This month let’s talk about technology. We live in an age of high technology yet we don’t utilize it very well if at all.

 

Today’s young people are totally plugged in to the new advances in technology. Cell phones have replaced home phones. E-mail has replaced "snail" mail. Online shopping has replaced mall shopping. Digital cameras have replaced film. Most of us more experienced lions thumb our noses and refuse to embrace this. The problem with this is we are turning our backs on prospective members and larger turnouts at our events.

 

I have checked on-line for most of the clubs in this district and very few have websites, even fewer have their websites up to date. Some have not been updated in over 6 years! You are better off not having a website than having an out of date one. What message do you think you’re sending to a visitor that comes across your site when they see a notice for a pancake breakfast from 3 years ago?

 

On my club visits I see many people taking pictures with their digital cameras, some e-mail me copies of the pictures they have taken, yet none seem to get posted to their websites. If you don’t want to post words to a website you can at least post pictures. I know that Lion Wap was difficult to work on, however with International’s e-clubhouse it is much easier and user friendly. There is really no excuse. Heck, if you don’t have the time or patience maybe one of your children or grand-children can do it for you.

 

You may say what difference does it make? To that I say it makes a world of difference.  In my "normal" life I deal will all types of people. In doing so I have seen that most would be lost without their technology. Blackberrys, iPhones and PDAs allow the user to check e-mail and websites from virtually anywhere. Instead of the phone book these people fire up their device hit the web and look for what they want. If you aren’t there they won’t find you. If you are out of date they won’t care about you. This goes for possible members as well as attendance for your next event. Lions Clubs International has a contest this year for the district with the most new club websites! 

 

Websites are just the tip of the technology iceberg. There are social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace . There are video posting sites like YouTube . Blog sites such as Twitter . Lions Clubs International recognizes the importance of using these outlets, don’t you think it’s time you did too!!!