Gary C.K. HuangPresident, Rotary International

Gary C.K. Huang is currently an adviser for Wah Lee Industrial Corp. and Bank of Panhsin.He is also a director of Federal Corporation and Sunty Property Development.

A Rotarian since 1976, Huang has served RI asvice president, director, Rotary Foundation trustee, InternationalAssembly group discussion leader, regional session leader, task forcemember and coordinator, committee member and chair, and districtgovernor. He wrote about his experiences in business and Rotary in his book, Finding Solutions, Not Excuses. Huang has been awarded the National Civic Service Awardby the Federation of Non-Profit Associations, and the OutstandingCommunity Service Award by the Ministry of the Interior R.O.C.

He is a recipient of the RI “Service Above Self” Award and a PresidentialCitation, and The Rotary Foundation’s Citation for Meritorious Serviceand Distinguished Service Award.

Welcome to the Sun Valley ConferenceI admit it. Three years ago when I was selectedto eventually serve as District Governor, I had anidea to move our district conference to someplace besides Sun Valley. I surveyed Rotarians atdistrict conference, in their clubs, and even otherDistrict Governors around the world in my trav-els. The more I asked, the more I was corrected: I finally realized how luckywe are to have an iconic world-class resort smack-dab in the middle of ourDistrict. Welcome to the Sun Valley Conference of Rotary District 5400.

Your conference planning team has put together a wonderful Rotaryweekend in Sun Valley. An inspiring agenda, fun activities, and good oldfashion Rotary fellowship will make this a weekend to remember. This isthe place to come to renew acquaintances, meet new friends from Idahoand Eastern Oregon, and to have your own personal Rotary moments.

I have learned that it is the Rotary moments in our lives that keep the fireof Rotary humanitarian service burning in our hearts. As you listen to themessages, exchange ideas with other Rotarians, and feel with your heart,perhaps you will experience a Rotary moment; a moment when you realize that Rotary touches an important part of who you are and your personal life’s mission.

We “Light Up Rotary”by lighting the fire of Rotary in our hearts. Thanks forjoining us in Sun Valley. I invite you to open your heart to the power andthe fire of Rotary.

Thanks to the CommitteeI am indebted to the 2015 Sun Valley Conference planning team, who puttheir busy lives on hold for a few months to create, plan, and manage thethousand moving parts of a district conference. Our A-Team consists of:

Jody Jackman: Chair. Simply the Best, Pocatello Rotary Club Richard Kirkham: Master of Ceremonies, President-Elect Pocatello ClubKevin Bradshaw: Our brilliant technology guru, Twin Falls ClubRandy Earles: Mr. Stage manager, Gate City RotaryKerry Phillips: Who has the final say on everything, Pocatello Club

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Greg Owen Governor, District 53202011-2012President’s Representative for Rotary InternationalGreg Owen is the founder and Head Coach of Tri-Modal Distribution Services, Inc., a SouthernCalifornia trucking, warehousing and global logistics management company with locations in Carson, CA and mostrecently Charleston, SC.

Greg joined the Rotary club of Long Beach in 1978 and went on to serve asthe club’s President from 1991-92.

In 2011-12 Greg served as the Rotary 5320 District Governor.

Greg and Valerie are members of the Arch Klumph Society and have creat-ed a special fund with PDG Mike and Jean Abdalla. They are funding thefund’s first Peace Scholar at Rotary Peace Center- Duke UNC Chapel Hill.

Greg and Valerie have attended Rotary International conventions in Mexico,Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, New Orleans, Bangkok, Lisbon, Sydney and arelooking forward to future conventions.

They have lived in Long Beach, Ca for most of their married lives (44 years)and Greg was born and raised in Long Beach. They have two grown chil-dren and four grandchildren (life’s reward for having children). All are PaulHarris Fellows.

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Greg E. PoddVice President, Director, Rotary InternationalGreg is a C.P.A. and a Personal Financial Specialisthaving operated his own practice since June 1979.In addition to academic and professional educa-tion contributions, Greg was the president andowner of a very large metal fabrication firm for thetelecommunications industry and an internationalhealthcare software development firm.Greg became a Rotarian in May 1982 and is a member of the EvergreenRotary Club. He has served in the following capacities: member of the Rotary International Investment Committee; Regional Rotary FoundationCoordinator for Zone 27; a member of the Rotary International FinanceCommittee; Regional Rotary International Membership Coordinator; Chair,Rotary International Presidential Membership Conference; Chair, Zone 21b & 27 Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Rotary International TrainingLeader at the International Assembly in San Diego (where he and Pam servedas the Hospitality Host) and as a Rotary Foundation Future Vision TrainingLeader. Greg and Pam also served as the Assistant Chief Sergeant at Arms at the International Assembly in January, 2012.Greg has also served as a Rotary Foundation Major Gifts Advisor where heestablished his District’s Million Dollar Dinner, raising over $3,100,000 in onenight. He was the Group Study Exchange Leader to District 3790 – Philippinesin February 2006. Greg has served as the President’s Representative for RotaryInternational for many years and was his District’s representative to theRotary International Council on Legislation – 2007. Greg is an InternationalRotary Leadership Institute Vice-Chair of America West and established the“Rocky Mountain Division”and the “Lone Star Division”training seminar for all Rotarians in the western part of the United States.During the Rotary year 2014 – 2015, in addition to Rotary InternationalDirector, Greg will Chair the Rotary Audit Committee and the Rotary BoardCouncil on Legislation Advisory Committee, and will serve on the RotaryBoard Programs Committee. Greg is the recipient of the “Service Above Self”Award and The RotaryFoundation Citation for Meritorious Service. Married for 38 years, Greg andPam have three children and three grandchildren. All members of the familyare Paul Harris Fellows. Greg and Pam are Multi Paul Harris Fellows, Paul HarrisSociety Members, Rotary Foundation Sustaining Members, Bequest SocietyMembers, and Major Donors. In addition, both Greg and Pam are Arch C.Klumph Society Members.

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Dr. Sylvia Whitlock, PDG Governor, District 53002012-2013Sylvia Whitlock, member of the Rotary Club ofClaremont in District 5300, served as Governor ofthat District in 2012-13. Sylvia Whitlock was bornin New York City and educated through highschool, in Kingston, Jamaica. She earned aninternational baccalaureate degree fromCambridge University, England, has a B.A. in Psychology, M.A. in Education,and PhD in education from Claremont Graduate School. She additionallyhas a M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy. Having spent many years as aneducator and administrator, she began a second career as a therapist,licensed by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. In 1982, while anelementary school Principal in Duarte, California, she was invited to join the history-making Ex-Rotary Club of Duarte.

Sylvia became President of that club in 1987, the year the United StatesSupreme Court ruled that the club be reinstated, making her the firstwoman in the Rotary World to head a club as President. She served asPresident twice along with holding every position in the club. She served innumerous District level positions and was awarded the Rotary FoundationDistrict Service Award. She participated in National Immunization Days,established an AIDS clinic in Jamaica, supported an orphanage in Mexico,sank wells in Nigeria and raised almost $90,000 for Education for Girls inIndia. Sylvia is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow, Benefactor and Member of theBequest Society of The Rotary Foundation. Sylvia has three adult childrenand considers raising her children the most satisfying and enjoyable jobshe has ever had – until her first grandchild, Dante Luigi, arrived this year.She likes tennis, the Stanford Cardinals football team and the Los Angelesbaseball Angels. She is also a world traveler and has visited Rotary clubsthroughout the US and in many foreign countries. She is proud of havinghad the opportunity to address the 530 Rotary world's Governor Elects inSan Diego in 2013.

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James M. LewisPolio Plus Chair, District 5240James (Jim) Lewis is a native of SouthernCalifornia, and is a polio survivor. He grew up in the foothills around Burbank and rose to thechallenge of rehabilitation from multiple leg surgeries to become a water polo champion,teacher, coach, and ambassador for the eradica-tion of polio at home and abroad. He joinedRotary in 2001, and is a member of the Rotary Club of Moorpark, Californiain District 5240.

Jim has traveled to India seven times to participate in NationalImmunization Days as well as to aid in establishing literacy, educational andvocational training, and to work on matching grants and global grants forclean water, eye surgeries, heart surgeries, polio surgeries for India’s poormen, women and children; he has also contributed to and brought hearingaids to children in Mexico. Jim has been a guest speaker for numerousRotary Clubs in District 5240 as well as clubs across the USA. He received the Rotary Foundation District Service Award and the Sam Greene “ServiceAbove Self” Award. He has served on several committees on the districtlevel, including Grants, Foundation Gala, Polio Plus, and as International Area Service Coordinator. Jim is a Master Practical Relevant Leadership Skillsgraduate, a Major Donor, Benefactor, a Bequest Society member and a multiple Paul Harris Fellow.

In 2011-12, during his year as President of the Rotary Club of Moorpark, theclub was awarded Best Medium-Size Club in the District for its outstandingcommunity and international projects. When he was Polio Chair/Co-chair,the district ranked #1 in the world for Polio Plus contributions. Currently, Jim is Polio Plus Chair for his district, and will serve as International ServiceDirector and Polio Plus Chair of District 5240 in 2015-2016.

Jim is retired from 39 years in education, which allows him more time todevote to Rotary. He’s an avid USC football fan, enjoys golf and swimming,loves travel, and visiting his four children and two grandchildren. He and his wife – poet and artist Carol Lewis – enjoy working on the Rotary float,attending Rotary International Conferences, entertaining friends, and volunteering for their church and community.

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Rick G. PhillipsGovernor, District 5400Rick Phillips was raised on a dairy farm in Dayton,Idaho, in Southeast Idaho’s Franklin County. He graduated from Utah State University with a double major in Agriculture Economics andJournalism. Rick has worked as a regional Agbanker, Assistant to the Director of the IdahoState Department of Agriculture, and for the past25 years as manager of public affairs for the J.R. Simplot Company, both inPocatello and at the corporate office in Boise.

He joined the Pocatello Rotary Club in 1990 when he moved to Pocatello to begin his Simplot career. He served on that club’s board twice, and waselected president for the 2006-2007 Rotary year. He is a charter facilitatorfor the District’s Rotary Leadership Institute and participates in each sessionin Eastern Idaho. In 2011 he was selected to serve in the District 5400Governor track and has participated in dozens of training sessions sincethen. He has attended Rotary International conferences in Copenhagen,Salt Lake City, Bangkok, Lisbon, and Sydney.

In addition to Rotary, Rick is active in civic and community affairs, havingserved on many national, regional, state, and community boards. He cur-rently serves as vice-chair of the American Red Cross Blood Services region,chair of Bannock Development Corporation, and serves on the St. Luke’sChildren’s Hospital Advisory Board, and on the boards of the Idaho DigitalLearning Academy, Idaho Council on Economic Education, and the Great Rift Business Development Organization.

He is active in his faith, currently serving as an adult instructor and as anorganist for his church. He married Kerry Anderson 38 years ago, whom he met while in Bakersfield, CA. They have six adult children, and an increasing quiver of grandchildren.

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Michael G. WellsGovernor, District 5420Michael G. Wells, Dentist, Rotarian for 13 years

Karlene S. Wells, Spouse, 37 years, Rotarian for 9 years

Born in Logan, Utah, raised in Fresno, California.

Graduated from Clovis High School, Clovis, CA1972

Graduated from Dixie College, St. George, Utah 1977 AS

Graduated from Utah State University, Logan, Utah 1980 BS

Graduated from University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 1985 DMD

Has served as a club President twice, has served as the District RYLA chair,committee member of the District youth services, foundation, and mem-bership committees. Created the District youth international service projectin Puerto Penasco, Mexico, and was facilitator for the Utah Youth PeaceAmbassadors, at the Rotary Honolulu Global Peace Forum, January 2013.Has served as the District New Generations chair, and is the Rotary District

5420 Governor 2014 – 2015. Has been awarded Rotarian of the year,Tooele County’s Outstanding Citizen of the Year, and has received theYouthLinc Lifetime Humanitarian award.

Interests: Rotary, licensed Scuba Diving instructor, High School Water Polocoach, hiking, skiing, biking, genealogy, continuing education with my pro-fession, traveling, scuba diving, and golfing.

What drives me: First and foremost is my family. 2nd, I am committed toempowering Rotarians and particularly the youth, to make a difference inthe world through participation in the Rotary programs

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Kenneth C. HowellGovernor, District 54002015-2016Ken is a fourth-generation Idahoan, raised on thefamily farm in Wilder, Idaho. Ken attended theCollege of Idaho, and the University of IdahoCollege of Law, earning his law degree in 1984.

Upon graduation from law school, Ken joinedthe firm of Hawley Troxell Ennis & Hawley, LLP. He currently is co-chair of the firm’s banking practice group, and his practice is focused on banking and finance law, real estate law and governmental regulation of the financial services industry.

Ken has served on the boards of Idaho Public Television, the DowntownBoise Association, the Arid Club and as a trustee of his alma mater, theCollege of Idaho. During his tenure of service on each these boards, Ken served as President or Chairman. Ken has served as a trustee at theCollege of Idaho for 17 years. He has also served as a board member for the Idaho State Board of Veterinary Medicine, the Boise Philharmonic, the Ada County Humane Society and Feed the Gap, Inc.

He joined the Rotary Club of Boise (Downtown club) in 2002. He served as President of his club in 2008. In 2012, he was honored with the club’s“Rotarian of the Year” award. From 2011 to 2014, he served as chair of theAnnual Program Fund committee for the District. He has served on theboard of directors of the Greater Boise Rotary Foundation, and as its chair-man in 2012. He is an instructor in the District Leadership Academy and is a Bob Gibb fellow in the Greater Boise Rotary Foundation. Ken is a MajorDonor Paul Harris Fellow, and a member of the Bequest Society and thePaul Harris Society.

Ken is a woodworker, PADI Divemaster, amateur electronics technician and inveterate tinkerer.

Ken is married to Bernadine Marconi, and they live in Boise with their large garden, a house in a perpetual state of remodel, and four very fortunate cats.

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Jim Hogge Governor, District 54002016-2017Jim is an Idaho native. He grew up in Boise,Nampa, and Caldwell. Jim obtained a Bachelor ofScience degree in Chemistry from the College ofIdaho in 1971, a Masters of BusinessAdministration degree from the University ofWest Florida in 1991, and a degree in accountingfrom Boise State University in May 1993.

Jim completed a military career, retiring from the U.S. Air Force in 1991. The majority of his career was devoted to flying. He flew the F-111 as a navigator for over 12 years. The remainder of his career was focused on the development and testing of new aircraft systems.

Jim Hogge was with the Idaho Small Business Development Center for 20 years. He has served as the State Director of the Idaho Small BusinessDevelopment Center from 1995-2013. He retired in Jan 2013 from Boise State University. Jim also helped start the TechHelp program for Idaho manufacturers and the TECenter at Boise State University.

He has been a member of the Boise Sunrise Rotary Club since 1995. He was the Club’s president 2005-06. He has served the District on theTraining Committee and the Awards Committee. As an Assistant DistrictGovernor, he served four District Governors from 2008 to 2012. He is a Paul Harris Fellow, Bequest Society member, and Bob Gibb Fellow.

Carla and he have been married since 1970. They have one granddaughterAdella, who has her first birthday in January. Adella’s parents, Kate and Will Fowler, are members of Rotary in Caldwell and Boise

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Light Up Rotary2015 Rotary District 5400Sun Valley Conference

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015

9:00 AM: District Leadership Council meeting ..Columbine Room

9:00 AM: Registration Table Opens11:30 AM: Doors open for lunch

NOON: D.L. EVANS OPENING LUNCH ......Limelight B & C

Welcome – Ringing of the Opening Bell – Rick PhillipsDistrict Governor

PRESIDENT’S WELCOME – Greg OwenRepresentative of RI President, Gary C.K. Huang

KEYNOTE SPEAKER – Greg PoddRotary Vice President and Director, RIA Day In the Life

2:30 PM: PANEL DISCUSSION....................................Opera house

Making Rotary Relevant – Question and AnswerGreg Podd, James Lewis, Sylvia Whitlock, Greg OwenModerator – Rich Kirkham

4:15 PM: District Grants Meeting – Gene Hoge ..Columbine Room

5:00 PM: FRIDAY EVENING PATIO RECEPTIONReception – No Host ............................................On the PatioPiano – Randy Earles

6:00 PM: ST. LUKE’S EVENING BANQUETBanquet ................................................................Limelight B & CRotary Youth Exchange Special Flag CeremonyDistrict AwardsKEYNOTE SPEAKER – Sylvia Whitlock

Rotary’s First Female Club PresidentWomen Also Serve

8:00 PM: Footloose on Friday Night in Sun Valley – Kelly Martinez ....................................................Limelight B & C

9:30 PM: Friendship House Reception – Open to All ....................................................Friendship House

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Cultivating supportfor our communities.

Our people love helping other people. That’s why you see them

every day in our communities, volunteering for important causes,

supporting organizations and programs, and donating time. Sure,

we may be focused on Bringing Earth’s Resources to Life. But

we’re just as passionate about supporting our communities, too.

Discover more at www.simplot.com.

SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2015

6:00 AM: Fun Run............................................................Friendship House

8:15 AM: Incoming President’s Meeting ............................Limelight A

9:00 AM: SATURDAY OPENING SESSION ........Opera House

New GenerationsWelcome – Rich KirkhamRYLA – Saeid RezaiiInteract/Rotaract – Jackie FlowersRotary Youth Exchange – Tom Rosenthal

KEYNOTE SPEAKER – Michael WellsDistrict Governor 5420Mexico Service and Adventure

12:00 PM: IDAHO POWER LUNCHLunch ....................................................................Limelight B & C

SPEAKER – Greg OwenRI RepresentativeA Message from President Huang

KEYNOTE SPEAKER – James LewisPolio Plus Chair, District 5240Surviving Polio; Past, Present & Future

2:30 PM: Sun Valley Experience – (Activities)

5:00 PM: SATURDAY EVENING PATIO RECEPTIONReception – No Host ............................................On the PatioPiano – Randy Earles

6:00 PM: SIMPLOT GRAND BANQUETBanquet ................................................................Limelight B & C

KEYNOTE SPEAKER – Greg PoddRotary Vice President and Director, RIRotary Humanitarian Service

District Raffle (Silent Auction to end at 6:50 p.m.)Retiring Officers RecognitionRemarks – District Governor Rick PhillipsRemarks – District Governor Elect Ken HowellClosing Remarks – Greg Owen

8:30 PM: Friendship House Reception – Open to All ....................................................Friendship House

2015 Sun Valley Conference