Each year, those Rotarians who have been selected to be the presidents of their clubs beginning in July attend what this year was called PELS – President-Elect Learning Seminar.
Over the weekend of Feb. 19 through Feb. 22, hundreds of Presidents-Elect from 11 districts in California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Montana and Hawaii gathered at the LAX Marriott. Over the course of those days, they listened to speakers guide them through their upcoming Rotary year.
Mary-Justine Lanyon and Jeri Simpson with President-Elect Yinka during an afternoon break.
What is the best way to run a meeting? How do you attract and retain members? What makes an interesting meeting?
The weekend also gave these Rotarians the chance to meet and talk with their current district governors, their district governors-elect and – perhaps most exciting – with the president-elect of Rotary International. Olayinka Hakeem Babalola – known as Yinka – who was the guest of honor at PELS. He addressed the ballroom full of Rotarians after lunch on Friday. And then he was spotted in the various training rooms and hospitality suites.
PE Yinka urged every Rotarian to think about how Rotary has made a difference in their lives – and how it can impact others.
The four PEs from the mountain – Andy Brakebill, Rotary Club of Big Bear Lake; Mary-Justine Lanyon, Crestline-Lake Gregory; Jeri Simpson, Lake Arrowhead; and Corina Colan, Lake Arrowhead Mountain Sunrise – all found the weekend to be of great value. They were joined by their assistant governor, Michelle French.
This year for the first time there was an Encore Presidents track at PELS (and, yes, it used to be called PETS – President-Elect Training Seminar). Lanyon found this track to be especially helpful – chatting with other Rotarians who have already served at the helm of their clubs. Something she heard repeatedly was that many clubs have a monthly service project, an idea she hopes to adopt with her club.
The Rotarians from the 11 districts had several opportunities to meet with their district dignitaries. The mountain clubs are all in District 5330. Those sessions were led by our DG-elect, Richard Lemire. Our current district governor, Nyron McLean, was also present as were several past DGs and those who will take the office in the next couple of years.
President-Elect Yinka visited the District 5330 hospitality suite, where Mary-Justine Lanyon and Corina Colan met with him.
To say that we all came home energized would be an understatement. We would welcome you to our meetings, to learn more about our purpose and our projects.
The Rotary Club of Lake Arrowhead meets on Tuesdays at noon at the Lake Arrowhead Community Presbyterian Church. Lakearrowheadrotary.net
The Rotary Club of Lake Arrowhead Mountain Sunrise meets Wednesdays at 7:00 a.m. at the Twin Peaks Community Center. www.lakearrowheadsunriserotary.org
The Rotary Club of Crestline-Lake Gregory meets on the first and second Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. at the Crestline Chamber of Commerce office. Crestlinerotary.com
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