GETS and Zone Institute

Since my last post I had to prepare for and attend GETS (Governor Elect Training Seminar) and the Zone Institute held consecutively in Reston, VA. As you may recall, we are in Zone 34 which runs from Georgia down through the Caribbean and even the N.E. part of South America. We share a director with Zone 33 which is the eastern seaboard north of Georgia to Southern Mass. Last year we met in Naples, FL and next year we will meet in Hilton Head, SC. The purpose of GETS is pretty self explanatory, the Zone Institute is to bring us up to date on Zone activities and programs as well as worldwide programs such as the eradication of polio. There is also a heck of a lot of fellowship in the evenings, after the banquets, in hospitality rooms for each class. I have 28 classmates in our two zones and we really enjoy each others company.

One of the big deals of GETS was getting you ready for public speaking. All 29 of us had to present a two minute piece on What is Rotary, Who are Rotarians, what do Rotarians do, or a personal Rotary moment. I procrastinated and did not prepare mine till the night before. It came to two minutes, nineteen seconds which I assumed would be okay. Never assume. I crossed out some thoughts and abbreviated others at the last minute, sitting there waiting for my turn, and got it down to two minutes. My evaluations were pretty good but the important one, a formal evaluation by the pros, has yet to appear in my drop box. We will have to repeat that performance, or edit and perform anew, at the International Assembly next January.

One of the high points was meeting our R.I. President Elect Sakuji Tanaka and his wife. Mr. Tanaka spent time with us in our hospitality room two evenings and attended our class dinner. We all chipped in $100 to have our picture taken with them and raised $3K for Polio Plus.

If you look back to last year, end of September, first of October, you will see what was learned at GETS last year. Actually I guess that would be called GNTS since we were nominees. We had an additional day last year and I felt badly that the class of 13-14 did not have the same opportunity.

In addition to helpful training there were some ancillary meetings. As an example our PETS board met for an hour - which was not enough time. The annual meeting of the Caribbean Partnership of which all our DGEs are board members took place. There was a three hour session during our free time that went in depth into public relations. I think all DGEs and most DGNs attended. The room was packed.

One really neat plenary session was Celine Cousteau, granddaughter of Jacques, gave a presentation on her growing up on Calypso. Her expeditions have not ceased and she now specializes in how people relate to the environment. With photos and videos you can only imagine how interesting this was to all, and very relevant as many possible projects popped into Rotarian's heads, I guarantee.

I was gone an entire week, with my wife of course, and it flew by. And I wished there had been more time to learn even more. The more you learn the more you understand how little you really know. Another subject that we learned about was the International Assembly in January, and if I thought this week was busy, we were told you ain't seen nothing yet. Next January, in San Diego, CA I get the biggest, most intense training sessions yet, full time all day and into the evening. All 532 DGEs from around the world will be there. I am really looking forward to it.

Like any large program you come home (last night) pretty motivated with a feeling of confidence only slightly offset by the massiveness of the responsibility. What kind of governor will I be? Will I be prepared? There is no doubt I will be. Rotary has taken care of that. I am also very humbled by the support my district has given me to date. When your peers think you will be a good leader it adds a bit of pressure to not let them down, but it also adds a lot of confidence because of the support you receive. My job is to help clubs forward the Object of Rotary, nothing more or less. I have no ego that needs stroking. I see it as an opportunity to serve.