This year I had the opportunity to widen my Rotary lens along with my husband and fellow Rotarian Dan Joraanstad by attending my first Rotary Zones 26 & 27 Institute in Arizona and, even more significantly, by participating in the Emerging Rotary Leaders (ERL) Program. Zones 26 and 27 encompass approximately 30 Rotary districts across the western United States and part of Canada, bringing Rotarians together for learning, fellowship, leadership development, and perhaps most important, the exchange of ideas about Rotary's future.
Through ERL, I joined fellow District 5150 Rotarian Lora Curran of the Rotary Club of Peninsula Starlight and emerging leaders from throughout our two Zones. We explored membership and belonging, technology (AI), public image (think Rotary Mascot!), The Rotary Foundation, service, and how Rotary can continue evolving while preserving the values at its core.
DG YuHui Chen, Lora Curran, Bob Hermann, DGE Tony Villanueva, and DGN Cyndy Simms
I was also proud to see District 5150 and the Rotary Club of San Francisco so well represented. From the Rotary Club of San Francisco were PDG Eric Schmautz and PDG Laine Hendricks along with past Club Presidents Bob Hermann, Stephanie Schmautz (and daughters — Molly and Katie), and Frank Yoke. From Rotary District 5150 were DG YuHui Chen, DGE Tony Villanueva, and DGN Cyndy Simms along with PDGs Jayne Hulbert, Mitone Griffiths, Steve Wright, Danielle Lallement, Jeri Fujimoto, Holly Axtell, and Russ Ketron. PDG Jayne also serves as Zone 27 Endowment/Major Gifts Adviser for 2025–2028. Representing Rotary International and in attendance to speak to us were RI President-elect Larry Lunsford, Zones 26 and 27 Co-Camp Directors Johrita Solari and Vicki Puliz, and RI Director Wyn Spiller.
Perhaps my biggest discovery as a first-time attendee was this: The Zone Institute is OPEN TO ALL ROTARIANS. You don't need to be a District Governor or hold a senior Rotary position. If you're curious about Rotary beyond your club, want to meet Rotarians from across the West, or simply want to return home with new ideas and energy, the Zone Institute is worth considering and for some, may be easier to travel to than other Rotary Conventions.
I returned to San Francisco energized and with a much broader view of our organization. Rotary has an extraordinary history — but after my first Institute and ERL experience, I'm convinced some of its most exciting chapters are still ours to write. And here's your opportunity: next year's Zone Institute will be in Reno, Nevada. Come see the bigger Rotary for yourself! For details, visit zoneinstitute.org
Rotarians from Rotary District 5150 at the 2026 Zones 26 and 27 Institute