A Happy New Year to you all! The beginning of the Gregorian calendar year marks the mid-point of our Rotary year and I am glad to say that we are on the right track as far as our objectives for the District go. I would like to highlight some indicators. Many Clubs have responded to the 1st Quarter rankings (some positively…..some in shock!) and there is a promise of improved reporting. Look out for this at the end of January. The Rotaract District Conference team in Dar-es-salaam

1. A
Happy New Year to you all! The beginning of the
Gregorian calendar year marks the mid-point of
our Rotary year and I am glad to say that we
are on the right track as far as our objectives for the
District go.
I would like to highlight some indicators. Many Clubs
have responded to the 1st Quarter rankings (some
positively…..some in shock!) and there is a promise
of improved reporting. Look out for this at the end
of January. The Rotaract District Conference team
in Dar-es-salaam has been able to negotiate lower
accommodation rates from USD 144 to USD 120 for
the 4 days of the Conference. This shows commitment
from the team to make the Conference affordable to
the expected 300 Rotaractors. The district website is
reloaded http://www.rotaract9200.org/ You can access it
for all important District highlights and information. The
District team has received nominations for DRR 2009-
10, which represents continuity in District leadership.
There are over 20 provisional Rotaract and Interact
Clubs being mentored by various Rotaract Clubs which
indicates potential for growth in the Rotary family… I
urge each one of us to sustain these efforts at individual
capacity and collectively as members of Rotaract
Clubs.
January is Rotary Awareness month and it is
encouraged that Clubs organise activities that increase
knowledge of Rotary and by extension Rotaract and
Interact to both the Club members and the Community
in which we operate. This is the opportunity to assess
your relevance as a Rotaract Club in the community in
which we serve. Does your Club’s presence add value
to the Community’s livelihood? Do your service activities
address the greatest needs of your community? As we
make this assessment, please remember that you are a
member of this community and your assessment should
be able to fit your intrinsic needs first before they can be
effectively applied to the general society. Use the Rotaract
objectives to guide you in determining the solutions.
I have been privileged to visit all the Rotaract countries
in the District in the 1st half, my last visit being Ethiopia
where I met all the Clubs including the Provisional
ones. The range of activities and level of co-operation
between all the Clubs in pursuit of the Rotaract objectives
impressed me. Looking ahead, I see the RYLA in Uganda
(January) and RYLA Kenya (March) as opportunities for
us to convene as clubs and re-energise the partnerships
we have long enjoyed. I also urge you to register for the
District Conference as per Rtr Nakilo Mugurusi’s email
to the District recently. This will also help in addressing
unforeseen issues to ensure your stay at the Conference
is enjoyable.
Finally, the humanitarian situation in Kenya has made
me think that we (Rotaractors) need to establish a
standard policy and coordinated response to similar
happenings within our countries. Could we set-up Country
Committees that will come up with procedures to mobilise
Rotaract volunteer support to agencies that are front-line
respondents to crises?. Suggestions are welcome on the
structure of these sustainable country committees and
their scope of engagement. Write to me on lawisultan@
yahoo.com.
- Lawi Sultan
It is never too late to be what you
might have been. George Eliot
Drr Column 1
More Than Words 3
40 years of Rotaract 5 A Bulletin of the Rotaract District
D9200 Newsletter
issue 7 january 2007
Up Front 4
Rotary in Acton 6

2. 1905: Paul Harris starts the Rotary
organization in Chicago
1910:Rotarybecomesinternational
with the charter of Rotary
club of Winnipeg in Canada
1930:RotaryclubofNairobi,Kenya
is started under District 55
which then covered up to South Africa
1956: Rotary club of Kampala is
chartered in the then District 25
1968: First Rotaract club
worldwide of University of
North Carolina in US is recognized
1972: Year in which Rotaract
club of Mombasa gets RI
recognition, 3rd club in Africa
1991: D9200 comprising of
Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania,
Ethiopia and Eritrea is curved out from
D920 which also comprised of Zimbabwe,
Zambia, Malawi
1,150: Approximate number of
Rotaractors in D9200
2,149: Number of Rotaract clubs
in India, highest number in
any country
3,500: Approximate number of
Rotarians in D9200
7,978: Number of Rotaract clubs
worldwide
159,560: Estimated number
o f R o t a r a c t o r s
worldwide
1,250,000: Approximate
n u m b e r o f
Rotarians worldwide
FACTS FIGURES
RYLA-Kenya will be held on 15th March 2008 at the YMCA-
Nairobi from 8.00am to 6.00 pm under the theme:
‘’Transforming Youth to Leaders’’.
Registration details including fees shall be communicated later
This will mark the climax of the Rotaract week in which it will be
celebrating its 40 years......... so brace up for it!!!
Training Tools
Have participants stand up and form a circle. Ask
the group to identify the Rotaractor who has been
in Rotaract the shortest amount of time and the one
who has been in Rotaract the longest. Have those
two participants stand on opposite sides of the
room and then have the rest of the group fill in the
space between based on their time in Rotaract. This
icebreaker will get the group moving around as well as
learning something new about one another.
Habari .. Amawulire .. Zena
Rotaract Calendar for January 2008
January is Rotary Awareness Month
Spread the word about Rotary! At your next weekly meeting,
brainstorm ways to spread the word, such as:
Share Rotary’s mission at a new member orientation.
Publicize Rotary club events to the community. Consider
conducting a public relations training session.
Update Rotarians on scheduled club and district activities planned
for the coming year. A great place to do this is on your club and
district Web site or newsletter.
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22nd: Rotaract Nairobi Central Ordinary Meeting
Grand Regency Hotel from 6.00 pm.
Theme: Speakers on living on Art/Music
Training Tip
Establish a relaxed atmosphere right from the start. Training should
be informative but relaxed and enjoyable at the same time.
Every session should start off on a high note to set the tone for the
rest of the session. Be positive. You want to send the message that
this will be fun. A good way to do this is by using humor, which has
these benefits:
Relieve nervousness participants may feel
Sets the tone for the rest of the session
Gets participants’ attention
Demonstrates that although the session is serious, participants
don’t necessarily have to be.
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3. We must use time as a tool, not
as a crutch. John F. Kennedy
To the Rotaractors in the District, I wish you all
a New Year that is filed with joy, happiness and
peace.
And to the Kenyans, I pray that you and your families are all
safe and that you have returned to your work places. Not with a
smile on your face or a bounce in your step because that is too
much to ask for, but simply that you have returned.
It is difficult to talk about the last few weeks. For the first time
in my life, I went to bed with the sound of gunshots ringing in my
ears and woke up to the sound of a fresh wave of gunfire.
During the worst days, there was a perpetual humming sound
in my ears from the shouts and exclamations of demonstrators
who had taken to the streets; the whirring sound of cars as they
sped off down the highway eager to escape the crowds; and the
faint smell of smouldering wood in the air from the homes and
businesses that had been burnt to the ground.
It has been an experience that those in troubled countries are
probably so accustomed to that it does not bear mentioning.
But to Kenyans, who have enjoyed a peaceful and prosperous
economy, who have been mediators in war tornAfrican countries
and who have been the beacon of hope to many others, it is a
sad and sobering moment.
My friend in Zimbabwe emailed me a few days and in her
message, she says: “Have just been watching the news this
week and it looks like life in Kenya is unravelling fast .... I’d rather
have no power, no water and bank queues in Zim.... as opposed
to tear gas in the streets of Nairobi....”
Who would ever have thought that Kenya would be compared
to the situation in Zimbabwe … and be found wanting!
This month’s newsletter is short... and unfortunately delayed.
For that I apologise. That said, there are a number of articles
that are worth your time including:
the Up Front feature of Mutiga Wanjau on page 4,
a proposal for celebrating 40 years of Rotaract through a
Debate and Disscussion Group, on page 5, prepared by
Jingo Allan, and
a message from Rotary on how each of us can help those
who are suffering the most in the Kenyan crisis, on page 6.
Special thanks to Joseph Mawejje and Sylvia Birungi from
Rotaract Kololo for the compiled quotations on Time, some of
which I have included in this month’s bulletin.
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More than words ...
A column by DBO Aamena
“Concerned Women for
Kenya”
Collecting donations at St
Mark’s Church, Westlands.
“Rotary”
Collecting water, ugali, blankets
and other food stuff at Parklands
Sports Club

4. My proudest achievement: Climbing Mt.Kenya
My most humbling moment: I have had quite a number. One of
them is loss of a job following staff lay-offs
My life wont be complete until: I pull off some adventurous moves
like sky-diving and bungee-jumping
The book currently on my night stand: I am a very poor reader.
However, one of the few books I have read is Rich Dad, Poor Dad.
This one I read from cover to cover, alpha to omega
My favorite part of every rotaract meeting: Right at the beginning
before meeting is called to order. This is the time I get to know or
discover one or two more people in my life, especially the guests.
When I tell people am in rotaract, they: wonder what Rotaract
is.........
No body in my club knows that I: .......was born in Bonn, Germany
A famous person, living or dead, I’d like to meet: Mahatma Gandhi Pope John Paul II
My friends, think I’m: Easy-going
If I could be any animal, I’d be: A pig...oops that was a slip of the finger...I meant an Eagle
My earliest memory: Being driven around the neighbourhood by my dad in his (now former) VW Beetle. I
was 3 years old!!
The three things I would want with me on a deserted island: Swimming costume, beer MP3 player
The most impulsive thing I have ever done: Shouting at somebody in the heat of anger..........
The disc currently in my CD player: Eric Wainaina’s Twende Twende
Three words that best describe me: Calm, reliable funloving
How did you first become involved in Rotaract: I learnt it through my elder sister who was one of the
founding members of Rotaract Club of Nairobi East (this is something else that my club members don’t know).
It took a while before the interest developed. My first Rotaract activity was Rotaract Nairobi Central (RCNC)
year-end party in July 2001....I had a blast!!!
How do you view your role as a Rotaractor: I have contributed to the District 9200 in various ways e.g
Chairing the RI Rotaract Seminar for Zone 10A in September 2007. As a member of the VCT Management
Committee, I have a responsibility in contributing to the guidance sustenance of the Rotaract VCT Centre.
Also, as IPP, I am duty-bound to support the current BOD of RCNC as it steers the club.
How does Rotaract inspire you: It instills a sense of commitment and giving of yourself
Who have been your greatest influence: My parents
What do you feel are Rotaract’s greatest strengths: Youth energy
UP FRONT
Up Front is a monthly feature in the D9200 Rotaract Newsletter, which will recognise Rotaractors in
the District who have made outstanding contributions to the Rotaract community.
This month, we feature Mutiga Wanjau, IPP Rotaract Nairobi Central and Chair for the RI
Rotaract Seminar Zone 10A, 2007.
Mutiga Wanjau (below)
Every morning you are handed 24 golden hours. They
are one of the few things in this world that you get free of
charge. If you had all the money in the world, you couldn’t
buy an extra hour. What will you do with this priceless
treasure? Author Unknown

5. CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF ROTARACT IN
WORLD ROTARACT WEEK
(week of March 13th 2008)
Proposal by: Jingo Allan; Rotaract District Trainer
Debate and Discussion groups
Objective: The proposed debate shall give participants an opportunity to assess the growth and future of the Rotaract
organization by highlighting the successes and challenges it faces. The output to this series of debates and discussions
should be renewed focus on how to improve effectiveness and visibility of the organization in each country.
Participants:
Rotary level: DG, Members of DRC, New generations’ officers, Rotarians
Rotaract level: Members of RDC, Present Rotaractors
Rotaract Alumni and interested members of the public
Venues (organized according to convenience):
Ethiopia: Addis; Kenya: Coast (Mombasa), Central (Nairobi/ Nakuru), Western (Kisumu); Tanzania: Northern (Arusha/
Moshi), Coast (Dar es Salaam); Uganda: Eastern (Mbale), Central (Kampala), Western (Mbarara), Northern (Gulu)
Focus Questions:
Value addition: Is Rotaract providing an effective avenue to youth?
Purpose of Rotaract: Do youth understand what it is?
Effectiveness of Rotaract clubs: A dream or a reality
Rotaract extension across D9200: Choosing between Consolidation and Expansion
Empowerment and Mentoring of youth: What is the role of Rotarians?
1972 – 2007: Has Rotaract added any value to its membership
1972 – 2007: What are Rotaract’s achievements?
1972 – 2007: What is it to be a Rotaractor?
Rotaract District Committee: How can its effectiveness and visibility be enhanced at club level?
Organization: A combination of members of the RDC and DRC groups are to take care of the venue organization.
Subsequent requirements for participants are to be communicated in time.
Presentation: Video Footage / Power point show
Duration: 20 minutes
Target audience: Present rotaractors; rotaract alumni; Rotarians; member of the public; Interactors
Coverage: All five countries in D9200
Period required: December 2007 – March 2008
Abstract: The Rotaract program has existed for over 40 years globally and in our district since 1972 when the Rotaract
club of Mombasa was formed. The presentation shall highlight the transformation, growth and impact Rotaract has had
upon youth in our Rotary district through the expressions of memories experienced.
Research questions:
What value do you attach to the Rotaract program?
What do you remember as the most positive impact Rotaract gave you?
What inspires you about Rotaract?
What change/ growth have you seen within the Rotaract program of D9200 over the years?
What change should Rotaract undertake in order to ensure its future sustainability?
Resources required:
Research questions
Video and photo cameras plus operators
Video editing facilities
Photographs and video clips of past and recent Rotaract events
Finances required for transport, compilation and editing of acquired footage.
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