At the Zone Institute, in our hospitality room, the DGN from District 7020 in the Caribbean and I agreed that my district would sponsor a scholar from their district to come and study here. We had tried a couple years ago and had a candidate from Haiti, but that was the year of all the hurricanes and communication was so bad we never received a completed application. I am glad we have a chance to try it again. The candidate may not be from Haiti as there are several counties in District 7020, but the DGN was quite sure they could put it together.
Speaking of Ambassadorial Scholars, my committee vice chair has completed her planning and we have a new committee in place. She has to confirm with a couple Rotarians yet, but on paper it is complete. We expanded the committee from 7 to 9 voting members, three from the north, three from the central and three from the south section of our district. In each area there will be a 3 year position, a two year position and a one year position to assure total continuity. I am very pleased with this change. It may be "the lasting mark" I leave after seven years of service.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Zone Conference Summary
Wow. Wow. Wow. What an incredible event. Actually, it was two events, the Governor Elect and Governor Nominee Training Seminars, and the Zone Institute.
You may recall that I was tapped to do a couple jobs and received the title "Class Captain". This was primarily because the event was in our district so it made the most sense.
My first job was to make arrangements with a local restaurant to host our "Class Dinner". This was really quite simple. I asked our Zone Director's wife for recommendations because they live there and quickly identified a good venue. I contacted the restaurant, told them we would be a group of a maximum of 58 guests and secured their private room for that date. I then contacted all the DGNs and started getting commitments as to whether or not they or their spouse would be attending. We ended up with 28 of 29 DGNs attending and a total of 46 people.
My second job was to organize and furnish a hospitality room for our class. This was a bit more involved. The Zone Committee paid the difference between a room and a suite so we had a nice area to entertain. I polled my classmates to find out what they would like to eat and drink but on a few responded so it was pretty much guesswork. I charged each district $20 and purchased wine, beer, snacks, juices, water, etc. Any booze and mixers were to be furnished to "sip and share" by the attendees.
We arrived Tuesday around 2:30 PM, checked in and paid a bellman to haul all the stuff up to our room. I am just too out of shape to even consider it. We opened the room at 5:00 PM and shut it down around 6:00 PM each day, as there was a reception and dinner each day, then reopened after dinner until about 10:30 PM or so. A couple nights it got a little later. Friday we didn't open until after dinner because we had to catch buses for our Class Dinner at 5:30 PM. The room ran smoothly. Nobody got rowdy or noticeably intoxicated and except for the beer, we had too much beer, we ran out or close to out of everything by the last day. I did haul home a little wine and soda too, but not too much. I will donate the beer to our club and we will use the other stuff around the house. In exchange I will make a $100 donation to TRF as no one wanted a refund.
Okay, so we arrived Tuesday and besides the hospitality room we had a reception for the DGEs and DGNs and then a nice dinner. The food at this event was top notch the whole time. Probably the best banquet eating experience I ever attended. The next morning at 8:00 AM we went to school.
Day 1. Class began at 8:00 AM. All 29 DGNs were in one room, DGEs in another as the content would be different. We reviewed time lines, organization, event planning, budgeting, TRF, tossed questions to a Senior Leadership Panel and finally discussed membership. There was a lunch break with a speaker and class ended at 5:00 PM. Hurried up to the room to get ice and get it open, then dinner followed by more fellowship in the room. By this time our classmates were all beginning to get comfortable with each other and information sharing between district was almost as helpful as the formal classes. One classmate actually said he learned more in the room than in the formal classes and he might be right. I assume this was the purpose of the room in the first place.
Day 2. We got an extra hour of sleep as we didn't start until 9:00 AM. The first session was the DGNs and Spouses. (The rest of the time the spouses were in their own sessions. I will not list all that content here, but it was pretty intensive as well.) A panel of PDGs and their spouses, both male and female, spoke about their year and then fielded questions that we had each submitted ahead of time. After a break we had a session on available resources followed by something pretty cool. Three DGNs would sit at a table with 4 DGs or PDGs and just talk, ask questions, get advice, etc. After half an hour all the DGNs rotated to another table with new mentors. After lunch there were ancillary meetings. I was invited to two of them. The first was our PETS meeting where DGNs are invited to watch and listen as the DGEs and the PETS Executive Committee continued planning the 2011 Florida PETS. I took a lot of notes. This was the third meeting of this group and things are coming together. The second meeting was a session on our database by the person who created it. It included a look ahead to where the programing was heading and plenty of time for Q&A. Done at 5:00 PM, hurry upstairs to get ice and open the room....sound familiar? Dinner was followed by more fellowship in the room. I should mention that all meals had speakers.
Day 3. The Zone Institute Begins. This one started out early with a breakfast at 7:15 AM for TRF Major Donors and at 8:00 AM the house of friendship opened, as well as a silent auction. (We donated a serving tray valued at $100.) The first plenary session opened at 8:45 AM with an overall focus on Public Image and Strengthening Clubs. It was outstanding. General Secretary Futa was one of the speakers, as was a person called The Branding Doctor who talked about Rotary as a brand name. This was followed by small breakouts where groups got together and discussed the plenary session. After lunch the second plenary session started. This one was focused on Focus and Increase Humanitarian Service and was again followed by breakouts to discuss the plenary. At 5:00 PM there was a Puerto Rican Rum Fest and my class had just about time for one Mojito before boarding out buses for our Class Dinner. Dinner was fun. One table, closest to the restrooms, would not allow anyone to pass without donating to the CART fund. Well, you have to go and CART raised $200. Grabbed buses back to the hotel, got ice, opened the room, fell into bed around 1AM.
Day 4. Plenary 3 opened at 8:45 AM with a Haiti Symposium. After lunch we were on our own and there were several activities you could take part in. I caught up on email and actually took a short nap. We opened the room at 4:00 PM instead of 5:00 PM. It was one of our classmates birthday and her district furnished a cake and had a little party. Regular fellowship followed, then dinner and back to the room for more fellowship.
Day 5. The day started with a memorial service honoring all the governors that passed away since the last institute, complete with a choir of Rotarians, it was very moving. Plenary 4 began at 9:15 AM and included discussions on the project our silent auction was for called Youth Haven, a home for abandoned, battered, molested or otherwise harmed children. Another part was an introduction to next years Zone Institute in Virginia and the International Convention committee for 2016 was introduced. That is the year the International Convention comes to our Zone and, specifically, Atlanta.
Time to check out and hit the road.
We stopped on the way out of town for lunch and, of course, ran into other Rotarians and an enjoyable conversation took place.
You will notice there was not a lot of down time. I slept 11 hours that night. But the GNTS and Zone Institute is not something I will soon forget and I am already looking forward to the next one in Virginia. Prior to that our class is discussing getting together at the International Convention in New Orleans next spring.
I was told becoming a District Governor would be a lot of work. It has been. I was told there would be unforgettable moments. This was one. If you choose to become a DG, you will enjoy Zone. I guarantee it.
You may recall that I was tapped to do a couple jobs and received the title "Class Captain". This was primarily because the event was in our district so it made the most sense.
My first job was to make arrangements with a local restaurant to host our "Class Dinner". This was really quite simple. I asked our Zone Director's wife for recommendations because they live there and quickly identified a good venue. I contacted the restaurant, told them we would be a group of a maximum of 58 guests and secured their private room for that date. I then contacted all the DGNs and started getting commitments as to whether or not they or their spouse would be attending. We ended up with 28 of 29 DGNs attending and a total of 46 people.
My second job was to organize and furnish a hospitality room for our class. This was a bit more involved. The Zone Committee paid the difference between a room and a suite so we had a nice area to entertain. I polled my classmates to find out what they would like to eat and drink but on a few responded so it was pretty much guesswork. I charged each district $20 and purchased wine, beer, snacks, juices, water, etc. Any booze and mixers were to be furnished to "sip and share" by the attendees.
We arrived Tuesday around 2:30 PM, checked in and paid a bellman to haul all the stuff up to our room. I am just too out of shape to even consider it. We opened the room at 5:00 PM and shut it down around 6:00 PM each day, as there was a reception and dinner each day, then reopened after dinner until about 10:30 PM or so. A couple nights it got a little later. Friday we didn't open until after dinner because we had to catch buses for our Class Dinner at 5:30 PM. The room ran smoothly. Nobody got rowdy or noticeably intoxicated and except for the beer, we had too much beer, we ran out or close to out of everything by the last day. I did haul home a little wine and soda too, but not too much. I will donate the beer to our club and we will use the other stuff around the house. In exchange I will make a $100 donation to TRF as no one wanted a refund.
Okay, so we arrived Tuesday and besides the hospitality room we had a reception for the DGEs and DGNs and then a nice dinner. The food at this event was top notch the whole time. Probably the best banquet eating experience I ever attended. The next morning at 8:00 AM we went to school.
Day 1. Class began at 8:00 AM. All 29 DGNs were in one room, DGEs in another as the content would be different. We reviewed time lines, organization, event planning, budgeting, TRF, tossed questions to a Senior Leadership Panel and finally discussed membership. There was a lunch break with a speaker and class ended at 5:00 PM. Hurried up to the room to get ice and get it open, then dinner followed by more fellowship in the room. By this time our classmates were all beginning to get comfortable with each other and information sharing between district was almost as helpful as the formal classes. One classmate actually said he learned more in the room than in the formal classes and he might be right. I assume this was the purpose of the room in the first place.
Day 2. We got an extra hour of sleep as we didn't start until 9:00 AM. The first session was the DGNs and Spouses. (The rest of the time the spouses were in their own sessions. I will not list all that content here, but it was pretty intensive as well.) A panel of PDGs and their spouses, both male and female, spoke about their year and then fielded questions that we had each submitted ahead of time. After a break we had a session on available resources followed by something pretty cool. Three DGNs would sit at a table with 4 DGs or PDGs and just talk, ask questions, get advice, etc. After half an hour all the DGNs rotated to another table with new mentors. After lunch there were ancillary meetings. I was invited to two of them. The first was our PETS meeting where DGNs are invited to watch and listen as the DGEs and the PETS Executive Committee continued planning the 2011 Florida PETS. I took a lot of notes. This was the third meeting of this group and things are coming together. The second meeting was a session on our database by the person who created it. It included a look ahead to where the programing was heading and plenty of time for Q&A. Done at 5:00 PM, hurry upstairs to get ice and open the room....sound familiar? Dinner was followed by more fellowship in the room. I should mention that all meals had speakers.
Day 3. The Zone Institute Begins. This one started out early with a breakfast at 7:15 AM for TRF Major Donors and at 8:00 AM the house of friendship opened, as well as a silent auction. (We donated a serving tray valued at $100.) The first plenary session opened at 8:45 AM with an overall focus on Public Image and Strengthening Clubs. It was outstanding. General Secretary Futa was one of the speakers, as was a person called The Branding Doctor who talked about Rotary as a brand name. This was followed by small breakouts where groups got together and discussed the plenary session. After lunch the second plenary session started. This one was focused on Focus and Increase Humanitarian Service and was again followed by breakouts to discuss the plenary. At 5:00 PM there was a Puerto Rican Rum Fest and my class had just about time for one Mojito before boarding out buses for our Class Dinner. Dinner was fun. One table, closest to the restrooms, would not allow anyone to pass without donating to the CART fund. Well, you have to go and CART raised $200. Grabbed buses back to the hotel, got ice, opened the room, fell into bed around 1AM.
Day 4. Plenary 3 opened at 8:45 AM with a Haiti Symposium. After lunch we were on our own and there were several activities you could take part in. I caught up on email and actually took a short nap. We opened the room at 4:00 PM instead of 5:00 PM. It was one of our classmates birthday and her district furnished a cake and had a little party. Regular fellowship followed, then dinner and back to the room for more fellowship.
Day 5. The day started with a memorial service honoring all the governors that passed away since the last institute, complete with a choir of Rotarians, it was very moving. Plenary 4 began at 9:15 AM and included discussions on the project our silent auction was for called Youth Haven, a home for abandoned, battered, molested or otherwise harmed children. Another part was an introduction to next years Zone Institute in Virginia and the International Convention committee for 2016 was introduced. That is the year the International Convention comes to our Zone and, specifically, Atlanta.
Time to check out and hit the road.
We stopped on the way out of town for lunch and, of course, ran into other Rotarians and an enjoyable conversation took place.
You will notice there was not a lot of down time. I slept 11 hours that night. But the GNTS and Zone Institute is not something I will soon forget and I am already looking forward to the next one in Virginia. Prior to that our class is discussing getting together at the International Convention in New Orleans next spring.
I was told becoming a District Governor would be a lot of work. It has been. I was told there would be unforgettable moments. This was one. If you choose to become a DG, you will enjoy Zone. I guarantee it.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
August summary
During August I spoke at a several clubs but the my main time, early in the month, prior to my bleeding adventure, was taken up by planning for Zone and working with the District Training Team.
The District Training Team met twice and things are coming along nicely. A lot of the redundancy we've had in past years is being removed, in fact an entire meeting date has been removed - which the members will appreciate. We have a suggested list of subjects President Elects should have knowledge of before taking office. We are waiting to see the final PETS curriculum so we know what we have to cover at Pre PETS, Leadership Training or during the District Breakouts at PETS. That information should be made available to us at the Zone Institute next month.
I was asked to set up a dinner at Zone for my classmates, those that will be Governor in 2012-2013. I have contacted everyone and have a tentative count of 48 DGNs and their spouses or significant others. I thought I was just about done with the planning when I was asked to also host a hospitality room for my class. Zone will upgrade my room to a suite at no charge to me and I just need to pick up some wine, beer, soda, water, snacks and paper products and keep the room accessible during down times. Our class and the DGE class and we will buy stuff together for the quantity discount, haul it down to Naples and set up the room.
The reason I have been asked to do these two jobs is because it is my district that is hosting the Zone Institute. It adds a little work but I am really looking forward to meeting my classmates.
The District Training Team met twice and things are coming along nicely. A lot of the redundancy we've had in past years is being removed, in fact an entire meeting date has been removed - which the members will appreciate. We have a suggested list of subjects President Elects should have knowledge of before taking office. We are waiting to see the final PETS curriculum so we know what we have to cover at Pre PETS, Leadership Training or during the District Breakouts at PETS. That information should be made available to us at the Zone Institute next month.
I was asked to set up a dinner at Zone for my classmates, those that will be Governor in 2012-2013. I have contacted everyone and have a tentative count of 48 DGNs and their spouses or significant others. I thought I was just about done with the planning when I was asked to also host a hospitality room for my class. Zone will upgrade my room to a suite at no charge to me and I just need to pick up some wine, beer, soda, water, snacks and paper products and keep the room accessible during down times. Our class and the DGE class and we will buy stuff together for the quantity discount, haul it down to Naples and set up the room.
The reason I have been asked to do these two jobs is because it is my district that is hosting the Zone Institute. It adds a little work but I am really looking forward to meeting my classmates.
Blood Drive
I organized a blood drive for August 7th where we had a foundation willing to donate $50 for each pint given, to Rotary's Camp Florida. I was not happy with the results as we came in well below our goal, but we did raise $3100. Hopefully the sponsoring foundation will give us another shot at it next year. I have always believed in giving blood, and am a regular donor, but after needed so much blood myself it has a whole new meaning to me. Donors saved my life.
Conference Venue???
July 22nd was kind of exciting as we went to a tour of the venue my District Conference Committee chair has recommended. We looked at the different room options, areas we would use for meetings and meals, conference check in and the areas to be used for fellowship and fun. It is an older venue but well respected in the area for both hospitality and good food. We have nearly three years to get things set up but this was a very nice start. Did we hit the jackpot the first time?
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.
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