5. At the end of this session, you will:
•Know what to expect at IC17
•Make the most out of your
convention experience
•Select the events you want to attend
27. How to download the app
• guidebook.com/
app/rotary
• or search for “Rotary
events”
• Select 2017 Rotary
International Convention
from Public Guides
• No passphrase needed
MICHELLE
Welcome to the Orientation for first-time convention attendees! And, welcome to Atlanta! My name is Michelle and I work for Rotary International and help manage the convention Breakout Program.
We are so glad to have you here with us for your very first Rotary International Convention. You are attending the second largest Rotary convention in North America with over 30,000 people registered from over 175 countries and geographical areas represented. Make sure to come to the closing general session on Wednesday to hear the final, official registration for this convention.
MICHELLE
And of those 30,000 plus registrants, our top 5 countries with the most people here are: The United States, Japan, India, the Philippines and Canada. So let’s see who we have with us today. Please stand up if your country is called.
1. Please stand if you are from the United States
2. Please stand if you are from Japan
3. Who here is from the India
4. Please stand if you are from Philippines
5. Please stand if you are from Canada
Thank you everyone and we’re happy to have all of you here in beautiful Atlanta.
Our goal this afternoon is to prepare you for a productive and enjoyable convention experience.
At the end of this session we hope that you:
Know what to expect from the this year’s International Convention
Use what you learned here today to make the most out of your convention experience
Determine which session you’d like to attend and make a schedule so you don’t miss anything
MODERATOR
Now, I’d like to introduce our first panelist.
Shannon Watson is the Director of Meetings and Events for Rotary International. Shannon Watson, the Director of Meetings and Events is the convention project manager. She works closely with Rotary’s President, Convention Committee, and Host Organization Committee to make each annual convention a success.
This is Shannon’s third Rotary convention. Shannon, can you tell our audience a little about what’s in store for them in Atlanta?
<Shannon>
Thanks Michelle!
It’s hard to believe we are just four weeks away from the convention! I’m going to give you an overview of the convention venue so you know where to find the people, places and programs that will make your convention experience complete.
All official convention events will take place at the Georgia World Congress Center, or GWCC, located right in the heart of Atlanta.
Registration, General Sessions, and the House of Friendship are located in Building B
Convention luncheons and the Orientation for First Time Convention attendees will be in the Thomas Murphy Ballroom
Unofficial affiliated events and Global Networking group meetings are in Building A and
Breakout sessions can be found on Levels 3 and 4 of Building B and Level 4 of Building A.
Free Wifi is available throughout the venue.
The GWCC is located in the heard of downtown Atlanta, within walking distance to Centennial Olympic Park, CNN headquarters, and several of the official convention hotels.
Thanks Shannon.
Rotary’s convention is such a unique experience. It brings together Rotarians from all over the world and provides so many opportunities to meet new people and form life-long friendships.
If you’re not sure where to start, I’d recommend to focus on a few things:
Take time to enjoy Atlanta. Go for a walk, see some sights and take advantage of some of the local events that are organized this week.
Go to a breakout session
Attend the general sessions
Meet new people, make connections
Keep in mind ideas that you’d like to bring back to your own Rotary club or district
MODERATOR
Next, I’d like to introduce Blake McBurney. Blake is the vice chair of the Host Organization Committee. The Host Organization Committee is made up of local Rotarians that helped organize many aspects of the convention.
Fun fact about Blake: he is a third generation Rotarian and members of his family have attended each of the 3 Rotary conventions held in Atlanta. In 1917 his grandfather attended the convention in Atlanta, in 1972 his father attended the convention and here he is at the 2017 convention in Atlanta!
Welcome, Blake.
<Blake>
Insert some details about featured host events
MICHELLE
Thank you Blake. It sounds like the HOC has lined up a lot of great events for the convention.
I’m going to ask Shannon to share some more information about our programming. Shannon?
<Shannon>
General sessions are open to all convention registrants and feature inspirational remarks from Rotary leaders and guest speakers.
<insert some highlights>
MODERATOR
I’d like to welcome Sarah Remijan, the Director of Learning & Development at Rotary, to talk about the breakout program and the mobile. Sarah?
<SARAH>
Hi – i’m so happy to be here with you for my seventh RI convention.
This year we have almost 100 breakouts ranging in topics from global grants 101 to membership. From small group discussions and panels of subject matter experts, motivational talks, conversations with Rotary leaders and even a Tai Chi lesson, the program is designed to provide many different ways to learn.
<SARAH>
Thanks Michelle.
Your program book will contain detailed descriptions of each session and an “at a glance.” schedule, organized by day and time, that will help highlight the broad themes each session will discuss.
With only three days, and so many possibilities, you might wonder how to choose the sessions you want to attend. Consider coordinating with a friend: Split up, attend different sessions and then swap notes about what you learned.
Pick a few topics of personal interest as well as one or two that that could benefit your club.
Most breakout sessions are in English, but there are a few in Spanish and Portuguese. Remember to double-check the language of the sessions you want to attend.
If English speakers need to purchase interpretation receivers for a session, this will be noted in the session description in the mobile app.
Remember that seating for all breakouts is on a first come first-served basis, so your first-choice topic may be full when you arrive. Have a second choice in mind.
Resources from most sessions will be available to download via the Rotary Events app, so you’ll have access to information about sessions you missed.
If you haven’t downloaded the app yet, stay tuned – I’ll tell you you more about it shortly.
Three of our exciting sessions are part of our Rotary Business school, sessions that focus on skills you can use in Rotary and in your profession
Seating for all breakouts is on a first come first-served basis, so your first-choice topic may be full when you arrive. Have a second choice in mind.
Resources from most sessions will be available to download via the Rotary Events app, so you’ll have access to information about sessions you missed.
Make sure you take time to check out The Culture Lounge
Located in room B310 from 13:00 to 17:00 on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, The Culture Lounge is an experiment in fun, and a great place to meet up with other first-time convention goers.
Visit the multiple stations and try your hand at a new game or craft. Make new friends through activities that don’t require a common language.
Do you have a favorite game you’d like to share? Bring it along and try your hand at teaching it to others in The Culture Lounge
Read more about the breakouts, the culture zone, and start planning your schedule in the Rotary Events App.
How many have you have downloaded the app for this convention?
<MODERATOR>
Thank you, Sarah. And thanks again to all of our speakers today for sharing all of this information with us.
Now we have some time for you to ask questions.
We’ll have microphones (or mic stands). Raise your hand and we’ll bring the microphone to you.
Thanks for all of your great questions. Before we leave I have some resources on the screen for you.
Thank you everyone. Enjoy the convention and enjoy Atlanta!