ROTARY is embracing the internet revolution and setting up a new online club in Worcestershire.

The county is regarded as one of the key areas to attract new members. There are already a handful of Rotary eClubs in the UK and the latest initiative aims to set up a West Country club stretching from Swindon in the east to Hereford and from Cleve-don-in-Avon to Worcester – all under the umbrella of Rotary District 1100.

EClub meetings are hosted on a unique website once a week through a chat room feature.

The club secretary will post material for weekly discussion which members can access at any time.

Tim Mason, from the Rotary Club of Swindon, is president of the eClub. He hopes this fresh approach to Rotary will attract new and younger members.

“We want to encourage younger people to join. If they are into using Twitter and Face-book this will suit their needs.

“I joined when I was 27 and I found it very useful to learn how to network. There’s quite a lot of interest from this district.

“It’s for people who maybe cannot get to lunches or breakfasts, like teachers and people with disabilities. There are a lot of people who stop their professions to start a family, so they may be interested in this.”

Mr Mason said the eClubs have been very successful.

“They have piloted them for four years and most of the clubs that have started have been international – we hope that this will be a hybrid club.

“It’s about Rotary meeting the needs of business people in the 21st century.

“When I joined Rotary I moved around the country, but this allows people to stay Rotarians even if they move around.”

For more details about the eClub visit 1100rotaryeclub.org, call 07588 245660 or e-mail info@1100rotaryeclub.org.

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