Virtual Rotary Pan Borneo Meet

Introduction

12th Pan Borneo Meet was successfully completed from 7th to 9th May, 1999 in Bintulu, jointly hosted by Rotary Club of Bintulu & Rotary Club of Bintulu Central. The reinforced fellowship led to a desire to continue the same momentum so that we all can be complete and effective persons with all the necessary quality attributes in order that we could serve the community better. However there is a realization of the limitation of the present mode of communication and interaction e.g. Tendency of enthusiastic energy to dissipate over time until the next conference or meet to rekindle. Hence a new idea is being experimented - the use of email / Internet Virtual Meeting (like our regular weekly meeting).

This alternative idea is partly inspired by the keynote address by YB Dato Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Abang Haji Openg, that we need to be ready for the digital society with "business" at the speed of thought. And our "Business" is "to serve above self".

Objective

To further foster greater fellowship among Rotarians of Pan Borneo Interclubs for better networking, synergy creation, ideas generation, joint projects, sharing of resources (both human intelligence and materials), so that Rotary dreams can be realized beyond individual club capacity

Communication Skills & How to go about it.

As this approach is virtual in nature, a new set of communication skills is required in order to satisfy our objective. Furthermore some rules may be necessary. I propose the followings:

• Every mail content is a set of opinions, ideas, perspectives, critiques, suggestion, concept etc. There is no need to waste time on excessive debate, judgment of right or wrong, but how to transform the ideas into better ideas for effective action to be taken to realize our Rotary Objects.
• The above requires Creativity Thinking Skills and hence the necessary tools and techniques. Like our normal weekly meeting where President presides over the meeting, a person needs to play the role of Coach and Facilitator for the Virtual Pan Borneo Interclub Meet, having the creativity thinking skills to encourage members to be participative and creative. For a start, I volunteer to play this role. Over time, one Rotarian is nominated or appointed to play such role on a fixed periodic basic.
• Unlike our formal meetings, there is no rank and file in Virtual Pan Borneo Meet, i.e. Every participant is equal, no DG, PDG, President etc. However, any idea for action needs to go to the formal process e.g. Physical club meetings or joint meetings.
• Hotlist Mailing list will be used to facilitate discussion and communication of Virtual Pan Borneo Meet.
• Please type [PBM] - XXXX, as title for every email message, where [PBM] = Pan Borneo Meet and "XXXX" Is your title. This is to help other Rotarains to differentiate mails from other sources.
• At the end of the mail, please sign i.e. You name and Rotary Club name

What are the topics for discussion?

The topics can be ANYTHING to do with Rotary :

e.g. Difficulties or constraints in carrying out some community projects, recruitment drives, motivation problem, leadership skills, planning techniques, seeking help from other clubs, invitation to joint project etc. etc.

The above will be constantly revised as we learn more from each other on this Virtual Pan Borneo Meet. Please encourage other Rotarains with email and Internet browser to join Virtual Pan Borneo Meet. The membership is open to all Rotarains in Disrtict 3310 with particular focus on Pan Borneo Interclubs.