Social Media - Coming Ready or Not . . .
Posted by Ian Warren
on May 16, 2012
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"Paul Harris began Rotary to make connections with other people. Paul Harris would have loved social Media. Rotary clubs will adapt to the new social media whether anyone wants it or not. They will adapt because those clubs that don't will waste away, while those that embrace social media will begin to see new, younger, smarter members fill in the ranks. It's the way change works according to Darwin." (Paul Kiser) |
At our special stand-up finger-food Tuesday meeting, Ian Warren conducted a straw poll of those members in attendance about their use of computers and social media. The results were fascinating, even if some members present did not know what we were talking about some of the time!
But do we need to do anything? Intuitively, yes - but how, and what? This is a massive issue for Rotary to come to grips with, but where to start? Well, DGE Dennis Shore, together with 2013 conference chairman Noel McInnes, have cajoled (tr.v. ca·joled, ca·jol·ing, ca·joles. 1. To persuade by flattery, gentle pleading, . . .) Ian Warren into looking into this for conference and our club. So there will be a lot more to talk about, consult upon, and generally "chew the cud", as it were, in the coming weeks and months. Look out for a more formal survey yet to come, and please do your best to answer the questions honestly and openly.
In February, Ian wrote an initial discussion paper for Dennis and Noel - here is the final paragraph of that paper:
- All members present use email.
- All members present had used internet payments (credit card, paypal) for something, but only 2 out of 3 have done shopping on the internet.
- Internet banking has been used by 4 out of 5 members.
- Almost all members (90%) had a mobile phone. 2 out of 3 members had an iPhone or Smartphone that could be used to access their emails or the internet.
- Only 1 out of 3 members have used touch screen tablets (iPad, Samsung, etc.).
- 40% of members present have a Facebook account, and over half of those members accessed Facebook at least once a week.
- Only 7% of those present have a Twitter account, but 35% have a LinkedIn account.
- 2 out 3 members present have viewed YouTube videos, but less than 1 in 10 have posted (uploaded) a video to YouTube.
- 40% of members present have read a blog, and 30% had posted or responded to a blog.
- Only 4 out 10 members present had accessed the Rotary Club of Hawthorn website recently!! Why not click here and visit www.hawthornrotary.org right now?
But do we need to do anything? Intuitively, yes - but how, and what? This is a massive issue for Rotary to come to grips with, but where to start? Well, DGE Dennis Shore, together with 2013 conference chairman Noel McInnes, have cajoled (tr.v. ca·joled, ca·jol·ing, ca·joles. 1. To persuade by flattery, gentle pleading, . . .) Ian Warren into looking into this for conference and our club. So there will be a lot more to talk about, consult upon, and generally "chew the cud", as it were, in the coming weeks and months. Look out for a more formal survey yet to come, and please do your best to answer the questions honestly and openly.
In February, Ian wrote an initial discussion paper for Dennis and Noel - here is the final paragraph of that paper:
"Whatever happens, it will be a slow transition due to demographics, but it will happen. We met each other at cocktail parties, then developed a relationship to undertake service to help others. The next generation will meet first through social media, then get together (physically), and then do things. In Rotary the cultural change towards social media will follow the demographic change. We might influence it a little in the current Rotary generation by speeding up change through club and district promotions, but do we want to, and risk alienating current Rotarians?. There will be "cultural" resistance - older people will think about it and resist, younger people will just barge in because it is the thing to do. All very contentious, and a difficult path ahead."