Opportunity 2021
Online Multi-District Conference - Rotary International Districts 6220 & 6270
May 1, and 3 - 6, 2021
Videos of select sessions are available. Scroll-down and watch at your leisure.
In the interest of the safety of Rotarians and the general public, due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, the 2021 conference, previously scheduled to have been held in Oshkosh, Wisconsin on April 30 and May 1, was transitioned into an online-only event.
With this new online format providing opportunities for both veteran conference attendees, and those who have never attended to experience a Rotary district conference, attendance was strong, and interest high.
Conference Highlights
Plenary Sessions
- Bill Gormont - The Magic of Rotary
- Larry Lunsford - Seizing Opportunity
- Razia Jan - Diplomas, not Dowries; Educating Girls in Afghanistan
- Rotary International President-elect Shekhar Mehta
- Rotary International President-nominee Jennifer Jones
- Speaker Bill Tobin - Shelter Box
Breakout Sessions
- Engaging Youth: Past Rotary Scholars Panel
- Engaging Youth: Interact and RYLA: Rotary's Local Programs for Teens
- Engaging Youth: Rotary Youth Exchange: Connecting the World
- Engaging Youth: Rotaract/Rotary Partnership: Getting Young Professionals & College Students involved
- Membership: Making Membership Memorable
- Membership: The Case for Equity
- Membership: Welcome to Rotary! New Member Orientation or "What the Heck Did I Get Myself Into?"
- Membership: New Ways to Be Rotarians
- Fundraising: Putting FUN into FUNdraising
- Fundraising: Humanity Versus a Virus: The Ongoing Fight to End Polio
- Fundraising: Foundation 101: A Fireside Chat
- Leadership: Club Presidents’ experiences
- Leadership: Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in My Club: How Do I Start?
- Leadership: Toastmasters: How to Become a More Inspiring Speaker
Session Details & Videos
Not all sessions were recorded. We hope you enjoy revisiting (or seeing for the first time) those that were!
Bill Gormont - The Magic of Rotary
Bill’s unique expertise and leadership background set him apart from other speakers. He blends his business leadership career, family and community involvement to produce a well balanced successful life.
Bill brings his successful organizational skills & magical entertainment to center stage, as he presents "Be inspired - attitudes, thinking and actions". This program is perfect for Rotary International clubs, districts and zones at all levels.
Razia Jan - Diplomas, not Dowries. Educating Girls in Afghanistan
Razia is the founder and president of the Zabuli Education Center and member of Rotary Club of Duxbury, MA, has worked for many years to forge connections between Afghans and Americans. She founded Razia’s Ray of Hope Foundation to empower Afghan girls through education. The organization, founded in 2008, provides exemplary, free education to more than 625 girls in grades K-12 at the Zabuli Education Center in the district of Deh’Subz, Afghanistan.
Jennifer Jones, Rotary International President-Elect - Looking Ahead
Jennifer is the President of Media Street Productions Inc., a television production company. Media Street is pleased to be recognized as a caring corporate citizen and was named “Company of the Year” by the Windsor Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce - it has also received 26 international awards for broadcasting excellence.
Jennifer has strengthened Rotary’s reach and impact through her service in many roles including as Trustee of the Rotary Foundation, RI Vice President, and co-chair of the End Polio Now: Make History Today campaign. As a professional communicator, Jennifer also used her vocational strength to chair the advisory group that crafted Rotary’s rebranding effort.
Working alongside government officials, celebrities and global leaders, she utilizes her voice to raise awareness and hundreds of millions of dollars to eradicate disease, support peace and provide clean water and sanitation in developing areas of the world. Her skill as an expert storyteller inspires hope and promise and motivates people to take action.
Jennifer Jones, a member of the Rotary Club of Windsor-Roseland, Ontario, Canada, will become Rotary International’s president for 2022-23, a groundbreaking selection that will make her the first woman to hold that office in the service organization’s 115-year existence.
Holger Knaack, Rotary International President - District Conference Opening Remarks
Larry Lunsford, RI Foundation Trustee-Elect - The Power of the Rotary Foundation to do Good in the World
A certified public accountant, Larry is SVP/CFO of Bernstein-Rein Advertising, Inc. in Kansas City, Missouri. Larry and his wife Jill have two children, Trent and Cara. He earned his bachelors and master’s degrees in accounting from Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri.
Larry’s passion for Rotary and his invitation into the family of Rotary began during his college years when in 1982 he was selected as a Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholar to Australia. Larry joined Rotary in 1991, served as his club’s President in 1997-98, served as District Governor of District 6040 (Missouri) in 2001-02, and served as Rotary International Director in 2013-15. He is a past member and Chair of the RI Membership Committee. Larry and Jill served as Aides to RI President Mark Daniel Maloney, and his wife Gay, for the 2019-2020 Rotary year.