President Vince is always happy to ring our bell! He was also happy to have been able to find and wear a very sporty bowtie in honour of our visiting DG, Uche, today,
Shawky Fahel is happy that the Adaptive Computers Global Grant project the Peace committee is working on is continuing and they hope to have in it place in Nazareth in the January or February. He thanked Paul Rostrup and the rest of the committee for all their work on the project. He is also delighted that the recent Cultural agreement between Canada and Palestine, he helped negotiate, was the first ever between these two countries.
Judy Proctor, guest of Bill, is happy that they will be celebrating their 55th wedding anniversary later this month.
DG Uche Okugo, was happy to be with us today and thankful for all the good our club does.
Paul Walman and his wife are very pleased that their granddaughter has chosen to attend Wilfrid Laurier, and they will be able to see a lot more of her over the next few years.
Colleen James is happy to be a member of the club and that it was the stories of one of our members that got her interested in Rotary.
Online Auction
Members are reminded to be actively working to secure item donations and/or sponsors for our annual fundraiser. Anyone with questions or needing information should contact Secretary Bill.
David Johnston Event / New Regional Hospital
Our club was part of a local five-club event that featured the Right Honourable David Johnston as the keynote speaker that was a fundraiser for the new regional hospital. We have received the following report form the WRHN on the success of the event
I hope you have been enjoying the summer.
As one of the valued sponsors of our Together for Tomorrow evening with the Right Honourable David Johnston, I wanted to personally reach out with some exciting news and, most importantly, to thank you once again for your generosity and partnership.
Because of the incredible support of sponsors like you, and the generosity of our community, we are thrilled to share that the proceeds from the David Johnston event have now been used toward the purchase of the land for our new Waterloo Regional Health Network hospital.
This is a truly historic milestone for our region. It represents tangible progress toward a once in a generation investment in healthcare, and it would not have been possible without supporters like you. Thank you for believing in this vision and helping turn it into reality.
Because of your support, the land for our new hospital has been secured. Thank you for helping make this historic milestone possible.
Our program today was the annual visit by our District Governor, Uche Okugo. DG Uche was introduced by District Assistant Governor, Paul Walman
Uche Okugo is a dedicated Rotarian whose journey embodies the very essence of Service Above Self. Uche brings two decades of impactful service, visionary leadership, and international Rotary experience, as he contributes to Create Lasting Impact.
He began his Rotary journey on May 4, 2006, in Nigeria as a member of the Rotary Club of Asaba in former District 9140 (now 9141) and later continued with the Rotary Club of Ota in former District 9110 (now 9111). Over his membership time in Nigeria, he served as Club Administration Chair, Treasurer, Trainer, President Installation Committee Chair, District Conference Committee member, Club Secretary, and President-Elect.
Since relocating to Canada in 2018, he has been an active and proud member of the Rotary Club of Brampton (District 7080), where he also served as President. A committed supporter of The Rotary Foundation, Uche is a Major Donor, member of the Paul Harris Society, PolioPlus Society, and Bequest Society Level 2 - demonstrating both his generosity and belief in Rotary’s global impact.
At the district level, Uche has held several influential leadership roles. As Interact Committee Chair and along with a dedicated team, the innovative Interact Grant Writing Initiative was launched, empowering youth with practical skills and global awareness. He later served as Youth Service Director and distinguished himself as a two-time Convention Promotions Chair, leading over 50 Rotarians to Rotary International Conventions in Melbourne, Australia, and Singapore.
At the club level, his leadership has been equally transformative. As Membership Chair of the Rotary Club of Brampton, he developed a structured Membership Induction Ceremony and a New Member Mentorship Program, and personally recruited 15 new members then; strengthening the club’s culture of engagement and retention.
In a landmark moment ahead of the Rotary International Convention in Calgary last year, Uche led the hosting of a groundbreaking Rotary Friendship Exchange with District 9111 (Nigeria). This historic initiative culminated in the City of Brampton proclaiming June 18 as Rotary Friendship Exchange Day - a first in Rotary’s global history.
Professionally, Uche is an Economic Development leader with the City of Brampton, where he drives innovation and technology initiatives focused on empowering Black founders and startup ecosystems. His academic background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, an MBA, certifications in Leadership and Financial Trading, and an Advanced Certificate in Economic Development from the University of Waterloo.
Deeply engaged across the Rotary world, Uche is a Founding Member of the Rotary Fellowship of Public Speakers, a member of the Rotarian Action Group for Community Economic Development (RAGCED), an Ambassador for the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Rotary Action Group (WASHRAG), and a Peace Ambassador with the Institute for Economics and Peace.
Uche lives in Brampton, Ontario, with his wife of 15 years - a fellow Rotarian and Multiple Paul Harris Fellow, and their son, who is also a Paul Harris Fellow. Together, they represent a family fully committed to Rotary’s ideals and global mission.
Uche began his presentation by recognizing all that our club does and thanking us for our efforts. He spoke about the RI theme for this year – Create Lasting Change, and our own district theme of Roll Up Your Sleeves.
Tell Our Stories – Share what we do / Show the impact / Inspire others
Grow Rotary – Invite others / Strengthen our clubs / Expand our reach
Create Lasting Impact – Serve with purpose / Change lives / Build a better world
He reminded us of the Rotary International Vision:
One of the key ideas behind the RI Theme of Create Lasting Impact is the concept of Better Than Your Best. RI President Olayinak H. Babalola is encouraging clubs and Rotarians to look at their recent accomplishments and work to make small additional gains – perhaps one more new member than last year, a few $1,000 more in a fundraising project, or an expanded service project; not huge gains, but small achievable ones in many areas that will grow our impact.
Another key tool in growing Rotary is the importance of telling our stories. Past RI President Jennifer Jones stated "Every one of us has a story to tell. It's up to us to share it in a way that inspires others to join us in service." We are all encouraged to tell our Rotary stories to friends, colleagues, business associates, and when individuals show an interest invite them to attend a meeting and learn more about Rotary.
Uche highlighted several components of Effective Rotary Clubs:
Membership Development – Gow our club by attracting, engaging, and supporting members
Service Projects – Implement impactful service project that meet community needs and create lasting change
Support for the Rotary Foundation – Support the Rotary Foundation to advance world understanding, good will and peace
Serving Rotary Beyond the Club Level – Engage in leadership opportunities and partnerships to strengthen Rotary at all levels
Uche reminded us of the District Conference on October 3 in Brampton and highlighted one of the keynote speakers/performers – Diego Carneira, a Brazilian Cellist and Peace Ambassador.
He also let us know about the next RI Convention and encouraged members to attend:
The Rotary International Convention is an unparalleled opportunity to celebrate our global impact, gain fresh ideas, build lifelong friendships, and experience the rich culture and history of one of Europe's most vibrant cities.
Kitchener Rotary e-Newsletter
