Over 100 attended the Sensational Trio of August Rotary Seminars (#STARS):

It was a day filled with information, suggestions, innovative ideas and just a little bit of fun. We were all there to equip ourselves to “Be the Inspiration”. The Colonial Heritage Country Club in Williamsburg may never be the same. And Rotarians are innovative. Sometimes they switched seminars.  Gotta love these D7600 Rotarians

Public Image or How to share our Rotary stories:

Lead by the District Newsletter Editor and Public Image Chair, JoAnn Meaker, the 25 or so Rotarians in the Seminar, enjoyed intimate surroundings, printed materials, and demonstrations of the EZ Bulletin feature on dacdb.com.  LaShonda Delivuk, Public Image Chair from District 7570 also inspired the attendees with her presentation on the interplay between membership and public image.

Membership, It’s the only thing!

The takeaway, oft repeated in the plenary sessions was “Membership, it’s the only thing.” 35+ Rotarians in the Membership seminar were led capably by District Membership Co-Chairs, Mike Jallo, and Shel Douglas.  LaShonda Delivuk also spoke in this session about the synergy between membership and public image.  No one will know our Rotary stories unless we have members to share their stories and unless our members share them.

The Rotary Foundation: How our good works are funded:

Approximately 42 Rotarians attended this session. Chuck Arnason, Rotary District Foundation Chair, and his team of Rudy Lee Garcia (Development),  Joy Kline (Annual Giving), Bill Billings (Endowment),  Appaiah Ballachanda (Paul Harris Society), Stan Wall (Polio Plus),  SuAnne Hardee Bryant (Grants), and Don Vaught (Grants Auditor). Just when one thinks there is nothing new to learn, Foundation-wise, there arise new requirements.  In this session, SuAnne focused on global grants, and our featured speaker Shel Douglas spoke on the more formal Community or Needs Assessments required of global grant applications.  The materials from The Rotary Foundation Seminar on d7600foundation.org on The Foundation Workshop Materials 2018 page.  There were no slides or handouts for the Paul Harris Society (PHS) as Appaiah is a walking cheerleader for the PHS.

The learning was not the only fun:

JoAnn Meaker designed the STARS meme and hashtag #STARS to help promote the workshops.  Dana Rieves, JoAnn Meaker, and Prince George Electric Cooperative provided the stellar door prizes.  David Rosenthal made all aware that it was also National Mustard Day. We decided to inspire every registrant to bring a new, unopened container of mustard to donate. Those who forgot often donated cash instead. Neva Lynde and her fellow James City County Satellite Club volunteered to carry the mustard to the FISH Food Bank.

The photos are part of the fun … thank Dianne Gordonn, Bill Billings, Jan Rowley, Chana Amaro and others who took many photos and shared them freely.

We are all now ready to “Be the Inspiration”.