Sixteen Rotarians Graduate from Charleston RLI Event

Rtn. Diana Evans of Pawley's Island Rotary gets
pinned by D7770 Gov. Lou Mello as an RLI Graduate  

District 7770 Governor Lou Mello pinned the 16 newest RLI graduates at Rotary Leadership Institute’s 7770 winter seminar held at The Citadel in Charleston on February 22. These sixteen and their clubs are: Eric Baker, Pleasantburg RC, D7750; Carl Brock, Greenwood RC, D7750; Dianna Evans, Pawleys Island RC, D7770; Wendy Fuess, Spring Valley RC, D7770; DG Lou Mello; Wayne Heath, Beaufort RC, D7770; Alice Howard, Low County-Beaufort RC, D7770 and Connie Jaklick, Hertford RC, D7720, Wayne Bell, Greenwood RC, D7750; Gary Chenault, James City County RC, D7600; Andy Edmunds, Florence Breakfast RC, D7770; Kevin Kristick, Carolina Forest Sunrise, D7770; Bruce Siebold, Hilton Head Island RC, D7770; Darryl Owens, Jasper RC, D7770; Dan Westra, Hertford RC, D7720 and David Johnson, North Charleston Breakfast RC, D7770.

The Charleston event had 52 total participants in all three parts of the Institute’s curriculum. Part one had 31, Part II 13, and Part III the 16 graduates. Rotarians participating in the three sessions had a range of two months to 43 years of Rotary experience. Future 7770 District Governors: Ron Funderburk and Sandee Brooks were among the facilitators working with attendees. With DG Mello’s active participation during Saturday’s event and support all year, plus continued support from upcoming DGs, 7770 RLI is now and will be an active part of 7770’s leadership and training process.

Clubs are encouraged to support member enrollment in RLI. Sessions may be taken in or outside the district. A session featuring Part I only will be held on Hilton Head Island May 3. All three parts will be offered again in Columbia, SC at South University on Friday Sept. 12. Registration is done on line atwww.rli33.org. Those interested in learning more may go to http://rlinews.blogspot.com/ or call Harriett Hilton, District RLI Chair, at 843 812-7201.

Click here for the Parade of RLI Graduates- Photos! 

Photo: Charleston SC RLI Group

Charleston SC RLI Participants, Faculty & DG Lou Mello
celebrate a great day of Rotary education and leadership training! 

Photo: Charleston SC RLI Graduates

Front row:  Eric Baker, Pleasantburg RC, D7750; Carl Brock, Greenwood RC, D7750; Dianna Evans, Pawleys Island RC, D7770; Wendy Fuess, Spring Valley RC, D7770; DG Lou Mello; Wayne Heath, Beaufort RC, D7770; Alice Howard, Low County-Beaufort RC, D7770 and Connie Jaklick, Hertford RC, D7720

Back row:  Wayne Bell, Greenwood RC, D7750; Gary Chenault, James City County RC, D7600; Andy Edmunds, Florence Breakfast RC, D7770; Kevin Kristick, Carolina Forest Sunrise, D7770; Keith Mahoney, Beaufort RC, D7770; Bruce Siebold, Hilton Head Island RC, D7770; Darryl Owens, Jasper RC, D7770; Dan Westra, Hertford RC, D7720 and David Johnson, North Charleston Breakfast RC, D7770

2014-2015 RLI Schedule Posted

To misquote Steve Martin- "The New [Schedules] are here! The New [Schedules] are here!"

Click here for the 2014-2015 RLI Schedule. Please consult the Register Now/ Events Calendar Page of this website for updates or changes.  

RLI E-Bulletin Available

Click here for the latest from RLI International, including information on the upcoming RLI Breakfast at the RI Convention in Sydney Australia.

Feb 15 Mooresville NC RLI Postponed Due to Weather

The event and all registrations will be rescheduled to a later date due to inclement weather prohibiting safe travel and venue closure. More information to follow as available.

Blacksburg RLI Draws Over 50 Rotarians

The Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) believes that leadership skills alone do not assure good Rotary leadership. An effective Rotary leader must also have Rotary knowledge, a perspective of where Rotary has been, where it is now, and a vision of what Rotary can be in the future. The three Parts of RLI gives Rotarians a “Heads –up” in being an effective leader and Rotarian at all levels in their Rotary journey. The 51 Rotarians attending the RLI session in Blacksburg on February 1 are now better prepared to be effective leaders.

Rotary District 7570 expects all in-coming Presidents-Elect to have attended at least Part I of the Institute before they assume a club leadership role. The district supports this expectation by providing a stipend to help cover the registration fee to attend. Clubs usually cover the remaining registration cost, especially for in-coming presidents.

Our Blacksburg VA Graduates
with RLI Chair Abe Clymer (right)

13 Rotarians graduated at the Blacksburg event by completing Part III of the three part series. Several of the graduates indicated they plan to complete a one-day Faculty training program and become a member of the RLI Teaching Faculty. Rotarians graduating in Blacksburg include the following: Joe Bush- Luray; Rick Furr- Christiansburg/Blacksburg; Leslie Jester- Blacksburg; James Kitchen-Forest; Diantha McCauley; Charles Strauss-Chatham; Billie Taylor-Wytheville Morning; Clare Terry-Forest; Nina Thornton- Chatham; Jeffery VanDoran-Salem; Janice Wilkins-Stuart; and Diane Woodson-Staunton/Augusta County.

Teaching faculty for the event included: Earline Orndorff, Jon Allen, Rosemary McDowell, David Cavender, Tarek Monier, Rosalyn Lester, Gene Morehead, Abe Clymer, Ned Lester, and Travis White. Article submitted by RLI District 7570 Chair Ned Lester

Updated Faculty, Staff & Event Policies Posted

During the RLI Board's January 2014 meeting a number of RLI Policies were updated or formalized, many to encourage new ways of promoting RLI events or to formalize existing practices. All policies are posted on the Faculty or Important Documents pages of this site, as appropriate. Action was taken and the following policies approved (click for the full policy):

1. Policy Regarding Mini RLIs
2. Policy Regarding RLI Faculty Dinner and/or Institute Related Reception
3. Policy Regarding Faculty (and Staff) Reimbursement

Cary NC RLI: More than 100 Attend; 12 Graduate

A crowd at the Cary NC RLI !

One hundred plus people enjoying RLI? - Yes, it is possible and did happen in Cary. Hosted by District 7710 and held January 18 at the Wake Tech Western Campus in Cary, 61 participants were “hands on” for RLI sessions I, II, and III along with 44 faculty members and staff.

There were so many registered for RLI Part 1, we had two sessions. Participants enjoyed great breakfast foods and a healthy lunch provided by Golden Corral of Fuquay-Varina, NC. The event concluded with the graduation ceremony for the RLI graduates and a huge group photo of all the participants. What a photo – try to snap a photo of 100+!! Click here for the District 7710 article & pictures. Click here for a great participant comment.

A total of five Districts in Zone 33 were represented. District 7710 was well represented with 52 Rotarians attending. District 7710 Governor Leigh Hudson was on-hand to welcome everyone and to stress the importance of continuing leadership development in Rotary. RLI Regional Coordinator Mack Parker, Zone 33 RLI Board Chair Abe Clymer and Zone 33 Executive Director Bevin Wall were also on hand to welcome the participants and faculty and to set the agenda for the day. As expected, it was an especially busy and satisfying day for me as District 7710 RLI Chair as I was responsible for the registrations, facility setup, and, of course most importantly, the meals and refreshments!

Twelve graduates are now ready to make their RLI mark in their clubs and and districts. All 12 are from District 7710: Moritz Beckmann and Veronica Bent, Morrisville; Eleni Christakos, Cary-Page; Joe Gelm, Cary-Central; Ron Green, Rocky Mount; David Howard, North Durham; Marie Howard, Oxford; James Lovejoy; Cary; Steven Nelson, North Raleigh; Janet Rommel, Fuquay-Varina Downtown; Patricia Sobero, West Raleigh; and John Sperath, Apex Sunrise. Congratulations to these Rotarians upon graduation. We know they’ll be sharing new ideas and skills to enhance Rotary.

Thanks to all who made this day a wonderful success! RLI is so important in the life of Rotary.

Russ Andrews, District 7710 RLI Chair

Groundhog Says "18 More Weeks of RLI"

Zone 33 RLI's busiest spring season ever continues with a jam packed February schedule. Our goal is to bring our engaging, interactive, motivational and fun Institutes within a two hour drive of every Rotarian in our extensive coverage area.

• February 1- Blacksburg VA
• February 8- Aberdeen MD
• February 15- Mooresville NC
• February 22- Charleston SC
• February 28- Thomasville NC

Simplified Faculty & Staff Mileage Reimbursement Announced

By action of the RLI Board during its January, 2014 meeting, the mileage rate for faculty and staff reimbursement is now $0.20 per mile for all miles driven for an RLI event to which you are assigned. The hotel stipend remains at $50. See the updated reimbursement form on the Faculty Page of this website.