2026 District 6420 Conference - Registration
April 10-11, 2026
What's next, Rotary? Standing still is not an option.
Standard registration: $129 March 2 - April 2
The registration fee includes: full conference access Friday evening & Saturday (all day), all scheduled buffet meals, and general and break-out sessions, including the celebration banquet Saturday evening.
No registrations on site.
Location: Radisson Hotel & Conference Center
200 South Bell School Road, Rockford, IL
Hotel Information: We have a room block at the hotel for Friday and Saturday nights for a discounted rate of $135 a night. Please call hotel at 815-226-2100, and ask for the group rate for the Rockton-Roscoe Rotary Club. The discounted rate ends March 17th.
Program
This year’s District Conference is designed to spark real conversation about the future of our clubs — what’s working, what’s changing, and how we lead Rotary forward together. We’ll kick things off Friday night, celebrating the life-changing impact of Rotary Youth Exchange, followed by a dynamic Saturday focused on leadership, membership, succession planning, and building clubs that thrive.
Expect engaging discussions, practical ideas you can take back to your club, and meaningful connections with Rotarians who care deeply about impact. This isn’t about doing more — it’s about doing what matters most, together.
Friday Evening | From Here to the World — Celebrating Rotary Youth Exchange
An evening celebrating the students, host families, and Rotarians whose commitment to Youth Exchange opens doors, builds understanding, and changes lives — here at home and around the world.
Registration | 4:30 pm
Cash Bar | 5–6 pm
Dinner & Program | 6 PM
Evening End | 8:30 pm
Friday evening sets the tone for our District Conference with a celebration of Rotary Youth Exchange and the people who make it possible. We’ll begin with registration and fellowship, creating space to connect with our inbound and outbound students and hear their stories firsthand.
The evening continues with dinner and a keynote address by Ciara Stahly, followed by the introduction of our students and their host families. One of the highlights of the night is the Parade of Flags, a powerful reminder of the global reach of Rotary and the lives changed through Youth Exchange.
We’ll close the evening the same way we begin — with conversation, connection, and fellowship. It’s an opportunity to celebrate impact, honor our students, and be reminded that Rotary’s reach extends far beyond our local communities.
Saturday Morning | Imagine the Future
Saturday morning is designed to help Rotarians step back, reflect, and look ahead. Through connection, conversation, and interactive breakout sessions, we’ll explore what it means to lead strong, relevant clubs in a changing world. The focus is on imagining what’s possible, building for the future, and leaving with practical ideas that can be taken back to your club and put into action.
7:30–8:15 am Breakfast & Networking
8:30 am - Conference Begins
8:00 pm - Conference Closing
Breakout Round 1 — IMAGINE (Choose One)
• AI & Rotary: Leading Smarter, Not Harder
• What Emerging Leaders Want from Rotary Today
• Innovation in Service: Sustainable Impact
Break – House of Friendship & Silent Auction (End Polio Now)
Breakout Round 2 — BUILD (Choose One)
• Succession Planning that Actually Works
• Membership Growth Through Engagement
• Building Momentum Through People
Break – House of Friendship
Saturday Midday | Celebrate & Connect
Celebration Lunch, Awards, & Connection - This interactive session brings everyone together for guided conversation and speed networking designed to spark ideas, share experiences, and strengthen connections across clubs. It’s a chance to celebrate what’s working, learn from one another, and walk away with new relationships — because Rotary is stronger when we connect beyond our own tables.
Saturday Afternoon | Service Project (Weather Permitting)
As part of this year’s conference, participants will have the opportunity to take part in a hands-on service project in partnership with Severson Dells, a local nature center dedicated to conservation, education, and environmental stewardship. This experience offers a chance to step outside the meeting room and put Rotary’s spirit of service into action while learning how businesses, nonprofits, and communities can work together to support the environment.
The project will focus on practical ways we can contribute to preserving natural spaces while exploring how environmental stewardship and community leadership intersect.
Dress Code: Comfortable clothing and shoes suitable for outdoor activity.
Saturday Evening | Celebration Banquet
Saturday night brings us together to celebrate the connections, conversations, and shared commitment that define Rotary. The evening includes fellowship, dinner, and a reflective message centered on leadership, stewardship, and the legacy we are building together.
This celebration also acknowledges the natural rhythm of Rotary leadership — honoring where we are today while looking ahead to the year to come. It’s a moment to recognize continuity, shared responsibility, and the collective leadership that sustains our clubs and district across generations.
Saturday evening offers space to reflect, celebrate, and leave grounded in the confidence that Rotary’s future is being thoughtfully stewarded — together.