked remotely already and was using it to provide webinars and classes not only for her customers but for her religious classes, it was very easy for her to set it up for our meetings. She has purchased the upgraded "Plus" subscription so that she would have call-in accessibility for people who do not have access or expertise to use a computer for a virtual meeting. When our Board of Directors decided to try virtual meetings as a way of keeping our club up and running during the COVID-19 crisis, she admits to being nervous about trying it. The Board was happily surprised that so many Rotarians were willing to attend virtual meetings on Mondays and now we are also utilizing ZOOM for committee meetings, as well as our Board meetings. Our Secretary, Lisa Goodell, reported we had 40-plus members at each of our first two meetings. We see good things ahead for our club utilizing ZOOM. We may be able to continue virtual meetings in addition to IN PERSON meetings, for snowbirds who wish to keep in closer touch while they are away for the winter or for those with infirmities that keep them from attending weekly. Members receive an email on Sunday reminding them of the Monday meeting and giving them the meeting ID and the Password. The meeting is open for sign-in at Noon so we are ready to begin by 12:15. The Secretary records the names and phone numbers of those signing in. Each individual can choose if they want to be seen in little squares around the screen and they can mute or unmute, to make comments or offer questions. The President/Moderator can also mute members or make them visible for questions. We have a virtual Pledge of Allegiance followed by the invocation given by a different member each week. President Cheri gives the announcements or calls upon the appropriate committee person to do so. Announcements are followed by Happy Bucks (money is forwarded to the treasurer by the individual members) and each person giving a Happy Buck is unmuted so they can personally participate in the broadcast. The speaker is introduced and the floor is given over to him/her, followed by questions from the members. Our first week we had the CEO of Monofrax (a refractory manufacturer) speak and present slides about his business. Our second speaker was a returned foreign exchange student, who also showed photos of his year's experience. ZOOM is a wonderful way to continue the fellowship of Rotary. Don't be afraid of the technology - EMBRACE it and let Rotary continue to flourish despite this pandemic. We are working on ways to invite other Rotarians to participate in our virtual meetings for their makeups and will keep you posted! | ||