The 2020 Sam Owori Rotary Awards winners

The District Awards this year are special in many ways. First, this is the inaugural Sam Owori Awards for District 9212 started by District Governor (DG) Joe Otin in memory of Sam Owori.

As some of you may know, Sam F. Owori died unexpectedly on 13 July 2017 due to complications from surgery. At the time of his death, Sam was the Rotary International President-elect. He would have been Rotary’s 108th president in 2018/19. He was a member of the Rotary Club Kampala, Uganda, for 38 years.

“Rotary has become a way of life for me – with the intrinsic value and core belief in mutual responsibility and concern for one another as a cornerstone,” Sam said when he was nominated as RI President. “I feel immense satisfaction knowing that through Rotary, I’ve helped someone live better,” he added.

As is tradition, every year, District Governors recognise and award Rotary clubs for their work at the District Conference and Assembly (DISCON). At District 9212 we decided to honour and remember Sam Owori by naming the Awards after him.

How Covid-19 changed our plan

In February 2020, the submission criteria for the Awards were released. DISCON was scheduled to happen on 2-4 April at the Sarit Expo Centre. That was the plan BC (Before Covid-19).

The DG had planned an Academy Awards (popularly known as the Oscars) kind of ceremony to celebrate the work Rotary and Rotaract clubs are doing. It was going to be a two hour ceremony with bright lights, confetti, champagne, music… the works. Oh and the dress code. It was certainly going to be bowties for gentleman and flowing gowns for the ladies.

Sadly, Covid-19 happened and the rest as we know it, is the “new normal”.

Including Rotaract and Interact clubs

The second reason why this year’s Awards are special is because the DG wanted to recognise Rotaract and Interact clubs. For the first time ever, we received entries for Rotaract and Interact.

The objective of this year’s Awards was to recognize, honour efforts and activities that will be seen to make clubs stronger, communities better, and improve the public image of Rotary.

The response from clubs was overwhelming. In total, we got 83 entries from Kenya, Ethiopia and South Sudan.

The Sam Owori Awards were divided into four categories: Membership Excellence Awards, Rotary Foundation Excellence Award, Rotary Public Image Excellence Awards and District Governor #ElevateYourGame Awards. These four categories were then broken down into various Awards.

Judging process

All entries were submitted via email and reviewed by a distinguished panel of seven people who included – three Rotarians, two Rotaractors and two non-Rotarians. This mix of Judges was to allow for objective assessment of entries.

The quality of the Award’s this year was exceptional. Entries had very well written essays that included supporting documents and materials. There are Clubs that took time to submit entries in several categories. That enthusiasm is highly encouraged even in the future. Indeed, I can confidently say that this year, Rotary has elevated the game.

It is also worth noting that not all Clubs submitted entries. There were Clubs that are conspicuously missing yet, they are doing amazing things in the community. In coming years we hope all Rotary, Rotaract and Interact Clubs can participate in the District Awards. Clubs should include submitting entries for the District Awards in their to-do list.

See Also

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The winners

Due to Covid-19, the DG has to cancel the DCA. Due to the health guidelines, we could not meet physically and I had to quickly come up with an online evaluation system that enabled the Judges to review the entries, score and sent their scores. Everything was done virtually.

Life with Covid-19 means we cannot have our planned “Academy Awards” ceremony. And that is the third reason why these Awards are special. Despite the circumstances, I am glad to announce the winners of the inaugural 2020 Sam Owori Rotary Awards. Congratulations!!

Membership Category

The Rotary Foundation Category

Public Image Category

#ElevateYourGame Category

Article by: Carole Kimutai, District Awards Officer (2019/20)