By Ryan Clements and Rene Lanier

At this year’s District Conference, the Saturday evening general session will be solely focused on recognizing our clubs’ outstanding community and international service projects in an Oscars-style format. The goal is to celebrate Rotary and the good Rotarians do in the world – to celebrate ROTARY: MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Each club will have the opportunity to submit one community and one international project for consideration. If projects are shared between clubs, then the lead club will prepare the submission. Now is the time to capture all of the awesome projects you do throughout the year in pictures and videos!

Project submissions will be due by March 15, 2018 through the District website, and should be described in 250 words or less but may be accompanied by photos and video. After an initial round of judging by Assistant Governors to determine nominees in both community and international categories, all Rotarians throughout the District will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite project – because of its impact, uniqueness, scope, innovativeness, the needs it met or because it was so memorable – between April 1 and April 21 through the District website. And then, at District Conference on the evening of Saturday, April 28^th, each nominee will be highlighted and your favorite projects will be announced. So let the projects begin and best wishes for great success on everything you do, great or small, that makes this world a better place - that makes a difference!

Specific details on award categories and voting guidelines will be issued directly to clubs soon. Please email District Conference Award Chair, Rene Lanier, with any questions at rlanier111@gmail.com.We’re excited for the dramatic changes in our awards structure this year and hope all clubs will take the opportunity to highlight how Rotary is making a difference in our communities and around the world!

On a different note, members from across the District will have the opportunity to add their own special touch to District Conference by collaborating on a shared Spotify playlist. Music from the playlist will be played in the Friendship Lounge (formerly the House of Friendship) and other areas for all to hear. Go to http://bit.ly/6900district_conference_playlist to join the list and add your favorite song celebratory or beach-themed song.

And don’t forget that to provide a showcase of all our District’s achievements and good works for the 2017-18 year, all clubs and Rotarians should use the social media hashtag #18Rotary6900 when posting on any social media platform about their club’s projects or activities. This simple step will let us to develop a collection of stories and pictures that tell an amazing story of service, leadership, and friendship for the 2017-18 Rotary year.

Finally, conference registration, housing reservations, and the process for securing a room for hospitality suite purposes will be unveiled on October 1^st!