Mid-Northeast PELS 2025: Full Schedule

Mid-Northeast Presidents-Elect Learning Seminar (PELS) is a premier learning event for Rotary President-Elects and Assistant Governors. Mid-Northeast PELS provides required knowledge to serve as Club President, or Assistant Governor as well as inspiration and motivation. Mid-Northeast PELS is a 6-District, 300+ clubs learning event, with the atmosphere of a mini-Rotary International convention. As we emerge from the pandemic, the 2025 PELS will continue to be the in-person event it was in 2022, 2023 and 2024. Our speakers, District Governors-Elect, educators, committee, and discussion leaders all have one thought in mind: equip and excite Club Presidents-Elect and Assistant Governors for their year of service.

9:30am EDT

Encore Presidents Session: Planning The Year Ahead

Friday March 21, 2025 9:30am - 10:30am EDT

Salons A-F

Learning Leaders: Mike Polasek, Carrie Hernandez, Mahbub Ahmad, Mary Ellen Ellwood, Taylor Quaranta, Jeannie Tsukamoto, Nikki Mederos, Phil Wells

Session Feedback:
Please click the link below to give your feedback about this session.
Encore Presidents: https://forms.gle/hATFkVosQ4jwPGxp7

Session Overview:
By understanding trends, strengths, and opportunities, Presidents can help Clubs set short-term and long-term goals that align with Rotary’s Action Plan.
After this Session, participants will be able to:
• Identify their Club’s strengths and weaknesses.
• Set 3-Year Goals that align with Rotary’s Action Plan.

Session Resources:
- Action Plan Page: https://my.rotary.org/en/who-we-are/about-rotary/action-plan
- Rotary Citation Page: https://my.rotary.org/en/news-media/office-president/rotary-citation
- Learning Center Courses
- Rotary’s Action Plan and You: https://learn.rotary.org/learn/course/980/rotarys-action-plan-and-you
- Rotary Club Central Resources: https://learn.rotary.org/learn/course/8/rotary-club-central-resources
PDFs
- Rotary Club Health Check: https://my.rotary.org/en/document/rotary-club-health-check
- Action Plan Flyer: https://my.rotary.org/en/document/action-plan-flyer
- What Clubs Can Do Flyer: https://my.rotary.org/en/document/what-clubs-can-do-flyer

Style of Dress:
Business Casual is recommended for this session.
Click here for a guide to styles of dress

Friday March 21, 2025 9:30am - 10:30am EDT
Salons A-F

Repeat President, President Elect

10:30am EDT

Encore Presidents Session: Your Public Image Campaign

Friday March 21, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT

Salons A-F

Learning Leaders: Mike Polasek, Carrie Hernandez, Mahbub Ahmad, Mary Ellen Ellwood, Taylor Quaranta, Jeannie Tsukamoto, Nikki Mederos, Phil Wells

Session Feedback:
Please click the link below to give your feedback about this session.
Encore Presidents: https://forms.gle/hATFkVosQ4jwPGxp7

Session Overview:
To help expand our reach, one of Rotary’s strategic priorities, clubs should develop a plan to promote their activities and projects.
At the end of this session, participants will be able to:

Understand how to organize a public image campaign
identify ways to promote their club and its activities and projects
Session Resources:
- Learning Center Courses:
  - Club Public Image Committee Basics: https://learn.rotary.org/members/lms/index.php?r=coursepath/deeplink&id_path=5&hash=d781ed5072f781fcac13f0a33724a4c87118312f&generated_by=75642
- Pages:
  - Brand Center: https://brandcenter.rotary.org/en-us/
  - Regional Leaders: https://my.rotary.org/en/regional-leaders

Style of Dress:
Business Casual is recommended for this session.
Click here for a guide to styles of dress

Friday March 21, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
Salons A-F

Repeat President, President Elect

1:15pm EDT

Encore Presidents Session: Engaging Club Members

Friday March 21, 2025 1:15pm - 2:15pm EDT

Salons A-F

Learning Leaders: Mike Polasek, Eric Storberg, Mary Ellen Ellwood, Taylor Quaranta, Mary Ellen Bentler, Samantha Maruzzelli, Jeannie Tsukamoto, John Susani

Session Feedback:
Please click the link below to give your feedback about this session.
Encore Presidents: https://forms.gle/hATFkVosQ4jwPGxp7

Session Overview:
By getting to know members well, club presidents can engage them in ways that tap into their unique skills and interests, creating a more meaningful membership experience.

After this session, participants will be able to:

Involve members in ways that make them feel valued for the unique skills they bring
Create strategies to engage members
Session Resources:
- Learning Center Courses:
  - Best Practices for Engaging Members: https://learn.rotary.org/learn/course/94/best-practices-for-engaging-members
  - Creating an Inclusive Club Culture: https://learn.rotary.org/learn/course/view/elearning/1602/creating-an-inclusive-club-culture
- PDFs:
  - Connect for Good: https://my-cms.rotary.org/en/document/connect-good
  - Improving your Member Retention: https://my-cms.rotary.org/en/document/improving-your-member-retention-retention-assessment-and-analysis
  - Member Satisfaction Survey: https://my-cms.rotary.org/en/document/enhancing-club-experience-member-satisfaction-survey
  - What Makes the Club Experience pdf

Style of Dress:
Business Casual is recommended for this session.
Click here for a guide to styles of dress

Friday March 21, 2025 1:15pm - 2:15pm EDT
Salons A-F

Repeat President, President Elect

2:15pm EDT

Encore Presidents Session: Membership Panel Discussion

Friday March 21, 2025 2:15pm - 3:15pm EDT

Grand Ballroom

Panelists: TBA

Session Feedback:
Please click the link below to give your feedback about this session.
Encore Presidents: https://forms.gle/hATFkVosQ4jwPGxp7

Returning Club Presidents will gain knowledge and learn about resources from Rotary International Membership staff, RC Herb Klotz and ARC Ray Freaney. This will provide them with effective tools and proven models for attraction and attrition of members.

After this session, participants will be able to:

Identify areas of their club they need to focus on to create an inclusive environment
Develop strategies to attract new and diverse members.
Learn ways to attract and retain members.
Use the Action Plan as a model to attract new members.
Learn about membership leads.
Learn about resources for membership and membership goals.
Session Resources:
- Learning Center Courses:
  - Strategies for Attracting New Members: https://learn.rotary.org/learn/course/95/strategies-for-attracting-new-members
  - Diversify Your Club: https://learn.rotary.org/learn/course/1687/diversify-your-club
  - Online Membership Leads: https://learn.rotary.org/learn/course/104/online-membership-leads
- PDFs:
  - Diversifying Your Club: Member Diversity Worksheet: https://my-cms.rotary.org/en/document/diversifying-your-club-member-diversity-assessment
  - Finding New Club Members: Identifying Prospective Members Worksheet: https://my.rotary.org/en/document/finding-new-club-members-prospective-member-exercise
  - Creating a Positive Experience for Prospective Members: https://my-cms.rotary.org/en/document/creating-positive-experience-prospective-members
  - Membership Reports: https://my-cms.rotary.org/en/document/understanding-membership-reports-getting-started
  - Membership Leads: https://my-cms.rotary.org/en/document/grow-your-club-using-membership-leads
- Pages:
  - Engaging Younger Professionals: https://www.rotary.org/en/engaging-younger-professionals-toolkit

Style of Dress:
Business Casual is recommended for this session.
Click here for a guide to styles of dress

Friday March 21, 2025 2:15pm - 3:15pm EDT
Grand Ballroom Hanover Marriott

Repeat President, President Elect

3:30pm EDT

Encore Presidents Session: Public Image Panel Discussion

Friday March 21, 2025 3:30pm - 4:20pm EDT

Grand Ballroom

Panelists: TBA

Session Feedback:
Please click the link below to give your feedback about this session.
Encore Presidents: https://forms.gle/hATFkVosQ4jwPGxp7

Style of Dress:
Business Casual is recommended for this session.
Click here for a guide to styles of dress

Friday March 21, 2025 3:30pm - 4:20pm EDT
Grand Ballroom Hanover Marriott

Repeat President, President Elect

4:30pm EDT

Encore Presidents Session: Rotary Programs for Young Leaders Panel

Friday March 21, 2025 4:30pm - 5:30pm EDT

Grand Ballroom

Learning Leaders: Bob Law, Carrie Hernandez, Rose Quaranta

Session Feedback:
Please click the link below to give your feedback about this session.
Encore Presidents: https://forms.gle/hATFkVosQ4jwPGxp7

Session Overview:

Programs and activities for young leaders support Rotary’s Action Plan by increasing our impact, expanding our reach, enhancing participant engagement, and increasing our ability to adapt.
At the end of this session, participants will be able to:
Understand how Rotary’s programs for young leaders (Interact, Rotary Youth Exchange, and Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) can benefit the organization
Get their clubs and districts more involved in these programs
Promote Rotary in ways that appeal to young people
Session Resources:
- Learning Center Courses:
  - Protecting Youth Program Participants: https://learn.rotary.org/members/learn/course/internal/view/elearning/422/protecting-youth-program-participants
- PDFs:
  - Interact Handbook: https://my-cms.rotary.org/en/document/interact-guide-rotary-club-sponsors-and-advisers
  - Youth Exchange Handbook: https://my.rotary.org/en/document/888
  - RYLA Handbook: https://my.rotary.org/en/document/896
  - Rotary Youth Protection Guide: https://my.rotary.org/en/document/891
- Pages:
  - Rotary Youth Exchange and Young Leaders in Action Newsletters: https://rotary.highroadsolution.com/ri_preference_center/Form.aspx

Style of Dress:
Business Casual is recommended for this session.
Click here for a guide to styles of dress

Friday March 21, 2025 4:30pm - 5:30pm EDT
Grand Ballroom Hanover Marriott

Repeat President, President Elect

9:30am EDT

Encore Presidents Session: Fundraising for The Rotary Foundation

Saturday March 22, 2025 9:30am - 10:30am EDT

Salons A-F

Learning Leaders: Mike Polasek, Peter Sullivan, Eric Storberg, Arnold Quaranta, Sonia Saleh, Marcia Loughman, Jeannie Tsukamoto, Peter Lefkowitz

Session Feedback:
Please click the link below to give your feedback about this session.
Encore Presidents: https://forms.gle/hATFkVosQ4jwPGxp7

Session Overview:
Clubs and districts often ask their members to contribute to The Rotary Foundation and hold fundraising events to support projects or polio eradication.

At the end of this session, participants will be able to:

Identify strategies to fundraise for their club, district, or The Rotary Foundation
Collaborate on fundraising efforts with other participants
Session Resources:
- Learning Center Courses:
  - Rotary Foundation Basics: https://learn.rotary.org/members/learn/course/356/rotary-foundation-basics?generated_by=75642&hash=1138b1077cf5b2e9155f06cef64cbadee932d3c2
  - Fundraising Basics: https://learn.rotary.org/members/learn/course/1039/Fundraising%2520Basics
  - The Power of Giving: https://learn.rotary.org/members/learn/course/internal/view/elearning/1527/ThePowerofGiving
- Pages:
  - Fundraising: https://my.rotary.org/en/knowledge-and-resources/resources-and-reference/fundraising
  - Contribution and recognition reports: https://my.rotary.org/en/manage/club-district-administration
  - Regional Leaders: https://my.rotary.org/en/regional-leaders
- PDFs:
  - Every Rotarian, Every Year Brochure: https://my.rotary.org/en/document/588

Style of Dress:
Business Casual is recommended for this session.
Click here for a guide to styles of dress

Saturday March 22, 2025 9:30am - 10:30am EDT
Salons A-F

Repeat President, President Elect

10:30am EDT

Encore Presidents Session: The Rotary Foundation Panel

Saturday March 22, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT

Grand Ballroom

Panelists: TBA

Session Feedback:
Please click the link below to give your feedback about this session.
Encore Presidents: https://forms.gle/hATFkVosQ4jwPGxp7

Session Resources:
- Rotary Direct Brochure:https://my-cms.rotary.org/en/document/rotary-direct-rotarys-recurring-giving-program-form
- Paul Harris Society Brochure:https://my-cms.rotary.org/en/document/paul-harris-society-brochure
- Your Rotary Legacy Brochure:https://rotary.planmygift.org/documents/R/rotary-international-foundation/pdf-legacy-brochure.pdf
- EREY Brochure:https://my-cms.rotary.org/en/document/every-rotarian-every-year-brochure
- TRF Reference Guide:https://my-cms.rotary.org/en/document/rotary-foundation-reference-guide
- EREY Club Presentation PowerPoint Template: https://my-cms.rotary.org/en/document/doing-good-world-every-rotarian-every-year-erey-club-presentation

Style of Dress:
Business Casual is recommended for this session.
Click here for a guide to styles of dress

Saturday March 22, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
Grand Ballroom Hanover Marriott

Repeat President, President Elect