The RLI was founded in District 7510 in central New Jersey USA in 1992 by then District Governor David Linett to help identify and prepare Rotarians with the potential for future club leadership with a quality educational experience. The RLI became multidistrict in 1994 with the addition of three more New Jersey districts and in 1998 started to expand further within Zones 31 & 32 (northeastern and Middle Atlantic, USA and parts of Canada).
The program came to the attention of Rotary International officers who encouraged the RLI to expand beyond the two zones. The program was mentioned in a speech to the International Assembly in 2001, was posted on the R.I. Website as a “Leadership Success Story” and was the subject of an article in the March 20, 2002 edition of the R.I. News Basket.
The R.I. Board of Directors has adopted a resolution recommending that clubs and districts participate in the RLI or similar programs. In September of 2001, the RLI Executive Committee adopted an expansion plan to form semi-autonomous Divisions around the Rotary world. The Executive Committee recognized the need for decentralized control outside of Zones 31 & 32, but also recognized that support from the international RLI organization would be critical to success of the Divisions.
The names of Divisions already formed appear on the Website of the RLI at www.rotaryleadershipinstitute.org.
In September, 2003 the functions of the RLI and the Home Division (Zones 31-32) were separated and the umbrella organization of divisions is now called the International Rotary Leadership Institute or the Rotary Leadership Institute. Divisions are called by their division names. The governing body of the umbrella organization is the RLI Coordinating Council consisting of the Chairs of each Division, the International Chair, the International Executive Director, the Intl. Vice-Chair(s), the Intl. Regional Vice-Chairs and other RLI officers. The Coordinating Council meets annually at the R.I. Conventions and at such other times as may be called by the Chair or the Council. It may take action by email, telephone or mail. The Coordinating Council will adopt an annual budget, set Division dues and adopt standards and goals for the RLI.
It was almost by chance that the Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) came into our lives in January 2002.
While returning from Anaheim, USA, after attending the training associated with the International Assembly, DGE Amitava Mookerjee was requested to meet PDG Bill Hawkins, a very dear friend of Rotary International District 3290. The meeting was arranged at Bill’s residence at Hemlock Farms, Lord Valley, Pennsylvania, USA, at my request.
Bill and I had known each other for several years. He had first visited Kolkata as a Group Study Exchange (GSE) Leader and subsequently returned with his wife for another visit. On both occasions, I had the privilege of extending Home Hospitality to them. Bill had also provided valuable assistance and guidance to several Rotary clubs in District 3290 in implementing The Rotary Foundation (TRF) Grant Projects.
The purpose of Amitava’s meeting with Bill was quite specific. We wanted to request him to consider becoming the International Coordinator for District 3290 during the Rotary Year 2002–03.
When this request was put to Bill, his immediate response was emphatic: how could he possibly be of much use when he was halfway around the world?
But Bill had something far more valuable to offer Amitava—and, as it turned out, to Rotary in South Asia.
He handed Amitava a single sheet of paper containing the outline of Part I of the Rotary Leadership Institute course and simply said:
“Introduce this course in your District.”
Amitava returned to India and shared the story with me, handing me that single page and saying, in effect, “This is what your friend Bill has asked us to do. The baby is now yours!”
That very evening, I had a long-distance telephone conversation with Bill. He explained how the RLI programme had been introduced in the United States and was receiving a very positive response. Its objective was to transform Rotarians who were members “in name only”—often referred to as RINOs—into informed, knowledgeable and enthusiastic Rotarians.
I was immediately convinced that this was something Rotary in our part of the world needed.
I discussed the idea with several senior Past District Governors, seeking their support and encouragement to organize the first RLI course in District 3290.
With their support, the first RLI course was successfully conducted in July 2002 at Rotary Sadan, Kolkata, with 18 participants.
What appeared to be a small beginning was, in fact, the beginning of something much larger.
However, when we attempted to organize the second RLI course, we encountered unexpected and considerable resistance from some senior Rotarians. There was a feeling that such courses were unnecessary and, more importantly, that RLI was not a Rotary International-recognized course.
The disagreement became serious enough to lead to a special meeting of the Council of Governors. During that meeting, I was even described as an “extra-constitutional Rotarian,” while DGE Amitava was asked to assure the meeting that the RLI courses would be discontinued.
Looking back, the episode is a reminder of how difficult it can sometimes be to introduce a new idea—even when that idea is intended to strengthen Rotary and develop better-informed Rotarians.
What began with a single sheet of paper handed over by a dear Rotary friend in Pennsylvania, and a simple request—“Introduce this course in your District”—had taken its first steps in Kolkata.
The journey of RLI in South Asia had begun.