The beginning of October brought Rotary Zone 25B-29 Institute to Prior Lake as it took place at Mystic Lake Center. A Rotary Zone is made of many Districts; 24 Districts from the Upper Midwest down to Texas were represented this year. As the "unofficial" host Club, Prior Lake Rotary was involved in all facets of the Rotary Zone Institute including planning, attending, volunteering, and hosting.
The Zone Institute includes Learning Sessions the first 2 and a half days of the 4-day event, which consists of facilitated sessions of current, incoming, or upcoming District Leaders from District Governor to specific areas such as Membership, The Rotary Foundation, or Public Image. Prior Lake Rotarian Kyle Haugen, a Past District Governor (PDG), was the facilitator for the District Governor Nominees (DGNs), who will lead their District in the 2027-2028 Rotary year.
Another Learning Session was the Leadership Development track. These are individuals selected by District Leaders who have shown the interest and aptitude to move into roles at an elevated level. Prior Lake Rotarians Angie Kierstead and Oksana Oleksyszyn both were selected. Said Oksana about this opportunity, "My experience was truly uplifting. I learned so much from other Rotarians being vulnerable and sharing their stories, Hearing their struggles, why they joined Rotary, and why they stay. The WHY is different for everyone, yet we come together for a common cause." Angie's big takeaways were don't go it alone. "Our Prior Lake Rotary Club is such a special and impactful club on its own. AND we are connected to an ecosystem of so many other Rotarians with shared hearts of service seeking to make the world a better place. We truly have the ingredients to UNITE FOR GOOD this year and into the future." She went on to say, "The more ways we can collaborate with other clubs across our District, Zone, or other parts of the world – the more we can accomplish. This goes for local non-Rotary partnerships as well."
PHOTOS (Upper left and clockwise): Oksana and Angie with event emcee and Past District Governor Ben Bauer; PDG Kyle Haugen at one of his sessions with the DGNs; Oksana, Angie, and Kyle with Past Rotary International President Jennifer Jones; the full Leadership Development group photo
