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.
9 July 2017