Referring to his theme for 2010-11, President-Elect Ray Klinginsmith told the International Assembly: "it is important to remember that Rotary is a "spirit of service" as well as an organization of Rotary clubs, and that we need to share our core values of service, fellowship, diversity, integrity, and leadership with other people and organizations. So what are the magical words that can capture the essence of Rotary? The words that I have selected to describe Rotary's current mission and to highlight our achievements are what we do best: Building Communities-Bridging Continents."

"Leadership" is becoming the new "buzz". Even universities are developing courses/programs in leadership geared toward business people (and a nice extra income for cash strapped colleges and universities). Some may think that all this emphasis on leadership training is complicating a rather simple subject. It is true that leadership styles and approaches vary considerably, but some aspects are really pretty simple. In one USA State some years ago, two state governors both raised taxes that became major issues in their campaigns for reelection. One, who even instituted a new tax, was elected and the other was defeated. What was the difference? Many think the difference was that the first candidate was well liked generally and the second was not. One simple aspect of leadership is that people follow, support and are loyal to leaders they like personally and respect and vice versa. Being warm, friendly and positive is really necessary if a leader is to succeed. That certainly applies to organizations where people work closely together and know each other.

A promotional video created by the RLI Sunshine Division (Georgia, Florida and the Caribbean) has been posted on YouTube. We thank PDG Tim Schuler, Chair, PDG Jim Henry, past Chair and PDG Gary Israel, Chair-Elect for sharing the video. You may find it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okvXmwiOkCc. Take a look, it is well done.

A distinguished roster of Rotary International speakers will highlight the Annual RLI Breakfast Meeting at the Montreal Convention. The principal speaker will be Past Rotary International President Richard D. King of California, USA. Also expected to attend and offer remarks is Rotary International President Nominee, Kalyan Banerjee of Vapi, India. Remarks will also be given by two representatives of the R.I.Board: R.I. Vice-President Eric Adamson of Virginia, USA and R.I. Director Antonio Hallage of Parana, Brazil.

The Breakfast flyer, including ticket purchase information is posted on the RLI website Home Page (www.rotaryleadershipinstitute.org )together with a page describing alternate payment methods, including PAYPAL. Early registration would be appreciated. The breakfast price is 32 US dollars per person. If anyone has questions about this event, please contact RLI Executive Director, PDG Michael Rabasca, m.rabasca@comcast.net .

RLI is pleased to welcome the Rio Grande do Sul Division of that State in southern Brazil. The division consists of five member districts, including 4660 (Governor Olandino Roberto), 4670 (Governor Paulo Meinhardt), 4680 (Governor Carlos Roberto Silveira Borges), 4700 (Governor Evaristo Andreolla) and 4780 (Governor Lia Silvia de Souza Pereira). Governor Pereira is the Chair of the Division. We thank R.I. Director Antonio Hallage for facilitating the membership of the five districts in the new division. Director Hallage is the RLI Intl. Regional Vice-Chair for South America.

We also welcome District 9010 as a member of the French Division. The district covers four countries in northern Africa, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco and Mauritania. The District Governor is Youcef Leffad. The initial faculty orientation will be held in Algiers. We thank PDG Jacques di Costanzo, Chair of the French Division and PRIVP Serge Gouteyron, Intl. Regional Vice-Chair, for their efforts in recruiting the district for RLI.

A welcome is also in order for District 6330 that has joined the Shining Waters Division in Ontario, Canada and portions of New York State and Michigan that are with international districts in Zone 24. The District 6330 District Governor is Tanya Wolff and the Division Chair is PDG Nancy Gilbert.

We thank PRIVP Monty Audenart and PDG Chris Offer for encouraging the district to join with RLI.

In order to accommodate Rotarians from Future Vision Pilot Districts, a special committee has been appointed to develop supplementary material for our Foundation sessions in the three Parts and the graduate Foundation seminar. Chair of the Committee is RRFC Chris Offer, PDG, of Vancouver, Canada and members are RRFC Hoe-Beng Fong, PDG of Singapore and PDG Knut Johnsen of Newburgh, New York. The three members held a committee meeting during the Future Vision training sessions in San Diego. The supplementary materials, when ready, will be posted on the RLI materials website.

17 members of the RLI International Curriculum Committee met in Orlando, Florida USA on January 8-10, 2010. The committee prepared some minor changes to the curriculum to comply with changes in R.I. and TRF. It also began preparation for the next three year curriculum (2012-15) and spent considerable time on recommended graduate seminars. A report will be sent to all divisions and revised documents will be posted on the materials website. Organizing Chair for the event was PDG Tim Schuler, Chair of the RLI Sunshine Division and Committee Secretary and Editor is PDG Bevin Wall of North Carolina, Chair of the Zone 33 Division. We thank them for their outstanding work for this important meeting.

International Training Team Leader, PDG Doros Jeropoulos of Cyprus, visited Athens to help lead courses in the Greek language for 35 Rotary leaders. He commended the outstanding work of Greece Division Chair, PDG Takis Dalianis in organizing and leading the event.

Training Team members PDG Dan Spencer and PDG Knut Johnsen led a faculty orientation session in the Cleveland, Ohio USA area for the North Coast Division. The three districts in that division led by PDG Larry Warren, Chair, are in the process of combining with five western Pennsylvania Districts in Zone 29 for form a Main Line USA Division.

Seoul, Korea in December was the site of the initial faculty orientation sessions of the Korea Division, led by International Training Team leaders PDG Frank Wargo and PDG Don Lee. Frank is the RLI Intl. Vice-Chair for Training and Don Lee is also a former R.I. Training Leader. Chair of the event was Korea Division Chair, PRID Kwang Tae (Luke) Kim. The RLI team called PRID Luke's arrangements and hospitality one of the best ever and we are very grateful to him. 20 new discussion leaders from three Korean districts participated in the two day sessions.

RLI officers and training team members, PDG Tam Mustapha and PDG Knut Johnsen led a faculty orientation session in December in Abuja, Nigeria to initiate the new Nigeria Division of their three districts. Division Chair PDG Tunji Funsho organized a very productive and well prepared program. The RLI pins were presented to the participants by Past R.I. President Jonathan Majiyagbe of Kano, Nigeria.

Following their visit to Nigeria, Team Leaders Tam and Knut visited Amman, Jordan for a faculty orientation session and a Part I course. Jordan Division Chair Muhsen El-Mufleh organized the events for a group of very enthusiastic new faculty members and course participants. PDG Samir Seikaly of Jordan is the RLI Regional Vice-Chair for the Middle East.

RLI Leader PDG Subhash Saraf of Pune, India, has reminded us of the large number of RLI course participants who have become district governors throughout the world. Their attendance at RLI courses has certainly helped them to better understand Rotary and their leadership roles.

The International RLI brochure has been translated into Spanish and is posted on the materials website under Spanish language documents. The translation was prepared by Rodolfo Soto and Carlos Antelo Zambrana of the Bolivia Division. Portuguese translations of the RLI membership agreement forms have been added to the main website's first major section. They are now available in both Spanish and Portuguese.

The Israel Division held successful RLI courses in January led by past governors Ran Linn and Yael Lazarus. As this eBulletin is being written, another course is taking place in Israel. Uri Zeiger is the District Governor of District 2490.

“Having leadership skills does not alone assure good Rotary leadership. An effective Rotary leader must ALSO have Rotary knowledge, perspective about where Rotary has been, where it is now going and a vision of what Rotary can be.”