Zones 30-31 logo
zone3031-2026 logo

Zone Institute – New Orleans, LA

Zone Institute    August 27 – 30
DG – DGE – DGN Learning Sessions   AUGUST 25 – 27

Our Speakers

Larry Lunsford

RI President 2027-2028

Barry Rassin

Past RI President, 2018-19

Nicki Scott

Past RI Vice President

Ann-Britt Åsebol

TRF Trustee 2024-2028

Evan Burrell

District 9660 Governor, 2025-26

David LaMotte

Songwriter – Speaker – Author

Marshall Butler

Zone 33-34 Director 2026-28

Brian Hall

Zones 30-31 Director 2025-27

Mike Kelly

Zones 30-31 Director-elect

Isabel Scarinci

Senior Advisor for Global Cancer

Program Overview

tentative 5-15-2026

TUES. AUG 25

 

TUES.
AUG. 25

WED. AUG 26

 

WED.
AUG. 26

THUR. AUG 27

 

THUR.
AUG. 27

7:00 AM Breakfast on Your Own
7:30 AM Registration Opens
8:30 AM DG-DGE-DGN Learning Continues
11:00 AM HUB Opens
12:00 PM Lunch 
DG-DGE-DGN including Partners
1:15 PM DG-DGE-DGN Learning Sessions Conclude
———- ———-
1:30 PM Opening Session   (CC Ballroom)
Mardi-Gra- Welcome to NOLA! Let the Good Times Roll!
RID Brian Hall, PRIP’s Barry Rassin, RIPE Larry Lunsford, TRFT Ann-Britt Åsebol
2:30 PM Break – cash bar
3:15 PM General Session One
Senior Leader Update
RID Brian Hall, PRIP’s Barry Rassin, RIPE Larry Lunsford, TRFT Ann-Britt Åsebol, Nicki Scott
4:15 PM Break
4:30 PM General Session Two
TED Talk- Music & Message
with David LaMotte
5:30 PM Break/Transition to offsite event
6:00 PM Mardi-Gras World
Cajun Food, Band, Off-site
runs till 9:30pm
9:30 PM Director’s Reception for DG’s (Director’s Suite) Invitation Only

FRI. AUG 28

 

FRI.
AUG. 28

8:00 AM HUB and Registration Open
8:00 AM – 3:00PM ERL Emerging Rotary Leaders Learning Experience
8:00 AM General Session 3 – Membership (Bourbon Street)
CC Ballroom
Speakers: Evan Burrell & Isabel Scarinci
9:45 AM Break/Transition
10:00 AM

BREAKOUTS – Increase Our Impact

  • 1A RMC w/Julie McCoy & Jenny Stotts
  • 1B RPIC w/Angela Rickman & Keith Hodkinon
  • 1C RRFC w/Ted Huffines & Linda
  • 1D Leadership w/Cindy Gammons Freels
  • 1E From Local Action to Lasting Impact w/Katherine Eboch
  • 1F Club Creation: The Sun Never Sets on Membership w/Laura Carie
  • 1G TBD w/
  • 1H TBD w/
11:00 AM Transition
11:15 AM General Session 4 – Public Image (WW2 Museum)
CC Ballroom
 w/RID Marshall Butler
DGE Recognition, & Public Image Awards, RICON 27 video (Barcelona)
12:30 PM Transition
12:45 PM PM Lunch
1:45 PM Visit the HUB
2:30 PM PM

BREAKOUTS – Expand Our reach

  • 2A Action Plan w/Jill P & Carol H
  • 2B End Polio Now Update w/Bill Walker, Craig Maxey, John Germ
  • 2C Companion Clubs: How to Make Them Family Friendly w/Jessika Hane
  • 2D PI: Telling Your ROTARY Stories w/Gretchen Ross
  • 2E You are Rotary: Using Stories w/Valencia Jones
  • 2F Operation Wipe Out w/Isabel Scarinci
  • 2G PI: Growing Your District & Club Brand w/Scott Andrew Mills
  • 2H Membership Tricks w/Evan Burrell
3:30 PM Visit the HUB
3:30 PM On Your Own Visit Local Activities and Restaurants

SAT. AUG 29

 

SAT.
AUG. 29

7:00 AM Registration Opens
8:00 AM Hub Opens
7:30 AM Major Donor & Bequest Society Breakfast
by invitation
location TBD
9:00 AM Transition
9:15 AM General Session 5 – Foundation; (Antebellum Homes)
CC Ballroom
Speakers: TRFT Ann-Britt Åsebol
ARCH KLUMPH Induction Cermony
DGN Class Recognition, [MC Mark Dispenza & Megan Schmidt], Foundation Awards, Institute Team
10:45 AM Transition
11:00 AM

Breakouts – Enhance Participant Engagement

  • 3A TBD w/Nicki Scott
  • 3B EMGA w/Greg L, John H, Mike Martin
  • 3C AP: Turning Strategy into Results w/Jill Pietrusinski
  • 3D Peace Building w/Greta Batton Costa
  • 3E RLI: A Deeper Understanding of Rotary w/Jane Bowen
  • 3F Maximizing Impact! w/Stephanie Moran
  • 3G “Right Rotarian, Right Role: Unlocking Your Club’s Hidden Talent” w/Keith Hodkinson
  • 3H TBD w/
12:00 PM Transition
12:35 PM Lunch
1:30 PM Transition
1:45 PM General Session 6 – Rotary Membership Goals
Speakers: Larry Lunsford
Memorial Recognition, Institute 27 video
2:45 PM Break
3:00 PM

Breakouts – Increase Our Ability to Adapt

  • 4A RMC & RRFC w/Julie McCoy, Jenny Stotts, Ted Hiffines, & Linda
  • 4B RPIC w/Angela Rickman & Keith Hodkinson
  • 4C Conflict Resolution in Rotary Clubs, Districts and Beyond w/Chris Williams
  • 4D Life Balance as a Rotary Leader w/Frank Dawahare
  • 4E Membership Attraction & Retention w/Dr. Laura Garrett
  • 4F Hope for Growing Membership w/Jennifer Stanfield
  • 4G Disaster Relief w/ District 6200
  • 4H Club & District Visioning w/Jill Pietrusinski
4:00 PM HUB Closes
4:00 PM Transition
4:15 PM General Session 7 – Polio
Speakers: Barry Rassin, Mike Kelly
Polio Plus Fundraiser; Report on Service Project Impact
5:00 PM Transition to Generations Hall – offsite event
6:00 PM

Cocktail Reception – cash bar

NOLA Food Fest
Cajun Foods/ Band
Closing words RID Brian Hall

   

The Venue & Accommodations

Hilton New Orleans Riverside
Two Poydras St |  New Orleans, LA 70130
504-561-0500
website     Must book by August 1, 2026
Rate: $169+tax (16.75%+$3/night)

 

  • Valet parking fee: $58/day / Self-parking fee: $30/day
  • The New Orleans airport MSY is 16 miles from the venue.

Join Us for Interactive
Rotary Fun & Engagement

 

REGISTRATION CLOSES AUGUST 10

Select the appropriate tab for additional details.

For District Governor Elect or District Governor Nominee
DGE or DGN Package includes:
(5 Days T-W-T-F-S)

Training TUE-WED-THUR
Tuesday Team Building Experience
Tuesday Welcome Dinner
Wednesday Lunch
Wednesday Evening Dinner
Thursday Lunch
Conference Sessions: THURS-FRI-SAT
Thursday Mardi-Gras World Event
Friday Lunch
Saturday Lunch
Saturday Food Festival

$1450
Spouse/Partner $875

For District Governors
DG Celebration Package includes:
(4 Days W-T-F-S)

DG Celebration WED-THUR
Wednesday Evening Dinner
Thursday Lunch
Conference Sessions: THUR-FRI-SAT
Thursday Mardi-Gras World Event
Friday Lunch
Saturday Lunch
Saturday Food Festival

$1350
Spouse/Partner $875

For Past District Governors and any attendee wanting to experience the full Institute
INST Package includes:
(3 Days T-F-S)

Conference Sessions: THUR Opening Session-FRI-SAT
Thursday Mardi-Gras Event
Friday Lunch
Saturday Lunch
Saturday Food Festival

$650
spouse/partner $625

Emerging Rotary Leader Program
ERL Package:

ERL Learning Sessions FRI-SAT
Conference Sessions: THUR Opening Session-FRI-SAT
Thursday Mardi-Gras Event
Friday Lunch
Saturday Lunch
Saturday Food Festival

$650 ERL + Institute


ONE DAY Saturday Only

Saturday Sessions
Saturday Lunch
Saturday Food Festival

$175 Saturday Only

The New Orleans Krewe

2026 New Orleans Institute

J. Richard Churchman
Lake Charles
Chair
Contact
James Brian Hall
Covington
Convener
Contact
Jonathan M. Mattox
Oxford
Registrar
Contact
Vicky L. Gutierrez
Edgewater (Biloxi-Gulfport)
Arrangements Chair
Contact
Ryan D. Byers
Jacksonville
Program Co-Chair
Contact
Ted Huffhines
Marshall
Program Co-Chair
Contact
Mark E. DiBiase
Greenville
Operations Chair
Contact
Angela J. Rickman
Ponca City Trailblazers
Promotions Chair
Contact
Theodore M. Kelly Sr.
Mason-Deerfield Township
Lead Learning Facilitator
Contact
Chuck Barnett
Gallatin
Audio/Visual
Contact
Sigrid B. Solomon
Wilmington
VIP Experience
Contact
Laura J. Carie
Vincennes
Stage Manager
Contact
J. Frank Bradshaw
Lafayette
Local Engagement
Contact
Gregory C. Lier Sr.
St. Charles Parish
Local Engagement
Contact
Linda G. Mong
Fairhope
Local Engagement
Contact
Samantha Walley
Bay St. Louis
Local Engagement
Contact
Mark Hudson Lee
Houma
Institute HUB Coordinator
Contact
Michael T. Owsley
Elizabethtown
Sgt. At Arms
Contact
Jenifer Yaggi Campbell
Oak Ridge
Treasurer
Contact

REGISTRATION & CANCELLATION POLICY

CANCELLATION POLICY:

  • You may cancel your registration on-line using the same link at which you registered.
  • If you cannot cancel your registration online, contact the Registrar to request event cancellation, and include the names of those canceling and identify specified items being canceled, along with district number/cell number.

REFUND POLICY:

  • Through August 1, 2026 – Full Refund.
  • August 2 through August 20, 2025 – $50 processing fee and no refund on Training Portions for DG-DGE-DGN packages and prorated amounts on Conference packages.
  • No refunds after August 22, 2025
  • Refunds will be issued based on the form of payment received and subject to approval by the RI Director.
  • Refunds will be issued after the event ends.

Zone Institute Contacts

Click on name to send a message

Big Rich Churchman
General Chair

Jonathan Mattox
Registration Chair

Vickie Gutierrez
Arrangements Chair

Mark Lee
The HUB (House of Friendship) Exhibitors

Hilton New Orleans Riverside

Two Poydras Street  |  New Orleans, Louisiana 70130

Generations Hall

310 Andrew Higgins Dr | New Orleans, LA 70130
https://www.generationshall.com

The National WWII Museum

945 Magazine St, | New Orleans, LA 70130
https://www.nationalww2museum.org

Audubon Aquarium

1 Canal St, |  New Orleans, LA 70130
https://audubonnatureinstitute.org