RLI Graduate Course: A Historic First for District 7620!

Rotary Leadership Institute Graduate Course: A Historic First!

On Saturday, September 7th, District 7620 made history by hosting its first-ever Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) graduate course! This milestone event also marked the return of a graduate-level course offered by the Mid-Atlantic RLI, which hadn’t occurred since January 2020. Alongside this historic graduate course, RLI Levels 1 and 3 were also offered, all expertly organized by the District’s RLI Coordinator, Pam Kreis.

The course, "Exploring the Rich History of Rotary," was developed by RLI Facilitator Chris Zabriskie. Drawing from a template provided by RLI Northeast America (RLI-NEA), Chris expanded the course to include segments on Rotary’s history and traditions, the art of storytelling, and how to best share your club’s unique history. The result? A dynamic and enriching experience for the 11 participants who attended.

These participants represented four districts and included RLI Level 3 graduates, RLI facilitators, and one special guest, Jack Huskin. Jack, who had planned to attend Level 2, found himself auditing the graduate class when Level 2 was canceled due to low enrollment.

As with all RLI courses, this was far from a lecture-style class. Instead, it was a highly engaging, participatory experience. Attendees were given reading selections and encouraged to present their reflections to the group. To enhance their storytelling skills, participants shared their out-briefs in a compelling, narrative format. A highlight of the day was the segment on Rotary personalities, where attendees tested their acting chops by role-playing historical figures in first-person narratives—a fun and creative twist that brought history to life!

In a cutting-edge addition to the curriculum, Chris introduced the use of artificial intelligence (AI) as a storytelling tool. He demonstrated how AI can assist in crafting narratives and even generating original music based on factual information and themes. This innovative approach sparked curiosity and conversation among the participants.

Chris emphasized that offering a graduate course not only provides a new learning experience for those who have completed Level 3 but also helps Rotary districts meet the necessary headcount for hosting RLI events. By adding this graduate-level option, districts can ensure they reach their minimum enrollment goals while continuing to offer value to experienced RLI participants.

Thanks to this successful event, six more RLI facilitators are now equipped to bring this course to their own districts. Chris looks forward to offering this exciting graduate course again in the near future.

District 7620 has truly set the stage for future RLI success with this groundbreaking achievement!