Every Rotary year the DG, DGE, DGN, DGND from ten districts in the Pacific Northwest gather at a leadership training event called Blue Denim. A name that was acquired because of the region’s penchant to be more casual than our Californian colleagues who have a similar, dressier event that includes black tie.
Blue Denim is a unique leadership training opportunity that the Governor team participates in to share experiences throughout the Governor journey with each other and help prepare the coming Governors for what’s ahead. It is essentially an opportunity to prepare each other for the opportunities and challenges that come with each of the roles represented in the district governor journey.
Blue Denim has changed a lot over the four years as we have adapted the two-day session into a masterclass for leadership. In many ways, Blue Denim is a perfect reflection of the changing nature of Rotary, where the value for it must constantly be evaluated by each DG cohort responsible for organizing the event each year.
There is value, as long as we keep redefining the purpose behind blue denim, particularly with an eye on the opportunity to support our DGDN and DGN participants. We must continually demonstrate that leadership is adapting, changing, and seeking ways to collaborate for the long-term success of Rotary in our districts.
The opportunity to learn from each other, develop models for success, and engage our next generation of leaders requires opportunities like blue denim for them to learn about how the sausage is made in a safe environment. Ideally, we can also have fun, build relationships, and continually improve on the event to keep it relevant.
Last year the DG’s found a way to change it from the past practices to help demonstrate that we can deliver a relevant and engaging experience. This year our DGs iterated on Blue Denim again to help make it a valuable resource for learning and developing leadership skills. Our hope is that the DGEs coming up will also modify and adapt the experience from their perspective to maintain the relevance of the event.
In the end, we envision an event that is no longer focused on an outdated mode of thought when it comes to Rotary. Instead, it becomes a master class in leadership development, collaboration, and relationships that help others serve in their roles with increasing success for their districts.
