Good afternoon,

It’s a true honor to be here with all of you on this important occasion—the installation of the [Rotaract Club Name]. I feel proud to witness the beginning of a journey that will shape not only communities but the character of everyone involved.

Today, you’re not just forming a club—you’re stepping into leadership, purpose, and service. You are becoming part of something larger than yourself. And that is a powerful thing.

I’m reminded of a quote by John F. Kennedy, who once said:

“One person can make a difference, and everyone should try.”

You might wonder, Can one small Rotaract project really make a difference? Let me tell you—yes, it can.

A few years ago, I met a group of Rotaractors who organized a simple health camp in a rural area. It didn’t have a big budget, no media coverage—but it reached over 300 people in just one day. One of those people, a young boy, was diagnosed early with a heart condition and got timely treatment. That project may have lasted only a day—but its impact saved a life.

That’s the power each of you holds when you choose to serve with sincerity.

To the newly installed President and office bearers—congratulations. You are now entrusted with leading your club, and leading by example. Let your leadership be defined not just by your plans, but by your actions and your integrity.

To all members—this is your time to learn, to grow, and to create change. You will face challenges, and that’s good—it means you’re doing something that matters. Stay united, stay focused, and never underestimate the impact of a small idea followed by big effort.

I thank the club for inviting me today. It’s been truly inspiring to witness the energy and spirit of the next generation of changemakers.

I wish the [Rotaract Club Name] great success in your projects, your partnerships, and your journey ahead.

Lead with purpose, serve with heart, and never stop believing in the difference you can make.

Thank you, and best wishes to all of you.

Speech for Installation of District Governor Dr. Maneesh Motwani

Guest of Honour Address

Venue: ISKCON Hall, Juhu

Good evening, respected dignitaries, fellow Rotarians, friends, and family,

It is a profound honor and privilege to stand before you this evening at the installation of our incoming District Governor, Dr. Maneesh Motwani.

To be in the esteemed company of dignitaries such as Trustee Bharat, PRID Raju, Trustee Gulam, and so many Past District Governors who have guided our district’s journey—it is both humbling and inspiring.

A heartfelt welcome and sincere gratitude to our Chief Guest, the distinguished Trustee of The Rotary Foundation. Your presence reaffirms the global strength and shared mission of Rotary.

Today is more than a ceremony—it is a celebration of leadership, continuity, and community spirit.

Dr. Maneesh Motwani, as you assume the responsibilities of District Governor, you bring with you a passion for service, strategic insight, and unwavering integrity. 

Your wife, Dr. Mahek, whose partnership and support have been instrumental, stands with you this morning —  a reminder that leadership in service is often nurtured at home. 

We are also honored to have with us your parents, Mr. Ramesh Motwani and Dr. Malti Motwani, whose values and example have clearly helped shape the man we respect and follow today.

In a world too often divided by borders, beliefs, and biases, Rotary remains a beacon of unity. Our initiatives—our collaborations, our shared purpose—are united by a single aspiration: to bridge divides and elevate humanity.

When we come together, we magnify our impact. When we collaborate, we become a force capable of transforming communities and lives.

But unity requires intentionality. It asks each of us to listen deeply, to include every voice, and to lead with compassion.

Central to this is our enduring motto: “Service Above Self.”

These three words carry immense power. They are not just a statement, but a way of life. It is about reaching beyond ourselves to support and uplift others.

Be it educating children, providing clean water, fighting disease, or building peace—our efforts demonstrate that when giving of ourselves, we receive even greater gifts: meaning, connection, and enduring impact.

As we step into this new Rotary year, I encourage each one of us—whether assuming new roles or continuing our service—to renew our commitment to this noble mission.

Let us not merely serve; let us lead with empathy, unite with courage, and always remember the purpose that brought us together: to make a positive, lasting difference.

Manish , may your year be marked by strength, success, and selfless service. 

May your team rally behind your vision, and may you find profound joy in the act of giving.

To everyone gathered here this evening—thank you for your dedication, your passion, and your belief in the power of service. 

Together, let our hearts beat for “Service Above Self,” in every life we touch.

 

Rotary: A Pathway to Peace and Healing

Good [morning fellow Rotarians, friends, and honored guests.

It’s truly a privilege to stand before you today as we reflect on a question that is central to our mission—Can we, as individuals and as Rotarians, truly contribute to building a more peaceful world? My answer, and I believe the answer of every Rotarian, is a resounding yes.

Peace may seem like a lofty and distant goal in today’s world—one often marked by conflict, injustice, and inequality. 

But peace, as Rotary sees it, is not the absence of war—it is the presence of opportunity, dignity, and hope. And we pursue this peace not through words alone, but through relentless action.

Rotary’s motto, Service Above Self, is more than a slogan. It’s a philosophy, a way of life, and a call to arms for people who believe in creating real change. 

It drives everything we do—from digging wells to funding scholarships, from immunizing children to training peace builders. 

Through Rotary, we transform compassion into action—and action into lasting peace.

Polio Eradication: A Global Victory in the Making

One of the most powerful examples of Rotary’s commitment is the Polio Eradication Campaign—a fight we began almost four decades ago when polio still paralyzed over 350,000 children each year in more than 125 countries.

Today, thanks to the tireless work of Rotarians and our global partners, cases have been reduced by over 99.9%, and the wild poliovirus remains endemic in only two countries. 

We are truly this close to making polio the second human disease ever eradicated from the planet. 

That is not just a health victory—that is a peace victory, because every child saved from paralysis is a life saved from suffering and a community spared from fear.

Health as a Foundation for Peace

Rotary’s work in health goes far beyond polio. And I speak with great pride and personal commitment when I talk about Rotary’s recent focus on cervical cancer prevention and pediatric heart surgery.

Through awareness campaigns and vaccination drives, we are protecting girls and young women from cervical cancer—a preventable disease that still claims too many lives, especially in underserved regions. 

By investing in preventive care and education, we’re not only saving lives, we’re empowering women, protecting families, and strengthening entire communities.

Similarly, the work Rotary supports in pediatric heart surgeries is nothing short of miraculous. I’ve had the privilege to be closely involved in these life-saving efforts. 

Children born with congenital heart defects—many from poor or remote areas—are given a new chance at life thanks to partnerships between Rotary clubs, hospitals, and generous donors. 

Every beating heart is a powerful reminder that we don’t just support healthcare—we restore hope, future, and joy to families who once saw only despair.

Building Peace Through Education and Fellowship

But peace also begins in the mind—and that’s where Rotary’s investments in education and leadership come in. 

Our Rotary Peace Fellowship program has trained almost 2000 who now work in conflict zones, classrooms, governments, and NGOs across the world. 

These are individuals who mediate disputes, build bridges, and nurture dialogue in places where fear and division once ruled.

Education isn’t just a tool—it’s the foundation of peace. When a girl learns to read, she’s more likely to grow up healthy, earn an income, and lift her family out of poverty. When a young leader is mentored, a future change-maker is born.

A Gift to the World

Rotary doesn’t seek recognition. We serve because we believe that looking beyond ourselves is the most powerful way to change the world. We serve because we know that even the smallest act of kindness—a meal delivered, a child educated, a tree planted—can ripple outward in ways we may never see.

It’s rightly said that “Rotary is a gift to the world.” And in truth, that gift is each one of us—each Rotarian who gives their time, energy, and love to create something bigger than themselves.

Miracles don’t always come from the sky—they come from service, from hands extended in help, from voices raised in compassion. And Rotary is full of such miracles.

The Road Ahead

As we look to the future, let’s recommit ourselves to Rotary’s highest ideals. Let us not grow weary in our efforts. Let us not be discouraged by the scale of the challenges ahead. For every child vaccinated, every heart healed, every conflict eased, and every community empowered—we take one more step toward a more peaceful, equitable world.

Let’s continue to be the peace builders, the problem-solvers, the miracle-makers.

Because where there is Rotary—there is hope.

Where there is Rotary—there is healing.

And where there is Rotary—peace is never far

 behind.

HINDI POEM 

Thank you.

Peace may seem like a lofty and distant goal in today’s world—one often marked by conflict, injustice, and inequality. But peace, as Rotary sees it, is not the absence of war—it is the presence of opportunity, dignity, and hope. And we pursue this peace not through words alone, but through relentless action.

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller

Good, my dear fellow Rotarians.

That quote by Helen Keller reminds us of something simple, yet profound: together, we’re capable of far more than any of us can do alone. And there’s no better example of that truth than Rotary.

Rotary is not just an organization. It’s not just a meeting we attend or a badge we wear.

It is a movement powered by purpose, and the strength of that movement lies in all of us—serving together.

But today, I’d like to speak openly about a challenge—and an opportunity—we see in many clubs:

Too few are doing too much.

The same hands keep lifting, the same voices keep speaking, and the same few members keep showing up. And meanwhile, others—good people, caring Rotarians—begin to drift away.

What if we changed that?

What if everyone felt inspired to participate?

What if we created a culture where every Rotarian felt needed, involved, and fulfilled?

Because the truth is:

When everyone serves, everything changes.

 

Our Legacy Is Strong

Let’s not forget what Rotary has already accomplished.

Together, we have achieved what once seemed impossible:

• We have led the global fight against polio, reducing cases by 99.9%. Today, we are closer than ever to making it the second disease in human history to be completely eradicated.
• We have given new life to children through pediatric heart surgeries, often in families with no resources and no hope.
• We’ve responded to disasters, brought clean water to entire villages, empowered women through education, and helped young people become leaders.

These aren’t just Rotary International stories. These are our stories.

Our clubs have supported these efforts. Our members have contributed, served, and given generously.

But there’s more to do—and we can do it better if more members are engaged.

A World of Opportunity: Seven Areas of Focus

Under the Rotary Foundation’s Seven Areas of Focus, there are hundreds of service opportunities waiting for us:

1. Speech Title: “When Everyone Serves, Everything Changes”

   “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller

   Good [morning/afternoon/evening], my dear fellow Rotarians.

   That quote by Helen Keller reminds us of something simple, yet profound: together, we’re capable of far more than any of us can do alone. And there’s no better example of that truth than Rotary.

   Rotary is not just an organization. It’s not just a meeting we attend or a badge we wear.

   It is a movement powered by purpose, and the strength of that movement lies in all of us—serving together.

   But today, I’d like to speak openly about a challenge—and an opportunity—we see in many clubs:

   Too few are doing too much.

   The same hands keep lifting, the same voices keep speaking, and the same few members keep showing up. And meanwhile, others—good people, caring Rotarians—begin to drift away.

   What if we changed that?

   What if everyone felt inspired to participate?

   What if we created a culture where every Rotarian felt needed, involved, and fulfilled?

   Because the truth is:

   When everyone serves, everything changes.

    

   Our Legacy Is Strong

   Let’s not forget what Rotary has already accomplished.

   Together, we have achieved what once seemed impossible:

   • We have led the global fight against polio, reducing cases by 99.9%. Today, we are closer than ever to making it the second disease in human history to be completely eradicated.
   • We have given new life to children through pediatric heart surgeries, often in families with no resources and no hope.
   • We’ve responded to disasters, brought clean water to entire villages, empowered women through education, and helped young people become leaders.

   These aren’t just Rotary International stories. These are our stories.

   Our clubs have supported these efforts. Our members have contributed, served, and given generously.

   But there’s more to do—and we can do it better if more members are engaged.

    

   A World of Opportunity: Seven Areas of Focus

   Under the Rotary Foundation’s Seven Areas of Focus, there are hundreds of service opportunities waiting for us:

   1. Peace building and Conflict Resolution
   2. Disease Prevention and Treatment
   3. Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene
   4. Maternal and Child Health
   5. Basic Education and Literacy
   6. Community Economic Development
   7. Supporting the Environment

   In each of these areas, there are real, meaningful projects just waiting for Rotarians to say, “Yes, we will.”

   But to say yes with strength, we need more members involved—not just as supporters, but as participants.

   This brings me to Rotary’s Four-Step Action Plan—our roadmap for building a stronger, more impactful Rotary.

    

   Rotary’s Four Strategic Priorities: Our Action Plan 

   1. Increase Our Impact

   Impact grows when more of us are active. When we serve together, we reach more people, deliver better results, and leave behind sustainable change.

   Let’s stop limiting ourselves to what a few can do—and start imagining what the entire club can accomplish together. Let’s take up projects that are bigger, bolder, and more visible—projects that show Rotary in action.

   And let’s evaluate success not just by funds raised or photos taken, but by lives touched. 

   2. Expand Our Reach

   When people see Rotary doing good work, they want to join.

   But they won’t see us if we’re not out there in our communities—serving publicly, partnering with other organizations, involving families, youth, and professionals.

   Each service project is an opportunity to expand Rotary’s reach. So let’s make them open, inclusive, and visible.

   And remember—the best recruitment tool isn’t a brochure, it’s our action. 

   3. Enhance Participant Engagement

   Engagement isn’t about how many meetings someone attends—it’s about how connected they feel.

   Do they feel seen? Do they feel useful? Do they feel inspired?

   Every club must become a place where members feel like they belong, and that their skills and passions are put to use. Everyone has something to offer—whether it’s leadership, hands-on help, networking, creativity, or simply goodwill.

   Let’s engage members not just by asking them to come—but by giving them a reason to stay.

   4. Increase Our Ability to Adapt

   The world is changing fast. Communities have new needs. Younger generations want to serve differently. And technology has changed how we connect.

   Rotary must stay flexible—willing to try new formats, new ideas, and new approaches.

   Let’s ask: Are we ready to evolve? Can we create room for innovation? Can we listen to new voices—even if they suggest doing things differently?

   Because if we adapt, we don’t just survive—we thrive. 

   Call to Action: Let’s Make Service a Whole-Club Experience

   Now, imagine if every member of your club felt empowered to contribute.

   Not just attend. Not just applaud. But to participate.

   Imagine service projects where everyone is involved—even in small ways.

   Some organize, some give, some show up, some promote—but everyone is part of the journey.

   That’s how we build momentum. That’s how we multiply our impact.

   That’s how Rotary becomes not just something we’re a part of, but something we live. 

   In Closing

   Dear friends, the future of Rotary is bright—not because of a few dynamic leaders, but because of the collective strength of thousands of committed Rotarians, just like you.

   Let’s not let our clubs run on autopilot. Let’s reignite the spirit of Rotary—together.

   Because when we all serve:

   • Our impact grows,
   • Our image improves,
   • Our membership expands,
   • And our clubs become vibrant places where purpose meets action.

   When everyone serves, everything changes.

   Let’s be the generation that doesn’t just talk about service—but truly lives it.

   Let’s build a Rotary that is stronger, bolder, and more united than ever.

   Thank you, and let’s keep serving—together.

    and Conflict Resolution

2. Disease Prevention and Treatment
3. Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene
4. Maternal and Child Health
5. Basic Education and Literacy
6. Community Economic Development
7. Supporting the Environment

In each of these areas, there are real, meaningful projects just waiting for Rotarians to say, “Yes, we will.”

But to say yes with strength, we need more members involved—not just as supporters, but as participants.

This brings me to Rotary’s Four-Step Action Plan—our roadmap for building a stronger, more impactful Rotary.

 

Rotary’s Four Strategic Priorities: Our Action Plan

 

1. Increase Our Impact

Impact grows when more of us are active. When we serve together, we reach more people, deliver better results, and leave behind sustainable change.

Let’s stop limiting ourselves to what a few can do—and start imagining what the entire club can accomplish together. Let’s take up projects that are bigger, bolder, and more visible—projects that show Rotary in action.

And let’s evaluate success not just by funds raised or photos taken, but by lives touched.

 

2. Expand Our Reach

When people see Rotary doing good work, they want to join.

But they won’t see us if we’re not out there in our communities—serving publicly, partnering with other organizations, involving families, youth, and professionals.

Each service project is an opportunity to expand Rotary’s reach. So let’s make them open, inclusive, and visible.

And remember—the best recruitment tool isn’t a brochure, it’s our action.

 

3. Enhance Participant Engagement

Engagement isn’t about how many meetings someone attends—it’s about how connected they feel.

Do they feel seen? Do they feel useful? Do they feel inspired?

Every club must become a place where members feel like they belong, and that their skills and passions are put to use. Everyone has something to offer—whether it’s leadership, hands-on help, networking, creativity, or simply goodwill.

Let’s engage members not just by asking them to come—but by giving them a reason to stay.

 

4. Increase Our Ability to Adapt

The world is changing fast. Communities have new needs. Younger generations want to serve differently. And technology has changed how we connect.

Rotary must stay flexible—willing to try new formats, new ideas, and new approaches.

Let’s ask: Are we ready to evolve? Can we create room for innovation? Can we listen to new voices—even if they suggest doing things differently?

Because if we adapt, we don’t just survive—we thrive.

 

Call to Action: Let’s Make Service a Whole-Club Experience

Now, imagine if every member of your club felt empowered to contribute.

Not just attend. Not just applaud. But to participate.

Imagine service projects where everyone is involved—even in small ways.

Some organize, some give, some show up, some promote—but everyone is part of the journey.

That’s how we build momentum. That’s how we multiply our impact.

That’s how Rotary becomes not just something we’re a part of, but something we live.

 

In Closing

Dear friends, the future of Rotary is bright—not because of a few dynamic leaders, but because of the collective strength of thousands of committed Rotarians, just like you.

Let’s not let our clubs run on autopilot. Let’s reignite the spirit of Rotary—together.

Because when we all serve:

• Our impact grows,
• Our image improves,
• Our membership expands,
• And our clubs become vibrant places where purpose meets action.

When everyone serves, everything changes.

Let’s be the generation that doesn’t just talk about service—but truly lives it.

Let’s build a Rotary that is stronger, bolder, and more united than ever.

Thank you, and let’s keep serving—together.

Speech जिला  3100 मेरठ में दिया गया भाषण

“दिल से नेतृत्व करें: रोटरी का प्रेरणादायक आह्वान”

प्रिय मित्रों एवं रोटरी सदस्यों,

जिला प्रशिक्षण सम्मेलन में आपका हार्दिक स्वागत है—यह वह स्थान है जहाँ विचार जीवंत होते हैं, नेतृत्व की नींव रखी जाती है, और सेवा के लिए दिल एक साथ धड़कते हैं।

इस सभा को रोटरी का अपना विश्वविद्यालय समझिए—एक जीवंत मंच जहाँ जुनून, उद्देश्य से मिलता है, और सीखना एक नए युग की शुरुआत बन जाता है। यहीं से आप जैसे भविष्य के क्लब नेता शुरुआत करते हैं—यह कोई धीमी दौड़ नहीं, बल्कि 365 दिनों की वह तेज़ दौड़ है जो ज़िंदगियों को छूने और समुदायों को बदलने के लिए होती है।

रोटरी में नेता बदल सकते हैं, लेकिन हमारा उद्देश्य अडिग रहता है। नेतृत्व की मशाल सौंपना पीछे हटना नहीं, बल्कि एक साथ आगे बढ़ना है—साथ चलना है, एक-दूसरे को प्रेरित करते हुए।

रोटरी की शक्ति इमारतों या झंडों में नहीं, बल्कि आप में है। आपके दिल में है। सेवा की आपकी इच्छा में है। जैसे-जैसे दुनिया बदलती है, हमें भी बदलना होगा। ज़रूरतें बदलें तो हमारी सेवा भी।

आप केवल नेता नहीं हैं—आप समानताओं के बीच नेतृत्व करने वाले हैं। रोटरी का नेतृत्व कोई पद नहीं, यह विनम्रता है। यह आदेश देने का नहीं, संबंध जोड़ने का कार्य है।

महात्मा गांधी ने कहा था:

“मुझे लोगों का अनुसरण करना है, क्योंकि मैं उनका नेता हूँ।”

नेतृत्व आगे या पीछे चलने में नहीं है—नेतृत्व साथ चलने में है।

इस वर्ष की थीम है: “साथ मिलकर अच्छे के लिए”—यह हमें बुलाती है कि हम दूसरों के लिए रास्ता रोशन करें—करुणा, साहस और स्पष्ट संवाद के साथ।

हमारे DGE सुधीर अंतरराष्ट्रीय सम्मेलन से वैश्विक दृष्टिकोण, नई ऊर्जा और ताजगी लेकर आए हैं। वे हमारा मार्गदर्शन करेंगे—लेकिन मशाल आपको ही आगे लेकर चलनी है।

तो खुद से पूछिए:

क्या मैं नेतृत्व कर सकता हूँ?

या इससे भी बेहतर: मैं नेतृत्व कैसे करूंगा?

क्योंकि नेतृत्व एक कला भी है और एक विज्ञान भी:

• कला है दोस्त बनाने की, उत्साह जगाने की, और दिलों को प्रेरित करने की।
• विज्ञान है सपनों को क्रियान्वित करने का, प्रयासों को गुणा करने का, और विविधता को एकता में बदलने का।

रोटरी जैसे संगठन हमें, आम लोगों को, असाधारण कार्य करने का अवसर देते हैं।

पोलियो उन्मूलन से लेकर वैश्विक महामारी तक, रोटरी ने बार-बार सिद्ध किया है:

जब रोटरी के सदस्य कार्य करते हैं, दुनिया बदलती है।

आज जब हम नए रोटरी वर्ष की तैयारी कर रहे हैं, हम उन चमत्कारों को याद करते हैं जो रोटरी और रोटरी फाउंडेशन के माध्यम से संभव हुए।

हमने मिलकर संसाधनों को जोड़ा, प्रयासों को एक किया, और स्थायी परिवर्तन किए।

हाँ, अभी बहुत कुछ करना बाकी है—पर यदि कोई संगठन दुनिया को बदल सकता है, तो वह रोटरी है।

और यदि कोई व्यक्ति फर्क ला सकता है—तो वह आप हैं।

आप सोच सकते हैं: एक व्यक्ति क्या कर सकता है?

मार्गरेट मीड की बात याद रखिए:

“कभी संदेह मत करो कि विचारशील और प्रतिबद्ध लोगों का एक छोटा समूह दुनिया को बदल सकता है। वास्तव में, अब तक यही हुआ है।”

तो वह नेता बनिए जो आज्ञा देकर नहीं, उदाहरण बनकर प्रेरित करता है।

सही व्यक्ति को सही स्थान पर रखें।

यह समझें कि कमियाँ भी उद्देश्यपूर्ण हो सकती हैं—जैसे टूटी हुई सुराही की कहानी, जिसकी दरार से हर दिन रास्ते के फूलों को पानी मिलता था।

जो हमें दोष लगता है, वही सौंदर्य की असली वजह हो सकता है।

अपने हर कार्य में दिल लगाइए।

मदर टेरेसा से एक बार पूछा गया कि उन्हें इतनी शक्ति कहाँ से मिलती है?

उन्होंने कहा:

“छोटे कार्य, लेकिन बड़े प्रेम से।”

यह प्रेम दिल से आता है। इसलिए हम कहते हैं:

“जो भी करें, दिल से करें।”

सफलता सिर्फ उपलब्धियों की बात नहीं है—यह उस व्यक्ति की बात है जो आप इस यात्रा में बनते हैं।

अहंकार को छोड़िए।

स्पष्टता से संवाद कीजिए।

अपनी टीम की सराहना कीजिए।

लचीले बनिए। समावेशी बनिए।

विभाजन के लिए कोई जगह नहीं है। विभाजन एक बीमारी है, जो हमारे क्लबों में कभी नहीं आनी चाहिए। आपका नेतृत्व जोड़ने वाला होना चाहिए, तोड़ने वाला नहीं।

प्रेरणा गति को जन्म देती है।

सिर्फ प्रेरणादायक बातें न करें—उन्हें जिएं।

एक सच्चा नेता एक हाथ से नहीं, दोनों हाथों से—कंधे से कंधा मिलाकर कार्य करता है।

विनम्र रहिए।

ललक बनाए रखिए:

• सेवा करने की ललक।
• सीखने की ललक।
• दिल से नेतृत्व करने की ललक।

यह प्रशिक्षण सम्मेलन आपका स्रोत बन जाए—सिर्फ सीखने का स्थान नहीं, बल्कि परिवर्तन की चिंगारी बन जाए।

आइए, 2025–26 का रोटरी वर्ष एक ऐसा वर्ष बनाएं—जिस पर हमें गर्व हो, और कोई पछतावा न हो।

एक ऐसा वर्ष जिसमें हों: साहसी कदम, गर्मजोशी भरे दिल, और उद्देश्यपूर्ण नेतृत्व।

क्योंकि रोटरी का भविष्य… आप हैं।

और जब आप दिल से नेतृत्व करते हैं, तो याद रखिए:

“सेवा सर्वोपरि” सिर्फ हमारा आदर्श वाक्य नहीं—यह हमारा मिशन है।

और रोटरी… सच में चमत्कार करती है।

आप सभी को एक ऐसे वर्ष की शुभकामनाएं—जिसमें हो दिल, उम्मीद और नायक जैसी सेवा।

आइए नेतृत्व करें।

सेवा करें।

और अच्छे के लिए एक हों।

  Speech delivered in Dist 3132 at Aurangabad 

“Lead with Heart: Rotary’s Call to Inspire Leadership”

Dear Friends and Fellow Rotarians,

Welcome to the District Training Assembly—a place where ideas come alive, leadership takes root, and hearts unite for service.

Think of this assembly as Rotary’s very own university: a vibrant arena where passion meets purpose, where learning becomes the launchpad for action. This is where future club leaders like you begin—not a slow marathon, but a 365-day sprint to touch lives and transform communities.

In Rotary, leaders may change, but the mission remains unshakable. Passing the baton doesn’t mean stepping aside—it means moving forward together, side by side, encouraging one another with each stride.

Rotary’s strength lies not in buildings or banners—it lies in you. In your heart. In your will to serve. As the world changes, so must we. As needs evolve, so must our service.

You are not just leaders—you are equals among equals. Leading Rotarians isn’t about hierarchy—it’s about humility. It’s not about command—it’s about connection.

As Mahatma Gandhi once said:

“I must follow the people, for I am their leader.”

Leadership is not about walking ahead or behind—but walking with.

This year’s theme, “Unite for Good,” calls on us to light the path for others—with compassion, courage, and clear communication.

Our DGE Sudhir brings with him global insights, fresh perspectives, and boundless energy from the International Assembly. He will guide us—but it is you who must carry the torch.

So ask yourself:

Can I lead?

Better yet: How will I lead?

Because leadership is both an art and a science:

• The Art of making friends, awakening enthusiasm, and inspiring hearts
• The Science of turning dreams into action, multiplying efforts, and uniting diversity

Rotary gives ordinary people like us the chance to do extraordinary things.

From eradicating polio to responding to a global pandemic, Rotary has proven again and again:

When Rotarians act, the world changes.

Today, as we prepare for the new Rotary year, we reflect on the miracles achieved through Rotary and The Rotary Foundation. Together, we’ve combined efforts, aligned resources, and created lasting change.

Yes, there’s so much left to do—but if any organization can help transform our world, it’s Rotary.

And if any individual can make a difference, it’s YOU.

You might ask: What can one person do?

As Margaret Mead reminds us:

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

So be the leader who inspires not by command—but by example.

Place the right person in the right role.

Recognize that even flaws can carry purpose—like the story of the cracked pot. What we perceive as imperfections may be the very source of beauty.

Put your heart into everything you do.

Mother Teresa, once called “the most powerful woman on Earth,” was asked what gave her such strength. Her reply was simple, yet profound:

“Small work with great love.”

That love comes from the heart. That’s why we say:

Put your heart in what you do.

Success isn’t just about what you achieve—it’s about what you become in the process.

Let go of ego.

Communicate with clarity.

Appreciate and recognize your team.

Be flexible. Be inclusive.

There’s no room for division. Divisiveness is a disease we must never allow into our clubs. Your leadership must unite—not divide.

Motivation is the key to momentum.

Don’t just speak inspiration—walk it.

A great leader builds not with one hand—but with both—working shoulder to shoulder with others.

Stay humble. Stay hungry:

Hungry to serve.

Hungry to grow.

Hungry to lead with heart.

Let this Training Assembly be your spark.

Not just a place to learn, but a moment that ignites real, lasting change.

Let’s make 2025–26 a Rotary year with no regrets.

A year filled with bold actions, warm hearts, and purposeful leadership.

A year better than the best.

Because the future of Rotary… is YOU.

And when you lead with heart, remember:

“Service Above Self” is not just our motto—it is our mission.

And Rotary… truly creates miracles.

Wishing you a year full of heart, hope, and heroic service.

Let’s Lead. Let’s Serve. Let’s Unite for Good.

Rotary Brings Miracles – Let Us Unite for Good

my dear fellow Rotarians, dignitaries, respected guests, and friends in service,

It fills my heart with immense pride and gratitude to stand before you today to speak about something that is not just a part of Rotary—it is its soul. I’m referring to The Rotary Foundation—a silent yet powerful force that continues to shape lives, restore hope, and transform communities around the world.

The Rotary Foundation is not just an institution—it is a movement. A movement born out of a simple yet profound idea—to Do Good in the World. These words, first spoken in 1917 by Rotary’s 6th President, Arch Klumph, marked the beginning of a journey that continues to inspire millions even today.

It all started with a mere $26.50—a modest sum, almost inconsequential in today’s economy. But what it represented was priceless. It represented vision, courage, and compassion. And from that small seed grew a legacy that now raises over $450 million annually and has built a corpus of more than $2 billion in cash and commitments. If that isn’t a miracle, what is?

Yes, my friends, Rotary brings miracles—and the Foundation is the bridge between dreams and reality.

Let me take a moment to highlight one of the greatest success stories in global public health—the fight against polio. Since 1988, The Rotary Foundation has been at the forefront of this mission, having already spent over $2.6 billion and immunized more than 3 billion children across the globe.

Back in 1988, polio was a terrifying disease, affecting over 350,000 children annually, in 125 countries. Today, thanks to Rotary’s tireless efforts, that number is in single digits, and the disease remains endemic in just two countries—Pakistan and Afghanistan. We are truly on the brink of making history—of eradicating only the second disease in human history after smallpox. And by the time we’re done, our total contribution will have exceeded $3 billion.

But this isn’t just about money. It’s about lives. It’s about mothers who can now see their children grow without fear. It’s about communities who’ve regained hope. It’s about Rotary standing tall, quietly but powerfully, behind one of the world’s greatest humanitarian efforts.

And that’s just one example. The Rotary Foundation works tirelessly across its seven areas of focus:

1. Peacebuilding and conflict prevention
2. Disease prevention and treatment
3. Water, sanitation, and hygiene
4. Maternal and child health
5. Basic education and literacy
6. Community economic development
7. Supporting the environment

Each of these focus areas addresses the most urgent needs of humanity. Each one tells a story of change—of how we, as Rotarians, Unite for Good.

Our Foundation has gained the trust of the world. Partners like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which has contributed over $1.2 billion towards polio eradication, and corporate giants like the Aditya Birla Group, which donated $19 million, have placed their faith in us. Why? Because we deliver. Because our stewardship is of the highest order. Because we don’t just fund change—we drive it.

For the past 16 consecutive years, The Rotary Foundation has received a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator—a remarkable achievement that very few global nonprofits can boast. Our Foundation is run by 15 trustees, chosen not just for their leadership, but for their unwavering commitment to Rotary values.

And yet, despite all this, the demand still far exceeds what we can provide. Every year, districts around the world submit requests for funding—requests for education programs, healthcare missions, vocational training, disaster relief, and so much more. And many of those requests go unmet—not because we lack the will, but because we lack the funds.

This is where we come in.

Each of us, each club, has the power to become a champion for The Rotary Foundation. Let us reach out to corporates, let us tap into CSR opportunities, let us make a compelling case for partnership. When a company supports The Rotary Foundation, they’re not just donating—they’re becoming part of something meaningful, impactful, and lasting.

We are not fundraisers—we are change-makers. And the Foundation is our vehicle for that change.

Let me remind you again: Rotary brings miracles. But miracles don’t happen on their own. They happen when people like you and me decide to act. They happen when we Unite for Good—with compassion, with integrity, and with the belief that a better world is not only possible, but within reach.

So today, I urge you to not just support The Rotary Foundation—but to champion it. Speak about it. Raise awareness. Inspire others. Be the spark that ignites hope across continents.

Together, let us keep this flame burning bright. Let us continue doing good in the world. And let us show the world what Rotary can do—because when we unite, we don’t just serve… we create miracles.

Thank you.

And God bless Rotary.

Good Morning , Rotarians and friends,
It gives me immense pleasure to stand before you today at this Training Assembly, a moment where leadership, vision, and purpose come together.
And today, I am here to appreciate someone who exemplifies all of that — our incoming District Governor Dr Manish Motwani , a truly knowledgeable and dedicated Rotary Leader .
Next year, our District will be in his exceptional hands.
His deep understanding of Rotary values, his tireless commitment, and his forward-thinking approach have already begun setting new standards.
One such remarkable initiative is the physical distribution of the District Directory — a copy that will reach every single Rotarian in the District. It’s more than a book — it’s a symbol of unity, accessibility, and connection.
But he hasn’t stopped there.
His vision extends beyond our own circles.
Each month, physical copies of his Governor’s monthlong Letter will reach not just Rotarians, but over 2,500 non-Rotarians.
No District Governor has ever attempted this before. It’s a bold and brilliant step to widen our circle of influence, spark curiosity, and share Rotary’s good work with the wider community.
All of this beautifully aligns with the message from our World President — “Unite for Good.”
These words are not just a theme — they are a call to action. And our incoming Governor is showing us what that looks like in practice: uniting Rotarians through communication, connecting with the community, and inspiring us all to act with purpose.
So let us take a moment to appreciate this inspiring leader — for his vision, his energy, and his commitment to excellence. We look forward to walking this journey with you Manish, united for good, and stronger than ever.
Thank you.

RI District 3142 – 20th April

DISTRICT LEARNING ASSEMBLY

It is both an honor and a privilege to stand before you today in this prestigious District, addressing leaders who will assist and inspire DGE Harsh throughout the upcoming Rotary year. 

Your commitment and hospitality make this moment even more special, and I deeply appreciate the opportunity to be part of this gathering.

Since I became a District Governor, I’ve had the privilege of attending District Learning Assemblies not only in our district but also across India. 

The energy, the excitement, and the sense of purpose that incoming leaders bring to this occasion always stand out. They are poised to make an impact, ready to guide and inspire the clubs, and above all, to lead by example.

The District Learning Assembly is, in many ways, a university for Rotary leaders—a place where knowledge, strategies, and guidelines are imparted to those entrusted with leading the district and the clubs . 

As leaders, we must learn to engage with fellow Rotarians on equal footing, respecting their experiences and perspectives. 

This is a noble, demanding mission—leading among equals. Leadership, like a relay race, is not about stopping to pass the baton but about running side by side, at the same speed, as we transfer our responsibilities.

Remember, your year as a leader in Rotary is not a marathon; it’s a 365-day sprint. Be quick off the blocks, keep your momentum, and finish strong.

This assembly also highlights the key focus areas of Rotary and our district, guiding us toward the year’s theme and ensuring we understand how to align our service with Rotary’s global objectives.

When Paul Harris founded Rotary, who could have foreseen that it would become the global force for good it is today? We are now in our second century, and we are wiser and more powerful than ever before.

Rotary’s strength lies in its members. Each Rotarian has the potential to be an agent of change, driven by a deep well of compassion and a desire to serve. 

The future of Rotary depends on how we, as individuals, act. If we act with purpose, Rotary will thrive. In turn, we must BE THE INSPIRATION—set the example and lead with heart.

DGE Harsh, fresh from the International Assembly, is with full of ideas, innovation, and tools for implementation. 

His leadership will transform this Learning Assembly into an arena of action, compassion, and communication. 

I have no doubt that, together, we will leave no stone unturned in our quest to educate, motivate and  inspire club leadership, ensuring success throughout the year.

Leadership in Rotary is not about power or authority—it is about accountability. As we move forward, we do so united by common ideals and driven by the shared goal of serving humanity. 

Rotary leadership is both an art and a science—an art of building friendships, awakening enthusiasm, and inspiring others, and a science of turning dreams into reality, maintaining unity in diversity, and multiplying efforts to achieve great goals.

As we look toward the future, we must reflect on the countless lives changed by Rotary and the Rotary Foundation. 

From eradicating polio to providing clean water, education, and peace, Rotary’s impact is global, and every Rotarian is part of that transformative work. We are not just participants in a program; we are agents of change, and together, we can do more than we ever imagined.

Margaret Mead’s famous words remind us that “a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.” This is the power of Rotary, and it’s the power of each of you as leaders.

Let us also remember that leadership in Rotary is an opportunity—an opportunity to do extraordinary things with ordinary people. This is the essence of Rotary’s strength. 

As we lead, let us create new paths, embracing change and fostering the kind of leadership that builds a better future. 

Rotary founder Paul Harris was firm in his belief that Rotary must adapt to the changing world, and it is our responsibility to ensure that it continues to do so.

Service to humanity is not innate; it is something we learn through experience and through the example set by others. 

To be effective, we must continuously educate ourselves, just as athletes and artists perfect their crafts through dedicated training. Leadership, too, requires ongoing learning and growth.

As we enter this new Rotary year, I urge you to put your heart into everything you do. Mother Teresa, once called the “most powerful woman on earth,” famously said that it is “small work with great love” that makes a difference. 

This love—the love we have for humanity and for service—is the fire that fuels our mission. DGE Harsh has full faith in your leadership, and together, we will turn this year into one of lasting impact.

Be knowledgeable—both about Rotary and about the people we serve. 

Every leader must create opportunities, not just by identifying problems, but by transforming challenges into chances to make a difference. As we face challenges, let us remember that there are no problems, only opportunities to innovate and grow.

Effective communication is crucial in Rotary leadership. As you lead, your clubs will follow not because they have to, but because they believe in your vision. 

A good leader communicates effectively, recognizing and appreciating the contributions of others. In the end, a great leader doesn’t just tell or explain—he or she inspires and motivates.

Rotary’s power lies in its ability to transform lives and communities. Our membership growth is vital to that power. Every new member brings fresh energy and ideas. It is not enough to recruit members—we must inspire them to be part of something bigger than themselves.

The Rotary Foundation fuels our global impact, and every contribution is an investment in a better world. 

Every dollar given is a seed of change, helping to create vaccines, provide clean water, and promote peace. Together, we are writing a story far greater than any one of us.

Finally, remember that leadership in Rotary demands humility and hunger. Humility to recognize that we are always learning, and hunger to achieve more, to inspire others, and to leave a lasting impact.

Let’s embrace the challenges of leadership with the knowledge that we are capable of great things. Rotary is alive with opportunity, and it is up to us to seize that opportunity and make a difference.

As Robert Frost said,

“The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.”

Let’s continue to serve, lead, and create a future where Rotary’s light shines even brighter.

Thank you, and let’s make history together!! 

Thank you for gathering today as we discuss one of Rotary International’s longest-standing and most impactful commitments—the global eradication of polio. This fight has been at the core of Rotary’s mission for decades, and today I want to emphasize why, despite remarkable progress, polio eradication remains a top priority for our organization and why, until every last child is protected, our work remains unfinished.
The journey began in 1985 when Rotary launched the PolioPlus program, setting an ambitious goal to immunize the world’s children against polio. Back then, polio paralyzed or killed an estimated 1,000 people every day in 125 countries. Today, thanks to the efforts of Rotary and our partners, cases have dropped by over 99.9%, and the disease is now endemic in just two countries: Afghanistan and Pakistan. This is one of the greatest public health achievements in human history, and Rotarians like you have been at the heart of it.
Yet, our work is not complete. The reality is that until polio is eradicated everywhere, children everywhere remain at risk. We have learned from history that diseases left unchecked can quickly spread, and as long as there is one case of polio anywhere, there is a risk of outbreaks everywhere. We’ve seen it recently in areas of Africa and even in parts of the developed world where the virus reemerged, reminding us that we cannot afford to let our guard down. It’s a sobering reminder that in this interconnected world, we are only as strong as our most vulnerable communities.
Moreover, the work we are doing has long-lasting benefits beyond polio. The infrastructure and networks Rotary has helped create, including disease surveillance systems, healthcare networks, and partnerships with governments and organizations like the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, have been instrumental not just in polio eradication but in fighting other diseases and responding to health crises. During the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, these systems helped deliver vaccines, track outbreaks, and protect communities, showing the far-reaching impact of our polio eradication work.
But this fight also underscores Rotary’s commitment to service, to leaving a lasting impact on global health, and to achieving what was once thought impossible. Eradicating a disease is one of humanity’s greatest and rarest achievements—smallpox is the only disease to be eradicated to date—and we have an incredible opportunity to join the ranks of those who have changed the course of history. We owe it to the millions of children who have been saved, the frontline workers who risk their lives, and the communities who look to us for leadership.
Our commitment to polio eradication is a commitment to a healthier, safer, and more just world. It reminds us that change is possible when we work together with purpose, persistence, and compassion. And it calls upon each of us, Rotarians, to remain steadfast in this mission until the very last case of polio is gone.
Think of the impact we’ve made. Thanks to Rotarians worldwide, millions of children are immunized, and countless lives are saved from the life-altering effects of this preventable disease.
Rotarians have been donating generously to the polio eradication efforts. Over US$2.6 billion has been collected and spent by The Rotary Foundation worldwide for the polio eradiation work. In Indian alone TRF has disbursed over US$ 275 million. Over 3.6 billion children have been vaccinated worldwide.
 Our commitment doesn’t end with the last case; it’s a multi-faceted approach that strengthens health systems, mobilizes local leaders, and empowers entire communities. Eradicating polio means eradicating poverty, creating healthier societies, and investing in a future where no one suffers from this terrible disease.
 The increase in polio cases in our neighbouring countries Pakistan and Afghanistan is worrying. There are nearly 56 cases reported from these two countries. You may be aware that India shares land borders with 7 Countries.  India has 15,106.7 Kms of land border and a coastline of 7,516.6 Kms including island territories. With Pakistan we share a border for 3,323 Kms and with Afghanistan we have border for 106 Kms. This is sufficient for polio to come back into our country if we are not vigilant.
In a sudden unexpected turn of events, a child from Meghalaya was reported to be affected with polio just two months ago. Then there was this news from Chennai on October 23rd that said that many children have not been vaccinated against polio. Lowering the guard means that polio is again trying to come back.
 Donors play a critical role in the global fight against polio, funding initiatives that have reduced polio cases by over 99% since 1988. Organizations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Health Organization (WHO), and various governments work together through the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) to provide essential resources. These funds support vaccination campaigns, surveillance, and efforts to strengthen health systems, especially in countries with high transmission rates.
The cost of polio eradication is substantial. The GPEI estimates that it will require around $4.8 billion from 2022 to 2026 to achieve and sustain a polio-free world. Rotary alone has contributed over $2.6 billion since its polio eradication efforts began, and other donors continue to match and supplement these funds. Together, these investments ensure that vaccines reach even the most remote communities, bringing the world closer to ending polio once and for all.
We stand at the edge of a historic victory: the eradication of polio. Rotary has been a driving force behind the global fight against this debilitating disease, and thanks to our collective efforts, cases have dropped by over 99% worldwide. However, until we reach zero cases, every child remains at risk, and our mission remains unfinished.
Now, more than ever, your commitment is essential. Every contribution, big or small, moves us closer to a polio-free world. From raising awareness in our communities to supporting vaccination efforts, each action strengthens our fight. Imagine the legacy we leave behind—a world where polio is a thing of the past. Together, we can make this vision a reality. Let’s work tirelessly, so future generations will live in a world free from the threat of polio. Join us in this final push—because the end of polio starts with us.
In the words of Rotary’s founder Paul Harris, “Whatever Rotary may mean to us, to the world it will be known by the results it achieves.” Let’s ensure that one of those results is a polio-free world—a world we can proudly pass on to future generations. Together, let’s finish the job.

It is an honor to address you today on a topic of immense significance—the importance of tapping into and utilizing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds for Rotary projects in India. As Rotarians, we are committed to service above self, and CSR provides us with a powerful avenue to amplify our impact and bring about transformative change in our communities.
India is one of the few countries in the world where CSR is mandated by law. Under Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013, companies meeting certain financial thresholds are required to allocate 2% of their average net profits towards CSR activities. This legislation has unlocked a vast reservoir of funds, amounting to thousands of crores annually, earmarked for social development. For organizations like Rotary, which have a proven track record of executing impactful projects, this presents an extraordinary opportunity.
Rotary’s core areas of focus—such as education, health, water and sanitation, economic development, and environmental sustainability—align seamlessly with the objectives of CSR. By leveraging CSR funds, we can scale up our initiatives, expand our reach, and deliver sustainable solutions to some of India’s most pressing challenges. Let me highlight a few reasons why this collaboration is not just beneficial but essential.
 First, CSR funding allows us to dream bigger. Many Rotary projects are constrained by limited resources, which often limits their scope and impact. With access to CSR funds, we can undertake large-scale initiatives, such as providing state-of-the-art equipment in schools, giving advanced medical equipment to underserved hospitals, or implementing community-wide water purification systems. These are projects that not only address immediate needs but also create long-term benefits for society.
Second, CSR partnerships bring expertise and innovation. Corporates bring with them a wealth of knowledge, technology, and management skills that can enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of our projects. For instance, a tech company might help us implement digital literacy programs, while a manufacturing firm could assist in developing low-cost housing solutions. Such collaborations enrich our work and ensure that our projects are aligned with global best practices.
Third, CSR funding fosters accountability and transparency. Corporates are required to report on the outcomes of their CSR initiatives, which aligns perfectly with Rotary’s emphasis on measurable impact and ethical stewardship of resources. This mutual commitment to accountability strengthens trust and ensures that every rupee spent delivers maximum value.
However, to fully tap into this potential, we as Rotarians must adopt a proactive approach. This means building relationships with corporate leaders, understanding their CSR priorities, and presenting them with well-researched, impactful project proposals. It also means showcasing the credibility and effectiveness of Rotary’s work, backed by data and success stories.
Additionally, we must foster an ecosystem of collaboration, where Rotary clubs, corporates, and local communities work hand in hand. By aligning our goals and pooling our resources, we can achieve outcomes that are greater than the sum of their parts.
In conclusion, CSR funds represent a golden opportunity for Rotary to deepen its impact and accelerate its mission of creating lasting change. Together, with the support of corporate partners, we can address the challenges of poverty, illiteracy, and inequality, and build a brighter, more inclusive future for India.
 Let us embrace this opportunity with enthusiasm and determination. Let us forge partnerships that exemplify the Rotary spirit of service above self. And let us commit to transforming lives, one project at a time.

There was a time, in the history of this service organisation, when it was considered to be a big reward to be invited to join Rotary and do service to humanity.
It is still a matter or pride to be a part of Rotary, in spite of the fact that membership development drive may have lessened the aura attached to the movement.
In today’s competitive world, service organizations play a crucial role in delivering exceptional experiences and meeting the diverse needs of the members in the community, especially for those who need help in healthcare, education, housing and all basic facilities for living.
However, in the pursuit of excellence, it is easy for service professionals to feel undervalued or overlooked. To counteract this, awards and recognitions have become essential tools in motivating and acknowledging the contributions of individuals and teams within service organizations.
Let us explores the significance of awards and recognitions in fostering a culture of excellence, boosting member’s morale and ultimately enhancing satisfaction for the beneficiaries from the quality of service they have received from Rotary.
1.Acknowledging Excellence
One of the primary reasons for incorporating awards and recognitions in service organizations such as Rotary clubs is to celebrate and acknowledge excellence. When members know that their hard work and dedication are being noticed and appreciated, they are more likely to be motivated to consistently perform at their best. Recognition serves as a powerful reinforcement, inspiring individuals to go above and beyond their duties and contribute more creatively and effectively to the organization’s success.

2.Fostering a Culture of Excellence
Awards and recognitions play a pivotal role in cultivating a culture of excellence within service organizations. When members witness their club and other members in their club being recognized and rewarded for their exceptional performance, it sets a precedent and creates a healthy competition. This friendly competition pushes individuals and teams to strive for greatness and contribute positively to the organization’s overall success. In turn, this culture of excellence trickles down to all levels, leading to improved service delivery and increased customer satisfaction.

3.Boosting Member’s Morale and Engagement
Member’s morale and engagement are vital factors in any service organization’s success. When members feel valued and appreciated, they are more likely to be engaged and committed to their roles. Awards and recognitions serve as a potent morale booster, fostering a sense of pride and accomplishment among members. This positive reinforcement not only strengthens the emotional bond between members and their organization but also reduces turnover rates, as members are more likely to stay in an environment where their efforts are recognized and celebrated.

4.Encouraging Continuous Improvement
Recognitions and awards often come with specific criteria and benchmarks that individuals or teams must meet to qualify. This requirement encourages employees to continuously improve their skills, knowledge and performance. In the quest for recognition, members will be motivated to seek training, feedback, and adopt innovative practices to enhance their capabilities. Consequently, this drive for continuous improvement will lead to an overall upliftment of the organization’s service quality and efficiency.

5.Enhancing Satisfaction of Beneficiaries
Service organizations that prioritize awards and recognitions tend to deliver a higher standard of satisfaction to the beneficiaries. The positive and motivated attitude of recognized members reflects in their interactions with the public they need to serve. Satisfied and motivated members are more likely to go the extra mile to provide exceptional service, creating a positive experience to those who received assistance. Ultimately, this results in increases the prestige of Rotary in the community through positive word-of-mouth, and a stronger reputation for the organization. This helps in getting big donors for the organisation who want to channelize their philanthropic activity through Rotary.

6.Motivation and Members Engagement
Awards and recognitions act as catalysts for increased motivation and members engagement. When members receive acknowledgment for their hard work and dedication, it instills a sense of pride and fulfillment in their contributions. This positive reinforcement fosters a culture of excellence, encouraging them to take ownership of their roles and strive for continuous improvement. Engaged members are more likely to be committed to the organization’s goals and deliver exceptional service, which directly impacts Rotary’s public image. This will encourage more people to join Rotary.

Awards and recognitions have emerged as a critical component in the success of service organizations. By acknowledging excellence, fostering a culture of excellence, boosting member’s morale and engagement, encouraging continuous improvement, and enhancing public satisfaction, these accolades serve as a catalyst for driving service excellence.
The benefits are not limited to individuals alone; the entire organization thrives when its workforce, the club members, feels appreciated and motivated. By recognizing and celebrating achievements, service organizations can create a positive and empowering work environment that propels them towards even greater heights of success.
While awards are not a requirement for Rotary members, they can serve as meaningful forms of recognition and motivation within the organization. Rotary International, a global service organization, places a strong emphasis on recognizing its members’ contributions and achievements.
Rotary clubs often initiate and participate in impactful service projects that address local and global challenges. Awards can highlight successful projects and showcase their positive outcomes, inspiring other clubs to replicate them.
Rotary offers leadership opportunities for members to serve in various club and district roles. Recognizing exceptional leadership and growth within these roles can encourage members to take on leadership responsibilities and develop their skills.
Ultimately, while awards are not mandatory, they can be a valuable tool for reinforcing Rotary’s core values, encouraging service and fostering a spirit of fellowship and collaboration among members.

Honesty and Integrity, Faithfulness and Sincerity, Love and Devotion, Austerity and Simplicity, Purity and Proprietary , Truthfulness and Trust Worthiness, Modesty and Nobility together with the crowning Spirituality makes Smt Rajashree Ji Birla an embodiment of Sterling Character.

In a world often characterized by greed and self-interest, philanthropists stand as beacons of hope, using their resources and influence to make a positive impact on society. Shrimathi Rajashree Ji  Birla is a paragon of philanthropy

She is a compassionate individual and believe in the transformative power of giving, dedicating her time, wealth, and expertise to uplift communities, advance important causes and create lasting change.

From funding education and healthcare initiatives to supporting environmental conservation and social justice movements, Smt . Rajashree ji  Birla has played a crucial role in shaping a better future for all sections of the society .

Her philanthropy goes beyond mere financial contributions; it encompasses a genuine passion for creating positive change and a commitment to addressing societal challenges.

The Philanthropy of Shrimathi Rajashree ji Birla manifests in various forms, tailored to the unique interests, values, and resources each occasion needs.

While some philanthropists choose to establish only foundations or charitable organizations, she has also opted for strategic partnerships with existing service organisation such as Rotary International.

Her contribution of over Rs 150 Crores  to PolioPlus and over Rs.20 crores for other welfare activities of Rotary clubs in India speak volumes of her generosity.

Additionally, Rajashree ji also engages in direct involvement through volunteering, mentorship, or advocating for policy changes.

The versatility of her knowledge allows individuals working with her cause to make a difference in areas that resonate with their personal experiences or concerns.

Beyond financial contributions, Rajashree ji often acts as catalysts for social change.

She leverages her influence, networks, and platforms to raise awareness about pressing issues, challenges the status quo, and advocates  justice and equality.

Her visionary leadership and commitment inspires others to get involved and contribute to the betterment of society.

With great power comes great responsibility. As a Philanthropists Rajashree ji is mindful of the ethical considerations that underpins her work.

She strives for transparency in accounting, ensuring that funds are allocated effectively and efficiently.

Smt. Rajashree ji Birla embodies the compassion, generosity, and commitment to humanity that resides within her.

Through their selfless acts, she demonstrates that a single person can make a substantial difference in the lives of many.

Her vision, dedication, and resources empower communities, inspire change, and leave a lasting legacy.

In a world that often yearns for positive transformation, philanthropists such as Rajashree ji  provide hope and remind us of the immense power of giving.

With all this she is truly Paragon of Philanthropy and what better person could be there to Present this coveted Rotary recognition to her than very respected Bahama Kumari Shivani Ji .

Who will be an ideal leader for an organisation such as Rotary? This leadership question starts from the club level and goes up to the RI President. When you are elected as a leader of Rotary, in which ever level, remember your name and image probably, will hang alongside with stalwarts who donned the mantel before you. RI leaders get airbrushed and even take a mythical status. But what is important is that the people who elected you should not forget you after your term is over.

Every RI leadership position is a relay race. You take the baton from someone, run your leg as hard as you can, then hand it over to someone else. The pages of Rotary in India will chronicle the runners in that race. Each of you is tasked with trying to bring Rotary we love closer to its highest aspirations. 

When future generations browse through the pages of Rotary in India and look at your name and image, they should get a better and honest sense of you were as a leader. They should aspire to begin with a deeper understanding of the high ethical standards you have set and take a pledge to maintain the remarkable traditions of Rotary.

Rtn. Raju Subramaniam is a dispassionate person since he is a legal luminary of India. Hence, he will be a fair-minded leader in Rotary. His ability to work with all sections of the society will provide a platform for membership growth and development of Rotary in India. It is said  that a leader must have a desire to  create the ground for action. The desire to lead must be coupled with an equally strong desire to serve. And Raju has these qualities in ample measure.

As a member of many RI committees, Raju has demonstrated his leadership skills and negotiating abilities. He is a man of vision, a man with clarity of thought and healthy ideas. This quality of his was witnessed during COL by all Rotary leaders from across the world. No wonder assignments in Rotary chase him and not the other way around. I have seen him work as RRFC, Election Review Committee, Training leader and such meaningful work.

Raju knows how to work and influence people around him like a superstar. It was well exhibited during Indore Institute.  He always comes up with an instant strategy when needed to build a great team and becomes a person who everyone else admires.

 As he takes  the mantle of RI Director in 2023 – 25 Raju will devise strategies to defeat stress and build an unbeatable mindset, unleash his full energy and will also balance his personal life and profession.

 For many years Raju has been quietly sharing with his teammates many of the success formula that has made his club , the Rotary Club of Deonar, a great Rotary club. 

Raju was always ready to make his proprietary process available to any club across the country and those who have heard him and seen his presentations have been able to get to their absolute best while helping their clubs and districts to achieve the goals.

He has shown that Rotarians can break through to a dramatically new level of winning and performing in these uncertain times. This quality of Raju has been witnessed by all of us as RRFC in Zone 4 . Raju’s willingness to work 24×7 inspires others. His readiness to leave everyone he meets better than what he found them encourages people to join Rotary and give even more of their life to helping others.

Borrowing the words of Mahatma Gandhi, I must say that Raju “In a gentle way he has shaken the way Rotary works here,” It is said that leaders are always improving and raising their bar on how superbly they can perform and how quickly they can move.

Mr. Director Elect, I have a simple Guru Mantra for success, which is, “The size of your success will be measured by the strength of your desire, the size of your dream and how you handle your disappointments.”

Rotarians in India have high hopes on you which I am sure you will not 

disappoint them because you know that leadership is not just about what you do but what you can inspire, encourage and empower others to do.

Nayantara joins me in making a wish:

WE WISH YOU ALL THE VERY BEST, AND OF COURSE TO VIDYA, NOT ONLY FOR YOUR TERM AS THE DIRECTOR OF ROTARY INTERNATIONAL BUT IN EVERY ENDEAVOUR , TODAY, TOMORROW AND ALWAYS.

Dear President and Members of the Rotary Club of Kota

Thank you for inviting me to this installation function of your prestigious club in Rajasthan.

Though, Kota is tucked away in a remote area from Jaipur, the place is known for its soft and hard materials.

The soft textiles from Kota and the hard Kota stone are used all over India and your place is very popular with everyone.

APPRECIATIONS of SURESH AGARWAL
URDU COUPLET

AND GOOD LUCK TO INCOMING PRESIDENT VAISHALI BHARGAVA …

A great honour coupled with responsibilities.

Your club in Kota, like those elsewhere, has always believed in the idea that it is up to all of us to meet the challenges of the world.

That is why we have to Imagine Rotary in every corner of the world, for it is people like you who are the heart of Rotary’s programmes.

Let me start with the story of the teacher

A young man went over to another elderly man at a wedding reception and said “Do you remember me?”

NO I don’t, who are you? Asked the elderly person.

The young man replied you’re my teacher!

The other replied Oh! and what do you do?

He said I too am a teacher

How did you come to be a teacher?

It’s because of the impact you had on me

What kind of an impact did I have on you?

He said, well I’ll narrate this tory which happened when I was in the 3rd grade and I’m sure you will then remember my name and who I am.

I Stole a friend’s watch, who then complaint to the principal, teacher locked the classroom, told them to line up facing the wall with their eyes closed.

One by one he went through the pockets. It was the most shameful day of my life…

Teacher found the watch in his pocket and he was mentally prepared to be shamed .

He still went through the rest of the pockets.. he did not stop…

Then he returned the watch to the owner…yet he didn’t say a word to either the owner or stealer….that’s what left such a deep impact….

How can you not then remember me?

He said I can’t….coz even the teacher had closed his eyes while going through the pockets…

That’s what teachers are…..reformers, parents, guides, shapers of the future…

That’s we Rotarians are too…reformers, guides, givers and shapers of the future.

Rotarians of this club have been engaged in group discussions on value-based leadership and explored innovative solutions in membership development.

If we want membership in Rotary to increase, we have to work at it.

We have to nurture Rotary everywhere in the world, especially in India and demonstrate its value again and again in improving the lives of ordinary people.

I am informed by your District leaders that you are building diverse coalitions in the community and strengthening the relationships between people. This has resulted in your growth.

In an increasingly globalized world, forging connections is more important than ever.

We know that young people with a passion for public service will be the ones to bridge divides and set a better course for the future of Rotary.

I share the belief that connection doesn’t just enrich our own lives—it helps communities come together, forge common bonds and solve big problems.

You have to bring together the next generation of leaders and help them build connections and learn from each other.

As we’re seeing around the world, we can’t take democracy, or tolerance, or progress for granted. We have to work for it. And that means supporting the individuals who want to be forces for good.

As the relentless ticking of the clock draws closer to the end of one Rotary year and the beginning of the new one, the sounds of ticking convey the message of continuity in action, service and commitment.

One leader may step down and another leader may take the baton of Service for the next year, the object of Rotary remains unchanged.

Service continues, the methodology of service continues, the commitment continues, the journey continues, the destination remains unchanged.

Only the driver has changed. The wind screen wiper cleans the visor and the fuel tank gets filled.

I wish very sincerely that the new driver in Vaishali charts newer pathways, progress through the narrow lanes of service and comes out amidst a vast open space of fresh ideas, fresh inputs, fresh visions.

The installation of a Club President as the first leader of the Club evokes a sense of awe, celebration and commitment.

This “leads the way” to percolation of the same sense at the Board Of Director level. Finally this permeates to the individual Rotarians who are the only people to ensure success for the year.

The entire outcome depends on individual Rotarians who are going to proffer their hands to serve, their heart to generate compassion and their heads to conceive new ideas.

The Rotarians are already charged with ideas, dreams and commitments as they traverse through the district assembly and other learning sessions.

The Club President whose address charged with effervescence makes translation of thoughts in to action possible and sincerity can ensure success of the Rotary year.

The time to think is over.
The time to plan is also over.
The time to perform now holds the center of the road, on which the vehicle called Rotary is going to be driven.

The road is not necessarily smooth. It is often narrow and at times almost a one-way street from where you cannot reverse.

The glove compartment of the vehicle has a map-the road map of Rotary’s scheduled journey.

The Club President must ensure a smooth passage if he or she were to guide the vehicle with precision and attention.

The chair of the Club President entails lots of responsibilities, many heartache, some failures but more gains as the Club President receives the love and commitment of all the Rotarians of the Club.

He or she gains friends, as never had it before. This is the greatest asset he or she can acquire and cherish.

A Club President has dreamt of some things, planned for a few more, succeeded in creating a blue print of tasks ahead and is full of enthusiasm and commitments

It is for the Rotarian of the Club to convert dreams in to reality, thoughts into action and hazy ideas into clear images.

With President Vaishali at the helm, you have an excellent leader, a visionary and a person who knows not the meaning of the word “failure”.

In your President, you have a person who enjoys the faith of so many and the commitments of so many more.

The true test of your faith is when you rally around her and let her spread the message “ IMAGINE ROTARY ” for many to follow.

I am sure of the success because you are behind the leader.

The real success of a Club or The President arises from the involvement of The Board of Directors, The Various Committee Chairs, Sr. Rotary Leaders Like The Past President, Or The Past District Governors and all those Rotarians who are yet to be Club leaders

The only hands that will work, serve, help, solace, teach, invigorate and act are the hands of hundreds of Rotarians in the Club.

A Club President is only a motivating force, a planning commissioner or a blueprint artist.

It is, therefore, my friends, the promises that Rotarians of the Club give, commitments they ensure and actions that will translate into projects that will bring glory to Rotary Club Of Kota in 2022-23.

President Vaishali you are lucky to have a dedicated team of workers, thinkers who will be there to help you fulfil all your dreams and make you spread the message of our World Leader Jennifer Jone – “ Imagine Rotary ”

Rtn. Vaishali you have been selected to lead this wonderful Club during this momentous year because of your sterling qualities and friendly nature.

My message to you today is that you must finish strong at the end of your term in June 2023.

The difference in your success or failure is not chance but choice.

Finishing strong is more than a statement. It is an attitude.

It’s an attitude of believing you can do something and having the courage and determination to see it through.

FORMULA FOR SUCCESS
BRIDE TO BRIDEGROOM

Margaret Thatcher was a Rotarian as was her father.

He always used to tell her, “Don’t be afraid to be different – don’t blindly follow the path – instead make a new path for others to follow.”

Your Club has produced Four top leaders for Rotary International, and being near the seat of such Stalwarts of Rotary, much will be expected from you and all the Rotarians of Rotary Club Of Kota to raise the flag of Rotary in India to greater heights.

MOTIVATION—-

To be a good leader one must Motivate hisor her team.

The dictionary describes Motivation as “the process, which gives incentive to arouse , sustain & regulatethe human bhaviour”

How true it is in the present context for it applies to your role as the President or the office bearer of the Club or as the member of the Board or a Committee Chair in the Club.?

Remember- The Mediocre Leaders Tell

The Good Leaders Explain

The Superior Leaders Demonstrate

But Only The Great Leaders Inspire & Motivate.

MOTIVATE YOURSELF FIRST THEN MOTIVATE OTHERS…..

My dear President and Friends, Always remember the two words Humble and Hungry as the key to your career of continuous improvement and growth Whether you are trying to make a name for yourself or you have achieved the pinnacle of success.

Don’t ever feel that you know every thing.

Every day you get an opportunity to learn some thing. The success or failure should not get in to your head.

Be kind to every one and let people know that they matter.

Live with Humility because the moment you think that you have arrived at the door of greatness it will get shut on your face.

Never give up and never be afraid of failure. No matter how successful you get, no matter how much you achieve, you always have to be Hungry for more.

You always have to be Hungry for learning new things. You always have to be Hungry to have more achievements. You should be Hungry to make your mark and you should be Hungry to be seen and to be heard to have an effect out there.

RAISE THE BAR…..

But as you move on and become successful make sure to also stay Hungry for helping others and looking beyond yourself.

EIGHT – WORD PHILOSOPHY

Perhaps, my simple eight word philosophy can be your daily motto throughout this year. Aim high; Work hard; Serve well; Love much.

Friends , I have no doubt that with the support of everyone of you , Rotary Club Of Kota , under the pulsating leadership of Vaishali and her team will reach where others have never reached.

She has strong dreams vivid dreams, rosy dreams, possible dreams and significant dreams. As she sets forth to Imagine Rotary , I join her and request you all to join her in this journey of attainment. May God be with her.

CONGRATULATIONS !!!

 

Rotary encourages you to express your deepest feelings towards humanity. 

 

We are sharing our passion for Service and hope to make this world a better place to live in for everyone.

 

Success is assured when you decide how a situation should be. 

 

Only when you are brave enough to venture into the darkness you will discover the power of the light within you.

Covid 19 pandemic came as a blow to the entire world but scientists worked hard to find vaccines. 

 

Now we know that there is a need to develop vaccines quicky. Experts caution us about more such pandemics in the years to come. 

 

So, what is the role of Rotary in this scenario as far as the Rotary in Tamil Nadu is considered ?

 

To begin with the Government of Tamil Nadu has sought the help of Rotary clubs in the State to assist in their vaccination drive. 

 

This is a good beginning. I have already circulated the letter from the Government of Tamil Nadu to all District Governors. This will give you details on what exactly the Government expects from us the Rotarians.

 

1.      The immediate task seems to be the need for making the target group of people register for vaccination. 

 

Rotary Clubs can organise mobile units in rural areas with at least two personal computers in each unit with qualified and trained operators who can help uneducated people register for vaccination at their nearest centre. They should have the entire list of Government authorized centres in their data base. 

 

They should be able to guide the elderly and those needing help in understanding the online registration or walk-in and registration process.

 

 

2.      The cubs in each district must be able to mobilse cold storage units if needed by the Government.

 

3.      The clubs in each district must be able to moilise transport facility for vaccines if needed by the Government.

 

4.      The clubs in each district should have a team of volunteers briefed and ready to go to the field with proper safety measures in place and interact with the people when advocacy is needed in removing vaccine hesitancy. NO ARGUMENT 

 

5.      The clubs in each district must advise their members who go to the field to wear visible Rotary emblems in their attire/aprons/caps. 

 

6.      The District leaders can approach the local authorities or the State Election Commission as the case may be now, to get permission to erect hoardings and banners promoting vaccination  with Rotary emblems.

 

7.      Handbills can be printed for distribution through newspaper vendors or at prominent places where people visit for shopping or leisure. The hand bills should be printed in English and local languages. 

 

The handbills can have a list or dos and don’ts. One such don’t is reminding them to avoid alcohol three days before and after vaccination. 

 

8.      Eligible Rotary members must set the example by getting themselves vaccinated and this can be promoted in social media for others to get the confidence. Today, after the Leaders got themselves vaccinated the vaccine hesitancy has reduced by 36 percent.

 

9.      As this vaccination phase is a crucial time for people, Rotary Clubs must be able to answer a variety of questions about the safety and efficacy of the vaccines should someone ask about it.

 

10.      Rotarians who are registered medical practitioners, can be encouraged to volunteer their service at centres which may need additional trained people to vaccinate the people. This of course on the request from the government.

 

11.     Refreshments and food can be provided to staff working at Government medical centres.  

 

12 – We should tap the resources available through ÇSR . You will appreciate that in Polio Eradication program we had all the financial support through T R F where as in our fight against Covid we have to raise funds from our contacts . I am happy to inform you all that PDG  J B Kamdar has accepted the responsibility of raising funds . That does not mean that he has to do all alone . We all have to support in raising funds . I will always there with him . 

 

13 – As per the reports from media the number of cases are on the rise in T N and more so in Chennai that means we need to be more vigilant to see that proper discipline is observed in the community. 

 

Please understand that this is an opportunity to gain public support for Rotary and your image of how you are handling the advocacy efforts will reflect on Rotary’s Public Image. Use it well. 

 

The launch of the much-awaited vaccine for Covid 19 is not an end to this pandemic.  

 

Rotary has to work in the community for improving living standards, availability of antibiotics and vaccine and educate people to keep the surroundings pristine and themselves physically fit.  

 

We have to promote social distancing, wearing masks in public places, hand hygiene and other precautions that the Government may stipulate from time to time.  

 

As I told you, vaccine is the first step in containing the virus and we cannot let our guard down.  

 

This must be made known to the public. But start with your Rotary Clubs first. I keep seeing innumerable pictures of meetings of Rotarians and not one of them is wearing a mask.  

 

We have lost many friends in the past one year than during the last 6 years and nearly all of them were victims of Covid and related causes. 

 

So, even if the Government relaxes certain norms for public gathering, you should not and also show to the people that you will set an example before preaching.  

 

Rotary volunteers from all the Districts in Tamil Nadu will be required to mobilize the targeted group to come for vaccination. 

 

You in your designer T Shirts made for this occasion, wearing caps and other materials sporting Rotary logo must induce confidence among the people that Covid can be eradicated with the vaccine.  

 

India has already begun administering the second dose of vaccine to the targeted groups.  

 

We have to help the Government to exponentially increase the pace of vaccination. 

 

There is substantial scope for improvement in the number of average vaccinations per session.  

 

This may involve using the services of celebrities from various fields and showing it in the social media. Use cost effective methods. 

 

As the Covid 19 vaccination campaign continues with varying degrees of enthusiasm in the country, in the second phase of the drive for those over 50 years of age, I call upon Rotarians and their family members to get the jab.  

 

The targets fixed by the Government is not being achieved and several reasons are being attributed to the slow off take with software glitches, adverse events and uncertainty over the efficacy of the vaccine being among the many reasons. 

 

Our partners, the Inner-wheel members and Rotaractors are of great help in every humanitarian programme. Involve them. They can spread the message in their own circles. 

 

India has supplied Covid vaccines to 15 countries and another 25 nations are in the queue.  

 

The WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has suggested that other countries could adopt the strategy followed in India for vaccination and has complimented India’s efforts in containing the virus.  

 

This should be a talking point for those who are debating endlessly about the efficacy of the vaccine and Rotary members should highlight such good reports to the public during their interaction with the targeted groups. 

 

I would suggest that in the coming days, Rotary clubs put their fellowship and dinner meetings on the backburner and give more importance to how to carry the message of vaccination to the public in their area.  

 

Experts in the medical profession advocate intense awareness and education programme among people about vaccination to counter vaccine hesistancy.  

 

There could be some resistance from certain section of the community where Rotary will have to play an important role to overcome the resistance.  

 

It will not be out of place here to mention that during our Polio Eradication drive we faced such challenges which were over come  by the formation of ROTARY ULEMAS COMMITTEE of which yours truly is still the chairman. 

 

Covid vaccination were authorized for emergency use and the lack of trust and the lack of confidence in the safety of the vaccine must be countered by Rotarians at various forums. 

 

There will be many reports and findings in the press in the days to come. It will be necessary for the District Governors , Zonal Co-ordinators assigned to Districts , District Co-ordinators and the club leadership to keep abreast with the reports before talking to the public. 

 

To overcome these challenges, to restore the confidence of people that they can eradicate Covid 19 and to secure their future, more action is required than words. 

 

It requires that all of us, all Rotarians in every district of Tamil Nadu , to unite and to take a step forward- forward literally outside their homes. 

 

This is one more challenge we will have to face and we must face it. I ask every Rotarian to join me in this cause.

 

Every year, District Governors, office bearers of over 4,000 Rotary Clubs in India and every one of the 1,53, 000 Rotarians in this country take an oath to serve the community. 

 

Earlier the oath was taken during the rising tides of prosperity and still waters of peace.

 

But in July 2020, the oath was taken amidst gathering clouds of Covid 19, raging storms about fear of life, losing jobs, uncertainty of the future and being locked down in your place.

 

 

At this time, Rotary has carried on, not simply because of the skill or vision of the leaders of the movement in various levels, but because of you, the Rotarians, who have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebears and true to our founding principle of Service Above Self. So it has been and so it must be with this generation of Rotarians

 

That we are in the midst of a crisis is well understood. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But as I know the Rotarians: They will be met. 

 

Robert Frost 

The woods are lovely dark and deep,

But I have promise to keep ,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.

The world is slowly going forward towards total eradication of polio and in India we thought that our work was nearly over few years ago. But the work now continues in another sphere, which is stopping the spread of Covid 19.

During our fight against Polio we witnessed the tremendous capacity the Rotarians have to inspire and create change.

As Rotary members we know who we are. Our mission is clear. Help in delivering good health to citizens.

Everyone of us burns with the inner fire of unbreakable will to serve humanity. No cold can touch our heart. No deluge can dampen our purpose because we know we are alive every moment for a purpose that is bigger than ourselves.

Every time I attend a Rotary Institute I refresh my memories about Rotarians who helped us to craft and preserve the story of Rotary worldwide.

Our Rotary membership is composed of thousands of volunteers, hailing from North, South, East and West of India and everywhere in between – each with unique aspirations ranging from healthcare to education technology.  We are united by a shared passion to create change in our communities.

Now the Government of India may again call upon us to assist them in the Covid vaccination drive which is launching on January 16th.

I was invited to attend a meeting with the Government officials where many other NGOs were present and at the end of the session it was clear that the Government wants us to be battle ready and when called upon, enter the arena without a delay of even one day.

Senior Rotary leaders in India have formed a task force for assisting the Government during the vaccination programme and we have to be ready to move in when we were asked to be the partners in this programme.

This task force will guide every Rotary District Leader all over India in working with the local healthcare officials.

The supply chain for vaccines including transportation, storage, handling and other logistics have been taken care by the Government.

What we may be asked to do initially is to create awareness among the public about the vaccine and remove any misconceptions that they have about the vaccine.

We faced similar situation during the polio NIDs and we know how to handle objections and questions without offending those who have genuine or imaginary notions about the vaccine.

The District Governors must now vitalize their team in the district, identify Rotarians who are Doctors, those who manage or own hospitals, those who have access to cold storage facilities, those who can roll up their sleeves and make sure that when the vaccines are rolled out, it reaches the intended beneficiaries.

Yes, we will need volunteers who can tap into the resources of big organisations in your area and use their infrastructure if need arises.

Of course we will have to raise funds for this and the details of how to send your contributions will be informed as and when the situation arises.

The Rotary movement is built on your passion to step up and change history.

When I meet you and talk, you give me hope. You, the leaders of Rotary in your district  are taking the baton.  You know that you can’t just rest on the accomplishments of the past.  You stand on the shoulders of those who came before, but you now know that it is your turn to do the work.”

And it’s the same passion that I hope you all feel right now when I say that in our fight against Covid 19, your leadership counts in making India bounce back to normalcy.

We have seen people known to us leave us during the past year because of this deadly disease. We cannot afford to lose any more now that the vaccine is here.

It doesn’t take much to get started. We can find inspiration just by learning from and listening to each other. Our task is to be fully knowledgeable on how to assist the Government in taking the programme forward.

Get your act together. Let us get out there when called for. I can’t wait to see what we can accomplish.

During our fight against polio, we came together and created a lasting reminder that when ordinary people come together, they can do something powerful, they can change history.

We know who we are and our purpose in life. It is service and today again we may have that challenge thrown to us by the Government and we must be ready.

We will work together and show that no pandemic is too big for Rotarians in India to handle.

The world is slowly going forward towards total eradication of polio and in India we thought that our work was nearly over few years ago. But the work now continues in another sphere, which is stopping the spread of Covid 19.

During our fight against Polio we witnessed the tremendous capacity the Rotarians have to inspire and create change.

As Rotary members we know who we are. Our mission is clear. Help in delivering good health to citizens.

Everyone of us burns with the inner fire of unbreakable will to serve humanity. No cold can touch our heart. No deluge can dampen our purpose because we know we are alive every moment for a purpose that is bigger than ourselves.

Every time I attend a Rotary Institute I refresh my memories about Rotarians who helped us to craft and preserve the story of Rotary worldwide.

Our Rotary membership is composed of thousands of volunteers, hailing from North, South, East and West of India and everywhere in between – each with unique aspirations ranging from healthcare to education technology.  We are united by a shared passion to create change in our communities.

Now the Government of India may again call upon us to assist them in the Covid vaccination drive which is launching on January 16th.

I was invited to attend a meeting with the Government officials where many other NGOs were present and at the end of the session it was clear that the Government wants us to be battle ready and when called upon, enter the arena without a delay of even one day.

Senior Rotary leaders in India have formed a task force for assisting the Government during the vaccination programme and we have to be ready to move in when we were asked to be the partners in this programme.

This task force will guide every Rotary District Leader all over India in working with the local healthcare officials.

The supply chain for vaccines including transportation, storage, handling and other logistics have been taken care by the Government.

What we may be asked to do initially is to create awareness among the public about the vaccine and remove any misconceptions that they have about the vaccine.

We faced similar situation during the polio NIDs and we know how to handle objections and questions without offending those who have genuine or imaginary notions about the vaccine.

The District Governors must now vitalize their team in the district, identify Rotarians who are Doctors, those who manage or own hospitals, those who have access to cold storage facilities, those who can roll up their sleeves and make sure that when the vaccines are rolled out, it reaches the intended beneficiaries.

Yes, we will need volunteers who can tap into the resources of big organisations in your area and use their infrastructure if need arises.

Of course we will have to raise funds for this and the details of how to send your contributions will be informed as and when the situation arises.

The Rotary movement is built on your passion to step up and change history.

When I meet you and talk, you give me hope. You, the leaders of Rotary in your district  are taking the baton.  You know that you can’t just rest on the accomplishments of the past.  You stand on the shoulders of those who came before, but you now know that it is your turn to do the work.”

And it’s the same passion that I hope you all feel right now when I say that in our fight against Covid 19, your leadership counts in making India bounce back to normalcy.

We have seen people known to us leave us during the past year because of this deadly disease. We cannot afford to lose any more now that the vaccine is here.

It doesn’t take much to get started. We can find inspiration just by learning from and listening to each other. Our task is to be fully knowledgeable on how to assist the Government in taking the programme forward.

Get your act together. Let us get out there when called for. I can’t wait to see what we can accomplish.

During our fight against polio, we came together and created a lasting reminder that when ordinary people come together, they can do something powerful, they can change history.

We know who we are and our purpose in life. It is service and today again we may have that challenge thrown to us by the Government and we must be ready.

We will work together and show that no pandemic is too big for Rotarians in India to handle.

Thank you.

10 years ago, Rotarians of India, helped create a history. A large, highly populated, diverse country like ours is polio free, since Jan 2011 – a monumental achievement. This incredible success was due to a seamless partnership between the Govt. of India, WHO, UNICEF, CDC, The Rotary Foundation and Gates Foundation. Each of these partners excelled in their allotted role.

Rotarians of India, are rightfully proud of this achievement but let me remind you; India is polio free but not the World. The Polio Virus, which knows no national boundaries, is still active in neighboring countries.

Thus we cannot remain complacent. We have to continue to work hard – perhaps even harder to maintain our status as a polio free country.

What do we have to do to keep ourselves safe? Recollect the four pillars of polio eradication?

The first is National Immunization days . We have to continue to play the same active role in NID & SNID.

The second is outbreak response. Govt. of India is well geared up for this.

Third is Surveillance. WHO has set up a very good system of reporting a case of AFP.

Thus out of the 4 pillars, these 3 pillars are well established & functioning well. But what about the fourth and the most important pillar? Routine Immunization.

All these years, we seem to have not given the importance to this pivotal pillar.

Routine Immunization, has however become the most important way of not only keeping our children free from Polio, but also from other diseases which affect children very commonly

If every child gets polio vaccine in Routine Immunization , a time will come when NID & SNID will not be necessary.

The problem however lies in Routine Immunization coverage in India. The average Routine Immunization coverage is not satisfactory.

Govt. of India had launched a special program called Mission Indradhanush to increase the coverage. This was followed by a Clarion call by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to raise the coverage to more than 90 % .

Rotary is an official partner of Govt. of India in increasing and then sustaining the coverage of Routine Immunization throughout India.

There are several areas in Urban India where there is a lack of awareness, fear of injection and fear of reaction to Routine Immunization.

Yes, Routine Immunization includes not just polio but 7 other vaccines most of which have to be given by injection and does cause transient low fever or rash for a day or so.

Increasing the Routine Immunization coverage will not only keep India Polio Free but also has a potential to eliminate Tetanus, Rubella, Measles etc.

Measles causes fever, dry cough, rash in children. A few children can land up with complications that may sometimes, God forbid, lead to death.

568 die of measles every day, which is approx over 2 Lac every year in the world. Rubella is also contagious disease and can cause Abortion. It can cause Blindness & Heart defects in a new born if mother is affected. It is estimated that 40000 children are born every year with Rubella complication.

Vaccination can prevent this major problem. If Measles and Rubella vaccine is given only two times to children before the age of 2 yrs, these diseases can be conquered.

WHO thinks if the Routine Immunization, which includes MR vaccine, coverage is scaled up to 95 % in all the districts in India, it is possible to eradicate measles and bring down the rate of Rubella to a manageable level.

Years of work on polio has brought some major benefits. Our infrastructure such as cold chain, transport is in place all-over India and the immense experience that we have gathered will stand us in good stead in the future.

Govt. & WHO, have the knowledge of high risk and vulnerable areas. Each and every child in our country gets identified and record of routine immunization is well maintained.

Areas of resistance to immunization, areas of low immunization coverage, are well documented.

Thus my Rotarian Friends, Measles & Rubella can be and will be eradicated eliminated but Govt. of India needs our support.

Your ability to create awareness, minimize resistance, take proactive actions and above all … your selfless volunteerism is unparallelled.

Let us join hands with Govt. to create history – yet another historical achievement awaits us.

Friends, India stands on the threshold of another gigantic task, off vaccinating 1.3 billion people with the Covid Vaccine. While the Govt. has its blueprint ready, Rotary has offered its hand of partnership, to ensure that every Indian can walk free of Covid, forever.

What is needed is your commitment – your hands and your heart. Rotary India has given us a clarion call and let us all do the miracle.

A few Urdu Couplets to be added in between.

Dear Rotarians,

Environment & Disaster Management are intrinsically linked together. We cannot look upon either of them in isolation. Degradation of Environment is caused by Us. The resultant Disasters must inevitable, be managed by Us.

Achim Steiner, Executive Director of United Nations Environment Protection says:The invoice for our climate-changing emissions will include more droughts, floods and other natural disasters. We need to ‘climate proof’ our farms, our infrastructure and our livelihoods in order to minimize our vulnerability to future disasters.

Let us see what is Environment…. It is the aggregate of all the external forces, influences and conditions, which affect the life, nature, behaviour and the growth, development and maturity of living organisms.

The environment consists of four segments:

1. The Atmosphere which is the protective blanket of gases, that surrounds the earth. The two most important gases within this are Oxygen & Carbon dioxide which control Human & Plant Life. Besides these it contains, Nitrogen, Argon, and trace gases.

2. The Hydrosphere comprising all types of water resources oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, streams, reservoir, polar icecaps, glaciers, and ground water.

3. The Lithosphere which is the outer mantle of the solid earth. It consists of minerals occurring in the earth’s crusts and the soil e.g. minerals, organic matter, air and water.

4. The Biosphere which is the realm of living organisms and their interactions with the other  three i.e atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere.

As long as there is a harmony and a healthy equilibrium among the Atmosphere, Hydrosphere and the Lithosphere, the Biosphere will flourish and thrive. The moment this harmony or equilibrium is disturbed it will affect the Biosphere by way of Natural Calamities and Disasters and Humans will have to equip themselves with smart Disaster Management Plans.

I want to make you aware of one startling fact. According to current estimates, cities occupy 4% or less of the world’s terrestrial surface, yet they are home to almost half the global population, consume close to three-quarters of the world’s natural resources, and generate three-quarters of its pollution and wastes. In the next 30 years, the world population is expected to double, accompanied by a net growth in Economy.

I imagine this should be enough to awaken you from the deepest of slumbers.

The effects of human activity that endangers the environment have caused increasing concern since the 1970s. Policy makers, the world over, have framed policies to control and mitigate this impact. However, society now faces dynamic global environmental change on such a massive scale that human activities must be adapted not only to reduce the change itself, but also to respond to the effects of that change. This my dear friends, is the Intrinsic Link that I referred to in the beginning.

It is now evident that humans are vulnerable to the Disasters caused by Environmental degradation caused by them in the first place. The fact is clear that environment, development and disasters are connected.  While it is now accepted that ecosystems are affected by disasters, it is conveniently forgotten that protecting the ecosystem can both save lives and protect livelihoods. This should form the backbone of Disaster Management System rather than just a reaction to a Disaster.

The following framework maps five pathways that connect environment to disaster risk – and ultimately link environmental management to disaster risk reduction.

Let us examine 5 phenomena that cause Disasters.

1) Development directly causes Natural hazards.

Events such as floods, droughts and earthquakes are designated as Natural Hazards. However it is now seen and understood that human activities have an impact on the timing, magnitude and frequency of these perils. Excessive and reckless urbanisation has triggered global warming and thereby affected the frequency and intensity of extreme climate events. Deforestation and desertification affect local rainfall patterns and are known cause drought.

2) Healthy ecosystems provide natural defences.

Healthy Ecological conditions can modify the frequency and magnitude of Disasters. Wetland ecosystems function as natural sponges that trap and slowly release surface water, rain, snowmelt, groundwater and flood waters. Deforestation is the main cause of flooding and mangroves, dunes and reefs create physical barriers between communities and coastal hazards.

3) Degraded ecosystems reduce community resilience.

People who live in marginal or environmentally degraded areas often struggle on a daily basis to survive. Limited livelihood alternatives, competition over scarce resources and lack of access to healthcare and other services severely limit the community’s ability to respond and recover from a hazard.

4) Some environmental impacts require immediate attention.

In most cases, the Environment recovers from disaster events. However environmental impacts can result in serious risk to life and livelihoods. Increased Industrial activity and its associated indiscriminate dumping of Effluents will continue to cause new Disasters.

5) Environmental degradation is a hazard in itself. It is a man-made disaster.Statistical data is a valuable tool to assess the patterns of Disasters and is useful in establishing strategies to reduce its vulnerability.

Before talking about the framework for Disaster Management it is essential to understand that this needs to be two-pronged. On one hand there is a need to put in place assessment systems that shall periodically review and recommend Disaster Risk Reduction.

Priority No.1: Ensure that disaster risk reduction is a national and local priority with a strong institutional basis for implementation.

National response mechanisms must be strengthened with well documented SOPs for dealing with such eventualities. This can be effectively communicated down the line. Environmental Managers must incorporate risk reduction criteria in environmental regulatory framework.

Priority No.2: Identify, assess and monitor disaster risks and enhance early warning.

Advance warning mechanisms alert us to seismic activity in real time, climate projections that based on long term changes can forecasts storms. Environmental information should be made the basis for all spatial planning. Proper buffer Zones, pragmatic land use plans and Building codes would be defence mechanisms against such eventualities. Since risk and vulnerability are dynamic, their assessment must acontinuous effort.

Priority No.3: Use knowledge, innovation and education to build a culture of safety and resilience at all levels

Disasters can be substantially reduced if people are well informed and follow a culture of prevention. Traditional knowledge of local communities on environment and disasters are very important tools. Universities and research centres need to constantly write algorithms based on past experience to make models for forecasting. They can in turn release valid data that can trigger defence mechanisms in the Community well in time.

Priority No.4: Reduce the underlying risk factors.

Natural resource exploitation, urban development and environmental degradation need to be scientifically regulated to undermine the associated risks.  Humans have induced Climate change by their indiscriminate actions and increased risks by degrading Natural ecosystems. The governance systems need to address these issues and implement strict regulations that will help mitigate this degradation.

Priority No.5: Strengthen disaster preparedness for effective response at all levels.

The coordination of evacuation, search and rescue operations, and provision of relief to survivors, is the basis of Disaster management post the event. The efficiency of the same will be based on the contingency plans developed in advance of the disaster event and based on all available risk information. Damage to industrial facilities and environmental infrastructure can pose immediate risks to survivors and threaten public health. In both the relief and recovery phases, attention to the environment is first about saving lives and then about livelihoods.

I urge every Rotarian here to keep these 10 key points on Environment & Disaster Management.

1) Engage environmental managers fully in national disaster risk management mechanisms

2) Include risk reduction criteria in environmental regulatory frameworks

3) Assess environmental change as a parameter of risk

4) Utilize local knowledge in community-based disaster risk management

5) Engage the scientific community to promote environmental research and innovation

6) Protect and value ecosystem services

7) Consider environmental technologies and designs for structural defences

8) Integrate environmental and disaster risk considerations in spatial planning

9) Prepare for environmental emergencies

10) Strengthen capacities for environmental recovery.

I would like to leave you with the thoughts of the great thinker Henry David Thoreau..

What’s the use of a fine house if you haven’t got a tolerable planet to put it on?

There are many wonderful things that will never be done if you don’t do them. Building a donor base for The Rotary Foundation or any service activities is one such thing.

Developing a good public image and an effective public relations programme for Rotary is the basis for developing a long lasting donor base for The Rotary Foundation.

Non-Governmental Organisations and service organisations such as Rotary had an image. They were seen as marginal to the Indian society dominated by the Government.

People believed that Government should and could discharge all major social tasks and that the role of the service organisations, if any, was to supplement governmental programmes. That was the public image of Rotary years ago.

Today, we know better. Today, NGOs and Rotary are central to Indian society. People know that the ability of the government to perform social task is limited. We have seen Rotary discharge bigger jobs and take care of specific needs.

When there was a resistance by the minority community to the polio immunisation programme, the government could not change their attitude. It needed Rotary to come up with the brilliant idea to form the Ulema Committees in Uttar Pradesh ,Bihar and Malegaon. Because of this, the resistance to the immunisation programme was eliminated and India became polio free.

The building of check dams to provide drinking water to an entire village by Rotary, laying of drainage system in another Panchayat, rehabilitating the Tsunami affected communities, setting up hospitals, schools, colleges and many more permanent structures for the welfare of the people are examples of how Rotary is addressing the specific needs of the people. Most of these were considered to be the work of the Government.

Rotary does something very different from a business enterprise or government. Business supplies either goods or services. Government controls. A business is discharged when the customer buys the product, pays for it and is satisfied. Government has discharged its function when its policies are effective.

Rotary neither supplies goods or services nor controls. So what does Rotary do? What is its product? Rotary’s product is a changed human being. Rotary’s product is a cured patient, a child that learns, a youngster who grows up into a self-respecting adult and a nation that has rid itself of diseases such as polio.

What will a strong Foundation do? Firstly it can make more people to join the movement and secondly it can bring in more philanthropists into the fold of Rotary.

People will join Rotary and give their resources when they are personally touched or motivated by the organisation’s programmes and service opportunities. People will join Rotary when they are inspired by what the movement does. People will judge Rotary by how hard it works to prove its values before joining it.

There is a saying that good intentions don’t move mountains; bulldozers do. For Rotarians, the plan to build a good public image is the good intention. Strategies are the bulldozers. This will result in funds being raised.

In purely marketing parlance, the current demand level of people wishing to donate to The Rotary Foundation is below the desired demand level. This is described as faltering demand state. Hence, we have to ‘revitalise demand’ and remarket The Rotary Foundation.

While talking about building the public image of The Rotary Foundation, we should understand that there is no such thing as a product or service which exists by itself in space, independent of the consumer.

For The Rotary Foundation to exist and grow it should find a place in the individual’s perception of service to humanity. This perception is subjective, governed by the individual’s values, beliefs, needs, experience and environment.

Positioning The Rotary Foundation as a credible Foundation capable to doing good in the world, in the mind of the public is the first step. The mind of an individual will be already cluttered with numerous names of service organisations. The first task of The Rotary Foundation is to situate itself as a brand in the minds of people.

Building a good public image for Rotary and The Rotary Foundation is no garden party and a precipitate entry into the thicket without preparatory build-up of the club’s capacity for projecting a good image constantly may not ensure bliss.

Service organisations, including Rotary, are not entitled to support. They must earn it. Fund raising is not raising money. It is raising friends. The Rotary Foundation needs money. Big money. To eradicate polio. To help people affected by natural disasters. To educate children. To feed the hungry. To eliminate illiteracy and infant mortality. To give shelter. To give the gift of sight. To perform heart surgeries on children. To work for world peace and for many more noble causes including tackling pandemics such as Corona which may come up.

We cannot raise big money by just going outside and asking for donations of Rs.10,000 or even Rupees One Lakh. Probably these small donations may just help us in a small way. Raising big money is a different proposition. That is why public image is important.

Small money is just for a short cycle – a month or a year. It is like going to a vegetable mart and buying vegetables for a day’s meal. Raising big money is like growing our own food and then preparing every meal. This means we have to clear the land, plow the ground, plant the seeds, cultivate the crop, harvest the yield and store it.

If an organisation does not have the attention of people and other institutions capable of making a large donation, then it simply cannot expect to receive them.

But attention alone is not enough. Rotary must develop the interest of the public who are the potential major donors. Big donors don’t give to institutions. They invest in ideas and people in whom they believe. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s grant is one such example.

Hence, it is no more fund raising. It is fund development. We cannot find major donors from far off places. Money usually stays close to us. Don’t expect it to come from individuals, foundations or corporations that knew nothing about Rotary before they were approached for a donation.

Can we assume that we are not able to increase the contributions to TRF because we have not cultivated a big donor base that will support year after year? The answer is yes.

This translates to the fact that the public image of The Rotary Foundation has not grown the way it should have. The big corporate in our country have little or no knowledge about what The Rotary Foundation does. They do have funds for philanthropic activities. it is just not flowing through Rotary.

We find that NGOs are able to raise enormous amounts of money from donors directly. For example, in India, few years ago, over 22,000 NGOs declared that they had received over US $1.92 billion as direct foreign contributions.

During 2012-2013, 18,300 NGOs filed their income statement to the Government about the direct foreign funds they received for various community service projects. The amount was a staggering US $1.82 billion. NGOs in a single state in India received US $91 million in direct foreign contribution.

The Rotary Foundation in India is able to raise about US $20 to 25 million annually now and the TRF worldwide is able to raise about US $250 to US$300 million.

This amount is insignificant considering the inflow that come to NGOs even in India. Every country has NGOs who are collecting enormous amounts of money for social causes. If NGOs are able to do so, TRF must also be able to raise huge amounts of money.

If this was possible for NGOs in India why not The Rotary Foundation? The answer is that no club has a donor base.

I built a small donor base and with constant and credible feedbacks about the money they gave, developed their trust in our programs. They continue to give till now.

So my friends, you are leaders of your club in various avenues and nothing of that will matter till you deliver good projects to the public.

Do not fritter away your resources for the old out-dated theory that it is service through fellowship. That concept is alien to our culture and in India service and sacrifice always go hand in hand.

You may ask then how did we work for polio eradication? Remember it was a Government of India’s programme where we pitched in with resources.

How many Rotarians went house to house with the health workers to find the children who were missing on NIDs? How many of us were ready to work in slums amidst the most unhygienic conditions and enter a hut to give that polio drop to the child which was probably not well?

So developing a donor base and making sure that the money is accounted for and reported properly plays an important part in fund raising or fund development as we call it now.

I suggest that the TRF Chair of your club and the entire Board of the club must be assigned the task of finding out about the NGOs who work in their area and how they collect huge funds from donors within the country and abroad and for what projects.

This may give us an insight on fund raising. TRF can also ask other knowledgeable Rotarians to be a part of the fund development task force for at least three years.

It is said that if we keep on doing what we have always done, we will keep on getting what we have always been getting. In order to get to the next level we have to change our fund raising methods.

Dear Rotarians

OPPORTUNITY …The very word evokes the image of doors opening and new vistas emerging.

Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go. They merely determine where you start. They say, “Knowledge is knowing tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

Similarly, when we say ‘Rotary opens opportunities’ it means that Rotarians have the power to judge whether that opportunity is worth pursuing or not.

A leader once said, “Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” This is the principal trait that is needed in every one of us today if we have to use the opportunities that Rotary presents before us.

The best day in your life is the day you decide your life is meant for service through Rotary. No apologies, no excuses. No one to lean on or blame. The gift to serve is yours. The opportunity is given by your membership in your Rotary Club.

When you seize this opportunity to serve humanity through Rotary, it is an amazing journey. When you use the opportunity to serve, understand that you are changing lives.

This was how we succeeded in eradicating Polio from India and many other countries. That Afghanistan and Pakistan continue to suffer from Polio, gives us the opportunity to run that last mile and eradicate Polio completely. We are working in a planned manner with the due patience such operations need in these countries. Failure is the test of our courage. That is the opportunity RI President Holger Knaack is talking about.

Rotarians are professionals, busy executives, businesspersons and perform a variety of roles in their daily lives. It is evident that the daily challenges in running the show can lead to great stress and even adversity.

It is during these times that your membership in Rotary opens an opportunity to keep busy, plough your anger and energy into something positive and see the results with the rest of your friends.

This is an unmatched opportunity that Rotary opens to every Rotarian who needs to know that they are not living in isolation but in a system of human values that puts Service above Self.

These productive people in Rotary have understood that life is about making little decisions every day. No one can say that he or she made a billion-dollar decision in just one day.

The decisions that the ordinary Rotary member takes every day in his vocation or in finalizing a community service project is another opportunity Rotary has given.

Did I say, “In his Vocation?” Yes, those who believed in the 4- Way Test and acted by it in their vocation took good decisions always.

This is a fantastic opportunity Rotary has given through its message- The 4 Way Test- to help us not to waver from the righteous path.

For those who always sulk and think that they are just another burden to their homes and to society, Rotary opens the opportunity to associate with those who generate positive vibes, take up leadership positions in their clubs, community and at work.

Rotary Fellowships are legendary. This unique opportunity is given by Rotary to bring together members with similar likes in their hobbies and profession.These fellowships allow you to enjoy every minute of your life.

In a club the opportunities opened by Rotary for the family members to come together periodically to celebrate an occasion makes everyone feel useful and important in society.

In a nutshell, Rotary makes you understand it is not how long you live, but how you live that matters most.

In the realm of ideas everything depends on enthusiasm and in the real world all rests on perseverance. This was amply proved when Rotary formed the Ulema Committee helping in the eradication of Polio in India.

This enthusiasm was the opportunity provided to us by Rotary and we were able to bring together the various factions of the Muslim community to join hands with us in saving the children from polio and eliminating the misinformation that were spread in their community about the polio vaccine.

This Ulema Committee is now again working with Rotary to stop the spread of the deadly Corona virus and the Ulemas have been able to reach across to their people and put the clear facts in front of them.

The people who matter in Governments all over the world, the leaders, stalwarts in business, opinion makers and those involved in similar activity like Rotary were able to come together during the Conventions of Rotary International. This was a singular opportunity opened by Rotary to see, discuss and appeal to the most influential persons the world over to support our various programmes.

It turned out that these were the leaders who helped us, the Rotarians, to find courage to serve humanity in areas where the Governments were unable to take their programmes forward due to a variety of reasons.

These include youth development programmes, peace programmes , literacy program, Water and sanitation issues , environment protection and even healthcare programmes in a limited scope.

These leaders held our hands to take on mega projects in distant lands when our knees were shaking and urged us to go forward because of our Rotary movement.

This is the opportunity that Rotary gave to common Rotarians who were enthused to see how world leaders worked for the welfare of their nation.

Rotary reminds us that as a community we all have the obligation to look out for one another. The complexity of the fractured healthcare system in many countries made Rotary take a pledge that it will do its best to provide affordable healthcare facility directly by opening hospitals owned by Rotary clubs and assisting other hospitals with facilities and equipment.

Rotary opened the opportunity for us to work towards that goal where we know that healthcare should not be a privilege for a few, it should be a right for all.

It wasn’t something Rotary did alone. It was the culmination of the movement for a universal healthcare facility that started years ago and included thousands of Rotarians, activists, health care providers and ordinary people who organised and demanded action.

Especially during moments like what we see today after the deadly outbreak of Covid 19 virus, citizens and local leaders have stepped up to support their friends and neighbours, demonstrating the obligation we all have to look out for one another. Upholding our commitment to each other will see us through the challenges to come.

The Inner Wheel movements started out as an opportunity for spouses of Rotarians to serve the community directly. The Inner Wheel members seized this opportunity to and evolved into an international movement on its own merit. Today the Inner Wheel is creating powerful ripples across the country and communities with its service projects.

You will all agree that it is easier to give a little money from your own pocket than walk up to someone and appeal for a donation.

You have to get over your inhibitions and muster the courage to do so. I never fancied myself as a fund-raiser till Rotary’s battle against Polio gave me the cause and the belief that I was doing the right thing.

If Smt.Rajashree Birla, PDG Sajjan Goenka, Shri S N Nawal from Nagpur, and many others generously give to Rotary, it is only because Rotary gave us the opportunity to appeal to their benevolence.

The next time you are required to raise funds, Dear friends, believe you me, when you ask for the benefit of someone else, you will receive not just money, but the everlasting friendship of the giver. There is no greater blessing than that.

Rotary was able to continuously open up its frontiers in service only because of a long line of leaders who pushed Rotarians to live up to the founding ideals of Rotary. There will be something invigorating about the New Year which begins on July 1, 2020 for Rotary.

The fresh start, the opportunity to take up something new and the possibility of what’s ahead makes me feel excited about the new avenues of service that will open up.

It is because of the opportunities opened up by Rotary and the commitment of the Rotary members that The Rotary Foundation is investing in emerging leaders and in amplifying the impact the Grants that have been given to thousands of clubs to carry out meaningful and sustainable projects.

On a day of fresh starts and new beginnings on July 1, 2020, I challenge you to take a step toward change in your community. If every Rotary member can commit to one positive change in their neighbourhood during 2020-2021, our collective impact will be extraordinary.

I know that we will keep making the world a little better place the next year and in the many, many years to come. Let us cheer another year full of hope.

As Rotarians from diverse mix of backgrounds in the public, private and the not-for-profit world, you share a desire to work toward a better future for your communities in your region. RI President Holger Knaack will continue to connect, inspire and empower us. Let us all join him on this inspirational journey.

At thr end let me say the four lines of one of my favourite poet Robert Frost

The Woods are lovely dark and deep ,

And I have promises to keep,

Miles to go before I sleep

And miles to go before I sleep.

Good luck . Have a wonderful year with many new opportunities on our path of service.

Thank You ..

Dear Rotarians

One hundred years ago, the seeds of Rotary were first sown on the fertile soil of India. Today, I stand before you all to celebrate the incredible results we Rotarians have achieved over this momentous century … a period that witnessed the Freedom movement, the Independence of India and finally the steady climb of this nation to become the biggest democracy and one of the strongest economies of the world.

This exciting century has seen Rotary germinating across the length and breadth of the country. These ten decades have seen Rotary’s selfless service reaching the remotest villages to touch the lives of the most deprived people of India. These hundred years have also shown that India has grown beyond thinking of its own needs, to give to those whose need is greater.

Rotary’s Membership in India is increasing . Rotary’s service is soaring , confidence is surging, and our contributions to TRF are booming . Rotary in India is therefore, thriving. Rotary’s fortunes in India are on the rise and Rotary’s future worldwide is blazing bright.

I know that Rotary had a pre-existing condition during the past few decades. It was a never-ending debate over membership increase and membership decline. Now that the paroxysm is over, we should get back to issues members care about most.

The misrepresentation of Rotary’s growth was appalling and so clearly untrue. The years of slow growth are over. The days of our movement being used, taken advantage of by unethical members and even scorned by the public for being disconnected to social needs, are long behind us.

Gone too are the broken promises given to many people and institutions that looked up to us for help, tired platitudes and constant excuses for lack of funds or members.

In the past 15 years, we have shattered the mentality of Rotary’s decline and rejected the downsizing of Rotary’s destiny as the number one humanitarian service organisation in India. We are moving forward with a pace that was unimaginable just a decade ago and we will never go back.

Our movement now is at its best. Indians are being selected as our world leaders. With 4 Zones and two Directors on the Board of Directors of Rotary International, our voices are being heard more seriously.

Our Foundation is completely rebuilt, with its grants’ matching power unmatched by other similar organisations – and they are not even close. Trustees from India on TRF have been effective policy makers and guides.

We can be rightfully proud of being part of the organisation that helped in eradicating the world’s most dreaded disease-Polio , and that too , when the experts world over felt india would be the last country to get rid of polio .For all these reasons, I say to you, my dear Rotarians, the strength of Rotary in India is greater than ever before.

The programmes of Rotary and TRF envisaged and implemented over the last century of service have demonstrated how a team of volunteers can build the world’s most inclusive organisation in over 140 countries and geographical locations.

Our agenda is relentlessly pro-community and pro-growth. We are advancing with unbridled optimism and lifting our members to higher giving and higher thinking . Rotarians are from every race, colour, religion and creed. People’s, especially donors’ confidence in Rotary has reached new heights.

Rotarians are supporting the hopes of people in war-torn areas by sending our Peace scholars to work there. Our leaders have always rejected limits on our movement’s future.

Dear Rotarians, we must never forget that the only victories that matter for Rotary are the victory of service projects that deliver for people in the world. Community is at the heart of our movement . We must always remember that our job is to put Rotary first.

The way forward for Rotary is to ensure that every Indian enjoys good health, receives good education and avails the opportunity of achieving his or her dreams. Yet, for far too long, countless children in India have not been so fortunate. Rotary’s Literacy programme in India is geared to change that.

We must collaborate with the Mid-Day Meal programme run by organisations like ISCKON, Akshaya Patra and other similar endeavours to ensure that an empty stomach does not drain away the potential of India’s future.

We also have to work with the Government to improve the impact of India’s healthcare schemes with grants that can bring better equipment and expertise to smaller towns and villages. Better hygiene and sanitation are at the core of India’s health in rural and urban areas.

We must pay special attention to the dignity and comfort of women and girl children. Women are the driving force of a nation’s health and well-being. Their continued empowerment is an imperative for the progress of our nation. Maternal & Child Health is an important area of focus of our Foundation. Rotary needs to be relentless in its efforts here.

We live on a planet that has 70% of its surface covered by water. Our own country is blessed with perennial rivers and plentiful monsoons. Yet clean drinking water remains beyond the reach of millions.

This gross miscarriage of nature’s justice must end . . Rotarians must work tirelessly to ensure better water management in cities and provide practical solutions for water conservation in rural areas.

In the recent past, I have had the privilege of being closely involved with projects in the areas of Paediatric Cardiac Surgeries and Thalassemia Day-Care and virtual eye projects for the blind . Words are not enough to describe the joy of the parents of those little children whose lives are saved by the skill and dedication of surgeons who perform such critical procedures and the technicians whose expertise ensures safe blood transfusions .

Over and above this, however is my pride in the Rotarians who saw the need, planned the projects, raised the resources and made it all possible. Every rupee I have raised for these projects is a rupee well spent, a rupee saved for the future of India.

We are Rotarians. We are Pioneers in service. We are Pathfinders. Rotary is the movement where everything spectacular can happen. This is the movement where anyone can rise.

By being in Rotary and serving the community we make the most incredible dreams come true for those who need us most. This Rotary movement is our masterpiece . When we look at tomorrow and see the frontiers of service to be explored, let us never forget the words of the Father of India’s White Revolution, Padmabhushan Dr.Verghese Kurien

– “There is so much waiting to be done.”

Rotary in India was born in Calcutta, a place where greatness was born, a place where destinies were forged and a place where legends of Rotary came to life.

Rotary in India was built by the toughest, strongest and most determined men and women. The founding fathers of Rotary in India built the most exceptional movement in the history of the country, especially after Independence. You and I have to make it greater than ever before. This is our glorious and magnificent inheritance.

Yet … the Rotary story is not fully known or understood by many. Our most exciting achievements in areas of education, healthcare, poverty alleviation, youth development and peace remain outside the consciousness of a world, that is beset with its own perceptions and prejudices.

In our first century, it was probably enough for Rotary to do good in the world. As we move ahead, we must also be seen to be doing good . If we must grow, we must attract more and more people to our fold, more members, more well-wishers, more donors …and as a result, more beneficiaries.

The Rotary story needs to be told more effectively, to an audience that is increasingly impatient, hurried and searching for that better story .

Yes my Fellow Rotarians , honoring the vision of Paul Harris, Rotary in India was energized and started to build upon the legacy it inherited from Rotary leaders from abroad .

Rotary in India belongs as much to the Rotarians of the world as it does to the Rotarians of India. We looked at the local residents to help build it and soon we had a variety of talented people who joined Rotary and help to take our Medical Mission to Africa.

Rotary in India was intended to be a movement to provide hope and inspiration to generations of young leaders and learners who could reform, perform and transform.

Rotary in India is a dynamic. It was true when I joined the movement almost 50 years ago and it is even true today. It has taken many hands to shape Rotary in India and bring it to what it is today – hands coming together to do good to the world which was never easy .

It required patience and it required listening . Not just listening for show , but actively incorporating what we learned into plans and projects .

Rotary is not a piece of idea or a movement, but a vibrant reverberation left behind by those who expounded the most intricate forms of service activities but but refused to be entangled in them.

Rotary in India is developing into an economic engine for the locality where it is functioning and a cultural destination that Showcases the service projects to the rest of the world .

More than being just a service organization , Rotary in India is becoming a movement that helps and inspires all of us to build a collective future for ourselves and those who need our help the most .

Rotary in India is and will remain for the new generation, the leaders of tomorrow who are ready to step up and build the world as it should be . Indeed Nayantara an myself are happy to be part of this great organization.

The digital world provides us with faster and more exciting ways to talk about Rotary. Social media platforms can carry Rotary’s message farther and deeper.

This will help Rotary identify closely with that younger, upwardly mobile population …our Youth, who will be the prime movers of Rotary tomorrow. We must Adapt & Evolve to Create Lasting Change.

While Rotary will gradually evolve, what shall always endure, are the Core Values of Rotary, the spirit of Fellowship, our dedication to the highest Ethics, our commitment to Service Above Self and our adherence to the Four Way Test.

Our spirit is still young and dear Rotarians, our greatness should be seen again in the coming years and decades.

Our grandest journey is still to be made. Our next century of service has just begun.

The words of Robert Frost ..

The woods are lovely ,dark and deep,

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep ,

And miles to go before I sleep .

Dear Rotarians

ONE HUNDRED AND COUNTING

The figure 100 has always been a challenging figure to us from childhood. Starting from school, the maximum marks in the examination was 100 and we were ranked how well or badly we fared on how far we were near that figure of 100. Cricketers who scored 100 runs in a match were considered heroes those days. Even now players who score a century flourish their bat from the ground and the crowd goes ecstatic.

As a young adult, having a 100 rupee currency note was an excitement those days and for some strange reason the 100 rupee note has never been demonetized. People who live up to 100 years of age automatically earn our respect irrespective of how they lived. It is matter of debate if they could have lived up to 100 years if they had not followed certain stringent regimen.

Art which has been in existence for over 100 years are of great value and building which cross the 100 years mark become heritage structures and gain popularity if they are maintained well. Even history is ranked as 10th century,15th century or 20thcentury and so on..

Similarly, organisations which have been in existence for 100 years and more have been rated very high and for good reasons. When I participated in the centenary celebrations of Rotary International in 2005, it was great excitement for me for having been a part of this great movement.

Today when I am here to participate in the centenary celebration of the Rotary in India, it is yet another joyful moment for me to see how we have nurtured the growth of the movement in India. Rotary’s century in India has never been dull or prosaic. It was always filled with challenges and changes in its organizational structure. Yet it has survived to become more dynamic. As Paul Harris said, “Rotary has to be evolutionary at all times and revolutionary sometimes.”

Rotary has done great work in many fields in these 100 years. The greatest achievement is the eradication of polio. The work started in 1988 and gathered momentum in 1995 when the NIDs were announced. In 2014 India was declared a Polio Free Country by WHO. This achievement was possible by the support of donors to the cause such as Shrimathi Rajshree Birla. Rotarians in India worked patiently and diligently with the Government agencies to finish the work.

We have come to 100 years of existence with patience. We could not have hurried about by pushing the years faster, but we have accelerated our achievements rapidly over these years. It is not that we have to do lots and lots of things just to set some record. Direction is more important than speed. We should not be looking at the speedometer and forget the milestone.

Times, days, tomorrow, yesterday don’t exist as long as you do what you love. For yet another historic century of service, you have to be passionate about service and focus that one desire on what you seek to accomplish through Rotary.

Shrimathi Rajshree Birlaji, we are honoured you are with us today to share our joy of service to mankind. You have played an important part in helping Rotary do many projects at the national and regional level and there is no better time to for us to make a commitment to carry on with the work than today. The legacy we will leave behind will make Rotary stronger and bigger.

Dear Rotarians

One hundred years ago we launched Rotary in India. Today, I stand before you to celebrate the incredible results we Rotarians have achieved. Membership in India is increasing, poverty is plummeting, vocational service is soaring, selfishness is falling, confidence is surging, contributions to TRF is booming and Rotary is thriving. It has become a highly respected movement. Rotary’s fortunes in India are on the rise and Rotary’s future worldwide is blazing bright.

I know that Rotary had a pre-existing condition during the past few decades. It was a never ending debate over membership increase and membership decline. Now the paroxysm in slowdown is over, we should get back to issues members care about most. The misrepresentation of Rotary’s growth was appalling and so clearly untrue. The years of slow growth are over. The days of our movement being used, taken advantage of by unethical members and even scorned by public for being disconnected to the social needs are long behind us. Gone too are the broken promises given to many people and institutions that looked up to us for help, tired platitudes and constant excuses for lack of funds or members.

In the past 15 years, we have shattered the mentality of Rotary’s decline and we have rejected the downsizing of Rotary’s destiny as the number one service organisation in India. We are moving forward with a pace that was unimaginable just a decade ago and we are never going back.

Our movement now is at its best it has ever been. Indians are being selected as our world leader. With 4 Zones and two Directors on RI Board, our voices are being heard more seriously. Our Foundation is completely rebuilt, with its grants matching power unmatched by any other similar organisation – and they are not even close. Trustees from India on TRF have been effective policy makers and guides. Our members are flourishing and our values are renewed. Our pride as the organisation that helped in eradication of the world’s dreaded polio disease is restored. For all these reasons, I say to you, my dear Rotarians, the strength of Rotary in India is stronger than ever before.

The programmes of Rotary and TRF envisaged and implemented over the last century of service has demonstrated how a team of volunteers can build the world’s most inclusive organisation in over 140 countries and geographical locations. Our agenda is relentlessly pro-community and pro-growth. We are advancing with unbridled optimism and lifting our members to higher levels of living and giving and these people come from every race, colour, religion and creed. People’s confidence, especially donors, has reached amazing new heights.

We are supporting the hopes of people in war-torn areas by making our peace scholars work there. Our leaders have always rejected limits on our movement’s future. Dear Rotarians, we must never forget that the only victories that matter for Rotary are victory of projects that deliver for people in the world. Community is at the heart of our movement. We must always remember that our job is to put Rotary first. Rotary makes a demand on your time, treasure and talent. When it comes to spending money remember this – what you spend, you lose, what you keep will be left for others but what you give away will be yours forever. This is why Rotary has the Foundation to channelize your money which will bring your eternal happiness and joy. Rotary and its Foundation shows you how to believe in a better tomorrow and wants you to be a part of it. How is this done? Rotary helps you to find the good which is all around you. It showcases it and you believe that you, an ordinary person can do extraordinary things to change the world.

The step forward in building an inclusive society is making sure that every child gets a great education and an opportunity to achieve their dreams and build a strong India. Yet, for too long countless children have not been able to get good education. Rotary’s literacy programme in India hopes to bring education to nearly all children who need to go to school in many states to start with.

We also have to work with the Government to improve India’s healthcare schemes with grants that can bring the required equipments from abroad to smaller towns and villages.

Rotary in India was born in Calcutta, place where greatness was born, place were destinies were forged and a place where legends of Rotary came to life. Rotary in India was built by the toughest, strongest, fiercest and the most determined men and women. Our founding fathers of Rotary in India built the most exceptional movement in the history of the country, especially after Independence. You and I have to make it greater than ever before. This is our glorious and magnificent inheritance.

We are Rotarians. We are the pioneers in service. We are the pathfinders. We built the modern Rotary movement and we changed history forever by eradication polio from India and nearly the entire world. Rotary is the movement where everything spectacular can happen. This is the movement where anyone can rise. You cannot get bogged down and be discouraged. You have to keep moving. You have to keep going. As a leader of the club, the district and as a world leader, you have to put one foot in front of the other, smile and just keep on rolling. This is how a century has passed without any major hiccups.

By being in Rotary and serving the community we make the most incredible dreams come true for those who need us most. This Rotary movement is our masterpiece. We look at tomorrow and see unlimited frontiers for service just waiting to be explored. Our entire story is not yet known to the people in the world. Our most exciting achievements in areas of education, healthcare, poverty alleviation, youth development and peace are not still know to many in the community. Our grandest journey is still to be made. Our next century of service has just begun. Members who have been in Rotary for 25, 30, 40 and 50 years have first asked themselves when they joined Rotary, “Does this bring joy to me?” And, their answer was always “Yes.”

During the one hundred years of existence in India, Rotary has taught us many important qualities in life. While taking up service projects, big or small, we know that there are no real failures, only results. There are no true tragedies, only lessons and there are really no problems, only opportunities waiting to be recognised as solutions by the person of wisdom. Every year of Rotary, starting on July 1, is a fresh start. A new chapter in life, waiting to be written. New questions to be asked,embraced and loved. Answers to be discovered and then lived in the transformative year which will be a delight with self-discovery. But before that carve out a quite interlude for yourself in which you can dream of how the world can be a better place to live and what you can do through Rotary. Only dreams give birth to change. Circumstances may have influenced how the world is today, but remember that you are responsible for the way it can become better tomorrow.

Rotary has had adversities in the past 100 years. But, as members, we have more sweet memories that have allowed us to overcome the challenges we faced. This movement of ours, Rotary, has given us a desire to have a life filled with positive energy and we have a satisfaction of living authentically, thanks to the 4 Way Test, in the purpose we have chosen. The friends we have made in Rotary in our clubs, in our city, in our country and all over the world have given us happy and beautiful memories of the days in Rotary service, the melodies of the heart in those moments of the present and the hopeful expectation of what it will be in the future.

The service across borders we have undertaken in various countries has brought us face to face with people of different race, community, culture, aspiration and hopes. We learnt to appreciate the sorrow behind their smiles, love behind their anger and the reason behind their silence. Rotary has taken us to areas torn by war, hunger, natural disasters and diseases. We have learnt to listen to the needs of the souls of the people living in these areas. These people trust Rotarians and trust is very important in any relationship, especially when you are engaged in implementing welfare schemes. If you falter or behave in an unethical manner or flout the stewardship norms of our Rotary Foundation while handling grants, the donors may be good enough to forgive you, but not stupid enough to trust you again.

Rotary’s mission is not merely to serve. Rotary has helped you to thrive, enlarge your vision and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humour and some style. Our spirit is still young and dear Rotarians, our greatness should again be seen in the coming years, coming decades and coming centuries.

What did Rotarians learn in these one hundred years Rotary has been in India? They may be wise, but only if they know themselves, they become a human being. This is the training Rotary has imparted and will continue to impart to members in the years to come. Rotary wants all of us to become persons who can proudly claim to have the virtues that make us a human being. Service to others is only one part of it. It is not the question ‘what’ you are going to be when you join Rotary. You should ask the question ‘who’ you are going to be when you join Rotary. You will realise that you have transformed into a person whom others admire as an authentic person. A person who became a very big philanthropist in his life said, “I used to walk miles in the beach at night, searching endlessly for someone wonderful who would step out of the darkness and change my life. I realised that the person is me when I joined Rotary.Joining Rotary was like sitting on a pin. It made me jump and do something.”

Rotary helps you to surround yourself with dreamers and the doers, the believers and the thinkers. But most of all it will help you to surround yourself with those who see the greatness within you, even when you don’t see it yourself.”

Dear Rotarians and Guests

I express my sincere gratitude to you all, for your friendship, your devotion to service and for your expression of affection for me.

The Rotary Foundation has already celebrated its first century of service. It provides us with resources, communications, motivation, information and inspiration.

Perhaps even more important, our Foundation grants us with access to a worldwide network of dear friends, committed to improve the human condition of our fellow human beings, regardless of their race, religion, or political affiliation.

Every person who opted to accept the invitation to join Rotary would have first understood that Rotary is a Service Organisation and not a social club where people come only to spend time.

When you agreed to join Rotary International’s movement through a local Rotary club, you solemnly agreed,not only to serve the community where you live, but also all over the world.

This implies your willingness to support The Rotary Foundation, which is the only agency in Rotary that receives funds, distributes funds and helps you with all the needed resources to finish the service project however small or large it may be. The service wing of Rotary International is The Rotary Foundation.

I see that during the year 2017-2018 your district has contributed over US $1 Million to TRF. You have 6 AKS members who have made your district proud. I am sure that you can produce more such people and sustain the US $1 Million contribution every year. In fact, it should increase and not decrease.

Contributions to the Endowment Fund needs to be encouraged and I see that there is a potential for this. You crossed more than US $100,000 in contribution to Endowment Fund during 2017-2018.

Your district has been consistently getting over 7 grants from TRF every year and I am sure that if all the clubs participate in the programmes of TRF this can increase.

The Rotary Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation that receives contributions and distributes funds in support of approved humanitarian and educational activities that are implemented through Rotary clubs and districts.

The Mission of The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty

The Rotary Foundation has spent over US $4.1 Billion on various Humanitarian and Educational Programs of the Foundation till now.

Rotary’s Financial Contribution Exceeds US $2 Billion for Polio eradication only. If we reach our goal of polio free world by 2023, our contribution will exceed US $2.5 Billion

.Bill Gates Foundation has spent nearly US $ 1.3 Billion for this cause and over

2.5 Billion children have been immunized. The US CDC has scientifically estimated that over 18 Million children have been saved from being crippled and probably death.

As we progress in our global quest, by the end of this year’s fantastic journey under the leadership of President Mark Maloney, we will be closer to seeing the end of illiteracy, hunger and we will move closer to a better, brighter and more peaceful future.

We will also be closer to achieving the goal of polio eradication from the world.

Since July 2013, The Foundation’s Future Vision Program offers a new potential of service. We now offer two types of grants:

District Grants and Global Grants, aimed at six areas of clear global priority.

But these wonderful humanitarian and educational programs of The Rotary Foundation depend upon one essential factor: the financial resources made available.

Together with this effort, we strongly aspire to strengthen the Foundation’s Endowment Fund.

The joy of giving to The Foundation should become a sacred habit, a routine for each one of us, a life-time commitment, lasting through the years to come, because we know that there is more joy in giving, than in receiving.

My fellow Rotarians we know that the world we inhabit is unfair, unstable, and non-sustainable.

This is a world, where terrible contradictions and shocking disparities continue to affect adversely the lives of millions of human beings, who are isolated and abandoned in their dark nights of sorrow.

Under the heavy winds of change that we are now facing, are we really able, eager and willing, to make a difference?

If we, the volunteers of peace, champions of friendship, agents of change, Rotarians of the world, do not take action: Who will? Who, my friends?

Each of us has the responsibility, to shape and carry forward our common future because in the path of selfless service, we welcome dreamers, but we also need doers.

There is no room for doubt: The world needs enthusiastic, motivated, inspired and hardworking Rotarians.

We seek volunteers, with generosity in their hearts, eager in harmonic unity, to nurture hope, volunteers who with clear convictions and tenacity who are never tired of serving and giving.

We seek men and women of passionate love and missionary fervour to serve others in need. We seek Rotarians, prepared in our multicultural and multi-polar world, to maintain their promises and commitments.

In Rotary there is no room for cowardice, pessimism or selfishness as we strongly reject the temptation of living a life of seclusion.

In Rotary we promote inclusive growth and that means everyone must grow to live a better and peaceful life.

Through exemplary leadership, eager and sensitive to the needs of others, we shall spread, with reckless abandon, our ideals, our core values and our love for humanity, symbolized in our dharma, our ultimate aim which is Service Above Self.

As Rotarians who share values and beliefs, we are all familiar with the saying: “The best time to give is when the gift is needed”. And every time we make a donation, inspired by the fire of love, we state, “I am a proud donor; this is my foundation and also my personal responsibility.”

My fellow Rotarians, builders of love and peace, harmony and international understanding: we do need more Paul Harris Fellows! We want to hear from additional members of the Paul Harris Society, in which, as you know, every participant pledges to contribute $ 1,000, every year.

We aspire to hear from new Major Donors, we dream of more Benefactors and more Bequest Society members and also from new members of the Arch C. Klumph Society, who will all, contribute to reach an Endowment Fund, of 2025 Million US dollar in net assets and expectancies, when We are in the year 2025.

We all recognize that it is impossible to sow new seeds of love, with closed fists. By opening our hands, with generosity and liberality, we shall conquer a new future, future which belongs to all of us , in our continuous and shared quest for peace.

If each one of us contributes with a bit of caring, hope, sharing and dreaming, we will make a positive and lasting difference in the world, as each one of us will effectively touch somebody else’s life.

This is, my friends, the function of love, this is the attainment true awakening.

We cannot ignore the distressful realities of today’s world.

We cannot wait in silence through the night of despair .

We cannot turn deaf ears to the plea of the outcasts, who lack the recognition of their dignity .

We cannot stand idle, turning a blind eye to the plight of the victims of hopelessness and loneliness.

This is the time for everyone, to roll up our sleeves guided by the light of love, to seek the well being of our brothers and sisters around our planet Earth.

Let’s march forward! Let’s start right now, under a star-filled sky as, in the joy of giving, we shall also enjoy the blessing of receiving!

Bishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, the recipient of the Nobel Price for Peace wrote: “Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”

As leaders with a global perspective, let’s all set our personal example, doing our little good every day. Let’s ask ourselves: are we a bit tired and pessimistic? Where is our vigour? Where is our thirst for doing good in the world?

Acting with vigour, determination and vision, we shall leave behind petty limitations and narrow perspectives. We will rise above selfish interests.

We will be sharing this world with others, for only a brief period of time. Nobody knows for sure, how much longer, we have left.

We are certain, however, that one of the best ways to make this a better world is serving mankind through our dear Rotary Foundation, the beating heart of Rotary.

It is my profound hope that each one of you, the leaders of Rotary’s will persevere with a heart full of faith, in our mission of doing good in the world, supporting our beloved Foundation.

I invite you all to act, with audacity and burning passion, to make our dreams a reality, allowing our Foundation grants to achieve the biggest impact possible on the vulnerable and needy communities of the world.

We keep in mind Martin Luther King Jr.’s often quoted statement:

“EVERYONE CAN BE GREAT BECAUSE EVERY ONE CAN SERVE “. and it is Mother Teresa who taught us: “SERVING IS REAL POWER , BECAUSE SERVICE IS LOVE IN ACTION “.

Let’s kindle the fire by spreading the message that Rotary Connects the World. Let each of you be the source , keeping hope alive.

Let the Rotary Foundation Serve the Humanity brightly around the world forever.

While concluding I am reminded of the golden words written by Stephen Grellet

“I expect to pass through this world but once . Any good things, therefore that I can do, any kindness that I can show a fellow being, let me do it now. Let me not deter or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again”

Rotary Foundation gives you an opportunity to do good in the world. Support The Rotary Foundation and be the inspiration to all and make them support our Foundation.Together, let us see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change across the globe, in our communities and in ourselves.

Thank You.

Greetings from R I President Mark Maloney and the First Lady Gay. My District Governor of RI District 3141 Rtn. HarjitTalwar and his gracious lady Romi and over 5500 Rotarians of our District send you their greetings.

My wife Nayantara and I deem it an honor to have been asked by First Lady Gay and President Mark Maloney to represent them in your wonderful district conference. RI President Mark and his gracious lady Gay wanted to be personally present at this District Conference. But his commitment to his office made his presence here difficult. His loss is my gain.

Your D G Khairul Alam has received a personal letter from RI President that states how much Mark personally wanted to be here to know the good work you all are doing in District 3281. He loves your District. He speaks highly of the great work Rotarians of this District doing. He admires the leadership and the Rotarians of this District that makes it possible.

Let me express my very sincere gratitude to D G Khairul Alam for the hospitality and love with which Nayantara and myself have been greeted. We have renewed our friendship made in 2013 when Nayantara and I visited your District during the leadership of PDG Istiaque,

When R I President Mark exhorts us with his message that Rotary Connects the World, he expects Rotarians to expand their connections with others in the world and enrich their own lives. He is asking us to approach people with humility and enjoy life with a sense of wonder and discovery.

If you challenge yourself to see and try new things in your life you will begin to appreciate the diversity amongst people and you will celebrate their views.

You would have made a connection. To make a genuine connection with others you have to step out of your comfort zone. That is where the seeds of connection begin to sprout between people.

When you step out in the world, you are a citizen who will be required to work alongside thousands of people like you.

Your values as a Rotarian will be the pillars that hold Rotary up. Unless we are all connected how can we share our values?

It is the connection that you have with every other person in the club and in the community that helps you do good projects, build a global community that will work together and support one another.

Connection starts with inclusivity. You must value each other’s contributions and hold the conviction that only from diverse backgrounds and divergent point of view we can find the best solution.

If we were to make Rotary connect the world we must have vision to convert our Ambition to succeed in our Mission. Our Vision is Service and our task is to generate performance with innovation and value addition.

We can only make Rotary Connect the World if we have the attributes of Leadership and the knowledge of how to go about doing it.

Since Service is our goal , our destination, our ultimate dream , we must realize that life is worth living only if you live for others.

When we live for others and motivate all around us to give something back to the society that has given us our successes and our achievements, we fulfill one of the most important attributes of a Rotarian – SERVICE ABOVE SELF.

When you try to make Rotary connect the world, you give direction to your efforts.

When you try to make Rotary Connect the world you provide a beacon of light for others to follow.

When you make Rotary connect the world you project your commitment to Service.

We are living in challenging times. Though lesser number of people are dying due to diseases, we have to eradicate all major life threatening diseases from the world.

Though many more children are going to school we have to aim for 100 percent literacy everywhere.

Though economic activity is rising in many countries, unemployment is still a major issue in developing countries.

Whatever progress happened did not happen by accident. They happened because countless people toiled for many years. Many of them have been Rotarians.

If this progress is to be sustained we need peace in the world. This peace can happen only when we can connect with others .

We live in ever changing world. In fact it is changing so quickly that we often wonder, “What Will it be like for our children and more importantly for our grand children.”

We know that we cannot answer this question with any degree of certainty. And yet why do we ask this question again and again?

We ask because we care –

We care about the people- other people.

We care about our Community and Communities around the world.

We care about promoting good will and peace .

And we care about our world and its future.

Today people around the world need Rotary more than ever. The needs are greater and more diverse than before.

The challenges are greater. Look around, open the news papers, switch on your T V sets and images of war, terrorism, food scarcity in many places, corruption and starvation fill the screen and the papers.

There is so much darkness. But it is better to light a candle than remain in the darkness. Because light of even single candle can pierce the deepest darkness.

Light a candle and make rotary connect the world.

Our Ancient Texts advise us —

If you believe in Prayer- Pray ,

If You believe in Giving – Give .

If you believe in service- Serve .

My fellow Rotarians, you and me are excellent musicians. Our music is meant to be heard. I want to live my life fully.

I would rather burn out than rust out. I came across a Persian proverb, “I wept because I had no shoes, until I came across a man who had no feet.”

It is very easy to magnify our problems and lose sight of the many blessings we have.

Happiness is found in investing our lives in others. Giving ourselves fully when, probably they asked you only for a helping hand.

Serving through Rotary giving your time and talent is the Best way to thank God for the abundance he has given in your life.

My favorite Philosopher Ralf Waldo Emerson said it best, “To know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived that is to have succeeded “ . Rotary is that power of one multiplied many times over.”

Light that one candle and make Rotary connect the people of the world .

The one Billion who go hungry every day , the 1.2 billion who are illiterate and innumerate, the millions who lack access to proper sanitation and health care . They all need Rotary. Rotary provides them with hope and help . And each new member enables us to do more .

Membership growth and Retention is at the very heart of Rotary . All our dreams and hope for service to humanity will come to naught if we do not meet Membership challenge head on . I believe we must search for the right people and not people with right Classification .

Bob Barth was R I President when I was the District Governor and I remember him saying “ if we want to see another century of Rotary we must make Rotary more attractive to young people “.

And this year we commit not only to meet President Mark Maloney’s challenge of membership growth but we in all over the world in general and R I District 3281 in particular will strive to exceed that .

New members bring a Breath of fresh Air

Open your hearts and draw qualified, interested young people into the Fold of Rotary.

If Rotarians are the heart and soul of Rotary, TRF is its Backbone. Rotarians joined Rotary because they wanted to help and make the world a better place . And TRF helps us to do it .

That’s why it is important to know about EREY , The Every Rotarian Every Year Initiative of TRF . Only EREY , can ensure the long term health of TRF .

Only when each Rotarian contributes and support TRF each and every year , whatever the amount , the long term health of TRF can be ensured.

That’s the goal , That’s the challenge . I am confident the Rotarians of this fine District will accept this and they SHALL meet it .

Today’s world needs heroes, not celebrities. All of us in Rotary are ordinary people with busy lives, striving to do our best .

Quietly in hundreds and thousands of ways .we are working to make the world a better, healthier and safer place . Service above self is the Motto of every Rotarian and world peace our ultimate goal .

You will appreciate that we the Rotarians must be strongly motivated, in our choice of Service much more by what is practical and necessary than by what tugs as our emotions .

We must identify and co operatively involve others . Rotary Service cannot be one way street – Every Project should have the involvement of the community for whom we are doing.

Yes Friends, as Rotarians, we know that it is not enough to dream about a better world . A better world is possible only if we the Rotarians put our best , through our careful planning , honest co operation, sincerity, dedication, commitment and hard work .

The things will not move on their own – we the Rotarians will have to make Rotary connect the world .

Have you heard the Ant philosophy? I think everyone should study about the ife of ants. They have an amazing 4 part philosophy.

1st Part – Ants Never Quit

If they are headed somewhere and you try to put a obstacle in their path , they will look for another way . They will climb over , they will climb under , they will look for another way . Never quit looking for a way to get where you are supposed to go.

2nd Part – Ants think about winter all summer.

That’s an important perspective. You can’t be so naive as to think summer will last forever . So ants are gathering their winter food in the middle of summer.

There is an old saying “Don’t build your home on the sand in summer “ . Why do we need such an advice? It’s important to think ahead. In summer you have got to think about the storm. You have got to look ahead and be prepared.

3rd part of Ant philosophy is stay positive.

That’s very important. During the winter ants remind themselves “ this won’t last long . We will soon be out of here “.

And the first warm day the ants are out in numbers. They can’t wait to get out . Stay positive and focus on the positive. I am reminded of the words of Poet Khalil Gibran “in every winter’s heart lies in quivering spring, behind the veil of each night waits a smiling dawn.”

4th part – “How much will an ant gather during the summer to prepare itself for the winter?” All that it possibly can. What an incredible philosophy!

Look closely and you will find all 4 parts apply closely to Rotary.

1- Never Quit : whatever the hurdles. We have the skills and we have the desire to build a better future. So never Quit and make Rotary Connect the World .

2- Look ahead and be prepared: To be successful we must prepare well . Let Rotary Connect the World by promising a lot, preparing well and delivering even more .

3- Stat positive and Focus on the Positive : Practice forgiveness.

Be willing to forgive those who make honest mistakes . There will be people who do nothing, say nothing and contribute nothing. Forgive them too .

There is so much good going in your club , in your District and Community. Focus on that . Make the Rotary connect the world by focusing on the positive.

4- Do all that you can : There is no substitute for hard work . Success is spelled W-O- R- K. Today we stand on the edge of destiny limited only by our own vision.

Unless we work hard, that vision will remain as a vision. Remember, only in the dictionary success comes before work.

When Christopher Columbus sailed west in the ship Santa Maria he sailed under the flag of queen Isabella of Spain , which bore the motto “ NE PLUS ULTRA “ meaning “ Nothing Further “ .

When Columbus returned with his findings about the New World – The Queen ordered the Ne to be removed so that the motto now read “PLUS ULTRA “ meaning “ Further Onward” .

It meant Columbus had chartered, previously uncharted territory and now New Horizon and New Opportunities lay before those who desired to seize them . That speaks volumes for the foresight and forward- looking vision of Queen Isabella .

Take the road less traveled ; sure you may stub your toe now and then but remember “ Fortune is not on the side of faint hearted “.

You can choose to spend your time sitting on the shore and staring at the water and waiting for some pearls to wash upon the shore . Or you can climb deep into the water and discover some pearls .

Our elders used to say “ You cannot discover New Lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time “!

Noted French physician Albert Schweitzer observed “ I do not know what your destiny will be , but one thing I do know , The only ones among you will be happy are those who have sought and found how to Serve “.

Light the candle and make Rotary connect the world by providing Happiness through Rotary. Have a Wonderful District Conference.

1- BRAIN CHILD ….

2- MISSION —- Improvement of Health – Support of Education – Alleviation of Poverty—

3- Rotary 1st Service Organization—

4 – The Present situation—- Roots – Height – Branches

5- The only Foundation totally managed by Rotarians—

6- The only Foundation having programs for every section of the Society…

7- present scenario —-

Total spending — over 4 Billion US $

Polio Eradication— over 2 Billion US $ / In India over 250 Million US$

By the time Polio is Eradicated total spending could be over 2.5 Billion U S $

2.5 Billion children have been immunized.

Little History on Polio Eradication — 86+21 = 107

8- Last year Global collection 395 Millions US $ / INDIA over 21 Millions US $

9- Total assets in cash and commitment to Endowment 1.316 Billion US $ till 30th Jane 2019./ By 2025 – 2.025 Billion US $ .

10- DISTRICT 3141 — 16/17 330,000US $ Grants – 162,000US $

17/18 680,000US $. 144,000US $

18/19 1.15 Million US $ 270,000 US $

GLOBAL GOAL FOR 2019/20 400 MILLION US$

INDIA- 30 MILLION US $

Demands are much higher than the contribution —-

WHY TO CONTRIBUTE?

Bill and Millenda Gate Foundation/ BIRLAs / TATAs / MITTAL’s / Harshad MEHTA

If we the Volunteers of Peace , Champions of Friendship, Agents of Change , Rotarians of the world will not support than WHO ?

AN URDU COUPLET

It’s time for us to follow the clarion call given by Swamy Vivekananda ARISE – AWAKE and STOP NOT till the goal is achieved. Our goal is WORLD PEACE …

AN URDU COUPLET

Mahatma Gandhi said “ the best way to find yourself, is to lose yourself in the Service of others “

We need more PHFs/ Major Donors/ PH Society Members/AKS Members..

Friends, if we aspire to look beyond ourselves, if we wish to lead using our Head – Heart and Hands , if we are committed to build the future with action and vision, if we wish the world to know Rotary Serving Humanity, if we say Rotary Connects the World, We must gather courage and we must refuse to sink into what I call “ LEPROSY OF THE SOUL “ — the condition where the desire to do good in the world fades away .

Let’s kindle the fire by spreading the message that Rotary Connects the World which can happen with SERVICE TO HUMANITY THROUGH OUR FOUNDATION.

It means victory over Disease and Pain , it means freedom from Hunger and Want , it means Triumph from Ignorance and it means Dignity, Peace and better Human Beings.

Let each of you be the source, keeping hope alive . Let’s make The Rotary Foundation Serve Humanity brightly around the world .

AN URDU COUPLET

A wats up message-
WHAT I SPENT I HAD .
WHAT I KEPT I LOST .
WHAT I GAVE I HAVE .

A SANSKRIT SHLOKA

ROBERT FROST

It was in the year 1995 when I went to Calcutta as the Regional Co-ordinator of Membership Development, I had the opportunity to meet and interact with Rtn. Shekhar Mehta, who was assigned to assist me to find my way around in the conference. He impressed me then as a young Rotarian who was keen to learn about Rotary and take up bigger roles in the district.

When he became the District Governor during 1999-2000 I was able to see him venture into unchartered territories of Rotary service and create a good public image for the organisation. My interaction with him grew more in 2001 when we were in Evanston for a polio meet and I knew that this dynamic Rotarian was ready for bigger leadership positions.

It is his tenure as the Director of Rotary International that comes to my memory many times. The splendor with which he organised the Rotary South Asia Summit at Hyderabad, the South Asia Conference on Literacy at Nepal and the Rotary Institute at Calcutta, to name a few are fresh in my memory. He brought Rotary to Bhutan and made the Bhutanese realise that what is good for the rest of the world is good for Bhutan. The 500 homes built in Andaman and Nicobar Islands after Tsunami is a great feat he achieved and his dream of setting up 400 vocational centres all over India must soon materialize. He urged Rotarians to share their Rotary moments in a designated email and popularized the concept.

He gave a new definition to the time of 3 years posting of Rotarians to various committees and said that every year they have to earn their position for the next year and that their term in the second year is not automatic. People who took up the positions realised that they cannot be complacent. His initiative to pool the resources allotted for developing the public image of Rotary of all the districts into one central fund and make Rotary more visible was an excellent thought and hopefully districts will take the idea forward now.

I know him as a Shaker, a man who can shake you out of your complacency when it comes to Rotary service and a Mover who can take your hand and guide you to any corner of the world to do a service project. His winning philosophy was, “Worry more about what you want to do rather than what you want to be.” No wonder his work in the various avenues brought him laurels and today his position as our world leader during 2021-2022.

I know his passion for the Rotary Literacy Mission and already many parents are grateful that their children have the chance to go to school and pursue the dreams they choose.

I have heard his speeches on many occasions and he always emphasized the point to make Rotary bigger and stronger. He said, “We have a role to play in shaping our future. Representation matters. How will our voices be heard? Rotary is something that we all own. It is for everyone. To make sure your projects matter, debate without prejudice, decide and do every activity. Rotary easily does US $ 5 Billion worth of projects in kind and service every year. Make this known to the world. It is true for every Rotary club and that is why you are here today”. His vision to make every Rotarian a winner in service is what has made him a leader to all of us in the coming years.

Rtn. Shekhar Mehta is a winner and that does not mean he makes others lose. He is a winner because he responds authentically by being credible, trustworthy, responsive and genuine, both as an individual and as a member of Rotary. His unique potentials and capabilities are significant and that makes him a winner – a productive person and a creative being.

I have seen his style of functioning and to him achievement is not the most important thing. Authenticity is. Since he is an authentic person, he does not use his energy to put on a performance, maintain pretence and manipulating others. He has no unrealistic self-image of superiority or inferiority and is not afraid to do his own thinking. He can separate facts from opinion and does not pretend to have all the answers. He responds appropriately to the situation.

For Rtn. Shekhar Mehta, time is precious and he does not kill it. He lives it here and now. He cares about the world and its people. He cares about Rotary. He tells every Rotarian, “You don’t have to change the world alone.” He helps Rotarians to connect with the people who have the same desire and empowers them to do it. I have always heard him enthuse the Rotarians by saying, “Change only happens when ordinary people get involved, get engaged and come together to demand it and stand up together to change the world.”

Around the world, we live in a time when fewer people are dying due to diseases and hunger. But the lack of peace is taking its toll in conflicts. This is what we need now – peace. The kind of collective action that has always driven human progress. I know that as the President of Rotary International, Rtn. Shekhar Mehta can bring dedicated Rotarians once again into the mainstream, communicate his vision and goals effectively through various media and make a million voices speak with conviction, courage and optimism. These people won’t be just convinced, they will be motivated to go out and spread the message that swayed them. They will be his best ambassadors for promoting the noble goal of world peace.

Rtn. Shekhar Mehta will be that contagious light that spreads energy to other people and I can see that enthusiasm all over him. Thank you for that support and we are humbled by the opportunity to build Rotary alongside you. I want to end by quoting from the article titled Shekhar and Mover written by the Editor of the Rotary News Magazine in 2013 which I always remember. He wrote, “When you start working with ShekharMehta, you will get a glimpse of the person, the possibility of him having an impact on others beyond what you thought was possible.” I realised that every time I had the chance to work with him in Rotary events. His wife Rashi, is a great force, not just behind him, but working side by side with him in his journey of service in Rotary. She is a homemaker, mother, wife and leader with unlimited energy. Rashi takes up most of these roles at one time. She is a human dynamo of super energy and is determined to be a change agent in transforming her neighbourhood and the community.

Rtn. Shekhar Mehta is what makes the Rotary world talk about and admire India today and will be in the years to come.

GRATITUDES…….

CONGRATULATIONS TO SHEKHAR AND RASHI .

Who will be the ideal leader? This question has been debated from the times of Mahabharat.

Lord Krishna says that the ideal leader is a person with equanimity.

I have known SHEKHAR for many years and have always found him to be one such person.

He is a dispassionate leader, even-minded and not hungry for positions or power.

HE is an enlightened person who has his senses firmly under control, just like King Janaka .

His ability to work with all sections of the society will provide a platform for membership growth and development of Rotary world over.

It is said that a leader must have a desires to create the ground for action. The desire to lead must be coupled with an equally strong desire to serve. And Shekhar has these qualities in ample measure.

As a member of many RI committees, Shekhar has demonstrated his leadership skills. It is said that a leader is best when people barely know he exists.

When his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say, “We did it ourselves.” Those who have worked with Shekhar in various foras know this very well. He has guided their work without ever thrusting his views on anyone and the result has always been wonderful.

He is a man of vision, a man with clarity of thought and healthy ideas. Regardless of the circumstances, he has the power to show leadership. Whatever assignment he takes on he always plays it to his peak abilities

Shekhar knows how to work and influence people around him like a superstar. He always comes up with an instant strategy when needed to build a great team and becomes a person who everyone else admires.

As he takes the mantle of RI President in 2021, Shekhar will devise real world ways to defeat stress and build an unbeatable mindset, and unleash his full energy

It is said that leaders are always improving and raising their bar on how superbly they can perform and how quickly they can move. Every Rotarian must hatch on to leaders such as Shekhar, Raja Saboo, Kalyanda and other great people in our country and realise their true potential and become the true service oriented person they were built to become when they joined this movement

Dear Shekhar, THE SIZE OF YOUR SUCCESS WILL BE MEASURED BY THE STRENGTH OF YOUR DESIRE, THE SIZE OF YOUR DREAM AND HOW YOU HANDLE YOUR DIS APPOINTMENTS.

AND SHEKHAR, LET OTHERS LEAD SMALL LIFE, BUT NOT YOU.

LET OTHERS ARGUE ON SMALL THINGS, BUT NOT YOU.

LET OTHERS CRY ON SMALL HURT, BUT NOT YOU.

LET OTHERS LEAVE THEIR FUTURE IN SOME ONE ELSE’S HANDS ,BUT NOT YOU.

Rotarians in India have high hopes on you which I am sure you will not dis appoint them because you know that LEADERSHIP IS NOT JUST ABOUT WHAT YOU DO BUT WHAT YOU CAN INSPIRE, ENCOURAGE AND EMPOWER OTHERS TO DO.

And finally to Shekhar and Rashi , Nayantara joins me in making a small prayer,

MAY THE STARS CARRY YOUR SADNESS AWAY,

MAY THE FLOWERS FILL YOUR HEART WITH BEAUTY,

MAY HOPE FOR EVER WIPE AWAY YOUR TEARS,

AND ABOVE ALL, MAY SILENCE MAKE YOU STRONG.

WE WISH ALL THE VERY BEST TO YOU SHEKHAR AND OF COURSE RASHI NOT ONLY FOR YOUR TERM AS THE PRESIDENT OF ROTARY INTERNATIONAL BUT IN EVERY ENDEAVOUR , TODAY, TOMORROW AND ALWAYS.

GRATITUDES….

CONGRATULATIONS….

WHY YOU ?

A District Training Assembly is a university that imparts knowledge, information and guidelines to the club leaders who are students of Rotary College. And this is done with enthusiasm and dedication .

In Rotary, we deal with equals and therefore it is essential for club leaders to understand how to deal with equals and some more experienced members such as PDGs, past presidents,Sr.Rotarians.

What a marvellous, fascinating unforgettable mission! What a serious & difficult mission! To be a leader amongst equals-

every year in Rotary leaders change but leadership continues. And as you change the baton of leadership, remember in a relay one does not stop to pass the baton- but runs alongside for some time at the same speed.

Your year is not a marathon- it’s a 366 days sprint- so be fast off the blocks and keep up the tempo till you breast the tape.

The District Training Assembly also serves to highlight the thrust areas of Rotary and Districts.

It highlights the theme of The Year “Rotary Connects the world ” and also urges us define the ways of service and the roads leading us to reach our goal.

Who ever thought more than a a century ago, that Rotary will become what it has become today? No crystal grazer even dreamt that Rotary will become a force of salvation.

Today, we are in our second century of existence and we are wiser today than we were a century ago.

The strength of Rotary depends on Rotarians who volunteer to help, who go out to serve and who promote, propagate and promise help with a compassion that dwells in every heart and which is waiting to be tapped.

The future of Rotary depends entirely on the service it provides. Since the needs of the communities change, so should the outlook of the Rotarians.

Individual Rotarians gets inspired by world leaders, get educated by teachers and get motivated by Clubs leadership.

If the needs change, action will change. If Rotary has to survive, the individual Rotarian should act .

In this Training Assembly DGE Hari GUPTA who has attended the International Assembly full of ideas, innovation and implementation tools and invigorating motivation will, in turn, transform this Training Assembly into an arena of action full of compassion, commitment and communication.

Believe me I would not leave a single stone unturned to make my year a success so as to ensure that there shall be no regrets later for things I could have done but didn’t.

You are all leaders in your respective professions & businesses & Rotary is no different – in – all respects- but one. In Rotary you are a leader amongst equals. A demanding task requiring all your skills to motivate & inspire those working with you.

It is therefore with a great sense of responsibility that you should look forward to challenges of the year ahead knowing fully well that leadership in Rotary entails not Power, nor Authority, but only Accountability.

It is here that you will discover that you have much in common with your fellow President Elect or other office bearers of different clubs.. You will find that your differences are few and your shared interests and goals are many.

It is here that you feel the spark that ignites your spirit of service , for it is here that you will begin to understand the enormous scope of Rotary . It is here that you will grasp the vision of service Rotary can provide for the creation of better world.

It is here that you will discover new gifts and talents that will enable you to carry out one of the most important position in Rotary .

You are the men and women who will carry the message through out your District that ROTARY Connects the world . that Rotary brings love to the abandoned , hope to the Sufferung and peace to the world filled with hatred and injustice.

The question today is not CAN YOU LEAD ? The question is HOW WILL YOU LEAD ?? And the more important question is WILL YOU BE A SUCCESSFUL LEADER OF ROTARIANS ??

What can I teach you about leadership?

I would like to express one idea that I think is the key to successful leadership in Rotary —

IF YOU ARE ALL TO SUCCEED AS LEADERS IN ROTARY , THEN YOU MUST LEAVE THIS DISTRICT TRAINING ASSEMBLY WITH AN UNDERSTANDING OF ONE IMPORTANT ASPECT OF LEADERSHIP– YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THAT “TO LEAD YOU MUST SERVE “. As Mahatma Gandhi once said I MUST FOLLOW TE PEOPLE —-BECAUSE I AM THEIR LEADER.

You will leave this Training Assembly understanding fully that leadership is not about power . Leadership is not a speech or slogan . Leadership is not a position of authority to hold over people .

Leadership is relationship between people . Leadership is about nourishing and cultivating relationship with the people who will follow you , work with you and succeed with you in the coming year .

Yes, my friends and fellow Club Leaders in 2019-20 , I sincerely believe that Leadership in Rotary is an Art as well as a Science.

It is – The Art of making friends
The Art of awakening enthusiasm
The Art of inspiring hearts

And

It is- the Science of transforming dreams into reality
The Science of maintaining unity in diversity
The Science of adding and multiplying efforts to
achieve Great goals.

Today, as we prepare to go into the next Rotary year, we look at all the miracles accomplished by Rotary and the Rotary Foundation- all working together, combining efforts & resources to connect the world.

There is so much to be done in this world, it’s almost unbelievable, but there is one organization & one individual who can help improve our world. That organization is Rotary International & that Individual is you.

However, more than it is tempting to question what one person can do in a world of over Seven billion people.

US Anthropologist Margaret Med once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world- indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.”

It is said, “Small minds discuss Personalities, Average minds discuss Events & only Great minds discuss ideas.”

Rotary gives us this forum not only to discuss ideas but also to make them in to realities. Tagore wrote, “I slept & dreamt that life was happiness, I woke & saw that life was service. I served & learnt that in service happiness is found.” & it is that happiness which Rotary gives us.

Chinese Proverb: If you want Happiness-
For 5 minutes – take a nap
For 1 hour – go fishing
For 1 week – take a vacation
For 1 month – get married
For a year – inherit a fortune
Forever – help others

Yes, being a President, or Director, or Chairman of any Service Committee gives you this unique opportunity to help others.

My dear Friends, the Rotary we all love so much is in your capable hands so that you can make it even better. No one can tell us what Rotary will be tomorrow, but one thing is certain, what Rotary will be tomorrow depends upon what we Rotarians do today.

Yes, Leadership in Rotary can be described in one word OPPORTUNITY. For it gives ordinary people like us the opportunity to do extraordinary things.

Story of polio eradication in India and U p

PDGs Sudhir Ji , Brij BHUSHAN Ji , and many others …

Remember – “The highest award for a man’s toil is not what he gets for it, but what he himself becomes by it.”

Margaret Thatcher was a Rotarian as was her father. He used to tell her, “Don’t be afraid to be different – don’t blindly follow the path – instead make a new path for others to follow.”

Today The leaders of tomorrow – asks yourselves- what kind of a Leader will you be? Have you thought about this? Will you lead by command or by example? Will you lead by force or by persuasion? Will you lead by inclusion, can you lead by love? Or will you lead by inspiration & Motivation.

PLANNING IS THE MAGIC WORD IN EVERY SUCCESS

FAILURE TO PREPARE IS PREPARING TO FAIL ..

BE STUBBORN ON YOUR VISION Have a determination to Pursue your vision and not get sidetracked. You need to have grit , perseverance, and passion for long term sustainable projects.

PUT YOUR HEART IN WHAT YOU DO… Mother Teresa was described by the Secretary General of UN as “the most powerful woman on the earth” and she was asked what made her so. Filled with embarrassment ,in simple words came her most profound statement “Small work with great Love” It is this love that is generated through Heart. That’s why we say “put your Heart in what you do” .

BE KNOWLEDGEABLE-
Knowledge is power but we must be knowledgeable not only about Rotary but more important to know more about Rotarians. There lies the key to success.

Story of watering bearer

ROTARY INFORMATION–

The story of a FATHER OF A CHURCH

CREATE OPPORTUNITIES-
Our leaders must learn the art of creating opportunities and you have to set your goals and learn your dreams. In Rotary, we turn problems into opportunities to over come them

This reminds me of a RYLA Camp I attended at Moral Re-Armament campus at Panchgani . At the entrance of the camp is a board saying “There are no problems here – only opportunities” Whilst I was standing near the registration desk where many participants of RYLA were clustering the desk, a boy came running and said to the organizer- “Sir, I have a problem” The organizer smilingly pointed to the placard saying “There are no problems – only opportunities.”

The boy hesitated and replied “Call it what you may, Sir – but you have allotted me a room which is occupied by a girl”. I don’t know whether the boy turned the problem into opportunity or not ….

The successful leaders see the opportunities in every difficulty rather than the difficulty in every opportunity

COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY

THE STORY OF SNAKE AND MANGOOSE

To be a GOOD LEADER you must recognize and appreciate the efforts of others.

A good leader takes a little more than his share of blame and little less than his share of credit. Never hesitate to appreciate and recognize the efforts of all the club members who will work with you so closely to make a wonderful year.

THE STORY OF PELE

Honour them, respect them and communicate their achievements through the Club Bulletin

BE FLEXIBLE……
EGO TO BE KEPT AWAY.
JOIN ROTARY AND MAKE ENEMIES—-
TO BE A GOOD LEADER ONE MUST BE COMPASSIONATE
A leader must talk the walk.even the leader may not know every thing, but a good leader must be open to learning.

MOTIVATION —

The Dictionary describes Motivation as “the process, which gives incentive to arouse, sustain & regulate the human behaviour.”

How true

it is in the present context for it applies to your role as a President or the office bearer or the Director to arouse, sustain & regulate the behaviour of the members in your club.

Remember- The mediocre Leaders Tell
The Good Leaders Explain
The Superior Leaders Demonstrate
But only the Great Leaders Inspire & Motivate.

If you tell a Rotarian to work and tell how to do it you are building a monument with one hand.

If you tell them to work and go home do nothing more, you are building a monument with one hand and demolishing it with other.

If you tell them to work and you work with them, only then you are building a monument with both hands.

Therefore motivate yourself first and then motivate others.

Always remember the two words Humble and Hungry as the key to your career of continuous improvement and growth.whether you are trying to make a name for yourself or you have achieved the pinnacle of success .

Don’t ever feel that you know every thing. Every day you get an opportunity to learn something. The success or failure should not get in to your head.

Be kind to every one and let people know that they matter.

Live with Humility because the moment you think that you have arrived at the door of greatness it will get shut on your face.

No matter how successful you get, no matter how much you achieve, you always have to be Hungry for more.

You always have to be hungry for learning new things.

You always have to be hungry to have more achievements.

You should be hungry to make your mark and you should be hungry to be seen and to be heard to have an effect out there.

But as you move on and become successful make sure to Also stay hungry for helping others and looking beyond your self.

Let the leaders of tomorrow, gathered here this day be alive to the need for effective leadership and the means of achieving this leadership. We have the intelligence, we have the determination. Let us have the know how.

Friends! The torch of service is lit by the fire of our Rotarians in their efforts to serve. Let this fire be strong enough to do what we are expected to do. This Dist. Training Assembly will show you the way. This Dist. Training Assembly will enlighten you on the area which need Rotary’s help. This Training Assembly will make new friends and build bridges of understanding and communications.

I wish you all a great 2019-20 . How great it is will depend on you and your dedication. May the Almighty give you strengths to achieve all what you desire and deserve in the year ahead.
ure what they say and do.

My ONE LINE LEADERSHIP MANTRA ? Knowledge, Action, Integrity, Humble and Hungry.

An Urdu Cuplet

Gratitude and congratulations..

Don’t just learn, experience.

Don’t just read, absorb.

Don’t just change, transform.

Don’t just relate, advocate.

Don’t just promise, prove.

Don’t just criticize, encourage.

Don’t just think, ponder.

Don’t just take, give.

Don’t just see, feel.

Don’t just dream, do.

Don’t just hear, listen.

Don’t just talk about ethics, act.

Don’t just tell people about values, show.

Don’t just exist, live.

People will perceive your character by how you walk your talk. Many people who preach from the podium in various meetings do not carry conviction since those who hear the speech know that the person does not follow an iota of what he or she is preaching.

To be ethical or not? This question is very relevant today. We live in the midst of great technological advances, great progress in many spheres of life and yet we do not seem to have made progress in living our daily life ethically. This attitude can destroy all that we have achieved.

Business and society need Ethics. One of the aim and contribution of Rotary to the world is ethics. Society is built on economic progress that comes through following ethical standards in business. History has shown us the lives of big business people and their downfall within decades just because they failed to adhere to the natural principle of

ethics.

Rotary stands for Honesty. But we have seen some unfair practices followed by some members and this is being set right.

It is ironic that in the age of great advances, some people are traveling in the opposite direction of Ethics. No development can survive if people resort to unethical practices in what they do.

We are seeing this in many spheres of our life when we confront bad roads, bad quality of products and bad service. What people tend to do is to blame the government when they should be blaming the people who are delivering the products and services to the public on behalf of the government. In the long run people have been trained to put up with unethical people. This must change now.

Peace is a product of high thinking and this thinking process comes only to people who value their life, the life of the people worldwide and the animals and plant kingdom which are part of the eco system. You cannot bring peace by unethical practices and this includes destroying natural resources for your own development.

Are we Ethical? It may be a difficult question to answer. The point is we cannot be good in parts. That is what is called as living with ethics.

Can a person be one hundred percent ethical and survive in today’s world? Many may say it is difficult. I say that it is possible. This alone differentiates you from a cheat and scoundrel.

Would you be liked to be known as a cheat? Even those who are absconding today because of their unlawful and unethical actions, dread being called and known as criminal for the rest of their life if they roam outside freely.

How to make the world a better place?

If every Rotarian takes just a step or two towards Honesty in all the dealings and behaviour, it would be a tremendous gain. Many a times, we ignore the philosophy behind our 4-Way test. It is indeed highly valuable Ethical yardstick still applicable in today’s world. Just by using the 4-Way test as a guide we can improve ourselves and become better persons.

How do we begin? It has been rightly said that mankind must put an end to dishonesty, or dishonesty will swallow you one day or the other.

Let’s begin, therefore with even small resolve to be more honest, more ethical. A former State Governor of Maharashtra Shri Prakash, once said, “Even as an ordinary person, I will not give bribe to a railway official for a railway ticket to visit my son who is seriously ill and is in hospital.”

Is this not illustrative? If every Rotarian can take but one step towards more Ethics, the results would be phenomenal.

We can then, turn into our colleagues and business partners, our customers, our agents and even our community and exhort them to be more honest than they have been. One step at a time can make a world of difference. Let’s walk this path together.

Our lives are to be used and thus to be lived as fully as possible, and truly it seems that we are never as alive as when we concern ourselves with other people. That is why an ethical behaviour is needed in whatever we do.

If we lead a life where we ourselves feel ashamed one day about the way we lived with hatred, deceit and other dirty stuff we carried within ourselves our end will not be peaceful.

Regardless of what is going on around you, make the best of what is within your power, and take the rest as it occurs. You will find that what happens around you will not affect you since within yourself you have decided to be ethical and reflect that with sincerity.

Rotary believes very much in high ethical standards and all our actions are centered around the 4 Way Test. This 4 Way Test, given to us by Rotarian Herbert J Taylor in 1932 still guides our organisation and the 1.2 million members in what they think, say and do.

There are many people who choose to live in any way which suits them and the occasion. There are some people who choose the way in which they wish to live and adhere by that in any circumstance. Such people may encounter many defeats, but they are never defeated.

They know who they are and what they can raise from. Their mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive and to do so with ethics in the way they handle every day. Every person who joins Rotary is inducted into this philosophy and if the organisation has been doing good in this world for over 113 years, it is because of our unshakable faith in ethics and high value.

It was this philosophy which made Rotarian Herbert J Taylor to frame the 4 Way Test in 1932. Every Rotarian knows the 4 Way Test. People understand that the test is important to maintain harmony and peace within themselves and in the community.

If you lead a life without following the 4 Way Test, it will become like a tree without blossom and fruit. My advice to Rotarians is that they should practice this way of living in whatever they do.

No man is an island. We are all walking each other home. The 4 Way Test is probably the best guide to take you along the long path which is from your head to your heart.

Following the test is like planting a garden – you believe in tomorrow. The 4 Way Test makes you a complete person, good in all aspects. Remember, no person was ever honoured for what they received, but for how they lived.

You don’t teach ethics and values in the schools. You teach them at home and children learn by example. When your values are clear to you, making decisions become easier.

Educating the children without ethics and values will only make them a clever devil. People who claim to be highly educated from famous institutions fail to understand that the aim of their education is knowledge, not of facts and figures but of values. If you have the right kind of people who have culture, ethics and high values around you, you can accomplish great things.

So what do you mean by ethics? At its simplest, ethics is a system of moral principles. They affect how people make decisions and lead their lives. Ethics is concerned with what is good for individuals and society and is also described as moral philosophy.

So what is the purpose of ethics? The purpose of ethics is to define acceptable human behavior through knowing the types of actions, its consequences and the limits of humans in their actions, as well as their acceptability.

So what are human values and ethics? Basic human values refer to those values which are at the core of being human. The values which are considered basic inherent values in humans include truth, honesty, loyalty, love, peace, etc. because they bring out the fundamental goodness of human beings and society at large.

So what is an ethical behaviour? Acting in ways consistent with what society and individuals typically think are good values. Ethical behavior tends to be good for business and involves demonstrating respect for key moral principles that include honesty, fairness, equality, dignity, diversity and individual rights.

If someone tells you that you should be ethical what does it mean? Being ethical means applying standards of behaviour to the way we live our lives. This covers both our personal lives and our working lives.

So the important factor here is the intention to be ethical. Being ethical is not the same as following the law. When men are pure, laws are useless; when men are corrupt, laws are broken.

An ethical society is one that values a commitment to do the right thing regardless of personal costs. It’s not an easy standard to live by but one worth pursuing. I certainly try to follow this principle.

An URDU CUPLETE

An Urdu Cuplet

President Shri Hemant Takle, Honorary General Secretary Shri S K Singh and the administrators of National Association For Blind , India.

Gratitude ..

I think that the main purpose of this association is to promote kindness within the community since kindness is the language that deaf can hear and blind can see.

Millions of people may have sight but no vision. Many people in our society can see things far off but are blind to what is near.

Helen Keller was born blind and deaf, but could see the light within herself. In her silent darkness, every fragrant flower, every ray of the warm sun, every taste that touched her tongue told her that she want not challenged in the way we describe the visually challenged persons.

I always held the belief that what she left us – the way to hope, the way to peace, the way to love, a philosophy and discipline rooted in non-violence cannot be taken away. These are eternal.

I believe that we can always do more to embody the lessons she left behind and while celebrating the Founding day every year, your association can reach out to more and more people in the community with the message that those who are visually impaired are capable to achieving great things.

I am seeing such persons demonstrating that spirit to us. They are speaking up, they are marching and demanding more for themselves and trying to sulk.

I am amazed at the bouquet of opportunities and services your association is offering to those who are visually challenged.

The blindness prevention programme, talking books, vocational training, employment, advocacy, client services, recreation, women’s empowerment and rehabilitation programmes offered by your association deserves the greatest praise and support.

You have shared what you believe that makes a challenged person forget his or her disability and stand with confidence in any forum.

Each time you introduce a new scheme to assist the visually challenged persons, each time you tell a story we in the community should know, you are actively helping to build this organisation.

You are adding another brick to a structure that is going to grow stronger and support hundreds of people who need your guidance. You are equipping the challenged persons with tools they need to change their worlds.

Over the past many decades I have been working with Rotary’s programme in various avenues which included avoidable blindness.

Building a programme for those who need our help is never easy. It requires patience. It requires listening. Not just listening for show, but actively incorporating what we have learnt into plans.

And that is why the inputs from the Rotary members who are ophthalmologists are absolutely central to our process. The various village outreach programmes and eye donation awareness campaign organised by our members have helped to give sight to many persons.

Like you, we are far from finished. We will continue to iterate on our avoidable blindness programme and we will continue to turn to you for your feedback and advice.

Today, Rotary is affiliated with 168 eye hospitals all over India through its clubs and we have an ambitious programme of adopting 10,000 villages to promote our avoidable blindness programme. Many of these hospitals have received grants from Rotary clubs abroad through the Rotary Foundation’s Grants programme for modern equipments.

Your amazing work to rehabilitate the visually challenged persons will create an economic engine in the society and other people in the community will begin to see more how those who were earlier receiving only sympathy are not asking for it but for probably an opportunity to put their talent to work in areas which they can contribute.

I know optimism isn’t always fashionable. Certainly not when we are fed with a steady stream of cynicism on television and social media.

The frightening visuals of some child getting hit by stray pellet in a disturbed area or some people lying down in makeshift hospital beds in a war torn area with their sights affected make us feel that unless there is peace everywhere, the chances of innocent citizens becoming visually and otherwise challenged will only increase.

We in Rotary are saying peace is possible and working in many nations through our peace scholars. I hope we will all live to see that one day.

I am glad that through the efforts of your association, people with visual defects who were earlier systematically and routinely excluded from huge portions of daily life are now getting included. These are good trends and none of these have happened by accident.

They have happened because many people in your association, toiling for many years fought to make this progress. More than anything else, that is what is needed now.

I am seeing this spirit all across India now. People who choose to get involved in the avoidable blindness programme and rehabilitation process of those who affected get engaged in their task with determination to make a difference to those who may have to led along the road of progress.

I am left wondering many times when I see the ability of the visually challenged persons in walking along our roads with the white-cane with little or no help from the passers-by. I wish the roads were laid much better by the corporation.

What I wish to say is that the day is not far when those who are challenged visually may not need the help of others for many things they can do and this is a great change that is taking place due to the work of your association.

Today marks an important milestone in your history. For the past many decades you have been working around the clock and around India to help a new class of determined persons to forget their disability and change history.

I can’t wait to share my experience I gathered today from seeing all of you and I can’t wait to talk to my fellow Rotary members about your hopes and how you are confident that your investment in this movement will lead to a better future for everyone.

The people whom you have touched with your service will walk with a better sense of a country we all love and they will walk out more empowered to go and change their worlds.

The golden lines of my favorite poet Robert Frost

The Woods are lovely dark and deep ,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

Thank you and Wish you A Great year of service.

GRATITUDE—And Congratulations to the Awardees.

Introduction.

The Rotary Awards for Vocational Excellence were commence in our District in 1978 by the Rotary District Governor late Dr Badar Maskati through the District Vocational Service Committee. The concept was accepted by the clubs in our District and in subsequent years as an integral part of their second Avenue of Service- Vocational Service Program. The first Awards were presented to three individuals at the 1979 District Conference in Mumbai at the hands of Mother Taresa .

Aims

The aims of the Award are:

To recognise VOCATIONAL EXCELLENCE of the highest order and to honor outstanding contribution by individuals or small teams of individuals for significant advancement in their vocational field .

To inspire further enthusiasm and to give added reward to the exceptional achievers.

To set an example to others, particularly youth, of the need to strive for VOCATIONAL EXCELLENCE

Service above self is the motto of Rotary. In a way service is considered as soul of Rotary. But go through the objects of Rotary and you will realize that maintaining high ethical standards in your vocation and leveraging members vocation as a means to serve the society is one of the most important aspect of Rotary. Service is not limited in community but also in workplace and around the globe. Incidentally first community project began in Chicago due to Rotary Club of Chicago’s endeavor to help members in their vocation.

Awards are recognitions expressed and are one of the best ways to say “WELL DONE “ and “THANK YOU VERY MUCH “ .

Lord CHAMBESLAIN was the Chief guest at an Award function like this to recognize the excellent work of a common Britisher who went out of his way to save a community threatened by calamity.

When asked why he consented to be the Chief Guest at that function to recognize a common individual? He said “ Great words by good people are more vital than good words by Great people. I always feel honored and privileged to be amongst them when precious achievements are recognized and felicitated by Unprecious people-like me “

Today I am in the shoes of Lord CHAMBESLAIN as I realize that an unprecious person like me is present here to recognize the precious work of these individuals .

Recognition and Rewards are an integral part of our life . They spur others and us to better deeds and better dedication.

Frank Jones was a great football player and his entire team including the coach depended upon his defensive play to block the goals .

In a championship match , his team was lagging behind and a great effort was needed to come out on top . Frank , though injured , went into action and even at the risk of big injury, not only managed to ward off the opposition ‘s attacks but to pass the ball to a runner who picked up his pass and ultimately scored a goal to even the scores . In the penalty shootout, he saved at least two sure goals and his mates did the rest . His team had won .

Frank expected a big pat on his back but none came . He approached the coach and asked “ YOU SAW ME PLAY DID NOT YOU ? “

“YES” said the coach.

“ How come you did not say any thing about it ? “

The coach replied “ Sure your defense was superlative but then you are always a great defender and I figured I did not have to tell you “

Well replied Frank “ if you ever want to succeed again , you will have to .

RECOGNITION AWAKENES SUPERLATIVE POWER OF WORK , COMMITMENT AND SUCCESS.

“ Man May respond to tangible things but his response to recognition is much more “. And people are the source of greatness in any field . In the world of work , all resources— except Human Resources — stand under the law of mechanics — Never having an out put greater than the sum of their input . Man alone can produce through motivated creativity an out put greater than the sum of his inputs . It is in this light that Awards get their importance. These Awards are meant for those who have performed more than what was expected out of them .

Rotary’ s way of Say “THANK YOU “ and “WELL DONE “ is only through recognition and reward . It is imperative to recognize and reward all those who make a difference to all their activities and services. The final thank will certainly come from all those who benefit from the services rendered by all these individuals . Yes , many a times the community may not know who has done more than expected, it is left to the leadership of Local Rotary Club to convey sincere gratitude to the men and women who sacrificed for their projects .

LET ROTARY BE NOT STINGY IN RECOGNIZING THE EFFORTS AND SACRIFICE OF THOSE WHO ARE REAL HEROES AND HEROINES OF THE SCRIPT OF SERVICE.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ——-

AN URDU CUPLET —

SPEECH DELIVERED AT JUPITER HOSPITAL IN THANE ON 22ND DECEMBER 2018

D G Dr Ashish GANGULI, President Pallavi Sule, Dr Ajay Thackar —-

Rotary and it’s objectives –

Rotary ‘s Concerns toward Children—

Polio Eradicated—

India is a country with more than a billion population and a crude birth rate of 27.2/1000 population. This would amount to about 28 millions are born every year .

Going by an incidence of heart disease among Children – 8/1000 births, we could expect about 180,000 children born with an abnormal heart every year.

Of these, nearly 60,000-90,000 suffer from critical Hear issues requiring early intervention.

The total number of pediatric cardiac surgeries performed in 2004 was less than 2500 . In the year 2004, there were only 14 cardiac centers in the country scattered primarily in the capital or the southern part of the country. There were just about a dozen established pediatric cardiac surgeons in the country.

Many of the pediatric cardiac programs in the country are still “supported” by the adult cardiac program. This is primarily to “offset” the economically unviable pediatric program.

The pediatric cardiac surgical program is rendered unviable due to economically weaker young couple at the start of their careers not able to afford the cost of the surgery and lack of governmental support.

As a result, the specialty remained a “service” by the healthcare delivery systems to the society rather than remunerative.

On the other hand, large adult cardiac units consider having a pediatric cardiac program as a mere “status” symbol, in order to claim that their facility is indeed a complete cardiac surgical unit.

Comprehensive pediatric health care can only be provided in sophisticated tertiary corporate sector hospitals. Governmental institutions with their limitations of infrastructure, equipments and specialized support systems required cannot afford such facilities in large numbers.

Perhaps, realizing their inadequacy, many of the states, especially in the southern part of the country, have chosen to support such patients through insurance schemes to facilitate surgeries at tertiary referral private hospitals.

There has been an overwhelming response to this initiative and has resulted in a sudden growth in the number of small and large cardiac centers throughout the south.

The emergence of nuclear families in the recent years has increased the value of babies unlike earlier days, and the parents who can afford better facilities are now eager to do everything possible to get their offsprings well. All these factors have resulted in an increase in pediatric cardiac surgical numbers in the last 5 years.

ROLE OF ROTARY IN INDIA TOWARDS PEDIATRIC HEART SURGERIES—

GIFT OF LIFE PROGRAM-

GLOBAL GRANTS-

STATISTICS-

MUMBAI AND THANE

CONGRATULATIONS TO ROTARY CLUB OF THANE PREMIUM FOR ACCEPTING THIS AS ONE OF THEIR PRIORITY AND GRATITUDE TO THE MANAGEMENT OF JUPITER HOSPITAL FOR THEIR SUPPORT.

THE SUPPORT FROM ADITYA BIRLA GROUP THROUGH THE GOOD OFFICES OF SMT RAJASHREE JI

Commitment- ROBERT FROST

The woods are lovely dark and deep ,

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.

Good luck.

Respected the Chairperson Smt Tina Ambani Ji , the Distinguished Faculty members of this esteemed Hospital, Supporting Staff , Fellow Rotarians and Friends , There are no insurmountable tasks for the respected Ambanis when it comes to building the infrastructure for making India great.

For Rotary, there are no insurmountable tasks when it comes to serving humanity, especially children in the society. This has been demonstrated by our concerted efforts in eradicating polio from the country.

The Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital and Medical Research Centre has been set up by the great Ambani family as a lifelong devotion to human welfare.

Their vision in setting up this facility has widened the boundaries of service and unites all citizens.

It is their ambition to bridge the gaps in Indian healthcare and the facility is now a highly advanced quaternary care facility with unique full-time specialist system and technology and treatment protocols benchmarked to leading global institutions.

In the quest to make India great, the Ambani family’s guiding philosophy has been perseverance and hope. In Rotary we understand that there is no such thing as lone struggle or lone hope.

The Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, which is ably guided by Smt Tina Anil Ambani as the Chairperson, has the distinction of being the first the integrated centre for children’s cardiac care in Western India.

She has demonstrated that when people come together as a team, share a dream and focus on reaching their goals together, they will accomplish what they set out to do.

Rotary, by partnering with this great institution for the past six years, has been able to save hundreds of children with various cardiac disorders. To believe in a child is to believe in the future. Through their aspirations they will serve the world.

It is said that if your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader. Shrimathi Tina Ambani, through the group’s CSR activities has being doing that.

Rotary’s CSR initiatives have been taking the resources of many major corporate bodies to various parts of the country and probably the Ambani CSR Foundation may wish to partner with Rotary in that area also.

The Rotary movement present in more than 200 countries, is closer to people of various faiths and beliefs because it is more flexible, more flowing and it is not a religion. It has openings, doors and windows and fresh ideas can always reach the deepest core of the heart of a Rotarian.

A philosopher once said, “When you have more than you need, build a longer table not a higher fence.” The Ambani family has been very generous in sharing their resources and expertise for the welfare of the community and those who have benefitted from their philanthropic activities know that very well.

From the time I joined Rotary, more than 45 years ago, I have been totally nourished by the positivity of the organisation, the donors and partners who have made us do what we have done to make the world a slightly better place.

Madam Shrimathi Anita Ambani, there is no language that exists for expressing our gratitude on behalf of the children the experts in your hospital have saved. By saving every child, you have wiped away the tears from the eyes of their parents, especially their mothers.

Our life in Rotary is not taken as a work but as a service of love towards humanity. Doing good each moment is the goal. The journey is the goal and each moment we are able to bring peace in the life of people it is moment for celebration.

When Rotarians take up a massive programme in the health and education sectors, we are aware of the magnitude of the work involved. We fight with our total energy and intensity. We may not reach our goals in the first few attempts, and it is not possible that we will always win. But we don’t feel defeated.

This was the energy that made us win over polio and with that confidence we have challenged ourselves to take up more humanitarian projects all over India in disease prevention and treatment, water and sanitation, maternal and childcare, basic education and literacy and economic and community development.

Our ultimate goal is peace and conflict resolution. As more and more donors are willing to use the expertise our volunteer members who come from diverse field, we feel that we can take the CSR activities of the organisations to greater lengths.

Our motto is Service Above Self and that means our love is pure, innocent, formless and when we give in love we don’t demand anything in return. When love is only a giving we are happy because someone has accepted our love. When we transcend borders for doing service, we realise that our journey is towards the infinite.

Everything in nature is for the others. Water from the rivers is for others, fruits from trees are for others, light from the sun is for others, fragrance from the flowers are for others and if you see what the common factor is, in nature life, existence and growth are meant for others. Thank you, Shrimathi Tina Ambani, for creating this wonderful healthcare infrastructure for others and letting Rotary partner your organisation and fulfilling the purpose of our movement. We can assure you that you will never be disappointed in our partnership. Thank you once again and look forward to see our association getting stronger and stronger in this endeavor.

Thank you all for joining me in felicitating RI President Nominee Sushil Gupta and his gracious lady Vinita Ji .

I have a fruitful association with Sushil Ji and understand his passion for service. He always used to tell the Rotarians whenever he talked to them, “I am asking you to believe. Not in my ability to make change, but in yours.” Great motivational words which drew admirers far and wide.

This belief, this faith in the ability of each one of us to make a difference in our world through service in Rotary, has been the guiding principle of Sushilji and this is what has made him a world leader of Rotary for the year 2020-2021.

Why does his sphere of influence go beyond the borders of our country?

That is because people trust him. This trust which he has earned over the years will help him to help people, serve people, lead people and command attention and respect.

I have heard him say, “The hard work of Rotary begins not with Rotary International’s office in Evanston, or with few District leaders or with any one RI leader, but within each one of us.

”Sushilji will bring together the wisdom and insight of all the great RI leaders who have led the organisation till he assumes office and help every Rotarian to reveal their inner quality as a service minded person.

He will help Rotarians to live their own greatest dreams and discover the power that lies within them. He will make us change our outlook on life and understand that growth is possible only if we live inclusively with everyone around us.

Sushil Ji , we are so glad you will be guiding us and by working together we will strengthen our Rotary movement and make it a living entity that will develop volunteers all over the world to implement your programmes.

Knowing Rotarian Sushil Ji as a Director and TRF Trustee, I could understand that he cared about others in the community, about causes that were bigger than what an ordinary person can think and he believed that helping others to be stronger, helps everyone to develop our world faster and bring in an era of peace.

He believes that citizenship is about having a deep love for one’s community and willingness to be engaged for greater good.

He has always asked questions and encouraged every Rotarian to come back and share their ideas.

Dear Rotarians who have gathered here, you and I have two important things in common. RI President Nominee Sushil Gupta is asking us to strengthen the Rotary movement and The Rotary Foundation.

And we are both saying ‘Yes.”

We have work to do. The Rotary movement and The Rotary Foundation will be a product of our ideas together and we are going to do it and help our leader Sushilji to stand tall in the Rotary world. I am assuring him about our fundamental commitment to progress.

A lot of things have changed in the world and in Rotary also. But one important thing hasn’t. One voice can still change a room full of people. That one voice stirs us up for action every year and we take up new challenges with ease.

We come from different parts of the country to hear that one voice with reverence. That is our World leader and today from our own country we have that voice, our leader RI President Nominee Sushil Gupta and his voice will tell us what to fight for to make the world a better place and define our mission in the years to come.

Let us get ready to embark on an epic journey of service and success with RI President Nominee Sushil Gupta.

• Berfore I sit down Nayantara joins me in making a small prayer for Sushil Ji and his gracious lady Vinita Ji —
• May the roads rise to meet you ,
• May the wind be always at your back ,
• May the Sunshine warm upon your face ,
• May the rain falls soft upon your Field, And until both of you complete your term as the President Rotary International,
• May God hold both of you in the palms of His hands ..

Measles & Rubella Campaign in India: Rotary International
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen

Thank you to each and every one of you for being here with us today. We are very pleased to have you all with after a long time now. 

This year we are glad to include Measles and Rubella Campaign as part of Rotary Social Service. We are pleased to have all the participants especially Measles and Rubella Coordinators, who will play a very crucial role in these campaign and make it a success.

I would like to thank Government of India for entrusting Rotary International to play significant role and help to achieve the target to eliminate measles and control rubella in India by 2020, thereby ending the associated death in new  borns children and aiding in the accomplishment of the Sustainable Development Goals. 

Both measles and rubella are major public health concerns affecting in the socio-economic status of a family. 

Measles is a major childhood killer disease and rubella is responsible for fetal death or permanent birth defects. 

Measles kills almost 90,000 children under the age of 5 and infects around 7 million people globally. While more than 100,000 (one lakh) babies are born with CRS every year.

 In India alone 2.5 million children (out of 26 million children born every year) are affected by Measles and Rubella where nine Million  fail to receive all vaccination required by children of one  year of age.

Government of India launched Measles & Rubella vaccination Campaign in February 5, 2017 with 5 states/UT namely Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Lakshadweep and Puducherry which was completed with 97% coverage i.e. 3.3 crore children were vaccinated.

So far 20 states have been covered under this campaign with the achievement of over 92 Million  successful vaccination of children.

As a Rotarian, I feel that we all should come together once again to prove ourselves that we can make India a better place to live , especially for children who are born or yet to be born, free from deathly disease and lifelong suffering. 

These children have every right to live a healthy life and I believe we could make that possible with our efforts and dedication to help government to eliminate and control these deathly diseases in the near future.

In this endeavor , to assist the Government of India in Measles Elimination Campaign, we look forward to give our 100% like what we did during the successful eradication of Polio from India. 

As a concrete effort for the involvement of Rotary’s in the program, we have drawn various advocacy and creative plan that would help us to achieve the target. 

Within the framework of these campaign plans, we look forward for the support of everyone present here today. It just takes less than $2 to vaccinate a child against measles and rubella which in return yield $58.

 We all know that this is not an easy task as it seems to be and the challenge is as big as we can imagine, but all the same it is not impossible. We all have experienced the situation  when we started the Polio Eradication Program. Though the task was difficult yet we achieved it . 

FUNDS ARE NEEDED– We need you and your support in each and every way whether it is generous fund to support in our program or to be engaged in every special campaign, meeting, workshop. As an unknown author state, “When courage, genius, and generosity hold hands, all things are possible“. 

AN URDU CUPLET 

As I conclude here today, I look forward to the positive outcome of this event, I hope you all have a wonderful day ahead and close with the quote by Winston Churchill, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give”.

MEASLES AND RUBELLA
26th MAY 2018

Rotary took a pledge not to undertake any other world-wide project until it is certified that the World is Polio-free.

Is Polio gone from the World ? No.

Is it gone from India ? The answer is Yes – for the time being at least.

Polio brought for Rotary :

Esteem and acclaim
Partnerships with UN Agencies and the Gates Foundation
Unprecedented fund-raising success (e.g. Mrs. Birla)
Unparalleled Commitment and Enthusiasm amongst Rotarians
Development of one of the finest Health Infrastructures in the World

What a shame it would be if this infrastructure and this enthusiasm would lapse due to ennui and a feeling of having “reached” our goal.

With this background in mind, Rotary India has decided to leverage this infrastructure and enthusiasm to protect the children of India from the twin-scourge of Measles and Rubella.

In furtherance of this objective an MOU was signed between the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare of the Govt. of India and Rotary earlier this year.

India reported 17,250 measles cases in 2016, down from 30,168 in 2015. By 2018, India plans to reach 40 crore children with the measles vaccine, which is expected to considerably reduce the disease burden and help India meet its 2020 elimination target.

However, currently the country, continues to fall behind others, accounting for over 60 per cent of the total measles cases in the WHO South East Asia region (SEAR). India also accounts for a significant number of deaths from measles. Of the 1,34,200 measles death globally in 2016, the WHO South East Asia Region, comprising of 11 countries, accounted for around 54,500 deaths. Of this, around 49,200 occurred in India–nearly 36 per cent of the global deaths from measles and rubella.

Experts blame India’s demographics and misinformation about use of vaccines for the poor vaccination coverage.

“We are adopting a two-pronged strategy for measles elimination. Firstly, we will attack by intensifying the coverage of measles rubella vaccine by building on the existing coverage which will reduce the transmission. Secondly, we will ramp up coverage to take care of the new cases,”

While measles vaccine was already part of the government’s universal immunisation programme, this year the health ministry also introduced a new combined vaccine for measles and rubella.

Fast Facts
Globally, an estimated 450 people, mostly children, die every day from measles despite the fact that an effective and safe vaccine is available at low cost.
It costs less than $1 to vaccinate a child against measles.
A global goal to reduce measles deaths by 90 per cent by 2010 was set at the World Health Assembly in May 2005.
Despite global successes in reducing measles deaths, an estimated 164,000 people died from measles in 2008, the latest year for which figures are available.
In November 2010, the Government of India introduced a second dose of measles vaccination drive in 14 high-risk states, targeting 134 million children, to prevent an estimated 60,000 to 100,000 child deaths annually.

ACTIONS THAT ROTARIANS CAN UNDERTAKE

Rotarians all over the country are wondering that, now that India has completed over 7 years without any case of the wild Poliovirus, how Rotary can benefit the society and the country by leveraging the expertise in Social Mobilization that Rotary has acquired in battling Polio and in helping the Govt. of India and the Partners (WHO and UNICEF) set up a world class infrastructure in combating diseases against which immunization is available.

A natural assistant of Rotary’s fight against Polio is to help the Govt. of India in meeting its goal of a Measles-free India and in due course freeing Indian children from the clutches of Rubella.

YOU are thus pitchforked into becoming a vital cog in the Rotary Wheel as it rolls towards victory over the twin tormentors of Indian children – Measles and Rubella.

The Aditya Birla Foundation and several other generous donors like My younger brother PDG RAVI VADLAMANI have reposed their faith in Rotary in its quest for a Measles-free India.

Measles and Rubella are still devastating the children of India, as the following facts would demonstrate :
1. A safe and effective measles vaccine that can prevent suffering and death has been available for more than 50 years.
2. The western hemisphere eliminated measles in 2002 and rubella in 2009.
3. Vaccinating against measles and rubella provides huge rewards: Every $1 invested in vaccines yields a $58 return!
4. Over 95% coverage from MR is required for elimination. But MR coverage for several years is at 70%.
5. Measles and Rubella are endemic across the country.
6. 95% of the measles and 90% rubella cases occurring under 15 years of age.
7. More than 50% of measles cases unvaccinated.
8. No. of suspected measles cases in India in 2017 were 21274 and in 2018 as on 2nd April the no. 4852.

Only when every Rotarian in India adopts Rotary’s challenge as his / her own personal quest, will India succeed in this mighty task.

Your role and leadership in this campaign shall be a pivotal contribution that will make this task possible.

The National Committee constituted to combat Measles and Rubella, Past World Presidents Raja Saboo and Kalyan Bannerjee, Director Basker and other Senior Rotary Leaders are relying on your dedication and selfless work to mobilize the inherent strength of Rotary Districts and Clubs in rising up to this challenge.

Your job entails making every Rotary Club in the District take personal ownership of this campaign.

Some of the ways in which this could be achieved are:

Meetings
· Rotary District Coordinators to attend District Task Force meetings.
· Either NCM or District coordinator based at State Capital, to attend the State Task Force meetings.
· Appoint MR Chairman at Club level
· District workshop for club MR Chairman on Measles and Rubella

Creating demand for Immunization
· Posters in the community.
· Sunshades, Balls etc. on the day of Immunization at Immunization Primary Health Centre (PHC)
· Video/Film on the day of Immunization at Immunization centre.
· Diagnostic Medical camp and Rotary Doctors to be present for any consultation.
· Recognition of health workers at Primary Health Center or at Rotary meetings or District Meetings .
· Caps for health workers
· Motivation at religious place – Mosques/Temples/Gurudwaras/Churches, religious congregation.
· Video spots at local Cable TV network.
· Programs through radio.
· Messages through Cinema Slides.
· Painting competition at school on MR campaign.
· Motivation talks in schools for MR campaign. Interact/Rotaract to be involved.
· Sensitization of teachers in the schools.
· Rally/Marches by the school students/Rotaract students.
· Messages of religious leaders and celebrities
· Human chain
· Banners
· Stickers
· Car Rally with banners and mini tableau to drive through the area.
· Press briefing on the basis of the material provided by the National Committee.
· Hoardings.

A monthly report from you on the initiatives mentioned would help the Senior Rotary Leaders and the National Committee to assess the progress made and allow them to fine-tune the efforts as we go along in pursuit of our goal.

Looking forward to your enthusiastically espousing Rotary’s dream of a Measles-free India, mitigation of Rubella and a robust Routine Immunization,

DT 8th May 2018
OUR PURPOSE TODAY

We have come here today because of an unstoppable urge within us to see, admire, thank, felicitate and follow a great personality in the field on business, philanthropy and service.

We have come here to acknowledge and understand that there are some people who have changed the way we look at giving and philanthropy without ever wanting to corner any glory or recognition for their work.

Honestly and Integrity,Faithfulness and Sincerity, Love and Devotion, Austerity and Simplicity, Purity and Propriety,Truthfulness and Trust Worthiness, Modestly and Nobility, together with the crowning Spirituality makes Smt Rajashree Birla an embodiment of sterling Character.

Rajashree Ji , who is being honoured today by The Rotary Foundation, is an example of how we can serve the community and advance our nation peacefully.

She has always continued to take us to the next level of awesomeness, every time she demonstrates her commitment to The Rotary Foundation.

Her commitment to the welfare of the community is unmatched in India. Her over US $11 million contribution to the cause of polio eradication and several more donations for other noble projects through Rotary and elsewhere has time and again reinforced our willingness to work more for community welfare since this alone can bring lasting peace in our planet.

Someone asked me about why people give ?

People make the mistake of thinking that donors give to those whom they love. The real answer is they love to those whom they give.

This shows why the mega Birla empire has embraced community welfare all over the country as their mission.

Taking action, that is giving, requires compassion and practice. Both these qualities were imbibed by her through the rich family traditions, first from her parents and then when she entered the Birla family.

Both the families gave her the necessary background to build the skills necessary for actively evolving the institutions in our civilization. That institution is service.

With Smt Rajashree Birla on our side, we were determined not to fail in our battle against polio and the results are there for all to see.

The Rotary Foundation India was determined not to be left behind when it came to supporting the programmes of the Foundation and it has always been that extra donation from Rajashree Ji that has made us go past the goal post and claim a place in the top two slots worldwide for giving.

RAJASHREE JI , The Rotary Foundation is a spirit in India today. It is no longer passive, thanks to your support. It is dynamic and full of life.

Rotary itself is again discovering itself and getting ready to for an age of tremendous transformation to cater to the changing needs of the communities worldwide.

Peace and how to make it a reality in this world, is now the most important task now at hand and one of the many ways is to ensure that peace can come about is when the community is rid of diseases, hunger and illiteracy. RAJASHREE JI ,Your benevolent contribution to The Rotary Foundation is helping us to progress in this area in many countries.

We owe to our children, to ourselves and to the tormented mankind and pledge that The Rotary Foundation will not allow the termination such as polio and other eradicated diseases engulf us again.

Thank you Rajashree Ji for emboldening us in Rotary to think big – very big.

I am sure that many people were not absolutely sure if a band of volunteers can change the world. The agnostics and skeptics, who had no idea what a service organisation could do, did feel that great things were possible when they saw you donate generously to The Rotary Foundation.

From your example we understood that life is not for asking for Salvation . You guided us to ask only for strength to uplift this nation.

You guided us to ask only to be allowed to live and work for the people of the world whom we love and to pray that we can lead our life for the welfare of the people. With your support we will lead it to its fulfillment.

Millions of Congratulations to Rotary Foundation India and R I District 3141 that they organised this special function to felicitate Smt Rajashree Ji Birla —

Who is Everest of talent, Taj Mahal of culture, And Sangam of dignity and charm .

Rotary’s Role in Rubella & Measles

Rotarians of India, helped create a history 7 yrs back. A large, highly populated, diverse country like ours is polio free, since Jan 2011 – a monumental achievement. This incredible success was due to a seamless partnership of Govt. of India, WHO, UNICEF, CDC, Rotary Foundation, Gates Foundation. Each of these partners excelled in their allotted role.

Rotarians of India, are proud of what we have achieved but let me remind you, India is polio free but not the World. Polio Virus, which knows no national boundaries, is active in neighboring countries.

Thus we can not remain complecent. We have to continue to work hard – perhaps even harder to maintain our status as polio free country.

What do we have to do to keep ourselves safe? Recollect the four pillars of polio eradication? The first is National and Sub national Immunization days. We have to continue to play the same active role in NID & SNID.

The second is outbreak response. Govt. of India is well geared up for this. Third is Surveillance of a possible case of polio. WHO has set up a very good system of reporting a case of AFP.

Thus out of the 4 pillars, these 3 pillars are well established & functioning well. But what about the fourth and the most important pillar ? Routine Immunization. All these years, we seem to have not given the importance to this pivotal pillar. Routine Immunization, has however become the most important way of not only keeping our children free from Polio, but also from other diseases which affect children very commonly.

If every child gets polio vaccine in RI (Routine Immunization) a time will come when NID & SNID will not be necessary. Since last April (2017) the triple polio vaccine is replaced by bivalent polio vaccine – This vaccine which has been developed in India – has only P1 & P3 type of virus vaccine. P2 is permanently eliminated from World since 1999. Govt. of India has already introduced injectable polio vaccine to minimize the incidences of vDPV.

The problem however lies in the RI coverage in India. The average was just 68 % till last year. Compare this with SriLanka, Bhutan, BanglaDesh, Nepal where the RI coverage is 90 % and above. Last year, Govt. of India launched a special program called Mission Indradhanush to increase the RI coverage.This was followed by a clarian call by Prime Minister ShriNarendraji Modi to raise the coverage to 90 % by the end of 2018.

Today, the average coverage has increased to 84 percent. Rotary is an official partner of Govt. of India in increasing and then sustaining the coverage of RI throughout India.

Friends, so now our prime duty is to create awareness of Routine Immunization. There are several areas in Urban India where there is a lack of awareness, fear of injection and scare of reaction to RI.

Yes, RI includes not just polio but 7 other vaccines most of which have to be given by injection and does cause transient low fever or rash for a day or so.
Increasing the Routine Immunization coverage will not only keep India Polio Free but also has a potential to eliminate Tetanus, Rubella, Measles etc. ‘Rotary India’, has taken up another monumental work.
We will, in the years to come not only keep India Polio Free – which remains the first and the only mission of Rotary International but we will also eliminate other diseases from India.
Friends, needless to say that now we have three major goals to be achieved by 2020
A) Routine Immunization System & services are strengthen
B) Measles is eliminated and Rubella controlled
C) Polio Free status maintained

Measles causes fever, dry cough, rash in children. A few children can land up in complication and even cause death.

Over 2.7 million children die of measles every year in the world. Rubella is also contagious disease and can cause Abortion. It can cause Blindness & Heart defects in a new born if mother is affected. It is estimated that 40000 children are born every year with Rubella complication.
Vaccination can prevent this major problem. If MR vaccine (Measles and Rubella) is given only two times to children before the age of 2 yrs, these diseases can be conquered. Already, India is on the threshold of bringing these diseases under control. WHO thinks that if the Routine Immunization, which includes MR vaccine, coverage is scaled up to 95 % in all the districts in India, it is possible to eradicate measles and bring down the rate of Rubella to a managable level.

It’s a dream for India and let me assure that this dream will come to a reality. Already SriLanka, Maldives, Bhutan havecontrolled these diseases. We can do that too. All we need is a will to do so.

Years of work on polio has brought some major benefits. Our health sector, human resource is trained and can easily be redeployed for injectable vaccines.

Our infrastructure such as cold chain, transport is in place allover India and the immense experience that we have gathered will stand us in the test of time.

Govt. & WHO, have the knowledge of high risk and vulnerable areas. Each and every child in our country gets identified and record of routine immunization is well maintained. Areas of resistance to immunization, areas of low immunization coverage, are well documented. Amitabh Bacchan is a Brand Ambasador for RI & Govt.s tag line is ‘7 times in 5 yrs’ i.e. up to the age of 5 yrs, the child has to be taken to health centre for vaccination only 7 times.

Thus my Rotarian Friends, Rubella & Measles can be and will be eradicated but Govt. of India needs our support. Your uncanny knack of creating awareness, minimize resistance, proactive actions and above all selfless volunterism is unparallel.

Let us join hands with Govt. to create a history – yet another historical achievement awaits us. What is needed your commitment – your hands and your heart. Rotary India has given us a clarian call and let us all do the miracle. A few Urdu Couplets to be added in between.

CONGRATULATIONS TO DR BHARAT PANDYA AND RTN KAMAL SANGHAVI

It said , “A mother will feel more proud and elated when she hears great men describe her son as a scholar than at the time when she gave birth to him.”

Bharat , today I am extremely proud and happy to see you attain the position of Director Nominee , 2019-21 , of Rotary International than when I, as the District Governor, declared you as an outstanding President of the year during 1993-94.

Leadership begins with the person, not the position. Leadership is not so much a position you hold but it is a disposition of values and vision you possess, the first and most fundamental of which is character.

Your sterling character and the ability to uphold the values of Rotary were ably demonstrated by you as the President of RC Borivili during that year.

I, like most of you, have always admired his speeches which are all studded with quotes from various philosophers, leaders and scholars.

I wondered how he found time to read so much in addition to the voluminous literature he had to read about the medical profession to keep himself abreast of what is happening in that field.

His humility was derived from the great lineage, especially from his renowned father. Ably supported by his spouse Dr. Madhavi, the couple has endeared themselves to everyone in the community and the Rotary world.

As a dedicated Rotarian you have made your life a work of art.

As a colourful personality, you are brave, brilliant and true to who you are.

You are fully aware that there is not much use in having values if they are not inclusive. By that you have demonstrated that if you value justice, you must promote justice to all.

I remember the then Mayor of Mumbai, Mr. R R Singh, complimenting you for your achievements and the high ethical standards you stood for.

The Lok Adalat programme, vocational service activities and the rehabilitation of the differently abled children, which you did as the club President, were some of the wonderful projects that set the standards for Rotary clubs in our district.

Life in Rotary gives us a series of experiences, each of which makes us bigger and better. Only the discerning people realise this. Rotary was built to develop character and at every stage leaders should be conscious of their attitude and actions.

Though soil is the source, flower and fruits are the purpose. Similarly, the leadership position is the source but the purpose is service. You know that service always gives good results but through extra ordinary service you get outstanding results.

It takes a real sense of personal commitment, especially after you have arrived at a position of responsibility, to push yourself to grow and challenge certain systems that need change.

Do your little bit of good where you are. It is those little bits of good put together that makes Rotary a better organisation.

Success does not come to you because you want it. Success comes to you because you do the right things. Be that leader who always does the right things.

At the end to you and Madhvi and of Course Kamal and Sonal Nayantara joins me in this prayer

May the roads rise to meet you ,
May the wind be always at your back ,
May the sun shine warm up your face ,
May the rains fall softly upon your field ,
And all throughout your this journey
May God hold you in the palm of His hands .
And an Urdu couplet

FELICITATION OF DR. Bharat Pandya AND Kamal on 16th April 2018 in Kolkata

GRATITUDES…….
CONGRATULATIONS TO Dr Bharat Pandya and Kamal

It’s a society where teamwork, loyalty, and communication are the norm rather than the exception.

Everyone contributes and everyone thrives. This is the fundamental principle of Rotary.

Some say leaders are born. We say they’re made.

In Rotary, we make leaders over the years by giving them opportunities at every level to lead their clubs, the districts, their zones and the Rotary World.

We help them to develop the qualities of leadership that is clubbed with ethical behaviour.

Rtn. Bharat Pandya and Rtn. Kamal Sanghvi are such leaders who have worked their way up the pyramid with sheer dedication and hard work to develop Rotary in their region.

AN IDEAL LEADER…..

Who will be the ideal leader? This question has been debated from the times of Mahabharat.

Lord Krishna says that the ideal leader is a person with equanimity.

I have known Bharat and Kamal for the last many years and have always found both of them to be such persons .

Both are dispassionate Leaders , even-minded and not hungry for positions or power.

Both have distinctive professional background. What is common in their profession is that they can see what is hidden inside.

Bharat, as a doctor and Kamal, as a financial wizard, can see through the thick outer layers of anything that is presented to them and diagnose what is inside. This will help them to separate the chaff from the grain and take the correct remedial steps without bias.

Both of them can catch the attention of the audience when they go to the stage with wit and humour and this is what is truly needed from a leader.

Doing the right things is important for both of you rather than getting stuck with the nitty-gritty’s of some senseless disputes that can erupt here or there.

Make no mistake – leading with passion inspires world change and so also in Rotary.

It is possible to accomplish something good on your own. But to accomplish something great you need a team. I am sure that this will not be driven by age-old formulas but by bold thinking on how to assign the correct job to the correct person.

Many Rotarians just lose steam half-way when they see that this was not the organisation they were shown when they joined.

In the words of one of them, “Shallow understanding from people of goodwill is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill-will.

Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.” Both of you have the capacity to identify and reach out to such talented members and use their knowledge and skills for the benefit of Rotary.

I have seen both of you as District Governors and how you attended to the affairs of the district, especially when your correct sense of judgment was needed.

I know that you both believe that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

This is very true when the members in over 3,000 clubs are closely watching your every move and grading you in their own scale.

Example is not the main thing in influencing others, it is the only thing. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly. This is the universal law.

Bharat as a very learned person in the medical profession and Kamal in the field of Finance both are enlightened persons who have their senses firmly under control, just like King Janaka.

Being a dispassionate leader in Rotary, Bharat and Kamal will be able to deal with matters in a fair manner in the context of Rotary’s diversity in India.

Their ability to work with all sections of the society will provide a platform for membership growth and development of Rotary in India.

It is said that a leader must have a desires to create the ground for action. The desire to lead must be coupled with an equally strong desire to serve. And Bharat and Kamal have these qualities in ample measure.

As a member of many RI committees, Bharat and Kamal have demonstrated their leadership skills. It is said that leaders are best when people barely know that they exist.

Both Bharat and Kamal have guided their work without ever thrusting their views on anyone and the results have always been wonderful.

Both are men of vision, men with clarity of thought and healthy ideas. Regardless of the circumstances, they have the power to show leadership. Whatever assignment they take on they always play it to their peak abilities.

No wonder assignments in Rotary chase them and not the other way around. I have seen both work as Regional Membership Co ordinator , Member on the MEMBERSHIP Committee, Training Leaders , District representative in the Council on Legislation , RRFC , Chair of the Institute in Kolkata , Chairman of DISHA in Mumbai and like that .

Bharat & Kamal know how to work and influence people around them like a superstar. They always come up with an instant strategy when needed to build a great team and become persons who everyone else admires.

As they take the mantle of RI Director in 2019-21 Bharat and Kamal will devise real world ways to defeat stress and build an unbeatable mindset, unleash their full energy and will also balance their personal lives and profession.

Bharat and Kamal ‘s willingness to work 24×7 inspires others. Their readiness to leave everyone they meet better than what they found them encourages people to join Rotary and give even more of their life to helping others.

Borrowing the words of Mahatma Gandhi, I must say that Bharat and Kamal “In a gentle way they have shaken the way Rotary works here,”

It is said that leaders are always improving and raising their bar on how superbly they can perform and how quickly they can move.

Every Rotarian must hatch on to leaders such as Bharat & Kamal , and other great people in our country and realise their true potential and become the true service oriented persons they were built to become when they joined this movement.

Dear Bharat and Kamal ,

THE SIZE OF YOUR SUCCESS WILL BE MEASURED BY THE STRENGTH OF YOUR DESIRE, THE SIZE OF YOUR DREAM AND HOW YOU HANDLE YOUR DIS APPOINTMENTS.

AND BHARAT & Kamal , LET OTHERS LEAD SMALL LIFE, BUT NOT YOU.

LET OTHERS ARGUE ON SMALL THINGS, BUT NOT YOU.

LET OTHERS CRY ON SMALL HURT, BUT NOT YOU.

LET OTHERS LEAVE THEIR FUTURE IN SOME ONE ELSE’S HANDS ,BUT NOT YOU.

Rotarians in India have high hopes on both of you which I am sure you will not dis appoint them because you know that LEADERSHIP IS NOT JUST ABOUT WHAT YOU DO BUT WHAT YOU CAN INSPIRE, ENCOURAGE AND EMPOWER OTHERS TO DO.

And finally to both of you , Nayantara joins me in making a small prayer,

MAY THE STARS CARRY YOUR SADNESS AWAY,

MAY THE FLOWERS FILL YOUR HEART WITH BEAUTY,

MAY HOPE FOR EVER WIPE AWAY YOUR TEARS,

AND ABOVE ALL, MAY SILENCE MAKE YOU STRONG.

WE WISH ALL THE VERY BEST TO YOU BHARAT & KAMAL AND OF COURSE DR MADHVI AND SONAL INCLUDED NOT ONLY FOR YOUR TERM AS THE DIRECTOR OF ROTARY INTERNATIONAL BUT IN EVERY ENDEAVOUR , TODAY, TOMORROW AND ALWAYS.

A small Urdu couplet …

YOUTH POWER

Some people dream of great accomplishments, while others stay awake and do them. Today, India, the world and the Rotary movement need youngsters like you, the Rotaractors, to stay awake and build a strong nation, a peaceful world and a vibrant Rotary movement.

It is always a great privilege to be associated with the Rotaract because of the high standards the new generation is able to learn in community service. Inspiration can move us in different ways. It can help us to face a challenge with renewed hope and determination. It can remind us to be proud of our confidence with which we have overcome obstacles. And sometimes it can take root in our hearts and guide the way we look at life. Rotaract is that kind of inspiration that will have a profound impact on your life. The message of Rotary is simple. This message is passed on to you through Rotaract and to children through Interact. The message is this: “Our lives are not defined by the date we were born or the date we die, but by what we do with that life in between.”

Young people’s commitment to the welfare of the community is unmatched in India and the number of Rotaract clubs is an indication of that. It is important that the art of serving humanity and willingness to give and share what you have with those who are less fortunate is learnt at an early age. This is the purpose of Rotaract. Through our Rotary movement we aim to do a random act of kindness and touch the lives of millions, each one of you here and everywhere. Rotary and Rotaract help to discover more opportunities to spread positivity in this world.

When it comes to service, many Rotaractors have shown that they cannot be contented with what their club has achieved right now and that they are willing to find to what great heights they can go if they strive harder. This is a leadership quality and Rotaract builds this within young people who will lead the country.

Youngsters like you, especially professionals, who are battling it out for growth in your chosen career should have the necessary motivation to lead your country in the coming years and this extra inspiration is being provided in your growing age through Rotaract and later developed through Rotary.

Culturally and spiritually this is the richest land on the planet. To live and operate in this world you have to identify yourself with something superior and that is service to humanity. What is the best way to approach Rotaract and Rotary? It is through a spirit of service and celebration of humanity in everyone around you.

Rotary and its partners in service, Rotaract and Interact clubs, are not merely symbolic. It is true on an energy level which pushes you towards service and higher thinking. As human beings, we arise from the earth and become active in our various stages of growth. After a while, we fall back into inertia once again. But we have the capability of breaking this cycle. That is why when you join Rotaract you automatically get an aspiration to transcend, to go beyond your own capabilities and when the Rotaractors become Rotarians they are able to give a more definite dimension to the idea of service.

So what makes service through Rotary and Rotaract exciting? Rotary and Rotaract makes your service activity exuberant. With a bouquet of activities, a Rotaract club removes the drudgery normally associated with service and makes it worthwhile for every member to contribute their skills in whatever way they desire.

So we find that Rotarians crossed their limitations when they challenged themselves to eradicate polio from the world and today we are very close to that. By partnering Rotary in this noble task, Rotaractors played and immense role all over India during the National Immunisation Days. Rotarians and Rotaractors, I will say, make the most powerful pair in the world when it comes to volunteering.

The desire to serve comes when your inner wellbeing is taken care of. Like there is a technology to create external wellbeing, there is a whole dimension of science and technology to create your inner wellbeing. Rotaract brings you that science and technology easily and in a fashion that can be assimilated by an ordinary person. This is why we say that Rotary makes an ordinary person do extraordinary things.

Rotary’s service opportunities have shown the world that the future is something that does not exist in our experience, but it exists as a possibility. That is why every service project is designed to make the world a slightly better place to live and we have seen how communities are being benefitted. Rotarians are propelled by compassion and do what is needed.

Stewardship is critical to the success of the Foundation. Our stewardship resources directly impacts the reputation of the Foundation among Rotarians and the general public. As stewards of The Foundation, Rotarians are responsible to donors to use donations appropriately.

When we say Service Above Self in Rotary, it does not mean that a Rotarian or a Rotaractor is required to be constantly glued to this project or that. Rotary is not against pleasure. It is just that Rotarians and Rotaractors find something more intense and enduring within themselves when they go around the world as volunteers in a Rotary service programme.

All of us want others to be nice to us. So it means we have to nice to others. If you want to change others, you have to change yourself first to become a transformed person. It is this action of yours that will trigger transformation in others. Rotaract aims to teach you how to go about transforming yourself at an early age since there is a popular saying which goes like this, “What can’t be learnt when you are 5 can’t be learnt when you are 50.” The classic example of this is Japan, since we seem to have totally forgotten to inculcate the sense of discipline in our children. This is where you, the Rotaractors, come in. By your sterling behaviour you should be an example to your brothers and sisters at home, your friends in colleges and your colleagues at work. That stamp of Rotaract culture which distinguishes you as a trustworthy person should always be seen in every action of yours.

This is what will make you alive to the needs of the society around you and make you serve others. Only those who are fully awake can be of help to others. If you are asleep can you wake up others? Rotaract gives you the light to lead the way when you grow up and aspire to lead the organisation and country. If you are in darkness how can you become the source of light to others?

You are all intelligent people. Probably more intelligent that your parents and earlier generations in some spheres. For service you need empathy more. Rotaract tries to slowly elevate your consciousness towards leading a holistic life where you are in sync with others around you which includes humans, animals and plant life. You need to spread the word to those who degrade our environment that life cannot sustain if they continue to pollute and exhaust all natural resources. This message must be spread by you people in every part of the city you live. Fortunately rural areas are still better but what is needed there is the education against open defecation and you can take the project of Swach Bharat across to boys and girls in villages more easily than grownups.

With some love for every life around you and some empathy, you can save the environment and transform the world. You can and You must. Nothing can stop you from doing this except your own ideas about yourself.

I have a poem for you and this is set to the tune of the famous song ‘Bachelor Boy by Cliff Richard. This song is titled ‘When I was 18.’

When I Was 18

When I was 18 my father said
Son I’ve something to say
And then what he told me I’ll never forget
Until my dying day

He said son you’ll soon grow up
And become a fine young lad
So I want you to join Rotaract
And learn to serve like your dad

He said son there is no peace in this world
It’s always full of strife
But you can make people change
And that’s the purpose of life

He said son people need your help
So do what you can do through Rotaract
And learn to love and learn to give
And keep your life intact

He said son the world around you
Has lots of people in good measure
Not all of them are happy like you are
They need your time, talent and treasure

He said son start to see all people as one
And like them for what they are
Rotary will take you closer to them
Whether they are near you or far

So I joined the Rotaract and I’m happy for it
And I now know the way
I’ll work for peace in the world
And serve till my dying day.

TRF IS THE FOUNDATION OF TRUST

We have faith only when we are assured of the credentials of the Institute we support.

The Rotary Foundation is one such institute that has captured the trust of hundreds of thousands of men and women who support its noble cause and are assured of the most sincere and the most transparent response to their faith. The Rotary Foundation is not only the Foundation of Peace or the Foundation of Action but also the Foundation of Trust.

Rotarians and non- Rotarians have been supporting The Foundation with small or large contributions realizing that the objectives of The Foundation are in safe, capable and trustworthy hands and it works with an efficiency unmatched, integrity unquestionable and ideals unchallenged.

The funds of The Foundation are managed by 15 Trustees , who have high level of integrity and an equally high level of knowledge of the needs of the communities. The contributors know that the funds would be well spent for the cause they have contributed.

Our thrust areas such as Polio Eradication, are valid reasons to devote our resources to evolve success.

Every year, the collection of The Rotary Foundation is increasing. In spite of recessions, wars, conflicts and calamities, it is growing healthily. This is mainly because we have been successful in spreading awareness of the goals of The Foundation.

Rotarians and others who support it , have trust in Our Foundation that its goals are achievable, noble and worthwhile.

It is this trust that results in Rotarians contributing frequently.

It is this trust that should be harnessed into a force that will penetrate all Rotary families and promote better support.

Trust is always a two way travel.

If Rotarians trust The Foundation to accomplish what it spells out to do, The Foundation has trust in the Rotarians who are wedded to the ideals of Peace.

Stewardship is critical to the success of the Foundation. Our stewardship resources directly impacts the reputation of the Foundation among Rotarians and the general public. As stewards of The Foundation, Rotarians are responsible to donors to use donations appropriately.

A donor who understands that funds are used in an appropriate and responsible manner is more likely to give to the Foundation again to support projects.

Fortunately, our Foundation enjoys a stellar reputation. There are many Rotarians who do not have a clear understanding of the specific programmes and projects sponsored by the Foundation, yet they contribute because they recognize that the Foundation is accomplishing good in the world effectively and efficiently.

The Rotary Foundation is the best peace keeping force in the world. Peace is what our ultimate goal is. Peace can only enter where understanding blooms. Where people interact with people and understand what is blocking Peace.

The Rotary Foundation with its multiple programmes is capable of taking these few steps needed to result in a march in future. As proponents of The Rotary Foundation, it is our aim to spread the fragrance of Peace through the incense of information about what The Rotary Foundation is and what it hopes to achieve.

The world is crying out for Peace but is unable to do much because it does not have a vehicle which must be ridden by many to reach the goal.

The ride is going to be bumpy, a little un-comfortable and even at times slow but this vehicle has enough fuel, enough directional information and enough strength to be driven to the ultimate destination.

The future of The Rotary Foundation is, incidentally also the future of Rotary. Rotary exists and survives all challenges because it renders service.

Mega projects need mega bucks, mega know how and mega network. A Rotary Club, no matter how resourceful it is, can never fulfill the aspirations of the needy single handedly.

The Rotary Foundation is the vehicle that can carry such assistance to various corners of the globe.

Our fight against Polio is going to yield positive results soon. We will, then, embark upon another crusade to conquer another problem – a problem that has a world wide presence and needs global action.

Such mega programmes need not only mega financial support but also mega human resources. Our Foundation is capable of providing both.

The onus of responsibility of providing financial support rests on us. The world wide support our Foundation receives from Rotarians and non- Rotarians augurs well for our future. We must, however, continue to tap all resources to support our Foundation.

Peace is the ultimate goal of Rotary and The Rotary Foundation is the vehicle which will carry us to our destination.

The Rotary Foundation promotes peace through all its programmes and promotes the concept of love.

We have to promote all the subtle differences of love and only then we will discover new tools to combat war. You cannot discover new oceans if you stay near the seashore.

It is time to re-invest in The Rotary Foundation. The ambience of intolerance hatred, power craze, fanatic dogmas and universal unrest needs sane men and women to join a crusade for Peace. The Rotary Foundation is the only tool we have to try to make a difference.

Let us all, therefore, put our Trust in The Rotary Foundation and let us promote the concept of Peace with greater fervour, with greater confidence and with greater commitment. As we march, many will join us in our crusade and this march will swell into an army of Peace loving men and women, whose only aim is to fight for Peace. Let’s be the inspiration to all to achieve our ultimate goal – WORLD PEACE

Felicitation to Bharat Pandya and Kamal Sanghvi in Kolkata

It’s a society where teamwork, loyalty, and communication are the norm rather than the exception. Everyone contributes and everyone thrives. This is the fundamental principle of Rotary.

Some say leaders are born. We say they’re made. In Rotary, we make leaders over the years by giving them opportunities at every level to lead their clubs, the districts, their zones and the Rotary World. We help them to develop the qualities of leadership that is clubbed with ethical behaviour.

Rtn. Bharat Pandya and Rtn. Kamal Sanghvi are such leaders who have worked their way up the pyramid with sheer dedication and hard work to develop Rotary in their region.

The human brain has 100 million neurons, each neuron connected to 10,000 other neurons. Bharat and Kamal, sitting on your shoulders is the most complicated object in the known universe. Don’t let your past define you when you represent the Rotary world and through aim to serve millions of people who look up to us for some hope everyday.

Mold yourself into the compassionate person you must be when you lead a distinguished team of volunteers. Every Rotarian has strengths, but not everyone sees it. As leaders you will have to build on strengths and that means dropping prejudices which are mostly as a result of unfounded jealousy and fed by those who think that the way to go up is to trample on someone. Such persons forgot that on their way down they will meet those coming up and at that time they can be pushed down faster.

Both of you have distinctive professional background. What is common in your profession is that you can see what is hidden inside. You, Bharat, as a doctor and you, Kamal, as a financial wizard, can see through the thick outer layers of anything that is presented to you and diagnose what is inside. This will help you to separate the chaff from the grain and take the correct remedial steps without bias.

Both of you can catch the attention of the audience when you go to the stage with wit and humour and this is what is truly needed from a leader. Doing the right things is important for both of you rather than getting stuck with the nitty-gritty’s of some senseless disputes that can erupt here or there.

Make no mistake – leading with passion inspires world change and so also in Rotary. It is possible to accomplish something good on your own. But to accomplish something great you need a team. I am sure that this will not be driven by age-old formulas but by bold thinking on how to assign the correct job to the correct person.

Many Rotarians just lose steam half-way when they see that this was not the organisation they were shown when they joined. In the words of one of them, “Shallow understanding from people of goodwill is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill-will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.” Both of you have the capacity to identify and reach out to such talented members and use their knowledge and skills for the benefit of Rotary.

I have seen both of you as District Governors and how you attended to the affairs of the district, especially when your correct sense of judgment was needed. I know that you both believe that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” This is very true when the members in over 3,000 clubs are closely watching your every move and grading you in their own scale. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly. This is the universal law.

Your job is like publishing a book. It’s not a one person job. It takes multiple departments from editing to writing and marketing and customer care. We have shown earlier how to reach the top in this. We have shown that we can grow in membership and achieve great targets in TRF contributions.

All these were possible with people who worked with dedication to the cause of Rotary. Both of you should lead with passion, exemplify qualities like integrity, discipline and generosity. Build team loyalty and generate excitement about the work you will be doing together. Every step forward must be towards a brighter future and enlightened Rotary.

Rotary is not and cannot be a long story about some privileged individuals who seldom gave up their privileges voluntarily. We have always been led by stalwarts who see the moral light and give up their unjust posture when they realise that they have been misled.

I know I have been sermonizing a lot, but when I was told to felicitate both of you, I had only one message to convey through this sermon – We are each other’s harvest; we are each other’s business and we are each other’s bond.

Pour tremendous thought, time and love in guiding the affairs of Rotary when you assume office. I wish you both a good life, one that is inspired by love and guided by knowledge.

I Am With You

I think most would agree that Rotary has struggled to attract and retain young professionals. I joined Rotary when I was relatively young and my club did not have any problem in retaining me and my district, which was all of you here earlier, supported me in every phase of my life in Rotary. Starting from the Presidency of the club, then as District Governor followed by Directorship and then as Trustee, just to name the major responsibilities, everyone of you have stood by me.

The process of being in Rotary is fantastic. I knew why I was in Rotary, but I needed to know if my experience was similar to others or anomalous. By being with thousands of Rotarians all over India and elsewhere, I began to see some distinct trends. Being with Rotarians made me understand what Rotary has to offer. I was able to put together a value proposition that began to guide my daily life with more purpose and meaning and in a more ethical way in every sphere of my work.

Being with Rotarians is an unique environment and produces immeasurable benefit by elevating our thought process – from simple living to high thinking. This is exactly what I felt.

When I say “I Am With You” this is the culture that I will be sharing with you at every stage. The small but bold steps I learnt to take at every stage makes me confident that it can be shared and used by everyone of you to further your interests in Rotary and profession.

What makes Rotary? Is its sovereignty? Is its structures and systems? It is its people, the members. So being with you reinforces my belief daily that I have to constantly focus on the people for whose wellbeing Rotary was formed.

The worst violence happening on the planet is in our minds. If you cannot remove violence from your mind how can we change the world? By being with likeminded people, we Rotarians learn that it is possible to bring peace in smaller lots at a time in a small place. This is what all service projects aim to achieve. This is what happens when you are in Rotary. I am with you at every stage of your peace process that you collectively undertake in your district.

People who argue or not always enemies. They are just reminding you of your own shortcomings. When we build a healthy relationship in Rotary by being together, we try to be inclusive and not exclusive. We are in Rotary not to outsmart others, but about seeing life just the way it is and how we can serve the community. Rotary makes you say to the people who need your help the most, “I am with you.”

The logo of Rotary must be an iconic presence to orient the people in the community towards service. Rotary is a reminder for us to shift from discussion of useless topics to responsibility towards humanity. When it comes to inner wellbeing, people think it is all fixed in heaven. Neither peace nor joy is made in heaven. It is made within you and that is why when you join Rotary you submit yourself to be a humble human being rather than just talk about things that you don’t intend to do. When we are together, we constantly remind ourselves of our mission and that is why I say, “I am with you.”

Rotary is beautiful. If you start living its beauty, enjoying its joys with no guilt in your heart, you are in paradise. If you condemn everything in Rotary, every small joy, then the same Rotary turns into an unattractive organisation. It is a question of your inner transformation that makes you a Rotarian and not an ordinary mortal. It is not a change of place; it’s a change of inner space. Live joyously. Live intensely in your Rotary service and I will be with you to share your experience.

LIFE IS ALL ABOUT SERVICE

Service is an act of personal involvement . It is the result of an innate desire to give a little back to the society that has supported us- that has given us what we possess.

Service is not due to what happens to us. It is due to what happens with us. The riches we enjoy are due to others who have made it possible. Returning a part of what we have to the community is not only our duty but our obligation

There seems to be some value to Rotarians to observe the needy at close quarters.The pain of others should generate pain in us-pain which is painful enough to stimulate compassion.

A man asked Dr.Carl Menninger “What would he advise a person to do if he felt a nervous breakdown coming on?” Most people expected him to reply “Consult a psychiatrist “. To their astonishment and surprise he replied, “Lock up your house ,go across the rail road tracks ,find some one in need and do something to help that person.”

” Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care.” says John Cassis. Life is a lot like the game of tennis . Those who do not serve well , end up losing.

If you are dissatisfied with your lot in life ,build a service station on it.A good way to forget your troubles is to help others out of theirs.Almost all of our unhappiness is a result of selfishness .Instead ,think in terms what the other person wants,not just what you want.

It is absolutely true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed. We all know what message our PRIP Clifford Dochterman gave to the Rotary world “Real Happiness Is Helping Others” and the Message of PRIP Rajendra K Saboo also speaks more or less the same”Look Beyond Your Self “And see how nicely PRIP Kalyan Banerjee puts it “Reach Within to Embrace Humanity” All the world Leaders of Rotary try to convey the message of Service in some form or the other.

Remember ‘the measure of life is not in it’s duration , but in its donation.Everyone can be great because every one can serve.” reminds Peter Marshall.No one achieves greatness without being of service. never reach out your hands unless you are willing to extend an arm and your heart.YES FRIENDS, LIFE IS ALL ABOUT SERVICE.

ASHOK MAHAJAN

GIVE YOUR BEST IN EVERY TRY

At God’s footstool to confess , a poor soul knelt and bowed his head “I failed ,”he cried . The Master said , “You did your best; that is success!”

Have you ever put your heart and soul into a task or goal that you desperately wanted to achieve ? If yes , don’t get disappointed even if you haven’t been successful at achieving it . Because success is all about giving your best in whatever you do !

Many people never find out what they can achieve until life has passed them by and with it the chance to discover what they are capable of.

Some people are so scared of failure that they let the fear limit them . Since they are afraid to fail ,they don’t try at all . Even they do it with much disinterest and doubt in mind . Think of Thomas Edison who is reputed to have found 10,000 ways how not to make a light bulb before he succeeded in making one . His success was built upon that knowledge gained from the enthusiastic attempts he made earlier.

Haven’t we witnessed this in our Polio Eradication Programme in India? We made many attempts to get rid of polio virus and ultimately succeeded when we were able to form Muslim Ulema Committee to help Rotary in making India Polio free.

“It is always better to have tried and failed , than never to have failed at all “, reminds Dave Fabre.

The key to success is to give a try with confidence, no matter what happens . “ You May be disappointed if you fail , but you are doomed if you don’t try,” says Beverly Sills.

Every sincere attempt you make determines your success level because success is a matter of the mind . Therefore, be on the track of success by giving your best in every try .

Ashok Mahajan Director,Rotary International (2007-09) Trustee,The Rotary Foundation (2009-13) Smile,Serve,Sacrifice,Satisfy www.ashokmahajan.in

TRF IS THE FOUNDATION OF TRUST

We have faith only when we are assured of the credentials of the Institute we support.

The Rotary Foundation is one such institute that has captured the trust of hundreds of thousands of men and women who support its noble cause and are assured of the most sincere and the most transparent response to their faith. The Rotary Foundation is not only the Foundation of Peace or the Foundation of Action but also the Foundation of Trust.

Rotarians and non- Rotarians have been supporting The Foundation with small or large contributions realizing that the objectives of The Foundation are in safe, capable and trustworthy hands and it works with an efficiency unmatched, integrity unquestionable and ideals unchallenged.

The funds of The Foundation are managed by 15 Trustees , who have high level of integrity and an equally high level of knowledge of the needs of the communities. The contributors know that the funds would be well spent for the cause they have contributed.

Our thrust areas such as Polio Eradication, are valid reasons to devote our resources to evolve success.

Every year, the collection of The Rotary Foundation is increasing. In spite of recessions, wars, conflicts and calamities, it is growing healthily. This is mainly because we have been successful in spreading awareness of the goals of The Foundation.

Rotarians and others who support it , have trust in Our Foundation that its goals are achievable, noble and worthwhile.

It is this trust that results in Rotarians contributing frequently.

It is this trust that should be harnessed into a force that will penetrate all Rotary families and promote better support.

Trust is always a two way travel.

If Rotarians trust The Foundation to accomplish what it spells out to do, The Foundation has trust in the Rotarians who are wedded to the ideals of Peace.

Stewardship is critical to the success of the Foundation. Our stewardship resources directly impacts the reputation of the Foundation among Rotarians and the general public. As stewards of The Foundation, Rotarians are responsible to donors to use donations appropriately.

A donor who understands that funds are used in an appropriate and responsible manner is more likely to give to the Foundation again to support projects.

Fortunately, our Foundation enjoys a stellar reputation. There are many Rotarians who do not have a clear understanding of the specific programmes and projects sponsored by the Foundation, yet they contribute because they recognize that the Foundation is accomplishing good in the world effectively and efficiently.

The Rotary Foundation is the best peace keeping force in the world. Peace is what our ultimate goal is. Peace can only enter where understanding blooms. Where people interact with people and understand what is blocking Peace.

The Rotary Foundation with its multiple programmes is capable of taking these few steps needed to result in a march in future. As proponents of The Rotary Foundation, it is our aim to spread the fragrance of Peace through the incense of information about what The Rotary Foundation is and what it hopes to achieve.

The world is crying out for Peace but is unable to do much because it does not have a vehicle which must be ridden by many to reach the goal.

The ride is going to be bumpy, a little un-comfortable and even at times slow but this vehicle has enough fuel, enough directional information and enough strength to be driven to the ultimate destination.

The future of The Rotary Foundation is, incidentally also the future of Rotary. Rotary exists and survives all challenges because it renders service.

Mega projects need mega bucks, mega know how and mega network. A Rotary Club, no matter how resourceful it is, can never fulfill the aspirations of the needy single handedly.

The Rotary Foundation is the vehicle that can carry such assistance to various corners of the globe.

Our fight against Polio is going to yield positive results soon. We will, then, embark upon another crusade to conquer another problem – a problem that has a world wide presence and needs global action.

Such mega programmes need not only mega financial support but also mega human resources. Our Foundation is capable of providing both.

The onus of responsibility of providing financial support rests on us. The world wide support our Foundation receives from Rotarians and non- Rotarians augurs well for our future. We must, however, continue to tap all resources to support our Foundation.

Peace is the ultimate goal of Rotary and The Rotary Foundation is the vehicle which will carry us to our destination.

The Rotary Foundation promotes peace through all its programmes and promotes the concept of love.

We have to promote all the subtle differences of love and only then we will discover new tools to combat war. You cannot discover new oceans if you stay near the seashore.

It is time to re-invest in The Rotary Foundation. The ambience of intolerance hatred, power craze, fanatic dogmas and universal unrest needs sane men and women to join a crusade for Peace. The Rotary Foundation is the only tool we have to try to make a difference.

Let us all, therefore, put our Trust in The Rotary Foundation and let us promote the concept of Peace with greater fervour, with greater confidence and with greater commitment. As we march, many will join us in our crusade and this march will swell into an army of Peace loving men and women, whose only aim is to fight for Peace.

DISTRICT TEAM TRAINING SEMINAR

What a pleasure it is to be in your prestigious District & to address the leaders who will be there to assist and help DGE Babu Peram during the next Rotary year to make things happen and motivate the Club leadership to be the inspiration. I thank you for your hospitality & for this privilege.

A District Team Training Seminar is a university that imparts knowledge, information and guidelines to the District leaders who are students of Rotary College.

In Rotary, we deal with equals and therefore it is essential for the District leaders to understand how to deal with equals and some more experienced members in various Clubs .

What a marvellous, fascinating unforgettable mission! What a serious & difficult mission! To be a leader amongst equals- every year in Rotary leaders change but leadership continues. And as you change the baton of leadership, remember in a relay one does not stop to pass the baton- but runs alongside for some time at the same speed.

Your year is not a marathon- it’s a 365-day sprint- so be fast off the blocks and keep up the tempo till you breast the tape.

The District Team Training Seminar also serves to highlight the thrust areas of Rotary and Districts.

It highlights the theme of The Year “Be the Inspiration “ and also urges us define the ways of service and the roads leading us to reach our goal.

Who ever thought more than a century ago, that Rotary will become what it has become today? No crystal grazer even dreamt that Rotary will become a force of salvation.

Today, we are in our second century of existence and we are wiser today than we were a century ago.

Rotary has realized the potency of individual Rotarians and have been impressed by the fact that the future of Rotary – in fact, the future of any organization – lies in men and women it contains.

The strength of Rotary depends on Rotarians who volunteer to help, who go out to serve and who promote, propagate and promise help with a compassion that dwells in every heart and which is waiting to be tapped.

The future of Rotary depends entirely on the service it provides. Since the needs of the communities change, so should the outlook of the Rotarians.

Individual Rotarians gets inspired by world leaders, get educated by teachers and get motivated by Club leadership. But the Club leaders get motivated from the Senior, experienced, knowledgeable and mature Rotarians like you all.

If the needs change, action will change. If Rotary has to survive, the individual Rotarian should act – in fact the reverse may be the truth – if an individual Rotarian acts, Rotary will survive. There fore every individual Rotarian has to BE THE INSPIRATION .

In this Training DGE Babu Peram who has just returned from International Assembly full of ideas, innovation and implementation tools and invigorating motivation will, in turn, transform this Training Seaminar into an arena of action full of compassion, commitment and communication.

Believe me I would not leave a single stone unturned to educate, motivate, guide and inspire the Club leadership and make the year a success .

It is therefore with a great sense of responsibility that you should look forward to challenges of the year ahead knowing fully well that leadership in Rotary entails not Power, nor Authority, but only Accountability.

United by the same ideal and inspired by the same principles, we are all pursuing identical objectives as we come together in the truly spectacular setting to engage in the serious study and analysis of the art & the science of Rotary.

Yes, my friends and incoming District Leaders I sincerely believe that Leadership in Rotary is an Art as well as a Science.

It is – The Art of making friends
The Art of awakening enthusiasm
The Art of inspiring hearts

And
It is- the Science of transforming dreams into reality
The Science of maintaining unity in diversity
The Science of adding and multiplying efforts to
achieve Great goals.

Today, as we prepare to go into the next Rotary year, we look at all the miracles accomplished by Rotary and the Rotary Foundation- all working together, combining efforts & resources to make a difference.

Paul Harris spoke of Rotary in terms of a broad flowing river. This great river is the Sum total of the contribution of hundreds, perhaps thousands of small brooks & streams- which come tumbling down the hillsides & mountains eager to join the main channel of this great river.

How the mighty river of Rotary has become a force of Integrity, service, love & peace.

Consider the lives that have been saved, the hunger that has been alleviated, the human suffering that has been relieved , the knowledge that has been imparted , the Hope & Dignity brought into the lives of millions , the Goodwill that has brought peace one person at a time, one step at a time.

Yes, we have walked many miles since Paul Harris took the first step, but many miles remain ahead of us before the dreams & visions of Rotary become a reality.

There is so much to be done in this world, it’s almost unbelievable, but there is one organization & one individual who can help improve our world.

That organization is Rotary International & that Individual is you. You, the Incoming Assistant Governors , You the incoming Avenue Chair Persons , you the District Secretary designates ,you the Co ordinators and you the Seniors who will be there to guide, to motivate, to help , to inspire the Club leadership in 3232.

However, more than it is tempting to question what one person can do in a world of over Seven billion people.

US Anthropologist Margaret Med once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world- indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.”

It is said, “Small minds discuss Personalities, Average minds discuss Events & only Great minds discuss ideas.”

Rotary gives us this forum not only to discuss ideas but also to make them in to realities.

Tagore wrote, “I slept & dreamt that life was happiness, I woke & saw that life was service. I served & learnt that in service happiness is found.” & it is that happiness which Rotary gives us.

Chinese Proverb: If you want Happiness-
For 5 minutes – take a nap
For 1 hour – go fishing
For 1 week – take a vacation
For 1 month – get married
For a year – inherit a fortune
Forever – help others

Yes, in the coming year, being a Assistant Governor or Avenue Chairman or District Secretary gives you this unique opportunity to help others.

That China man could well have been our Past R.I. Pr. Cliff Dochterman who gave us the theme “Real Happiness lies in helping others.”

And it was our own PRIP Raja Saboo who gave us the message “Look beyond yourself. And more or less was the message from PRIP Kalyan Banerjee ” Reach Within to Embrace Humanity”

My dear Friends, the Rotary we all love so much is in your capable hands in District 3232 so that you can make it even better.

No one can tell us what Rotary will be here tomorrow, but one thing is certain, what Rotary will be tomorrow depends upon how you are able to guide the clubs and make sure they perform to the satisfaction of your Governor.

Yes, Leadership in Rotary can be described in one word OPPORTUNITY. For it gives ordinary people like us the opportunity to do extraordinary things.

Remember – “The highest award for a man’s toil is not what he gets for it, but what he himself becomes by it.”

Margaret Thatcher was a Rotarian as was her father. He used to tell her, “Don’t be afraid to be different – don’t blindly follow the path – instead make a new path for others to follow.”

Paul Harris, the founder of Rotary was of the firm belief that Rotary should never remain static and said, “We live in a changing world & Rotary must be prepared to change with it.”

Destiny is not a matter of chance; it is a matter of choice. The future is not out there waiting to be met. The future is here, wanting to be created – created by Rotarians such as you all.

You all are very fortunate to be in the District with many achievements.The District has given a R I Director in P T Prabhakar, the District has generous Rotarian like PDG J B Kamdar who is ever ready to exhibit his generosity with big contributions , the District has many knowledgeable and active Leaders like Venky, Subu , Oli ,P T Ramkumar ,and many more …the District is known for many of its service activities. The District is at the forefront in its contribution towards T R F . Therefore to accept important assignments in such a fine District is a challenge hence extra efforts needed for training.

As you know Rotary is an organisation of volunteers that has stood the test of time, actually 113 years, because it signified the triumph of co-operation and creativity.

Life of members within a Rotary Club is not about being competitive with each other but within themselves and to become change agents who can create a new world where they live.

Serving humanity isn’t something that most of us are born knowing how to do. We learn it. We learn it from others. We learn it from life in Rotary.

The more we learn the better we get at it. This is why training sessions of Rotary are handled by eminent persons who have excelled in kindness and service to humanity.

The essence of life is exuberance. That is what service through Rotary is all about. The training you receive in Rotary maximizes your aliveness.

To improve yourself in what you do needs training. Every sportsperson, every artist and every expert in a field has undergone strenuous training for days if not for years before they really excelled.

PUT YOUR HEART IN WHAT YOU DO…
Mother Teresa was described by the Secretary General of UN as “the most powerful woman on the earth” and she was asked what made her so. Filled with embarrassment ,in simple words came her most profound statement “Small work with great Love”
It is this love that is generated through Heart.
That’s why we say “put your Heart in what you do” .

A high jump champion was once asked “How do you manage to jump more than seven feet in the air?”The champion said “First my Heart goes over the horizontal bar, then the rest of the body follows.”

Yes, put your Heart in what you do. DGE Babu Peram has full faith and confidence in you and your leadership, please don’t disappoint him.

Be knowledgeable – Knowledge is power but we must be knowledgeable not only about Rotary but more important to know more about Rotarians. There lies the key to success.

Story is told of a water bearer who had two large pots each hung on the ends of the pole which he carried on his shoulders. One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect.

At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house the cracked pot arrived only half full while other arrived always full. A year went by and the poor cracked pot, ashamed of his imperfection, spoke to the water bearer “I apologize . Because of my flaws you have to do double the work.”

The bearer said to the cracked pot “Don’t feel sorry. I planted flower seeds on one side of the path. Knowing your flaw I always carried you on that side. Every day while we walked back, you watered the planted seeds . Because of you we now have a stream of flowers.”

You my friends, are the water bearer. Each of us have our own imperfection . But it is the cracks and flaws that make our life interesting and rewarding .

You will have to take each Club for what it is and look for the GOOD in it .Your job will be to see that every Rotary Club in the District excels in its performance. The weaker clubs may need special attention and at times they may do wrong things . Please don’t lose your patience and extend your full throated support to see that they also come in the main stream.

Create an opportunity – Our leaders must learn the art of creating opportunities and you have to set your goals and learn your dreams. In Rotary, we turn problems into opportunities to over come them

This reminds me of a RYLA Camp I attended at Moral Re-Armament campus at Panchgani . At the entrance of the camp is a board saying “There are no problems here – only opportunities” Whilst I was standing near the registration desk where many participants of RYLA were clustering the desk, a boy came running and said to the organizer- “Sir, I have a problem” The organizer smilingly pointed to the placard saying “There are no problems – only opportunities.”

The boy hesitated and replied “Call it what you may, Sir – but you have allotted me a room which is occupied by a girl”. I don’t know whether the boy turned the problem into opportunity or not …. The successful leaders see the opportunities in every difficulty rather than the difficulty in every opportunity

Communicate effectively: Communication is vital for Rotary leadership. Failure to communicate can produce disastrous results. Your leadership responsibilities demand it and also you want for your self.

But effective or credible communication does not come from a rule book.There is no tool box which you can open and get help instantly .

Communication is a complex activity involving so many aspects of yourself. You can not become an expert by taking a course, reading a book or just after this session.

Never ever underestimate the power of words . Words can inspire. Words can destroy. Choose your words well. Your words have great power. Use them to support and inspire.

Your words are important. Your attitude is important. People must believe that you can be trusted. This can happen only when you walk the talk and your communication skills are good.

The Rotary Clubs will follow you not that they have to but because they want to.There is no harm in repeating if you feel that the message is not understood. Every opportunity to talk to a group in a meeting is an opportunity for improvement.

George Bernard shaw said ” The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” You as the leaders must learn some thing very important .You have to be careful about what you say and how you say. You can not afford to be careless or casual .

To be a GOOD LEADER you must recognize and appreciate the efforts of others.

A good leader takes a little more than his share of blame and little less than his share of credit. Never hesitate to appreciate and recognize the efforts of all those Clubs who will work with you so closely to make a wonderful year.

Honour them, respect them and communicate their achievements wherever possible.

Eliminate divisiveness: Let Rotary ensure that divisiveness is not in feeling our organization. There are groups and sub-groups in the Rotary that tend to perpetuate divisiveness. This should be prevented at all costs.

Divisiveness is the AIDS of Rotary – a disease spreading swiftly and wide, preying upon the intelligent minds and without a cure in sight. Prevention is best method and let Rotary District leaders give the attention that this problem deserves.

Let Rotary leaders produce catharsis of emotional cleansing- let not the moral bedrock of Rotary be turned to lava.

BE FLEXIBLE……

EGO TO BE KEPT AWAY.
Beware of ego. It is double edged sword, the outer edge cuts your popularity, while the inner edge cuts your purity. A simple advise -when ever you do something remove the inner desire of SELF within you and see the clubs under you will provide all the co operations to make you achieve many laurels .

TO BE A GOOD LEADER ONE MUST BE COMPASSIONATE

A leader must talk the walk, even the leader may not know every thing, but a good leader must be open to learning.

A leader does not know every thing, but he/she encourages a team process , in which expertise is built.

The leader has to act and do things. And whatever he does, he must have humility.

To be a good leader one must motivate his team

The Dictionary describes Motivation as “the process, which gives incentive to arouse, sustain & regulate the human behaviour.”

How true it is in the present context for it applies to your role as the Assistant Governor, District Secretary, Avenue Chair person or any Special District Assignment to arouse, sustain & regulate the behaviour of the Club Leadership in your District..

Remember- The mediocre Leaders Tell
The Good Leaders Explain
The Superior Leaders Demonstrate
But only the Great Leaders Inspire & Motivate.

Let me end by proclaiming that leadership in Rotary faces many challenges. It has to act like a lion and lead with sheer power and also act like a lamb – soft, humble and yielding. We are alive to the needs and we are capable of giving that kind of leadership that Rotary deserves and desires.

Always remember the two words Humble and Hungry as the key to your career of continuous improvement and growth. whether you are trying to make a name for yourself or you have achieved the pinnacle of success .

Don’t ever feel that you know every thing. Every day you get an opportunity to learn something. The success or failure should not get in to your head.

Be kind to every one and let people know that they matter.

Live with Humility because the moment you think that you have arrived at the door of greatness it will get shut on your face.

Never give up and never be afraid of failure.

No matter how successful you get, no matter how much you achieve, you always have to be Hungry for more.

You always have to be hungry for learning new things.

You always have to be hungry to have more achievements.

You should be hungry to make your mark and you should be hungry to be seen and to be heard to have an effect out there.

But as you move on and become successful make sure to Also stay hungry for helping others and looking beyond your self.

Let the District 3232 leaders of tomorrow, gathered here this day be alive to the need for effective leadership and the means of achieving this leadership. We have the intelligence, we have the determination. Let us have the know how.

As district officers your job is to fulfilling the programs of Rotary and take the full benefit to the clubs and in addition add extra features that is recommended by the DG .

AGs can provide daily inspiration to the clubs assigned to you and get affirmations from the Club Leaders that they are on track in forging new partnerships with donors and tapping new sources for CSR projects

I strongly recommend that every District Officer should read the MOP and the code of policy of Rotary International and adhere to what is suggested there . In any doubt please don’t hesitate to speak to your Governor who would certainly be happy to help you and guide you in your actions.

Friends! The torch of service is lit by the fire of our Rotarians in their efforts to serve. Let this fire be strong enough to do what we are expected to do.

This District Team Training Seminar will show you the way. This District Team Training Seminar will enlighten you on the area which need Rotary’s help. This Training Seminar will make new friends and build bridges of understanding and communications.
Here is a simple Formula to success
Be polite, prepare yourself for the job assigned to you ,
Keep yourself tidy , be cheerful, don’t be envious, be honest to yourself and with all those you will be dealing with , interest yourself in your job , don’t pity yourself Incase you fail , be quick to praise, be loyal to your leader , avoid prejudice, be independent, don’t involve in Rotary politics, and read the Rotary literature on a regular basis .
The Challenge of leadership is ,
Be strong but not rude , be kind but not weak , be bold but not bully , be thoughtful but not lazy , be humble but not timid , be proud but not arrogant, have humor but not folly .
I wish you all a great 2018-19 How great it is will depend on you and your dedication. May the Almighty give you strengths to achieve all what you desire and deserve in the year ahead.
At the end please remember the four lines of Robert Frost
The woods are lovely dark and deep ,
But I have promises to keep ,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

Training Speech

Rotary is an organisation of volunteers that has stood the test of time, actually 113 years, because it signified the triumph of co-operation and creativity.

Life of members within a Rotary Club is not about being competitive with each other but within themselves and to become change agents who can create a new world where they live.

Serving humanity isn’t something that most of us are born knowing how to do. We learn it. We learn it from others. We learn it from life in Rotary.

The more we learn the better we get at it. This is why training sessions of Rotary are handled by eminent persons who have excelled in kindness and service to humanity.

The essence of life is exuberance. That is what service through Rotary is all about. The training you receive in Rotary maximizes your aliveness.

To improve yourself in what you do needs training. Every sportsperson, every artist and every expert in a field has undergone strenuous training for days if not for years before they really excelled.

While sportspersons train to win over others, the singer, the artist and people who innovate things train to win over their limitations and eventually win over the hearts of those who hear them or see their works of art or use the inventions that are produced.

This training is not to demolish others but they raise the bar in their chosen field and make others who follow try harder to go higher. This training is what we call as a Win-Win Training where there are only winners all around.

In Rotary we have the President’s elect training seminar, Secretary-elects training seminar, district team training seminar, District Training Assembly, TRF training seminar, public image building training seminar, membership development training seminar and the International Assembly for incoming district governors. Probably there are many more also.

Why are so many training seminars held in Rotary and what purpose do they serve?

The main reason is because Rotarians work with human beings wherever they are and this needs to be understood as the basis of your membership in a Rotary Club.

Whatever be the training seminar, they are all meant to train you to do the one main purpose for which Rotary was conceived – Service Above Self. When you train your mind to serve and do it properly, it becomes your way of life. You then become Rotarian and the lapel pin on your suit will assume more significance.

When you want to become a Rotarian in the true sense of the word, the training sessions, if designed properly, will help you to stop meddling in the lives of others in your club and help you to get busy for pursing the big goals for which Rotary was formed.

Training will help you to decide what one big dream you want to accomplish this year and create a plan for accomplishing it. Then set the wheels in motion.

You’ll not only start playing a bigger game, you’ll become a bigger person in the process. Training will make you improve your quality of life within Rotary and make you help others outside who are dependent on Rotary for help.

Training is a choice you willingly undertake when you join Rotary. It shows what you truly are and how much more you can achieve with your abilities.

There are many NGOs and service organisations in this world. While most of the members in these organisations see what is and ask why, you as a Rotarian see what could be and ask why not.

When a person is invited to join a Rotary Club, we assume that he or she has the ability and desire right now to be trained to serve humanity.

This member is then trained in the club and later in the various seminars that I have outlined to reach their full potential. Training then helps them to develop clarity, focus and concentration in the big service projects they undertake.

The most important basis of any training programme is discipline.

The training programme in Rotary has an overdose of ethics mixed with discipline as ethics is what our organisation stands for.

To be true to oneself is the hardest test of life and the training programmes of Rotary are designed to help you to be true to yourself – your conscience.

It is not how much you do in Rotary but how you do it is what makes life beautiful in Rotary.

For example if you have a disjointed club with members pulling in different directions, then any amount of money you spend on a project will not stand out or bring that satisfaction to the club.

Training seminars help you to build a team for every action. That is one of the basic aims of training sessions in Rotary. Remember we rise by lifting others. With training to work in TRF, for example, you will find that you lose yourself in something bigger than yourself and you will find that you derive more energy. That is the beauty of training which helps you to serve others.

They say that there is a difference between doing things right and doing the right things.

Training sessions of Rotary are aimed to help you do the right things and do it right. Uncertainty is a daily reality. Although we cannot control everything, training helps us to control our response to the fear that holds us back from undertaking huge community service projects such a polio eradication.

To be a Rotarian, you should first ensure that every action of yours, from the time you wake up and go back to sleep, is ethical in all respects.

You cannot be partially good or selectively helpful.

The training sessions that make leaders in Rotary are two. First it is the International Assembly where DGEs are trained and at the district level it is the President elects training seminar (PETS).

It is sometimes painful to see that those coming out of these hallowed portals do things exactly opposite of what they have been trained.

This negates the very purpose of going to the training sessions. How else can you explain frequent stewardship issues cropping up, clubs breaking up and court battles in a voluntary organisation?

The training programmes basically aims to eliminate your ego that stops you from becoming a Rotarian and a human being. Rotarians are not born. They are made. What’s more? They are self-made when they attend the training programmes on various topics.

This means that anyone can become a Rotarian as long as they put in the time and effort. Train yourself to be movers and shakers. Train yourself to be change-agents in this world. Train yourself to be a leader. But remember, you must first train yourself to be a Rotarian – a good human being.

SIKSHA – E -LEARNING PROGRAM BETWEEN RILM AND GOVERNMENT OF MAHARASHTRA – Date 19th January 2018 at Pune

Millions of Congratulations to Rotary India Literacy Mission and the Government of Maharastra for the launch of SIKSHA , a Digital Learning Program for Installing 37000 E-Learning facilities in 18500 Government Schools in the State of Maharastra.

The way of teaching is changing and updating everyday. The traditional and old paradigm of education in not demanding anything now. So, now we find that the classrooms are equipped with new technology. It has it’s own advantages .

I am amazed with the technology that the schools have at present. The way of teaching is changing and updating day by day which certainly is making teaching and learning more effective.

A survey of the state of education in Maharashtra, especially in schools located in rural areas, throws up some good news. The good news is that enrolment and attendance are high.

Probably, Maharashtra is the first state to conceive and implement the programme of bringing government schools onto digital learning platforms. It is a delight to know that tablets and interactive projectors are replacing text books and note books and making learning an enjoyable experience for the children. Another survey says that there is an impressive 15 percent jump in the attendance in schools situated in villages for the past two years. The joy of seeing their children going to school and learning through modern techniques is certainly attracting parents to send their children to school and as someone remarked this is slowly replacing the mid-day meal progamme as an incentive to stay put in school.

It is also heartening to note that the drop-out rate has come down by 1.5 percentage points due to the digital learning syllabus. Schools can now being called as Virtual Interactive E-Learning World, the nomenclature adopted by Amrita University when they launched this programme.

The E-Learning programme launched by the Government and supported by Rotary India Literacy Mission will aim to cover more and more schools in many more states. The budget allocation by the Government of India which was Rs.80,000 crores last year for education might see an upward revision this year. Any amount of money spent on primary, middle school and high school education will only result in developing a generation of citizens who can lead India to greater prosperity. This prosperity comes only when there is a peace of mind among the new generation and Rotary’s aim is Progress through Peace.

Rotary is probably the first service organisation in the world to recognise the importance of training school and college going children to become responsible citizens. It was this farsighted vision of the erstwhile leaders of Rotary that Interact Clubs were established in schools and Rotaract Clubs were established in colleges and in communities for young adults. The partnership of Rotary with Government in various educational institutions has benefitted the students and in this E-Learning initiative Rotary has been playing a vital role from the time the concept was conceived and put into place on trial basis. Understanding the importance of this venture, the then Editor of the Rotary News Magazine was requested to study and popularize the programme. The articles were appreciated and attracted wide attention among all the Rotary clubs in India and many Rotary District Governors came forward to support the cause. I am sure that Rotary clubs all over India will like to implement this programme in consultation with the State Governments citing the success of the Maharashtra model.

I would particularly like to draw the attention of the HonourableMinister to a press report in The Times of India which states that in Tamil Nadu there are 820 schools with only one teacher who handles classes from first standard to the eighth standard and teaching all subjects. This technology can help the students in such schools and also prove to be an effective village school master.

Most of the disgruntled young adults who indulge in various anti-social and anti-national activities are products of an education system which they could not comprehend. From the days of hardbound text books weighing nearly 500 grams to 1 Kg we moved to paperback editions which were easier to be carried and also less expensive. But that did not bring the desired effect since a section of the children could not adapt to hours of classroom lectures and teachers cracking the cane. Girl students had additional problem of not having toilets in schools and the dropout rate was high.

All this is changing with digital syllabus and the way interest is created by a teachers who are now able to grasp and hold the attention of children for extended length of time through E – Learning.

The allied advantage of E-Learning is that the parents can also get involved at home without having to burn the mid-night oil before the exams. It is said that the person who does not read has no advantage over the person who cannot read. This digital system of education will make the student read more of the syllabus and this will be a distinct advantage. An educationist once said, “There is no such thing as a child who hates to read. There are only children who have not found the right book.”

I noticed that all famous quotes given by philosophers and thinkers talk only about books as no one envisaged this digital revolution from 2007 onwards. Probably we have to write some quotes for posterity and I will say, “When a child sees what he or she has to learn on a digital platform, they will never be alone again.”

Rotary As I See it in India

Over the past several years I have been working with extraordinary team of people in India and abroad in all my assignments in Rotary service to the community. So far thousands of Rotarians have helped hone our approach to service activities and projects in India, the main among them being the eradication of polio.

When I was young, there was a time when I dreamed of becoming a teacher and go from village to village and spread literacy. Though I could not become a teacher in the true sense of it and work in educational institutions, my joining the Rotary Club of Mulund made me a student all over again. In Rotary I saw an opportunity to learn and teach about service to those who were willing to hear. Soon, I found myself in the centre of various activities. Rotary in India, especially my club and district were places where I found full of life and activity and everyone was able to explore, exchange ideas, learn and also have some fun.

Honouring the vision of Paul Harris, Rotary in India was energized and started to build upon the legacy it inherited from Rotary leaders from abroad. Rotary in India was intended to be a movement to provide hope and inspiration to generations of young leaders and learners who could reform, perform and transform the community over the years.

In India, the word Rotary has assumed the meaning of ‘union.’ In Rotary, the union of individuals, helped in experiencing the universality of who we are. The wonderful experience of participating in the International Convention proves to us beyond doubt that the whole existence is just one energy manifesting itself in various people. Rotary helped us to go beyond the limitations of the physical body and the mind while undertaking great community service projects in India and elsewhere.

Rotary in India rapidly rose as a great tower – representing ascension, hope and what ordinary people have the power to do together. Clubs started all over the country slowly but steadily and today with over 3,770 Rotary Clubs and a membership exceeding 145,825 India ranks very high in the Rotary world next only to USA. This is also true in contribution to TRF. From 1985 Rotarians in India have contributed over US $179.5 million and last year India ranked number two in contributions.

The rapid growth of Rotary in India was accelerated more from 2007 onwards when the 100,000 mark in membership development was breached and so was the contribution to TRF which saw an upsurge from that period onwards and broke the ceiling with US $15 million later in 2009. Welcoming more members, the clubs became portals for members to engage with the world beyond. Understanding the need to build the future with collective effort the Rotarians in India took up the challenge to eradicate Polio and achieved what the local Governments could not do that easily – unite the various sections of the Muslim community under the banner of PolioPlus and the rest is history. I was honoured to be the convener and chairman of the Ulema Committee and when the world was skeptical about our polio eradication efforts we delivered a Polio – Free India.

Rotary in India belongs as much to the Rotarians of the world as it does to the Rotarians of India. We looked at the local residents to help build it and soon we had a variety of talented people who joined Rotary and helped to take our medical missions to Africa. This of course, is another fascinating story of how we looked beyond our borders. In addition to empowering and connecting with Rotarians around the country and the world, Rotarians in India have shown what It takes to sustain a movement in a country of 1.24 billion people who speak over 27 different languages and where no two states can claim to have the same ethnic similarity. It can be said that Rotary in India celebrates diversity and every RI President who has travelled around this mystical and vibrant country has been fascinated by the tradition, food, dress and culture of the members of Rotary with whom they have interacted.

I can proudly say that all the strands of my life came together and I really became a man, dedicated to service when I joined Rotary. Here, like thousands of other Rotarians, I am able to apply my idealism and work in communities in public service. By investing in the future of The Rotary Foundation, we have enabled Rotary to encourage and affect changes in the local communities in healthcare, literacy, mother and child welfare and development of young leaders.

The Rotary clubs across the country have attracted folks from various walks of life and have been the places for them to connect, collaborate and take home a piece of knowledge about serving humanity of what they learned together. At the end of the day the real action does not happen inside the meeting halls of the clubs but in the communities, in the schools, in hospitals and where people need us most when some natural disaster strikes. Rotarians have risen to great heights when it came to providing relief and rehabilitation to victims of floods, earthquake and even tsunami when various parts of India faced these events.

Rotary in India is dynamic. It was true when I joined the movement and it is true now. It has taken many hands to shape Rotary in India and bring it to what it is today – hands coming together to do good to the world which was never easy. It required patience and it required listening. Not just listening for show, but actively incorporating what we learned into plans and projects.

Rotary is not a piece of idea or a movement, but a vibrant reverberation left behind by those who expounded the most intricate forms of service activities but refused to be entangled in them. However, in India, we found many passionate people in Rotary getting entangled in election complaints, litigations, stewardship issues and other forms of aberration that were considered uncivilized for people belonging to this movement. The leaders of Rotary in India are seized of this problem and solutions are being found to bring about a cohesive atmosphere. I am aware that the RI Board started to view the people involved in tarnishing the public image of Rotary as representatives of two seemingly opposite dimensions, one being a person who believes in Service Above Self and another being a person who is Selfish, cohabiting with impunity.

I have been dousing the fires that were creating the smoke. The seniors in Rotary have been cautioning the contenders to some active Rotary positions, such as the RI Director, District Governor, RRFCs, RCs and other designations not to get lost in facts and non-facts. The trap of a designation to some people, has denied them the magic of Rotary. This is largely due to too many eligible contenders chasing too few opportunities for service. While their methodology to grab the positions must be frowned upon and the people admonished, the underlying fact is all of them love Rotary in India.

President –elect Barry, we will take your thoughts and concern and even reconsider and redesign service projects that are needed for the next decade and more. We are far from finished. Rotary in India is going to iterate on your programmes and we are going to continue to turn to you for feedback.

Rotary in India is developing into an economic engine for the locality where it is functioning and a cultural destination that showcases the service projects to rest of the world. Rotary in India is a gathering place – somewhere for all kinds of people to come together and learn, not just from Rotary history or current events, but from each other. More than being just a service organisation, Rotary in India is becoming a movement that helps and inspires all of us to build a collective future for ourselves and those who need our help the most. Rotary in India is for the new generation, the leaders of tomorrow who are ready to step up and build the world as it should be. Nayantara and I are happy to be a part of it.

Introduction of President Rotary International Ian Risely during his visit to Mumbai on 12th December 2017

A man who has lived well for others;

A man who has been loved much by all;

A man who has gained respect from all;

A man who has accomplished all his tasks with commitment and compassion.

A man who is an achiever of success at every important stage of life;

​​​​​​A man who has neither lacked appreciation nor failed to express it;

A man who has always looked for the best in others and gives the best he has;

A man who believes in unconditional charity;

A man whose life is an inspiration to all of us;

A man who believes in what he does and does what he believes

Yes Friends, I am referring to a person whom I know so well and with whom I have worked as the Director Rotary International and Trustee of the Rotary Foundation ,President Ian Risely.

I have to start by thanking the Rotarian who was the President of the Rotary Club of Sandringham, a beachside suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia in 1978 who prevented the new charter member Ian Risely from resigning from the Rotary club where he had just joined that year.

And why did Ian Risely wanted to resign? He did not approve of RI’s policy of not admitting women into Rotary and said that he cannot be a member of an organisation that discriminates.

Fortunately the club President persuaded Ian Risely not to resign and advised him to fight for women’s admission by staying in the club. The club members heard Ian Risely speak and voted to have women in Rotary.

Ian Risely knew the answer to the famous question,

“What is that one most important desire every woman has within her heart?” Every woman desired to have the freedom to choose and take every decision on their own and this is what Juliet Risely, Ian’s lovely spouse did when she became the charter President of the Rotary Club of Hampton in 1995.

Both of them served as District Governors of RI District 9810, Ian during 1999-2000 and Juliet during 2011-2012.

They were supportive of each other but equally independent. Listening to the stories from their daughter Jill and son Andrew and the four grandchildren while relishing their chardonnay always fascinates this couple while they stay at their home in Moorooduc, a rural town in Melbourne.

If you are travelling to Moorooduc there are many attractions such as the Devilbend Natural Features Reserve, Mornington Railway and Quarry Flora and Fauna Reserve, but Ian’s house is still the top attraction for Rotarians.

His friends in Rotary tell, “If you have got an idea, tell Ian because he will take it on board.”

Rotarians seeking his advice is a routine thing and whenever a subject is discussed you can hear someone say, “I want to know what Ian thinks about this.” The huge project of Interplast, dedicated to reconstructive surgery to people with conditions including cleft palates and burns saw all the 21 Districts in Australia supporting it and six more from New Zealand.

Ian, as the District Governor, came on stage in a race car during the District Conference and ever since the other DGs have had to come up with innovative ideas to enter the stage.

One DG came on a horse! Ian says, “Fun is a vital element of the organisation but Rotary must make a difference.”

To Ian, flexibility is important and he supported the way clubs could meet and the amendments that were passed in 2016 COL showed he decided that change should come from within if Rotary has to grow for another hundred more years.

As a successful accountant by profession, Ian always asks clubs to quantify their work so that the people outside can know how many million dollars are spent and how many volunteers hours are put in to make the world a better place by Rotarians.

Leadership positions come to those who know that the really important things in life come through a long term commitment and the rewards are as much in the journey as in the destination.

Ian’s journey in Rotary has proved that while it comes to service, “Good isn’t enough.” His commitment to Rotary’s service is unmatched.

Talking about his Rotary friends, he always says, “Rotarians helped me to understand Rotary and as a result I have become even more of who I wanted to be.”

Ian has an impact on others beyond what he had thought possible, of walking into a room and changing by his presence, what happens there.

What Rotarians really wanted from Ian is some sense of connection and when they saw it in him, they latched onto it. As a leader he has a lot of people connected to him. That is what leadership is all about.

Rotarians around the world who worked with Ian have said, “I will do it for him because of the connection I feel with him.”

Ian established his vision and what can come of that vision in Rotary. He always finds ways to move others ever closer to the vision of making Rotary a much more stronger and vibrant movement.

He wants us to experience success so that it will build our confidence and generate energy and commitment that will sustain Rotary for another century and more.

Ian is our leader, a leader of lot of partners and he is up their as our representative. He is us, in some real sense of the word. I am sure every one of the 1.2 million Rotarians are saying, “I am glad this guy is the leader right now.”

Ladies & Gentlemen,

If you adore a mild mannered gentleman, you don’t have far to go;

If you love a pleasant personality, he is right in front of you;

If you honour and idealize a knowledgeable Rotarian, you don’t need to look elsewhere;

If you cherish and desire to be a friend to an ethical professional, you have him here;

If you wish to see a person who loves Honesty, Purity & Truth, he is very much amongst us;

If you respect a person who believes in the motto of Rotary, he is not distant;

If you desire to meet a very fine orator and a star of Rotary, you have just to meet this fine Rotarian, our friend and above all a friend of Rotary ideals –

who is the protector for the helpless, guide for the lost ones, ship for those to cross oceans, sanctuary for those in danger, lamp for those in darkness, a refuse for those who need shelter, Rotarian to all in need – our Chief Guest Président, Rotary International, Ian Risely .

Future of Rotary – Young Professionals

While analyzing why the membership in Rotary has declined in many countries, one particular reason comes to my mind. The organisation still believes that membership is by invitation. Though this practice has been considerably watered down, it is still a barrier because elderly Rotary members do not invite youngsters below the age of 30 that easily to join their club.

Youngsters, especially professionals, who are battling it out for growth in their chosen career should have the necessary motivation to join Rotary and this can be provided only by those they consider their equals in thought.

Today, when the growth of Rotary is dependent more on young professionals, the membershipdevelopment plan, must be like a modern human resources policy that can allow the youngsters to work and also serve the community in ways that are most suited for a locality.

Young people have to see themselves as part a club which can nurture their extra hours after work. Wemust speak to them without difficulty or barrier caused by our own impression that we are special.

There is no greatness about a person who has volunteered to join a service organisation. In fact, only those who are really very humble can claim to be service minded.

Once there is a sense of inclusion, awareness about the other person comes naturally. Awareness is life and life is awareness. There is no other way. It is only because of exclusion of certain people in our mind that we have excluded them from Rotary.

How to attract young minds to Rotary? Much has been said and debated for over 50 years and the results have been only marginal. Today’s young people, especially those who are working 16 to 18 hours a day in hi-tech areas, are becoming more exclusive characters and they find it difficult to mingle freely with others in the society.

When we say we need young professionals we assume that they are earning members who probably have a family of their own. Probably this will constitute about 10 percent of the youngsters in the age group of 25 to 35 and unless Rotary has something extraordinary for them, the idea of joining may not sink in. We are assuming that they can afford the costs involved and hence probably we are narrowing it down by another 2 percent.

Targeting such professionals who in their initial years of working do not mind hopping from one job to another and from one city or country to another, requires a very high level of information to be fed to them about what they can hope to achieve by joining Rotary. To me the one reason that can appeal to such youngsters will be the need to make their community more literate or free from hunger and disease.

Now, in many advanced countries, the Government takes care of education and health care and there may be little or no role for these youngsters to play and hence one appeal may not attract all everywhere.

So what is the one appealing factor that can make such young professionals who can afford the costs involved with Rotary to join the movement? Among a few reasons such as peace in the world, I think that the prospect of developing as a leader of a group of people and guiding them for something more than what they can be, may be an appealing point.

Rotary is supposed to impart the culture of inclusiveness. This is not a new philosophy. It is about falling back to a way of life, ordinary but magnificent. This is the way to safeguard the future of Rotary and this can be done by attracting young professionals who are not bothered about the stifling procedures but about delivering measurable results for the community as leaders.

Points covered.
Rotary India’s role in eradicating Polio

1. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative – a partnership between WHO, UNICEF, CDC and Rotary International – was launched to eradicate polio from the world, and at the same time strengthen health infrastructure. The Initiative has achieved significant progress toward both these goals. Polio is now gone from the Americas and Western Pacific region and showing no trace in Europe. There has been a dramatic decline in cases everywhere in the twenty nine years since the target was set in 1988.

2. Rotary International, a voluntary organization comprising 1.2 million members working over 35,709 Rotary clubs across 220 countries, is fairly well known for its commitment for undertaking different humanitarian programmes that address today’s challenging issues, polio eradication being one of them. The dream of achieving a world free of polio is perhaps one of the most ambitious projects ever undertaken by Rotary.

3. Rotary International is the spearheading member of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative and is the largest private sector donor. Till date Rotary has contributed US$ nearly US $ 1.6 billion (Rs. 8800 crores @55)worldwide. In India alone Rotary’s contribution stands at US $ 198 million(Rs. 1089 crore).

4. These funds are provided to UNICEF and WHO for Polio eradication activities. In addition, tens of thousands of Rotarians have partnered with various Governments, UNICEF, the World Health Organization, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and with health providers at the grassroots level in thousands of communities.

5. Its volunteers throughout the world have helped organize national immunization days, staffed health stations and given drops to children. In addition to their own record-breaking financial contribution for polio eradication besides countless volunteer man-hours, Rotarians have helped leverage a further US $ 6.7 billion from the governments the world over for this cause.

6. India has more than 1.46 lakh members through around 3687 Rotary clubs dedicated to ending Polio in the country.

7. In India since the campaign was launched the disease incidence has reduced to ‘Zero ‘at present.

8. Indian Rotarians are also contributing to the program by donating large funds and in kind support. During every NID /SNID Indians Rotarians are seen volunteering by manning Polio booths and administering Polio drops to children.

9. So far in India Rotary’s India National PolioPlus Committee (INPPC) has actively been involved in Social Mobilization, media management, and political, bureaucratic and religious advocacy to make Polio immunization widely acceptable. Successfully gaining access to children who have never been reached before is an integral component of Rotary PolioPlus commitment.

10. Consequent to the sustained advocacy efforts of Rotary’s India National PolioPlus Committee, and the central government’s leadership, India implemented supplementary immunization activity as National Immunization Days in 1995. Followed by regular two annual NIDs, and few Sub-NIDs wherever required.

11. INPPC has garnered political support for the program by involving the President, the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, Health Ministers and local politicians in the program.

12. Rotary also enlisted bureaucratic support by involving the Cabinet Secretary, the Chief Secretary, the Principal Secretary, District Magistrates and other health officials in the polio campaign.

13. Rotary approached senior minority leaders such as the Shahi Imam of JamaMasjid and the President of All India Muslim Personal Law Board and was successful in enlisting their support. Further INPPC formed a Rotary Muslim Ulema Committee in the state of U.P, comprising of senior Muslim scholars and religious leaders to address issues of resistance amongst Muslim population and appeal to Muslim parents to immunize children against Polio.

14. Today this Ulema Committee that Rotary helped set up in the State is a vital resource that the U.P. Govt. and other social organizations seek intervention from time to time for their ongoing programs to bring about an overall improvement in the social-economic life of the minority community.

15. INPPC’s Polio Corrective Surgery and Rehabilitation Camps for the polio-affected children is one of the finest examples of its commitment towards polio eradication and the overall welfare of the children. So far nearly 7000 polio-inflicted children have been operated upon and rehabilitated through 82 camps held in different endemic states of the country. Similarly free health camps are being organized by Rotary in different districts to cater to the urgent health needs of the people including Polio immunization.

16. Apart from advocacy efforts, Rotary also makes extensive use of various IEC materials, such as comic books, video vans, banners and posters, etc, to publicize the cause of polio eradication. To keep the importance of Polio immunization alive in media and general, Rotary has organized different events involving celebrities from the sports and entertainment world and also hosted media briefings to promote the polio eradication program.

17. Humanitarian organizations world over are partnering with Rotary International in their biggest humanitarian initiative to rid the world of Polio. In a major boost to the eradication campaign, the Gates Foundationcontributed a whopping US $ 355 million. Rotary International accepted to raise US $ 200 million against the Gates Foundation grant by June 2012.Rotary help raise the matching grant exceeding the challenge. Going forward, the Gates Foundation will match two-to-one, up to US$35 million per year, every dollar Rotary commits to reduce the funding shortfall for polio eradication through 2020.

18. Google.org, inspired by Rotary’s efforts donated a sum of US $ 3.5 million to the Polio eradication effort worldwide to Rotary Foundation. In India The Aditya Birla Group with its patron Smt. Rajashree Birla who is a honorary member of Rotary Club Mumbai has contributed US $ 10 million. Ms. UshaMittal (of Arcellor Mittal Group) has donated to Rotary a total contribution of USD 1.5 million towards Polio eradication fund. And Rtn. HarshadMehta, Chairman of Rosy Blue Diamond has contributed more than US $ 3.5 million.

19. In January 2014, India completed three years without a case of Polio and along with 10 SEAR countries was awarded the Southeast Asia Regional Polio-free certification by WHO on 27 March 2014.

20. Rotary has supplied IEC material to Govt. of India to improve upon the Routine Immunization level.

India National PolioPlus Committee’s Communication/Social Mobilisation Strategy

Political Advocacy at national, state, revenue district and block levels.

Formation of Muslim Ulema Committee in U.P. comprising of senior Muslim scholars (including a doctor from Aligarh Muslim University Medical College) and religious leaders to address issues of resistance amongst Muslim population and appeal Muslim parents to immunize their children against Polio. Trustee TRF & Member IPPC Ashok Mahajan is the Chairman of this Committee.

Dissemination of information & distribution of Information Education and Communication material.

Use of Audio-Visual Medium; local Radio channels, local cable network, films, slide shows, playing of audio cassettes.

Use of Traditional Media including street theatre (nukkad natak), puppet shows and other traditional media.

Encouraging community participation to encourage community leaders and medical practitioners to take action.

Involving local Schools, Colleges and Universities, other Educational Institutions, Women’s Organisations and Corporate Sector participation.

Involving religious leaders and opinion makers.

Organising events such as, film screening, plays and seminars on polio.

Involving celebrities in the Polio eradication cause .

Regular media participation and coverage for a positive impact.

Workshop activities/seminars to bring new advocates on board.

Recognising health officials for outstanding performance.

Forming committee of underserved community members to address their issues.

Strategies successfully employed by the India National PolioPlus Committee in the past:

Launching an IEC blitzkrieg on a massive scale on each NID/SNID including distribution of banners, posters, leaflets, sunshades, T-shirts, face masks, whistles, slides, hoardings, vertical boards, audio cassettes, Pencilet al.

Special initiatives in U.P. – Interpersonal Communication through Village Volunteers Network.

Air-dropping of IEC material from helicopters.

Involving celebrities from the entertainment world along with Indian Cricket/ Tennis Stars.

INPPC has been instrumental in involving Indian and Pakistani cricketers for the cause.

Media Campaign involving Bollywood celebrities, their messages on polio were aired on TV channels across the country.

Conducting Media Workshop in the endemic districts of U.P.

Extensive Print Media Campaign.

Advocacy with Foreign Ambassadors.

Rotary Polio Sena Mobilising school children.

Rotary Polio Sa-re-gama weekly program on FM Delhi.

Broadcast of spots on All India Radio in UP with polio messages of Muslim scholars, parents of polio victims and Bollywood celebrities.

Rotary Road shows – Rotary Polio Video vans showing films on Polio.

Rotary rallies and organizing childrens’ marches prior to NIDs/SNIDs to create awareness.

Involving Educational Institutions like Aligarh Muslim University, Jamia Hamdard University and Jamia Millia Islamia University.

Conducted Polio Corrective Surgery & Rehabilitation Camps in endemic areas of UP, Bihar, Uttaranchal & West Bengal.

Involving religious leaders like Imams, Ulemas, Priests, Saints anIdathers.

Popularising Pulse Polio Campaign in Shopping Plazas/malls in metro cities.

Distribution of Comic Books on polio and sanitation in Hindi language in schools of U.P.

Distribution of Teachers’ booklets on polio.

Involving Corporate Sector participation.

Incentive to health workers to overcome fatigue were provided in the state of U.P. and Bihar – Towel, Umbrella, Lunch Boxes, Torches etc.

Garden Umbrellas were provided in Delhi, U.P. & Maharashtra during summer to health workers.

An emergent support of Marker Pen in Bihar and vaccine carrier in Bihar, Delhi & Maharashtra were provided.

Produced a cartoon film for the community on polio awareness.

Support to NGOs to cover the population at construction sites.

Aprons were provided to the transit team health workers as identification mark.

Involved Vice Chancellor of various Universities for effective Social Mobilisation and overcoming doubts.

Display of gigantic hot air balloons.

Display of banners / vertical boards at all the retail outlets of HPCL/ BPCL/IOC in the NCR region and UP.

Muppet shows (Polio Inflatables) in various districts of the endemic States.

Forming State & District level Council of Muslim Ulemas & Scholars to address issues of the Muslim population.

Organising events like ‘Empathy —2004’ to sensitise the masses.

Recognising the political & religious leaders, bureaucrats & health officials.

Setting up booths on boats in the holy Kumbh meta to immunise children.

Organizing medical health camps in the state of Delhi, U.P and Bihar.

Production of IEC material on Zinc and ORS.

Elocution competition for Schools all over the Country to create aware-ness among students.

Stole & Flag on ‘End Polio Now’ distributed.

Hosted the ‘Inactivated Polio vaccine’ National launch in November 2015.

Friends ,

It is always a great privilege to be associated with the Rotary Club of Thane Hills because of the high standards you have set in community service.

Honestly and Integrity,Faithfulness and Sincerity, Love and Devotion, Austerity and Simplicity, Purity and Propriety,Truthfulness and Trust Worthiness, Modestly and Nobility, together with the crowning Spirituality makes Smt Rajashree Birla an embodiment of sterling Character.

Shrimathi Rajashree Birla’s commitment to the welfare of the community is unmatched in India. Her over US $11 million contribution to the cause of polio eradication and several more donations for other noble projects through Rotary and elsewhere has time and again reinforced our willingness to work more for community welfare since this alone can bring lasting peace in our planet.

Someone asked me about why people give ?

People make the mistake of thinking that donors give to those whom they love. The real answer is they love to those whom they give. This shows why the mega Birla empire has embraced community welfare all over the country as their mission.The Birla family always look beyond themselves and they believe that real happiness is helping others .

When it comes to service and especially service through Rotary, your club has shown that you cannot be content with what your club has achieved right now and you are willing to find to what great heights you can go if you strive harder.

I have seen the integrity of the highest order in all the dealings while undertaking any service project. When I say Integrity I mean

1- The absolute integrity which not only translates into the correct and careful use of contributions received ….. But the integrity of serious decisions and just , deserving and necessary allocations .

2- Integrity of a responsible, capable and conscience office bearers in the club .

3- The Integrity of the Trustees of the Triumph Foundation who are always ready to serve , and highly committed to do the best job possible.

4- The integrity that demands that every penny received by The Trust be zealously invested for the good of mankind.

5- The integrity that is commitment and constant dedication to the cause .

Every project undertaken by your club makes a mark on me . Whether it’s Madhu Sarovar , Vocational training centre for special children at Holy Cross High School , Sports competition for the handicapped children, Virtual Eye Project, or for that matter Triumph Blood Bank and Thalassemia Day Care Centre all are based on the real Need of the community.

And friends , that’s the main reason I make a special request to Rajashree Ji for her support.And believe you me since she has faith and confidence in me she always willingly accepts my request with her strong belief that her financial support will be used for the Nobel cause

Rajashree Ji strongly believes in the wise and holy words of Mother Teresa who said-

The fruits of silence is prayer,
The fruits of prayer is faith,
The fruits of faith is love ,
The fruits of love is service,
The fruits of service is Unity ,

The fruits of Unity is Peace – the ultimate goal of Rotary.

Culturally and spiritually this is the richest land on the planet. To live and operate in this world you have to identify yourself with something superior and that is service to humanity.

What is the best way to approach Rotary? It is through a spirit of service and celebration of humanity in everyone around you.

Rotary is not merely symbolic. It is true on an energy level which pushes you towards service and higher thinking.

As human beings, arise from the earth and become active in our various stages of growth. After a while, we fall back into inertia once again. But we have the capability of breaking this cycle. That is why when you join Rotary you automatically get an aspiration to transcend, to go beyond your own capabilities.

Life is a mystery and will always remain one. This fundamental insight is what makes many people take to the path of service in various forms.

A thought does not take you anywhere, but it can set the course of your life. The thought that Rotary is the embodiment of Service Above Self, is what has guided the movement over the past 112 years through millions of members who have passed through it .

So what makes service through Rotary exciting? Rotary makes your service activity exuberant. With a bouquet of activities, a Rotary club removes the drudgery normally associated with service and makes it worthwhile for every Rotarian and their family to contribute their skills in whatever way they desire.

So we find that Rotarians crossed their limitations when they challenged themselves to eradicate polio from the world and today we are very close to that.

The desire to Serve comes when your inner wellbeing is taken care of. Like there is a technology to create external wellbeing, there is a whole dimension of science and technology to create your inner wellbeing.

Rotary brings you that science and technology easily and in a fashion that can be assimilated by an ordinary person. This is why we say that Rotary makes an ordinary person do extraordinary things.

MY DEFINITION OF ROTARY ….

THE MISSION OF THE SERVICE ARM THE ROTARY FOUNDATION……

Rotary’s service opportunities have shown the world that the future is something that does not exist in our experience, but it exists as a possibility.

That is why every service project is designed to make the world a slightly better place to live and we have seen how communities are being benefitted. Rotarians are propelled by compassion and do what is needed.

When we say Service Above Self in Rotary, it does not mean that a Rotarian is required to be constantly glued to this project or that.

Rotary is not against pleasure. It is just that Rotarians find something more intense and enduring within themselves when they go around the world as volunteers in a Rotary service programme.

It is said by yogis that no matter what kind of intellect you have, it is never enough to grasp the nature of existence. The Rotary Foundation and the programmes it aims to implement through Rotarians, just aim to give you a glimpse of what your life can transform into when you work for those who need your help.

With some love for every life around us and some sense, we can save the environment and transform the world. We can and we must.

Millions of Congratulations to Rotary Club of Thane Hills that they organised this special function to felicitate Smt Rajashree Ji Birla —

Who is Everest of talent,
Taj Mahal of culture,
And Sangam of dignity and charm .

AN URDU CUPLET ….

Thank you.

PROGRAM FOR EVERY SECTION OF THE SOCIETY

1- When children suffer from disease and cry for hunger , medicines arrive , vaccines arrive , food arrives , The Rotarynewsmagazine Foundation arrives and Peace arrives .

2- When children need to learn to read , books arrive , schools arrive , teachers arrive , The Rotary Foundation arrives , and Peace arrives .

3- When abandoned elderly suffer from cold and loneliness, clothing arrives , blankets arrive , consolation arrives , The Rotary Foundation arrives , and Peace arrives .

4- When hospitals stand empty , equipment arrives , volunteers doctors arrive , The Rotary Foundation arrives , Peace arrives .

5- For the young there are Educational Scholorships.

6- For the disabled , Wheel chairs arrive .

7- For the sick medicine arrives .

8- For the needy Hope arrives , help arrives , happiness arrives , The Rotary Foundation arrives and Peace arrives .

ACTING WITH INTEGRITY

1- The absolute integrity which not only translates into the correct and careful use of contributions received ….. But the integrity of serious decisions and just , deserving and necessary allocations .

2- Integrity of a responsible, capable and conscience staff .

3- The Integrity of 15 Trustees who are always ready to serve , and highly committed to do the best job possible.

4- The integrity that demands that every penny received by TRF be zealously invested for the good of mankind.

5- The integrity that is commitment and constant dedication to the cause .

6- The integrity of principles and proposals.

LOVE

Love is other magic word that imbues all actions and initiatives of our Foundation.

1- Love is the fuel that keeps the machine called T R F in operation.

2- Every contribution is an act of love , be it small and given with much sacrifice or large given with unselfishness and generosity.

3- All programs and projects are analyzed and studied very rigorously and rationally ….but the decisions are made with Love and Compassion.

WHEN WE TALK OF LOVE ….let’s remember the wise and holy words of Mother Teresa Kolkata , who said …

The fruits of silence is prayer
The fruits of prayer is faith
The fruits of faith is love
The fruits of love is service
The fruits of service is unity
The fruit of unity is PEACE

PEACE

1- The peace that is development and better quality of life .

2- The peace that is attained with more Justice more tolerance and more equality.

3- The peace of world without borders , where effective help and fraternal understanding bridge the gap between the rich and the poor , and between third and first world countries.

4- The peace of one world , where essential values guarantee a life of dignity , with health and prosperity for all.

ACTING WITH INTEGRITY, SERVING WITH LOVE AND WORKING FOR PEACE OUR FOUNDATION NEEDS MORE FUNDS

I HOPE THAT MY APPEAL WILL STIR THE HEART OF EACH ONE OF YOU AND THAT YOU WILL HAVE THE INSPIRATION AND THE MOTIVATION TO TRANSMIT OUR SINCERE AND NECESSARY APPEAL TO FELLOW ROTARIANS IN OUR DISTRICT WHICH IS KNOWN FOR ITS GENEROSITY.

Dear Rotary Leaders

The Rotary Foundation is not just about collecting funds and doing good work for the outside world to see. It is about making your inner light shine. When you joined Rotary, you must have known the meaning of life. When you donated to The Rotary Foundation and worked with your hands in service projects all over the world, you must have known the magic of life. Today we are happy to see that Rotarians in India have donated US $18.36 million to The Rotary Foundation during 2016-2017 and put India in the number two slot in the world ranking, only next to USA.

This is a great achievement and I must congratulate every Rotary leader in every district who has worked to make this happen. Every District Governor, RRFC, ARRFCs ,DRFC, Club President and TRF Chair in each club deserve a huge recognition for making this happen. It is a matter of satisfaction to note that this record has been set during the 100th year of The Rotary Foundation, under the leadership of TRF Chair Rtn. Kalyan Banerjee from India. I must appreciate the immense support given to TRF by Smt. Rajashree Birla with her contribution of US $1 million during 2016-2017 also.

With a contribution of US $2.65 million RI District 3141 has shattered its own record and the District Governor of 2016-2017 Gopal Mandhania and his team has shown that any amount of target set can not only be achieved but also exceeded. RI Districts 3011, 3190, 3131, 3000 and 3230 have contributed more than US $1 million to The Rotary Foundation during this period. I congratulate the leaders who have motivated the Rotarians in these districts to understand what TRF does and support it wholeheartedly.

Japan was following India very closely and though it fell short of the total amount, the per capita contribution from Japan is US $151.31 ahead of USA which is US $145.72. The per capita from India is only US $70.32. The contribution to Annual Fund from India is only US $9.55 million. India has 11% of all Rotarians in the world which is about 1,35,824 and 10% of all the clubs in the world which is 3,607. With such a good base we can do much more.

During 2017-2018, we must aim to increase the per capita contribution to at least US $100 and involve at least 50% of the Rotarians from India in TRF activities. This will narrow the gap between India and USA and it may be possible for India to clinch the number one rank in a few years.

The installation of a District Governor as the first leader of the District evokes a sense of awe,celebration and commitment.

What is important to understand here is that our idea is just not about being ahead of some country in contribution. If we think on those terms it will limit our full potential. I am comparing to USA and asking Rotarians to challenge themselves only with a view of making them experience the wholeness and oneness of The Rotary Foundation. To be in a service organisation such as Rotary, the energy of every Rotarian must be kept in full flow and proper balance and this alone makes us achieve more than what we think we are capable of.

The aim of The Rotary Foundation is to produce compassionate human beings – people with a larger vision of humanity – people who can be considered as leaders. Let us work for another year of excellence.

As the relentless ticking of the clock draws closer to the end of one Rotary year and the beginning of the new one, the sounds of ticking convey the message of continuity in action, service and commitment.

One leader may step down and another leader may take the baton of Service for the next year, the object of Rotary remains unchanged.

Service continues, the methodology of service continues, the commitment continues, the journey continues, the destination remains unchanged.

Only the driver has changed. The wind screen wiper cleans the visor and the fuel tank gets filled.

I wish very sincerely that the new driver in Abdullah charts newer pathways, progress through the narrow lanes of service and comes out amidst a vast open space of fresh ideas, fresh inputs, freshvisions.

The installation of a District Governor as the first leader of the District evokes a sense of awe,celebration and commitment.

This “leads the way” to percolation of the same sense at the Dist team and finally this permeates to the individual Rotarians who are the only people to ensure success for the year.

The entire outcome depends on individual Rotarians who are going to proffer their hands to serve, their heart to generate compassion and their heads to conceive new ideas.

The Rotarians are already charged with ideas, dreams and commitments as they traverse through the district Trainng assembly and other learning sessions.

​

The District Governor whose address charged with effervescence makes translation of thoughts in to action possible and sincerity can ensure success of the Rotary year.

The time to think is over.

The time to plan is also over.

The time to perform now holds the center of the road, on which the vehicle called Rotary is going to be driven.

The road is not necessarily smooth. It is often narrow and at times almost a one-way street from where you cannot reverse.

The glove compartment of the vehicle has a map-the road map of Rotary’s scheduled journey.

The District Governor must ensure a smooth passage if he or she were to guide the vehicle with precision and attention.

​

The chair of the District Governor entails lots of responsibilities, many heartache, some failuresbut more gains as the District Governor receives the love and commitment of all the Rotarians of the District.

He gains friends, as he never had it before. This is the greatest asset he or she can acquire and cherish.

A District Governor has dreamt of some things, planned for a few more, succeeded in creating a blue print of tasks ahead and is full of enthusiasm and commitments

It is for the District Governor to convert dreams in to reality, thoughts into action and hazy ideas into clear images.

With District Governor Abdullah at the helm, you have an excellent leader, a visionary and a person who knows not the meaning of the word “failure”.
In your Governor , you have a person who enjoys the faith of so many and the commitments of so many more. The true test of your faith is when you rally around him and let him spread the message “ Rotary Making a Difference ” for many to follow.
I am sure of the success because you all are behind the leader.The real success of a District or The Governor arises from the involvement of his District Team . The Sr. Rotary Leaders like The Past District Governors and Past General Officers of Rotary International.
The only hands that will work, serve, help, solace, teach, invigorate and act are the hands of hundreds and thousands of Rotarians in the District.
​A District Governor is only a motivating force, a planning commissioner or a blueprint artist. It is, therefore, my friends, the promises that the President of the Clubs give, commitments they ensure and actions that will translate into projects that will bring glory to Rotary District 3212 in the year 2017-18 .
District Governor Abdullah is lucky to have a dedicated team of workers, thinkers who will be there to help him fulfill all his dreams and make him spread the message of our World Leader Ian Riseley “ Rotary making a difference “.
RI President for 2017-18, Ian Riseley, has given us a wonderful theme, Rotary: Making a Difference. The difference in life of people was made possible by the US $4.1 billion Rotarians raised through The Rotary Foundation to reach out to communities in over 200 countries and geographical locations.

With a goal to raise US $315 million during 2017-2018, The Rotary Foundation will be able to make a greater impact, a greater difference in the lives of millions of people in the coming years.

Rotary has been the organisation with its prime objective to make a difference in the lives of people all over the world. This noble thought of the founding fathers has enabled Rotary to survive for 112 years, when many institutions have folded up or have been downsized.

Rotary made the difference in the lives of people who had given up hope by unraveling the key to their destiny with exemplary service projects.

World over, we have seen humanity suffering due to social inequalities born out of birth, colour of skin, poverty, lack of education, economic conditions, unemployment, diseases like polio and many more reasons.

The people were done with crying, they were done with trying. They were tired of waiting for rainbow to shine through them.

Rotary stepped in over a century ago and rebooted the brains of these people who thought that all hope is lost and made them focus better on what can be done with a little help from good Samaritans.

Rotarians provided that ‘invisible influence’ and demonstrated how the personal belief of the people who thought that everything was lost, can be brought back on a track of progress when they surround themselves with those who believe in Service Above Self.

This influence is what transforms a new member in a Rotary Club into a Rotarian. This is the difference Rotary can make in the lives of people.

So, how do Rotarians make a difference to start with?

Instead of focusing on their identity as a businessman, doctor, engineer, teacher, accountant, professional or in any other vocation they follow, they are willing for constructive collaboration by joining forces and forming a team of human beings who think that Service to Mankind is the superior form of living.

They understand how social influences work and how to harness its power. This was evident when, in our fight against polio, we harnessed the influence of the Muslim Ulemas in India and made a huge difference in our campaign to eradicate polio.

For Rotarians who constantly work to make a difference in society, the to-do list is longer than the hours in a day. They know that there are no shortcuts to any place worth going and that making a difference will take time, effort and plenty of resources.

Rotary’s training programmes are designed to teach the Rotarians the most effective response in a difficult, uncontrollable life situation.

They work with people who need help, assist them to choose an attitude that makes them move forward and in doing so, help them to change things from inside out and ultimately allow them to grow beyond the struggles that they thought they can’t control. This is Rotary making a difference.

DG Abdullah , you have been elected to lead this wonderful District during this momentous year because of your sterling qualities and friendly nature. My message to you today is that you must finish strong at the end of your term in June 2018.
The difference in your success or failure is not chance but choice. Finishing strong is more than a statement. It is an attitude. It’s an attitude of believing you can do something and having the courage and determination to see it through. If you need a shot of inspiration, you are just seated next to many Rotary Stalwarts in your District who are your perennial source of energy to carry the good work of Rotary forward.
To be a good leader one must Motivate his team.

The dictionary describes Motivation as “the process,which gives incentive to arouse , sustain & regulatethe human bhaviour”
How true it is in the present context for it applies to your role as the District Governor in the year 2017-18 .
Remember- The Mediocre Leaders Tell

The Good Leaders Explain
The Superior Leaders Demonstrate
But Only The Great Leaders Inspire & Motivate.
My dear DG Abdullah and Friends, Always remember the two words Humble and Hungry as the key to your career of continuous improvement and growth Whether you are trying to make a name for yourself or you have achieved the pinnacle of success.

Don’t ever feel that you know every thing. Every day you get an opportunity to learn some thing. The success or failure should not get in to your head.

Be kind to every one and let people know that they matter. Live with Humility because the moment you think that you have arrived at the door of greatness it will get shut on your face.

Never give up and never be afraid of failure. No matter how successful you get, no matter how much you achieve, you always have to be Hungry for more.

You always have to be Hungry for learning new things. You always have to be Hungry to have more achievements. You should be Hungry to make your mark and you should be Hungry to be seen and to be heard to have an effect out there.

RAISE THE BAR…..
But as you move on and become successful make sure to also stay Hungry for helping others and looking beyond yourself.

EIGHT – WORD PHILOSOPHY
Perhaps, my simple eight word philosophy can be your daily motto throughout this year. Aim high; Work hard; Serve well; Love much.

AIM HIGH
If you can dream it, you can become it. If you can envision it, you can attain it. If you can picture it, you can achieve it. James Allen wrote: You will become as small as your controlling desire.. as great as your dominant aspiration.

WORK HARD
Learn to love your work and you will find a key to successful, abundant living. He who has transformed his work into fulfillment has indeed discovered life’s greatest treasure. Happy is the person who can truly proclaim, “Thank God for Mondays, too! ”. Work hard, with enthusiasm and your work will become easy.

SERVE WELL
When all else has bee forgotten, service to others endures. Albert Fine’s words should challenge each of us. “What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us. What we have done for others and the world remains and are immortal” Serve well, and you will live triumphantly.

LOVE MUCH
Love is the greatest transformer, turning selfishness into service, greed to gratitude and getting into giving. Where there is love, there is concern, where there is concern, there is kindness. Where there is kindness, there is harmony. Where there is harmony, there is helpfulness. Where there is helpfulness, there is the spirit of God. Where there is spirit of God, there is love – William Arthur Ward.

In the end, let me once again, thank you all for the honour bestowed and thank Rotary District 3212 for inviting me for this event. There is no doubt that Rotary District 3212 under the pulsating leadership of DG Abdullah and his team will reach where others have never reached.

He has strong dreams vivid dreams, rosy dreams, possible dreams and significant dreams. As he sets forth to make a difference in the community, I join him and request you all to join him in this journey of attainment. May God be with him.

Nayantara joins me in wishing DG Abdullah and Fathima all the very best all the time to come.

Dear Rotarians

Importance of Membership.

Why Membership?

History of Women in Rotary.

It is said that when people are informed they will do the right things. It is when they are not informed that they become hostages to prejudice. This was the reason why men did not allow women to join Rotary from its beginning till 1987. I think in those days the perception of a woman was more orthodox and men did not see their potential as leaders and executors of superior ideas. Probably in a small way the women contributed to this idea of men since they willingly took up work in the home and stretched it for hours. The story goes that in USA, when instant coffee was first introduced, it was a failure. The company was perplexed and they did a survey to find out why their new product did not go down well with people. To their surprise, the survey showed that women were making coffee in most of the homes in the morning and they spent nearly one hour and more to prepare the beans and decoction before finally serving it as coffee. With the advent of the instant coffee, their work was reduced to few minutes and they did not know what to do for the rest of the hour or more. So they felt guilty of wasting time doing nothing. When the knowledge revolution broke out at the same time, women found that they can do more, earn and compete with men in nearly all spheres of life. Needless to say, the instant coffee was back with a big bang and was a success. With newer gadgets coming into the market and making the life of the ‘housewife’ who was now called ‘homemaker’ more simple, women started to take up leadership positions and it was time for them to demonstrate their skills in various avenues and Rotary was there in front, standing as a male-dominated bastion which had to be breached. Interestingly it was India and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) that originally mooted the idea of bringing women into Rotary as early as 1950 and 1964 respectively. The Rotary Club of Mount Lavinia, Ceylon was the club that put up the proposal for admitting women, but it was defeated. It was only in 1972 that the idea of admitting women into Rotary came in USA. Not much happened till 1977 when proposals to amend the enactments to admit women were sent to the Council on Legislation to be considered at the 1977 RI Convention. Taking a revolutionary step, the Rotary Club of Duarte, California, USA, admitted women as members in 1977 and incurred the wrath of RI and got terminated in 1978. Again in 1980, Rotary Clubs from India, Sweden, Switzerland and USA moved proposals of remove from the constitution the reference to members as ‘male members’ without success. Not willing to take ‘No’ for an answer, the Rotary Club of Duarte filed a case with California Superior Court in 1983 but lost it when the court ruled in favour of Rotary International. However, in 1986 the California Court of Appeals reversed the decision of the lower court and again RI tried to appeal against this with the California Supreme Court. When this court refused to hear the case, the matter was taken to the US Supreme Court and on May 4, 1987, the US Supreme Court ruled that Rotary Clubs cannot exclude women from becoming members. In June 1987, Rotary International issued a policy statement saying that women can be admitted into Rotary Clubs. However, the Rotary Club of Marin Sunrise, California, USA, was the first club to admit women on May 28, 1987 after the decision of the Supreme Court and Sylvia Whitlock became the first lady President of the Rotary Club of Duarte, California, USA which was reinstated in 1986 after a prolonged battle with RI. It was in the 1989 Council on Legislation that RI amended the constitution to admit women and remove the gender bias. Today there are 2,65,968 women Rotarians worldwide and India has a share with 17570 members. This figure is of course far from the desired level of having over 5,00,000 women Rotarians. 3030 — 5486–695 3131–5493–1021 3132–4156–421 3141–5360–1053 3141–2996–425 But first let us find out what made women fight so passionately to join Rotary. What could have been the ideas those days and what is the idea today with women who have joined Rotary? I think, and I am quite positive about it, that women were not just wanting to breach some male dominated organisation for the sake of doing so. If they had wanted more activity in society, there must have been lots of social clubs that could have got their attention. But the superior mind of women would not settle for just some social get-togethers and chit-chat. They found that their talents and skills can be used in a place which has all of the camaraderie and yet has something more to offer to their souls – the idea of service. I am sure that when all of you decided to join Rotary, you knew that you had other options. But Rotary offers a special bondage among people because it is a service organisation primarily, with fun and enjoyment added in limited measure and providing that platform where you are welcome in over 200′ countries and geographical regions. No other social organisation gives you this privilege. THE ROTARY FOUNDATION Just look at the amazing bouquet of service opportunities The Rotary Foundation gives you. It not only encourages you to contribute your mite, but matches your contribution to do good in your community and in the world. That is why I am asking you to be the ambassadors of goodwill and invite more of your lady friends and relations into your clubs. The bondage that you already have with your club members will be enhanced once you have more friends with you to share your dream of a better world. Rotary clubs not only fulfills your social needs but also your soulful spiritual need since service to humanity is service to God. Today most of the Anns who were confined to their homes, are able to come to Rotary meetings and events with their spouses, meet new people, discover new cultures, discard their prejudices, breakout of their shells and do work in the field. This has made the students of sociology turn pale. I always think that the syllabus of any sociology course must have been adapted to the service opportunity that Rotary rolled out over the years and needless to say that we are constantly innovating and upgrading our service menu. I would say that the International Peace Scholarship Programme is one area where no other organisation has dared to invest its resources and the earlier Group Study Exchange Programme was unique in building bridges of friendship over many continents. Rotary came to India in 1920 and it was only in 1921 that Mr. S C Rudra, an Indian, was admitted as a member. Though women were admitted in clubs from 1989, it was in 1991-1992 that women started occupying leadership positions as Club Presidents and the first woman District Governor in India came during 1998-1999. Women liked to join Rotary because they knew that the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. Women in Rotary! Why bring it up? It’s always been this way, isn’t it? It’s true that the history of Women in Rotary is still being written. Though every competitive position, except that of RI President, has been held by women and we cannot ignore the fact that women’s influence on Rotary is like the scented flame of the alabaster lamp, filling the organisation with the light of their benign influence and warmth of their charming cordiality. Women ask, “Why be a member of so many social organisations, when just one membership in Rotary gives us all that is there and much more?” Yes, today woman are finding the place where nothing is impossible. Rotary has given that feeling within them that they can discover new oceans and all they have to do is to have the courage to lose sight of the shore. Today the achievers, the movers and shakers of great organisations and nations are women. They know that they have to motivate themselves otherwise they will have to be content with mediocrity no matter how impressive their talents might be. Rotary through its members gives the perfect setting to motivate yourself since everyone helps each other in the road to happiness and there are no winners or losers here.

I look forward to the day when I will no longer be asked to give this speech about “Women in Rotary.’ I look forward to the day when we will all be just Rotarians.

GRATITUDES….

CONGRATULATIONS….

WHY YOU ?

What a pleasure it is to be in your prestigious District & to address the leaders of tomorrow. I once again thank you for your hospitality & for this privilege.

A District Training Assembly is a university that imparts knowledge, information and guidelines to the club leaders who are students of Rotary College. And this is done with enthusiasm and dedication and encouragement thrown in as a bonus.

In Rotary, we deal with equals and therefore it is essential for club leaders to understand how to deal with equals and some more experienced members such as PDGs, past presidents,Sr.Rotarians.

What a marvellous, fascinating unforgettable mission! What a serious & difficult mission! To be a leader amongst equals-every year in Rotary leaders change but leadership continues. And as you change the baton of leadership, remember in a relay one does not stop to pass the baton- but runs alongside for some time at the same speed. Your year is not a marathon- it’s a 365-day sprint- so be fast off the blocks and keep up the tempo till you breast the tape. The District Training Assembly also serves to highlight the thrust areas of Rotary and Districts. It highlights the theme of The Year “Rotary Making a Difference ” and also urges us define the ways of service and the roads leading us to reach our goal. Who ever thought more than a a century ago, that Rotary will become what it has become today? No crystal grazer even dreamt that Rotary will become a force of salvation. Today, we are in our second century of existence and we are wiser today than we were a century ago. Rotary has realized the potency of individual Rotarians and have been impressed by the fact that the future of Rotary – in fact, the future of any organization – lies in men and women it contains. The strength of Rotary depends on Rotarians who volunteer to help, who go out to serve and who promote, propagate and promise help with a compassion that dwells in every heart and which is waiting to be tapped. The future of Rotary depends entirely on the service it provides. Since the needs of the communities change, so should the outlook of the Rotarians. Individual Rotarians gets inspired by world leaders, get educated by teachers and get motivated by Club leadership. If the needs change, action will change. If Rotary has to survive, the individual Rotarian should act – in fact the reverse may be the truth – if an individual Rotarian acts, Rotary will survive. There fore every individual Rotarian has to MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMUNITY.. In this Training DGE Dr RAJAN ,, who has attended the International Assembly full of ideas, innovation and implementation tools and invigorating motivation will, in turn, transform this Training Assembly into an arena of action full of compassion, commitment and communication. Believe me I would not leave a single stone unturned to make my year a success so as to ensure that there shall be no regrets later for things I could have done but didn’t. You are all leaders in your respective professions & businesses & Rotary is no different – in – all respects- but one. In Rotary you are a leader amongst equals. A demanding task requiring all your skills to motivate & inspire those working with you. It is therefore with a great sense of responsibility that you should look forward to challenges of the year ahead knowing fully well that leadership in Rotary entails not Power, nor Authority, but only Accountability. It is here that you will discover that you have much in common with your fellow President Elect or other office bearers of different clubs.. You will find that your differences are few and your shared interests and goals are many. It is here that you feel the spark that ignites your spirit of service , for it is here that you will begin to understand the enormous scope of Rotary . It is here that you will grasp the vision of service Rotary can provide for the creation of better world. It is here that you will discover new gifts and talents that will enable you to carry out one of the most important position in Rotary . You are the men and women who will carry the message through out your District that ROTARY IS MAKING DIFFERENCE – that Rotary brings love to the abandoned , hope to the Sufferung and peace to the world filled with hatred and injustice. Management expert Anthony jay wrote THE ONLY REAL TRAINING FOR LEADERSHIP IS LEADERSHIP. Therefore you have already had many months or years of training for you are all leaders in your Profession or vocation . The question today is not CAN YOU LEAD ? The question is HOW WILL YOU LEAD ?? And the more important question is WILL YOU BE A SUCCESSFUL LEADER OF ROTARIANS ?? What can I teach you about leadership? I would like to express one idea that I think is the key to successful leadership in Rotary — IF YOU ARE ALL TO SUCCEED AS LEADERS IN ROTARY , THEN YOU MUST LEAVE THIS DISTRICT TRAINING ASSEMBLY WITH AN UNDERSTANDING OF ONE IMPORTANT ASPECT OF LEADERSHIP– YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THAT “” TO LEAD YOU MUST SERVE “. As Mahatma Gandhi once said I MUST FOLLOW TE PEOPLE —-BECAUSE I AM THEIR LEADER. You will leave this Training Assembly understanding fully that leadership is not about power . Leadership is not a speech or slogan . Leadership is not a position of authority to hold over people . Leadership is relationship between people . Leadership is about nourishing and cultivating relationship with the people who will follow you , work with you and succeed with you in the coming year . United by the same ideal and inspired by the same principles, we are all pursuing identical objectives as we come together in the truly spectacular setting to engage in the serious study and analysis of the art & the science of Rotary. Yes, my friends and fellow Club Leaders in 2017-18 , I sincerely believe that Leadership in Rotary is an Art as well as a Science. It is – The Art of making friends The Art of awakening enthusiasm The Art of inspiring hearts And It is- the Science of transforming dreams into reality The Science of maintaining unity in diversity The Science of adding and multiplying efforts to achieve Great goals. Today, as we prepare to go into the next Rotary year, we look at all the miracles accomplished by Rotary and the Rotary Foundation- all working together, combining efforts & resources to make a difference. There is so much to be done in this world, it’s almost unbelievable, but there is one organization & one individual who can help improve our world. That organization is Rotary International & that Individual is you. You, the Incoming President, You the member of the Board of Directors of your Club, You ,the Chairman of the Service Committees or You, the member any Committee, in your Clubs. However, more than it is tempting to question what one person can do in a world of over Seven billion people. US Anthropologist Margaret Med once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world- indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.” It is said, “Small minds discuss Personalities, Average minds discuss Events & only Great minds discuss ideas.” Rotary gives us this forum not only to discuss ideas but also to make them in to realities. Tagore wrote, “I slept & dreamt that life was happiness, I woke & saw that life was service. I served & learnt that in service happiness is found.” & it is that happiness which Rotary gives us. Chinese Proverb: If you want Happiness- For 5 minutes – take a nap For 1 hour – go fishing For 1 week – take a vacation For 1 month – get married For a year – inherit a fortune Forever – help others Yes, being a President, or Director, or Chairman of any Service Committee gives you this unique opportunity to help others. My dear Friends, the Rotary we all love so much is in your capable hands so that you can make it even better. No one can tell us what Rotary will be tomorrow, but one thing is certain, what Rotary will be tomorrow depends upon what we Rotarians do today. Yes, Leadership in Rotary can be described in one word OPPORTUNITY. For it gives ordinary people like us the opportunity to do extraordinary things. Remember – “The highest award for a man’s toil is not what he gets for it, but what he himself becomes by it.” Margaret Thatcher was a Rotarian as was her father. He used to tell her, “Don’t be afraid to be different – don’t blindly follow the path – instead make a new path for others to follow.” Paul Harris, the founder of Rotary was of the firm belief that Rotary should never remain static and said, “We live in a changing world & Rotary must be prepared to change with it.” Destiny is not a matter of chance; it is a matter of choice. The future is not out there waiting to be met. The future is here, wanting to be created – created by Rotarians such as you. Today The leaders of tomorrow – asks yourselves- what kind of a Leader will you be? Have you thought about this? Will you lead by command or by example? Will you lead by force or by persuasion? Will you lead by inclusion, can you lead by love? Or will you lead by inspiration & Motivation. . PUT YOUR HEART IN WHAT YOU DO… Mother Teresa was described by the Secretary General of UN as “the most powerful woman on the earth” and she was asked what made her so. Filled with embarrassment ,in simple words came her most profound statement “Small work with great Love” It is this love that is generated through Heart. That’s why we say “put your Heart in what you do” . BE KNOWLEDGEABLE- Knowledge is power but we must be knowledgeable not only about Rotary but more important to know more about Rotarians. There lies the key to success. Story is told of a water bearer who had two large pots each hung on the ends of the pole which he carried on his shoulders.One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect. At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house the cracked pot arrived only half full while other arrived always full. A year went by and the poor cracked pot, ashamed of his imperfection ,spoke to the water bearer “I apologize . Because of my flaws you have to do double the work.” The bearer said to the cracked pot”Don’t feel sorry .I planted flower seeds on one side of the path .Knowing your flaw I always carried you on that side.Every day while we walked back ,you watered the planted seeds . Because of you we now have a stream of flowers.” You my friends, are the water bearer. Each of us have our own imperfection . But it is the cracks and flaws that make our life interesting and rewarding . You will have to take each person for what they are and look for the GOOD in them. Good leadership consists in minimizing the show of one’s qualities and maximizing those of others. ROTARY INFORMATION– The story of a FATHER OF A CHURCH CREATE OPPORTUNITIES- Our leaders must learn the art of creating opportunities and you have to set your goals and learn your dreams. In Rotary, we turn problems into opportunities to over come them This reminds me of a RYLA Camp I attended at Moral Re-Armament campus at Panchgani . At the entrance of the camp is a board saying “There are no problems here – only opportunities” Whilst I was standing near the registration desk where many participants of RYLA were clustering the desk, a boy came running and said to the organizer- “Sir, I have a problem” The organizer smilingly pointed to the placard saying “There are no problems – only opportunities.” The boy hesitated and replied “Call it what you may, Sir – but you have allotted me a room which is occupied by a girl”. I don’t know whether the boy turned the problem into opportunity or not …. The successful leaders see the opportunities in every difficulty rather than the difficulty in every opportunity COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY THE STORY OF SNAKE AND MANGOOSE To be a GOOD LEADER you must recognize and appreciate the efforts of others. A good leader takes a little more than his share of blame and little less than his share of credit. Never hesitate to appreciate and recognize the efforts of all the club members who will work with you so closely to make a wonderful year. THE STORY OF PELE Honour them, respect them and communicate their achievements through the Club Bulletin Eliminate divisiveness: Let Rotary ensure that divisiveness is not in feeling our organization. There are groups and sub-groups in the Rotary Club that tend to perpetuate divisiveness. This should be prevented at all costs. Divisiveness is the AIDS of Rotary – a disease spreading swiftly and wide, preying upon the intelligent minds and without a cure in sight. Prevention is best method and let Rotary leaders give the attention that this problem deserves. Let Rotary leaders produce catharsis of emotional cleansing- let not the moral bedrock of Rotary be turned to lava. BE FLEXIBLE…… EGO TO BE KEPT AWAY. TO BE A GOOD LEADER ONE MUST BE COMPASSIONATE A leader must talk the walk.even the leader may not know every thing, but a good leader must be open to learning. MOTIVATION — The Dictionary describes Motivation as “the process, which gives incentive to arouse, sustain & regulate the human behaviour.” How true it is in the present context for it applies to your role as a President or the office bearer or the Director to arouse, sustain & regulate the behaviour of the members in your club. Remember- The mediocre Leaders Tell The Good Leaders Explain The Superior Leaders Demonstrate But only the Great Leaders Inspire & Motivate. If you tell a Rotarian to work and tell how to do it you are building a monument with one hand. If you tell them to work and go home do nothing more, you are building a monument with one hand and demolishing it with other. If you tell them to work and you work with them, only then you are building a monument with both hands. Therefore motivate yourself first and then motivate others. HAVE A POWER OF DREAM COUPLED WITH RIGHT ATTITUDE— Have you ever known a person who did not have a clue concerning what he/she wanted in life , yet was highly successful ? I haven’t and I bet you haven’t either . We need something worthwhile to aim for . A dream provides with that . It acts as a compass , telling us the direction we should travel. And until we have identified that right direction, we will never know for sure that our movement is actually progress. If you move in any direction other than towards your dream , you will miss out on the opportunities necessary to be successful. With a dream we begin to see ourselves in a new light , as having greater potential and being capable of stretching and growing to reach it . Every opportunity we meet , every resource we discover, every talent we develop, becomes part of our potential to grow towards that dream . The greater the dream , the greater the potential. If your vision — your dream — is great , then so is your potential. A dream gives us hope for the future, and it also brings us power in the present. It makes it possible for us to prioritize every thing we do . A person with dream knows what he is willing to give up in order to go up. But the power of a dream needs to be coupled with the right attitude. If you have one without the other you can’t go very far on the success journey. To go far and in the right direction you need both . A dream without a positive attitude, produces a day dreamers . A positive attitude without a dream , produces pleasant person who can’t progress. A dream together with positive attitude, produces a person with unlimited possibilities and potential.

YOUR ATTITUDE….NOT INTELLIGENT , TALENT , EDUCATION , SKILL OR OPPORTUNITY …. WILL DETERMINE WHETHER YOU WILL LIVE YOUR DREAM ! ALWAYS REMEMBER YOUR ATTITUDE WILL DETERMINE THE ALTITUDE YOU WILL SCALE IN 2017-18.

Let me end by proclaiming that leadership in Rotary faces many challenges. It has to act like a lion and lead with sheer power and also act like a lamb – soft, humble and yielding. We are alive to the needs and we are capable of giving that kind of leadership that Rotary deserves and desires.

Always remember the two words Humble and Hungry as the key to your career of continuous improvement and growth.whether you are trying to make a name for yourself or you have achieved the pinnacle of success.

Don’t ever feel that you know every thing. Every day you get an opportunity to learn something. The success or failure should not get in to your head.

Be kind to every one and let people know that they matter.

Live with Humility because the moment you think that you have arrived at the door of greatness it will get shut on your face.

No matter how successful you get, no matter how much you achieve, you always have to be Hungry for more.

You always have to be hungry for learning new things.

You always have to be hungry to have more achievements.

You should be hungry to make your mark and you should be hungry to be seen and to be heard to have an effect out there.

But as you move on and become successful make sure to Also stay hungry for helping others and looking beyond your self.

Let the leaders of tomorrow, gathered here this day be alive to the need for effective leadership and the means of achieving this leadership. We have the intelligence, we have the determination. Let us have the know how.

Friends! The torch of service is lit by the fire of our Rotarians in their efforts to serve. Let this fire be strong enough to do what we are expected to do. This Dist. Training Assembly will show you the way. This Dist. Training Assembly will enlighten you on the area which need Rotary’s help. This Training Assembly will make new friends and build bridges of understanding and communications.

I wish you all a great 2017-18 How great it is will depend on you and your dedication. May the Almighty give you strengths to achieve all what you desire and deserve in the year ahead.

WHAT ARE KEY TRAITS OF A LEADER?

Integrity , the consistency to walk the Talk , the ability to gain knowledge, humble and caring.

HOW DO YOU IDENTIFY AND GROOM FUTURE LEADER?

The demographic of Rotary makes it so easy. It’s stunning to see the talents that we have in our Organisation. The talent is not hard to find , they just need little grooming , making sure that their talk and walk is the same , making sure what they say and do.

My ONE LINE LEADERSHIP MANTRA ?
Knowledge, Action, Integrity, Humble and Hungry.

The Future of Rotary

On this memorable day we are here together ,face to face , with the determination to continue the fantastic journey of Rotary today and beyond.

Rotarians are all very special people to me . They play a unique role in the history of mankind and in shaping Rotary ‘s future.

Rotarians are the leaders who make the difference. Our founder Paul Harris ,in his wisdom said , “If Rotary is to realize its proper destiny, it must be evolutionary at all times , revolutionary on occasion”.

We all joined Rotary to serve the cause of Humanity with exemplary dedication and result oriented effectiveness.

When you serve more than you sermonize , when you listen more than you speak , when you practice more than you preach , when you fearlessly follow what is right discarding what is wrong , when you take the side of the organization against any personal agenda , when you like people instead of letting them down , and when you see the larger picture instead of tunnel view , you will truly be a leader recognized by others , but more importantly, recognized by your inner self.

In the modern world Rotary brought the possibility that a human being need not be contained in the defined limitation of our breed . It taught the average human being that there is a way to use their mind in the highest possible way.

Rotary also tried to teach the normal person in the society that whatever dimension of existence they are in right now, they can go beyond that.

All these were contained in the ancient philosophy that came down from generation to generation thousands of years ago in Indian literature – the Vedas. If Vedas were shaping the human beings for the future, so was Rotary in this century, shaping the citizens of the world to build a better future.

However, the Vedas said, “You can evolve beyond your present limitations if you do the necessary work upon yourself.”

Since Rotary is made up of people, Rotary’s future is linked intimately to how the members work upon themselves to make the organisation bigger and stronger.The future of Rotary is in the hands of the members and they are in various stages of giving it a shape that will sustain it for another century.

Rotary is a movement of seekers, not leaders who equate themselves with some socio-political organisation.

Once this is clearly understood, the future of Rotary will be guided by the right type of people who will emerge from time to time to give it more thrust.

It does not matter what the founder of the movement said or what the subsequent leaders said. It does not matter who said what. If the future of Rotary is linked first to membership growth then, we should induct people who are seekers.

What do we seek and what do we want the people to seek?

A seeker means one who has realised that he/she does not know. Rotary’s object is service to humanity and in that journey we have to keep on seeking and understanding what the community wants and this will keep Rotary relevant for years to come.The significance of Rotary and The Rotary Foundation is that they have provided methods to evolve human consciousness for doing serviceto humanity that are applicable at all times.

If membership growth is one of basis for Rotary’s future, then the contributions to The Rotary Foundation is the other pillar for the future of Rotary.

I see that the NGOs in India get more than US $3 billion every year and majority of the contributions comes from the USA.

Leaving aside the missionary contributions, there is still a large chunk of donors who give for various projects in India through the 3,000 NGOs which work here.

The Rotary Foundation teaches us that it is the business of every human being, according to one’s intelligence, understanding and situation, to do the best one can for people around.

We believe that Total Giving is Total Living and that only when you learn to give totallyl you will know life in its totality.

This means that TRF urges the members to seek and understand how people are challenged world over and to take the necessary steps to alleviate the suffering.

The network of volunteers is the biggest asset we have and once this is fine tuned every year, the future of TRF will be very bright and we can expect more contributions from India.

So what is the stumbling block that Rotary is facing now?

It is just that, normally most people are not given to that kind passion to pay attention to something continuously. They pay attention intermittently, so it never picks up that kind of momentum.

But if you pay sufficient attention to just one idea, thought or emotion, it can become a phenomenal process for the members and for the organisation.

If we have to reach a target of nearly 200,000 Rotarians in India in the next two years, we have to take up that work very dedicatedly now , and do all we can to implement a sustained campaign for membership.

So, what will determine the future of Rotary in the world?

Is Rotary relevant in developed countries where people are not in need of any service pertaining to education, health, food and shelter? Or is Rotary relevant only in underdeveloped countries and developing countries where basic human necessities are lacking.

I would emphatically say that Rotary is needed everywhere, irrespective of the fact whether the country is developed or not.

You see, the quantum of development is not necessarily measured in wealth and we see that in the so called advanced countries, there is a total failure of family system and values which are seen in many Asian and African countries. So, Rotary has a bouquet of services which are tailor made to suit the citizens of every nation.

If there are big donors in advanced countries, it is because of organisations such as Rotary which have tapped into their philanthropic sensibilities and made them look beyond themselves.

The purpose of Rotary or the significance of Rotary is not just to rattle off information and do service projects all around the world, but to inspire and allow each human being to blossom into a person with a great character and develop humaneness.

If this is the primary objective of Rotary then, there is always a future for Rotary everywhere since people will be born every day and as they grow Rotary will be able to shape their growth as responsible world citizens , who do not just look into the confines of their little country but treat the whole world as one.

Great sages have told us that if we understand who we are in the cosmic scale, then we will live gently and all we do will bring harmony and peace. This great philosophy is taught in simple terms by Rotary today and hence Rotary will be always needed.

To just have a small window to see, polio eradication could not have happened if Rotary had not brought the governments of the world to create awareness and take action.

There are so many projects involving education, health, food supply, relief and rehabilitation, water supply and world peace where Rotarians have taken the bold step of involving themselves and produced admirable results.

These were not experts in the field but people with dedication to a cause and Rotary provided the network to work with. Rotary provided the funds in most of these cases and if today we can proudly look back and say that millions of children are going to school because of Rotary,millions of children are saved from polio and other diseases because of Rotary, youth have found a meaning in their lives and want to give up dreaded habits like drugs and alcohol because of Rotary, peace scholars have succeeded in bringing in stability and calm in war torn areas because of Rotary .

And governments around the world are looking at Rotary for ideas it is because we believed that Rotary’s greatest ideal, “Service Above Self” is relevant for all times to come and this my friends, will ensure that Rotary has a very bright future.

“Ideas must work through the brains and the arms of good brave men , or they are no better than dreams ” . Said Ralph Waldo Emerson. Put your ideas to work and serve the Community through Rotary. Uniqueness is primarily a matter of who You are and what you do . As a Rotarians you will have to combine your genetic Endowment with your experience in life .

So, don’t just be part of the landscape or just part of a crowd or just a member of a group . Be someone special. Turn on ! Come Alive ! Be a shaker , a Mover..

Rotary today and beyond will depend on the definite course you have chartered now . You have to throw your body around , which means you have got to get up and get out and get among people.

START NOW !!!

Why support The Rotary Foundation?

My fellow Rotarians and guests,

I will start today with a sincere expression of gratitude to you all, for your friendship, your devotion to service, and for your many expressions of affection for me.

My dear friends,

This year our Foundation is celebrating its first century of service.

It provides us with resources, communications, information, and inspiration. Perhaps even more important, our Foundation grants us with access to a worldwide network of dear friends, committed to improve the human condition of our fellow human beings, regardless of their race, religion, or political affiliation.

Every Rotarian faces a familiar dilemma. To paraphrase Shakespeare’s Prince Hamlet:

To be or not to be a supporter of our cherished Foundation? That is the question.

Our choice is clear: only through international solidarity and strong links of fraternal cooperation we will be in a position to effectively build a better world, a world yearning for peace.

As we progress in our global quest, by the end of this year’s fantastic journey, under the leadership of President John Germ we will be closer to seeing the end of illiteracy and hunger, we will move closer to a better, brighter and more peaceful future and we will be closer to achieving the global eradication of polio.

We are just this close, from finally reaching Rotary’s finest hour, the end of Polio, which has been our top priority since 1984.

As of July first, 2013, The Foundation’s Future Vision Program offers a new potential of service. We now offer two types of grants:
– District Grants
– Global Grants, aimed at six areas of clear global priority .

But these wonderful humanitarian and educational programs of The Rotary Foundation depend upon one essential factor: the financial resources made available.

For this purpose:

In 2016 -17 the Board of Trustees has set a goal of US $ 150 million for the Annual Fund as we are asking every Rotarian to contribute a minimum of US $100 every year. My dear friends, with contributions amounting to less than US $9 a month, every Rotarian should be in a position to easily do his/her bit.

Together with this effort, we strongly aspire to strengthen the Foundation’s Endowment Fund.

The joy of giving to The Foundation should become a sacred habit, a routine for each one of us, a life-time commitment, lasting through the years to come, because we know that there is more joy in giving, than in receiving.

My fellow Rotarians we know that the world we inhabit is unfair, unstable, and non-sustainable. This is a world, where terrible contradictions and shocking disparities continue to affect adversely the lives of millions of human beings, who are isolated and abandoned in their dark nights of sorrow.

Under the heavy winds of change that we are now facing, are we really able, eager and willing, to make a difference?

If we, the volunteers of peace, champions of friendship, agents of change, Rotarians of the world, do not take action: Who will? Who, my friends?

Each of us has the responsibility, to shape and carry forward our common future because in the path of selfless service, we welcome dreamers, but we also need doers.

There is no room for doubt: The world needs enthusiastic, motivated, inspired and hardworking Rotarians.

We seek volunteers, with generosity in their hearts, eager in harmonic unity, to nurture hope, volunteers who with clear convictions and tenacity who are never tired of serving and giving.

We seek men and women of passionate love and missionary fervour to serve others in need.

We seek Rotarians, prepared in our multicultural and multipolar world, to maintain their promises and commitments.

The great Mahatma Gandhi stated it in clear, immortal words:

The best way to find yourself, is to lose yourself, in the service of others.

We face the possibility of sinking into a chaotic world, characterized by irrational fanaticism, international terrorism, mindless violence, human trafficking, fear and intolerance which displays deep disdain for human life and indiscriminately reaps innocent victims.

But, we shall not use these difficult circumstances to excuse our inaction or succumb to a self-centred lifestyle.

In Rotary there is no room for cowardice, sterile pessimism or selfishness as we strongly reject the temptation of sowing pessimism.

Through exemplary leadership, eager and sensitive to the needs of others, we shall spread, with reckless abandon, our ideals, our core values and our love for humanity, symbolized in our dharma, our ultimate aim: Service Above Self.

It is up to each one of us, with infectious spirit of camaraderies, to improve our course of action, to improve our philanthropic action to reach peace, peace founded on a reconciliation of hearts.

Thus, our personal involvement and reliable financial support to The Rotary Foundation becomes an element of critical importance to enhance the lives of those less fortunate.

As Rotarians who share values and beliefs, we are all familiar with the saying: “The best time to give is when the gift is needed”.

And every time we make a donation, inspired by the fire of love, we state: “I am a proud donor. This is my Foundation, and also my personal responsibility”

My fellow Rotarians, builders of love and peace, harmony and international understanding: we do need more Paul Harris Fellows!

We want to hear from additional members of the Paul Harris Society, in which, as you know, every participant pledges to contribute $ 1,000, every year.

We aspire to hear from new Major Donors, we dream of more Benefactors and more Bequest Society members and also from new members of the Arch C. Klumph Society, who will all, contribute to reach an Endowment Fund, of 2025 Million US dollar in net assets and expectancies, when We are in the year 2025.

We all recognize that it is impossible to sow new seeds of love, with closed fists. By opening our hands, with generosity and liberality, we shall conquer a new future, future which belongs to us all, in our continuous and shared quest for peace.

The time for excuses or the can’t do, won’t do, or won’t even try, is over. It is over, my friends!

We need to proceed to action. The time to act is now, right now or even a hundred years from now.

Let’s all give, flying on restless wings, our time and our crucial contributions, as much as we can, which will certainly allow, many people in despair, to become, through their fullest self-fulfilment, artisans of their own destiny.

Let’s take advantage, with increase intensity, of today’s new technology to boost our public image, thus making Rotary more visible, enhancing public awareness of our mission in our pursuit of common good in truth and love.

The spread, with youthful and dynamic spirit, not only of our core values but also the awareness of our mission are certain ways to generate new and increased giving to The Rotary Foundation.

Life, in an information-driven society, provides us all, with innovative new approaches, with the potential of yielding excellent results.

Fund raising, for example, can be done through the social media, including Facebook and Twitter.
Are you all aware that The Foundation received near US $9 million in 2013-14 through on-line donations?

Rotary’s new on-line tools allow us to send forth, clearly and broadly, waves of hope that will reach way beyond us, as Rotary’s voice around the world becomes louder and more powerful.

There should be no room for doubt: the enthusiasm and hard work of the Rotary Foundation Coordinators and the Endowment/Major Gift Advisors will lead to increases in the number and the volume of contributions year after year, much like a river that receives new waters which may fertilize new fields and allow for new, much needed, of bountiful crops.

My friends, if we aspire to look beyond ourselves; if we wish to lead using heads, hearts and hands; if we are committed to build the future with action and vision ; if we wish to be the gift to the world : We must gather the courage to encourage change, and we must refuse to sink into what I call “leprosy of the soul”, the condition where the desire to do good, sadly, fades away.

If each one of us contributes with a bit of caring, hope, sharing and dreaming, we will make a positive and lasting difference in the world, as each one of us will effectively touch somebody else’s life.

This is, my friends, the function of love, this is the attainment true awakening.

We cannot ignore the distressful realities of today’s world.

My fellow Rotarians, we cannot wait in silence through the night of despair, we cannot turn deaf ears to the plea of the outcasts, who lack the recognition of their dignity.

We could not stand idle, turning a blind eye to the plight of the victims of hopelessness and loneliness.

How long should our commitment last? Have not a single doubt. This is a life-long commitment, a life-lasting journey!

Let’s take a new look and act with consistency, credibility and continuity!

This is the time for everyone, to roll up our sleeves guided by the light of love, to seek the well being of our brothers and sisters around our planet Earth.

Let’s march forward! Let’s start right now, under a star-filled sky as, in the joy of giving, we shall also enjoy the blessing of receiving!

Bishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, the recipient of the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1984, wrote: “Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”

As leaders with a global perspective, let’s all set our personal example, doing our little good every day.

Let’s awaken to the joy of serving others in their turn, sharing a great stream of joy, many will follow our steps.

Let’s ask ourselves: are we a bit tired and pessimistic?

Where is our vigour? Where is our thirst for doing good in the world?

Acting with vigour, determination and vision, we shall leave behind petty limitations and narrow perspectives.

We will rise above selfish interests, as we aspire to live by Gandhi’s ideal, when we will declare: “My life is my message”.

Let’s proceed, with passion and loving generosity, to selfless action and effective deeds, discovering, in the process, new worlds of service.

Tears help, but little, as life is not a treadmill, it is a moving walkway.

We will be sharing this world with others, for only a brief period of time. Nobody knows for sure, how much longer, we have left.

We are certain, however, that one of the best ways to make this a better world is serving mankind through our dear Rotary Foundation, the beating heart of Rotary.

My fellow Rotarians, the time to put the Mission of Rotary into practice is right now. This is the time to advance world understanding, goodwill and international peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty, not only for the food they need for their survival but also for allowing them to recover their supreme dignity.

It is my profound hope that each one of you, the leaders of Rotary’s will persevere with a heart full of faith, in our mission of doing good in the world, supporting our beloved Foundation.

I invite you all to act, with audacity and burning passion, to make our dreams a reality, allowing our Foundation grants to achieve the biggest impact possible on the vulnerable and needy communities of the world.

After all, don’t forget, that mankind is our business!

We keep in mind Martin Luther King Jr.’s often quoted statement: “Everyone can be great because everyone can serve” and it is Pope Francis taught us: “Serving is real power, because service is love in action.”

This, my fellow Rotarians, is our wake-up call to action that we cannot ignore at all.

Let’s allow service, our love in action, to Light our path in support of the progress of humanity.

At times, we may find ourselves tired, with leaden limbs and weary souls, sadly tempted to appeal to excuses.

But, we shall always persevere as we will never flinch, nor we will never give up in despair, because we always proclaim to believe in what we do and do what we believe in, in our pilgrim and missionary way, in our mission on behalf of peace and human dignity.

As we successfully progress, whirling all over the globe, generously and courageously, with missionary fervour in our quest of samaritan service, we know that by the end of this year’s fantastic journey, under the leadership of our dear President , we will be closer to achieving the eradication of polio, the end of illiteracy and conflict, and will have moved closer, step by step, by the generous dedication of 1.250.000 Rotarians to a better, brighter and more rewarding future.

Let’s touch, with affection and devotion, the lives of as many human beings as we can, showing that we are capable of holding high the almost 100 candles of our Foundation history.

Let’s kindle the fire, spreading Rotary’s light up and over, because

The light of our Foundation
Means freedom from hunger and want;
Means victory over disease and pain;
Means triumph from ignorance;
Means dignity, peace & better human beings.

Let each of you be the light, keeping hope alive.
Let the Rotary Foundation brightly shine around the world forever.

My fellow Rotarians, may peace be with you, it is with deep gratitude and admiration, for your selfless service and generosity, that I conclude my remarks.

A Human Approach to World Peace

When we rise in the morning and listen to the radio or read the newspaper, we are confronted with the same sad news: violence, crime, wars, terrorism , rapes and disasters. I cannot recall a single day without a report of something terrible happening somewhere. Even in these modern times it is clear that one’s precious life is not safe. No former generation has had to experience so much bad news as we face today; this constant awareness of fear and tension should make any sensitive and compassionate person question seriously the progress of our modern world.

It is ironic that the more serious problems emanate from the more industrially advanced societies. Science and technology have worked wonders in many fields, but the basic human problems remain. There is unprecedented literacy, yet this universal education does not seem to have fostered goodness, but only mental restlessness and discontent instead. There is no doubt about the increase in our material progress and technology, but somehow this is not sufficient as we have not yet succeeded in bringing about peace and happiness or in overcoming suffering.

We can only conclude that there must be something seriously wrong with our progress and development, and if we do not check it in time there could be disastrous consequences for the future of humanity. I am not at all against science and technology – they have contributed immensely to the overall experience of humankind; to our material comfort and well-being and to our greater understanding of the world we live in. But if we give too much emphasis to science and technology we are in danger of losing touch with those aspects of human knowledge and understanding that aspire towards honesty and altruism.

Science and technology, though capable of creating immeasurable material comfort, cannot replace the age-old spiritual and humanitarian values that have largely shaped world civilization, in all its national forms, as we know it today.

No one can deny the unprecedented material benefit of science and technology, but our basic human problems remain; we are still faced with the same, if not more, suffering, fear, and tension. Thus it is only logical to try to strike a balance between material developments on the one hand and the development of spiritual, human values on the other. In order to bring about this great adjustment, we need to revive our humanitarian values.

I am sure that many people share my concern about the present worldwide moral crisis and will join in my appeal to all humanitarians and religious practitioners who also share this concern to help make our societies more compassionate, just, and equitable. I do not speak as an expert on international politics . Rather, I speak simply as a human being .

1.Universal humanitarianism is essential to solve global problems;

2.Compassion is the pillar of world peace;

3.All world Governments are already for world peace .

Each individual has a universal responsibility to shape institutions to serve human needs.

Rotary’s objectives in simple term is to build world understanding goodwill and peace by connecting leaders around the world , who are service minded and believe in high ethical standards in their vocation, profession or business. The organization joins leaders , exchange ideas and take action.

Solving Human Problems through Transforming Human Attitudes

Of the many problems we face today, some are natural calamities and must be accepted and faced with equanimity. Others, however, are of our own making, created by misunderstanding, and can be corrected. One such type arises from the conflict of ideologies, political or religious, when people fight each other for petty ends, losing sight of the basic humanity that binds us all together as a single human family.

We must remember that the different religions, ideologies, and political systems of the world are meant for human beings to achieve happiness. We must not lose sight of this fundamental goal and at no time should we place means above ends; the supremacy of humanity over matter and ideology must always be maintained.

Broadly speaking there are two types of happiness and suffering, mental and physical . And of the two, I believe that mental suffering and happiness are the more acute. Hence, I stress the training of the mind to endure suffering and attain a more lasting state of happiness.

However, I also have a more general and concrete idea of happiness: a combination of inner peace, economic development, and, above all, world peace. To achieve such goals I feel it is necessary to develop a sense of universal responsibility, a deep concern for all irrespective of creed, colour, sex, or nationality.

The premise behind this idea of universal responsibility is the simple fact that, in general terms, all others’ desires are the same as mine. Every being wants happiness and does not want suffering. If we, as intelligent human beings, do not accept this fact, there will be more and more suffering on this planet. If we adopt a self-centred approach to life and constantly try to use others for our own self-interest, we may gain temporary benefits, but in the long run we will not succeed in achieving even personal happiness, and world peace will be completely out of the question.

The mission of TRF of R I is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill & peace through the improvement of health ,support of education and alleviation of poverty.

And the mission of R I is to provide service to others , promote integrity and advance world understanding goodwill and peace through its fellowship of business, professional and community leaders.

One nation’s problems can no longer be satisfactorily solved by itself alone; too much depends on the interest, attitude, and cooperation of other nations. A universal humanitarian approach to world problems seems the only sound basis for world peace. Rotary is spread all over the world hence is capable of taking initiative through its members who are leaders in their respective vocation, profession and business.

Although the increasing interdependence among nations might be expected to generate more sympathetic cooperation, it is difficult to achieve a spirit of genuine cooperation as long as people remain indifferent to the feelings and happiness of others.

When people are motivated mostly by greed and jealousy, it is not possible for them to live in harmony. A spiritual approach may not solve all the political problems that have been caused by the existing self-centered approach, but in the long run it will overcome the very basis of the problems that we face today.

Compassion as the Pillar of World Peace ,

The rationale for compassion is that every one of us wants to avoid suffering and gain happiness. This, in turn, is based on the valid feeling of ‘1’, which determines the universal desire for happiness. Indeed, all beings are born in the universe share a family relationship.

Whether one believes in religion or not, there is no one who does not appreciate love and compassion. Right from the moment of our birth, we are under the care and kindness of our parents; later in life, when facing the sufferings of disease and old age, we are again dependent on the kindness of others. If at the beginning and end of our lives we depend upon others’ kindness, why then in the middle should we not act kindly towards others?

The development of a kind heart (a feeling of closeness for all human beings) does not involve the religiosity we normally associate with conventional religious practice. It is not only for people who believe in religion, but is for everyone regardless of race, religion, or political affiliation.

It is for anyone who considers himself or herself, above all, a member of the human family and who sees things from this larger and longer perspective. This is a powerful feeling that we should develop and apply; instead, we often neglect it, particularly in our prime years when we experience a false sense of security.

When we take into account a longer perspective, the fact that all wish to gain happiness and avoid suffering, and keep in mind our relative unimportance in relation to countless others, we can conclude that it is worthwhile to share our possessions with others.

When you train in this sort of outlook, a true sense of compassion – a true sense of love and respect for others – becomes possible. Individual happiness ceases to be a conscious self-seeking effort; it becomes an automatic and far superior by-product of the whole process of loving and serving others.

In Rotary , we have at our disposal the best means for cultivating world peace . We also have tremendous power that can be exerted in stimulating peaceful sentiments and international friendship in the world , resulting in an incalculable contributions to the cause of world peace .

The greatest blessings the human heart can know is world peace and the world will never become better unless we ourselves become better.

Let’s give our whole hearted contribution and enthusiastic support to every good idea or enterprise or initiative towards any thing that may help even in a small way , in fostering peace in this so perturbed world ……to give expression to such a program I have these three things in mind ,

Keep Rotary simple ,

More Rotary in Rotarians,

Learn about each other .

My congratulations to the organizers for taking this initiative in organizing peace summit and confident it will yield positive results. Always remember the journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step . And that was taken 100 years ago . Now we have to take it forward .

Remember friends ,kindness has no religion. Religions are like narrow tracks but kindness is like open sky . And the heart of Rotarians is wide enough to embrace the world and hands are long enough to encompass the world .

YES. WORLD PEACE IS POSSIBLE

The Success Story of Polio Eradication & Beyond

Rotary International took a giant step in the field of global humanitarian service, when it took the decision to eradicate polio from the face of earth. Our partners in this crusade, namely WHO, UNICEF, CDC joined us soon to envisage the second health sector revolution, after the eradication of small pox.

We have come a long way since the times when 3.5 lac children were known to be afflicted by polio – a lot many were perhaps not even reported – to a figure of only 37 cases in 2016 and in only three countries in the world.

We are on the threshold of creating a history but the path until now, was full of excitement, frustrations, new learning, enormous experience, incredible hope & extraordinary commitment by staff of Govt. of India, WHO, UNICEF & Rotarians.

Rotary’s main and first task was to raise adequate funds for this ambitious goal. Rotarians from all over the world have always surpassed the target of fund collection. Till today, we have disbursed $ 1.6 billion for polio.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have contributed handsomely and are continuing to do so for Rotary’s polio eradication program. Gates Foundation is convinced about the transparency, optimal utilization, an excellent management of funds by Rotary and also of Rotary’s reach in almost all the countries in the world and within the countries, to the far reaching communities through its club.

Rotarians have played an important role in raising funds for WHO, UNICEF & CDC by various Govt’s . like USA, Canada, Japan, Australia, Korea. All these countries are free from polio for decades, yet continue to commit funds for polio eradication for our part of the world .

Govt. of India has also taken exemplary steps in this direction. Each year, Govt. is earmarking almost Rs. 1200 crores exclusively for polio immunization. It may be noted that most of the funds disbursed by RI go directly to WHO & UNICEF headquarters for various aspects of polio related work.That includes surveillance, virus detection laboratories, social mobilization, vaccine procurement etc. Relatively only a small part of funds is given to Rotary’s India National Polio Plus Committee. To this date Rotary International has committed over Rs. 1200 crore to India for polio eradication.

India also has not lagged behind in fund generation. We have Smt. Rajashree Birla who has not only given over $ 9 million but has taken a leading role in the actual immunization. Rtn. Harshad Mehta, Mittals have also contributed handsomely.

Rotary India played a pivotal role in making India polio free. We played a major role in convincing Govt. of India to take up this challenge.

India National Polio Plus Committee and all the RI general officers of India, have been fully engaged with this program.

INPPC has given IEC material such as banners, aprons, caps, posters, comic books, whistles, plastic balls to all the clubs since 1995.

Special needs such as marker pens, ice boxes, umbrellas, cell phones, boats have also been provided wherever needed.

INPPC undertook polio corrective surgery projects in UP & Bihar. Over 4500 surgeries were performed on the polio victims. This lead to enhanced faith of community on our humanitarian work.

In UP, where there was a significant resistance to vaccination, Ulemma committee was formed in 2006 . After much efforts and sensitive handling, all the ulemmas in UP supported our mission. Prominent Muslim board members gave vaccine to their own children in front of TV cameras. That lead to widespread acceptance of the vaccination.

Malegaon in Maharashtra posed a similar problem. Over 3500 families resisted vaccination. Thus nearly 15000 children remained unimmunized. Sure enough, in 2008-2009, three cases of polio reported there. Here the situation was worst than that of Western U P . Here apart from the people there was tremendous resistance from the medical fraternity as well as from the local Urdu Media . Once again, due to the tremendous efforts of local Rotarians , NCM & myself along with WHO staff, we could bring the resistance down to less than 600 families.

We formed Ulemma committee in Malegaon also. Initially they were reluctant and it was uphill task to take them on board . Many visits were made in Malegaon and to tell you the truth many a times meetings with Ulemas were organised in Muslim Crematorium and we used to sit on the floor to discuss the issue or to say to convince them why their children needed Polio Drops. But once convinced of the program, they made sure that announcements were made about the need of vaccination from almost all the mosques in Malegaon.

INPPC has been organizing Polio Orientation meets at the National Level, District Level and also at the revenue district level. It has also played a major role in Advocacy.

We remained engaged with highest political & bureaucratic leadership. We took the support of film stars, sportsmen & prominent citizens. We also played a major role in media advocacy.

I must at this state, humbly acknowledge the work done by our partners. Govt. of India & all the State Govts who played a stellar role in this mission. Over 25 lac health staff, worked tirelessly in over 7 lac booths in all on NIDs & SNIDs.

I have seen them working in sun, rain, on hills & in remote areas in marshy lands and in challenging areas of interiors of UP & Bihar. Over 2 crore houses are visited after every NID to make sure that every child is vaccinated.

Surveillance Medical Officers of WHO did superb micro planning , established, what is now accepted as the world’s best surveillance network and monitored every aspect of the program. WHO polio headquarters in India always guided us & helped us in every stage. UNICEF also established a highly efficient social mobilization network.

Friends, how can I not express my feelings towards all the Rotarians of India. Rotarians took up this program passionately & dedicated themselves entirely to our first & only corporate global initiative. You all, gave so many voluntary hours of service that it’s impossible to even quantify it. All I can say, is that the value of your services is absolutely priceless.

Friends, We still have a few years of work ahead of us. This requires enormous funds. We must continue to raise funds for polio. For years together, the Rotarians of the polio free world are contributing to support our program of polio. Now that we are polio free, we must ensure that the countries that still need to work hard to eradicate polio, have adequate funds. Let us all pledge to support the polio mission financially, as long as it takes, to see back of the polio virus.

Yes ! we are on a threshold of creating a history but the last lap of marathon is always the most difficult. We are very near to our dream of polio free world but there is a gap between cup & lip.

India is polio free for the last 6 yrs but as long as the polio virus hovers in our neighbouring countries, we are not safe. For years together, in the past, India exported polio virus to almost all the continents of the world and now it can come back the same way hence we must remain vigilant.

We have to promote Routine Immunization as still there are some pockets where children have not received even a single dose of polio , they are always vulnerable . And always remember POLIO ANY WHERE IS POLIO EVERY WHERE .

There is no room for program fatigue or complacency. We need to have the same level of commitment and passion, as we were having for the last 30 yrs.

Friends, the virus is on the back foot but we need to break the back of it forever. We will create a history when polio virus is destroyed from the face of earth but if we do not run with vigour, zeal and total dedication to complete the marathon, history will not spare us. The choice is entirely ours. I am however confident that, as you have so often done in the past, you will always do better than the best to make the world polio free.

ADLUT LITERACY

Good Afternoon.

As we all know that education is very important for all age group people and it is a lifelong process.

Education process is not limited to any age, person, place or other limitation of the life. It can be continued all through the life because it does not end with the schooling./

Individual education plays great role in the development and growth of life, person, society and country. Being a democratic country without educated people, is useless. India is a sovereign democratic republic country struggling hard for becoming the developed country like other countries in the world.

Education helps a person to develop to its fullest extent and makes one able to perform duties and responsibilities according to the interests, efficiency and abilities.

The level of education in India in the past time was very much anxious however it is being better day by day.

The education status of adult in India is very bad however going ahead on the road of planned progress. There has been some revolutionary changes as well in the Indian society. Modern adult need to tackle the complexities of society by understanding the need of rapid changing world. Education helps a person to develop to its fullest extent and makes one able to perform duties and responsibilities according to the interests, efficiency and abilities.

The level of education in India in the past time was very much anxious however it is being better day by day.

The education status of adult in India is very bad however going ahead on the road of planned progress. There has been some revolutionary changes as well in the Indian society. Modern adult need to tackle the complexities of society by understanding the need of rapid changing world.

There should be good education system for all the citizens to fight the social evils of poverty, unemployment, ignorance, ill-health, illiteracy, child abuse, molestation, etc in the society.

All the social evils can be abolished only through the tool of education. There is illiteracy in the Indian society because of the lack of proper adult education. Adult education is the only tool to remove illiteracy from society.

Adult education can be categorized under fundamental education, mass education of people, workers education, further education, basic education, community education and social education, etc in order to educate the people at different level. According to the Mahatma Gandhi, adult education can be said as education for life, through life and throughout the life.

According to a report published in UNESCO India records for the highest population of non-literate adults- 287 million, amounting to 37% of the global total.

Education, to a great extent steer the development of a country . India has faced many hurdles in shaping up a holistic, inclusive education system that would adequately address the issue of mass illiteracy. Since Independence, the Government of India has undertaken many initiatives to make education accessible to the masses.

However in the process there has always remained a generation that has been deprived from the privilege of going to a school.

These uneducated adults include the farmers that work in the sun to grow the food that you eat year long, the maids that keep your houses prim and proper, and the scavengers who clean the city off its filth.

They have had low expectations from life and low esteem for themselves and have always thought that education is for the urban rich.

However this mindset is gradually changing since the launch of various governmental schemes for adult education since the First Five Year Plan, the most notable of which being National Literacy Mission launched in 1988 and the most recent one being Saakshar Bharat launched in 2009.

The current literacy rate stated by Census 2011, male literacy rate stands at 82.14% and female literacy rate stands at 65.46%.

‘Adult Literacy’ forms an integral part of Rotary India Literacy Mission’s T-E-A-C-H program. RILM acknowledges the importance of educating an adult and has been working relentlessly to take education to adults across India, who have not got a chance to receive formal education.

The Adult Literacy program focuses on imparting functional literacy to non-literate adults above the age of 15 and train them on developing their skills to meet industry standards for procuring jobs.

As of date, RILM has reached out to 61,500 student volunteers who have taught one or more adults over a period of 2.5 to 3 months.

The Rotarians have set up several hundreds of Swabhimaan Centres across the country, where 8,041 adults have experienced the renewed joy of learning. For this year we are targeting to bring 1,00,000 adults under the purview of the Adult Literacy program.

In this endeavor RILM has entered into meaningful partnerships with the Government, organizations working in the field of literacy and skill development and corporates to provide learning and growth opportunities to the adults who still remain in the darkness of illiteracy.

RILM has forged partnership with National Literacy Mission Authority and MKCL, an organization focusing on skill development, to name a few.

Today you are going to witness the forming of couple of more such partnerships with Loomba Foundation and Labour Net , which will further drive RILM towards realizing its vision of Total Literacy and Quality Education.

Ever since life began , human beings have been yearning for Peace . True Peace is much more than ancient “tranquility of order “. It is way of life — a life of Love , forgiveness, generosity, patience , kindnesses and so on .

“Peace is not made at the Conference table , or by treaties , but in the hearts of men” says Herbert Hoover . Peace is a personal responsibility and it is vain to seek it from outside sources , if not within oneself. Your pursuit of Peace depends on your personal liability with yourself and others .

Peace comes from living in the moment and looking for the good in others . Peacefulness comes from facing our fears and letting them go — trusting that things will turn out all right . Peacefulness is also a way of approaching conflict with others so no one is made wrong . Everyone wins because we then work to find a peaceful solution .

Peace is one of the deepest desire of every human person. This peace is not merely the absence of war It is the presence of Love . In our time , the concept of peace cannot be isolated from that of human rights , freedom and ecology.

To work for peace is to work for the transformation of personal and social reality and to make it more fraternal, more human and more just and to collaborate for the liberation of humans .

Peace does not come by itself, we have to prepare for peace and work for it , and this work at times invokes struggle.

Peace for all requires the personal contribution of each individual. To this end each individual is required to invest a part of his / her time , talent , and intelligence, in order to promote in oneself and in society attitudes and action that lead to peace .

To really change the world , we have to help people change the way they see things . Global betterment is a mental process, not one that requires huge sum of money or a high level of authority.

Change has to be psychological. So if we want to see real change , we have to stay persistent in educating humanity on how similar we all are than different. We need not strive to be change we want to see in the world , but also help all those around us see the world through commonalities of the heart so that they would want to change with us .

This is how humanity will evolve to become better . This is how we can change the world . The language of the heart is mankind ‘s main language.

Always remember – Non violence is only for the brave men and women of the world because it requires courage- Courage to love the beauty of life , courage to love beauty of humanity and courage to love beauty of the world .

SERVICE ABOVE SELF IS OUR MOTTO AND WORLD UNDERSTANDING OUR ULTIMATE GOAL

Service must be the first to peace, because peace grows within the heart. Peace thrives with service and understanding, according dignity to our fellowmen.

Peace is nourished by truth and principles, and it is strengthened when we overcome our differences to work together, finding common ground for a noble cause.

The Rotary Foundation’s mission is to bring peace and understanding into the world. I have thought long hours trying to figure out how Rotary can transform that dream into reality.

Peace is not just the absence of hostilities – it is also a quality of life. I believe that: A world half starving and half overfed will never be a world at peace.

A world half sick and half healthy will never be a world at peace.

A world half illiterate and half educated will never be a world at peace.

A world that condones drug abuse, senseless violence and un-punished crime will never be a world at peace

A world of prejudice, intolerance and distrust will never be a world at peace.

World understanding is all about touching the life of another person. It means we have to build a relationship.

If you are wondering why the world is full of turmoil and strife the reason is because of lack of understanding between people living in different countries.

The lack of political and personal will to build relationships between people is the root cause of tension we now see in the world.

In this time of frenetic lifestyle, Rotary’s initiatives for peace and world understanding could be the answer.

Rotary’s various programs seek to create love and understanding.

They are designed to bring harmony between nations.

Rotary Peace Fellows are leaders promoting national and international cooperation, peace, and the successful resolution of conflict throughout their lives, in their careers, and through service activities.

Fellows can earn either a master’s degree in international relations, public administration, sustainable development, peace studies, conflict resolution, or a related field, or a professional development certificate in peace and conflict resolution.

Each year, up to 100 Rotary Peace Fellowships (50 master’s degree fellowships and 50 professional development certificate fellowships) are offered on a competitive basis at six Rotary Peace Centers, which operate in partnership with seven leading universities.

The fellows are chosen from countries and cultures around the globe based on their potential as leaders in government, business, education, media, and other professional areas.

Rotary Centers alumni have demonstrated their ability to further global understanding and peace in their work for United Nations agencies, the World Bank, European Parliament, the Organization of American States, and other non governmental organizations, along with national governments and international businesses.

Our world is facing a historic transition period.

Nations in the Middle East are facing serious challenges.

Relationship stress between South Asian nations is hampering the development of the region.

Hunger, poverty, disease, depression and conflicts have plagued African nations.

The Rotary movement is relevant in the context of these problems which could intensify greatly over the next several years if not attended to now.

‘Heal the world and Save the World’ is the mantra for Rotarians and likeminded people who wish to see a secure and safer future for their children and grandchildren.

If millions of people are motivated to actively participate in the peace movement, practice harmony in their daily life and learn to show love and concern for others around them, then peace will be within our grasp.

Rotary International’s program are capable of being adapted anywhere in the world. That is why a Rotarian says, “I have the power to make a difference. You have the power to make a difference in this world and bring a new era of peace and understanding.”

Rotarians are moulded to be inspiring teachers, soul leaders, service minded people and generous donors.

They can be termed as a wellness guru – all rolled into one, for the relentlessly pursue the object of the organization which is world understanding and Peace .

When Rotarians participate in programs such as Friendship Exchange and Service beyond Borders, they return with more than souvenirs. They bring back lasting friendships. They open up a global perspective about Rotary’s quest for peace.

Conflict endemic countries need special attention. When we say endemic it means that a significant number of cases of conflicts are constantly encountered in that area.

The setting up of Rotary Peace Centers aims to bring professionally qualified individuals who can work to defuse tensions and resolve issues that could lead to conflicts.

These centres are empowering people to communicate with persons who create situations that could lead to disharmony and disrupt normal life.

I can say that the course teaches people to learn ancient secret wisdom and practices that can rejuvenate the relationships between individuals.

The techniques for resolving a conflict are extremely simple, practical and profound. Studying and practicing in these centers has helped many scholars to help others and return from an age of mistrust to an age of trust and understanding.

Rotary’s message has travelled far and wide. When we work towards world understanding we promote positive energy flow in our system. The blockages and stress are removed and new energy and stamina flows inside us.

This vitality develops immunity from negative influences that can breed hatred in our hearts and minds. Talking and working for world understanding gives us the strength and clarity to serve humanity better.

How is peace propagated? Practicing love for others is the key to healing and transformation. This means asking the mind to always think about the welfare of others and to transform you and situations around you.

Rotary International through its arm The Rotary Foundation advises all Rotarians to go to the people directly. The programs of The Rotary Foundation encompass the entire humankind.

By participating whole heartedly in the programs you become an agent who is capable of bringing people and countries together.

It is said that the purpose of education is to replace an empty mind with an open one. When your mind is open you love all humanity. You begin to serve humanity. You bring world understanding and peace.

Whatever be our position, occupation or range of influence, all of us have the responsibility to be peace makers through our lived example and through explicit acts of peace.

As Richard Nixon rightly said, “Where peace is unknown, make it known – where peace is fragile, make it strong – where peace is temporary make it permanent” Remember first to be at peace, then , be a peace-maker.

I believe in what Frank B Kellogg said,” that in the end the abolition of war, the maintenance of world peace, the adjustment of International questions by pacific means will come through the force of public opinion, which controls nation and people.”

In conclusion I would just say that Rotary International and the 1.2 million Rotarians worldwide salute the first Fourteen years of Rotary Peace Centers for International studies and almost in excess of 1000 alumni – peace builders. The success of this program and the work that the alumni do give us cause to hope that peace truly is possible.

Rotarians need to nurture more such people. Good smartens saw an opportunity to do so through The Rotary Foundation yesterday.

I am sure you will see the same opportunity today and the future generation will see it tomorrow.

By supporting the peace centers we have a historic opportunity to say “A Life of Happiness, Peace, and Love is all within our Grasp.” Let’s all live in peace.

My congratulations to DG Pramod Parekh , Avenue Councillor Rtn Prafulla Mirajgaonkar , Rotary Club of Aurangabad Metro and all those involved in organizing this INTERNATIONAL PEACE & GOODWILL SUMMIT involving India , Bangala Desh , Nepal for their total commitment to the cause and their vision to stage this Summit . I wish you All , all the very best.

Love Everyone Everyday–The Formula of Peace

Peace is the first ingredient of prosperity . History has often been written in the red of blood ; but development and progress are the luminous of Peace dividend , not a war trophy. The two halves of the 20th century tell their own story .

Europe, and indeed the world , reinvented itself after the end of Second World War and the collapse of colonization , leading to the rise of great institutions like the United Nations . Leaders who ordered great armies into the field , and then understood that war was more barbarism than glory , transformed the world by changing its mindset.

Mahatma Gandhi taught by example, and gave us the supreme strength of Non – Violence . India’s philosophy is not an abstract in textbooks . It flourishes in the day -to – day life of our people , who value the humane above all else .

Violence is external to our nature, when , as human beings , we do err , we exercise our sins with penitence and accountability .

But the visible rewards of peace have also obscured the fact that the age of war is not over . We are in the midst of a fourth World war , the third war the Cold War , but it was very warm in Asia , Africa , and Latin America till it ended in early 1990s .

The war against terrorism is the fourth , and it is a world war because it can raise its evil head anywhere in the world . India has been on the frontline of soft this war long before many other recognized its vicious depth or poisonous consequences .

The people of India have been a beacon of maturity through the trauma of whiplash wounds . Those who instigate violence and perpetuate hatred need to understand one truth . Few minutes of peace will achieve far more than many years of war .

Harry Truman , the 33rd President of U S A said “our goal must be – not peace in our time – but peace for all time “. This is exactly what Rotary International is working for. Rotary International and its arm , T R F are simply not emerging, they have already emerged. The relationship between Rotarians around the world are bound by their shared interest in peace.

The value they cherish will be one of the defining elements in cementing partnership. Every Rotary International President travels around the globe to build partnership between not just Rotarians , but between nations. It is their vision that Rotary can realize this by making the members to work together.

People who work for peace start with the premise that people’s future is grounded in their treasure past. Each civilization has been shaping the world for centuries. In India, people unlocked the intricacies of the human mind , understood the universe and declared the world to be one big family.

Workers for peace programmes not only open the minds but also expand the moral imagination of people who are at conflict with each other. They make the warring factions to imagine a bright future where the mind is without fear and the head is held high. The people like Mahatma Gandhi, who propagated for peace , were the change they sought in the world .

Martin Luther King said that Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of Non Violence was the only logical and moral approach in the march towards PEACE , JUSTICE AND PROGRESS . Such great men had immense faith in their ability to make other listen to them . Despite skeptics who said that people will continue to fight amongst themselves because of colour, religion and economic disparity, they were able to forge unity across the nation.

People who said that USA or India was too vast or too diverse to succeed as a peace loving nation were proven wrong. These peace workers surmounted overwhelming odds and became models to the world.

The Constitution of UNESCO says ” since war begin in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed “. Norman Cousins, the noted American journalist and world peace advocate said ” war is an invention of mind . The human mind can invent peace with Justice ” .

Talking about peace is the first step . In the words of Harry Truman , leaders are people who spend time talking about peace to people and getting them to do what they are supposed to do any way .

Peace workers know that peace can not be built on fear , it should be built on courage and imagination. It can be built only by people with an unbeatable determination to do the job on hands .

Seeds of conflict are planted by economic rivalry and social injustice . People who are trained to work for peace and conflict resolution are those who have won over themselves. Their outstanding quality is self discipline.

It is said that the men make history and not the other way around. Peace occurs when courageous skillful workers seize the opportunity to change things for the better. People living in various continents are not exclusive and need not be in competition. Instead they can overlap , share common principles of justice, progress and tolerance.

They can be taught to believe in the dignity of all human beings. Peace will not come if wait for some other person to work for it or for some other time. We are the ones that the world is waiting for to work for peace.

Focusing our life solely on our family or neighbourhood shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too title of ourselves. When we hitch our wagon to something larger than ourselves we can realize our potential. TRF offers this avenue to grow and make a difference in our community and in the world.

People in many nations have not perfected themselves. At times nations have struggled to keep the promise of liberty and equality for all the people . The actions of some leaders have not lived up to the best of their intentions .

People in many countries cannot trust their government to do the job for which it exists —that is to create an atmosphere of peace . When Government fail in this important aspect ,then it is time for qualified people to step in and work either for peace through a NGO , United Nations or through an organized body of like minded individuals.

Understanding this crucial need. The Rotary Centres for International Studies in Peace and Conflict Resolution was launched at a United Nations event in 2002 . The first batch of Rotary Peace Fellows started their education in 2002 and graduated in 2004.

Students are trained in subjects that include Meditation, Principles of deep – seated Conflict Resolutions , Ethics & Human rights , contemporary Peacekeeping, Peace Building, Gender in International Politics & Development , Culture, Conflict & Reconciliation , Diplomacy & Statecraft, International Security and finally Arms Control & Disarmament .

Each year the centre selects and trains Rotary Peace Fellows based on their ability to have a significant , positive impact on world Peace and Conflict Resolution during their future careers.

The Rotary Centre provides opportunities for fellows to study methods to deal effectively with obstacles such as War , Famine, Poverty and disease that currently impede International cooperation and Peace .

The Rotary Centres also aim to advance knowledge on issues of Peace and Conflict Resolution in order to help cultivate the next generation of Community and World leaders .

The International crisis such as World Hunger , Poverty ,Global Warming , North Korea and Weapons of mass destruction ,Islamic Terrorism , and many more highlights the need for greater understanding of the political, Economic and Social factors that affect security and stability as well as the tragic human costs involved in such conflicts .

The renewed threat of insurgency and terrorism, humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and Central Africa, and the danger of Nuclear exchange in South Asia all indicate the need for more effective strategies for promoting Peace and Stability .

Training for Meditation and Peaceful solutions to conflicts and potential conflicts in our world is an investment in the future Stable . Peaceful and Prosperous Nations will have a positive global security relations. Our programmes equip students with the knowledge and practical skill to engage in conflict resolution, peace keeping and peace – building in the contemporary global context.

The aim of TRF In Launching such an ambitious educational program is to take that first step in making this world a peaceful place for generations to come . The stalwarts of TRF were People who had a programme. They did not have excuses for not trying out something as Nobel as peace programme .

They made commitments not just promises . They said “we must do something for World Peace ” . They did not say something must be done for world peace . They had dreams not just Schemes.

The Trustees saw the potential of the program for the future and did not see the past which was filled with failures . They knew it was difficult , but that it was possible. Never did they give up saying ” it may be possible , but it is too difficult.”

Peace does not come by accident. It is result of our attitude . People ‘s attitude is their choice . Hence peace can be made to prevail if people choose it .

Peace does not come by chance . Brokering peace between warring communities is not difficult and the process need not be a mystery . It is always the result of applying some basic principles of human relationships . That is the truth and is simple . It is not easy , but is simple .

An English proverb says , ” a smooth sea never made a skillful mariner ” . Every thing is difficult before it becomes easy . People can create their own environment of peace . The peace Scholars help people to create such environments in their community , work place and even between nations .

The founding fathers of this programme in TRF did not want the world to slip into anarchy . That is why they launched an education programme that can produce qualified individuals who can help others to settle their differences amicably . INSTEAD OF PREACHING ABOUT PEACE , TRF BECAME ONE OF THE ENGINES OF PEACE .

The Rotary Peace Centres are born out of burning desire to make peace a reality in the world that seems to be torn apart . It is the starting point of all accomplishment . By establishing Six Centres around the world T R F has demonstrated its enthusiasm to world peace .

People, who are disrupting peace today , did not become disgruntled elements overnight . Nearly all of them have been gradually groomed into extremism and intolerance from their early youth . It is therefore , the youth of today who must be our focus of attention if we have hope to have semblance of peace in the years ahead.

There are many ways to promote peace in the world but perhaps the best way is to promote it within ourselves . Peace is a gradual and wonderful event that occurs because compassionate people are inspired to help others discover the joy of peace .

Helping others also has the direct effect of increasing our personal peace and well being , but this is merely one of the many bonuses that come from sharing our kindness with our fellow human beings .

Peace like reading, writing , mathematics, drawing and painting is a learned skill that improves our knowledge, maturity , health , happiness , and longevity . The advent of the World Wide Web may just provide the boost in knowledge and peace humankind has been waiting for . Knowledge combined with enlightenment leads to wisdom. WISDOM IS PEACE .

American President Abraham Lincoln once said ” YOU CANNOT ESCAPE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF TOMORROW BY EVADING IT TODAY ” IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EVERY ROTARIAN EVERY DAY TO SPREAD THE MESSAGE OF LOVE .

“You better live your best , act your best and think your best today ; for today is the sure preparation for tomorrow and all the other tomorrow’s that follow ” said Harriet Martineau , the English novelist.

Few years ago the seeds of peace study was sown by T R F around the world . When a seeds finds the place , the right position in the soil , its action is over . Other forces take over and and it grows in to a plant .

The result is a band of Rotary Peace Fellows who can take the message of peace to youngsters and others in dire need of a life without Conflict . Rotarians need to nurture more such people.

Good Samaritans saw an opportunity to do so through T R F yesterday . I am sure you will see the same opportunity today and the future generation will see it tomorrow .

Always remember,

Peace must begin with each of us and within each of us .

When there is Peace in the Heart , there is Peace in the Family .

When there is Peace in the Family , there is Peace in the Village .

When there is Peace in the Village, there is Peace in the Country .

When there is Peace in the Country , there is Peace in the World .

By supporting The Rotary Peace Centres we have an historic opportunity to say ” YES ! PEACE IS POSSIBLE. LET’S ALL LIVE IN PEACE ” .

A LIFE OF HAPPINESS, PEACE AND LOVE IS ALL WITHIN OUR GRASP’

Ever since life began , human beings have been yearning for Peace . True Peace is much more than ancient “tranquility of order “. It is way of life — a life of Love , forgiveness, generosity, patience , kindnesses and so on .
“Peace is not made at the Conference table , or by treaties , but in the hearts of men” says Herbert Hoover . Peace is a personal responsibility and it is vain to seek it from outside sources , if not within oneself. Your pursuit of Peace depends on your personal liability with yourself and others . Peace comes from living in the moment and looking for the good in others . Peacefulness comes from facing our fears and letting them go — trusting that things will turn out all right . Peacefulness is also a way of approaching conflict with others so no one is made wrong . Everyone wins because we then work to find a peaceful solution .
Peace is one of the deepest desire of every human person. This peace is not merely the absence of war It is the presence of Love . In our time , the concept of peace cannot cannot be isolated from that of human rights , freedom and ecology.
To work for peace is to work for the transformation of personal and social reality and to make it more fraternal, more human and more just and to collaborate for the liberation of humans .
Peace does not come by itself, we have to prepare for peace and work for it , and this work at times invokes struggle.
Peace for all requires the personal contribution of each individual. To this end each individual is required to invest a part of his / her time , talent , and intelligence, in order to promote in oneself and in society attitudes and action that lead to peace .

SERVICE ABOVE SELF IS OUR MOTTO AND WORLD UNDERSTANDING OUR ULTIMATE GOAL
Service must be the first to peace, because peace grows within the heart. Peace thrives with service and understanding, according dignity to our fellowmen.
Peace is nourished by truth and principles, and it is strengthened when we overcome our differences to work together, finding common ground for a noble cause.
The Rotary Foundation’s mission is to bring peace and understanding into the world. I have thought long hours trying to figure out how Rotary can transform that dream into reality.
Peace is not just the absence of hostilities – it is also a quality of life. I believe that: A world half starving and half overfed will never be a world at peace.
A world half sick and half healthy will never be a world at peace.
A world half illiterate and half educated will never be a world at peace.
A world that condones drug abuse, senseless violence an un-punished crime will never be a world at peace
A world of prejudice, intolerance and distrust will never be a world at peace.
World understanding is all about touching the life of another person. It means we have to build a relationship.
If you are wondering why the world is full of turmoil and strife the reason is because of lack of understanding between people living in different countries.
The lack of political and personal will to build relationships between people is the root cause of tension we now see in the world.
In this time of frenetic lifestyle, Rotary’s initiatives for peace and world understanding could be the answer.
Rotary’s various programs seek to create love and understanding.
They are designed to bring harmony between nations.
Rotary Peace Fellows are leaders promoting national and international cooperation, peace, and the successful resolution of conflict throughout their lives, in their careers, and through service activities.
Fellows can earn either a master’s degree in international relations, public administration, sustainable development, peace studies, conflict resolution, or a related field, or a professional development certificate in peace and conflict resolution.
Each year, up to 100 Rotary Peace Fellowships (50 master’s degree fellowships and 50 professional development certificate fellowships) are offered on a competitive basis at six Rotary Peace Centers, which operate in partnership with seven leading universities.
The fellows are chosen from countries and cultures around the globe based on their potential as leaders in government, business, education, media, and other professional areas.
Rotary Centers alumni have demonstrated their ability to further global understanding and peace in their work for United Nations agencies, the World Bank, European Parliament, the Organization of American States, and other nongovernmental organizations, along with national governments and international businesses.
Our world is facing a historic transition period.
Nations in the Middle East are facing serious challenges.
Relationship stress between South Asian nations is hampering the development of the region.
Hunger, poverty, disease, depression and conflicts have plagued African nations.
The Rotary movement is relevant in the context of these problems which could intensify greatly over the next several years if not attended to now.
‘Heal the world and Save the World’ is the mantra for Rotarians and likeminded people who wish to see a secure and safer future for their children and grandchildren.
If millions of people are motivated to actively participate in the peace movement, practice harmony in their daily life and learn to show love and concern for others around them, then peace will be within our grasp.
Rotary International’s program are capable of being adapted anywhere in the world. That is why a Rotarian says, “I have the power to make a difference. You have the power to make a difference in this world and bring a new era of peace and understanding.”
Rotarians are moulded to be inspiring teachers, soul leaders, service minded people and generous donors.
They can be termed as a wellness guru – all rolled into one, for the relentlessly pursue the object of the organization which is world peace and understanding.
When Rotarians participate in programs such as Friendship Exchange and Service beyond Borders, they return with more than souvenirs. They bring back lasting friendships. They open up a global perspective about Rotary’s quest for peace.
Conflict endemic countries need special attention. When we say endemic it means that a significant number of cases of conflicts are constantly encountered in that area.
The setting up of Rotary Peace Centers in six universities aims to bring professionally qualified individuals who can work to defuse tensions and resolve issues that could lead to conflicts.
These universities are empowering people to communicate with persons who create situations that could lead to disharmony and disrupt normal life.
I can say that the course teaches people to learn ancient secret wisdom and practices that can rejuvenate the relationships between individuals.
The techniques for resolving a conflict are extremely simple, practical and profound. Studying and practicing in these centers has helped many scholars to help others and return from an age of mistrust to an age of trust and understanding.
Rotary’s message has travelled far and wide. When we work towards world understanding we promote positive energy flow in our system. The blockages and stress are removed and new energy and stamina flows inside us.
This vitality develops immunity from negative influences that can breed hatred in our hearts and minds. Talking and working for world understanding gives us the strength and clarity to serve humanity better.
How is peace propagated? Practicing love for others is the key to healing and transformation. This means asking the mind to always think about the welfare of others and to transform you and situations around you.
Rotary International through its arm The Rotary Foundation advises all Rotarians to go to the people directly. The programs of The Rotary Foundation encompass the entire humankind.
By participating whole heartedly in the programs you become an agent who is capable of bringing people and countries together.
It is said that the purpose of education is to replace an empty mind with an open one. When your mind is open you love all humanity. You begin to serve humanity. You bring world understanding and peace.

Whatever be our position, occupation or range of influence, all of us have the responsibility to be peace makers through our lived example and through explicit acts of peace.
As Richard Nixon rightly said, “Where peace is unknown, make it known – where peace is fragile, make it strong – where peace is temporary make it permanent” Remember first to be at peace, then , be a peace-maker.
I believe in what Frank B Kellogg said,” that in the end the abolition of war, the maintenance of world peace, the adjustment of International questions by pacific means will come through the force of public opinion, which controls nation and people.”
In conclusion I would just say that Rotary International and the 1.2 million Rotarians worldwide salute the first Fourteen years of Rotary Peace Centers for International studies and almost in excess of 1000 alumni – peace builders. The success of this program and the work that the alumni do give us cause to hope that peace truly is possible.
Rotarians need to nurture more such people. Good smartens saw an opportunity to do so through The Rotary Foundation yesterday.
I am sure you will see the same opportunity today and the future generation will see it tomorrow.
By supporting the peace centers we have a historic opportunity to say “A Life of Happiness, Peace, and Love is all within ourGrasp.” Let’s all live in peace.
My congratulations to DG Pramod Parekh , Avenue Councillor Rtn Prafulla Mirajgaonkar , Rotary Club of Aurangabad Metro and all those involved in organizing this INTERNATIONAL PEACE & GOODWILL SUMMIT involving India , Bangala Desh , Nepal for their total commitment to the cause and their vision to stage this Summit . I wish you All , all the very best.

1 – LIFE OF HAPPINESS, PEACE AND LOVE IS ALL WITHIN OUR GRASP
it’s the speech for 22nd February 2017 at the INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND GOODWILL SUMMIT IN AURANGABAD .

2 – ROTARY CHANGING LIVES -PEACE FELLOWSHIP
LOVE EVERYONE EVERYDAY-THE FORMULA FOR PEACE
IS THE SPEECH FOR 23rd February 2017 at the INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND GOODWILL SUMMIT IN AURANGABAD.
PLEASE CONFIRM WHETHER YOU HAVE UNDERSTOOD AND YOU HAVE BOTH THE SPEECHES.

PLEASE DELETE EXTRA COPIES TO AVOIDE CONFUSION AT YOUR END

The Success Story of Polio Erdication in India

Dear DG Ananth, First lady Girija, Smt Rajashree Ji Birla, PRID Pandu Setty,Members of College of Governors, Rotarians, Rotary Anns, Ladies and Gentlemen.

My gratitude to DG Ananth for inviting me and requesting me to bring Smt Rajashree Ji Birla .She was kind enough to accept my request to come and that’s how I am amongst you all . I am delighted to be here and have the fellowship of Rotarians in R I District 3190 which I consider as one of the best District in the country.

Polio eradication is Rotary’s number 1 priority. It will remain so till polio virus shows its back to our planet.

As you all know in 1985, over a Million Rotarians took a pledge to eradicate polio from the face of this earth. An appeal was made to Rotarians to raise fund for the cause. A goal was set to raise US $ 120 million. Rotary International and TRF hierarchy must be worried whether we could raise this amount of money for a single program of The Foundation . Because never before was , that kind of money raised for the entire TRF. But the Generosity, sincerity, commitment and dedication of Rotarians resulted in us collecting over US $ 247 million. With more than the expected amount in the kitty, the leadership of Rotary and TRF must be sure of the completion of the job at ease .

We started working for Polio in 1988 and that time around 350000 cases world over used to occur every year, .Out of that around 60% were from India and majority of the cases were from Uttar Pradesh.

It means that everyday India had around 600 cases of Polio. As against that, as your District Governor informed you, last year we had only 35 cases , from 3 countries. In the last 4 weeks we have not had a single case.

The journey has been very very difficult. There were many stumbling blocks in our way, particularly in India. But, we did not lose our patience, we did not get discouraged and the senior Rotary leadership in the country went on converting every stumbling block into a stepping stone to see that polio gets eradicated from India. Many measures were taken to get rid of Polio from the country .

To make a mention of few ….

We printed Millions of comic books on Polio to disseminate information about Polio. They were distributed in schools all over the country. They were printed in English and in most of the languages spoken in our country so that if the children read the comics they could persuade their parents to take the children till 5 years to get the polio drops .

We used audio visuals, local radio stations, films, slide shows to promote the cause and made people know as to why they should give polio drops to their children,

During every NID or Sub NID, we involved the communities, schools, colleges and universities in this programme.

We involved the celebrities to support us. Hundreds and thousands of workshops and seminars were organized for Rotarians and non-Rotarians to spread the message of polio eradication all over the country.

The rallies were taken out on the streets with various slogans in support of the cause. The largest banner was displayed with Slogans of Polio in the city of Mumbai that made us enter the guinnes book of world record .

We organised Polio Summits in Mumbai and Delhi .

On a regular basis we had meetings with our partners and try to work out different strategies to get victory over the virus.

But our experience revealed that if in one particular year we could see 100 cases , the very next year it would rise to 1100 cases.

It was very difficult to understand what happened and what we had to do?

In the year 2006 we had only around 66 cases and we celebrated at The Polio plus committee as we felt almost we have won the battle. At that time we did not know that ‘Almost’ was a very difficult word in the dictionary. Napoleon almost won the waterloo war; PT Usha almost won the Gold medal, two days back England had almost won the cricket match against India.

And so it happened with us very next year when we had 700 odd cases. Immediately thereafter 1600 cases with 1200 coming from Uttar Pradesh.

We appointed and recognized hundreds and thousands of health workers to support us. Wherever there were gaps in the government machinery, we tried to fill it up so that the program would be effective.

In 2006 I got elected as Director, Rotary international .Even though I was involved in the INPCC for about 10 years, I had responsibility to see that we are able to get rid of Polio Virus. But Directorship added some authority. Soon after getting elected in 2006, I asked the chairman of INPPC PDG Deepak kapoor whether we could have a meeting with the Ulemas of Uttar Pradesh.

It was not very difficult as we had done it several times in the past. In fact we had involved the vice chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University. But these initiatives were not working as we all desired.

On 5th July 2006 we had a meeting with some of the Ulemas of Uttar Pradesh at Samarat Hotel New Delhi. I was the only speaker there. Approximately 100 ulemas were present and from our side PRID late O.P.Vaish,the then chairman IPPC Bob Scot ,PDG Deepak kapoor and some of the members of INPPC were present.

As it is said –If you are sincere and committed, even the GOD above will help you and that happened. When I started with “Bismillah Ur rehman Ur raheem………… ´well friends , it was as if we had won the battle. Pin drop silence. This Aiyat from Quran is most effective and they also knew it, Without a piece of paper, when I recited this Aiyat they felt that I belonged to them.

Many times PRIP Kalyan Da has said that Rotary has given one Rotarian to the Muslim community and that Rotarian is Me .

Yes friends, the resistance from this community was unimaginable. I still remember the days , when a few of us Rotarians in Moradabad went to a particular village and house to give polio drops. We saw the lady of the house was trying to hide the children under a cot and she told us that the children had gone to their maternal grandparents house, even as we could see them. We made her know that the children were very much there .But friends , Her husband had warned her against giving the drops to the children. If drops were given, it would end their marriage, can you imagine that kind of resistance. Many a times the local people in Muslim areas threw stones on Rotarians when they went to administer polio drops to the children.

To counter this we dropped pamphlets or hand bills in Urdu from an IAF helicopter given to us, in pockets of Muslim community so that reading the pamphlet can dispel ignorance .

This had no effect, the root cause was that they did not want to immunize children because of illiteracy and various Rummers spread . Put yourself in their shoes. Their illiteracy and rummers , unfortunately, prevented them from getting vaccinated.

As I said,. When I was accepted by them it is they suggested us to form a committee of all the ulemas in Uttar Pradesh. We accepted their suggestion, made many trips to Lucknow to ensure that the top Ulemas from every sub section of the community were in the core committee., We had an educationist and a Doctor. On NID’s we made these Ulemas administer the polio drops to their own children in camera. That was telecast all over Uttar Pradesh. So the message went around that Polio drops were safe. We saw the results.

Till 2006 the ratio of polio cases in Muslim vs other communities was 70:30.Just in a year the ratio got reversed. This indicated us that perhaps we were in the right path. Such committees were formed in all districts of U P .Practically every week we used to be in high risk areas of U P to spread the message.

Then came Malegaon. With 4 P1 cases ( most dangerous ) in 4 weeks. Then we had an IEAG ( India Experts Advisory group ) in Delhi where experts from all over the world discussed and advised the government the implementation strategy , which was duly followed. PRIP Raja Ji , PDG Deepak Kapur and myself were representing Rotary. And we saw the health secretary Government of Maharashtra raising his hands with helplessness about the resistance in Malegaon. Malegaon’s population is around 400,000.The Muslim Community which is little over half was not accepting Polio drops. In the meeting PRIP Raja Saboo took on the responsibility of Immunizing entire Malegaon. Rtn Rajeev Pradhan and Myself were stationed in Malegaon for 5 days. We had meeting with Doctors , chemists, ulemas , Urdu media and the community. We convinced these skeptics.

With great efforts of Rotary , the Government, our Partners, Health workers and many others we could get rid of Polio in India. And for the last six years we have not witnessed a single Polio Case.

Now, why this meeting ?

Rotary International has spent over US $ 1.5 billion for this cause. When we started our goal was 120 million.

Only in India Rotary has spent over US $ 200 million. Even today there is a funding gap of over 600 million. It is Rotary’s responsibility to fill this funding gap.

Even today there is a challenge with Bill and Melinda Gates foundation who will give 70 million U S Dollars if Rotary raises US $ 35 .

Thanks to this generous Lady Smt Rajashree Ji Birla, who singlehandedly has given much more than all Rotarians in India have given to Polio. Not just money. She helps to run polio booths on Sundays in tourist spots in Mumbai. Every child immunized gets a gift worth Rs 20.

Funds are needed. TRF has spent more than US $ 200 million on us .Now it is our duty to give .

Rotary accepted this program not only to make India Polio free but the whole world. Still there are three countries where Polio virus is in circulation.

Nazar Nazar Mein Utarna Kamaal Hota Hai,

Nafas Nafas Mein Bikharna Kamaal Hota Hai,

Bulandiyon Pe Pahuchna Koi Kamaal Nahi,

Bulandiyon Pe Teharna Kamaal Hota Hai.

In short to achieve something great is indeed difficult but to stay there is more difficult.

India has become polio free

It has to remain polio free.

Every NID and sub NID every child has to get the drops. Raising funds is our important responsibility. There are many pockets where there is no immunization. Please cover it. We should continue and keep working .Let us not be complacent.

We have to promote Routine Immunization. We have to educate people to accept IPV .

TRF started the programme to make not just India polio free but the world polio free. With 3 countries still not polio free the job remains to be done.

Funds are needed. By and large, funds have come through Rotarians and their contacts. We are fortunate to have Aditya Birla group in this country.I am sure you have contacts with many who can give. Please do your best. Unless you speak you will not get it. Friends remember –Polio anywhere is polio every where.

I am delighted to see such a crowd today because even at the peak of polio program in India there was not such a crowd.

I compliment the District Governor and the leadership of R I D 3190 for this.

The commissioner of Malegaon, once said that if Rotary was not involved in this programme the government would have stopped it long back.Thats the reputation and credentials of our organization , make use of it .

You are all here because to hear Smt Rajashree Ji,and I am sure listening to her you all will get motivated and will come forward to exhibit your generosity.

Thank you district governor for inviting me and Smt Rajashree Ji Birla and I look forward to Karnataka remaining Polio free once and for all.

Dear Rotarians and Guests

I express my sincere gratitude to you all, for your friendship, your devotion to service and for your many expressions of affection for me.

This year our Rotary Foundation is celebrating its first century of service.
It provides us with resources, communications, motivation, information and inspiration. Perhaps even more important, our Foundation grants us with access to a worldwide network of dear friends, committed to improve the human condition of our fellow human beings, regardless of their race, religion, or political affiliation.
Every person who opted to accept the invitation to join Rotary would have first understood that Rotary is a Service Organisation and not a social club where people come only to spend time.
When you agreed to join Rotary International’s movement through a local Rotary club, you solemnly agreed not only to serve the community, where you live, but all over the world.
This implies your willingness to support The Rotary Foundation, which is the only agency in Rotary that receives funds, distributes funds and helps you with all the needed resources to finish the service project however small or large it may be. The service wing of Rotary International is The Rotary Foundation.
Without dwelling much about the past history of the district, I notice that the maximum contribution to TRF in a year has been US $219,855 in 2014-15 and in 2015-16 it has reduced by 53 percent to US $101,401. With six months gone in this year, your contribution is about US $19,107.
The richest temple in the world of Lord Shri Padmanabhaswamy in your city and I consider this as an indicator of the philanthropic nature of the people of this State, especially those in this district and nearby.
The Rotary Foundation is the human arm of the Lord and does nearly all of God’s work all over the world. This arm, The Rotary Foundation, has funded 175 projects in your area to the extent of US $2,862,147. This shows clearly how the Rotarians from other countries have willingly supported your district and the projects your clubs have put forth with grants.
Your choice is clear. Only through international solidarity and strong links of fraternal cooperation will Rotary be in a position to effectively build a better world, a world yearning which is rid of poverty, hunger, illiteracy, diseases and unrest. If at all any voluntary agency has a chance of bringing in a semblance of peace in an area, it is The Rotary Foundation.
As we progress in our global quest, by the end of this year’s fantastic journey, under the leadership of President John Germ we will be closer to seeing the end of illiteracy and hunger, we will move closer to a better, brighter and more peaceful future and we will be closer to achieving the global eradication of polio.
We are just this close, from finally reaching Rotary’s finest hour, the end of Polio, which has been our top priority since 1984. Fortunately India became Polio Free almost six years ago.
As of July first, 2013, The Foundation’s Future Vision Program offers a new potential of service. We now offer two types of grants:
– District Grants
– Global Grants, aimed at six areas of clear global priority.
But these wonderful humanitarian and educational programs of The Rotary Foundation depend upon one essential factor: the financial resources made available.
In 2016 -17 the Board of Trustees , Chaired by PRIP Kalyan Banarjee , has set a goal of US $ 300 million for contribution and out of this the goal is US $ 150 million for the Annual Fund. The Trustees are appealing to every Rotarian to contribute a minimum of US $100 every year. If you convert this into Indian Rupees it is just about Rs.6,700 per year and works out to less than Rs.600 a month. With a contribution of just US $100 from all the 4,300 Rotarians in your district you can easily achieve a total of US430,000.
You would agree that even an evening’s outing once a month with your family or friends would cost you higher. I am not asking you to forgo that pleasure. I am asking you to just enhance your level of giving by just that small amount as your level of living increases by leaps and bounds with the Grace of God. I would like to make a mention that the goal set for the Rotarians in India is US $ 26.5 Million this year. Together with this effort, we strongly aspire to strengthen the Foundation’s Endowment Fund.
The joy of giving to The Foundation should become a sacred habit, a routine for each one of us, a life-time commitment, lasting through the years to come, because we know that there is more joy in giving, than in receiving.
My fellow Rotarians we know that the world we inhabit is unfair, unstable, and non-sustainable. This is a world, where terrible contradictions and shocking disparities continue to affect adversely the lives of millions of human beings, who are isolated and abandoned in their dark nights of sorrow.
Under the heavy winds of change that we are now facing, are we really able, eager and willing, to make a difference? If we, the volunteers of peace, champions of friendship, agents of change, Rotarians of the world, do not take action: Who will? Who, my friends?
Each of us has the responsibility, to shape and carry forward our common future because in the path of selfless service, we welcome dreamers, but we also need doers.
There is no room for doubt: The world needs enthusiastic, motivated, inspired and hardworking Rotarians.
We seek volunteers, with generosity in their hearts, eager in harmonic unity, to nurture hope, volunteers who with clear convictions and tenacity who are never tired of serving and giving.
We seek men and women of passionate love and missionary fervour to serve others in need.
We seek Rotarians, prepared in our multicultural and multi-polar world, to maintain their promises and commitments.
Rotarians must follow Swamy Vivekananda who gave the clarion call with his famous words, “Arise, Awake And Stop Not Till The Goal Is Achieved.”
Father of our Nation, Mahatma Gandhi stated it in clear, immortal words, “The best way to find yourself, is to lose yourself, in the service of others.”
We face the possibility of sinking into a chaotic world, characterized by irrational fanaticism, international terrorism, mindless violence, human trafficking, fear and intolerance which displays deep disdain for human life and indiscriminately reaps innocent victims.
But, we shall not use these difficult circumstances to excuse our inaction or succumb to a self-centred lifestyle.
In Rotary there is no room for cowardice, pessimism or selfishness as we strongly reject the temptation of living a life of seclusion. In Rotary we promote inclusive growth and that means everyone must grow to live a better and peaceful life.
Through exemplary leadership, eager and sensitive to the needs of others, we shall spread, with reckless abandon, our ideals, our core values and our love for humanity, symbolized in our dharma, our ultimate aim which is Service Above Self.
It is up to each one of us, with infectious spirit of camaraderie, to improve our course of action, to improve our philanthropic action to reach peace, peace founded on a reconciliation of hearts.
Thus, our personal involvement and reliable financial support to The Rotary Foundation becomes an element of critical importance to enhance the lives of those less fortunate.
As Rotarians who share values and beliefs, we are all familiar with the saying: “The best time to give is when the gift is needed”.
And every time we make a donation, inspired by the fire of love, we state:
“I am a proud donor; this is my foundation and also my personal responsibility”
My fellow Rotarians, builders of love and peace, harmony and international understanding: we do need more Paul Harris Fellows! We want to hear from additional members of the Paul Harris Society, in which, as you know, every participant pledges to contribute $ 1,000, every year.
We aspire to hear from new Major Donors, we dream of more Benefactors and more Bequest Society members and also from new members of the Arch C. Klumph Society, who will all, contribute to reach an Endowment Fund, of 2025 Million US dollar in net assets and expectancies, when We are in the year 2025.
We all recognize that it is impossible to sow new seeds of love, with closed fists. By opening our hands, with generosity and liberality, we shall conquer a new future, future which belongs to us all, in our continuous and shared quest for peace.
The time for excuses or they can’t do, won’t do, or won’t even try, is over. It is over, my friends! We need to proceed to action. The time to act is now, right now or even a hundred years from now.
Let’s all give, flying on restless wings, our time and our crucial contributions, as much as we can, which will certainly allow, many people in despair, to become, through their fullest self-fulfillment, artisans of their own destiny.
Let’s take advantage, with increase intensity, of today’s new technology to boost our public image, thus making Rotary more visible, enhancing public awareness of our mission in our pursuit of common good in truth and love.
The spread, with youthful and dynamic spirit, not only of our core values but also the awareness of our mission are certain ways to generate new and increased giving to The Rotary Foundation.
Life, in an information-driven society, provides us all, with innovative new approaches, with the potential of yielding excellent results. Fund raising, for example, can be done through the social media, including Facebook and Twitter. Are you all aware that The Foundation received over $11 million US $ in 2015-16 through on-line donations?
Rotary’s new on-line tools allow us to send forth, clearly and broadly, waves of hope that will reach way beyond us, as Rotary’s voice around the world becomes louder and more powerful.
There should be no room for doubt that the enthusiasm and hard work of the Rotary Foundation Coordinators and the Endowment/Major Gift Advisors will lead to increases in the number and the volume of contributions year after year, much like a river that receives new waters which may fertilize new fields and allow for new, much needed, of bountiful crops.
My friends, if we aspire to look beyond ourselves; if we wish to lead using heads, hearts and hands; if we are committed to build the future with action and vision ; if we wish to be the gift to the world : If we wish the world to know Rotary Serving Humanity ; We must gather the courage to encourage change, and we must refuse to sink into what I call , ” Leprosy Of The Soul” the condition where the desire to do good, sadly, fades away.
If each one of us contributes with a bit of caring, hope, sharing and dreaming, we will make a positive and lasting difference in the world, as each one of us will effectively touch somebody else’s life.
This is, my friends, the function of love, this is the attainment true awakening.
We cannot ignore the distressful realities of today’s world.
My fellow Rotarians, we cannot wait in silence through the night of despair, we cannot turn deaf ears to the plea of the outcasts, who lack the recognition of their dignity.
We could not stand idle, turning a blind eye to the plight of the victims of hopelessness and loneliness.
How long should our commitment last? Have not a single doubt. This is a life-long commitment, a life-lasting journey!
Let’s take a new look and act with consistency, credibility and continuity!
This is the time for everyone, to roll up our sleeves guided by the light of love, to seek the well being of our brothers and sisters around our planet Earth.
Let’s march forward! Let’s start right now, under a star-filled sky as, in the joy of giving, we shall also enjoy the blessing of receiving! Bishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, the recipient of the Nobel Price for Peace in 1984, wrote: “Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”
As leaders with a global perspective, let’s all set our personal example, doing our little good every day. Let’s awaken to the joy of serving others in their turn, sharing a great stream of joy, many will follow our steps. Let’s ask ourselves: are we a bit tired and pessimistic?
Where is our vigour? Where is our thirst for doing good in the world?
Acting with vigour, determination and vision, we shall leave behind petty limitations and narrow perspectives.
We will rise above selfish interests, as we aspire to live by Gandhi’s ideal, when we will declare: “MY LIFE IS MY MESSAGE “.
Let’s proceed, with passion and loving generosity, to selfless action and effective deeds, discovering, in the process, new worlds of service.
Tears help, but little, as life is not a treadmill, it is a moving walkway.
We will be sharing this world with others, for only a brief period of time. Nobody knows for sure, how much longer, we have left.
We are certain, however, that one of the best ways to make this a better world is serving mankind through our dear Rotary Foundation, the beating heart of Rotary.
My fellow Rotarians, the time to put the Mission of Rotary into practice is right now. This is the time to advance world understanding, goodwill and international peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty, not only for the food they need for their survival but also for allowing them to recover their supreme dignity.
It is my profound hope that each one of you, the leaders of Rotary’s will persevere with a heart full of faith, in our mission of doing good in the world, supporting our beloved Foundation.
I invite you all to act, with audacity and burning passion, to make our dreams a reality, allowing our Foundation grants to achieve the biggest impact possible on the vulnerable and needy communities of the world.
After all, don’t forget, that mankind is our business!
We keep in mind Martin Luther King Jr.’s often quoted statement:
“EVERYONE CAN BE GREAT BECAUSE EVERY ONE CAN SERVE “. and it is Mother Teresa who taught us: “SERVING IS REAL POWER , BECAUSE SERVICE IS LOVE IN ACTION “.
This, my fellow Rotarians, is our wake-up call to action that we cannot ignore at all.
Let’s allow service, our love in action, to Light our path in support of the progress of humanity.
At times, we may find ourselves tired, with leaden limbs and weary souls, sadly tempted to appeal to excuses.
But, we shall always persevere as we will never flinch, nor we will never give up in despair, because we always proclaim to believe in what we do and do what we believe in, in our pilgrim and missionary way, in our mission on behalf of peace and human dignity.
As we successfully progress, whirling all over the globe, generously and courageously, with missionary fervour in our quest of Samaritan service, we know that by the end of this year’s fantastic journey, under the leadership of our dear President , we will be closer to achieving the eradication of polio, the end of illiteracy and conflict, and will have moved closer, step by step, by the generous dedication of Over 1.2 Million Rotarians to a better, brighter and more rewarding future.
Let’s touch, with affection and devotion, the lives of as many human beings as we can, showing that we are capable of holding high the almost 100 candles of our Foundation history.
Let’s kindle the fire by spreading the message that Rotary is Serving Humanity because Service to Humanity through our Foundation means freedom from hunger and want. It means victory over disease and pain.
It means triumph from ignorance and it Means dignity, peace & better human beings.
Let each of you be the source , keeping hope alive.
Let the Rotary Foundation Serve Humanity brightly around the world forever.

While concluding I am reminded of the golden words written by Stephen Grellet
” I expect to pass through this world but once .
Any good things, therefore that I can do,
Any kindness that I can show a fellow being,
Let me do it – now,
Let me not deter or neglect it,
For I shall not pass this way again”
Rotary Foundation gives you an opportunity to do good in the world – SUPPORT THE ROTARY FOUNDATION.
Thank you

President Anindya , ……

The only thing worse than being blind, is having sight but no vision. These are the insightful words of the great Helen Keller, the first deaf & blind person to get a Bachelor of Arts degree. 58 years after she passed away, Helen Keller’s life continues to inspire all of us to help those whom nature has dealt an unfair hand.

Rotary Club of Thane Hills, ever since its inception in 1991, has consistently demonstrated an extraordinary vision, an ability to think ahead of the times, to be ahead of the curve. Back in its infancy this club undertook the task of constructing an earthen dam in Shirol, to provide vital drinking water for the villagers there. Since then, this club’s vision has manifested itself in extraordinary community service projects in the field of Healthcare, Education, Rural Sanitation, care for Special Children. The community in and around Thane has immensely benefited from their Initiatives. This club comprises some extraordinary Rotarians who have always been at the forefront of thinking big and harnessing enormous organisational and execution skills.

My regular interactions with your members like RAVI , Sharath , Shirish ,Atul Bhide , Narendra and many more have only added to my conviction about the wealth of talent available in your Club. Your rural Sanitation Project, ‘RIGHT TO GO’ has touched the lives of more than 700 households in rural & tribal areas. Your Check Dams have brought relief to the Rural Community in Murbad. I have been closely watching this club’s monumental Project Triumph Blood Bank & Thalassemia Day Care Centre which is serving the community by making available safe Blood and components. This centre has given a new lease of life to 75 Thalassemic Children by ensuring free and safe Blood Transfusions to them.

Now, in its 26th year of service, RC Thane Hills has once again demonstrated its Vision. Project VIRTUAL EYE will enable a visually impaired person to use a Computer like any other normal person without using a Braille Keyboard. By combining different software, VIRTUAL EYE can transform the lives of the visually impaired. Having been fully briefed on the technical aspects of this project, I do believe that this is probably the most revolutionary innovation in this field since the invention of Braille. VIRTUAL EYE needs to be taken to every school and Institution for the visually impaired not only in the community around us, but across the length and breadth of India, and then across the world. This Project has the potential to be recognised and supported by Rotary International as a Global Initiative. Rotary Club of Thane Hills, .. VISION IS THY MIDDLE NAME.

Rotary Club of Thane Hills has requested me to be take this project under my wing. Let me tell you that it is a pleasure and a privilege to do so.
Wish You all the very best

I would like to start with a Quote ” India has the dubious distinction of being known as the Coronary and diabetes capital of the world “. The quote though blunt , identifies a problem but raises a solution as well. Our District Governor Gopal has given us a clarion call to take up Diabetes as the primary thrust area in our community and today we witness this very fine Seminar.This is how Rotary is Serving Humanity.

World Heart day founded in 2000 , to inform people around the globe that heart disease and strokes are the world’ leading cause of death, claiming about 17.5 Million each year. It’s an annual event which takes place on every 29th September.

Rotary always moves to take issues related to health with all seriousness. It was year 1993 when Dr Soneji thought of this issue and he accepted a challenge to organize SAVE YOUR HEART Seminar with crystal clear thoughts in his mind to create an awareness amongst the Rotarians of District 3140.

Can you imagine the attendance we had in that seminar ??? Friends , it was over 750 in attendance and Who is Who in this field were the faculty members.

I still remember that Seminar in Juhu Santour and would not hesitate to say that I have never attended such a fine seminar which was so effective and informative. Full marks to Dr Soneji ! And that’s the reason even without seeing my calendar I accepted this invitation. My salutations to Dr Soneji and of course Rotary Club of Bombay Sea coast.

I applaud DG Gopal , Dr Soneji and of course Rotary Club of Bombay Sea Coast for their efforts to educate Rotarians on the problem we face together with the heart disease. The success of the Seminar is directly related to how the information we receive here is spread around at least in our Rotary Families.

As you all know , I am an Engineer by education hence have a limited knowledge about the subject , but what ever little knowledge I have , will try to put before you all.

Heart is one of the most vital or should I say The Most Vital Organ of the human body. It starts its work even before you are born and works relentlessly and without any rest for the duration of your life.

Heart disease, as I said earlier, have reached almost epidemic proportions and are responsible for maximum number of death world wide. Heart disease are preventable and even curable.The ignorance of the communities at large about this facet of heart disease needs to be attended to

When Rotary stepped in to promote Polio Eradication, many were skeptic about its success . Polio affects only a minuscule of people world wide and Rotary took upon itself the responsibility to do some thing about it .And you all know where we are in Polio Eradication World over .

The role of Rotary with regards to heart diseases is clear , it is to creat an awareness about the disease and educate the masses regarding the need to be vigilant and take those steps that are needed to control the incidence of heart diseases .

As heart diseases are normally due to high blood pressure , age , diabetes , high cholesterol, diet , over weight , smoking, , work stress and so on , the awareness program should also include tips and data that will ultimately help control this disease.

Some heart diseases are due to birth defect and some heart problems develop within the first one or two decades due to a condition that is the result of a throat infraction known as Rheumatic Heart Disease . Here the valves of the heart are affected .This form of Heart Disease is preventable to some an extent

Over all , Heart Disease form a major part infirmity in the community that are not necessarily financially compromise. Infect many patients of Heart problems are financially able

When Rotary undertakes a project of Community awareness , it should include among other things

1-the Gravity of the problem .
2-the preventable steps that can reduce the incidence.
3-the facilities available.
4-the need to under go a regular yearly check up , including laboratory and Radiological evaluation .
5- to take medical assistance to reduce the havoc of Heart Diseases .

Rotary Club can do all this and perhaps much more through

1- Intercity Fora to promote awareness amongst Rotarians and the youth wing of Rotary.
2- Community awareness program through community based gathering.

Rotary has the man power , the infrastructure and the financial commitments needed to put the project into motion.What is needed is commitment, compassion and courage to enter into a new field of service.

I once again applaud today’s efforts of DG Gopal, Dr Soneji, RI District 3141 and of course Rotary Club of Bombay Sea Coast,to educate our Rotarians on the problem we face together with Heart Diseases and to work together with Rotractors, inner wheel members , business men parents & children to promote healthy life styles and ensur a brighter future for our people .

Dear Friends,
GRATITUDES NEVER SAY NO FOR ANY ROTARY COMMITMENT.
Today I am here to share my views on a subject for I am neither an authority nor posses much knowledge and that is on organ donation.

It is said in Rotary the moment you climb the ladder to D G you are expected to know on every subject under the sun and that made me accept this challenge.

Organ Donation is such a Nobel cause that every Rotary Club must accept it with all the seriousness and when you get back to your respective clubs you educate and motivate your club members to be part of this movement whole heartedly. It really gives us an opportunity to get involved in helping some one unknown to us in the ultimate gift after we have left this world.

Yes Friends, every day many people die while waiting for a transparent. We can certainly help such individuals by donating our vita organs after we have passed away and save their lives.

For more sentimental of you , of all the patients waiting for a transplant, over 10% of those are children under 18 years of age.

What is organ donation?
Organ donation is the harvesting of an individual’s organs after he or she dies for the purpose of transplanting them into another person. The person who gives the organs is called a donor while a person who receives the organ is called a recipient.

Who can be donor?
All of us can be organ donors, irrespective of age, caste, religion, community, current or past medical condition. Children can also be organ donors after taking consent for organ donation from their parents.

Most cancer patients may donate corneas.

Which organs and tissues can be donated?
Vital Organs like heart, liver, kidneys, intestines, lungs, and pancreas can be donated only in case of ‘brain death’. However other tissues like corneas, heart valves, skin, bones etc can be donated only in case of natural death.

How does Organ Donation help patients with organ failure?
For organ recipients, a transplant often means a second chance at life. Vital organs such as the heart, pancreas, liver, kidneys and lungs can be transplanted to those whose organs are failing. It allows many recipients to return to a normal lifestyle. For others, a cornea or tissue transplant means the ability to see again or the recovery of mobility and freedom from pain.

What is the importance of a donor registry?
A registry is an essential part of understanding who and where potential donors are. A registry gives a planner enough information to devise strategies to get more public cooperation and commitment towards organ donation.

Having a registry in place allows doctors and transplant coordinators to check if a brain dead person wished to donate and then approaching the family for consent becomes easier. It helps in saving crucial time in the process of organ donation.

Why Donate?
Each year, thousands of people die while waiting for a transplant, because no suitable donor can be found for them. The need for organ donors has never been greater.Do you know In India every year nearly:

• 500,000 people die because of non-availability of organs
• 200,000 people die of liver disease
• 50,000 people die from heart disease
• 150,000 people await a kidney transplant but only 5,000 get one
• Over a Million people suffer from corneal blindness and await transplant

and hundreds and thousands lose their life due to burn as the skin is not available.

Nationally, with a population of 1.25 billion people, the statistic stands at 0.08 persons as organ donors per million population (PMP).

This is an incredibly small and insignificant number compared to the statistics around the world.

Countries like the USA, UK, Germany, Netherlands have a ‘family consent’ system for donations where people sign up as donors, and their family’s consent is required.

Other countries like Singapore, Belgium, Spain have a more aggressive approach of ‘presumed consent’, which permits organ donation by default unless the donor has explicitly opposed it during his lifetime. These countries have seen the rate of donations double, averaging between 20-40 , Per Million Population ..

We understand it is difficult to think about organ donation when you have just lost a loved one; however organ donation is a generous and worthwhile decision that can save many lives. By donating, each person can save the lives of upto 7 individuals by way of organ donation and enhance the lives of over 50 people by way of tissue donation.

How to donate?
To be an organ donor, it is important to register by signing up for Organ Donation. Please be in touch with our District Chair for organ donation or your the A G to your respective Rotary Club .

CONGRATULATIONS TO DG AND ALL THE CLUBS WHO ARE PARTICIPATING IN THIS UNUSUAL SEMINAR .

I am indeed delighted and deem it a matter of privilege for me to be present before this august audience. You are all dedicated Rotarians devoted to cause of Rotary, having accepted the ideal of Rotary service as an aim of your life. You are men/women of action, you believe in what you do and you do what you believe in.The unique methodology of selecting the service minded people, who are best suited to represent that section of the society to which they belong as leaders thereof, are loaned a particular classification.

The typical phraseology employed by Rotary International- “loaning out a classification to a person selected to represent a particular profession, or vocation or business in Rotary” implies the member incurring a debt which has to be repaid. At the same time every member of a Rotary Club ideally represents a group of people. It is this quality to lead and represent a particular section of Society that inculcates in him/her the influence to carry the message of Rotary to the grass root levels of the society.

With the figure of Rotary membership in India having stimulated itself more than one lakh which is more than 10% of the total world population of Rotary, it follows that Rotary has strength, enthusiasm and relevance in this part of the world.

We are ridden with population explosion, poverty, illiteracy, ill-health and the worst – communal disharmony.

Challenges are many and so are the fronts to be fought against. I am confident that each one of you has a tremendous invincible potential to set in motion a chain reaction of service, brotherhood, understanding, love and compassion. I am here only to remind you and make you realize what you are and what you are capable of doing and how?

There are a few basic questions which are asked often. What is Rotary? Why I became a Rotarian? What I seek to achieve? And, how? Past R I President Raja Saboo has beautifully answered these questions. He has once said:

“Rotary is about so many things – friendship and fellowship, international understanding and co-operation, vocational ethics and community leadership. All these values brought us to Rotary, and, all are reasons why we stay as Rotarians. Rotary seeks to serve and put service above self.Rotarians are the people who have come together to serve others as together they can do it better, more effectively and more enjoyably than they could have alone”

The Five avenues of service, central to Rotary’s methodology of working lead the way to the destination and make your dreams real. Rotary believes that the whole world is one community and by promoting the well being of the people of all ages in every region of the planet earth we can establish world peace. Every act of service which relieves suffering in this world brings peace a step nearer.

All of us came to Rotary because somebody wanted to share Rotary with us and as a necessary corollary it is our duty to share and serve.

The four objects of service spell out our destination and also the path which we have to tread.

The key line is – “the object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise”. The four objectives enumerated thereafter illustrate and expand this basic truth.

However, in Rotary, these four objects I have read not merely as objects but as oath or solemn affirmation. I would read the four objects, in the form an oath affirmation, as under, and hope that every Rotarian does it.

“ I swear in the name of God or I state on solemn affirmation; that I shall develop acquaintance as an opportunity for service;

that I shall maintain high ethical standards in business and profession; recognize the worthiness of all useful occupations; and shall dignify my occupation as an opportunity to serve society; that I shall apply the ideal of service in my personal, business and community life,that I shall advance
international understanding, goodwill and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service (which obviously in Rotary)”

In these objects there are two key expressions to be found. They are (i) “the ideal of service and (ii) “application of ethics” in personal, vocational and community life, ‘Service and ethics’!

The mission of Rotary International also speaks of providing ‘service’ and promoting ‘high ethical standards ‘The theme of my address – ‘ the spark within Rotarian ’ is to put in other words , ‘ service and ethics’. Service is the spark to be ignited by ethics.

Compassion, charity, love and brotherhood or fellowship – all taken together will not be able to convey the meaning of ‘service’ which Rotary comprehence has its ideal or motto.

The concept of selfless service originates from all Love for the fellow human beings and almost all living creatures.

If I believe that I am a child of God then it will not be difficult for me to believe that every other human being too is a child of God.

“Mankind is one. Build the bridges of friendship.”

However, some are more blessed than the others. Therefore, he/she is most blessed who can give than to receive.

Our creator – the God – in his wisdom expects us to live and work not merely for our own pleasure and our own benefit but also for the service and benefit of others.

Service to society does not require a hefty wallet, strong limbs and heroic deeds or great sacrifices. A helping hand, a friendly word of gesture, a kind smile will more than suffice. In the words of Mark Twain “kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can read! ” Service with compassion binds the humanity together in the bond of unity and peace.

The philosophy of Rotary was expressed with remarkable brevity by our national leader Mahatma Gandhi. He has said “To my mind as soon as man looks upon himself as a servant of society, earns for its sake and spends for its sake then his earnings are virtuous and his business venture is constructive”

One profits most who serves best

One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he has only one thin dime left, and he was hungry.

He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door.

Instead of meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry, so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked “How much do I owe you?”

“You don’t owe me anything” she replied “Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness” He said “Then I thank you from my heart”

As Howard Kelly left that house. he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was much stronger than before. He was surcharged with determination.

Many years later the same young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease.

Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes.

Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room.

Dressed in his doctor’s gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once.

He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to her case. After a long struggle, the battle was won.

Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, and then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill. She read these words.

“Paid in full with one glass of milk”
(Signed) Dr. Howard Kelly. Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed: “Thank you, God that Your love has spread broad through human hearts and hands.”

Swami Vivekananda the great Indian role model, who believed in translating ideas into action, has said “we are responsible for what we are, and whatever we wish ourselves to be, we have the power to make ourselves. If what we are now has been the result of our own past actions, it certainly follows that whatever we wish to be in future can be produced by our present actions; so we have to know how to act ”

Service with compassion is our duty not only to others but also for self. The karma we perform and accrue in this life is extremely relevant to our next life. We always reap that we sow.

Therefore, performing good deeds with selfless motive will definitely lead to positive karma both in this life and future lives.

We must do good deeds because it is right thing to do. We must perform right action because that is what will lead us to God. Service to humanity is service to God. And, only He can put the light in our eyes, the glow on our face andt the song in our heart. Those who have done selfless service will agree that we ourselves are benefited immeasurably as our hearts fill with joy, with peace and with love. The life become full of meaning.

A small, impoverished boy was standing barefoot on the New York City streets, looking wistfully in the windows of a shoe store. A well dressed woman saw him and asked him, “Why are you looking so solemnly in this window? ” The small boy looked up at her and replied “I am asking God to please give me a pair of shoes”

The woman took the boy’s small hand and led him into the show store, where she immediately asked the clerk for a bucket of warm water and ten pairs of socks. The, placing the boy’s dirty feet into the water, she tenderly washed them and then put a pair of warm socks on him, Then, she told the clerk to bring shoes for the boy.

As they left the store, the boy’s small feet now warm and comfortably placed in a pair of new shoes, he clenched the woman’s hand and looked up into her eyes. Tears of joy rolled down the eyes of the lady when the child with an innocent smiles on his lips, asked her –“Auntie, are you God’s wife?” Ethics

Ethics, also called moral philosophy, is concerned with conduct and character. It consists of principles and methods for distinguishing right from wrong and good from bad.

Ethics in theory is the belief in principles of Rotary that they are the real standards of judging what is right? Practical ethics is the applicability of such principles to real life situations.

In a dilemma ask a question to yourself – what should I do? And, find the answers on principles learnt in theory.

Those who believe in religion, learn the principles of ethics and morality there from. For them they are the words of God, generally expressed in religious books, which show the path of righteousness and enable solving of problems that arise in a social setting. In Rotary it can be the 4-way test.

The practical ethics of Rotary, which must ignite a spark in every Rotarian is: “Let your example speak more than your words. reform yourself and be yourself what you want others to be. Live what you preach. Otherwise do not preach”

You have to act. The world and the society are full of challenges as sufferings to alleviate. Shiv Khera, an educator and motivator of international repute says – “it is never the activity of rascals that destroys the society, but also the inactivity of good people that does it” Again he says – “If injustice is happening to your neighbour and you can sleep, wait for your turn. You are next. ”

Friends, you are all leaders in your vocation or profession or business and therefore are in Rotary. A leader is one who knows the way, shows the way and goes the way.

Albert Schweitzer, the great scientist/humanitarian an honorary Rotarian once said –Example is not the main thing to influence others; it is the only thing. Think and act now. Kindle the spark of Rotary in every Rotarian and let the light of Rotary, illuminate the world.

According to Harry Truman ‘“A leader is a man who has the ability to get other people to do what they don’t want to do and like it” Let every Rotarian be an example, a role model to the society to which he belongs. And we have done.

I would end by quoting an anonymous poem:

Through the toilsome world, alas! Once and only once I pass; If a kindness I may show; If a good deed I may do; To a suffering fellow man, Let me do it while I can. No delay, for it is pain I shall not pass this way again.

Is your life measured by how many platinum credit cards you have? Is it measured by how many frequent flier miles you have accumulated? Is it measured by how many parties you are invited for? Did you measure your life by saying my success equals my happiness? Our journey on this planet earth is once in a lifetime opportunity! If we measure it with wrong standards, then the journey would have just ended without anyone wanting to remember us.

In our lifetime, we are seeing leaders who are changing the course of history. Many a times, we want to understand what made their lives great and what might be missing in ours. The people who engineered great culture, were not ruled by thoughts and emotions. They were guided by awareness and perception. They became examples for us to design our lives.

We all remember Mahatma Gandhi, the Mahatma who had a dream for his countrymen, a dream that they live in Tolerance, Ahimsa and Love. Perhaps, he was the only Indian in whom there was no contradiction between his creeds and deeds. For him, commitment to Truth was the only source of social transformation and universal Love the means to such radical social changes. How did the Mahatma fashion his life? He was able to sit still. Working only on his body was not enough. He also had to settle his mind, emotions, and energy.

People will praise the Mahatma for his ideology. But hardly anyone has dared to follow his lifestyle. Many so-called leaders of today will lure the common people by sweet talks and quoting the great teachings of the Mahatma, but secretly they prepare for atrocious actions. What has happened to the dream of this great Mahatma?

Tolerance, Truthfulness, and genuine love are rare commodities found in our world which is marred by violence. One feels nausea at the merciless and brutal massacre of innocent people, wars, political and religious intolerance, destruction of peace, destroying of places of worship, killing of unborn babies etc. Our society today seems to be ruled by the rude philosophy of “An eye for an eye.” Gandhiji said, “An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind.”

Many of us remain passive spectators to the lawlessness of our society and run behind momentary influence of top politicians who proclaim from roof-top that they are guardians of society, when they are no more than venomous snakes. What is morally wrong cannot be politically right. Again it was Gandhiji who said, “A person cannot be good in parts.” Either you are good or bad. That is all.

I understood that the lives of great leaders are measured by how many lives they touched. Mahatma Gandhi touched the lives of millions of Indians when he spearheaded the freedom movement. So did Nelson Mandela and many others who spoke and worked for the voiceless millions around the world. Mother Teresa, showed how caring for the most deprived can be taken to the highest level.

The stories of individual sacrifices, which made people great, all revolve around one common theme – how they touched the lives of others and changed it for the better.

Rotary International’s President during 1982-1983, Dr. Hiroji Mukasa from Japan reinforced our ancient saying to the Rotary World through his theme “Mankind is One”. He asked every Rotarian to build bridges of friendship throughout the world. I was fortunate to be the President of my Rotary Club in Mulund, Mumbai during that period.

Rotary is a medium for us to touch the lives of others. When we started the polio eradication movement more than two decades ago, it was a pledge that we took to touch the lives of millions of people around the world and save their children from polio. We have now nearly achieved it. The struggle people undertook for this cause worldwide cannot be written in a few pages of history.

Today, India has been free from polio for nearly five years. The task was formidable. But we did it. The Government of India and the countless workers, including Rotarians, who went from door-to-door, did it.

The formation of the Muslim Ulema Committee by Rotary in some states of India, hastened the end of polio. This committee has stalwarts and leaders of the Muslim community along with Rotarians and they succeeded in breaking the myths surrounding the polio vaccines that resulted in resistance to immunisation.

I, as the Chairman of this movement in India, have interacted with all our Muslim brethren leaders and have been admiring their commitment to eradicate polio from India and in few other parts of the world including Pakistan. Many people have supported Rotary’s noble effort in this eradication programme. In India, Mrs. Rajashree Birla, the doyen of the Aditya Birla Group, has as of now given The Rotary Foundation over US $ 9 million dollars for the programme.

She and her team of volunteers pair with Rotarians during the National Immunisation Days and go from house to house to ensure that children are vaccinated.She is an example of how a great industrial empire builder can work with the lower most strata of the society for the welfare of the people.

The industry her family has built itself is for the welfare of the people and thousands of people are getting employment in their organisation.Mrs. Rajashree Birla has inspired other Indian owned business houses to donate liberally to the cause of polio eradication through Rotary.

If you want to follow the examples of great teachers, live and grow by their principles then you will have to clean your energy system of the residue of violence that may be there. Then you change your destiny. This is why yoga and meditation are important.

There is an urgent need for peace movements in the world. Democratic minded citizens, political parties and progressive sections of the society of all the countries in this region must come together to evolve an agenda and a road map for peace, and build pressure on the governments of the countries.

It is very rightly said that if there is to be peace in the world, there must be peace in the hearts of people. There are many ways to promote peace in the world but perhaps the best way to promote it is to promote it within ourselves.

How your thoughts about others behaves within your system, makes the difference between wellness and illness, peace and turmoil, joy and misery in your house, your neighbourhood, your community, your city and your country.

Inner peace means staying balanced , both physically and mentally. Even in the face of undesirable situations. It is a sense of stability and contentment which carries us through all the trial of life. Inner peace is the ability to handle ourselves and our life situations with serenity, acceptance and creativity.

Inner peace does not happen overnight. It is attained through a gradual process as we learn to take off control of our mind. “To different minds , the same world is a hell and a heaven” reminds Ralph Waldo Emerson. Meditation, outward thinking , helping the needy , emotional detachment etc are only some of the means to keep our mindset free of negativity.

Peace is a gradual and wonderful event that occurs because compassionate people are inspired to help others discover the joy of peace! Helping others also has the direct effect of increasing our personal peace and well-being, but this is merely one of the many bonuses that come from sharing our kindness with our fellow human beings. An Irish Proverb says, “It is in the shelter of each other that the people live.”

Peace, like reading, writing, mathematics, drawing, emotional intelligence and enlightenment is a learned skill that improves our knowledge, maturity, health, happiness and longevity.

The advent of the World Wide Web may just provide the boost in knowledge and peace humankind has been waiting for. Improved communication may be the difference between extinction and survival.Through knowledge, Peace will evolve. Knowledge is power. Knowledge combined with enlightenment leads to wisdom – Wisdom is Peace.

The role of youth in India, like any other country, is vital in developing the nation and today they are finding that they have to go beyond the call of their vocation and take active interest in the society.The need for inclusive development has been understood and people realise that no one can trample upon others and try to come up.

As, I told you in the beginning, the necessity to measure your life against higher values is now understood by the new generation.So, what do we do to measure our lives? We are good to people. That in turn makes us happy.While most are dreaming of success, winners wake up and work hard to achieve it – this is perhaps the most important message that needs to be sent across to the leaders.

Canadian economist and humourist Stephen Leacock once remarked, “People who believe in luck and work harder always find that they have more of luck.” He also said, “It may be those who do most, dream most.”Rotary has made us realise that our greatest success is achieved only when we see the smile on the face of the people whose lives we have touched.

Is a life of happiness so simple? Can it be free of complications? I think so.Great leaders in Rotary have shown us how to be better persons, not wealthier, more successful or more powerful – just better persons. And the result was sheer happiness. It is that simple.

The Rotary Foundation is a tool in your hands to show that you can be a better person. In fact, when many people join together to complete a humanitarian project, the end result is joy for every individual.

The Rotary Foundation takes us through life, which is a series of experiences, each of which makes us bigger and better. In Asia and around the world, India is not simply emerging; India has already emerged. And it is my firm belief that the relationship between our neighbouring Countries and India-bound by our shared interests and values-will be one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century.

This is the partnership we wish to strengthen through Rotary. This is the vision that our people can realize together by supporting each other through Rotary and The Rotary Foundation and its Programme .“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.” said Mother Teresa.

It is not enough to say , ” we must not wage war ” it is necessary to love peace and sacrifice for it. We must concentrate not merely on the eradication of war but on the affirmation of peace.

The need of the hour is to come to grip with the deep rooted values of our Society. Mahatma Gandhi , who fell in love with Indian philosophy and Indian people spared no efforts to reform the Society. Time is ripe for us to make the positive force of Ahimsa come alive. It is time to act in love shedding hatred.That is what peace is all about. That is what we are stressing in Rotary, year after year. Many Rotarians have wondered whether peace is possible in today’s environment. Why not? It

It is that organisations such as Rotary have to work for it. Winston Churchill said, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.”We need to forge partnerships amongst Rotarians and non Rotarians in our country to fight against hunger, disease and poverty.

Together we can resist forces that tend to slow down the growth of Our Country.The youth in India form the talent pool from which we can constantly build a stronger Country that will grow for centuries to come. Living by example is the best way to inspire others. Mahatma Gandhi rightly said ” Be the change that you want to see in the world ” . It is only by becoming the messenger as well as being the message your role as the model becomes effective.

There is a South Indian Legend about a holy man who became known all over India as a famous preacher. He showed kindness to all who came to him. Hundreds and Thousands of pilgrims came to learn from him. Everyone who visited him went back inspired. Yet this great preacher had never in his life even able to utter even one word ,for he had been born dumb. The example he set by his actions was the only sermon he could preach.

People prefer to watch what you do more than they listen to what you say.”Action speaks louder than words ” goes an ancient proverb. No matter how convincingly you may try always to speak in an impressive way, yet you can be failure, if your actions do not co-relate with your words.Let your example speak more than your words. Reform yourself and be yourself what you want others to be. Live what you preach. Otherwise do not preach.

Albert Schweitzer, the great Scientists/Humanitarian and an Honorary Rotarian once said ” Example is not the main thing to influence others; it is the only thing.”Think and act now. Kindle the spark of Mahatma Gandhi ‘s Philosophy in every Indian and let the light of his teachings illuminate the World.

Let every individual in this room be an example, a role model to the society which you belong and make the dream of Mahatma Gandhi come true. That will be our true tribute to that great a man who sacrificed his life for the citizens of India.When you live to make a difference in the life of others ,your life focuses on intentional living. It is only by being conscious of your purpose in life you can set an example to the people who look up to you.

Every saint who wrote all the famous scriptures in our culture is an example. Every preacher who took forward the message of love of God, is an example.

Every Ulema who works for the upliftment of the community and integrates everyone into the one big social fabric is an example.

But not everyone sees them. You have to learn from others, as if you will live forever. That is how you will be able to live peacefully daily. It is said that, “It’s better to go slow in the right direction than to go fast in the wrong direction.”

By following the good examples of others, you may feel that your progress in life is slow, but in the end you will end up being an example yourself to the next generation.

What more can you want in your life? Even if the whole world is silent, your one voice can become powerful. This is what makes people as leaders and makes them examples to others.

Albert Einstein, when talking about our great Mahatma Gandhi said, “Generations to come will scarce believe that such a man ever tread the earth.”

“I wanted to change the world. But I have found that the only thing one can be sure of changing is oneself,” said – Aldous Huxley. Finally in the words of Gandhiji, “Be the change you want to see in this world.” Live by it and become an example.I have to quote Nelson Mandela before I conclude. He said, “A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination.” Everyone of us here must be that formidable person.

“One creature hurting another is a common occurance among the low order of creation. Uncivilized men and women sport in it. But mercy to living beings is a marl of civilization ….the law of life is uniform. Harm done to one is keenly felt. That the same is the feeling of fellow beings require to be realized “says Yoga philosophy.In the month of January in General and Today in particular every proud Indian respectfully remembers Mahatma Gandhi , the Mahatma who had a dream for his countrymen : a dream that they live in tolerance , committing themselves to Truth and Ahimsa ( Love) . Perhaps he was the only Indian in whom there was no contradiction between his creeds and deeds.

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The core teaching of every religion found expression in him. For him , commitment to Truth (Satyagraha ) was the only social transformation and Universal Love(Ahimsa ) the means to such radical social change.

All will praise the Mahatma for his ideology but hardly any one will dare to be influenced by his life style.. Many so called leaders of today will lure the common people by sweet talk quoting from the great teaching of the Mahatma but secretly they prepare for atrocious action. What has happened to the dreams of this Great man??

Tolerance , truthfulness and genuine love are rare commodities found in our world which is so much marred by violence . One feels nausea at the merciless and brutal massacre of innocent people.Wars, political and religious intolerance , destruction of peace,felling of place of worship , terrorism , killing of unborn babies and many such acts . Our society today seems to be ruled by the rude philosophy of “Tit for Tat”.

Many of us remain passive spectators to the lawlessness and valuelessness of our society and run behind momentary influence of top politicians who proclaim from the house tops that they are guardians of society while secretly they are no more than white washed sepulchres and venomous sneakers. What is morally wrong cannot be politically right.

The need of the hour is to come to grip with the deep rooted values of our society. Gandhiji who fell in love with Indian Philosophy and Indian people spared no effort to reform the society. Time is ripe for us to make the positive force of Ahimsa come alive . It is time to act in love shedding hatred.

The peal of bells that rang in 2015 pushed me hard to think of how we can usher in an era of peace that will lead to national integration for generations to come in India. I want to say that New Year’s Day is not to bother about resolutions but to work for good days to come soon for our nation.

We have had slogans such as India Shining, Incredible India, God’s Own Country, so on and so forth. We now have a new slogan, ‘Make in India.’ However, what is important is that we should make India the pride of the world.For the last decade, India has seen unprecedented development in many spheres. The development we should celebrate now is the spirit of human progress in India.

India has been and is the home to leading spiritual leaders. Collectively and individually, they have worked over the century for non-violence, harmony and ethics. They have addressed delicate issues relating to human behavior, life religion with extraordinary vigour, integrity and selflessness.

Their long-standing engagements with multiple dimensions of people go far beyond their own religious traditions.We are deeply touched by the spirit of these rare individuals who surged from the grassroots and brought substantial change in the society but removing many social stigmas such as un-touchability, religious intolerance and caste divides.

India is well on its way to becoming a Five trillion Dollar economy by 2025. The first trillion took us 60 years, the next trillion will happen in 10 years and the next trillion can happen in another 10 years. A tide of rising expectations has pushed the image of India up in the global scenario. However, there are significant issues concerning peace and national integration to overcome on this journey towards making our nation being recognized as Unstoppable India.

India is grabbing global attention and could eclipse all other nations if we play our cards right in terms of bringing in lasting peace and communal harmony that could lead to national integration.

The stability of the democratic system in India has served the purpose of raising India’s global profile as well as mobilizing India’s diaspora on its behalf.We have wallowed in negative sentiments for a long time. We should now realize that the tailwinds are behind us and learn the habit of greater co-operation.This year, 2015, can be our year as Indians, if we begin to break out of some old fashioned prejudices against each other and see everyone else with new eyes.

Swachh India starts with cleaning our minds against prejudices we may harbor against our fellow citizens. This will give an insight and new perspective on how to bring about national integration. India can realize its true potential.As Indians, we need to thrive, not just survive. The lack of unity is making us underachieve consistently. As Indians, we need to thrive, not just survive.

The lack of unity is making us underachieve consistently. Bringing unity amongst ourselves is the primary task now. I want to ask you, “If it is not now, then when?”People say that unity amongst people is hard since States are divided on linguistic basis. Many retrograde steps that were taken by various Governments and local administrative bodies which led to communal flare-ups frequently. While there are several shortcomings in the administrative machinery, it is the duty of learned citizens such as ourselves to recognize that unity is an important area for development of our motherland.

Disharmony amongst people is not predetermined. Every act of violence or disharmony has been created by us, though mostly unconsciously. Your negative thoughts and emotions of others around you are the drama that you created in your mind. You must be able to end it if peace must prevail.Every human being, either consciously or unconsciously, through the process of what we call life, creates a certain image, a certain personality of himself.

This image that you have created within yourselves has nothing to do with reality. It has nothing to do with the self, your inner nature. It is a certain image that you have built, most of the time unconsciously.Very few human beings have built a conscious image of themselves. All others have built images according to whatever kind of patterns or external situations they fell into. That is why we stereotype people as terrorists or radicals.

Now, why don’t we create a new self-image consciously, the way you really want to be? If you are intelligent enough, if you are aware enough, you can recast your image, a totally new image, whichever way you really want it. It is possible. But you should be willing to leave the old one. This is not pretension. Instead of acting unconsciously, you act consciously. You can create that kind of image which supports you best, that kind of image, which creates maximum harmony around you, that kind of image which has least friction. This is the way to build peace and national integration.

We need not say Unity in Diversity, we can Celebrate Diversity. This will make us relish each and every Indian in every part of our beloved country. We will start to appreciate their dress, food habits, local customs, beliefs and everything that goes to make that person living, for example, in a remote area such as the North Eastern part of our country. Recognise the commonality – the special things you share in common. Everyone can become your friend. “There are no strangers here; only friends you haven’t yet met,” said William Butler Yeats.

How do we start the habit of celebrating diversity? Devotion to your country is the first step. Devotion is a dimension that will allow you to sail across even if you don’t know the way. It is a privilege that you were born in what the world calls India as ‘Karma Bhoomi.’ Every privilege comes with a responsibility. If you don’t take the responsibility, you will lose the privilege. Your responsibility is to build India into a greater nation, not just a stronger nation with military hardware.

It is time now to rejig your life. It is not your qualifications, but your exposure in life amongst others that makes you who you are.The moment you function in this world without being concerned about what is happening to life around you, you are a criminal. If you seek national integration, seek empowerment to everyone in the society. Do nothing short of the best that you can do to lift at least one individual or family around you. Don’t allow technology to surpass human interaction.

Looking at your neighbour from the cozy comforts of your room will only numb your perception of that person. It does not enhance your experience of life in any way. You should start to love the people around you. Love is not a relationship. Love is a certain sweetness of emotions. Love is a process of inclusion.Once you include others as part of you, they will be to you just the way you are to yourself. Once this is understood, it should not be difficult to love your neighbour.

Be life sensitive, not ego sensitive. If you think you’re big when compared to others, you become small. If you know you are nothing in this universe, you become limitless.Don’t say, “I want to change you.” That is not a revolution. Say, “I’m willing to change.” That’s a revolution. What is of utmost importance in bringing peace and national integration is within you.

You cannot control the world from outside. It takes so much work and in fact it is impossible. To change the world all you have to do is manage your thoughts and feelings on the inside of you and your whole world changes.Bringing about peace and national integration is our work. Unless we throw our entire self into it, we will never know what it is.

Peace and national integration can be achieved through service. Light up the lives of others. There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it. Rotary teaches you both the ways. I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know- the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve. Rotary teaches you to serve.

High levels of activity, especially pro-activity and service to the community increase the number of things that you do to bring about national integration and thereby immediately increase the probability that you will do the right thing, at the right time, in the right way.

If you want to be more successful, develop a bias for service activities. Develop a sense of urgency. Take action. Get on with it. Move fast. The faster you move, the more energy you have to make our country regain all its glory.You do not require money to start this work. Empty pockets never held anyone back from working for national integration. Only empty heads and empty hearts can do that. “There are no limitations to the mind except those we acknowledge,” said Napolean Hill.

Bringing about peace and national integration is a matter of choice. You have the power to choose to take action. It is said that attitude is contagious. Do you have the attitude to bring about national integration? If so, others will find it worth catching.”Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love,” said Martin Luther King, Jr.

There is only one time when it is essential to work for peace and national integration. That time is now. Touch and transform many lives. You have that possibility and see your life become beautiful. How deeply you touch lives around you is how rich your life is.

The Atharva Veda says, “The one who is benevolent and liberal enjoys peace, happiness and prosperity.” This Hellical formation of DNA is abundantly found in the Birla Family. This has been manifested in the personality of late Shri Ghanshyamdasji Birla Popularly known as G D Birla, who was inspired by the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi with whom he shared a special Bond.The leadership and financial assistance that he provided to the Harijan Sevak Sangh, Financial assistance provided to Aligarh Muslim University and to Birla Vishwakarma Mahavidyalaya College in Baroda are a few examples of that characteristic DNA that transcended beyond Caste, Creed and Religion. These and many more such acts of Benevolence assumed great National Relevance during those times.

While many of the Initiatives from Birla’s could be labelled as cheque Book philanthropy, the DNA underwent some modification over the years. In Late Aditya Birla this evolution was manifested and Empowerment became the focus of most of the Initiatives. Everyone knows the saying, “You give a man a Fish and you feed him for a day, but you teach him to fish and you feed him for a lifetime”. Channelizing resources to ensure that people are empowered to meet their requirements became the focus of Initiatives that Aditya Ji took up.

The next mutation of the DNA took place and Shri Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman , Aditya Birla Group of Industries, institutionalised this Process and Service and took upon them to uplift the community around their Establishments the world over. Education, Healthcare, Sustainable livelihood, Women empowerment projects, Espousing social Reforms became the epitome of their Initiatives. Absolute justice to the Ideals initiated by Ghanhyamdas Ji steered by Aditya Ji and Institutionalised by Kumar Mangalam Ji could not have had a better Leader than Smt. Rajashree Ji Birla who had seen the vision and the thought process, quite clearly with Adityaji.

Rajashreeji has steered the activities of the Aditya Birla Foundation very thoughtfully, with a great deal of understanding of the sensitivities of the Community and its needs. The Foundation has also believed in the functioning of Rotary Initiatives over the years and has provided unparalleled support to the Polio eradication program. One of her personal goal, which is shared unequivocally by the Foundation too, is to work towards non recurrence of Polio with the Rotarians. She continues to inspire and kindle the spirit of Giving in everyone who knows her and believes that one can only get richer by Giving.

Rotary Club of Thane Hills decided to Confer Smt. Rajashree Birla with the DOYENNE OF BENEVOLENCE AWARD on the 9th of July, 2015 and entered its Silver Jubilee year 2015-16. It was indeed a big honour for the Club that she accepted the same from a Rotary Club of a modest stature like Thane Hills. This gesture on her part clearly epitomoises her appreciation and recognition of the Spirit of Giving than the value of giving. The Rotarians of Rotary Club of Thane Hills had a great philosophy to practise that they took back from her on that Day. It was my good fortune to present THE DOYENNE OF BENEVOLENCE AWARD to Smt Rajashree Birla on behalf of Rotary Club of Thane Hills in R I District 3140 amongst over 450 in attendance.

NEW LIFE , MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND RETENTION

Today we are embarking on a challenging journey , a journey to become a better acquainted with three fascinating aspects of Rotary….

• How we continue to bring new Life into Rotary
• How to make Better Rotarians and
• How to Retain members in the clubs.

You all are the incoming leaders in your respective clubs, being the leaders you will be closely concerned with all these vital considerations during your year in office and of course there after.

Our guides on this journey will be the answers to the questions I ask….
I am sure that you have your own answers , but none of you can dodge the questions.

First—-TO WHAT DO YOU BELONG ? ?

Our great movement is the lengthened shadow of one man, our Founder , Paul Harris . Those early days of Rotary were both heady and difficult . Paul had a concept that was attractive to the businessmen of Chicago, but only Paul had the dream of where Rotary would eventually go . It is thus truly amazing to find that most of the things we do today we’re all put in place during the first year of Rotary’s existence.

However , the potential of Rotary is infinite and we are constantly finding new ways to serve. Since 1905 we have lived through ” Over a century of discovery” . In these 111 years we discovered Community Service , Educational and Youth Programs , Humanitarian Service , the peace initiative and of course the glory of our Polio Eradication Program.

To see how Rotary and the Rotarians are viewed by a great world Humanitarian we can go to Rome. It was After the Convention in 1979 , that Pope John Paul said.

“You come from many different nations , and backgrounds. You bring with you vast experience in the Economic, Industrial , professional ,cultural ,an scientific fields. In the solidarity of your association you find mutual support , reciprocal encouragement , and a shared commitment to work for the common good “.

Is this how you see Rotary. ? Don’t you thrill with pride at belonging to such a great force for good ? At the same time , this pride of belonging should not blind us . We need to think and to discuss before we decide how we best serve in our own part of the Rotary World . For we are the guardians of the Noble Rotary Dream. It is this noble dream which motivates us to untold heights of achievements . Here in this Seminar we realize that we Rotarians are part of the great Society of life.

No Organisation can be separated from its members , and people develop their true potential with the help of a movement based upon its ideals and purpose.

It makes no difference whether these ideals are religious , cultural , or social . Rotarians should need Rotary as much as Rotary needs Rotarians. Rotary is ideal in action . But Rotary has no existence , except the existence we give it. Rotary has no glory except the glory that comes from the noble service , and devotion of its members.

WHY DO YOU BELONG ??

Think of yourself . Why did you join your Rotary Club ? Was it to be with your friends , or perhaps to acquire the distinction of belonging to the premier service Organisation in the world ? Today , some years later , we are the members who recognize the good we can do in the world, and this attitude shows how we have grown and matured in Rotary way.

I believe that in every person there are two essential needs that have to be fulfilled if their lives are to have any purpose and meaning. The need to share , and the need to serve. Fellowship and Service —the basis of Rotary ; and we come to realize this as our Rotary experience grows.

Look around the world today, and you will find that the young people are not much interested so much in movement as in causes. There is no way we will take Rotary forward as a power for humanitarian service just because we wish to be bigger . We have to light a fire in people’s heart. I believe absolutely , that no Organisation has a right to take people’s time unless it also uplift their lives. Our task is to find ways to allow all our potential members , as well as those who are already in our clubs , to see the Nobel purpose of Rotary.

WHY DO YOU STAY AS A MEMBER ??

Do you remain a Rotarian because of your interest in all aspects of Rotary ?
Is it because you are so involved in Rotary Service and have been over a long time ?
Is it because you have been fortunate enough to progress along the Rotary Leadership path ?

We all have our own reasons why we remain a Rotarian. “What people make of Rotary is often a reflection of what they make of life.

Conversely , Rotary with its many opportunities for Service , means that in many cases what a person makes of life is but a reflection of what they make of Rotary.. Think about how this applies to you personally and to the other members of your Club.

HOW IMPORTANT ARE SPONSORS ??

Bringing a person into Rotary is a great privilege , and also a great responsibility . Those who tell you that you can make a person a member of a Rotary Club because you met them at a function or heard them make a speech or recognized there name are WRONG. To me this is the way “FLOW THROUGH MEMBER”.I believe that a chance meeting has to grow into mutual friendship before we can asses any person’s potential as a future Rotarian.

The new member is our very precious and tender asset. Even though they might be giant in their own field yet they are new in Rotary. We need to consider their feelings . We need to nurture their progress . We need to increase their knowledge . We need to promote their involvement.Recruitment solely by slogan and heartiness is the way to dis repairable and desperation , and we should have nothing to do with it.

Behind every Rotarian stands the shadow of the person who brought him/her into membership. Think of your own sponsor . Think of the hopes and expectations which that person had when you became a Rotarian.

I wish you could have known my sponsor . Late D T Talwalkar, a man taller than life. He was one of the best known person in Mulund. He was the personnel Manager of A C C and also an Honorary Magistrate in Mulund Court.

He was not only my sponsor but he was like my guardian in Rotary. He always made sure that at Rotary Meetings I was never at loss. I will always remember his words when he introduced me to the club …..

He said ” I am expecting big things from this young man .”

Sadly he died just a few months before I became the President of my Club , The Rotary Club of Mlulund. But I have always tried to live to the expectation he had . I cherish his memory , and know that his guidance took me forward along the Rotary path.

Do all sponsors act in this way ? This is an area we must examine when we are looking at the Development , and Retention of our members. Address this issue in your club assembly. Put it in your club bulletin, include in your club announcements.

WHAT ABOUT THOSE WE LOSE ??

We have Rotarians from different field or vocation. I know we need them all. Each Rotarian is unique , and I am sure we need the criticism of the less involved just as much as we need the action of those who are always ready to help.

You see the dilemma is not QUALITY VERSUS QUANTITY. This begs the question. All of us strive to find quality members, but each year we are still faced with a massive membership loss. This means our problem is not those coming in , so much as those who are already there.

For a moment think of your own attitude at your Club Meeting. How do you nurture the new member ? How do you support the wavering member ? How do you enfold the leaving member ? And how do you,by your own example , show others how they can do the same ?

WHY ARE YOU DIFFERENT ? BECAUSE , YOU ARE THE LEADER…

We are part of a movement which is wide and universal . Our pride in belonging helps us to think big, and to discover greatness of soul.

When we leave this Seminar how will we pass on this information to others ? How do we show the joy of Rotary Service to those who are reluctant Rotarians ? Think of it. If we could make fully committed Rotarians out of. Only 60% of our membership we would have the most powerful movement for good that the world has ever seen.

As President Elect you must have made many plans and dreamed many dreams . It is now important that you share them with every Rotarian in your club.

Never forget that you are serving with fellow volunteers. They don’t work because of a contract. They don’t need or expect any Reward. They need to be taken into your confidence, and to have joint commitment to the ideas and values you are putting forward. Your dreams must become their dreams. Your plans must become their plans. This means that the goals and values they receive from you must be those they can share and appreciate.

This is how your leadership achieves fulfillment. This is how you turn your hopes into reality as you work out the most imaginative programmes. This is how all your members discover that Rotarians are part of the Great Society.

Sadly, we lose about 15% of our members every year. But, if we aim to retain just 60% of those who leave annually, and if we do it for just next five years, what a massive boost it will give to our membership. Not only that, but we would have the greatest body of experienced and committed Rotarians in the history of our movement.

Therefore, you the incoming leaders, will have to work with your Club Team to discover new ways and strategies for retaining those club members who may, even now, be planning to leave.Rotary.

What is the key to keeping these moveable members? I believe the answer is three fold……

INVOLVEMENT.         INVOLVEMENT.         INVOLVEMENT

Today, we peep through the curtain to glimpse the future and feel the stirring of a bright new tomorrow. Our Century of discovery ended eleven years back and rushing, In comes the century of realization. A century when mankind will truly appreciate the success of this Rotarian age, as they comprehend the magnitude of the Rotary miracle.

Who would have believed a few volunteers could achieve so much, or that our movement would continue so long ?

The new members who come after us ,with their belief in the Rotary dream , and their place in the great Society will ensure that all mankind benefits from Rotary Service.

My dear Friends , Cherish Your Rotary vision , they are the fruit of your soul. For we are planting trees we will Never sit under.I am confident that our task will be worthily accomplished and faithful carried out. I say so as you all know ROTAY SERVING HUMANITY.

Dear Training Leaders

Welcome to the Train the Training Leaders Session on Membership Development
To put it simply, all our membership development initiatives are always response to one question we constantly ask ourselves. “What should Rotary Clubs do to remain a preferred organisation for people to join?”
We set forth an initiative every time we hear a response. It is called the preference parameter. This response is crucial to addressing member’s interest to stay and work with the club.
The internal communication, rewards and recognition programmes of the club play a vital role in attracting and retaining members. What is important to know is that it is benchmarking to the highest standards that will produce the desired results.
With this approach, I am asking you to tell the clubs to treat every single member as a customer. People’s perception is reality and this is true for customer satisfaction.

It is always a moving target, especially in a voluntary service organisation such as Rotary. The club leadership can never say this is the ultimate, as the member will always keep raising the bar.
The key to retention is to make the club leadership realise that they have to benchmark themselves to the highest ethical standards in both delivery and measurement.
They have to constantly deliver reports to the members on how the club and the officials have fared, even if the members have not asked for such metrics.
As a club, the culture of the leaders should be to strive to measure quality of service against a self-benchmarked standard as well as what is seen as the best practices of other clubs.
Developing new members and retaining them depends on the holistic views of the club’s service standards and where the leadership stands against them.
Clubs should be trained to breakdown the membership into service teams so that they can deliver across communities and achieve cross-functional synergy.
This is the key to retention. The service teams must be guided by cross function trained senior leaders from the club or from the talent pool created by the district governor.

Attrition is unavoidable, but the task is to manage attrition. Clubs must have attrition control programmes that address underlying reasons.
Trainers must recommend a slew of initiatives, which should include incentive programmes for members completing a tenure of say 3 years, 5 years and so on.
Most important is the grievance management programmes that need to be in place in every club as reports suggest that clubs break up or members leave the club very often due to internal quarrels and strife.
Getting new members, which is head hunting, is by no means a cakewalk. Good headhunters for the clubs should have a meticulous process in place to track down talented people into Rotar.
Though, it is time consuming, the clubs have to look for people on the basis of certain ‘must-have’ criteria.
Membership Development chairpersons in every club have to be well prepared, on schedule, authentic, sincere, have the ability to build relationships, should be able to convey the values of Rotary and have the best interest of the potential member in mind.
They should help the potential members discover their urge to be a useful member of the community and match it to the club’s profile.

It is said that Rotary works on an ‘extrovert bias.’ But is service all about being gregarious and putting on a show? What about those introverts who embrace solitude, don’t speak often but quietly exhibit their need to serve the community? The new initiatives taken for E Clubs can be the answer to get such people.
Even in regular clubs, we can find such persons. But when more outgoing members are prone to passionately jump up, wave their arms and proclaim grandiose ideas, the quieter ones find it difficult to express even their most ingenious suggestions for a service project.
It is up to the club leadership to devise ways to exploit their creativity and maximise their inherent values.
I wish you a rewarding experience during the sessions and I am confident that with your efforts we will be able to increase the membership substantially during the coming months.

HEALTH CAMPS

India is a huge country…over 1.2 billion population belonging to diverse groups and demographics. Service delivery particularly that of the public/govt. entities is weak and often delayed. Amidst this comes a public health programme, the Polio campaign that endevours to reach almost all the children with a service at their doorstep.

This often becomes a problem… say example, the child or a family member is suffering bouts of diarrhea or fever and no medical support is available from the Govt. but a health worker knocks his door every month for polio-drops. This contradiction often leads to confrontation or contempt that challenges the polio eradication effort. To address these challenges and concerns free-health Camps to meet the other health-care needs of the people were introduced.

Rotary conducted the health camps in the underserved regions and communities. There have been times in the campaign when people have resisted immunization or boycotted polio-drops for their children arguing about the dismal health and civic services in their areas.

Several health camps in the high-risk districts – particularly in U.P and Bihar – have resulted in building good-will for the Polio campaign.

Rotary’s presence on the ground, interacting with families, giving a patient ear to their concerns and personal reassurance resulted in calming boycotts, and converting resistance into acceptance. It not only helped dispel the cloud of apprehension amongst population but created a favourable environment for Polio immunization paving way for greater acceptance of the polio vaccine and eliminating resistance in underserved-population.

In 2011 after the last case was reported in West Bengal, on an average 3 camps per month were being organized in high-risk districts of West Bengal. The similar health camps are being organized on regular basis in U.P., Bihar, Maharashtra and in other high risk areas.

In the wake of increased immunization activities to contain the virus it was feared people might question the frequent rounds whereas other care needs remained unaddressed.

The free medial camps helped sustain the activity with people benefiting from medical services and ensured good will and acceptance for the vaccine in the community.

Another important intervention has been Polio Corrective Surgery and Rehabilitation Camps (PCS) introduced in 2001 through matching grants.Polio Corrective Surgeries for polio victims have resulted in a lot many Polio victims get back on feet albeit with support or little limp.

Polio disease causes irreversible paralysis of limbs and cannot be cured. However the extent of deformity of the limbs can be corrected through medical intervention and physiotherapy – to some extent

.

Rotary through camps at different locations have performed surgeries benefiting on more than 6000 polio victims. While many of those complicated case encountered at the camps are recommended for surgeries at city hospitals with surgery costs borne by Rotary.

Physiotherapy for those needed is also part of this rehabilitation programme. Further, Rotary Clubs through sponsorship and support provide education, vocational skills, and small business set-ups to Polio victims to enable them to earn a living.

These interventions along with intensified immunization activities helped scale the bar and reduced the incidence of Polio in the high-risk districts/communities. In future too, as per the need and observation, medical camps, polio corrective surgeries will be undertaken

The most determinative sentence which we always follow in our “ END POLIO NOW” campaign is “ The race is not over because we have not won yet” And our determination is the firm decision to carry on the fight against Polio till the victory is achieved.

New Thinking New Possibilities

I welcome the learned members of this most important committee of RI. A very hearty welcome to RI President-elect Ron Burton who has shown a keen interest to be with us during the deliberations. It shows how seriously he has taken this topic to his heart and his desire to make Rotary stronger and bigger.

Our welcome goes to the Advisor, PRIVP Monty Audenart, Liaison Director Allan Jagger and Liaison Trustee Past President John Kenny. Their presence will certainly make the functioning of the Committee smooth and productive. RI General Secretary John Hewko and the staff of RI have always supported us with their inputs. I welcome them to this meeting and look forward to their valuable contributions during the course of our discussions.
President Sakuji Tanaka has vested enormous responsibility on us. Our views will form the basis of the decisions RI Board may take to implement a robust strategy for membership development and retention.
During the year 2001 the worldwide membership was 1.18 million. In 2002 it increased to 1.24 million and till today the figure of 1.2 million has been hanging over our heads.

Asia registered an increase from 30th June 2009 to 30th June 2010 of over 1.7 percent. During the same period membership in Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, North America and RIBI decreased. The trend was most disturbing in North America which showed that the membership dropped by 2.25 percent followed by Australia and New Zealand with 1.93 percent.
Europe and Africa showed an increase, though not very significant. It was just 0.04 percent.
During this period we have been promoting the slogan ‘Each One Reach One’ with varying degree of success. Probably the time has come to rethink on what we should be saying. If we continue to do the same thing, then the results will be the same. An earlier report from RI suggested that the sub- regions in these areas are impacted by different economic situations and cultures.
The reasons for the 12 percent decline in RIBI from 2006 to 2011 read with the 11 percent drop in Japan during the same period may be an indicator on what our action plan needs to be. The increase of 27 percent in India and 20 percent in Korea during the same period may be commendable but attrition rate in these areas are also worrisome.
Difficulty in retaining new and existing members seems to be a worldwide phenomenon. Issues over which the club has a control needs to be scrutinized carefully. Do the clubs have the proper communication strategy? Do they have qualified Rotarians who can be mentors?

Is the District Leadership playing a role in making or breaking clubs? Is RI’s communication facility existing as it does – not effective? Can a member in a club get all the information he wants from RI website?
Growth has been largely coming from new clubs being formed. However, an analysis of the figures provided from 2006 till 2011 shows that the number of clubs chartered were between the 600 and 850 figures. During 2008-09 when 845 new clubs were chartered 20,000 members were added as charter members. In 2010-11 it dropped to 636 new clubs.
The question is why was there a drop? Is the role of the district governor an important factor in accepting a recommendation for a new club in a locality?
The question of clubs getting terminated within five years of their existence needs to be studied in depth. Did the Governor form the club on very sound basis to justify the monetary incentive he receives for every club that is formed? Should this system be continued or should the compensation be given after three years if the club is seen to be viable?
The need to bring in younger members has also been stressed. Probably we need to define our target group more specifically. It would seem that the potential age group from which new members need to be attracted would be between 30 to 45 years.

Universally, we can assume with a fair degree of accuracy, that during this period a person is normally settled in a job, business or profession, married and has started thinking on how useful he or she can be to the society they live in.
Our public image building effort needs to be co-ordinated around this group, of course with a different message to people in different continents. At the district level, is the urgency to increase membership being felt? There is no doubt that we have to get bigger to do larger projects and attract more contributions. But are the membership development seminars effective? Who attends these meetings and what comes out of this? Talking about new thinking and new possibilities, I urge the honorable members to think on how we can Reverse the Trend and Bring a Friend into Rotary. The need to reverse the trend emphasises the task before us to stop or contain attrition. Bringing a friend highlights the need to introduce people who will be Rotarians forever.
When we say friend it denotes that he or she is as devoted to the concept of service like the proposer and is not just an acquaintance. The word friend also denotes that he or she is dependable like the proposer.
The target of three percent growth has to be goal in every club president’s mind. How can we make that happen? Of course, rapid dissemination of information of our action plan has to be done.

If the strategy is to carpet-bomb every district with the need to achieve the target, it has to take place. Analyzing the role of Rotary Coordinators and a performance appraisal of the existing people may be of help. Should we print the Rotary Basics and the ABCs of Rotary in English and as many local languages and distribute it free? Can we use the resources of the regional magazines and consider compensating them?
I am sure that you will be coming up with newer ideas. Let us hear it and put together a resolution that can become a blueprint for membership development.

New Thinking New Possibilities

I welcome the learned members of this most important committee of RI. A very hearty welcome to RI President-elect Ron Burton who has shown a keen interest to be with us during the deliberations. It shows how seriously he has taken this topic to his heart and his desire to make Rotary stronger and bigger.

Our welcome goes to the Advisor, PRIVP Monty Audenart, Liaison Director Allan Jagger and Liaison Trustee Past President John Kenny. Their presence will certainly make the functioning of the Committee smooth and productive. RI General Secretary John Hewko and the staff of RI have always supported us with their inputs. I welcome them to this meeting and look forward to their valuable contributions during the course of our discussions.
President Sakuji Tanaka has vested enormous responsibility on us. Our views will form the basis of the decisions RI Board may take to implement a robust strategy for membership development and retention.
During the year 2001 the worldwide membership was 1.18 million. In 2002 it increased to 1.24 million and till today the figure of 1.2 million has been hanging over our heads.

Asia registered an increase from 30th June 2009 to 30th June 2010 of over 1.7 percent. During the same period membership in Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, North America and RIBI decreased. The trend was most disturbing in North America which showed that the membership dropped by 2.25 percent followed by Australia and New Zealand with 1.93 percent.
Europe and Africa showed an increase, though not very significant. It was just 0.04 percent.
During this period we have been promoting the slogan ‘Each One Reach One’ with varying degree of success. Probably the time has come to rethink on what we should be saying. If we continue to do the same thing, then the results will be the same. An earlier report from RI suggested that the sub- regions in these areas are impacted by different economic situations and cultures.
The reasons for the 12 percent decline in RIBI from 2006 to 2011 read with the 11 percent drop in Japan during the same period may be an indicator on what our action plan needs to be. The increase of 27 percent in India and 20 percent in Korea during the same period may be commendable but attrition rate in these areas are also worrisome.
Difficulty in retaining new and existing members seems to be a worldwide phenomenon. Issues over which the club has a control needs to be scrutinized carefully. Do the clubs have the proper communication strategy? Do they have qualified Rotarians who can be mentors?

Is the District Leadership playing a role in making or breaking clubs? Is RI’s communication facility existing as it does – not effective? Can a member in a club get all the information he wants from RI website?
Growth has been largely coming from new clubs being formed. However, an analysis of the figures provided from 2006 till 2011 shows that the number of clubs chartered were between the 600 and 850 figures. During 2008-09 when 845 new clubs were chartered 20,000 members were added as charter members. In 2010-11 it dropped to 636 new clubs.
The question is why was there a drop? Is the role of the district governor an important factor in accepting a recommendation for a new club in a locality?
The question of clubs getting terminated within five years of their existence needs to be studied in depth. Did the Governor form the club on very sound basis to justify the monetary incentive he receives for every club that is formed? Should this system be continued or should the compensation be given after three years if the club is seen to be viable?
The need to bring in younger members has also been stressed. Probably we need to define our target group more specifically. It would seem that the potential age group from which new members need to be attracted would be between 30 to 45 years.

Universally, we can assume with a fair degree of accuracy, that during this period a person is normally settled in a job, business or profession, married and has started thinking on how useful he or she can be to the society they live in.
Our public image building effort needs to be co-ordinated around this group, of course with a different message to people in different continents. At the district level, is the urgency to increase membership being felt? There is no doubt that we have to get bigger to do larger projects and attract more contributions. But are the membership development seminars effective? Who attends these meetings and what comes out of this? Talking about new thinking and new possibilities, I urge the honorable members to think on how we can Reverse the Trend and Bring a Friend into Rotary. The need to reverse the trend emphasises the task before us to stop or contain attrition. Bringing a friend highlights the need to introduce people who will be Rotarians forever.
When we say friend it denotes that he or she is as devoted to the concept of service like the proposer and is not just an acquaintance. The word friend also denotes that he or she is dependable like the proposer.
The target of three percent growth has to be goal in every club president’s mind. How can we make that happen? Of course, rapid dissemination of information of our action plan has to be done.

If the strategy is to carpet-bomb every district with the need to achieve the target, it has to take place. Analyzing the role of Rotary Coordinators and a performance appraisal of the existing people may be of help. Should we print the Rotary Basics and the ABCs of Rotary in English and as many local languages and distribute it free? Can we use the resources of the regional magazines and consider compensating them?
I am sure that you will be coming up with newer ideas. Let us hear it and put together a resolution that can become a blueprint for membership development.

Mark Twain, the American author said, “India is the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, and the great grandmother of tradition. Our most valuable and most instructive materials in the history of man are treasured up in India only.”

When Rotary came into India, it was probably a new service organisation. But the philosophy of service was not new. That is why for the past several decades, Rotary has made enormous strides in India. It is true that for many years, Rotary clubs in India were largely seen as receivers of grants from abroad. But today, especially for the past three years, Rotarians from India have shown that they can be generous donors to TRF.

As we induct our friends as members of Arch Klump Society here today, we salute their generosity in putting India among the top giving nations to TRF.

There are some parts of the world that, once visited, get into your heart and won’t go. India is one such place. Foreigners are stunned by the richness of the land, by its lush beauty and exotic architecture, by its ability to overload the senses with the pure, concentrated intensity of its colors, smells, tastes, and sounds. People who had been seeing the world in black & white, when brought face-to-face with India, experienced everything about Rotary’s service above self concept in brilliant Technicolor.

India has dominated the world culturally for 20 centuries without ever having to send a single soldier across her border.

It is impossible not to be astonished by India and what Rotarians do there in terms of community service. Nowhere on Earth does humanity present itself in such a dizzying, creative burst of cultures and religions, races and tongues.

Every aspect of the country presents itself on a massive, exaggerated scale, worthy in comparison only to the superlative mountains that overshadow it. It is this variety which provides a breathtaking ensemble for experiences that is uniquely Indian. Perhaps the only thing more difficult than to be indifferent to India would be to describe or understand India completely. There are perhaps very few nations in the world with the enormous variety that India has to offer. Modern day India represents the largest democracy in the world with a seamless picture of unity in diversity unparalleled anywhere else.

We are proud that Rotarians from India who are now consistently donating over US $10 million every year are demonstrating that they can reach within to embrace humanity.

Reach Within to Embrace Humanity

Among the countless creations, human beings rank the highest. That is why it is difficult to be born as a human being. Wise persons must make the best use of this birth.

To make the best use of this birth means living in a manner that benefits those around you. Just by seeing those around you can you embrace them? No. It requires control over your mind.

Human beings fight with each other and suffer because they have no control over their mind. Mind wanders at a speed that is unimaginable. If you learn to control your mind, then you can achieve anything.

The Sadhana to tame the mind is called Dhyana. This Dhyana is the seventh stage in the eight phases of Yoga. Hence it is clear that the earlier six steps must be practised if Dhyana is to be practised easily. Those who practise this Dhyana get an unusual bliss that has no parallel.

This Dhyana helps in attaining Jnana (Knowledge). If you fail in attaining knowledge in this birth, then your life has no meaning and people just live like animals.

An animal cannot go down in evolution. But, a person who fails to get knowledge can go down. In our sacred vedic script the Bhagavad Gita, the Lord says, “It is necessary to realise that knowledge does not mean knowledge of worldly things. It refers to the knowledge of the real nature of atma or self. Once this is acquired, there is nothing else for human beings to do or achieve.”

People fail to reach within themselves due to ignorance or what we call as agnana. This is developed over many lifetimes and hence to reach within, it is essential to purify the mind.

You mind gets purified when you do good deeds. Without purifying the mind you cannot reach within yourself. To purify your mind, good deeds and actions must be performed continuously.

Another easy way to purify the mind is also told in the vedic scripture. Lord says, “Give your mind wholly to me, be my devotee, worship me, surrender to me and make me your supreme goal.” This means that if you unite your mind with God you will not stray anywhere else.

To reach within, to purify your mind and to achieve all that is needed, what is needed is sankalpa or focussed thought. If the wish or thought to reach within is not there, then there is no question of any further progress.

Embracing humanity means that you love the people around you first. When we love something, it is never a burden to us. If you find a job that you love, you do not have to work a single day of your life, because the work itself turns into joy. It is not labour any more. If you work for someone you love, then again work becomes a joy. You embrace humanity. Mahatma Gandhi said that the force of love is the same as the force of truth. The universe will become chaotic without love. The cohesive force between human beings is called love. Where there is love, there is life. Hatred leads to destruction. If there is a fundamental distinction between human beings and animals, it is the former’s progressive recognition of the law of love and its application in their personal life. That some people are brutal does not disprove the law. It shows the difficulty in practicing love. Gandhi again said, “When the practice of the law of love becomes universal, God will prevail on Earth as He does in Heaven. Earth and Heaven are in us. We know the earth, we are strangers to the Heaven.”

Hence the fundamental rule to embrace humanity is to love and present it in every fibre of yourself. You must obey this law of love if world has to be peaceful.

Earlier, I talked about not letting the mind wander. People who try to control their mind during prayers complain that their mind keeps wandering. But when it comes to counting wads of currency notes, the mind is very attentive and does not wander. Why? Because of the love for money. Similarly, if you develop the love for prayer, mind will not wander.

Have you observed your mind? Thought currents flow continuously. Can you hear its noise? Scientists say that 31 brain waves are constantly flowing. Whenever you are engaged in argument and counter-arguments the waves are in Beta range. When you relax, the waves are in Alpha range. When you experience the mood of fun, the mind is sending Theta range waves. Even when you are asleep the mind is emanating Theta and Delta range waves. Hence, in the mind the tussle for thought currents are always in full flow. In fact, it continues unabated.

It is said that when the ‘temperature’ of the brain is increased you get angry, tense and agitated. When there is noise pollution outside, people get hypertension. If the noise from outside can produce such an effect, just imagine the effect of multitude of noise produced from within you. When you control your mind, you reach a state in which no useless or disturbing thought is permitted. This, then allows you to reach within yourself. We have to examine every thought scrupulously to check whether it falls within the framework of righteousness. Hindus chant the mantra ‘OM’ which is the seed syllable or bija mantra which energies the mind. This syllable churns the mind and draws out all unwanted thoughts and emotions hidden in the mind’s subconscious layer. Good thoughts represent Gods and bad thoughts represent demons. When the mind is churned we are able to reach within ourself.

What do we have inside us? That is the source of peace and bliss. Vedas say it is Atman Gyan. A true sense of love activates the ‘third eye’ with which you can reach within yourself and commence the journey to embrace humanity.

By nature, the body is inert, dull and sluggish. The mind is vibrant, active and dynamic and the inner-self is luminous. By making the body and mind to become equally active and sensitive through proper exercise, it is seen that you can reach within yourself quite easily.

Now that you have reached within yourself, how do you embrace humanity? As I told you, we have to first love people around us. When you love someone or something what do you do? You spend more time with the person or thing. When you spend more time with people around you, especially those who need your help, you will discover subtle joy in it. You will empathise with them.

Embracing humanity means that you are ready for sacrifice. Once you reach within yourself, you will not only be ready to do anything but also give up anything for humanity. The secret of reaching within yourself lies in giving your total undivided attention to your goal.

Did you think that everything in life is predestined? Then where is the scope to use our intelligence? Not knowing about others living in far off countries or how people live next door is a decision you have made unconsciously. You created this situation within yourself and according to that tendency you keep moving in that direction. Till some teacher or guru told you to reach within to embrace humanity.

The moment you utter the sentence, “I will embrace humanity,” whether you realise it or not, you are actually starting to reach within yourself. What you are stating is that you are taking your destiny in your hands. That is what is expected out of Rotarians. Later you will find that it is your tendency to embrace humanity and that within you have formed a certain attitude. It then starts moving in that direction. Then you will find that you are moving in that direction constantly simply because your tendencies are such and not because someone is guiding you in that direction.

The river is not longing to go to the ocean, just because that is the poetry you read. Water just finds it own level and keeps going. Similarly, your existence in this world is not to confine yourself to the cosy walls of your home. You have to mingle with the community around you. The river that is born on the top of a mountain is a brook at one place, it is a waterfall at another place, in yet another place it is just a meandering river and somewhere else it becomes a wide estuary to join the ocean. Then it becomes the mighty ocean. Your life is similar to this. You have to constantly move from one place to another, if you want to serve humanity. Get rid of all the fancy stories about your powers and come to term with life.

In Zen they teach you that when you are an ignorant person, rivers are just rivers, trees are just trees, mountains are just mountains and clouds are just clouds. But when you become a seeker, rivers are not more just rivers, trees are not just trees, mountains are not just mountains and clouds are not just clouds. Everything takes a different dimension. When you reach out and reach within yourself, you become knowledgeable. In Zen they call it enlightened. When you become such a person, once again rivers become just rivers, trees become just trees, mountains become just mountains and clouds become just clouds!

You may then ask, “What’s the point?” When you are enlightened, it is the same way as when you were ignorant! An enlightened person is just as good as an utter fool, but in a completely different world. You did not embrace humanity earlier because you thought you were special. After enlightenment also, you are special, but now you know that your idea of special is not what you thought. It was not the sum of parts about yourself. You realise now that you are more ordinary than the ordinary and that is why you love to embrace humanity. It is a different dimension of existence.

If Adam and Eve were the first human beings on earth, then we can deduce that the 7 billion population today owes its origin directly to them. In a sense they have become many. The ocean has numerous waves, but can we say that each wave has an identity independent of the ocean? The wave exists because of the ocean. Each sun ray exists because of the sun. Therefore to declare that this is my life, independent of the community around you is meaningless. With ignorance and arrogance people think they are unique and say, “I exist or this is mine.” When your ignorance goes, you understand that you are part of the whole. Hence, you have a duty to embrace humanity.

It is said that a healthy mind exists in a healthy body. Hindu philosophy says, “Dharmartha kama moksham arogyam mulamuttama.” Whether you wish to follow the path of dharma or righteousness, or duty , artha or earning a livelihood, kama or sense of enjoyment, moksha or liberation, health is important. When a mirror is clean, objects are clearly reflected in it. A healthy body causes the mind to reflect like a mirror. To reach within yourself, you need a state of physical equilibrium along with a perfectly balanced disposition of mind. We have to follow a strict regimen or ‘niyama’ with definite value of time, food, sleep and sadhana. As we get immersed in sadhana, we transcend our senses and our mind blossoms. Our hearts expand to embrace all beings. We develop selflessness.

Let us be open and accepting. Draw on your compassion. It is through your conduct that you can convey the meaning of compassion and embracing humanity and not through your speech.

Rotary can be considered as the birth place for today’s gurus who lead us with such messages. Most of us tend to stick to one side of the river, fearing to cross it. We are attached to what is on our side of the river. If we have to work for world peace then we have to give up living on our side of the river and plunge into the water. This is not easy for those who don’t know swimming. But there is a boat to cross the river. It is our leaders who take us to where we want to go for rendering service. Your RI President, Kalyan Banerjee, is one such leader.

Credible Communication

Communication is the activity of conveying meaningful information.

Communication requires a sender, a message, and an intended recipient, although the receiver need not be present or aware of the sender’s intent to communicate at the time of communication.

Communication can occur across vast distances in time and space. Communication requires that the communicating parties share an area of communicative commonality. The communication process is complete once the receiver has understood the message of the sender.

In this room there are leaders from various districts. Each one of you is committed to become the best communicator. That is the one thing common to all of you.

Your leadership responsibilities demand it and also you want it for yourself. But effective or credible communication does not come from a rule book. There is no toolbox which you can open and get help instantly.

You are a leader at the district level in our organisation. You know that communication is one of your key responsibilities. May be some of you are just beginning to sharpen your communication skills. Others might have mastered the art earlier. They will be effective than others. They will move forward and those who do not measure up will lag behind.

Communication is a complex activity involving so many aspects of yourself. You cannot become an expert by taking a course, reading a book or just after this session is over. However, there are basic skills you can learn from a classroom. But to become an effective communicator you have to work yourself for weeks, months or years.

But as a DGE you had nearly 365 days to learn the art. As a DG this is the skill that will have an impact on others beyond what you had thought possible. This is the skill that will make you wanted; of walking into a meeting hall and changing by your presence what happens there.

What do Rotarians expect from District Governors? It is some sense of connection. That is what leadership is all about. A leader has a lot of people connected to him.

Rotarians many times do not care what you know or how much you know about any given topic. But they want to know how much you care to learn from others.

When you touch someone’s heart with a simple gesture, then you connect with that person instantly. Your communication will become easier and simple.

In any organisation people will change or do something for two reasons. One is the personal connection they feel with their boss or friends and the next reason is because they understand the consequences.

That is why it is always important for you to speak the truth, always. You are a trustee of Rotary’s motto, ethics, principles and finances for the year you function as a DG. You cannot be slipshod in your communication or portray an image that you will turn a blind eye to wrong doings.

Your communication with truth as the basis, will establish the vision of moving forward. There is no substitute for clear, open and truthful communication. It is staggering how powerful such a communication will work.

You are in this leadership position because you want to make the organisation better, because you care for the people and want to leave a legacy of progress.

If you want to be well-regarded and respected even after your tenure, then work on your communication skills.

Your words are important. Your attitude is important. People must believe that you can be trusted and this can happen only when your communication skills are good. People follow you not because they have to, but because they want to. There is no harm in repeating if you feel that the message is not understood. Every opportunity to talk to a group in a meeting is an opportunity for improvement.

Communication styles differs. What is important that you should have a vision about what you want to achieve. That means that you have to enhance your skills to deliver the best result every time.

This must be coupled with your passion to lead by example. If you do not communicate properly you create a negative field and soon you will be confined to a narrow corridor.

In spite of the increasing importance placed on communication skills, many individuals continue to struggle with this, unable to communicate their thoughts and ideas effectively – whether in verbal or written format.

This inability makes it nearly impossible for them to run a voluntary organisation. To cover up this deficiency they fail to listen when others give them some sane advice.

It is important to know to whom you would be talking to and what you would be talking to. Jokes about Governors or past officers being able to talk on almost any topic on a short notice has given a sense of false confidence about their ability to communicate effectively.

Every communication from you must be different. You should be speaking on Rotary’s mission, the vision Rotarians must share, what our strategic plans are, why we are making the changes that we are making today and what you want Rotary to be.
You are really talking about the future. This is the way to touch the hearts of Rotarians. You must understand that your role as a DG is a significant shift in your lifetime. It is essential for you to remember that your communication will reflect your leadership style. You will have to project the confidence and command that your new role requires.

This means that you would have to prioritise what you want to say in your speeches, in your GMLs and in your emails or letters. Communication must make something happen. It should get results. Your focus must be on your listeners and readers.

Paul J. Meyer, the author of innumerable motivational books said, “Communication – the human connection – is the key to personal and career success.” What this means is that you have to walk your talk and walk with the Rotarians. It is important for you to be able to develop and express aclear point of view.

I am not dwelling on your choices to print a mega district directory in multi-colour, but what I am concerned is the delay in bringing them out before your term begins. This can mean that your ability to communicate the names of your district officials has failed.

Your communication is to be based on what you will be taught here and also at San Diego. Rotary runs on individuals such as yourself and expects you to market the programmes for the collective benefit of the community. Hence what you learn here and at San Diego must be communicated honestly and consistently.

You have reached a point in your Rotary career where you must develop communication skills if you don’t already have them. Your delivery skills must make others see you as someone with a commitment to do good.

Your communications must be designed in a way that will make your group see you as a human being.

Rotarians may see you in a different position and doing different job. But they are more likely to believe that you value them when they listen to you or read what you write.

Talking about writing, it has become fashionable today for DGs to have an Editor for GMLs. That is fine as long the person is able to compile and put together a good GML. But bringing out a GML in third person means it is not a Governor’s letter anymore.

GMLs must reflect your emotions because that is an important part of who you are and what you do. It is not just the content that inspires Rotarians to commit themselves to more service; it is the personal connection they feel when they put down the GML. They must feel that you are the leader, the powerful force, who can move them towards the vision of Rotary. GMLs must let them see more of you.

John Powell, the British composer said, “Communication works for those who work at it.” You must realise that the way you communicate is itself sending important messages to the Rotarians. So take care to learn. You must have a clear point of view and be able to express it honestly.

George Bernard Shaw said, ” The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” You as leaders must learn something very important. You have to be careful about what you say and how you say it. You cannot afford to be careless or casual.
The entire functioning of Rotary relies heavily on consensus and team building. It is only your communication style that can make this happen. Don’t go through a mechanical exercise of soliciting others’ views when you have already made a decision.
You will kill the enthusiasm of the group and people can see through you easily. As a result your meetings will be calm and everybody will appear to be listening. There will be no energy to spark creativity and produce change.

Your passion to raise one million dollars to TRF or increase the membership by 25 percent, add new clubs must be felt by others. You have to move the team towards all these goals. Only your communication can do this.
Your communication will make others own your vision and work with you. In Rotary, as you know, nothing can be imposed on members. Hence, it is clear that unless you have the power to influence people through your communication nothing can be achieved. If you have this skill, you are solvent. Without it you are bankrupt.

Give credit and appreciate the good work of Rotarians. At the same time raise issues that have to be sorted out and find solutions collectively. Talk about areas that need attention; do not brush them under the carpet. I remember the example of Sir Winston Churchill when he led the British. He told them that this war was their darkest hour and they had to fight with their backs against the wall. His sincerity made the people rally around him and win the battle. Similarly, do not try to talk frankly about the problems associated with membership development, attrition and eradication of polio. The members must know through your communication that it is they who have to find the solution if Rotary has to become bigger, better and bolder.

It is said that if you don’t listen to what you should listen, then you will never listen to what you should have listened. When you listen to others, it signifies respect for others. It also shows that you value their opinion.

The two words ‘information’ and ‘communication’ are often used interchangeably, but they signify quite different things. Information is giving out; communication is getting through. So prioritise.

Remember, 20 percent of your priorities will give 80 percent of your result. Great speakers are not born, they are trained. So, it is worthwhile working on this skill because it is only through your effective communication that you can lead a motivated group of volunteers who occupy top positions in business. They will want to know how you think about them as performers.

Clearly, communication is more than words. There is also the energy of the intention behind the words. And intention is the most powerful force in any communication.”

Use the energy. You will build a great team.

DRIVE THE CHANGE

If the Rotary Foundation is the love of Rotarians, then the purpose of this Institute is achieved.

The Rotary Foundation is little understood by the general public and even by many Rotarians! This Institute should have changed all that.

People who know nothing about philanthropy assume that it is easy. Philanthropy cannot be casual. It must be purposeful. It must connect. That is the basic philosophy of The Rotary Foundation.

The Rotary Foundation involves both dreams and plans. You have to be inspired to do a project across the seas and oceans.

You have to be sensitive to the needs of the people you have never seen or may never see in your lifetime.

Nevertheless they are human beings like you. It is just that you were more fortunate in being born or working in America.

Charity begins at home with you. When I say this I mean it begins with your feelings. It has to do with your dream of a peaceful world. This will make you part of this large world.

Suddenly you will find it smaller than you thought. You were able to reach someone in South East Asia or Africa or in some remote island in the South China Sea. You become a citizen of the world when you support causes outside your daily life. You do good to others and in that process you benefit immensely.

The act of supporting your Rotary Foundation is a gift you give yourself. You are entitled to personal satisfaction for your financial contribution. The recognitions given by The Rotary Foundation does just that.

People who donate regularly to The Rotary Foundation or have enrolled themselves as Arch Klumph Society Members give because they see it as their sustaining connection to the cause of Rotary.

It is what makes their work worth doing. The meaning of their wealth is realised when it produces visible results of improvement in other people’s life. Giving is fun, it is joyful. It will make your life feel worthwhile in ways few other actions can.

Say you are around fifty or sixty years of age. You have made enough money to last your lifetime and probably your children’s. Probably you are worth millions of dollars. Or, maybe you are just self sufficient with some extra savings in the bank.

You make a decent income. In any case, you want to be connected to a cause that is bigger than yourself. Where will you look for that connection?

If you were not in Rotary, you might have to take the advice of friends or find out from various sources about the ways you can connect to humanity.

But with The Rotary Foundation, you have a readymade plan for every single dollar you like to donate and what more… you can be a part of that activity and monitor how your money is spent. This is what made Mr. Bill Gates donate US $355 million to The Rotary Foundation for the polio eradication cause.

Many philanthropists do not know whether to address the consequences or causes of a calamity.

The Rotary Foundation responds by jumping in to save each person and races further upstream to help others from being affected in future.

Locating the root cause of human suffering and eliminating it is the work of The Rotary Foundation. It is harder but yields lasting results.

Small changes can make powerful differences in this world. You are the change agent. Make that change you desire.

THE DIVINE FOUNDATION

Greetings from Trustee Chair /PRIP Bill Boyd and his wife Lorna.

Greetings from both the Directors from Indian Sub-Continent – Y P Das & Shekhar Mehta and their respective spouses.

Greetings from over 116,000 Rotarians from India.

I deem it an honour to have been asked by the Trustee Chair/PRIP Bill Boyd to be the Trustee Representative to the vibrant Zones (33&34)as yours and this honour is all the more appreciated when Nayantara is here with me.

I have the opportunity of knowing the promoters of one of the largest business houses in India. Not only they are the leading icons of business and industry in India, but also one of the most respected families of the country.

It was in their house that Mahatma Gandhi breathed his last. The family is Birlas and the person who has been very favourably disposed towards Rotary and its fight against polio is Mrs. Rajashree Birla, wife of the late Mr. Aditya Birla who developed what is now a multi-billion dollar business conglomerate.

I asked her how she managed to stay cheerful always. She gave me a big smile, looked at me straight in the eye and said, “I donate daily.”

What a person! It was a clear message for people wanting happiness in life. Action precedes emotion. It is said that attitude is everything. Yes, you and I can make up our minds to be happy.

Helen Keller said, “The best and most beautiful things in life cannot be seen, nor touched, but are felt in the heart.” Some of the most beautiful things in life are also the most simplistic. The Habit of Giving is one such beautiful thing that lights up our heart.

The magic formula for putting more joy into your life can be summed up in one word – kindness. Just by performing random acts of kindness and helping people in need, you can bring joy to your own life, as well as the lives of others.

Whether you choose to volunteer, give aid to those who have been affected by natural disasters or donate to our Foundation you are starting a chain of random acts of kindness that has the potential to transform the world.

Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.

Fifty years from now, it will not matter what your bank account was, the sort of house you lived in, or the kind of car you drove. But the world may be different because you were important in the life of a person who needed help somewhere in this earth.

Love is one investment that will never fail you and to a person in need that investment of yours is special. You have to love humanity before you decide to donate your wealth or allocate your time for service.

Marcus Tullius Cicero, the famous Roman philosopher, statesman and political theorist said, “We were born to unite with our fellowmen and to join in community with the human race.” What a profound statement made sometime during 100 BC.

In a lighter vein Eric Hoffer, the noted American social writer said, “It is easier to love humanity as a whole than to love one’s neighbour.” Since humanity it said to be divine it becomes our obligation to ensure that everyone who forms a part this humanity lives with dignity and with an equal opportunity to advance.

As Rotarians we need to have this as our objective –the development of the community around us. For those who have no objective nothing is relevant.

The one characteristic found in almost all tremendously successful persons like all of you is unlimited compassion. The fusion of your personal positive power with every member of Rotary will make you fulfill the deep desire to serve humanity in a variety of avenues without the thought of benefit to yourself.

Your generosity will be remembered with gratitude for generations by the families in whose homes you have lit a lamp to eradicate hunger and illiteracy. The future of Rotary Foundation depends on the generosity of the Rotarians today.

We need to belong to a society of other unique human beings who support each other in work, growth and vision. No great success was ever attained alone. If what we are doing is worth doing, we can’t do it alone. That is why The Rotary Foundation stresses on collective effort for any project. This collective effort will result in positive programmes which will bring us amongst others public and private blessings.

You are all unique. Uniqueness is primarily a matter of who you are and what you do.

Dear Rotarians, your genetic endowment combined with experience in life has converted your intense belief that you can accomplish feats into memorable actions.

Your quest for excellence in service is visible. But we all need help. We need guidance for tasks we undertake.

Even the most successful of us need reminders. We need to rethink, refocus. You must never forget that you are the torchbearers of the Rotary movement.

Every normal function of Rotary holds some delight. Clearly we need more energy every evening.

Thinking alone is not enough. Stephen Leacock, the well known English- born Canadian teacher and humourist said, “I am a great believer in luck and I find the harder I work the more I have of it.” Similarly the more you work towards the welfare of the community around you, the more of happiness and energy is what you get.

It is said that when friends are in trouble, don’t bother them by asking if there is anything you can do. Think of something appropriate and just do it.

Your Rotary Foundation is doing just that. Think of all the children who never had formal education, till your generosity made them go to school.

Think of the girl child who had to discontinue the education only because there was no toilet in the school. Think of the children who were seated beneath trees, on hard surface and trying to learn.

Think of the children who became orphans in just one minute when Tsunami struck many parts of South East Asia including India.

Think of the millions of babies you saved because of the precious polio vaccine The Rotary Foundation reached in far off places.

Think of the children who were able to eat once a day just because you sacrificed a bottle of coke or a pizza here.

Think of the millions of children who were saved by your donation which brought them clean and safe drinking water.

The Rotary Foundation saw the needs of the people through the eyes of the Rotarians worldwide and rushed to help. You made that possible here with your generous contributions.

We were taught that the future is ours because of the beauty of our dreams. That future of a bright new world, free from diseases, hunger and illiteracy is being made a reality because of your donations to The Rotary Foundation.

A Chinese proverb says, “The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.” Our dream of world which is peaceful can result only when we tackle issues such as hunger, illiteracy, disease and conflict, however small they may be in your vicinity.

The American author who became world famous for his writings Napoleon Hill said, “Cherish your vision and your dreams as they are the children of your soul; the blue prints of your ultimate accomplishments.”

Sir Winston Churchill said, “You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.” As I mentioned earlier, you are unique – because you give.

You are like no one else; just as no two snowflakes are alike. You are the only one who has the exact combination of the 30 + ingredients that defines you.

That is why there has been only one Michelangelo, one Beethoven, one Churchill, one Gandhi and one Da Vinci. All these people gave the best of what talent and treasure they had to the community. That enriched their life.

Since you are unique and one of the countless multitudes at the same time you have to fulfill the calling in your life. If you don’t do it, it will go undone.

Do you understand that you are united to each other by your dreams of an extraordinary life? Take a moment, think about this. If you can sing or do extraordinary things your ability puts you in the top 20 percent of the population. But if you donate generously your gift puts you in the top of 1 percent of the population.

Edward Everett, the American politician and educator wrote:

I AM ONLY ONE BUT STILL I AM ONE I CANNOT DO EVERYTHING BUT STILL I CAN DO SOMETHING AND BECAUSE I CANNOT DO EVERYTHING I WILL NOT REFUSE TO DO THE SOMETHING I CAN DO

You all occupy positions of leadership. Your actions will profoundly influence those who follow your example. Your ethical values provide the foundation on which a civilized society will grow.

If this population increases can you live in peace?

Because of you Rotarians, this world is slowly becoming a better place. We have prevented starvation deaths in South Asia.

Did you think about where you belong as a person? You found that the values of The Rotary Foundation compatible with your values when you joined Rotary.

We in Rotary do the same thing again and again. The excitement is not the job. It is the result.

The smile in the face of the child who goes to school, the satisfaction in the face of the mother, the happiness in the face of a youngster who is trained in a vocation, the joy in the face of the parent who sees the child saved from polio – these are the results which we see daily. The truth is people need people everyday.

Rotarians should measure their lives not by the capacity for earning but by their generosity in giving. By sparing a little of your wealth for a cause you love most, you can form an unbreakable chain of service.

In any analysis of Rotary and The Rotary Foundation we find that all our power and all our strength rests in the individual Rotarian. More and more such individual Rotarians should join together to make our Foundation bigger than what it is today.

Winston Churchill said, “Civilization will not last, freedom will not survive, peace will not be kept unless a very large majority of mankind unites to defend them.” We Rotarians have to unite and make our Rotary Foundation stronger to achieve peace in this world.

Our Rotary’s future depends in large part on the collective actions of all of you here. The expectations of TRF from you are great – perhaps greater than ever before. But you know that you can meet that expectation. I am asking you to promote a change of attitude which will play a determining role in the future of Rotary here.

I am asking you to be generous as always. I ask you to consider people’s welfare and what footprints you would like to leave. The footprints will constantly show the new path Rotary has taken to serve the people.

I wish you joy in your journey this year and you must be constantly reminded about the promises to keep. Your journey will be filled with information and inspiration.

I hope all of you are filled with resolve because the task ahead of you is not easy nor will it be always fun.

Service is serious business and we have to constantly add new chapters. We cannot expect to see the full results of our service activity and contributions in all the spheres within this year. But I believe that we can feel them in our hearts.>

What I expect from all the wonderful Rotarians here is simple – but also very complex. I hope at the end of this year each one of you will say that as a result of your work and contribution during 2011-2012 you have changed the neighbourhood, the community and the world a little bit.

Try to take your obligation very seriously. Rewrite the destiny of people who think they have no hope in the future. You can do this consciously. Touch that core in you. Do you for one moment experience that source of creation within you? This is why the theme this year is ‘Reach Within to Embrace Humanity.’

Reaching within will give you enormous unlimited power. Do you want to live the day today with your limitedness or with your un-limitedness?

You have to become aware of that ability you have to get unlimited power.

Like the tree is waiting inside the seed to come out, all the power within you is waiting to come out.

What agency in today’s world can give you an easy way to tap that power? I can say that it is The Rotary Foundation.

As you support the foundation year after year with your generous contributions, you become aware of your ability to change the world, to make a difference in the lives of people. Your life then becomes meaningful and purposeful. In short it will become a divine life.

Humanitarian Grants & Stewardship

We know that the mission of The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education and the alleviation of poverty.

Nearly 2500 plus Foundation grant projects address the range of humanitarian issues every year. More than 400 graduates of Rotary Centres for International Studies are working in conflict resolution, humanitarian aid, diplomacy and government. Every year 90 more Rotary World Peace Fellows join this group and put Rotary’s ideals into action.

The Rotary Foundation awarded nearly US $ 7.2 million for 527 projects involving maternal and child health during the period 2004-2009.

During the same period 2,436 water and sanitation projects with a grant of US $ 30.4 million got under way,
2,718 projects in healthcare with a grant outlay of US $ 34.18 million were sanctioned,
2,664 education and literacy projects got US $ 28 million and 1,625 community development projects were awarded US $ 24.5 million.

All these grants were possible because of contributions received from Rotary Clubs and other donors who had faith in the functioning of The Rotary Foundation and how it deploys the funds diligently.

Bill Gates said, “Rotary in particular has inspired my own personal commitment to get deeply involved in eradication of polio.” At the Salt Lake City Convention, Bill Gates Sr. said that “ Rotary gives people a way to convert their resources in to results for the people who need them most. ”

Nevertheless, he also noted that “ All the money in the world does not matter if it is not spent in the right way ” This speaks volumes.

The confidence of such major donors was not built in a day. George MacDonald, the renowned Scottish author said, “To be trusted is a greater compliment than to be loved.” We have constantly work to build the trust, every day of our life in Rotary.

It is this confidence in The Rotary Foundation’s ability to deliver the goods, that Governments and other agencies around the world partner with Rotary.

The efforts of polio eradication in Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan have been fruitful and advocacy possible because of the trust in Rotary’s integrity.
In Nepal infant mortality was reduced due to the training of young women as auxiliary nurses.
Help was given in Congo to the displaced citizens when violence flared between the rebels and government forces.
AIDS prevention in Kenya became possible because of The Rotary Foundation.
Malaria is being eradicated from Solomon Islands with the help of Rotary.

Rotarians give because of this trust in the Foundation. There are 1,234 clubs where 100 percent of the members are Paul Harris Fellows.

Nearly 3,13,000 Rotarians give every year to the Foundation.
During the year 2008-09 TRF received US $ 223.8 million which includes polio grants.

All this was possible only because of the trust people reposed with every Rotarian.

Every year, the collection of The Rotary Foundation is increasing. In spite of recessions, wars, conflicts and calamities, The Rotary Foundation is growing healthily. This is mainly because we have been successful in spreading awareness of the goals of The Rotary Foundation.

Rotarians and others who support The Rotary Foundation, have trust in The Rotary Foundation that its goals are achievable, noble and worthwhile.

It is this trust that results in Rotarians contributing frequently to The Rotary Foundation. It is this trust that should be harnessed into a force that will penetrate all Rotary families and promote better support.

Trust is always a two way travel. If Rotarians trust The Rotary Foundation to accomplish what it spells out to do, The Rotary Foundation has trust in the Rotarians who are wedded to the ideals of Peace.

Stewardship is critical to the success of the Foundation. Our stewardship of Foundation resources directly impacts the reputation of the Foundation among Rotarians and the general public. As stewards of The Rotary Foundation, Rotarians are responsible to donors to use donations appropriately.

A donor who understands that funds are used in an appropriate and responsible manner is more likely to give to the Foundation again to support projects.

Fortunately, our Rotary Foundation enjoys a stellar reputation. There are many Rotarians who do not have a clear understanding of the specific programmes and projects sponsored by the Foundation, yet these Rotarians still contribute to the Foundation because they recognize that the Foundation is accomplishing good in the world effectively and efficiently.

Some events in the recent past have however cast a shadow over the functioning of few clubs which were classified as delinquent because of their poor track record in stewardship.

Rotary Clubs must demonstrate that they are worthy of support from The Rotary Foundation. The decision of the Trustees to stop funding delinquent clubs is greatly to be welcomed.

It is the positive responses from those of us who believe in the importance of stewardship that made the Trustees take such decisions.

In the just concluded COL, a significant enactment that was adopted authorized the R I Board to terminate a Club that fails to comply with the Stewardship policies of The Rotary Foundation. Every DG, DRFC, RRFC and ARRFC must highlight this to the Clubs and assist them in complying with the policies.

Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation have sent unambiguous message that they see reporting and proper monitoring of funds as the prime indications for the successful implementation and conclusion of a project.

For those who have acknowledged it, The Rotary Foundation’s long-term objective is clear. The restoration of accountability in areas running through Asia has become vital. The factor is that it is time-dependent.

The Rotary Foundation is prepared to follow a timetable far longer than any club can accept. But the problem sometimes is, as people often say, we may have the watches, but they have the time.

There is an increasing awareness that the drive towards stewardship is an activity truly conducted among the Rotarians.

The clubs are the environment, the background to everything that The Rotary Foundation is doing. The clubs here also know that a failure in stewardship leads to conflict situation with The Rotary Foundation.

But what The Rotary Foundation must aim is not to have a conflict with the clubs, but tell them that there is a better way of doing things.

The Rotary Foundation’s managers in every RI District must be developed to a point that they can take the lead. This will reassure the local clubs and enable them to take up developmental work faster.

We will also be able to increase the number of clubs participating in matching grants programmes. Today the established clubs and clubs with some strategy seem to corner a great portion of the grants leaving the smaller clubs to the mercy of district simplified grants.

Strategic patience in implementing stewardship practices in many districts is difficult for The Rotary Foundation. But impatience and penalties can at best restore status quo.

Making the clubs to contribute and bringing them back into the mainstream of Foundation’s programme often suffer a setback.

It is said that mediocre doctors try to cure their patients; enlightened doctors heal them. The mediocre doctor focuses on the removal of the disease; the enlightened physician seeks to restore the patient to normal health.

Of course, there is no magic wand that can make everyone a person with the highest ethics overnight. But our Foundation and Rotary International can begin to think in terms of teaching the club leaders to create a band of people with high moral values which might make for a sea change in our geography of implementing stewardship.

In India, experts speak of evil not as a force in its own right but as a retraction or an absence of good.

Has goodness been removed from some persons in Rotary Clubs? Why did they try to manipulate donor funds? Perhaps it’s time we began to think of stewardship and deception in similar terms. Fraudulent persons can be seen to exist in a stewardship vacuum.

Lobbyist has become a dirty word in Rotary and an even dirtier concept. People with lobbying skills are now slowly ashamed to flaunt it. They want to hide it away where it won’t offend their senses.

The lack of stewardship can be traced to districts which had powerful self-styled lobbyists who were able to get grants in a jiffy! If the first 10,000 grants took 35 years to come through and the next 10,000 came in 4 years the doors were wide open for lobbyists to sneak in and dish out favours using the grants.

Instead of being ashamed, district leaders tried to sweep the accounting and reporting process under the carpet. A decade of lack of accountability emboldened many and in a district, I have heard, a Rotarian offered his expertise for preparing matching grants proposals, of course for a price!

Lack of ethics and lack of stewardship are an aberration. The way to bring back ethics is not to talk about the lack of it amongst the Rotarians but to show integrity as a positive entity.

Ethics has an existence of its own in every sphere of our life. Lack of ethics must not be thought of as an active presence in a person but as a passive absence of integrity. Then integrity can be brought into the system of the person.

The Ramayan says that the thief turned into a sage to write the greatest of Hindu epic depicting the highest form of ‘dharma.’

Developing ethics in a person is enabling him to take a small step forward to that distant horizon which represents a human being who is nearly as good as good can be! Learning the ethical way to live is the birthright of every human, not just in this country, but on this planet.

Can ethics be taught to an individual? Most of our misunderstanding arises because of a lack of effective communication. When a mind is calm there is greater clarity of expression. When a mind is free from agitation, the way people communicate with each other is much more pleasant and effective.

Wielding the whip always does not help to teach ethics to people. If you want ethics to sprout in people it has to sown into the person and hidden. If seeds are just thrown around on the soil they will not sprout. Mere talking about ethics is not enough. The teachers have to demonstrate it in their actions and deeds.

A personality and character from one person can link to the other when they are close together. That is why it is important to be in the company of people with the highest ethics.

In a Rotarian, character is everything. A Rotarian doesn’t have to be brilliant. He doesn’t have to be clever. All these qualities don’t matter. But you can’t buy courage and decency. You can’t rent a strong moral sense. A Rotarian must bring those things with him.

If he does, they will give meaning to the great practical requirement of his membership in Rotary. He must know why he’s there and what he wants to do. He has to have thought it through. He needs to have, a vision of the future he wishes to create.

The Foundations’s reputation is priceless. Through effective stewardship, we must guard the Foundation’s good reputation like the crown jewel. You all are the principal guardians of the Foundation’s reputation. You must always be vigilant. Let each and every one of us keep Stewardship at the forefront.

Remember, Every Rotarian forms a significant link to the future of TRF. If you derive your faith and courage to change the world by your association with Rotary, then your help to The Rotary Foundation is needed in ample measure.

The future of TRF is in the hands of visionary prophets like you. You are an enthusiast. You have dared to dream for the benefit of others. Your vision will keep the soul of Rotary alive.

Today we stand on the edge of a destiny which is limited only by our own vision. What you do will make a difference. You came into Rotary as one person. Now you are a part of a family. A caring family, committed to changing the world. Change needs people to rusade.Today, TRF is the tool we have to make that change. Will you be the crusader? You must, because the future of TRF is in your hands.

Reaching Within – The Role of Media

Media is the life line of a nation. Thomas Jefferson said: “If it were left on me to decide whether we should have a Government without newspapers or news papers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter” A democracy is the government of the people, for the people and by the people. Thus, the public opinion is an important aspect. The people in turn could hold the government accountable and change it, if they knew what it was doing. So, there is a need to inform the people of things around them so that there is a check on the government. And media is the one which informs them.

Creation of public opinion is the function of the media. A responsible media can make the people aware of what the community around them needs. It can arouse the passion for the community work and development.

In a democracy, where many are un-educated, public opinion has to be generated and some agency is requited to do work. An instrument of mass communication can serve the requirement of effective mobilization of national opinion. Thus is the only way democracy can survive.

Media has the huge responsibility of conveying the truth and relevant information to the common man. But somewhere this seems to be taking a back seat for media people as they are focusing more on commercialization.

If we just look around then we would find that there is no aspect of our life which is not touched and affected by media. Be it our work, relationships, education or entertainment, media is seen everywhere. And there is no denial that we can not live without media.

But media is not just confined to informing us what the world happenings and serving a means to connect with people, in fact, it also affect our thinking patterns as well. The way we think and perceive various issues about the world is also shaped up by the media. Today everyone, especially youth is growing so aware about his responsibilities towards society is because of media. Campaigns such an India against corruption and Human Rights Awareness undertaken by social groups have become national issues only because of media.

A focused column in the media can make people look within themselves, look beyond themselves and reach out to the humanity that needs help.

Presidents Elect, I congratulate you for being elected to lead your Rotary Club during the next year. It is the highest honor the members of your Club have in their power to bestow on you.

What a marvelous, fascinating unforgettable mission! What a serious & difficult mission! To be a leader amongst equals- every year in Rotary leaders change but leadership continues.

And as you change the baton of leadership, remember in a relay one does not stop to pass the baton- but runs alongside for some time at the same speed. Your year is not a marathon- it’s a 365-day sprint- so be fast off the blocks and keep up the tempo till you breast the tape.

Believe me I would not leave a single stone unturned to make my year a success so as to ensure that there shall be no regrets later for things I could have done but didn’t.

You are all leaders in your respective professions & businesses & Rotary is no different – in – all respects- but one. In Rotary you are a leader amongst equals. A demanding task requiring all your skills to motivate & inspire those working with you. You will notice, I avoided saying under you-for remember, in Rotary-there are no Ruling Governors & Presidents-but rather

Serving Governors & Presidents & therein lies the crux in quality of leadership.

It is therefore with a great sense of responsibility that you should look forward to challenges of the year ahead knowing fully well that leadership in Rotary entails not Power, nor Authority, but only Accountability.

United by the same ideal and inspired by the same principles, we are all pursuing identical objectives as we come together in the truly spectacular setting to engage in the serious study and analysis of the art & the science of Rotary.

Yes, my friends and fellow Presidents, I sincerely believe that President ship in Rotary is an Art as well as a Science.

It is – The Art of making friends
The Art of awakening enthusiasm
The Art of inspiring hearts
And
It is- the Science of transforming dreams into reality
The Science of maintaining unity in diversity
The Science of adding and multiplying efforts to achieve Great goals.

Today, as we prepare to go into the next Rotary year, we look at all the miracles accomplished by Rotary and the Rotary Foundation- all working together, combining efforts & resources to make a difference. 

Paul Harris spoke of Rotary in terms of a broad flowing river. This great river is the Sum total of the contribution of hundreds, perhaps thousands of small brooks & streams- which come tumbling down the hillsides & mountains eager to join the main channel of this great river. 

How the mighty river of Rotary has become a force of Integrity, service, love & peace. Consider the lives that have been saved, the hunger that has been alleviated- the human suffering that has been relieved- the knowledge that has been imparted- the Hope & Dignity brought into the lives of millions- the Goodwill that has brought peace one person at a time, one step at a time.

Yes, we have walked many miles since Paul Harris took the first step, but many miles remain ahead of us before the dreams & visions of Rotary become a reality. 

There is so much to be done in this world, it’s almost unbelievable, but there is one organization & one individual who can help improve our world. That organization is Rotary International & that Individual is you. 

However, it is tempting to question what one person can do in a world of six billion people.  

US Anthropologist Margaret Med once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world- indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.” 

It is said, “Small minds discuss Personalities, Average minds discuss Events and only Great minds discuss ideas.” 

Rotary gives us this forum not only to discuss ideas but also to make them in to realities. Tagore wrote, “I slept & dreamt that life was happiness, I woke & saw that life was service. I served & learnt that in service happiness is found.” & it is that happiness which Rotary gives us. 

Chinese Proverb:    If you want Happiness-

For 5 minutes – take a nap

For 1 hour –      go fishing

For 1 week –   take a vacation

For 1 month –    get married

For a year –  inherit a fortune

Forever –         help others

Yes, being a President gives you this unique opportunity to help others.  

My dear Presidents, the Rotary we all love so much in 2008-09, is in your capable hands so that you can make it even better. No one can tell us what Rotary will be tomorrow, but one thing is certain, what Rotary will be tomorrow depends upon what we Rotarians do today. 

Yes, President ship in Rotary can be described in one word OPPORTUNITY. For it gives ordinary people like us the opportunity to do extraordinary things.  

Remember – “The highest award for a man’s toil is not what he gets for it, but what he himself becomes by it.” 

Margaret Thacher was a Rotarian as was her father. He used to tell her, “Don’t be afraid to be different – don’t blindly follow the path – instead make a new path for others to follow.” 

Today Pr Elect- ask yourselves- what kind of a President will you be? Have you thought about this? Will you lead by command or by example? Will you lead by force or by persuasion? Will you lead by inclusion, can you lead by love? Or will you lead by inspiration & Motivation. 

When I was the club President of Rotary Club of Mulund, I come to recognize the fact that I was NOT as successful President as my club deserved. Perhaps, because I have realized this fact and know about the pitfalls and challenges that your DGE has asked me to speak to you all  

“Tips on how to be a successful Club leader”

The first question that many will ask me 

“Why do we need to be told how to lead the Club successfully?  

We have been leaders in our vocation and business and have been very successful in our leadership. What more do we need to know about how to succeed in Rotary leadership? 

How does it matter? May be your attitude? 

Let me tell you it does make a difference. 

You are fully aware of the fact that the year 2008-09 is going to be one of the most significant year in your journey. Should I address it as the pilgrimage, because it is the journey to the ultimate in human goodness. This leadership pilgrimage which you are soon going to embark upon will require all your experiences, talents and knowledge but let me draw your attention to a few points that will guide you along the path. 

First point is “The Heart” 

Mother Teresa, was described by the Secretary General of U.N. as “the most powerful woman on the earth” and she was asked what made her so. Filled with embarrassment, in simple words came her most profound statement “small work with great love” 

It is this love that is generated through heart. 

The heart is the source of emotions. Heart generates social and family instincts, builds friendships, creates compassion and affection, expresses desire. It determines the “will to do”. 

That is why we say “put your heart in what you do”. 

That leads us to the seconds point, “The People”     

The well known corporate leader Lee Iacocca had said, “In the end, all business operations can be reduced to three words, and they are, “people, product and profit ”. May I submit, in Rotary also we have three words and they are “people, people and people”- the people you work with, the people you serve and the people watching you. 

Through the human relationship, unique to Rotary, you will be working with your team members and volunteers, some of whom may even have greater knowledge and better recourses than you. and yet they will be prepared to dedicatedly follow you. 

In the human interaction with the people that you will seek to serve will find another enrichment. Working with elderly you will develop patience, working with the youth you will develop resoluteness, from the disabled you will learn perseverance. 

Rotary will continue to sensitize you to the needs and feelings of others and in the process you will find a new dimension of leadership manifesting through you. 

Story is told of water bearer who had two large pots each hung on the ends of a pole which he carried on his shoulders. One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect.

At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house the cracked pot arrived only half full whereas the other arrived always full.  

A year went by and the poor cracked pot, ashamed of its imperfection, spoke to the water bearer, “I apologize, because of my flaws, you have to do double the work”.

The bearer said to the cracked pot, “Don’t feel sorry. I planted flower seeds on one side of the path. Knowing your flaw I always carried you on that side. Everyday while we walked back, you watered the planted seeds. Because of you, we now have a stream of flowers.  ” 

You, my friends, are the water bearer. Each of us has our own imperfections. But it is cracks and flaws that make our life interesting and rewarding. You will have to take each person for what they are and look for the GOOD in them. 

Good leadership consists in minimizing the show of one’s own qualities and maximizing those of others. 

Now the third, the most significant point, “The Self” 

When I was Club President,, the then DG Dr Anupam Desai had said, “Take your job seriously but not yourself” My wife Nayantara said “He is right – listen to him” I did. I had no other option. But the impact it had on me, I still remember. 

You would think, and naturally so, that you would be the most powerful person in the Club. But remember, power comes as a guest, lingers to become a host and stays to enslave us and ultimately demolishes us. 

It is the self which is so difficult to control. Can you look beyond yourself – can you consider your power to be your responsibility, your position as an opportunity for action. If you can, then you will have the power of a tiny seed which has within it the potential to become a mighty tree. 

It is  said, “Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the ONLY thing”

Leadership by example has no parallel in effectiveness and what you will get to see in others is your own mirror image. 

People look for – not big statistics – not big record breakers – not big heroes. They look for someone they can relate to, learn from and emulate. 

I heard someone say, “In modern management parlance, humility has no place especially when you know you are the best” 

That is ego. 

Humility brings introspection, opens the door to enhance self-knowledge, help us to examine the emotional blocks that limit us.  

Rotary stands for ““Service above Self”. It has pioneered the concept of service amongst the business and professional people. Rotary is a trendsetter. It has set values that have become its trademark. You are going to be the trustee of those values, that trademark. 

Nothing short of your personal conviction and integrity will be needed recognizing that noise of bad is more harmful than the silence of good. Your conscience will always try to speak and remind you about it. When it does, make sure your line is not busy. 

And be always positive. It is said – laugh and the world will laugh with you. Snore, and you will sleep alone. 

I hope that “the heart”, “the people”and “the self” will enable you to touch the lives around and beyond in a way that this leadership opportunity will become a source of greatest fulfillment and enrichment of your lifetime.

Then each Rotarian in your Club will say, “thank you, you are not my President, you are my role model. You have touched my life, you have taught me the meaning of Rotary” 

That will be your finest hour. And you will be blessed. 

Your journey will truly become a pilgrimage to the future. 

Rotary, bright, promising, dynamic for future journey, will be safe in your hands.

At the End. 

Reach High, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal. Put better than the best you have in to Make your Dreams Real. 

When we talk about technology the most important technology that is available to the common person is the versatile computer.

This device has increased efficiency, increased accountability and has increased the number of services that can be provided.

In our society today there is hardly any area, which is not touched by computer.  From the morning news paper to the late night TV show every activity of ours seems to be inter linked with technology that has mad our life seemingly easier?  Or is it easier?  

Because a fault in technology sometimes takes more time to rectify and since we are so tied to technology we can’t move forward and feel immobilized.   

The example will be the microwave oven in your house.If you are used to making your meal in it then you can imagine how hard it is to toast a simple bread without it or electricity! 

Technology in communication is probably the most talked about area since it touches the life of all humans.   

The e-mail has nearly eliminated the old and beautiful post box.  Probably the days of the khaki dress clad postman or the now saree clad post woman will be a thing of the past within few years.  

It is interesting to note that the Government has shut down telegraphic services in almost all cities and towns since the advent of the telephone and more specifically the STD services.  The new generation of children may only see the telegraphic machine in the museum! 

Probably within few years the old and loveable telephone on your desk will also be consigned to the dustbin with mobile phones becoming affordable and easy. 

In this field alone the rapid changes in technology has given an opportunity for employment while eliminating the jobs connected with old technology.  

I would say that technology has made more people take to education as livelihoods are linked to rapid developments in the field of science. 

If the internet has enabled us to access more resources it is distinct advantage to the society.  It has given online support to groups of people who are unable to leave their homes.  It is an input for income generation for thousands who work from home.  Consultation and collaboration have become easy, thanks to the greatest invention of this era – the internet.

We are able to locate persons, network with them and even raise funds through internet.  A thing that could probably was not been imagined two decades ago.   Technology in communication has given the society to reach more people within a short span of time. 

Just imagine how radio, TV, SMS and such technologies are used to help people in need.  Be it blood donation or rushing for rescue, technology has made it possible for us to lessen the burden caused by natural disasters. 

If travel was a big event during the early 1900, today it is a part of everyday life for many.  The modern jet has made us go round the globe faster.  Who knows, if the technology for space travel also becomes affordable people may be circling the earth in-between break, lunch and dinner! 

Technology has helped students learn more topics sooner.  Greater access to information, better integration of multi media into presentations has changed the methodology of teaching.   

The village school master with a cane in his hand cannot be seen any more.  It is all together a different fact that no one ever feared the cane in those days and probably it was sign of the imperialistic order adapted to desi style!  Today, technology helps the teachers make better use of their time and talents in the set amount of time. 

Technological advancement in the field of publishing has enabled books to be viewed on line and this even helps in preserving the ecology.  Trees are saved.  Waste is controlled and recycled wherever needed. 

In France technology has enabled people to use sea water for distillation and generation of electricity. 

The advancements in robotics have helped in various operations that would be considered dangerous to men.  Gas lines across the deserts are maintained by technology that even helps in preventing leakages.   

For those of you who have used the old fountain pen and consider it as a valuable possession, the modern ballpoint pen is a technological advancement that has done away with the ink and ink-fillers.  Gone are the days of stained shirts or the fun the school kids used to have by splashing ink on their classmates. 

From the box camera of the 50’s – today’s digital camera and even the camera phone is an advancement that has taken the society rapidly to greater heights in the field of photography.  

The recent launch of the  i – phone in USA promises to more than just a phone.  The video has not only helped in entertainment but also in education.  The law enforcement authorities use for security.  The benefits to the society are endless.  If a giant antenna has been reduced to a small dish to bring in live feed directly into your home it is the marvel of technology.   

The functioning or rather the mal functioning of the heart is now rectified with mini aturized machines implanted for pumping blood!  The advances in medicine where machines act as lungs and keep people alive are wonders of this era.  The society’s longevity has increased by few years, thanks to wonders of scan and other diagnostic instruments invented. 

Lost?

No problem any more.  The Global Positioning System helps operating through a constellation of 24 satellites can help you find pets that just wandered away.  Again, the benefit of technology for mankind. 

Do you know that the seats in airplane and space crafts and now in most automobiles are made of temper foam?  The simple technology is temperature sensitive and conforms to your body’s contours and makes you feel comfortable.  It is now used in home furnishing. 

Want to beat the heat?  Liquid cooled garments, used by astronauts while in space are now made for people on the earth.   

People make up a society.  As technology touches a person from head to foot we can say that the role of technology in the modern society is linked to the life of every individual. 

But friends,
you will appreciate that the modern technology has yet to find a replacement for human heart and we the Rotarians work to serve the community, to serve the humanity, to serve the Nation and world at large with our heart and here lies the difference between others and the Rotarians. Long Live Technology – Let us wait to have many more areas where technology can change the shape of the society. 

If ever there was a time to act in a spirit of renewed effort to usher in peace, a time to revive Vocational Service back into Rotary, it is now.

A section of our population is just waiting for a chance to earn their first salary, however small it may be. Vocational services means empowering someone with a job and pull them not just out of unemployment but poverty too. Vocational Service is empowering men and women to end their own hunger.

Work is an important part of every person’s life; it defines who we are and without work we often feel socially excluded.

For young people, finding a stable job position is also a symbol that marks the transition from childhood to adulthood. 

In finding employment, young people find independence and a freedom of choice about their lives. It gives them a certain degree of economic security that is often a prerequisite for partnership formation and parenthood.

Vocational Service is all about giving this security to people who wish to lead a simple life and develop the nation.

India as a nation is faced with massive problem of unemployment. Unemployment can be defined as a state of worklessness for a man or woman fit and willing to work. It is a condition of involuntary and not voluntary idleness.

Vocational service, as I see it, makes these people wake up to opportunities of employment or self-employment by learning the required skills that the new decade demands.

India’s labour force is growing at a rate of 3 per cent annually, but employment is growing at only 2.3 per cent. Thus, the country is faced with the challenge of not only absorbing new entrants to the job market but also clearing the backlog.

It is said that right is not what someone gives you; it’s what no one can take from you. Yet we find in India and many other developing countries the human right to live a decent life has been taken away from a vast section of the population. As I understand, Rotary’s Vocational Service says that it is your right to give them their right to live.

For a country whose population of women alone is more than the total population of many other countries, we seem to be lagging far behind where their treatment is concerned. Vocational Service, as I see it, will give half our population an equal world.

Every October Rotary Club leaders meet in the plush atmosphere of hotels to reaffirm our founding charter, our faith in fundamental principles of peace, justice, human rights and equal opportunity for all. But, they assess the state of the economy, engage on the key issues of the day and disperse. There is little or no activity concerning vocational service. Rhetoric has always been in abundance in clubs while discussing about worthwhile vocational service activities.

But this Rotary year should be different. October, I know, has gone. But not our faith in vocational service. That October should be designated as Vocational Service month, the month Gandhi was born, is a reason to take a relook at our efforts in promoting this avenue of service.

Gandhiji might have gone, but even today his vision of creating employment through cottage industry has proved correct for our country. In fact, Alvin Toffler’s book, The Third Wave, forecasts that the world will go back to Gandhi’s thoughts of cottage industry, though in a slightly different avatar.

When we talk about Vocational service as a tool to bring in lasting peace in this world, many people have cocked a snook at it. As I see it, without a proper vocation for everybody our rational civil society will be forced to surrender to a cocoon of poverty ridden desert society.

Vocational service projects have to be eco-friendly to be sustainable in the long run in rural and semi-urban areas which have maximum unemployment.

As I see it, the first step is to ensure that knowledge comes within the reach of everyone. Rotary’s principle, which I can say is centered around Gandhi’s futuristic and prophetic vision, envisages the right of every human being to live with dignity. We cannot be hypocrites by simply talking about the greatness of Rotary and make a show of austerity when people around us starving. The first step in starting a vocational service project, as I see, is to have a simple life with high thinking.

We are facing many crises –food, recession, diseases and conflict, hitting all at once.  Vocational service requires recognizing the need for an agreement all members of the club can embrace in line with their capabilities, consistent with what the market requires.

To be sure, issues concerning vocational service projects are complex and difficult. A report of the United Nations titled ‘Voices of the Vulnerable’ says that the near-poor are becoming new poor. The report states that an estimated 100 million people could fall below the poverty line this year.

This is an indication that those restless minds can turn angry and even become violent, if something is not done now. Vocational service activity of Rotary is one way of meeting this challenge.

Listening to the speech of PRIP Rajendra K Saboo during the 2009 International Assembly in San Diego on Vocational Service, I was struck by his passion, commitment and determination to turn a page from the past and give vocational service a new direction.

From confronting unemployment to creating sustainable peace and building a more equitable economy, I can see that the task is very very big. No national government can alone deal with any of these challenges. But, as a people united, the Rotarians worldwide can make a difference. 

In India, some state governments are facing the problem of waging an undeclared war against their own people, who have been branded as disruptive forces. But one common element in all these cases has been the lack of genuine concern for the people deprived of even their basic needs. Most of the people who have joined together to disrupt the daily life in towns and villages were never born as people with violent character. Somewhere, they felt that the system of allocation  of resources amongst the people was not fair and when in most cases there was no machinery to redress their grievance, they took up to violence, just to be heard.

As citizens of the country and as Rotarians, if we don’t start moving and moving now, a showdown between the have and have-nots may become inevitable. Growth projected on paper or discussed enthusiastically in cocktail circuits, is not enough to hold the people together. Social tensions that are bubbling beneath the surface must be addressed. Benefits of your prosperity must percolate down. Otherwise the success stories of a few individuals could end up in tears.

As I see it, the situation is grave, but still under control. It is still not too late, if we, Rotarians decide to act.

In my travels to many parts of India, especially in the polio endemic areas where poverty, illiteracy and ignorance is still rampant, I was able to see that there was a great deal of optimism, surprisingly even amongst the most economically backward societies.

These are people who have never benefitted from the new prosperity that we are seeing in India. I could see that their optimism stemmed from the assumption that eventually they can see a better life for their children and themselves.

This confidence is largely built by seeing you, the Rotarians, who have been working tirelessly for eradication of polio. But I can also see that their optimism can wear out soon, if we do not do something now.

Vocational service of Rotary focuses on:   

1.  Adherence to and promotion of the highest ethical standards in all    occupations, including fair treatment of employers, employees, associates, competitors, and the public.              

2. The recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations, not just those that are pursued by Rotarians. 

3. The contribution of your vocational talents to solving the problems of society and meeting the needs of the community.

I must focus on the last point of using your vocational talents to solve the problems of the society. I see this as the most vital factor that can attempt to create a society that can live in harmony.

What you do now can result in big gains when the economy grows faster. An activity in vocational service requires sea-change in the mindset of the wealthy people. It is better to have a growth rate which would reduce the gap between the rich and the poor and ensure that no child remains hungry or uneducated.

Many clubs have been conducting courses for training electricians, carpenters, automobile mechanics, computer hardware maintenance personnel and many more such vocations. I can say with confidence that every individual who has passed these courses is today an individual living with self-respect and dignity, thanks to Rotary.

I was excited to see the bakery set up by Rotary in Chennai. The products made by the bakery are patronized by the Rotarians there and  the trainees also find employment in five star hotels.

With less than 1 percent of India’s GDP being spent on healthcare, the scenario is not very pleasant. Private health and medical facilities in rural and semi- urban areas can open up a huge opportunity for training nurses, attenders, medical shop assistants and people connected with health sector. Even if one doctor per club decides to do this, thousands of jobs can be created.

Statistics shows that more than 18 million children are employed in industries and other activities that can be termed dangerous. The greatest service you can do is to stop this. Stop this in your home, your business, your factory and in your vicinity.

I would say that such efforts result in huge advantage. But there is more to be done. I see that most Rotary Clubs have the means but not the desire to take up vocational service projects. As I see it, vocational service in some clubs is limited to distributing the 4 Way Test placards, giving classification talks and presenting vocational award to some individuals. While, the importance of such activities cannot be undermined, these alone do not constitute a vocational service project.

I see that the gradual degradation of ethical values is the main reason for most of our social ills. I would ask you to recollect the first objective of vocational service. It is about adherence and promotion of high ethical standards. I hope that a day does not come when the need to adhere to ethical standards is questioned! I am afraid, but many clubs and districts are flouting all ethical standards during the election process. You cannot be good in parts.                            

Isn’t it sad that we expect honesty and fair play from others we are often unprepared      to extend these attributes to others?

We have our responsibility as an individual in practicing and promoting fair play and honesty in our dealings with others. It must be our crusade and our mission. Let these permeate to allow business or professional bodies so that they, in turn, can promote that rare commodity, which we call ETHICS.

As I see, vocational service projects need plans that can be implemented through people, as it affects their life directly. Each person should be prepared for the training and professional help and leadership must be provided. I see these qualities in abundant measure in every Rotarian. The question is, will they use it?

If Gandhiji, a simple man, could lead an entire nation to win over a colonial power with just a walking stick and spinning wheel,

Rotarians who sport the Rotary Wheel can conquer unemployment by creating mass employment opportunities in the small and cottage industry sectors. The way to do this, as I see, is to be both the messenger and the message.

Gandhiji’s ideas for peace were a feat of craftsmanship. Rotary’s peace programmes can be classified in the same manner. The peace scholars use their vocational skills and resolve conflicts. But, if people are too busy with the work they like, there will be little time for conflicts! Vocational service’s objective, as I see it, is to create this conducive climate. There is nothing passive here. Vocational service is constructive. It is an activity to stimulate the inventiveness in every citizen. Impossible demands? But the impossible is what Rotary conquers.