By Jimmy Musiime, past president of the Rotary Club of Kabale, Uganda
In 2015, I was honored to receive the Royce and Jean Abbey Scholarship Award, a vocational scholarship that allowed me to stay with Australian farmers for three months studying agroforestry. The scholarship is named after Royce Abbey who was RI President in 1988-89 and is awarded to individuals nominated by Rotary clubs in Australia including the Rotary Club of Flemington Kensington in Melbourne, which hosted me during my stay in Australia.
The scholarship exposed me to agroforestry trends in the Victoria State where I spent most of my time. But I also fell in love with Rotary. Through my host club, I visited various Rotary clubs in Australia, enjoying their fellowship during meetings and taking part in their service projects.
During a farewell dinner organized in my honor, I vowed to join Rotary on my return to Uganda. Making good on my promise, I was inducted into the Rotary Club of Kabale, Uganda, in 2015. Since then my Rotary journey has been more than eventful; it has been extremely exciting. I have been able to serve my club as secretary, treasurer, and president.
I have used my Australian visit to expand my Rotary experience and my networks. I have attended four district conferences and a Rotary Convention. When I served as president of my club in 2022-23, my friends in Australia were extremely happy and sent me congratulatory messages.
But my most fulfilling experience in Rotary to date has been attending the 2023 Rotary International Convention in Melbourne. It gave me an opportunity to catch up with friends who mean a lot to me in my Rotary life. Attending a Rotary Convention is the best experience you can have in your Rotary life.
Register now for the 2025 Rotary International Convention 21-25 June in Calgary, Canada.
https://blog.rotary.org/2024/08/27/a-rotary-convention-is-the-best-experience-ever/