Dear fellow Rotarians and friends,
What a privilege to have served as your president for the Rotary Club of Ottawa and such an honour to receive the Paul Harris Award.
Despite the many challenges we faced, we stood together as a team committed to helping people in need, especially women and children.
When I interviewed each one of you before becoming president, you all told me “We need to do better." I agreed.
We worked together, and together we did better on many fronts:
- We provided financial assistance to worthwhile causes, thanks to the support of the Children's Foundation. Our assistance to our community included the Parkdale Food Centre, Odawa Native Friendship Centre, the Rotary Home, and the Door Centre.
- Abroad, our projects reached disadvantaged communities in Kenya, Guatemala, and Ghana, focusing on vocational training for youth.
- We met the challenges of delivering Our Adventure in Citizenship (AIC) Program online for a second year. Participating students learned a great deal about citizenship and its value thanks to our excellent guest speakers. We offered $500 prizes in our AIC essay contest.
- Membership meetings throughout the year were well attended. Pro bono speakers such as retired Supreme Court justice Frank Iacobucci, who spoke on Indigenous issues, improved our understanding of our community and the world around us.
- Our website was improved, updating it and making it more useful for all.
- We shared board decisions with club members on a monthly basis.
- We updated club bylaws.
- We created a Fellowship Committee that organized outings to help members meet and socialize and reduce the impact of Covid on our friendship activities.
- Our Mentoring Program was launched, providing new members the opportunity to learn more about our club and how they can use their skills to help as many people as they can.
- This year, 30 new members have joined our club. I have had the pleasure of addressing many presidents of Rotary clubs and the President’s Council of our club’s District 7040, to share our experience growing our club. Teamwork, service above self, commitment to helping others, all the while respecting, informing, and involving every member of our club is the way we worked.
I'm very grateful to the members of the board, especially for their wise counsel at difficult times.
Being a president is about collaboration and listening to our diverse membership. Many thanks to our members who provided constructive proposals, suggestions and feedback, and whose efforts in committee contributed to our mission to assist women and children.
Special and warm thanks to Heather Taylor, president of Ottawa Rotaract, for her devotion to Adventure in Citizenship and leading its delivery despite several obstacles. Thanks to Brad Feasey, Chair of Communications, who helped on several fronts, including the website and AIC. My appreciation goes to Colin Rousseaux, Membership Chair, for his diligent response to registering every new member and his mastery of ClubRunner, which is helping all members. Lastly, a special thanks to Caitlin Goodmurphy, Club Secretary. Despite her hectic work schedule, she provided support that was critical to the work of the board and membership.
Thank you for the opportunity to be your president for 2021- 2022. I'm very proud of what our Rotary Club of Ottawa accomplished this year. It is relevant and thriving. Our noble mission continues and our friendships will last.
In Rotary Service,
Ché Weist
President 2021-2022
Below: Rotary Club of Ottawa meeting at the Royal Ottawa Golf Club, June 5, 2022
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Ottawa, ON
Canada