More About RLI
 
With few notable exceptions, each July Rotary leadership undergoes a change in leadership from the Rotary President to the Club President.  Maintaining that supply of leaders for Rotary is one of the more daunting tasks at every level of Rotary.  This is often felt most keenly within the clubs but is also experienced at the District and at every level of Rotary.  Where do we keep getting those great leaders?

Well, Rotarians are already leaders in their professions and businesses!  However, most Rotarians are leaders in entrepreneurial enterprises which are usually arranged in a hierarchical design.  In other words, there is often an employer-employee relationship between the top layers of most businesses and those who carry out the tasks of the business.  The CEO of General Motors does not assemble cars…at least not by time he/she is the CEO.  The CEO of a hospital does not usually work a night-shift as a nurse.  Those tasks are handled by other employees at the direction of the managers of the organization.


Yet the CEOs and other managers of these organizations when serving as President of the local Rotary Club have the task of directing the activity of other club members who are also CEOs, managers, and other professionals.  All of this is without the explicit authority of an employer-employee relationship.  These are our peers.


This is only one of the tasks facing those who would be leaders in Rotary at whatever level you choose.  How does one prepare for this task?  For many this has been one of the more challenging and frustrating parts of being a Rotary Leader.  There really is a difference between the leadership skills of business and the leadership skills in a voluntary organization.  Some are naturally suited to this task but many find it is a new skill to acquire.


The Rotary Leadership Institute provides a unique educational experience in a sequence of three one day seminars designed to help Rotary Clubs nurture and promote future leaders within their clubs and beyond.  The unique leadership skill in dealing with peers who are also leaders is one of the many subjects covered by the Rotary Leadership Institute. Learning is accomplished by individual, group, and small group experiences lead by trained facilitators who are knowledgeable about Rotary.  When we identify someone who, in the future, may become a Rotary leader we can begin their cultivation and education even before they become involved in leadership.  Ideally, attendance at RLI would precede District Academies, local Institutes or District Leadership Seminars.  Then those who are chosen to become club president would attend PETS and District Assembly which provide specific job related education.  In this way we are able to better ensure the success of that future Rotary leader and of our club.  We would encourage every club to send at least two Rotarians each year to all three parts of The Rotary Leadership Institute.  It is always useful to consider going to an Institute in another District since that will broaden a Rotarians circle of contacts and bring fresh ideas back gained from the others who attend the Institute.  Participants are charged at the rate of $85 per session but each club is strongly encouraged to pay the tuition fee.