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.