Wow. January 28th was a big day. That day I signed a contract for my District Conference in May, 2013 - almost 27 months, and two District Conferences away, but late according to my timeline.
My conference will by held at the Hyatt Regency Sarasota on May 16th -18th, 2013. My conference chair was able to get HUGE concessions on both food and room pricing...HUGE! He did an excellent job and I am really relieved to have a facility locked in. We found out that when a conference sight says that is as low as they can go, it isn't.
There are a couple neat surprises that I don't want to publish yet but I think it is a good facility and we will be able to have a very nice conference. For the most part, the conference is not on teh back burner where it will remain for a year, more or less. Stay tuned.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Catching Up!
This post could also be called "Catching a Breath" as it has been a busy couple months. About the same amount of work but with the Holidays and a vacation in there, didn't leave a lot of time for goofing off.
First, let me just catch up on some calendar points and I will add detail in some additional posts.
November 29th was the District Mid-Year Meeting for two areas, hosted at our house. My wife is an AG for one of the areas so I ran for the food - we had it catered to relieve stress - and served as chief cook and bottle washer. It was still an important night for me as DGN as I watched the meetings of the current leadership and incoming leadership with a critical eye. I had attended several in the past but this time I looked for things that went well and things that could be improved on. By the end of the night I learned that I need to develop an orderly agenda. Not to limit dialog, but to keep it from wandering all over the place.
December 5th found us at one of our club's fundraisers. The club understands how busy I am and even tries to protect me by not asking me to take part in projects but I feel it is important to me not to lose that connection. Sometimes it takes a conscious effort to just stop what you're doing and go to your club meeting or function.
December 6th had meeting of our District Training Team and the Governance Committee of Rotary's Camp Florida, both of which ended up with homework. I have to prepare two training presentations, one for Pre Pets and one for Area Leadership Training for the district. For RCF I have a sections of the policies and procedures manual to review and update for the camp.
December 9th we made what turned out to be our final pre-contract visit to the Hyatt Regency Sarasota. It was a good visit but my convention chair still has some pretty heavy negotiations to complete with regards to food and lodging pricing before we can move forward.
December 19th we sailed away from Port Canaveral on a week long cruise. I have never enjoyed time away from my computer and cell phone more. Even as a lowly DGN I am learning that absolute downtime is needed, and not just a day here and there, but enough to actually unwind.
January 9th I picked up our visitors from Kenya at the airport. I reported on the DGE Homestay program a year ago, I think, when we had guests from India, and this was another wonderful example of international fellowship. Each day the following week we had a daytime activity, such as a tour and either a banquet or fellowship dinner somewhere as our district hosted more than twenty DGEs and their spouses in route to the International Assembly in San Diego. Absolutely a wonderful experience but there is no free time that week. A couple times my wife took them to tours and allowed me to catch up on work, but it was pretty much go go go all week. I will miss this program the next two years when I am one of the DGEs and then DG, but we will pick it back up again after that.
I am intentionally not mentioning club meetings, board meetings and etc. in January - but they are all there, trust me. But other odd life things did take place. I had to work, what a concept, and flew up to my manufacturing facility in Wisconsin for a week. As outgoing president of our condominium association I presided over my final meeting. I am still on the board, but just as a director.
As a die hard Packer fan I would be remiss if I didn't mention the game against our rival Chicago Bears on January for the right to play in the Super Bowl. We won!!!!!
Into February. Again I would be remiss as a die hard Packer fan if I didn't mention our little to trip to my wife's sister's house in North Carolina for a five day weekend. One highlight was, of course, the Super Bowl. Friends of theirs hosted a Super Bowl party and we attended, I in my inflatable cheese head and Packer shirt, where we ate and drank too much as we watched our team become World Champions again. What a fun evening.
February 12th was our Pre PETS training and our Area Training Seminar, morning and afternoon respectively. I will report on this under a separate heading.
February 15th I made a very quick three day trip to my company, returning home on an early flight on the 18th so I could attend a Charter Night Banquet for a brand new Rotary Club. It isn't often these days to have a new club come into the district. We have had a couple that have been rejuvenated but still under an existing charter. Unfortunately, I brought back a bug from my trip so while everyone was celebrating the creation of this new club I saw a doctor and got started on a regimen of antibiotics and anti viral medications. It took about a week to get my old self back, and the first thing I did was visit that club!!!
February 26th, yesterday, I facilitated three sessions of the Rotary Leadership Institute. It was enjoyable as always but, as we were up until 1:00 AM the night before printing PETS handouts, it was a long day.
Okay, that is a quick look at the past two months. PETS is next week and I arrive at the facility on Wednesday. Immediately following this post I will add one each for my Convention, the Pre PETS Training, the Area Leadership Training and the preparations for PETS, along with the agenda.
Today was a very sad day, however, as our District Trainer, how would have been my District Trainer next year, had to resign for health reasons. I am trying hard not to use names in this blog, to keep it generic, but she was a truly intrical part of the training team and will be missed. However, it also shows the need for continuity in training. If the incoming Governor had not had the foresight to create a training team, it would have just been her and the trainer - and now, with PETS, District Assembly, TRF and Membership Seminars still to go, it would have been just her. Instead, she still has a team of six, herself included, to move forward. That makes finding a new trainer a priority but not an emergency and will allow for considered decision making instead of a knee jerk reaction.
First, let me just catch up on some calendar points and I will add detail in some additional posts.
November 29th was the District Mid-Year Meeting for two areas, hosted at our house. My wife is an AG for one of the areas so I ran for the food - we had it catered to relieve stress - and served as chief cook and bottle washer. It was still an important night for me as DGN as I watched the meetings of the current leadership and incoming leadership with a critical eye. I had attended several in the past but this time I looked for things that went well and things that could be improved on. By the end of the night I learned that I need to develop an orderly agenda. Not to limit dialog, but to keep it from wandering all over the place.
December 5th found us at one of our club's fundraisers. The club understands how busy I am and even tries to protect me by not asking me to take part in projects but I feel it is important to me not to lose that connection. Sometimes it takes a conscious effort to just stop what you're doing and go to your club meeting or function.
December 6th had meeting of our District Training Team and the Governance Committee of Rotary's Camp Florida, both of which ended up with homework. I have to prepare two training presentations, one for Pre Pets and one for Area Leadership Training for the district. For RCF I have a sections of the policies and procedures manual to review and update for the camp.
December 9th we made what turned out to be our final pre-contract visit to the Hyatt Regency Sarasota. It was a good visit but my convention chair still has some pretty heavy negotiations to complete with regards to food and lodging pricing before we can move forward.
December 19th we sailed away from Port Canaveral on a week long cruise. I have never enjoyed time away from my computer and cell phone more. Even as a lowly DGN I am learning that absolute downtime is needed, and not just a day here and there, but enough to actually unwind.
January 9th I picked up our visitors from Kenya at the airport. I reported on the DGE Homestay program a year ago, I think, when we had guests from India, and this was another wonderful example of international fellowship. Each day the following week we had a daytime activity, such as a tour and either a banquet or fellowship dinner somewhere as our district hosted more than twenty DGEs and their spouses in route to the International Assembly in San Diego. Absolutely a wonderful experience but there is no free time that week. A couple times my wife took them to tours and allowed me to catch up on work, but it was pretty much go go go all week. I will miss this program the next two years when I am one of the DGEs and then DG, but we will pick it back up again after that.
I am intentionally not mentioning club meetings, board meetings and etc. in January - but they are all there, trust me. But other odd life things did take place. I had to work, what a concept, and flew up to my manufacturing facility in Wisconsin for a week. As outgoing president of our condominium association I presided over my final meeting. I am still on the board, but just as a director.
As a die hard Packer fan I would be remiss if I didn't mention the game against our rival Chicago Bears on January for the right to play in the Super Bowl. We won!!!!!
Into February. Again I would be remiss as a die hard Packer fan if I didn't mention our little to trip to my wife's sister's house in North Carolina for a five day weekend. One highlight was, of course, the Super Bowl. Friends of theirs hosted a Super Bowl party and we attended, I in my inflatable cheese head and Packer shirt, where we ate and drank too much as we watched our team become World Champions again. What a fun evening.
February 12th was our Pre PETS training and our Area Training Seminar, morning and afternoon respectively. I will report on this under a separate heading.
February 15th I made a very quick three day trip to my company, returning home on an early flight on the 18th so I could attend a Charter Night Banquet for a brand new Rotary Club. It isn't often these days to have a new club come into the district. We have had a couple that have been rejuvenated but still under an existing charter. Unfortunately, I brought back a bug from my trip so while everyone was celebrating the creation of this new club I saw a doctor and got started on a regimen of antibiotics and anti viral medications. It took about a week to get my old self back, and the first thing I did was visit that club!!!
February 26th, yesterday, I facilitated three sessions of the Rotary Leadership Institute. It was enjoyable as always but, as we were up until 1:00 AM the night before printing PETS handouts, it was a long day.
Okay, that is a quick look at the past two months. PETS is next week and I arrive at the facility on Wednesday. Immediately following this post I will add one each for my Convention, the Pre PETS Training, the Area Leadership Training and the preparations for PETS, along with the agenda.
Today was a very sad day, however, as our District Trainer, how would have been my District Trainer next year, had to resign for health reasons. I am trying hard not to use names in this blog, to keep it generic, but she was a truly intrical part of the training team and will be missed. However, it also shows the need for continuity in training. If the incoming Governor had not had the foresight to create a training team, it would have just been her and the trainer - and now, with PETS, District Assembly, TRF and Membership Seminars still to go, it would have been just her. Instead, she still has a team of six, herself included, to move forward. That makes finding a new trainer a priority but not an emergency and will allow for considered decision making instead of a knee jerk reaction.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
The District Nominating Committee
Our District Nominating Committee is made up of representatives from all eleven areas and it's purpose is to select future District Governors. It is preferable, but not necessary, for the individual to be a Past Assistant Governor so they understand a little more clearly both the responsibilities of being a District Governor and the leadership skills required to be successful in that position.
The position is appointed for three years. Each year either three or four members will rotate off the committee and their replacements selected. Also, if anyone can not or does not fulfill their obligation to the committee, they are replaced.
You guessed it. It is the District Governor Nominee's job to do this. This year three members rotated off naturally but an additional four had to be replaced as well. Two had to withdraw and they selected someone from their area to sit in their chair for that day only. One had moved out of her area into another where there was already a representative. One did not show up. This was a first, an anomaly, but I ended up having to choose replacements for seven areas. The four that were finishing cycles I had to replace for either one or two years. The three natural rotations I had to replace with a full three year term.
I sent my ideas out to the Governor Corps and asked for their input and ended up with a good group consisting of all Past AGs or at least in the AG Tri Level currently. So far five of the seven have accepted. I am still waiting to hear from the other two.
I often refer to this as the single most important day in district committee work so I tried very hard to choose candidates that would take the job very seriously. The DGE was most helpful in one case where I had chosen a candidate that would do a good job, but there was some uncertainty as to her future availability. The DGE suggested a couple others, both were excellent ideas that I have overlooked so a possible problem was averted by selecting one of those two. The rest were received well.
This is the reason for this blog. There are so many things that your are responsible for at each governor level, but there is no document listing it. I mean you can look up the Governor's Training Manual online, but the district specific items aren't there or anywhere else. When my journey is over, or perhaps after each year, I think I will revisit my blog and just create a list of responsibilities that I learned about only after being selected.
The position is appointed for three years. Each year either three or four members will rotate off the committee and their replacements selected. Also, if anyone can not or does not fulfill their obligation to the committee, they are replaced.
You guessed it. It is the District Governor Nominee's job to do this. This year three members rotated off naturally but an additional four had to be replaced as well. Two had to withdraw and they selected someone from their area to sit in their chair for that day only. One had moved out of her area into another where there was already a representative. One did not show up. This was a first, an anomaly, but I ended up having to choose replacements for seven areas. The four that were finishing cycles I had to replace for either one or two years. The three natural rotations I had to replace with a full three year term.
I sent my ideas out to the Governor Corps and asked for their input and ended up with a good group consisting of all Past AGs or at least in the AG Tri Level currently. So far five of the seven have accepted. I am still waiting to hear from the other two.
I often refer to this as the single most important day in district committee work so I tried very hard to choose candidates that would take the job very seriously. The DGE was most helpful in one case where I had chosen a candidate that would do a good job, but there was some uncertainty as to her future availability. The DGE suggested a couple others, both were excellent ideas that I have overlooked so a possible problem was averted by selecting one of those two. The rest were received well.
This is the reason for this blog. There are so many things that your are responsible for at each governor level, but there is no document listing it. I mean you can look up the Governor's Training Manual online, but the district specific items aren't there or anywhere else. When my journey is over, or perhaps after each year, I think I will revisit my blog and just create a list of responsibilities that I learned about only after being selected.
A Slow Week?
The past eleven days have seen the DGN doing the following:
I was the speaker at the DG's club. The subject was TRF so it was easy for me and required very little prep time, just printed out some TRF Direct and Benefactor forms for handouts.
My wife and I attended three club fundraisers. Two were very large with multiple food and wine vendors, live music, etc. The third was rather unique in that the club charged $5 for a copy paper size box of documents to be shredded. They had a shredding truck on the premises and you could watch through a window and see your documents being destroyed. Pretty cool. We actually paid them double because it was worth that for us to clean house a bit and this little club does really nice things so the money was well spent.
At our club meeting I picked up dictionaries for an elementary school near my home. Our district gives dictionaries to all the third graders. My wife and I handle the school nearest us. This year they have seven third grade classes. We go into each classroom and show the kids the different parts of the book. There is a section on presidents, states, the constitution, etc. and, what the kids like best, is the longest word in the English language. Inside the front cover we stick a book plate from our club, signed by a club member, with a line for the student to put their name. For some kids, this is there very first book.
I attended the monthly board meeting of Rotary's Camp Florida which is getting ready for a capital campaign. The organizational/kick off meeting will be in a couple weeks.
My wife and I were invited to a VIP reception the evening before one of the fundraisers. It was very pleasant with light jazz, live, heavy hors d'oeuvres and a wine tasting. We bit on a couple live auction items but were not successful. (However at their silent auction the day of the even we took home 5 items and made a real dent in our discretionary spending account...lol.
As part of the District Training team I have two presentations to prepare, one on the tri level leadership model our district uses, the other on running a successful club. This week I completed the draft, including PowerPoint presentation for the tri-level part. I have two weeks to complete the other one. This is one of the more difficult exercises but I have been collecting best practices and will put them to good use here.
This was the week I selected Rotarian's to sit on the District Nominating Committee but I will make a separate post for that item.
The time since my last post seemed rather slow, Rotary wise, until I checked out my calendar and started to update this blog. I guess there was a lot accomplished even though it didn't seem like it. I am enjoying this journey a lot but it certainly is a very large commitment with regards to time and resources.
I was the speaker at the DG's club. The subject was TRF so it was easy for me and required very little prep time, just printed out some TRF Direct and Benefactor forms for handouts.
My wife and I attended three club fundraisers. Two were very large with multiple food and wine vendors, live music, etc. The third was rather unique in that the club charged $5 for a copy paper size box of documents to be shredded. They had a shredding truck on the premises and you could watch through a window and see your documents being destroyed. Pretty cool. We actually paid them double because it was worth that for us to clean house a bit and this little club does really nice things so the money was well spent.
At our club meeting I picked up dictionaries for an elementary school near my home. Our district gives dictionaries to all the third graders. My wife and I handle the school nearest us. This year they have seven third grade classes. We go into each classroom and show the kids the different parts of the book. There is a section on presidents, states, the constitution, etc. and, what the kids like best, is the longest word in the English language. Inside the front cover we stick a book plate from our club, signed by a club member, with a line for the student to put their name. For some kids, this is there very first book.
I attended the monthly board meeting of Rotary's Camp Florida which is getting ready for a capital campaign. The organizational/kick off meeting will be in a couple weeks.
My wife and I were invited to a VIP reception the evening before one of the fundraisers. It was very pleasant with light jazz, live, heavy hors d'oeuvres and a wine tasting. We bit on a couple live auction items but were not successful. (However at their silent auction the day of the even we took home 5 items and made a real dent in our discretionary spending account...lol.
As part of the District Training team I have two presentations to prepare, one on the tri level leadership model our district uses, the other on running a successful club. This week I completed the draft, including PowerPoint presentation for the tri-level part. I have two weeks to complete the other one. This is one of the more difficult exercises but I have been collecting best practices and will put them to good use here.
This was the week I selected Rotarian's to sit on the District Nominating Committee but I will make a separate post for that item.
The time since my last post seemed rather slow, Rotary wise, until I checked out my calendar and started to update this blog. I guess there was a lot accomplished even though it didn't seem like it. I am enjoying this journey a lot but it certainly is a very large commitment with regards to time and resources.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
International Convention - New Orleans
I would be remiss if I didn't mention the International Convention. Our Zone Director's excellent idea of having class hospitality rooms at Zone Institute paid off big time. My classmates are actively participating in planning a reunion for us in New Orleans. Is that cool or what? Looks like it will be on Sunday. I am sure I will have updates as the time draws nearer but my wife and I are registered and have our rooms.
We Have A New DGND!!!!! It has been a year already!
I find it so hard to believe but it has been a year since I started this journey. Now, I am no longer the lowest rung on the DG ladder. I was very pleased to see a friend of mine selected this year. When we had discussed running for DG it was to be he followed by me in our dreams - we reversed the order but this is very, very cool.
I sat in with the nominating committee. The chair and the three people in the Governor Corps are non voting members of the committee. One representative from each of our eleven areas votes for the DGND after the interviews.
This year was a bit odd. I thought my friend was a very clear cut victor - was I biased? I really don't think so as the DGE and Committee Chair also had him as a clear winner. Still, there was spirited conversation amongst the voting members, and the non voting members.
I feel the best person was selected. As I have tried to keep this blog pretty anonymous, I will not mention his name but "You know who you are - Congratulations!"
I sat in with the nominating committee. The chair and the three people in the Governor Corps are non voting members of the committee. One representative from each of our eleven areas votes for the DGND after the interviews.
This year was a bit odd. I thought my friend was a very clear cut victor - was I biased? I really don't think so as the DGE and Committee Chair also had him as a clear winner. Still, there was spirited conversation amongst the voting members, and the non voting members.
I feel the best person was selected. As I have tried to keep this blog pretty anonymous, I will not mention his name but "You know who you are - Congratulations!"
Monthly Recap
Boy, I am not good at keeping this blog current. I have two years and eight months to get better - maybe longer if I delve into PDGland.
So what has gone on this past month?
On October 8th I attended the dinner for discussion leader for the Rotary Leadership Institute and the next day facilitated session for TRF and Membership.
After a week at my factory in Wisconsin I returned in time to spend some time at our club exhibit at Bay Fest, a fun, food, craft etc. annual program. Great fun.
On October 18th I picked up our Ambassadorial Scholar from Nigeria and took her to a club meeting. Nothing but fun. She is incredible.
After our club meeting and a new member induction on the 19th, the 20th found me at a meeting of our District Training Team.
A quick trip to California to visit my brother was followed by an appearance at a local club's fundraiser kick off gathering for sponsors and VIPs on October 28th.
Picked up my new car on the 29th. I only mention this because I wonder how many miles we will put on together during the 39 month lease. I cannot imagine.
Monday, November 1st brought me to Rotary's Camp Florida for a Governance Committee Meeting.
November 2nd found me at another District Training Team meeting. I have three major projects. I have to rewrite the AG tri level leadership criteria, complete with flow charts and scenarios. I also have to create Power Point Presentations for the Tri Level Leadership plan and Running effective club meetings for part of Pre PETS. I have three weeks to complete these tasks. Plus I have to do a TRF presentation at our Governor's club on November 12th. I am cool with TRF so it will not be an issue, still, I have to do some planning.
I know it looks like a lot of work, but I am enjoying every moment so far. My DGE has included me on every step, I have attended all her PETS meetings, I have taken an active role in her leadership training. This is so great because the transition from her year to mine will be totally seamless - something I will do with my successor as well.
So what has gone on this past month?
On October 8th I attended the dinner for discussion leader for the Rotary Leadership Institute and the next day facilitated session for TRF and Membership.
After a week at my factory in Wisconsin I returned in time to spend some time at our club exhibit at Bay Fest, a fun, food, craft etc. annual program. Great fun.
On October 18th I picked up our Ambassadorial Scholar from Nigeria and took her to a club meeting. Nothing but fun. She is incredible.
After our club meeting and a new member induction on the 19th, the 20th found me at a meeting of our District Training Team.
A quick trip to California to visit my brother was followed by an appearance at a local club's fundraiser kick off gathering for sponsors and VIPs on October 28th.
Picked up my new car on the 29th. I only mention this because I wonder how many miles we will put on together during the 39 month lease. I cannot imagine.
Monday, November 1st brought me to Rotary's Camp Florida for a Governance Committee Meeting.
November 2nd found me at another District Training Team meeting. I have three major projects. I have to rewrite the AG tri level leadership criteria, complete with flow charts and scenarios. I also have to create Power Point Presentations for the Tri Level Leadership plan and Running effective club meetings for part of Pre PETS. I have three weeks to complete these tasks. Plus I have to do a TRF presentation at our Governor's club on November 12th. I am cool with TRF so it will not be an issue, still, I have to do some planning.
I know it looks like a lot of work, but I am enjoying every moment so far. My DGE has included me on every step, I have attended all her PETS meetings, I have taken an active role in her leadership training. This is so great because the transition from her year to mine will be totally seamless - something I will do with my successor as well.
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