(A Compilation of Words from Zone Institute Attendees)
Rotarians from District 6250 attended the Zone25b29 Institute held in San Antonio, TX during the first week of September. These members were: DGE Michael Kloss, DGN Scott Ryan, Erin Luken (Foundation Chair), Marc Augsburger (Membership Chair), Michelle Skemp (Public Image Chair), Ben Bauer (a Zone presenter and Regional Public Image Coordinator) and Joe Ruskey (Zone Institute Executive Committee Chair).
Joe started planning for this conference over a year ago and is already on to planning Zone Institute ‘25 to be held in Minneapolis – St. Paul. He and his team of approximately 50-75 volunteers worked countless hours, all on their own dime, to create an inspiring, emotional, exciting and educational institute for approximately 300 Rotarians covering the miles from Texas to Upper Michigan.
We won’t get into the minutia of what it takes to deliver a conference of this magnitude, but gratitude and appreciation go out to this true Rotarian and his team. Said Ruskey, “If we can give the attendees the experience they need to be inspired or get the resources to change even a single life somewhere in the world through one of our projects or events, then we have been successful.” Successful it was!
Each day was filled with intense learning sessions in our focus areas. Marc Augsburger worked with other Membership Chairs to develop and refine a three-year Roadmap Membership Plan which was delivered to all DGs. Key components of this plan surround: Communication, Increased Social Media, and the use of the Rotary Learning Center.
Michelle Skemp’s training focused on how #PublicImageIsEverything. Proper branding is important so clubs are aligned with Rotary Internation, the #1 service organization on The Planet! By sharing the statistics and life-changing stories of our club’s service projects and those people we help, we share our passion for making positive change in our community and around the globe through our Rotary Foundation.
As we broke bread together, a plethora of speakers shared topics on the importance of mental health, peace initiatives throughout our world, and Polio eradication to name a few.
When Rotary International President-Elect, Mario Cesar Martins de Camargo of Brazil took the stage, his drive and focus to make the world a better place was so evident. He spoke with a sense of empathy for those facing challenges in life, and his hopeful outlook for the future motivated us to be part of a positive change in our world.
Zone, much like our TriCon conferences and the International Convention, offered us opportunities to meet other passionate Rotary leaders. As we chatted over coffee, an evening cocktail or took part in one of the planned excursions, we formed new friendships, found a deeper sense of self, and departed with a stronger desire to serve and help transform the world.