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Russell Hampton
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RoTell - September 15, 2021

Rotary Club Ottawa South eBulletin

Via Zoom
Editor: Scott Vetter, Assistant Editor: Rosemary Parker, Photographer: Robin Spencer

Announcements

  • Welcome to the always welcome Teresa Thomblison, President of Rotaract Club Ottawa South
  • Our club is thrilled to welcome new members: Freddie Campbell, Linda Scales, Kateri Clark, Julie Culgalj, Sherri Kelly and Vic Chawla.
  • Current members will be contacting new members to gather a little intel for our next meeting. It will be worth showing up for, meet us at KS on the Keys next Wednesday (Sept 22) at 12:30pm.
  • Saturday, September 25 @ 10am: We will be meeting to clean up the streets around the Ottawa Rotary Home as part of Cleaning up the Capital. Scott has bags and disposable gloves provided by the City. Wear work clothes, a big smile, and yeah, a mask.
Birere Secondary School in Uganda Project
Update by Jeanine Parker
 
Our Keeping Girls in School project in Uganda is now in its 15th year. Rotary has built infrastructure (latrines, water tanks, ecostoves) and has paid for tuition for 40 girls (for four years) and 20 girls since then. The girls attend Birere Secondary School in rural southwest Uganda and it is important to note that without Rotary's tuition funds, these girls would not attend school... at all. Simple as that.
 
I'm pleased to report that last week, we transferred funds directly to the school to pay for the "COVID Semester" as it is referred to. I understand the schools have picked up where they left off when the schools closed. (On-line learning is not an option at Birere as there is no electricity in the school district.)
 
Going forward, our club is in the process of collecting funds to send in early October. I urge you all to consider the request for your individual support to keep girls in school. If you can, that would be great.
 
Cheques and cash will be accepted at our in person meeting on September 22nd.  Email transfers can be sent to admin@rotaryottawasouth.ca. All donations will receive a charitable receipt for income tax purposes.

Getting to Know Bill Kelly

Bill is from a military family, and his father spent many years overseas and travelling. As a result, Bill was raised by his grandparents in West Virginia. At the age of 17, with no great fondness of school and a limited world view, Bill enlisted in the United States Marines. After his four-year service, he had gained significant experience and realized that his lack of education placed him near the bottom following orders from those who had more schooling. Not necessarily better people, just better educated.
 
With a new zest for learning, Bill worked hard at many menial jobs to afford an education and literally talked his way into Washington University. Here he was beguiled by Sherri who was teaching Spanish, and they've stuck together ever since. They moved several times as Sherri continued her education and her career, and Bill continued his education too, including the Ivy League University of Pennsylvania. Not bad for the first in his family to go past high school.
 
Along the way, Bill observed that people were not treated equally or fairly and that many of the social ills were systemic. He determined to make things better, and to improve himself along the way to leverage his ability to make a difference.
 
When their kids were  four and five years old, they moved to Dallas, Texas and that became home for many years. Bill's experience in tech was focused on using computers to bring about a more egalitarian society. His company, NewPower99 sells kits that teach people how to replace batteries for just about anything. Helping people reuse equipment and reduce their waste.
 
When his son came to Montreal to attend McGill College, he and Sherri realized how wonderful we Canadians are. So much so, that they packed up, picked up and left Dallas for Ottawa. (A certain US election may have helped them come north.)
 
Bill credits Rotary and their Baha'i faith for helping them get settled in Ottawa and keeping them focused on living a meaningful life.
 
Members of the Rotary Club of Ottawa South listen attentively as Bill Kelly recounts tales and twists that lead to a life.
Upcoming Events
Clean Up the Capital - Ottawa Rotary Home
Ottawa Rotary Home
Sep 25, 2021
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
 
View entire list

Join us at our next meeting live at

KS on the Keys

12:30pm Wednesday Sept 22, 2021