ROTARY clubs around the district are adapting creative ways for members to continue serving their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
All face-to-face club meetings have been cancelled but members have embraced technology to continue their social interactions, while small two-person projects could be undertaken to meet government recommendations.
With services scaled back across the Limestone Coast, Rotary district assistant governor Ian McKay said some members may feel lost due to the lack of engagement.
“This (scaling back) has meant two things for the Rotary clubs with the fellowship members usually get from the weekly meetings not currently available and the service the club provides for the community has pretty much stopped entirely,” Mr McKay said.
Mr McKay said members had maintained contact through telephone and email, while others have used video camera technology, presenting a new challenge for some members.
“Clubs are also looking at what other services they may be able to continue to do for the community, which is a bit of a challenge due to social distancing and restrictions, but there are a few smaller activities we can do in the meantime just in small groups of two,” he said.
“By continuing to give back to the community it still gives members a purpose as Rotarians,” Mr McKay said.
“It is also about meeting the community’s needs and that is now going to be different to what it was a month ago.”
Mr McKay said clubs were continuing to plan for major events taking place later in the second half of 2020 in anticipation that restrictions would be lifted, allowing clubs to undertake valuable community fundraising.
“We have not seen a financial impact in the same way small businesses have been impacted,” Mr McKay said.
For Rotary clubs, a majority of the impact is the money we would put back into the community has been lessened as activities to raise funds have temporarily ceased.
“Because we have not been able to raise that money that will then limit the amount of money that can go back into the community for a period of time but it is just about finding other ways.”
