Here is a very interesting post on social media from a mate of ours from Alaska and as we are talking as a club about how we communicate via the Internet I thought that Jon’s words are timely indeed.  By the way it is easy to join ROTI or Rotarians On The Internet and a lot of fun as well as a great learning tool for those interested in all things Rotary and sometimes a whole lot more.  Here is Jon’s post this morning:

“Hello Folks,

The conversation regarding participating in social medial (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and many others) has crossed our eyes here many times in the past. One can choose to participate or not. As has been mentioned by several of us, social media is where our children and grandchildren are. Email and list serve out-growths are anachronistic, like it or not. We participate here because it’s familiar and many of us are confounded by the technology. But the world has long since moved from that technology to texting, social interfaces, and interactive media. Like it or not. Want to be in touch with your grandkids, that’s where  they are. Once connected one can unfriend, delete, cut and run or select the level of involvement with which one is comfortable. The fact remains: You can run, but you cannot hide.

Google Earth can show us your neighborhood complete with your car parked in your driveway: realtime for this is in our future with you waving at us from your patio or lawn and, probably, from the front seat of your car on the freeway. GPS knows exactly where you are whenever you use your phone or car location devises. Facebook can send you, unsolicited or not, the names of your classmates from kindergarten and their contact information. LinkedIn can connect you with colleagues and business connections about which you were not aware, and maybe did not want to be aware. Fine. Welcome to the world today. It matters not what music one preferred during High School or College or what one’s age is today. “Getting it” is a matter of a learning curve or, fowl as it may be, with which one identifies: ostrich or eagle. One can be in the parade or standing on the curb and watch it go by. Your choice.

One needs not participate in social media, but that’s where the world is now. It will move again and we can move with it or not. That’s how it works. Stand on the curb long enough and the parade will be gone and the curb standers will have each other with day old popcorn at their feet.

Onward and upward,

Jon Deisher, PP, MPHF
Anchorage Rotary/D5010
Anchorage, Alaska”

Posted on ROTI Rotarians On The Internet

 

Rotary International President Elect Kalyan Banerjee & Binota join an Interplast team in Fiji.

When the recent celebration of 75 years of Rotary in Fiji coincided with a visit to the Lautoka General Hospital by an Interplast volunteer reconstructive surgical team, it provided the perfect opportunity for RIPE Kalyan Banerjee to see firsthand exactly what Interplast does. “I have heard of your work but to actually witness it is beautiful. I am amazed at the commitment, dedication and sincerity of this team; it is outstanding,” he told the Interplast team.

Full story here:

Rotarian Review May 2011

A Tasmanian adventurer is trying to help eradicate polio by embarking on a three month sea voyage in a five and a half metre dinghy. The voyage hopes to raise money for the Rotary Foundation committed to seeing the disease become a thing of the past.

 

Also here on the ABC 7.30 Report from the 30th May 2011:

Historia de un letrero or The Story of a Sign

An original video in Spanish however the message is powerful. In case you miss the translation of writing on the sign it says “Have compassion I am blind”. Watch it to the end simply beautiful. Made in 2008.

Thanks to Mandy Smith one of our Kili 2007 Climbers.

Polio is almost completely eradicated. But as Bruce Aylward says: Almost isn’t good enough with a disease this terrifying. Aylward lays out the plan to continue the scientific miracle that ended polio in most of the world — and to snuff it out everywhere, forever.

Bruce Aylward is a Canadian physician and epidemiologist who heads the polio eradication programme at WHO, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI).

Thank you PDG Joan Firkins from Canada for the video.

Futa, Klinginsmith Address Final Plenary from Rotary International on Vimeo.