Festival of Installation Come July every year, over 3000 Rotary clubs in India celebrate the installation of the new Club President and other office bearers. I am not very sure if this elaborate function is held by Rotary clubs in other countries too, but here it certainly brings about a tremendous flow of energy in getting ready to do good. What these celebrations really demonstrate is the straightforward concepts established by Rotary for serving humanity and during every installation the real-time examples of what was achieved the previous year is appreciated. Sometimes these installations are like concave mirrors which tend to exaggerate the abilities of the new President and the team. But this is precisely what is needed. A president of a Rotary club is a very busy person and is required to delicately balance the various moods of the members and integrate them with the projects that the club wishes to do. The installations serve to make the interests of the members and visiting guests and other Rotary club invitees more wider when they see a bouquet of projects done by the club. I have always wondered why I did not think of such simple but effective projects when I listen to the clubs report during the installations. July 1, every year marks the beginning of a new season for Rotary worldwide. As the programmes begin to unfold with rapid periodicity, it takes our body, mind and energy to a new level of intensity. This intensity is what is celebrated during the installation by the team which is handing over the charge to the new office bearers. Of course, there is no dearth of amusement and fellowship after the formal meeting is over and what the guests and members take home is the way a volunteer organisation has changed the way we can look at service over the past 113 years. The celebrations show that Rotarians are constantly longing to be something more than what they are right now. Every installation function highlights the enthusiasm of the members who want to expand in a limitless way. The urge to expand the boundaries of service, increase the membership and donate to The Rotary Foundation are clearly seen when a beginning is made during the installation. Itis such inspiration that put India on the top league in contributions to The Rotary Foundation and membership development. Finally, what about the chief guests who are called for many such installations? I have never been tired of attending these wonderful celebrations since I, like every other member, consider myself to be fortunate to have a large extended family through Rotarians. And when that is true, can you afford to miss a family function? Ashok