Rotaract-Interact Seminar in Fayetteville
Sunday, September 7, 2014
By Lin A. Kelly

Submitted by Bevin Wall

New Generation Leaders Excel at Seminar

27 young people participated in the first ever Rotaract and Interact Leadership Seminar held at Methodist University in Fayetteville, NC on September 6, 2014. The half-day seminar was sponsored by the Fayetteville Rotary Club and was staffed by over a half dozen Rotarians for numerous Rotary clubs across the district, including Governor Vanessa Ervin from Jacksonville.

The participants, mostly in their teens and early twenties, stayed engaged all day, and, as usual, the participating Rotarians seemed to get as much out of the event as the young people. Beginning the morning with an “icebreaker” exercise led by PDG Magda Baggett, one of the Methodist University Rotaract Club Advisors, the group comprised of both local students and exchange students quickly met each other and discovered their many commonalities, as well as having a little fun.

DGE Dave Baggett, the other Methodist University Rotaract Club Advisor, then gave a brief descriptive talk on Rotary, Rotary’s youth programs, and its major service focuses, projects in local and international communities, and Rotary’s Polio eradication effort, now in its 26th year and “this close” to eradicating the dread disease. 

District Rotaract Chair Pam Wall, and her husband PDG Bevin Wall, both of the Newport Rotary Club and Zone 33 Rotary Leadership Institute (Rotary education and leadership training for Rotarians) then lead a series of leadership exercises.  In small groups the young people discussed informal strategies for solving some interesting “life challenges” like organizing an event or solving various problems , with their roles within the group then being analyzed. The participants completed a short assessment that demonstrated their individual learning style, and applied that to the group dynamic in the prior exercise. 

After being placed in small groups by learning style, the students were placed “Half Naked and Somewhat Afraid” [like the Discovery Channel TV Show] on a deserted island in the Caribbean, with a map and survival tool, to work collaboratively on a plan to survive 21 days. Summaries and comments followed that further illustrated the unique way that each learning style influenced their collaboration, insight and solutions. The Rotarians then provided additional perspective on the practical uses and value of understanding one’s own learning style, and the learning styles of others. 

Governor Ervin traveled halfway across the district after a morning Rotary commitment to encourage the students to continue with their learning and exploration as leaders of the next generation of people making the world a better place. Her comments were inspirational and well received. 

District Interact Chair Jennifer Vanasse of the South Brunswick Islands Rotary Club led the vertical ropes course, an outdoor exercise in challenging 90 plus degree heat, that tested the student’s ability to work collaboratively and efficiently to groups, to recognize the needs of others, and to build “blind-trust” among the participants. This activity was debriefed indoors, and then the group proceeded to a sub sandwich and chips lunch up the hill and some free time. 

In the last hour of the program, PDG Madga led the group as they completed an afternoon service project by creating 14 No-Sew blankets to be given to a local non-profit group. 

Thanks also to Rtn Ike Eisenbarth from Fayetteville RC who coordinated lunch and other logistics, and Rtn. Steve Paes from Wallace RC who assisted with the ropes course exercise and event logistics. 

It was an uplifting day that was very rewarding for all, participants and Rotarians alike. We asked for some ”take-aways” from the students. These comments speak volumes about the impact the day made:

  • Make people step outside their comfort zones so that all voices are heard and made important.
  • I am going to use the fact that I [understand my specific personality style] to help me in life.
  • It taught me to patiently listen to the ideas perspectives and experiences of others.
  • I really enjoyed the working style quiz because it made me look at myself and others in a new light. I want to take this to my school so that the people in clubs can work together effectively.
  • I learned that not everyone thinks like I do, and I should not expect them to. Just because they are not leading the way that I do does not mean that they aren’t valuable. That’s just the way they are.
  • I have learned to identify people [by their personality types].
  • I now recognize my learning style and how that is going to affect what I want to do as I grow up. Also, I learned how I can be more forward and analytical.
  • I have learned how to use the working/thinking/learning styles exercise. I need to improve my presence by being more vocal in discussions.
  • I have learned that it is not necessary for everyone to lead, and that if something is working, to let it ride, and not to interfere.
  • I learned how to use [personality style analysis] in my daily life, and what role I play within a team. I also learned that I ned to listen in order to be respectful toward others who have different personality styles than I do.
  • I know more about where I fit best- being practical and a risk-taker!
  • I am going to start speaking and listening more to my club members. I think I can take more risks to improve my interrelations and experiences.
  • I am thinking about ways to get more underclassmen into Interact. I have learned how group talk [works] and then to say ideas out loud.
  • I need to take a step back and think about the process [instead of jumping in immediately]. I need to listen and observe more.
  • I should listen more to others’ ideas.
  • I am quiet and shy not because I don’t like being around people, but because I listen and observe the louder people and judge them. However, I need to speak more and voice my opinions to the louder people so that they can [hear it]. My opinion is worthwhile.
  • How do I get heard? I need to work on ways of approaching other people about my concerns.
  • After today, I will try to branch out more and not be as shy. Being more vocal is something I want to work on.
  • I want to apply [learning styles] to the members of my group. I need to listen more to others.
  • After today, I want to put injto practice the habit of “blind-trusting” [learned on the ropes course]. I learned to observe people so I know how to approach them.
  • I enjoyed finding out what [personality types] people around me are… [like] my friends.
  • Get everyone an assignment, make sure all opinions are heaqrd, and take into consideration the way others handle situations.
  • All the activities that I participated in [today] were fun!
  • I learned that people are accepting of different ideas and different types of people are necessary for a job to get done.
  • By knowing the different [type of people in society] and knowing their interests, it is easier for me to deliver my message [effectively].