The Brick August 2020

 Opportunity  President Annet’s  August Message

Identity and a sense of belonging are part of man’s social needs. Welcome to the membership month where we have to reflect and celebrate our membership to this global family. 

We are presented with an opportunity to evaluate our status at individual level; are we in Rotary or Rotary is in us? Unlike membership in many other different clubs, choosing to be a Rotarian is a commitment to the service of others! It is a call to be selfless and action oriented. It is our duty to reach out to many and grow the family; there is greater synergy with big numbers. I am therefore reminding you of our promise to bring in at least one person each this year. It is unfortunate that membership to Rotary is still stuck at one million two hundred thousand (1.2m) in fact there is a fear that this number has gone down to 1.18m. Membership needs to be enjoyed! This however can only be attained through active participation in all projects and attending fellowships. Rotary creates a new family not bound by blood, but values. This brotherhood needs to be felt and experienced. 

I am grateful to those that take a minute off to check on others; this care and love binds us. Membership to Rotary is a free choice though by invitation. It however comes with duties and obligations; cardinal to this is payment of dues. Thank you to those that have taken this seriously in spite of the current economic hardships. Diversity in Rotary membership is another opportunity we cannot underrate. 

Different professions, tribes, characters, size, height, different political ideologies, economic and social status, business persons, mention it, are all united in service and indeed this expands our networks. Our reach has been expanded by allowing in full time housewives and respected members of the community who are neither professionals nor business persons, what a big family to belong to! One of the amazing things in Rotary is having someone who cares about your personal life and invites others to celebrate with you on your birthday, and those of your children and spouse and also your anniversary. Not forgetting mourning with you in time of grief. The Rotary bond is so solid that when one Rotarian achieves a milestone we all celebrate.

I am encouraging you to reflect on why you joined Rotary and if your expectations have been met. No doubt you have attained what your mind could never have imagined. Friends and family as we look at what opportunities we can offer the world, let us begin by exploiting the sense of family and belonging by inviting all our acquaintances to Rotary. Evaluate the gaps in classifications and be the first to bridge them. I am grateful to the membership team led by Rotarian Mary for a job well done. 

The Brick July 2020

Opportunity President’s welcome message

Fellow Rotarians and friends, it is with great pleasure that I welcome you to yet another year of service where many doors of opportunity are opened to us! The year has been flagged off with many new opportunities in spite of the pandemic. The District Governor visited us on the first day of the Rotary year during the very first fellowship. The slight drizzles that welcomed her foretell the rich success that awaits us as a club. The value of Rotary is easily understood and appreciated as you bring it closer to yourself. Quoting the Past District Governor Robert Waggwa Nsibirwa, Rotarians are irrational people that do extraordinary things. Think of the monetary value of the time that Rotarians dedicate to service! In addition to that, there is cash amidst other donations. Thank you for your selflessness. This year, the effect of the Coronavirus pandemic places an even greater responsibility for us to avail new opportunities to the people in our communities whose lives are seemingly helpless and hopeless.

 Our joy as Rotarians lies in service. The value of our efforts will not be measured by the expensive outfits we may don or the hearty jokes we may crack and certainly not the lavish parties we may throw but rather the number of projects we implement, the contributions we make to The Rotary Foundation, the number of new Rotarians we bring in and our overall engagement with the youth. I am still honoured and yet humbled that I was trusted with the opportunity to lead this mighty club that has now embarked on the weighty task of producing governors. Your support, encouragement and guidance is in all measures necessary to maintain and even elevate our status as a club. I am grateful to all those who have already paid their dues. Dues are the first qualification to being a Rotarian. To those that have also made contributions to TRF, I join the world in celebrating you as Rotary extends opportunities to the masses. This year has started in a seemingly challenging environment, but the chance to reach out to an even wider sphere of influence offers a soothing feeling. Rotarians have been able to share fellowship with clubs they never could have physically reached. Let us continue to exploit the same environment to engage as many people as possible. 

If the popular narrative that the Rotary year ends with the hosting of the District Governor is anything to go by then I congratulate you on a successful year. However, the DG has promised us a second visit! Let us therefore engage in such a way that will not only sustain her smile but also make our DGN proud and inspired to serve. 

It is with a warm heart that I report that we are back to our routine immunisation at Jjanyi. Thank you to Rotarian Uniah who has embarked on the assignment with zeal. I am also humbled by the big numbers that joined her. Impressively, we have already managed to hold a social event characterised with social distancing! Thank you to our PAGS Charles and Thereza for opening your doors to us. I also congratulate you on the 30 years of mutual love in a marriage union.

 I smile endlessly looking at the two newest additions to the family of Kajjansi whose impact is enthusing. James and Evelyn are so full of life. They have embraced projects, are eager to learn and very sociable.  We are so proud to have you as a part of us. In the same vein, I welcome home our Rotarian Jackson Were, his experience in the land of milk makes him even more instrumental to the club. Thank you to our friends in Mbarara who accepted him and offered him an opportunity to serve and grow in Rotary. 

  As we advance into the Membership month, it is my humble request and reminder that we embark on our search for new entrants; there is strength in numbers. We need not be selfish, let us invite others to enjoy the immense opportunities of this global family.

Congratulations on a successful first month. All indicators point to an immensely successful year; let’s go on towards this success in full gear. God bless you.

NANNYONJO ANNET

OPPORTUNITY PRESIDENT

The Installation Magazine of Rotary Club of Kajjansi 2020/21

Dear friends,

Here's our Installation Magazine for President Annet Nannyonjo