About Far West PELS
What is Far West PELS?
PELS stands for President-Elect Learning Seminar—a dynamic, high-impact leadership development experience designed to prepare incoming Rotary Club Presidents and Assistant Governors for success in their roles.
At its core, PELS is about equipping leaders to lead with purpose, inspiring collaboration, and building the confidence and skills needed to create lasting change in their clubs and communities. Attendees engage in interactive workshops, leadership coaching, and shared learning with peers from across the region.
Far West PELS is proud to be one of the oldest and largest Multi-District PELS (formerly PETS) programs in the world. Established in 1979, it serves eight Rotary districts and represents more than 400 Rotary clubs across California and Nevada.
Whether you’re stepping into club leadership for the first time or returning as a seasoned mentor, Far West PELS offers a unique opportunity to connect, grow, and lead with confidence.
Where It All Began
The idea of bringing together incoming Rotary Club Presidents for joint leadership learning and development didn’t begin with single districts—it started as a bold, collaborative experiment.
In April 1978, six Rotary districts in Southern California hosted the first-ever multi-district Presidents-Elect Training Seminar (PETS) in Newport Beach. Spearheaded by then-incoming District Governor Jim Vanderburg (District 5320) and fellow leaders Joe Jordan (District 5260) and Carl Schwab (District 5320), the event set a new standard for preparing club presidents for their leadership responsibilities.
The concept caught on quickly. Just one year later, Rotary leaders in Northern California launched what would become Far West PETS, now Far West PELS—a pioneering effort that helped shape leadership training across the Rotary world.
By the late 1980s, PETS had become a required part of every district’s calendar. While some districts chose to go it alone, many—like those in the Far West—saw the power of coming together to learn, connect, and lead. Today, over 90% of club presidents-elect in the U.S. are trained at multi-district PETS/PELS, supported by a national network known as the MDP Alliance.
Far West PELS is proud to be part of that legacy and a nearly 50-year tradition of collaboration and leadership development. By bringing together diverse leaders from across the region, we help equip presidents-elect with the tools, connections, and inspiration they need to strengthen clubs, engage communities, and advance Rotary’s mission of creating lasting change.
A Legacy of Leadership
2026 - Laine Hendricks, 5150