To All Rotarians in Districts 7390
It’s time for the excitement to begin!!!
Attached are announcements and registration materials for DisCon 2010 to be held in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, April 22-25, 2010.
Beginning now and continuing over the next several months leading up to the conference, please look for multiple e-mails which will give you highlights of the various components of the conference! We hope you will also pass these e-mails along to members in your club who may not have ready access to a computer.
We believe that our conference will offer many exciting reasons to entice you to attend.
It will be a “not to miss” event - so mark the dates on your calendar now - register early and save money - make your hotel reservations now to secure a room at the Headquarters hotel.
Now, open the following & enjoy!
DISCON 2010 PROGRAM (click on DisCon 2010 Program to view the program)
Get ready for lots of excitement! DisCon 2010 will undoubtedly be something different than what you might be expecting. From beginning to end, we have designed a conference that offers a variety of timely subject matter, high profile speakers, fabulous entertainers, a bountiful silent auction, and VERY nice prizes that will appeal to all Rotarians and their guests. With the hospitality rooms going late into the night, you will want to stay at the beautiful Wyndham! Call 1-866-845-8885, tell them you are with Rotary and get the special rate of $124 per night. Let’s take a “stroll” through the exciting events…
Beginning on Thursday, April 22, golfers can enjoy a day at The Links of Gettysburg, one of the most acclaimed courses in central Pennsylvania. Some lucky player will take home a new car (courtesy of Hanover Honda) if he/she hits the “hole in one” on the designated tee. Meanwhile, tennis players will gather at the Gettysburg College courts for an afternoon of friendly competition. For the rest of the folks, an abundance of activities abound in and around Gettysburg; museums, the Gettysburg National Battlefield Park, downtown shops offering Civil War items, and of course, the Gettysburg Outlet Mall. We will be sending out a comprehensive list of places to go and things to do so you and your guests can make plans well in advance.
After a great afternoon, we will all come together at 6:00 p.m. for the Grand Opening of the Halls of Friendship, followed by a cocktail reception (which will honor our RI Rep, Mark Markanda and Past RI President, Rick King) and a buffet dinner. After dinner, we will enjoy the music of a unique band, Yvon B-Tropical who will entertain us with a combination of reggae, steel guitars, and other types of music, plus they will offer an “open mic” for those in the audience who might like to show off their talents! The evening will end with a VERY nice Prize Drawing (item to be announced later).
Your comfortable, well appointed Wyndham guest room will beckon you for a good night’s rest before rising the next morning in time for breakfast, followed by our Grand Opening Ceremonies. RIPR, Mark Markanda will welcome conferees, and we will greet our special conference speaker, Ms. Mia Farrow. In addition to her fame as an actress and wife of Frank Sinatra and Woody Allen, Mia is a polio survivor and an active participant with both Rotary and UNICEF in their programs to rescue and bring relief to children in dire need around the globe. Mia’s message will include a powerful revelation of her experiences over the years.
Also at this grand opening session, you will meet the District Governors, Connie Spark from 7390 and Paul Frey from 7620, as well as our Rotary International President’s Representative, Mark Markanda and PRIP Richard King - all of whom you will hear during the conference. And, there will be a drawing for another VERY nice prize at the conclusion of this session.
The Halls of Friendship will then beckon you, you will enjoy snacks and drinks while you join other members and guests in checking out the Bountiful Baskets. They will be filled with tempting items for you to bid on during the Silent Auction running throughout the conference.
There will be two morning rounds of Breakout Sessions. The first will include presentations on Club International Service Projects and District/Multi-Club International Service projects. There will also be a third track, “Living History”, a glimpse into life in Gettysburg during the battle, as told by re-enactors of local citizenry.
The second morning round of Breakouts will include District/Multi-Club International Projects, and Club Community Service projects. Also, a third track will offer the opportunity to hear about the 100 year old Milton Hershey School & its impact on children, including its interaction with the Hershey Chocolate Company (and perhaps a “sweet or two”).
Friday’s luncheon buffet will feature Kurt Moses, one of the few living Holocaust survivors, he has a powerful and moving message. You may also purchase his book which gives more detail of his experiences. He will remain to talk with you personally and sign your copy of his book.
We suggest that you register for the conference and make your hotel reservations very soon, as this exciting roster will no doubt attract many of your fellow Rotarians! Don’t be left out! Act now! Registration has already surpassed any previous year for District 7390. You can register on-line at www.rotary7390.org. Exact times and details for the Conference will be available on the website very soon! Check back often!
The afternoon Breakout Sessions will feature the Group Study Exchange Teams from each District. Additionally, for your guests, the Wyndham Chef will offer a cooking demonstration on “Elegant Appetizers made Easy”, no doubt this will include a sampling of the finished products.
Another round of Breakouts will include a choice of: a panel discussion on matters concerning the Rotary Foundation (including RIPR Mark Markanda, Allen Smith, PDG, RRFC: Rob Brown, PDG, DRFCC; and Chuck Cenkner, PDG, ARRFC; or a program on Membership (with PRIP Rick King, Barry Ramper & Darrell Nevin. Meanwhile, your guest may choose to join highly respected cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Wyatt To who will present “Turning Back the Clock”, featuring facial rejuvenation.
After these exciting sessions, you will have time to enjoy the Halls of Friendship or make a few calls before gathering in the gorgeous front lobby of the hotel for the exciting arrival of President Abraham Lincoln (his mode of transportation is a secret) who will offer a few remarks & join us for cocktails and dinner, plus a photo op if you wish.
Our keynote speaker at dinner will be PRIP Richard King whom long time Rotarians will recognize and look forward to seeing again. His talents and message are always a highlight of any event. After dinner, we will be entertained by “Billy Finch” as he impersonates great singers and comedians of the past several decades.
And……….another VERY nice prize will be awarded at the end of the evening. To cap the day off just right, you’ll want to visit the various Hospitality Suites which will be hosted by clubs from both Districts. Rumor has it there may be a few martinis flowing, chocolate being tasted and seafood swimming about - all for your delight - and guaranteeing a great way to end an exciting day! And, to think about tomorrow’s events.
Saturday will begin early with District business meetings at 7:30 a.m. After a nice breakfast, our general plenary session will feature Dr. Jim Withers, who will share compelling stories of his “Street Medicine”, his experience in treating the homeless on the streets of Pittsburgh (after he completes his day of work at Mercy Hospital).
Then enjoy another break as you traverse the Halls of Friendship, taking in the entertainment and getting another look at the Silent Auction items, before you head to the morning breakouts. Each District will conduct their final Four-Way Test Speech Contest to determine their District winners, your guest may wish to listen to John Kramb, the owner of the Adams County Winery as he gives a humorous presentation on winemaking (with a possible taste of his wares).
The final breakout sessions will feature Rotary Ambassadorial Scholars with Ben Hoover, PDG; Conrad Fleck, and Steve Naron; also a session on Rotary World Peace Fellows with Daniel Sturgeon. And, to get you ready for the afternoon, your guest may want to join in the “Sights & Sounds of Gettysburg” presentation by the local tourism office who will suggest what to see and do in and around Gettysburg this afternoon.
After a break in the Halls of Friendship, you will move to luncheon where you will hear the winners of each District’s Four Way Test speech contests give their winning presentation, followed by PRIP Richard King drawing on his vast experiences as he shares ideas on how to be a more effective public speaker.
Then it’s off for an afternoon of taking in the exciting venues around Gettysburg! You will want to plan carefully, as time will not permit everything you want to do, or, you may choose to enjoy the amenities of the hotel, such as their lovely indoor swimming pool.
At 5:00 p.m. there will be a reception for the Rotary Alumni, followed by a reception for all conferees at 6:00 p.m. You will have your final chance to bid on the fabulous baskets before proceeding to the District Governor’s Dinner Gala and Awards (black tie optional). By the way, other than this event, the dress code for the conference will be “business casual, jackets not required”.
Our evening festivities will include a sumptuous dinner followed by RIPR Mark Markanda as he highlights the priorities of the current RI President, John Kenny. Each District Governor will present awards to various persons and clubs, and the winners of the Silent Auction will be announced. Also, three Baskets will be chosen by the District Governors as “club basket winners” and those clubs will be given a Paul Harris Fellow to award to a member of their choosing.
To conclude the official conference program, we will be drawn into the world of Intuitionist Jon Stetson. He will intrigue us by proving that…he “knows what we’re thinking” - Really?! His entertaining and mystifying performance is one you will not forget! And, to top off the evening, we will have our final VERY nice prize drawing.
Once again, the not-to-be missed Hospitality Suites will open and offer delicious food, drink and a place to meet and greet old and new friends.
But we’re not finished yet, you won’t want to miss the Memorial Service on Sunday morning to honor Rotarians in your District that passed away during the year. Then it’s off to our farewell brunch. After a few goodbye remarks, we will have the 50/50 Drawing. This should be a very large pot of money as it will have been running and accumulating during the whole conference, bringing the conference to a happy conclusion.
You will leave DisCon 2010 knowing that you were one of a select group who were privileged to take part in this enhanced conference and ready to make plans to attend the 2011 conference.