Page 4 - Gears and Ears January 2014
P. 4

Rotary Leadership Institute



                                Story of a Rotarian Transformation
                                             by Marti Trieschmann






                                   When asked by Jeff Calvert if I would write for our newsletter
                                   regarding Rotary Leadership Institute, I could not have been
                                   more thrilled!   As some of you may or may not know…I am a
                                   new Rotarian, it has been just over two years since I joined
                                   the Rotary Club of Lake Buena Vista, and I truly believe that I
                                   would not be your President-Elect had it not been for Rotary
                                   Leadership Institute, it transformed me into the Rotarian that
                                   I am today.


        When I joined the club in November, 2011, the only thing I knew about was Rotary was the following:
                   •   Sonny Buoncervello (whom I had never met/seen before in my life) handed me the famous blue
                       “What is Rotary” card;
                   •   The club met every Thursday (really early) in the Wyndham Lake Buena Vista;
                   •   Jay Leonard told me that I was going to join because the club needed “young” females, and
                       evidently I fit the bill, and;
                   •   I was not happy about being told to join a volunteer organization…did not seem like I was
                       “volunteering”, but rather being volunteered!

        I attended the first couple of meetings with quite frankly a closed mind.  I was going to go to the meetings because I
        “had” to, but that did not mean that I was going to like it!  However, that very quickly changed.  As I was getting to
        meet everyone (and fall in love with the members), had my fireside chat with Dawn Grigsby – I wanted to learn
        more…I was hooked.  It was such a fantastic organization that did so much good, and I could finally be a part of
        something where I felt that I could make a difference.  I have always wanted to help others, but never knew how to
        do it on my own…Rotary was the answer!

        So my induction was closely followed by lots of questions about “What is Rotary”…for everyone that received the
        ABC’s of Rotary, I took it home and read it cover to cover - highlighting sections, making notes and wanting to find
        out everything I could about Rotary.  I found out about Rotary Leadership Institute and knew I wanted to attend, it
        was the place to get more of the answers…and the club reimbursing you did not hurt either!

        For those of you who have never attended – I cannot stress enough how beneficial and transforming it is as you
        become a better Rotarian.  There are three levels, and just recently they added a graduate course which I will be
        taking on January.  Can’t seem to stop myself from learning more!

        A brief overview of each course is listed below:
               RLI I:  Object of Rotary
                       Membership Retention
                       Rotary Opportunities – 9 Structured Rotary International programs
                       Ethics and Vocational Service
                       District Overview
                       Rotary Foundation I
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