Schedule.

The Great Lakes Rotary PELS planning committee is working hard to provide you with a schedule of events that balances learning, networking, and fun. 

​The schedule includes time for general and district sessions as well as informative learning sessions to help prepare you for your leadership role.

THE 2026 GLRPELS SCHEDULE

The schedule for 2027 GLRPELS is tentative and will be confirmed by December 1, 2026

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Thursday, March 18, 2027

All times are Eastern Daylight Savings Time

1 - 8 pm ​	Registration | Upper Lobby Level  ​Vendor Shops | Lower Lobby Level
​2 - ​2:55 pm​ ​ ​ ​	Pre-conference Learning Opportunities ​ DACDB Essentials | Learning Leader Patrick Logano Learn about this software system for Rotary Clubs and Districts to manage membership, events, and communication.  Club Runner Essentials | Learning Leader Mickey Dutta Learn about this award-winning, integrated platform for groups to connect, engage, and grow, managing membership, communication, and web presence.​
3 - 4 pm ​ ​	Pre-conference Learning Opportunities Club Runner Essentials | Learning Leader Mickey Dutta Learn about this award-winning, integrated platform for groups to connect, engage, and grow, managing membership, communication, and web presence. ​​AGs Lets Have a Chat! What's on Your Minds | Learning Leader DG Paul Wiese A conversation on best practices, challenges, and sage advice on supporting your clubs. New Club Creation/New Types of Clubs | Learning Leader Patrick Logano Explore flexible club models to create a new club that fits different schedules, interests, and communities.  Successful Fundraising and Service Projects | Learning Leader DG Mark Andresky  Need to raise money to do more good in your communities? Need some ideas of great things you can do in your community locally or globally?  Then you won’t want to miss this session. Back Again? Encore Presidents  | Learning Leader PDG Bruce Goldsen Things change year to year in Rotary. Let’s talk about what's new in Rotary and how you can help your club can grow and adapt to new ways of doing things.   Mental Health Check Up - Let's make sure we and our members are AOK! | Learning Lead Brent Sheppard​ Supporting mental health among Rotary members starts with open conversations, reducing stigma, and practicing daily self-care.
4 - 5 pm ​	Learning Session 1: Engaging Club Members ​Participants will be randomly assigned to a room for this Learning Session ​​​
5 - 5:30 pm​	Reception | Lower Lobby Level
5:30 - 7:30 pm  ​	Dinner and Plenary Session 1 | Arcadia Ballroom Keynote Speaker: Michael Angelo Caruso
7:45 - 9:15 ​	District Session 1 | Report to your District Room Meet with your district leaders and your class of club presidents. District 6290 | Kalamazoo II District 6310 | Glens III ​District 6330 | Great Lakes IV and V District 6360 | Glens I and II District 6380 | Great Lakes I, II and III District 6400 | Prairies IV, V and VI District 6540 | Meadows

Friday, March 19, 2027

7 am - 12 pm	Registration | Upper Lobby Level
7:15 - 8:45 ​ ​	Breakfast Buffet | Arcadia Ballroom (Breakfast Buffet closes at 7:45 am) Plenary Session 2 | Arcadia Ballroom Keynote Speaker | Rotary International Director Marty Helman
9 - 11:45 am ​	PN Learning Session 1 | Learning Leader Kathy Gallagher ​PNs will explore leadership insights and strategies as they begin their journey to club leadership.
9 - 10 am ​​	Learning Session 2:  Adapt: Conducting Meetings Participants will be randomly assigned to a room for this Learning Session
10:15 - 11:15 am​​​ ​	Learning Session 3:  Impact: Leading Meaningful Service Participants will be randomly assigned to a room for this Learning Session
11:15 am - 12:15 pm​ ​	Learning Session 4:  Reach: Selecting and Preparing Club Leaders Participants will be randomly assigned to a room for this Learning Session
12:15 - 1:15 pm ​	Lunch and Plenary Session 3 | Arcadia Ballroom Vice-Chair of the Rotary Foundation Vicki Puliz
1:30 - 2:30 pm​  ​ ​	PN Learning Session 2 | Learning Leader Kathy Gallagher ​PNs continue their exploration of leadership and strategies as they begin their journey to club leadership.
1:30 - 2:30 pm​  ​	Learning Session 5: Planning the Year Ahead Participants will be randomly assigned to a room for this Learning Session
2:45 - 3:45 pm ​ ​ ​	Breakout Sessions - Round 1 | Select one learning opportunity  ​The Rotary Foundation and How It Can Help Do More Good In The World | Learning Leaders PDG Nathan Triplett and Vicki Puliz  Learn about the various ways members can donate to the foundation and then how the resources the foundation has can be applied for various great work and programs that the foundation has.  Youth Exchange, Rotaract and Interact | Learning Leader DG Brent Sheppard and Traci Sincock  Our young leaders are the future of Rotary.  Hear about great programs available and working in communities in your area. Promoting Rotary and Telling Your Rotary Story | ​Learning Leaders TBD We do amazing things! What are some of the best practices for telling our Story!   Let’s not keep what we do a secret. 1.25 Million Rotarians by the 125th Anniversary in 2030 | Learning Leader RID Marty Helman Rotary International has set a bold goal to reach 1.25 million Rotarians and 125,000 Rotaractors worldwide by our 125th anniversary in July 2030. Happy Members, Strong Clubs: The Power of Purposeful Engagement | Learning Leaders TBD A strong Rotary club starts with valued, engaged, and empowered members who find personal purpose and connection in their service.
​4 - 5 pm ​	Breakout Sessions - Round 2 | Select one learning opportunity  ​ ​The Rotary Foundation and How It Can Help Do More Good In The World | Learning Leaders PDG Nathan Triplett and Edina Mehovic, Senior Annual Giving Officer, Zone 28 Learn about the various ways members can donate to the foundation and then how the resources the foundation has can be applied for various great work and programs that the foundation has.  Youth Exchange, Rotaract and Interact | Learning Leader DG Brent Sheppard and Traci Sincock  Our young leaders are the future of Rotary.  Hear about great programs available and working in communities in your area. Promoting Rotary and Telling Your Rotary Story | ​Learning Leaders PDG Keith Hodkinson and Amy Sheller We do amazing things! What are some of the best practices for telling our Story!   Let’s not keep what we do a secret. 1.25 Million Rotarians by the 125th Anniversary in 2030 | Learning Leader RID Marty Helman Rotary International has set a bold goal to reach 1.25 million Rotarians and 125,000 Rotaractors worldwide by our 125th anniversary in July 2030. Happy Members = Healthy Clubs | Learning Leaders TBD The key to member retention is aligning a member's personal desires with the club's operational needs. Happy members ultimately create healthy, thriving clubs.
5 - 6 pm	Reception | Lower Lobby Level​​
6 - 8 pm ​ ​	Dinner and Plenary Session 4 | Arcadia Ballroom ​PDG Ramesh Ferris - Polio Survivor and Global End Polio Advocate
8 - 9 pm	Singo

​Saturday, March 21, 2026

7 - 9:30 am	​Registration | Upper Lobby Level
7:15 - 9 am ​	Breakfast Buffet | Arcadia Ballroom (Breakfast Buffet closes at 7:45 am) ​Plenary Session 5 | Arcadia Ballroom Fulfilling Our Action Plan - Keynote Speaker: TBD
9 am- 12 pm	​District Session 2 |​ Report to your District Room
12:15 - 1:30 pm ​	Lunch and Plenary Session 6 | Arcadia Ballroom Keynote Speaker: RIPE Larry Lunsford - 1.25 Million Rotarians by 2030 ​Oath of Office | Swearing-in of 2025-2026 Club Presidents by ​RIPE Larry Lunsford​