ROTARY: SURVIVING OR THRIVING
Jeffry Cadorette
Zone 24-32 Director-Elect
President Gail introduced Jeff, a member of Rotary since 1977 and former district Governor before taking on his current post of Zone Director. He is also serving as the International President's representative and has been a keynote speaker at numerous conferences, workshops and seminars across North America. Jeff is a Foundation Benefactor, a major donor and the recipient of multiple Rotary and community awards.
After commending our club for continuing our meetings and some activities Jeff warmed to his topic of the future of Rotary. He sees this historic event as an opportunity to pivot and affect some change in the organization. Even before the pandemic the world is experiencing all manner of change from shopping, to entertainment, to communication and so it is with Rotary as well. An evidence of this change is Rotary's association with Toastmasters International, an organization +350,000 mostly young and mostly female. New E clubs. passport clubs, satellites etc are ways that Rotary is responding to societal and demographic changes.
With the belief that the post-covid world will indeed be different Rotary International has struck a task force to make recommendations on how we can take the opportunity to become stronger coming out of this . According to Jeff this pivot cannot take place slowly. He forsees a volunteer surge on the horizon made up of people who have the same core values as we do; our challenge is to accommodate them by welcoming them whether they formally join us in our usual breakfast-lunch-dinner meetings or associate in some other form. Thriving in this world means growing beyond our usual static 1.2 million members to make a more significant impact on the world.
Jeff concluded his presentation with a wide-ranging question-answer session on topics including;
- polio plus and its role in the delivery of the new vaccine (when it appears)
- privacy and security of Zoom conferencing
- the drop off in donations
- the continuation of International dues
Tom Smith thanked Jeff for his eloquent presentation and sharing with us his vision of the future. He wished Jeff a relaxing time when he puts his toes in the sand on the last day of his Rotary term at the end of June.