Nation Builder ’s Post

Answer: Joining Rotary is good because: Professional Networking: Joining Rotary provides an excellent opportunity for professional networking. As a member, you can connect with a diverse group of individuals from various professions and backgrounds, including business owners, executives, managers, political leaders, and professionals. This network can be valuable for expanding your circle of business contacts and building relationships that can benefit your career. Service Opportunities: Rotary offers numerous opportunities for humanitarian service both locally and internationally. By participating in service programs focused on areas such as healthcare, hunger, poverty, literacy, and the environment, members can make a positive impact on their communities and beyond. The sense of fulfillment that comes from giving back is a significant benefit of being part of Rotary. International Awareness: With Rotary clubs present in over 200 countries and geographical areas worldwide, members gain a broader understanding of global humanitarian issues. Through international service projects and exchange programs, Rotarians contribute to building goodwill and fostering peace on a global scale. This exposure to different cultures and perspectives enhances members’ awareness of international issues. Friendship: Fellowship is at the core of Rotary’s foundation. Joining Rotary allows you to connect with like-minded professionals who share a commitment to service and community betterment. The camaraderie within the club fosters enduring friendships, and as a Rotarian, you have friendly contacts in almost every city globally through the extensive Rotary network. Good Citizenship: 

Community building through research, engagement and impact. Our structured programme enables colleagues from across a project or geographical area to collaborate and reduce duplication. We even train #communityresearchers through our unique online programme. https://lnkd.in/eeqrqkje

Networking is one of the skills I've recently practiced and developed the most✨ Connecting people, ideas, and organizations is something I deeply enjoy because I see its impact on both personal and community levels. Organizations can achieve their goals more effectively with a strong network. Communities are more resilient when their members are united. People are more fulfilled and productive when they associate with the right individuals. That's why I was thrilled to learn about the creation of the CEE Innovation Hub in Washington DC, and even more excited to find out that I'm a co-facilitator for the Europe and Eurasia hub. This hub is designed to connect people involved in their communities across various fields in a space for co-creation and resource exchange. We will have bi-weekly meetings, but participation is flexible. We are starting with a mailing list, avoiding WhatsApp groups with too much spam because we understand the importance of minimizing distractions. My colleague, Aliz Kun, and I aim to facilitate this space in a welcoming way, making it a fulfilling and safe space. In the photo, I was discussing with my colleague, Lonesome Tapiwa, about his work at the Hands2Mouth organization and his plans upon returning to his community. With the right network, Lonesome managed to create a documentary about reproductive health in Zimbabwe, a crucial topic that has gained significant attention as a social issue, not just a health concern. I'll share the link to this documentary in the comments. This evening, we have a short Kick-Off Meeting for the Europe & Eurasia CEE Innovation Hub, where we'll explain what this hub is and isn’t, and the resources available through IREX, the hub organizers. I highly recommend joining this first meeting, which will conclude with a Q&A session featuring an IREX representative. If you can't make it to the first one, we look forward to seeing you at future meetings. The link is the same, serving as a registration link for the hub, not a Zoom connection link😇 I'll leave it in the comments as well. Wishing you all the best & may the right people surround you!

The biggest benefit of networking isn't business opportunities. It's community. I was asked about the purpose of our monthly Long Room event (that's been going on for about 7 years) at this month's installment. I fumbled through an answer in the moment, but thinking about it later I realized the real answer for me: It's a way to create community. It's certainly an informal, not-too-organized, just-once-a-month, community. But it's a group of people that are there to connect with each other. And right now, lots of research points to a huge void where we used to have communities. Membership in civic organizations, faith-based organizations, and other community groups has fallen. And much as I'm a fan of LinkedIn, social platforms can not replace the power of our in-person interactions in groups. My suggestion as we end 2024 and start 2025: Find ways to connect with others in your local area. Find communities to join and give to - I promise you'll get a lot more back in return. And if you can't find a place to join...make a place for others to join! Andy Crestodina Catherine Altman Morgan Megan Knee Haley Sutliff Danny Schuman Mark J. Carter Goldberg Joe Martin Keith McGorisk Anna Carbonara Zach Person Joshua Phillips Scott Dayton

Have you ever thought about the difference between Community vs Network and how important these social connections are to your mental and physical health? 🔍 Community: Think of a community as a place where people seek out and come together around a shared passion, purpose, or identity. It’s about belonging. The bonds in a community are deeper and more personal, fostering a sense of support and trust. Members are often there for each other beyond professional reasons, creating meaningful relationships that endure over time. Some of my communities: Boston University @loonafitness , @ParroquiaDeNuestraSeñoraDeLosDolores American School of Madrid @Personal Board UNICEF Spain @CaminoAlternativo @FineWinesbyJM 🤝 Network: A network, on the other hand, is about connections and opportunities. It’s more transactional in nature—focused on exchanging knowledge, resources, or job leads. Networking is about casting a wide net, reaching out to people in your industry (or not), and leveraging contacts for professional growth. Think LinkedIn connections, industry events, or professional associations. Some of my networks: LinkedIn Web Summit AmChamSpain American Club of Madrid Fulbright Association @ForumdosPortugueses Meetup Impact Hub Network Some food for thought: 1. When we talk about community, having a shared purpose is key but, for that community to be sustainable long-term, giving a part of you is as important as taking from the group. I believe that training your body everyday to be in shape is part of my mental health, and I found a space and a community that feels the same way. As you can see in the picture below, it may just seem like it’s me and the TRX “taking from” the gym but, what you don't see is the group of people who are showing support, cheering me on to get to the 50 reps that was set as my goal! Many times we only see an end result without taking into consideration all the give and take that went into it as well as who helped you along the way! 2. Why can’t you also get professional support through your community? When I arrived in Spain 18 years ago, I immediately reached out to my @Boston University Alumni community, at one of the gatherings I found out that we were part of a wider organization of universities called, RyderClub and that has brought me wonderful networking over the years. Are you creating genuine connections that blend the support of a community with the reach of a network? The secret is not choosing one over the other, but understanding when to lean on each.Research shows that communities and social networks are vital for mental and physical well-being, offering emotional support, reducing stress, and promoting healthier behaviors. Strong social ties are linked to better overall health, lower risks of chronic diseases, and increased life satisfaction. Are you consciously nurturing both? 

Hot off the press! Here are the latest events for Innovation month. Some events have limited spots so get in quick. #GovInnovationMonth #InnovationCommunity #Community #DigitalProfession

We’re creating a very interesting and potentially very important community in Las Vegas. It’s called “Uvolution” (Short for Your Evolution) @Uvolution.io “Uvolution Social Group” (“USG”is a not-for-profit part of it. ) USG holds free coffee meet and greets, lunches, and dinners. The only cost is what you consume with 100% going to the coffee shop or restaurant. We had some amazing people show up at our dinner last night, the Chief of Staff to the LTGov, Rudy Pamentuen and his wife, a neuroscientist, the Counsel General to Romania and the Counsel General to South Korea, several authors and businesspeople, computer programmers, blockchain entrepreneurs, lawyers and doctors. The community is growing. I go to every event never knowing who if anyone will show up. No rsvp and no advance payment is required. People just come. And it keeps surprising me how many new people I’m meeting. There’s a real need for this. And people not only see it - they feel it. They all know that now is a time for community. A time to come together. It’s an increasingly uncertain time. And humans naturally and instinctively come together in times of crisis. We thrive in communities. The great work is done by teams. The better the composition of the community the more it thrives. And this is a great community. If you’re in Las Vegas come. Follow Uvolution Social Group on FB or go to Uvolution.io and sign up for our Newsletter. We’ll be hosting a major event later this year. Until then, our community will keep growing. The mission of Uvolution is “people helping people”. It’s multicultural, multigenerational, and multidisciplinary. It’s a place to teach, learn, unlearn, and relearn. A place to form relationships, help others, and find support. And USG is a not-for-profit informal social gathering with no cost to attend. The only requirements are an open mind, civility and kindness. This should be a model for communities across the country.

Over the weekend, I attended the Roundtable Community 3.0, and I couldn’t be more glad that I did. One thing that really stood out to me at this event was the beauty of networking horizontally. By communicating with fellow young people, I realized that my dreams are valid, and I just need to get out of my head and out of my own way. Some key lessons from this event: 📌 If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu. This point reminds me, that as young people, we need to be intentional about championing change. Strive to get into those rooms. Enough of living in oblivion. 📌 If you struggle with many interests, ask yourself: What is that one domino that, if you knock it down now, will knock down the many other things? Book recommendation: The One Thing by Gary Keller. 📌 Serve in an environment; give enough of yourself. Serve the place that has served you. Greatness is in service. 📷: Myself and Rachael Olugbade – I coincidentally ran into her at the event, and it was so beautiful.

In a brief moment of insanity*, I offered to do a webinar on design-led policy for the Research and Design CoP (Aus Gov). It's tomorrow! *may be a reflection of pre-presentation nerves rather than insanity

The Power of Networking: Building Global Connections Discover how networking transformed our community and connected us with individuals from around the world. Learn about the incredible experiences that come from fostering relationships and building a supportive network over five years. Embrace the life-changing benefits of a strong community! #NetworkingSuccess #CommunityBuilding #GlobalConnections #LifeChangingExperiences #NetworkingTips #SupportiveCommunity #RelationshipBuilding #FiveYearsStrong #MeetPeople #NetworkingJourney