President’s Weekly Bulletin - Younger Next Year

A few years ago, as I was approaching 50, I read the book Younger Next Year. More than just a book, it felt like a roadmap—one that emphasized how aerobic activity and strength training can, in many ways, turn back our biological clocks. The message wasn’t necessarily about adding years to life, but about adding life to years. That idea has stayed with me and has inspired some of my holiday choices, like cycling around the Seto Islands and hiking the Kumano Kodo Trail in Japan. Exercise, of course, is only one part of the equation. Equally important are social connection and having meaningful projects that give our days purpose.

When I reflect on why I became a Rotarian—and why I continue to stay engaged—it is often those very elements that come to mind.

Social connection was a key motivator. Moving to a new area during the COVID lockdown, made building relationships a real challenge. Rotary offered a solution. It provided not just a network, but a community. In that regard, it has more than delivered. Our Fellowship dinners have been a wonderful way to connect with members and their partners in a relaxed, social setting. Over time, these gatherings have evolved into genuine friendships. Those connections extend beyond our own Club as well—whether at District Conferences, through collaborative initiatives like the Rotary Walk, the Kits for Girls event, or even out on the ice at a bonspiel, there is a shared spirit that brings us together.

Equally important, at least for me, is the need for projects—something to engage the mind, provide focus, and create a sense of accomplishment. Rotary has offered that in abundance. Serving as President has certainly been a project in itself, but it is only one of many opportunities to contribute and stay engaged.

Our annual Maple Syrup fundraiser is a great example. What started as a community initiative has grown into something much more—a chance to connect with people, to share a story, and to work together toward a common goal. It is hands-on, it is social, and it is meaningful.

On a more personal level, my current project—refreshing the Wellington Rotary Beach interpretive signs—has been particularly rewarding. It may not sound exciting to everyone. Spending hours at a laptop adjusting layouts, refining text, and selecting images might seem tedious to some. But for me, it has been deeply satisfying. There is something special about contributing to a project that will be experienced by others in such a tangible way. I am looking forward to the day when I can walk along the beach, see those signs in place, and watch others pause, read, and perhaps learn something new about the natural beauty around us.

In many ways, this brings me back to Younger Next Year. Healthy aging is not just about physical activity—it is about staying connected, staying engaged, and continuing to find purpose in what we do. Rotary, for me, checks all of those boxes.

Through fellowship, through service, and through the projects we take on together, we are not just adding years to our lives—we are adding life to our years. And in doing so, we are living out the very essence of Rotary’s guiding principle: Service Above Self.Top of Form

Yvonne Buys President 2025/26

Thought for the week.. 

“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”– George Bernard Shaw

This Week's Zoom Meeting Details:

Topic: Weekly Rotary Meeting
Time: Mar. 30, 2026, 07:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81827939082
Meeting ID: 818 2793 9082
Passcode: rotary