It’s a good bet that the Kingston North Kitsap Rotary Club made history when charter member Dr. Thomas Lamar gave his presentation on podcasting at a recent meeting.

While the topic of podcasting is new to a lot of people, what made his presentation unique, and one for the history books, was that instead of giving the traditional “behind-the-podium-Power-Point-presentation,” he made his presentation on podcasting an actual podcast! In other words, he conducted what amounted to be a live radio show in front of a live audience, complete with his radio-style microphone and mixer board.

Lamar’s live show detailed what he called “The Power of the Podcast” as he explained what you need to know in order to fully understand this cutting edge medium of communication. Essentially, Lamar taught, podcasts are Internet radio shows that give you the power to listen to what you want, when you want, where you want, and even how you want. And with over 137,000 shows listed on iTunes alone, that’s a lot of power.

Lamar started a podcast for his chiropractic business, Anchor Chiropractic, one year ago. The podcast, which can be found at SpinalColumnRadio.com, has allowed him to not only further educate his patients and the community, but has developed a global audience and has opened up many other opportunities for him.

After the podcast Tom’s mind started working overtime on how the Kingston Rotary Club could harness the “Power of the Podcast” to serve the community. “It really was a dovetailing of multiple conversations that I’ve been having with other club members,” Lamar shared.

One such conversation started when Club President Fredrick Branchflower asked if Tom was aware of any podcasts that highlighted social issues, like homelessness. But when Assistant District Governor Joanne Croghan, seeing the incredible communication potential of this medium, asked Tom to produce this show at the District Conference…the dots began to connect for him.

“Kingston Rotary needs a Podcast!” Lamar thought. “But it needs to be more than that,” he continued. His vision: To create a fun and informative radio-style podcast that will bring about awareness and encourage involvement with listeners in the local community (and beyond) about not only what Rotary is doing to improve the area, but perhaps, more importantly, what other service clubs, groups, non-profits, and even individuals, in his neighborhood are doing to make a difference.

So in this way, Kingston Rotary will become a leader in utilizing this rapidly growing communication medium and position itself to be the podcast that North Kitsapers turn to when it comes to community-minded service.

As such, the Kingston North Kitsap Rotary Club will proudly produce ServiceAboveSelfRadio.org. Host Dr. Thomas Lamar will interview President Fredrick for the first episode about the purpose of the show and will touch on their club’s current emphasis on homelessness. Plans are being made to do further episodes about how others are tackling the homeless issue, as well as interviewing the president of the Kingston Kiwanis Club about their involvement with the local Boys and Girls Club.

Visit a Kingston Rotary club meeting — Wednesdays at noon at the Kingston Cove Yacht Club — and learn more about Service Above Self Radio and other projects the club sponsors.