2025 EVENT DETAILS

NOTE: Be advised all district meetings will be Friday morning between 8am and 12noon. Please plan your air accordingly.

If you are arriving by air: Proceed through the airport to baggage claim. After claiming bags, go up the escalator and cross the bridge to the parking garage. Go down to the lower level and cross the driveway to await the free Doubletree bus that runs periodically. You may use the bank of phones on the sidewalk to call the Doubletree and advise you are ready to be picked up.\

If you are arriving by car: Proceed into the parking lot at the front of the hotel and make your way to the rear. Gather your most important baggage and enter via the hotel’s back door. Hotel registration and PNW PELS registration are at the front in the lobby. Depending on the lines, you may check in with PNW PELS registration or Hotel registration first. If you cannot get a room assignment, check in with PNW PELS registration and they will hold your bags until your room is ready.

• Blue Denim: Jan 17-19, 2025
• Learning Leaders Workshop:  January 25-26, 2025
• PNWPELS: February 21-23, 2025

Mario Cesar Martins de Camargo is business consultant to the printing industry and former director of Gráfica Bandeirantes, a printing company founded by his father. Under his leadership, he expanded the company to be a supplier of printed material for clients in Brazil and South America including Visa, Ford, Volkswagen, and Microsoft.

De Camargo attended military school and graduated from a high school in St. Paul,

Minnesota, during a youth exchange program. He did a yearlong internship at MAN Roland, a printing press manufacturer in Offenbach, Germany, before earning his undergraduate degree at the Fundação Getulio Vargas School of Business Administration in São Paulo. He also received his law degree from the School of Law of São Bernardo do Campo.

He has led numerous professional associations, including as president of the Brazilian Association of Printing Technology (ABTG) and the Brazilian Printing Industry Association (ABIGRAF). He was also delegate director of the Federation of Industry of the State of São Paulo (FIESP) in the National Confederation of Industry (CNI), vice president of FIESP, and vice president of the Latin American Confederation of the Printing Industry (Conlatingraf). He received the Printing Leader of the Americas award from the Printing Association of Florida and the Global Presidential Print Award from NPES, The Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies.

De Camargo joined Rotary in 1980 at the age of 23. A past director and trustee, De Camargo will be the fourth Brazilian to serve as president of RI. He has also volunteered for numerous international roles including as RI learning facilitator, Zone Coordinator for the Avoidable Blindness Taskforce, Latin American Coordinator for the Health Problems Taskforce, RI president’s representative, and delegate to the Council on legislation. He has also served on committees including the RI Membership Development Committee, The Rotary Foundation Programs Finance Committee, and the International PolioPlus Committee.

De Camargo says Rotary global reach never ceases to impress him. “With Service Above Self, Rotary has created a unique global identity that is unlike any other I know,” says Camargo. “I think we all need to remember that we belong to an organization that opens up the world to us.”

During COVID lockdown in 2020, De Camargo took on two projects: studying for (and passing) the bar exam—38 years after attending law school — and learning Italian. He also enjoys reading history and biography books and appreciating good wine.

De Camargo is a recipient of The Rotary Foundation’s Distinguished Service Award. He and his wife, Denise, are Level 3 Major Donors and Benefactors of The Rotary Foundation.

Rene Caruso is a metabolic restoration, nutrition, and longevity coach. But what does that really mean? Simply put, it’s her way of helping people achieve optimal health and lasting wellness. For over 30 years, René has worked with clients to overcome destructive food patterns and develop a harmonious relationship with food. She specializes in addressing the deeper issues behind weight loss struggles, emotional eating, binge eating, digestive concerns, and body image challenges. Through her work, René helps individuals transform their lives by boosting energy, reclaiming vitality, and restoring balance to both body and mind.

Rene’s journey into service began early in life, when she was selected for the Rotary Youth Exchange Program in 1980-81. At just 16 years old, she traveled to South Africa, where the experience had a profound impact and shaped her future in ways she never expected. Over the years, she has remained deeply involved with Rotary, including serving as President of the Troy Rotary Club from 2017-2018. She also played a key role during her husband, Michael Angelo Caruso’s, district governor year and continues to be an active and dedicated member of the Rotary community.

René’s passion for service, wellness, and helping others reach their full potential is at the heart of everything she does.

Michael Angelo Caruso teaches people how to be better speakers and presenters so they can help more people and amp up their careers.

He utilizes his unique background in the technology sector and a separate career in the entertainment business to deliver keynote speeches that feel like a combination of your best teacher and your favorite comedian.

Michael delivers about 70 presentations and keynote speeches a year. He has spoken on six continents and in 49 of the 50 states.

Michael is known for getting extremely fast results with his clients. He can make anyone a better communicator and regularly demonstrates his effective communication strategies by helping audience members improve during his presentation.

Caruso is founder and President of Edison House, an international consulting firm specializing in corporate and personal improvement. Edison House clients include Hallmark, Bank of America, Verizon Wireless, Rayovac, Citgo, Nissan and the United States Navy.

Michael has authored Work Hacks and the audiobook, Dear Michael Angelo — A Father’s Life Letters to His Son. He also has a highly rated online speaker coaching masterclass titled, Present Like a Pro.

Michael loves giving back. A lifetime Rotarian, Michael served as President of the Rotary Club of Troy Michigan (2013-14), Governor for District 6380 (2016-17), Public Image Coordinator for Zone 28 and 32 (2019-21), and is currently Lead Trainer for Great Lakes Rotary PETS.

His popular seminar fundraiser has raised over a quarter of a million dollars for Rotary Clubs all over North America.

He enjoys exercise, movies, non-fiction books and travel. Ladies and gentlemen- from Rochester Michigan….

Wyn Spiller is a proud member of the Rotary Club of Grass Valley CA. Since joining in 1994, she has served in a variety of club, district, zone and RI roles including District 5190 Governor 2008-09. She is the immediate past Zone 27 Endowment/Major Gifts Adviser, past Zone 27 Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator and past District Rotary Foundation Committee Chair. She also serves on the D5190 Community Fund Board and chairs the District’s Visioning Committee.

Wyn was honored to serve as the Rotary International 2022 Council on Legislation Trainer, the first Council to be presented both in-person and virtually. With a long-standing interest in education and leadership development, she has served as an International Assembly learning facilitator, facilitator for Regional Leaders Global Institutes, and faculty for President-Elect Training (PETS) for a number of years. She assisted in bringing both Visioning and Rotary Leadership Institute to D5190 and has served at the District and regional levels of each. She is a long-time supporter and past chair of Rotary Youth Exchange.

Wyn and her husband Steve share a deep commitment to our Rotary Foundation and its humanitarian work, with a special interest in the Rotary Peace Centers, peace-building programs and polio eradication. They are fortunate to have had the opportunity to experience a National Immunization trip to India and humanitarian projects in Uganda and Mexico, each one life changing. They are Major Donors as well as members of Triple Crown, Paul Harris, PolioPlus and Bequest Societies. Wyn is the proud recipient of The Rotary Foundation’s Citation for Meritorious Service.

Wyn retired as Chairman/CEO of Nevada City Winery in 2014. During her tenure, the winery renovated and expanded their historic building in downtown Nevada City, receiving the Best New Construction Award for building expansion in the historic downtown. She is a past chair of Sierra Nevada Memorial hospital Foundation, Nevada County Economic Resource Council, Miners Foundry Cultural Preservation Trust and currently serves as Treasurer of the North Star Historic Conservancy. She and Steve make their home in the small Gold Rush town of Nevada City CA. They have three grown children and two grandchildren.

Wyn is very honored to follow in RI Director Dan Himelspach’s footsteps, serving as RI Director 2025-2027 representing the 30 districts here in the Big West.

In 2010, following a 25-year mining career, Martin Parnell started his “Quests for Kids” initiative. Over the next five years he completed 10 “Quests”. These included running 250 marathons in one year, setting five Guinness World Records in endurance events and summiting Mount Kilimanjaro in 21 hours. At the end of 2014, he had raised over $1.3m for the humanitarian organization Right To Play and 27,000 children had been given the gift of hope.

Martin has published three books including his most recent “THE SECRET MARATHON-Empowering women and girls in Afghanistan through sport”. He is also Executive Producer of “THE SECRET MARATHON” documentary.

Through books, films, articles, keynotes, TEDx speaker and workshops, Martin shares his message of having a “Finish the Race Attitude – Set goals, overcome obstacles and achieve outstanding results”.

Martin is a 14 year member of the Rotary Club of Cochrane, Alberta having held the roles of Public Image Director, Club President, Assistant Governor and 5360 District Governor 2021-2022. He is married to Sue, who is also a Rotary member, and has three children, Kyle, Calum and Kristina and three grandchildren Autumn, Nathan and Matthew.

Dean, her husband Rhino and their 3 children emigrated to Canada from South Africa 32 years ago. Dean grew up in Zambia and after marrying Rhino lived in Malawi, Namibia and South Africa. Dean was born into a Rotary family and when Rhino joined Rotary in 1986 became an active Rotary Ann until she joined Rotary in 1989. On arriving in Vancouver both Dean and Rhino joined the Rotary Club of West Vancouver and at present are members of the Rotary Club of Langley Central in District 5050.

Dean has had a varied career from the early days of being an Operating Room Nurse on Professor Christiaan Barnard’s first heart transplant team; working for the Red Cross in Southern Africa and after emigrating to Canada – together with Rhino they own and manage a company that is involved in soil stabilization during road construction.

Dean has served on District and Zone committees; which include:
Regional Rotary Coordinator and Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator, Pacific Northwest PETS Chair, District Governor in 2007/2008, Rotary International Director 2016-2018, Rotary International Vice- President 2017-2018, President of the Rotary Foundation Canada 2021/2023, and Trustee of the Rotary Foundation 2020-2023.

She also serves as Chair of the Rotary Action Group for Rotary Family Health Days & AIDES Prevention (RFHA) which provides health service access to needy communities, specifically in Africa.

However, her best experience is leading teams of Rotarians, Rotaractors and Interactors to Africa and seeing how this volunteer experience changes their lives.

Unique Rotary-themed apparel and merchandise to showcase your Rotary spirit.

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Committed to combating modern slavery through awareness, prevention, and direct action.

Learn about the impactful work funded by The Rotary Foundation and how you can contribute.

The official licensed vendor for Rotary merchandise, offering everything from branded apparel to essential club supplies.

Delivering emergency shelter and essential supplies to families affected by disaster.

Highlighting leadership development and initiatives specific to Zones 26 and 27.

Your go-to stop for information on available resources and support within Zones 26/27.