Sharpened RI Strategic Priorities Highlight RLI's Mission

December 27, 2009 

In their November 2009 Board Meeting, the Rotary International Board of Directors made significant changes to R.I.'s Strategic Plan. Not surprisingly, these changes highlight the continued importance of The Rotary Leadership Institute to Rotary Clubs and to the larger Rotary organization. RLI is completely synchronized with the revised R.I. Strategic Priorities. 

R.I.'s Strategic Priorities were honed into three key areas and resources were focused to complement those changes. They are: (1) Support & Strengthen Clubs, (2) Focus & Increase Humanitarian Service, and (3) Enhance Public Image & Awareness. 

Mandated to review the Strategic Plan every three years by the Council on Legislation, over the past several years R.I. has conducted surveys and focus groups including over 14,000 Rotarians, and has also engaged in an analysis of our organization's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges. According to R.I. News, the revised plan, effective July 2010, reflects the results of this research. For example, survey responses clearly linked membership growth to strong clubs, and external data indicated that opportunities for service and networking are Rotary's greatest appeal. 

RLI is the most direct and effective way to support and strengthen Rotary Clubs. The mission of The Rotary Leadership Institute is to provide an educational opportunity for Rotarians identified as prospective club leaders by their current club leadership. Strong leadership within a club is the primary indicator of a successful Rotary club. The RLI curriculum balances Rotary content with leadership education, both necessary for successfully running a Rotary club. Individual Rotarians are strengthened by exposure to key aspects of "Rotarianism" through RLI, building friendships, representing one's vocation, ethics in life and workplace, and collaborative work on projects as being a binding agent within the club. A strong Rotary club is like the healthy body of an individual. Without a healthy body, the ability to accomplish external goals is jeopardized. 

RLI provides specific, current tools, connections and motivation to focus and increase a Rotarian's and club's humanitarian service. Relevant courses in the RLI Part I curriculum include exposure to the structure of our organization and its Foundation, Rotary Foundation program and support basics, team building, and designing a simple service project. Part II provides the tools to focus that service in goal setting, communications, and club self-assessment, and also additional project exposure through the Rotary Foundation and Vocational Service opportunities. In Part III, Service is the key, with topics on International Service, using R.I. Programs, and bringing together advanced leadership techniques to make a difference in our clubs and world. RLI provides the tools and inspiration for club leaders to focus and increase service. For Rotary clubs with a healthy body, this is the external outreach of Rotary clubs.

RLI's three days of Rotary education and leadership training gives Rotary club leaders the tools they need to promote Rotary opportunities and awareness in their club and community. RLI provides Rotary awareness to its most important constituency, the Rotarians in the club. Knowledgeable Rotary club leaders can develop interests that bind the club together, use Rotarian talents most effectively, and address the most compelling needs of their local and international community. RLI also provides advanced tools for public relations, including sessions on communication skills, effective leadership strategies, and public relations. Numerous case study analyses and discussion groups deal with these topics in more detail than club leaders receive in any other training venue. 

It is not a coincidence that RLI covers the three new strategic priorities so comprehensively. RLI knows what is important to Rotary Clubs because it continuously asks them and revises its curriculum to meet those needs. RLI meets annually to revise its curriculum and keep new curriculum ideas moving forward with changes in Rotary. RLI has feedback for each Part and course through extensive evaluation appropriate to each Institute. Many RLI's have a course in Part III where direct feedback on the curriculum, learning techniques, faculty, and venue are immediately available, and seriously reviewed. Finally, the RLI curriculum was developed by Senior Rotary leaders, but also by course and curriculum planners who are primarily Club-level Rotarians. 

The Rotary Leadership Institute will continue to provide quality, motivational, and interactive Rotary education and leadership training to your Rotary club's prospective leadership and any other Rotarian interested in learning more about our great organization. We truly believe that RLI is the best way to insure strong and visible Rotary clubs with a focused and effective service meeting the needs of our communities. Join us! 

Bevin