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.