IMAGINATION
The sucess of Rotary ies nts imaginative approach. imple deeds become special _ because of the imaginative way they are performed Imagination the soul ofall men and women who want changes to be implemented and have the enthusiasm of ering changers.
What challenges do we face? What obstacies of great magnitude we encounter? What fantasies do we generate to make some difference to some. people at some times
The history of Rotary i replete with imaginative programmes tht have changed not only the communities but also Rotary. To cite a few examples our so very popular programmes such as Rotary Family Exchange , Polo lus, Rotaract, Interact, RYLA, Peace Center and many others ove their existence 10 some imaginative eas of fantasy of some Rotarians who did not stop at imagination only but ransiated their dreams nto realty: True, all imaginations need not fructify but if we stop imagining, we wil become talc stale, uninteresting and therefore ineffective.
Lotus therefore, give wings to our imagination and conceive deas that can glorify Rotary. Let ve stte the true story of Rotarians whose Imaginative ideas changed the enti community.
A Rotary Clu was helping an orphanage by supplying al the basic needs of shee, food, clothing, education, health and such other sundry needs. The orphanage stood on a plot of and belonging to. etre teacher wh ran this orphanage with dificuity tl Rotary entered the scene and made it possible o improve the quality of fe of nearly 60 boys and girls who lived in the orphanage.
Appreciating the change Rotary has made, the lady approached Rotary and suggested that the orphanage be futher expanded. Rotarians need a brillant imagination and suggested that the extra and avaiable be developed - not o expand the orphanage but to build an old cizen's shelter After detailed negotiations and exchange of deas, it was decided to house an Old Citizen's Home.
Today, there ar thirty ive occupants of this Home and the mirace is not because of the existence ofthis Home but because of th strong bonds developed between the senior citizens and the orphans.
The senior citizens have got so many grand children and the orphans have so many grandparents. To see the ntact, laugh, enjoy and prospect such close bonds of ove have changed the ves ofall. Fortunate, the Senior Citizen's Home have some occupants who can contribute tothe financial resources needed and thus, the entire project, today i one of the best examples of imaginative minds.
Rotary Club of Mulund, my home club, inthe year 2010-11, th District Governor was rom our Club a the tradition goes the Governor's home club organised the District Conference and we made a surplus of 4 Lakh INR. Just thought rom Governor Dr Jayant Kulkarni 2 Rin PP Sudhir Joshi of our cub, of giving Vocational oan scholarships to the ned individuals with 4 Lakh INR in hand and today ha given hundreds of scholarships with disbursement of about 2 Crore INR is the strength of imagination,
Let us gift our fantasies to produce communities that make changes happen for the good of the communities
\ Ashok Mahajan Director, Rotary International 2007-09. Trustee The Rotary Foundation 2009-13 Member, Intemational PolioPus Committee 2009-13 Chair Fl Membership Development and Retention Committee 2012.13 Smile, Serve, Sacifice, Satis