The RLI was founded in District 7510 in central New Jersey USA in 1992 by then District Governor David Linett to help identify and prepare Rotarians with the potential for future club leadership with a quality educational experience. The RLI became multidistrict in 1994 with the addition of three more New Jersey districts and in 1998 started to expand further within Zones 31 & 32 (northeastern and Middle Atlantic, USA and parts of Canada).
The program came to the attention of Rotary International officers who encouraged the RLI to expand beyond the two zones. The program was mentioned in a speech to the International Assembly in 2001, was posted on the R.I. Website as a “Leadership Success Story” and was the subject of an article in the March 20, 2002 edition of the R.I. News Basket.
The R.I. Board of Directors has adopted a resolution recommending that clubs and districts participate in the RLI or similar programs. In September of 2001, the RLI Executive Committee adopted an expansion plan to form semi-autonomous Divisions around the Rotary world. The Executive Committee recognized the need for decentralized control outside of Zones 31 & 32, but also recognized that support from the international RLI organization would be critical to success of the Divisions.
The names of Divisions already formed appear on the Website of the RLI at www.rotaryleadershipinstitute.org.
In September, 2003 the functions of the RLI and the Home Division (Zones 31-32) were separated and the umbrella organization of divisions is now called the International Rotary Leadership Institute or the Rotary Leadership Institute. Divisions are called by their division names. The governing body of the umbrella organization is the RLI Coordinating Council consisting of the Chairs of each Division, the International Chair, the International Executive Director, the Intl. Vice-Chair(s), the Intl. Regional Vice-Chairs and other RLI officers. The Coordinating Council meets annually at the R.I. Conventions and at such other times as may be called by the Chair or the Council. It may take action by email, telephone or mail. The Coordinating Council will adopt an annual budget, set Division dues and adopt standards and goals for the RLI.