My plea last month for you all to indicate your preference for one or two Conferences in 2007 has resulted in a few responses; but not nearly so many as I had hoped. I guess it will be up to the Board of Directors to make a decision here. Once that decision is made, you will, of course, be notified of the date(s) and venue(s).

Speaking of the Board of Directors, I hope that, by now, you have all received your election ballots and voted for next year’s Officers and Directors. The winners will be announced next month.

Now for some comments on the use of the Taranto mailing lists. I have heard some comments lately that some people are unhappy with the rotary@taranto.com list because sometimes the activity degenerates into the realm of the rotachat@taranto.com list. At the same time, I have heard from others who say that, if the list becomes too tightly controlled, they will leave. Obviously, with different tastes and cultural backgrounds of our members and list subscribers throughout the world, it’s probably never going to be possible to please all the people all the time. I would simply ask that all list users (and this includes some who are not ICUFR members) be tolerant.

Remember, your computer has a Delete key. If you see something you don’t care for, just delete it and move on. We do try to keep a reign on too much frivolity on the “serious” list; but it is my opinion, and that of some others, that a little light-heartedness now and then keeps us on our toes and provides a bit of relief from the woes of the world which we, as Rotarians, are constantly trying to better. In addition, I think that most of the regular list users are aware that there is a natural ebb and flow to traffic; and sometimes all it takes is a bit of humor to awaken things again.

PDG David G Flinn

This has been a busy month with a lot going on within ICUFR. First we are changing the way we present the NL. They are being undertaken in an attempt to increase the amount of useful information that we make available to you.

We have the view that the website is considered as a vehicle for the newsletter and nothing else, when the Contrary should be the case. We are suggesting that a newsletter works better as a reference to the web pages, rather than a repeat of the same information that we have added to the web site. This is a cleaner way of spreading the news.

All of our news and views should appear on the website as and when they occur. The technical tips, for instance, should have a web site folder and be added on a daily basis if needed. Then the newsletter periodically announces what has been added to the web site.

Then the Election in is full swing. None of us, other than the selected person, know anything about the results or how many of you have voted, but if you haven't, please go back to the Nov. NL, read the instructions, and send in your ballot. Every voice should count.

Trying to build a valuable newsletter is always a trying and worrisome time, especially when there are few submissions, but this month has been better. Peter submitted his synopsis of what went on in the Taranto "Rotary" list, and Mel sent the subjects of interest in the Forum. See something you like, go jump in and add your comments. Have a question about some Rotary Problems, put it on the list or forum and see if you get and answer.

We have plenty of highly experienced members who are Presidents, PP, PDG and even past RI Board members, so we are seldom at a loss for an answer. And most important, we are getting to know each other better, What we are like, and how we are different. A great example of this is the article about Turkey submitted by Selcuk, and even in four languages. Do you like it and would you like to see other examples i.e. other countries?

And then the survey has kept us particularly busy. A casual question went to Tord Elfwendahl asking if he might have some ideas about bringing our logo up into something better representing the 21st century. Tord is know throughout the Rotary world for his beautiful and representative designs. He came back to us with the list of designs that you all have now had a chance to see and vote on.

A second topic was looking at our existing brochure/flyer that we use for distribution and advertising. This was discussed at great length especially on the Taranto "Rotary" and "Rotachat" lists. Many suggestions came in and I made several versions available as we worked through what we wanted it to look like.

You now have a link to them on the website where you can download two versions; one with the Officers and Directors, and one without them for postal mailing purposes. In addition the two are available in both US and A4 versions. We are hoping that you will download them and distribute. Encourage your district to use them in some way; send digital to the District NL Editor, or at the conference maybe they can be set out on a table.

We don't have much new to write about our conference in Ithaca, New York, but Robin has now processed the five pages of pictures that we have. It should give you a little feeling about what and how we do our conferences, and entice you to attend. It isn't cast in cement yet, but the chances are very good that next year in Sept. or Oct. 2007, we will hold it in Northern England, and Peter (Rotary Club of Guisborough & Great Ayton, District 1030, UK ) will host it for us.

Read, Enjoy, and remember, I'm always looking and asking for submissions. It's your Fellowship and we need as much interaction as possible if we are to grow and prosper.

Carl Cardey
Editor

Forum Happenings

Over at http://www2.icufr.org we have had a lot of activity, some fun and some more serious Rotary items. By accessing the Index http://www2.icufr.org/index.php one will get an overview of the segments of the Forum.

On the more serious side are:

Membership http://www2.icufr.org/viewtopic.php?t=612

Honorary Members http://www2.icufr.org/viewtopic.php?t=628

It seems as though there are many areas of the MOP that require more in-depth discussion. In the above two topics in Club Service, Membership discussed how the clubs treat their members both during their membership and if they decided to resign. Most clubs had little or no follow-up to ascertain the reasons for leaving and to see if it was possible to salvage a member who decided to leave. It seems that more effort is expended to get new members, but not on membership retention.

Now http://www2.icufr.org/viewforum.php?f=1 is the most active section of the forum. Once again, there are those that love it and those who think it leans to the ludicrous. Yes, it is that ubiquitous Friends and Fun. In there we finally got to see what Galen Coffman looks like. IMHO a ringer for Bill Clinton! http://www2.icufr.org/viewforum.php?f=1

Several newcomers, new in the sense that they finally became active in the Forum, are also there.

One of my favorite topics is Fun Thingys http://www2.icufr.org/viewtopic.php?t=425 a depository for jokes, limericks, puzzles and other sometimes inane postings. It helps to make the day more pleasant, it helps to brighten the vista.

Norm Winterbottom has started some new history items in http://www2.icufr.org/viewforum.php?f=3.

The big mystery was trying to find out where Norm’s last name was listed. >g< When I accessed the Membership List to locate it, I saw a web page to the right hand side. That took me someplace I didn’t want to go so I had to trust to memory. Norm, you old curmudgeon, if your name isn’t spelled correctly, there is only one person to blame . YOU! The articles you wrote about are very interesting.

Norm did bring another item to my attention. In the membership List, there are a good many members who have joined, but not participated. Lurkers Anonymous doesn’t assist our forum. Get active!

Mel Fabrikant

In the last few weeks, much of the message traffic has been about the ICUFR Fellowship itself and the use of the Taranto Lists. The private Board Room List for the Fellowship's Directors has been concerned to find a volunteer to take over as Treasurer from Irwin who has given of his time and technical resources for many years now. The vacancy still awaits a volunteer. If you can help, drop a note to Dave Flinn at Dave@starflinn.com. The duties are not onerous as Irwin has automated many of the basic functions.

After noting to the comments from many readers, the Carl Cardey has revised the promotional leaflet that it produces and that is currently before the Board for final checking and approval. A huge volume of messages followed as people discussed how best to distribute the new brochure, many offering to download it and distribute it at their own Clubs and at District events. To get a copy of the PDF file, simply ask in the Rotary list rotary@taranto.com.

In the main Rotary List, there was some concern over the new corporate image for Rotary within RIBI. Produced it consultation with Evanston, controversially the traditional motto "Service above Self" is replaced with "Humanity in Motion". Details of the new logo and a set of jpeg's are available at www.rotary-ribi.org/secretariat/index.asp?SecRepID=14 .

In response to comments from members, a new logo has been designed for the ICUFR Fellowship and the options are currently on display on the website at http://www.rotary9790.org.au/forms/2007/survey.html . Be sure to visit the site and register your preference for the new design.

Norm in New Zealand posted a thought provoking message about the standards we are entitled to expect of each other as Rotarians and the application of the Four Way Test. Bob in Palo Alto and Dave in NY State developed the theme and spoke of the fellowship that is manifested in the many ways readers help each other through the Rotary List and the ICUFR Forum. One or two folks added their opinions to the question of the venue for the 2007 ICUFR conference. It seems to be a straight choice between a bolt-on to the International Convention in Salt Lake City, or trip "up-country" to North Yorkshire in the UK. Be sure to post a note in the list indicating your preference. Details are in the Forum at http://www2.icufr.org/viewtopic.php?t=619 .

Several regulars took a dim view of a Rotarian (apparently) who had breached both RI protocol and the etiquette of the list by trying to promote a commercial venture in the Indian sub-continent. No doubt the miscreant has been advised by his DG by now! Appeals for help in locating Rotarians in South Africa and in Australia were promptly responded too. Theo in Wuppertal, Germany provided some information about Rotary Clubs in Germany.

Graham, Bob-C and Peter got themselves involved in some obscure mathematics about the percentages of members who participate in the Rotary and Rotachat Lists. Some might its a bit sad that we have nothing better to do with our time! Several Grumpy Old men grouched and groaned about the proper and improper use of the Rotary List. Eventually, they decamped and moved over to the RotaChat list where they could enjoy being miserable together!

Thanksgiving Day was marked by a flurry of exchanges of greetings mainly amongst the US subscribers. Oddly it fell to two Brit's to explain to the non-US users what Thanksgiving was all about. The Americans were probably too busy chasing turkeys and eating pumpkin pie!

Skype cropped up again as more and more people are finding it a useful tool. There was advice on how to minimise unwanted callers. Skype users seem to have passed through the 'gossip' phase very quickly. It is now being used regularly to develop Rotary projects and some people use it as routinely as they might use a conventional telephone. A further Skype Meet was held over the last weekend in October that brought Skype regulars together and introduced a few new faces.

Graham harked back to the halcyon days before the Internet when we used the Compuserve Forum, with its threaded topics and a wonderful DOS programme to filter the topics and selected the threads to follow. If you don't remember DOS, you are too young to remember Compuserve! The current Forum at www2.icufr.org provides a very similar facility and notifies users when there is a new message in any topics in which they are participating.

There was a plea for a wider range of topic to be opened up in the Rotary List. Moderator Peter reminded everyone that the list is there for everyone to use and each of them is at liberty to raise any Rotary, Fellowship or computer related topic at any time. Dave averred that the best topics are those that arise from a genuine need or enquiry, rather than those posted in the hope that they may be of general interest. Technical questions during the month included a plea for advice in transferring data from a digital video camera to a CD and a request for a 'Mailwasher' type of programme for a Mac. Perhaps we should explore the world of podcasting and RSS news streams, any takers?

Roy and Marco talked about Environmental Action Groups and matching grants projects. This had originated with an off-list enquiry to a member from Monika Naumann who is working on environmental projects in Brazil. An innocent enquiry about US and European paper sizes lead down one of the lists diversionary avenues. Members tried to describe various ways to fold a sheet of paper so that an address panel would fit in a window envelope. The explanations almost justified the formation of an Origami Fellowship.

A huge thread of almost twenty message discussed the way membership procedures are interpreted and handled differently in Clubs around the world. In one Club in India, membership of Rotary is considered to be a whole family commitment, not just an individual's personal commitment. If the member cannot attend, the partner can attend in his or her place to maintain the attendance figures. The hottest topic of the month was a discussion about who uses the Rotary List and why. With 66 messages, it was twice that of the second best topic and drew a huge range of responses.

Finally, this month's Fascinating Fact comes from Dave Flinn. There are currently 61 Paul Harrises in RI world-wide and a further 10 women Pauline/Paula Harrises.

Peter Sotheran,
Director, Reporter