While the pandemic changed some plans for the 2020 District Conference, other plans have not only remained the same but have been enhanced by the decision to make Vision 2020 a virtual event.

Registration is now open for the Vision 2020 Virtual District Conference, to be held Saturday, September 12.

Even before the pandemic dictated that Vision 2020 would be a virtual event, plans were already underway to increase the scope of the House of Friendship.

This popular component of previous District conferences, where Rotarians, Rotoractors and Interactors can browse displays and learn more about the programs of other clubs and partner organizations, has now become a project fair.

“The House of Friendship for the District 5370 Vision 2020 Conference will be quite different from previous conferences,” says Past District Governor Judy Brown (Rotary E-Club of Canada One), who is responsible for organizing the project fair.

“We wanted to give clubs an opportunity to showcase what they are doing,” Judy says. “This is your opportunity to find partners for your local or global projects and showcase how your club is serving our communities.”

The project fair will operate in similar fashion to the House of Friendship at the Rotary International 2020 Virtual Convention, which remains open all day, every day until the end of July, even though the convention itself ended in June. The project fair for the Vision 2020 Virtual District Conference will continue to be accessible for a few weeks after Vision 2020 ends.

Clubs and non-profits can book a booth for the project fair to showcase how they provide service locally and internationally. It will also be an opportunity to seek financial support for projects or to find other clubs interested in partnering with them.

Check future issues of the Rotary District 5370 CONNECTIONS newsletter for information on how and when to book your virtual project fair booth.

There is a fee of $25 for Rotary and Rotoract clubs and $100 for non-profits.

Commercial businesses can also request space in the Virtual Project Fair. The commercial fee is $250.

Booths can include video, photo galleries, information about the club and its service programs, and buttons for visitors to request additional information or to make financial donations.

Booths can even be inactive at specific times during the conference using Zoom breakout rooms.

Once clubs have been accepted for participation in the project fair, they will be invited to submit video, photos and program information to be displayed so that a booth (webpage) can be built for them. After a booth is approved by its club, it will become part of the virtual project fair.

 Judy hopes to see participation in the project fair by clubs from across the District. “We want to encourage all clubs to come and strut their stuff,” she says.