Pre-PELS is an abbreviation of Pre–President Elect Learning Seminar. It is a Rotary training phase held before the actual PELS seminar (President Elect Learning Seminar). Its purpose is to provide incoming club presidents and other club leaders with basic knowledge of Rotary operations before the more in depth training.
In our district, Finland’s Pre-PELS sessions were organized as virtual events on three dates: 24 February, 26 February, and 4 March 2026. Participants chose the session that best suited their schedules.
Liisa Stjernberg, Chair of the Training Committee, opened the Pre-PELS training. She noted that Rotary’s core principle, Service above self, is a lasting and time resistant value. Help is needed around the world. Recently, we have provided significant support to Ukraine, and this support continues.
Liisa conveyed greetings from District Governor Jere Jantunen. Jere emphasized that “the better you plan your club’s activities, the easier it is to operate.” Fun is allowed. “Rotary is fun,” Jere summed up.
During the evening, the group discussed various perspectives on club leadership. We concluded that it is important to create a positive atmosphere within the club and to involve all members in planning the club’s activities. We also recognized that Rotarians participate in club life in different ways, and all these ways help move the world forward.
We also received an overview of the MyRotary information system, where Rotarians can study essential Rotary skills and find support for leading their clubs.
The District Governor for 2026–2027, Heldur Allese, thanked participants for their commitment to Rotary. “Be Rotarians in your own way,” Heldur encouraged.
The Rotary club leadership training path continues on Saturday, 14 March, with the PELS event at Kalastajatorppa in Helsinki and in Estonia on 20 March.
