The Exton Frazer Rotary meets weekly over breakfast discussing projects, fund raising, and hearing interesting programs. "Rotarians" are business owners, managers, or professionals who are interested in community, vocational, and world service projects. They are known for "Service above Self." To start the project, Mitchell contacted then District Governor, Dick Knauff, to ask permission. After receiving the Governor's blessing, Mitchell set off to contact all 53 clubs by mail at his own expense. The Governor also placed information in his newsletters but, little attention was given by only 9 clubs. Mitchell asked for help but, received little until recently. Each Governor over the years sanctioned the project and put information in District bulletins. When Mitchell started the project, he estimated less than 5 percent of Rotarians were actually on the Internet. "That number has grown significantly now", he says. Rotary International, the collection of all clubs worldwide, had already been on the Internet at the time Mitchell started the project. Other Districts were just getting started. Mitchell took the initiative to bring his club and District "on-line." Mitchell contacted his own Internet Provider, "Bee Net" in Exton, and a District site was registered under www.rotary7450.org. At first, 9 clubs contributed to funding the project. Mitchell felt that Bee Net's owner, Rich Goldberg, was good "Rotary Material", because he ran a good friendly operation and he quickly drafted him into Rotary membership. After finding out what Rotary was all about from the inside, Goldberg announced he would donate the site and there would be no further foreseeable fees. Last fall, District Governor Sandra Costanzo, appointed a Technology Committee to develop ways to improve communications within the District. Up to this point, Mitchell was alone in the District project. Mitchell brought his work before the committee, and at last, there was much needed help. He enlisted the help of a friend and a computer consultant, Jay Childress, who volunteered to help with the project. Mitchell also had her inducted into his club this past January. Sandy appointed incoming District Governor, Dan Bronson, as chairman of the committee, who aims to cut the $5000 annual printing expense of the District directory. The committee, along with District Governor Sandy, asked each club for a contact person to report to the Technology committee. This would be the means to update the web sites. The District site would also be home for a base page for each local club. Pages have been created for all 53 clubs, although some are still developing. Mitchell made a presentation to Rotarians at a District Assembly last January and the response was great. He outlined the benefits, including drastically cutting costs of printing and mailing, timely sharing of valuable information between clubs, and better information to the public about Rotary. He also related that his club was contacted by a former exchange student from Brazil who found the Exton Frazer web page. Mitchell, also an instructor (8 years) for the Adult School Night of Chester County, has also volunteered to teach representatives from each club how to develop their own web page and learn the programming necessary to keep their page up to date. Mitchell has been a Rotarian for 25 years this spring, both in the Phoenixville Club and presently in the Exton-Frazer Club. His dad was a Rotarian in the Ardmore club, and later in Pompano Beach until he passed away. His uncle, in California, is a Rotarian and so is his son-in-law. Mitchell grew up with exchange students. He likes helping the community through service in Rotary. He is in the computer business in Frazer, building computers, upgrading them, and repairing them. He also does limited work on web pages, although his son does it full time. |
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