Mary Keely

July 29, 2008

Putnam Rotary is part of the digital revolution according to Mary Keely. At the weekly luncheon at Scarlet Oaks today, Keely demonstrated how the internet is used to support the club community through an ambitious database covering the 33 clubs in RI District 7550 in southern West Virginia.

Actually, it all started back in 2004 when Mary and spouse Robert Keely agreed to co-chair a district committee to develop a strategic plan for the district.

The greatest single problem determined in the subsequent review process was a lack of adequate communication among the 1,450 members in the district. This need to connect in a timely and reliable manner gave rise to participation in the District and Club database (DaCdb) supported by Rotary International.

The online database may not measure up to a blog site or YouTube, thankfully, but a determined blogger may may post a cyber-trail to a personal site elsewhere.

The DaCdb site is maintained through direct access by individual members and club officers. In the southern West Virginia district the database is supervised by Keith Blankenship, a former district governor.

Through a skillful navigation of the database online while speaking, Keely demonstrated today the communication potential of the site.

"You want to connect with someone you met at a conference," said Keely, "but all you remember is their first name and their club." She noved to the club site in the database and identified the member through the first name alone.

"If you have any question about Rotary, you can quickly find the person to ask about it," she said.

In addition, the site includes statistical info updated weekly -- even daily -- on meetings and membership. And there is a calendar for events, local, state and national.

Not least is the e-mail directory which enables communication at cyber-speed with other members, with groups, or with the entire district.

Twice named a Paul Harris Fellow, Mary Keely is a Past President of the Putnam Club and a nominee for District Governor.