Yesterday evening at the Rotaract Club of Kampala North, we welcomed Past President Pascal Ongom from the Rotary Club of Kampala North for a heartfelt conversation about what truly makes a club grow.

He reminded us that member attraction isn’t about numbers alone  it’s about people, relationships, and shared purpose. He challenged us to be intentional about how we build our club’s brand, to plan ahead, communicate early, and make every member feel part of the bigger picture.

We talked about buddy groups  small circles within the club where friendships deepen, ideas flow, and goals get achieved. He urged us to keep engaging one another, not just in meetings, but in the everyday moments that make us feel like family.
One phrase stood out: “Grow our 100 to increase our 20.” When we take care of everyone in the room, when we nurture and inspire the whole, our most active and committed members will naturally multiply.

He encouraged us to open our doors wider to invite the people in our own communities, to welcome young golfers from nearby clubs, and to reach out to those whose values align with ours. Because the more diverse our circle, the richer our impact.
And perhaps most beautifully, he suggested we take time away together on a retreat  to really see each other beyond titles and roles, to understand one another’s strengths and disciplines.

We left that room not just with ideas, but with a renewed sense of why we come together in the first place: to grow, to serve, and to belong.