Sunday, August 29, 2010
Rotary's Camp Florida - Capital Campaign
After speaking to a club during lunch I drove up to RCF for our monthly board meeting. The camp is beginning a $3M capital campaign, half of which will be used to build a new dining hall, the rest for a list of projects that are on the shelf right now. I only mention this because my club and its members furnished the technology for the campaign. One member donated an all in one printer/fax/scanner, my wife and I donated a color laser printer, and my club donated a new computer, set up the way they wanted it. I really am proud of my little club. They accomplish a lot.
August....tough month
In August I decided to see what if feels like to nearly bleed to death and I must tell you, it isn't very enjoyable. A major blood vessel in my colon opened and things went pretty quickly. Within minutes I had lost enough blood that I was getting light headed. Home alone, I was still able to dial 9-1-1 and get help. Another first, my first ambulance ride. We were part way to the hospital when the paramedic told the driver to "Light it Up" as my blood pressure tanked. I continued bleeding heavily in the Emergency Room as they scrambled to find both blood and an on call gastoenterologist. It seemed to take for ever. Finally they wheeled me into a procedure room, which they had to unlock first, and performed an emergency colonoscopy. It had been such a rough time that I told the doctor I was actually looking forward it just for the drugs that knock you out. He burst that bubble by telling me my blood pressure was way too low for the drugs. He closed the vessel with four titanium clips and I was moved to Intensive Care where they continued to push blood back into me. The doctor described my blood loss as "massive".
Once stabilized they gave me one additional unit of blood, bringing my hemoglobin up over 9 and sent me home to regrow the other 4-5 missing pints.
So I am finally back to my computer, albeit for short periods, and what better thing to do than catch up my blog. I will got back through my calendar since my last post on July 18th and bring this thing back up to date.
Sorry for the disruption. Doc says I should be pretty much back to normal a month from now.
Once stabilized they gave me one additional unit of blood, bringing my hemoglobin up over 9 and sent me home to regrow the other 4-5 missing pints.
So I am finally back to my computer, albeit for short periods, and what better thing to do than catch up my blog. I will got back through my calendar since my last post on July 18th and bring this thing back up to date.
Sorry for the disruption. Doc says I should be pretty much back to normal a month from now.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
DGN Jobs
As promised, just for fun I am going to try to list all the jobs that have come my way since being selected by the district nominating committee.
1) Locate Rotarians to function as my Assistant Governor in each of the eleven areas.
2) Work in coordination with the Membership Chairman, utilizing my AGs.
3) Perform Sgt. at Arms duties at PETS
4) Present of various topics at Pre PETS, District Leadership Training, District Assembly and TRF Seminar.
5) Attend a membership workshop at RI HQ in Evanston.
6) Sit on the Board of Directors and at least two committees of Rotary's Camp Florida. (I have Governance and Nominations)
7) Attend 5 PETS planning meetings each year for next two years.
8) Member of the District Training Team
9) Organize a dinner at Zone Institute for the 29 DGNs and their guest, Included restaurant selection, invitations, meals, headcount, etc.
10) District resource for TRF Future Vision
11) Speak at clubs when asked.
12) A fun one - we are forming a district rock band called the Arch Klumph Six.
13) Member, Finance Committee
14) Member, District Simplified Grants Committee
15) Chairman, Ambassadorial Scholarship Committee
Wow, those fifteen came to mind with no effort at all.
16) Member, College of Governors
17) Continue work on the District Strategic Plan
18) Create job descriptions for district leadership personnel
Getting tougher now.
19) Attend Zone Institute
20) Attend International Conference in 2011
Okay, I'm going to stop at 20. I'm sure I am missing a few but you get the idea. My stepping back from responsibilities in the VFW is turning out to be a really excellent decision. Rotary is basically going to be a full time job for the next three years.
1) Locate Rotarians to function as my Assistant Governor in each of the eleven areas.
2) Work in coordination with the Membership Chairman, utilizing my AGs.
3) Perform Sgt. at Arms duties at PETS
4) Present of various topics at Pre PETS, District Leadership Training, District Assembly and TRF Seminar.
5) Attend a membership workshop at RI HQ in Evanston.
6) Sit on the Board of Directors and at least two committees of Rotary's Camp Florida. (I have Governance and Nominations)
7) Attend 5 PETS planning meetings each year for next two years.
8) Member of the District Training Team
9) Organize a dinner at Zone Institute for the 29 DGNs and their guest, Included restaurant selection, invitations, meals, headcount, etc.
10) District resource for TRF Future Vision
11) Speak at clubs when asked.
12) A fun one - we are forming a district rock band called the Arch Klumph Six.
13) Member, Finance Committee
14) Member, District Simplified Grants Committee
15) Chairman, Ambassadorial Scholarship Committee
Wow, those fifteen came to mind with no effort at all.
16) Member, College of Governors
17) Continue work on the District Strategic Plan
18) Create job descriptions for district leadership personnel
Getting tougher now.
19) Attend Zone Institute
20) Attend International Conference in 2011
Okay, I'm going to stop at 20. I'm sure I am missing a few but you get the idea. My stepping back from responsibilities in the VFW is turning out to be a really excellent decision. Rotary is basically going to be a full time job for the next three years.
Into July
It amazes me how fast time it going by. I have so much yet to learn.
In the past couple weeks I have attended meetings on training, district simplified grants, conference facility for next year, board of Rotary's Camp Florida, my club and tomorrow I am the guest speaker at a club in Sarasota. No grass growing under my feet, that's for sure.
I received the names of the final four DGN's from Zones 33 & 34 and have contacted them about coming to the class dinner at Zone Institute at the end of September, first of October. So far we have 40 people coming out of a total possible of 58. (DGN + Spouse or Guest). Only one DGN has elected not to come at this time and I have four to hear from yet, so I am expecting somewhere between 45-50 in our group.
I have also been assigned the task of being the district resource for TRF Future Vision. My job is to learn all I can as the program goes through its three years of beta testing so when someone has a question, hopefully I will have the answer.
This Thursday we visit the first property we are evaluating for my conference. Such a long way off but things need to be locked in early. I tell you, the property where the conference is being held next year is going to be hard to beat. It was build as luxuary condos and then the housing market crashed so they turned it into an upscale resort. The rooms are HUGE and beautifully appointed and the prices are very reasonable. Maybe we will think about a return engagement there in two years????
In my next post I think I will list, just for fun, all the little jobs I have received as DGN so you can get an idea what may come your way if you take the step forward in district leadership.
In the past couple weeks I have attended meetings on training, district simplified grants, conference facility for next year, board of Rotary's Camp Florida, my club and tomorrow I am the guest speaker at a club in Sarasota. No grass growing under my feet, that's for sure.
I received the names of the final four DGN's from Zones 33 & 34 and have contacted them about coming to the class dinner at Zone Institute at the end of September, first of October. So far we have 40 people coming out of a total possible of 58. (DGN + Spouse or Guest). Only one DGN has elected not to come at this time and I have four to hear from yet, so I am expecting somewhere between 45-50 in our group.
I have also been assigned the task of being the district resource for TRF Future Vision. My job is to learn all I can as the program goes through its three years of beta testing so when someone has a question, hopefully I will have the answer.
This Thursday we visit the first property we are evaluating for my conference. Such a long way off but things need to be locked in early. I tell you, the property where the conference is being held next year is going to be hard to beat. It was build as luxuary condos and then the housing market crashed so they turned it into an upscale resort. The rooms are HUGE and beautifully appointed and the prices are very reasonable. Maybe we will think about a return engagement there in two years????
In my next post I think I will list, just for fun, all the little jobs I have received as DGN so you can get an idea what may come your way if you take the step forward in district leadership.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
DG Business Cards
I guess it's official now.
I ordered my Governor business cards. Even though I will not be Governor until July 1st, 2012, the DGEs and DGNs use Governor cards all three years. This saves on multiple printings and, since the year is prominently positioned, there is no confusion.
The proof looks really nice.
I ordered my Governor business cards. Even though I will not be Governor until July 1st, 2012, the DGEs and DGNs use Governor cards all three years. This saves on multiple printings and, since the year is prominently positioned, there is no confusion.
The proof looks really nice.
Zone Conference Update
My job as chair of the reunion dinner for my class of 2012-2013 has moved along nicely. I have 29 districts whose DGNs (and spouses/significants) I need to get together for dinner. So far I have responses from 24 of the 25 that have been appointed. Only one "no", and one has not responded. There are still 4 districts that do not have DGNs yet.
I have selected a restaurant based on a referral from our R.I. director's wife, who lives in Naples and have worked out many of the details with the restaurant's GM.
It should be a nice evening of fellowship.
I have selected a restaurant based on a referral from our R.I. director's wife, who lives in Naples and have worked out many of the details with the restaurant's GM.
It should be a nice evening of fellowship.
PETS Meeting
Yesterday I got together with the Florida Multi District PETS committee. The meeting included the Executive Committee, the incoming DGE's whose PETS is being planned, my class of incoming DGNs to observe and the District Trainers from the 8 Florida districts. The committee meets five time during the year but also accomplished tasks on the business site LinkedIn. Being included as an incoming DGN is a wonderful opportunity. Next March, when we start planning our PETS, we have have a good understanding of the process.
Some of the things accomplished yesterday included a review of the 2010 PETS Financial Reports and and a tentative agreement on the new budget. The budget will be approved at the October meeting which takes place at Zone Institute. The committee elected to not have the sit down dinner for the 60+ folks on the operating committee Thursday night but instead to have light appetizers and a cash bar reception that everyone arriving Thursday can enjoy. The committee also decided on the registration packet container. In the past each attendee received a large 3 ring binder stuffed with materials. This was to be eliminated and the materials would be handed out at Pre PETS in each district and the registration packet would only include a flash drive of all R.I. manuals, etc. along with any district distinct materials. At the meeting they decided to go with a clear plastic envelope that would contain the flash drive, name badge, pad of paper and theme items.
A good deal of time was spent reviewing training issues and the surveys from last year(s). Three large items were addressed. One being the request of attendees to spend more time with other PEs or AGs, another about using the AGs more effectively - it is joked that they are currently just entertained, and the final and most aggressively worked on was the duplication of training that takes place between RLI, Pre PETS, District Leadership Training and PETS. Of significant help was a three page list we were given of items it is felt PEs should know that will not be covered at PETS. These can be covered back in our districts or at PETS during the district breakouts.
A conversation of what should or could be accomplished at Pre PETS that is not now being done included the distribution of training materials, passing out goals sheets and results from previous years to better prepare PEs for their club goals, collecting information from them for the district roster and discussing what PETS is like so they don't show up big eyed like a deer caught in headlights.
Seven items on the consent agenda we approved. I will not list them all but it ranged from confirming the speakers to ordering flash drives to continuing with PETS Exchange. I will expand on the latter. Our PETS Chair attends another PETS somewhere and their chair attends ours. It is a great way to learn areas you could improve. This past year our chair reported on New England PETS improved registration system, much of which was voted to adopt by the current committee.
Another key handout was a timeline of what the DGE's have to have accomplished and by what date. No guessing! What a concept!
All in all it was a day well spent.
Some of the things accomplished yesterday included a review of the 2010 PETS Financial Reports and and a tentative agreement on the new budget. The budget will be approved at the October meeting which takes place at Zone Institute. The committee elected to not have the sit down dinner for the 60+ folks on the operating committee Thursday night but instead to have light appetizers and a cash bar reception that everyone arriving Thursday can enjoy. The committee also decided on the registration packet container. In the past each attendee received a large 3 ring binder stuffed with materials. This was to be eliminated and the materials would be handed out at Pre PETS in each district and the registration packet would only include a flash drive of all R.I. manuals, etc. along with any district distinct materials. At the meeting they decided to go with a clear plastic envelope that would contain the flash drive, name badge, pad of paper and theme items.
A good deal of time was spent reviewing training issues and the surveys from last year(s). Three large items were addressed. One being the request of attendees to spend more time with other PEs or AGs, another about using the AGs more effectively - it is joked that they are currently just entertained, and the final and most aggressively worked on was the duplication of training that takes place between RLI, Pre PETS, District Leadership Training and PETS. Of significant help was a three page list we were given of items it is felt PEs should know that will not be covered at PETS. These can be covered back in our districts or at PETS during the district breakouts.
A conversation of what should or could be accomplished at Pre PETS that is not now being done included the distribution of training materials, passing out goals sheets and results from previous years to better prepare PEs for their club goals, collecting information from them for the district roster and discussing what PETS is like so they don't show up big eyed like a deer caught in headlights.
Seven items on the consent agenda we approved. I will not list them all but it ranged from confirming the speakers to ordering flash drives to continuing with PETS Exchange. I will expand on the latter. Our PETS Chair attends another PETS somewhere and their chair attends ours. It is a great way to learn areas you could improve. This past year our chair reported on New England PETS improved registration system, much of which was voted to adopt by the current committee.
Another key handout was a timeline of what the DGE's have to have accomplished and by what date. No guessing! What a concept!
All in all it was a day well spent.
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