Aug 27 Sat
INTERCITY MEETING
on Membership


Aug 28 SUN
SNID (Special National Immunisation Day against Polio)


Aug 28 Sun 9am-5:30pm
RLI ONE DAY NEW MEMBERS’ ORIENTATION COURSE
Rotary Sadan
Registration Charges: Rs. 400/- only.
(Includes Breakfast, Lunch, Tea & Course Materials)
Contact: DGN and Chair RLI Rajani Mukheji 
98300-88881 rajani.rotary@gmail.com

More information: www.rotacal.org/rli




IT HAS BEEN A LONG JOURNEY: KALYAN BANERJEE
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BY RISHI BANERJI | Place: Ahmedabad | Agency: DNA

Vapi, a small industrial town in South Gujarat has come into limelight, courtesy Kalyan Banerjee who has been elected president of Rotary International for 2011-12. Banerjee is director of United Phosphorus Ltd (UPL) and has worked with Rotary in several capacities.

The first Gujarati at the helm of affairs at Rotary, Banerjee will handle its worldwide network for 2011-12. Speaking to DNA, he spoke about his responsibilities and activities at Rotary. Excerpts from the interview:

TO BEGIN WITH, TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY IN ROTARY SO FAR.
It has been a long journey (sighs). Rotary is a giant organisation with its presence in more than 200 countries with over 1.2 million members. The president (at Rotary) is elected though a democratic process. This year, there were 20 contestants in the fray but I was successful in becoming president in the third attempt. The previous two times I wasn't as lucky.

WHAT AREAS WILL YOU FOCUS ON AS PRESIDENT OF ROTARY INTERNATIONAL?
We generally focus on humanitarian work and betterment of society. Hospitals, schools and colleges, disaster management and providing assistance to the needy are our prime focus. There are two main programmes, which I consider important.

Eradication of Polio and Water Conservation. Apart from this, Rotary will also work towards quality health care for poor people.

YOU HAIL FROM VAPI. SO ANY SPECIAL ATTENTION TOWARDS YOUR HOMETOWN?
As a Rotarian, I have been working in Vapi for past 40 years to make it a developed town. Vapi has good Rotarians, who are dedicated towards their organisation. If they have a sound project for Vapi, we at Rotary will provide all necessary help. As the president, all centres to me are equal. I cannot have a special approach towards Vapi.

WHAT IS YOUR SOURCE OF INSPIRATION?
My experiences in life are my main sources of inspiration. When one of my friends died of a heart attack due to lack of medical facilities at Vapi, I decided to develop a multi-speciality hospital here. When I realised that children in Vapi require good education, I opened the Gyandham School. Rotary also opened Gujarat's second Nursing College at Vapi. Whenever I feel that society needs a particular service, I immediately start acting on it.

HOW IS IT BEING A ROTARIAN?
Being involved in business, I always wanted to work for the community at large. Rotary is a well-known organisation involved in community service. Working at Rotary has taught me how a small help can bring about major changes in one's life. We recently provided health cards to two lakh families in Dangs, which will entitle them to free health facility and financial assistance.

This is the kind of work that Rotarians do which separates this organisation from others. I have had many a memorable time at Rotary.




MY MAGICAL ROTARY MOMENT
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BHICHAI RATTAKUL
President, Rotary International 2002 - 2003

When I first came into Rotary, I only thought of Rotary in terms of what it could do for me, and I didn't think Rotary did much. Although I paid all of my dues on time and had perfect attendance, I didn't do much for Rotary, either.

I know now that I had this unsatisfactory relationship with Rotary because I did not participate in any of my club's service projects.  I felt that I was too busy.

Then, at one of our club meetings, our president made a plea for support. He didn't need our money. He didn't need donated goods. He needed us. He needed us to show up on a weekend with our cars to drive fatherless boys to the beach for a day of fun and recreation.  I did not volunteer.

When one of the other volunteers cancelled, the club president called me at home in a state of panic. At the time, I resented the intrusion into my personal time. But I also didn't want my club to look bad, so I agreed to participate. I was reluctant, to say the least. .... The very next morning I found myself driving to the beach in a car full of happy boys. I was not so happy, myself.

I had a boy in my group that I disliked from the moment I saw him. He was withdrawn and peculiar. And of course, this boy attached himself to me from the moment the day began.

At first, I found this extremely irritating and I just wanted him to go away. But then, a miracle took place. I asked myself "Why is he doing this?" which allowed me to think about someone other than myself.

It occurred to me that this little boy needed me.

From that moment on, I did everything I could for that little boy. During that day, I experienced a happiness and satisfaction I never could have imagined. And after telling myself and everyone else that I didn't have time for such things, I found myself wishing that the day would never end.

I think it is interesting to reflect back on this event, which I have spoken of often since it changed my life. What is interesting to me is that it only took one little boy to awaken the heart of a selfish man.

I have now been a Rotarian for more than 43 years, and I can say that no one experiences the real magic of Rotary without direct participation in service. The power of this participation is so potent, that it only takes a little bit to transform our lives and the lives of those we serve. In this way, we do indeed change the world, one life at a time.

Bhichai Rattakul
President, Rotary International 2002 - 2003

Extracts from speech at Melbourne Rotary Institute in November 2001




SWAMI VEDSWARUPANANDA
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SPOKE ON SERVICE TO HUMANITY

Swamiji addressed the members of the Rotary Club of Calcutta at our Weekly Meeting on the 12th July, 2011. He dwelt on the Rotary motto "Service Above Self" and the RI Theme "Reach Within to Embrace Humanity".
Click the following link for an enlightening experience:

http://www.rotacal.org/chaka/chakarchives/7905-02Aug11.htm#SPEECH




Regards
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PP Dr Dipak R Sarbadhikari
RC Calcutta, D-3291, Kolkata, India

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