When: Saturday 4/18/2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Duration: 60 minutes
Presenters: Dr. Laurie Marks (WAS), Ben Bauer - Marshfield Rotary Club (6250), and Adam Lofquist (RYLA - 6220).
Room: Buava/Tamarind
Join leaders of the World Affairs Seminar and RYLA as they provide guidance on how to secure support in high schools, raise awareness amongst students, convert student interest into sign ups, and increase the yield in the number of sign ups vs attendees.
Dr. Laurie Marks is the Chief of Staff for the World Affairs Seminar, a week-long residential camp held each summer for teens interested in global leadership, community engagement, and peacebuilding. Over 85% of attendees to WAS are Rotary sponsored, and Laurie spends much time travelling to meet with clubs about WAS.
Ben Bauer is a member of the Marshfield Rotary Club (WI), past 6250 District Governor (2022-2023), and his most fulfilling Rotary experience has come through chairing the District’s RYLA program. Youth Leadership has always been a passion of Ben’s, going all the way back to his time as a conference facilitator for the National FFA organization. Professionally, Ben is in marketing and a graphic designer by trade and leads the marketing team at Simplicity Credit Union. He loves using design to create engagement and tell stories. In 2025, Ben added “Author” to his list of accomplishments, publishing his first children’s book. Personally, Ben’s wife and favorite person in the world is Katie Bauer. Katie is a special education teacher, an amazing mother, and life partner. They have a son, Charlie and a daughter, Olive, who bring them an immeasurable amount of joy. Together, they love learning, camping, swimming, biking, hiking, kayaking or anything that takes them to the beautiful outdoors of Wisconsin.
Adam Lofquist serves as RYLA Co-Chair for Rotary Youth Leadership Awards in District 6220, where he helps design and lead leadership development experiences for student leaders. In this role, he works closely with facilitators and participants to build practical leadership skills, self-awareness, and the confidence to lead effectively in teams and communities. His approach emphasizes clarity, reflection, and real-world application, aligning closely with RYLA’s focus on service-oriented leadership and personal growth.