Submitted by: Linda Marrin, District TrainerOur district conference in Thunder Bay was packed with fun, excitement, camaraderie, inspiration and learning. The training committee’s hard work paid off in Friday and Saturday’s well received breakout sessions. Facilitators organized sessions featuring presentations by some of our district’s talented Rotarians. Three of the keynote speakers also provided attendees an opportunity to dialogue with them in breakouts.
Our district officers and committee chairs are available to visit clubs wanting to discuss or get ideas for their clubs. If you were unable to attend the conference, your club could have the message delivered at one of your meetings. Contact district committee chairs or me if you are interested in having someone visit your club on specific topics. Below are the sessions delivered in one-hour sessions at the conference, you may want to have an abbreviated version shared with your club!
Brandon Robinson, incoming Membership chair, led 2 sessions on Attracting and Engaging Members, 47 Rotarians participated.
Public Image Chair Craig Loughery was joined by District Governor-Elect Blaine Johnson to share ideas on Public Image: Telling Our Story in 2 sessions, 47 attendees also participated in this session.
Keith Brokke brought in Rotarians Jill Zachary, Past District Governor Roly Turner and incoming Assistant Governor and Grants subcommittee chair Dave Long to share examples of how Foundation/Grant dollars can be used by clubs in A Helping Hand for Our Helping Hands: Around the World and in Our Own Back Yards. 40 participants were excited at how our foundation dollars are put to work in many ways.
Jerritt Johnston helped 40 Rotarians gain skills and ideas with 2 Leadership: Managing Conflict Effectively sessions. These sessions help Rotarians gain skills that are useful in their Rotary Clubs, workplaces and personal lives.
Youth Protection at the Club Level training was provided by outgoing Assistant Governor Al Makynen. 23 Rotarians attended and the first 20 district level certifications were issued. Hooray!
18 people heard about The Big Show: RI International Conventions from incoming Assistant Governor Dave Long and Past District Governor Tom Riley.
Scott Soderberg, Communications Chair and Brandon Otway shared information and ideas with 26 attendees in their session: Social Media: Facebook 2.0-Analytics and the Power of Community.
Many thanks to these Rotarians who shared their areas of interest and passion with our fellow Rotarians and to those attendees who attended the sessions to help grow their minds and their clubs.