For 15 years, PRLS (which stands for Potential Rotary Leaders Seminars) has been the leadership program for Rotarians by Rotarians. On November 22, 2025, PDG Bill Koefoed and Betsy Koefoed from the Rotary Club of San Carlos (the founders of PRLS) along with Michael Ford from the Rotary Club of San Francisco Evening taught the final class.
District 5150 Governor Mitone Griffiths from the Rotary Club of Half Moon Bay and a graduate of Master PRLS took the final class again as a refresher along with nine other Rotarians and one Interactor. At the end of the class, the following graduated from Master PRLS:
- David Alfon from the Rotary Club of San Francisco Evening.
- Joyce Bartel, Susy Chen, and Adele Della Santina from the Rotary Club of Belmont-Redwood Shores.
- Phyllis Brown from the Rotary Club of Foster City.
- Hailey Dao, an Interactor from Carlmont High School.
- Scott Smith from the Rotary Club of San Mateo.
These seven people joined the over 200 people who have graduated from Master PRLS since 2010. They also joined the over 700 people who have completed one or more courses in the PRLS Program since its inception in 2010.
DG Mitone, in tears, thanked the entire PRLS team for delivering an outstanding program in District 5150. Joining her were the members of the current Governor line: District Governor Elect Yuhui Chen from the Rotary Club of Menlo Park, District Governor Nominee Tony Villanueva from the Rotary Club of San Mateo, and District Governor Nominee Designate Cyndy Simms from the Rotary Club of Foster City. Each member of the Governor line described how PRLS had helped to lead them to their current position.
DGE Yuhui Chen, PDG Gary Chow, DGN Tony Villanueva, PDG (5160) Dan Geraldi, DGND Cyndy Simms, PDG Bill Koefoed, PDG Jon Grant, and Linda Grant
DG Mitone presented an award to PDG Bill Koefoed (PRLS Co-Founder), Betsy Koefoed (PRLS Co-Founder), Michael Ford (PRLS Faculty), Linda Grant (PRLS Faculty from the Rotary Club of Foster City), Rich Swart (PRLS Co-Director since 2018 from the Rotary Club of San Francisco Chinatown), Ivana Hubertova (PRLS Co-Director until 2023 from the Rotary Club for Global Action), and Dora Dye (PRLS Co-Director since 2024 from the Rotary Club of San Francisco).
PDG Bill Koefoed, Betsy Koefoed, Michael Ford, Dora Dye, Ivana Hubertova, Rich Swart, Linda Grant, and DG Mitone Griffiths
The celebration ended with a delicious cake that Dora and David Dye had a bakery make just for PRLS. Rich Swart took great care to cut each slice equal in size and equal in amount of filing and frosting.
PDG Jon Grant from District 5150, PDG Gary Chow from District 5150, and PDG Dan Geraldi from District 5160 were also present. PDG Gary summed it up as follows: "Our District is better because of PRLS. Thank you Bill, Betsy, Michael, Rich, Dora, Linda and Ivana!"
To learn more about the history of PRLS, click here.