Rotary News - July 2016 by Rotary News

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July 2016

Vol.67, Issue 1

Annual Subscription Rs.420

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A egins B new term

Pictures by RI Director Manoj Desai

Contents 18 An “incredible” Convention The Seoul Convention, thanks to meticulous planning, and the huge patronage it got from Rotarians, was a Rotary Convention with a difference.

36 Meet your Governors

Champion of Chattanooga

Whenever John Germ saw a need in his hometown, he engineered a solution. He’ll bring the same can-do attitude to the office of RI President.

Get up-close with your Governors and find out what they have in store for your District.

40 He champions $1M donors for TRF Meet this RI Director from Taiwan who is passionate about raising mega bucks for The Rotary Foundation.

44 Reaching out to Rwanda An intercontinental medical mission and vocational training programme of D 3080 at Rwanda, Africa.

50 Cheering Single Mothers Six Rotary clubs of Pune join hands to encourage and guide single mothers.

24 Let’s respect Rotaractors: John Germ An account of the colourful South Asia Reception hosted by RID Manoj Desai and Sharmishtha at the Seoul Convention.

58 End Polio Now wins Silver Anvil Award 72 Big David, small Goliath What gives the RBI governor so much power? … It’s all about money!

42 Lessons from the wild

When Rotary gave his mother back to K R Ravindran

At the Convention closing ceremony, RI President K R Ravindran recalled how Rotarians helped save his mother’s life. On the cover: RI President John F Germ with spouse Judy.

LETTERS

Seoul convention orea here we come… 43,000 plus Rotarians. What a sight it must have been! ‘Walk for peace.’ Yes, Rotary sets examples and fulfils them. Peace walk should continue in every city, every country, till the message - live in peace, love thy neighbour- reaches all. Rakesh Bhatia RC Belur – D 3291

Convention in virtual reality. Enjoyed the reporting … can understand and appreciate the effort your team must have made to bring an account of the Seoul Convention and South Asia Reception when the convention had just got over. R Murali Krishna, RC Berhampur – D 3262

& bodies shows the wonderful job being done by Rotary. WinS Chair Sushil Gupta rightly says merely building toilet blocks is not enough; the real objective is to bring about behavioural change. Hats off to PRID Sudarshan Aggarwal for building Him Jyoti School for girls from disadvantaged families. Raj Kumar Kapoor RC Roopnagar – D 3080

s usual great reporting of the RI Convention in Seoul by Rasheeda and her team. It is a fitting tribute to outgoing RI President K R Ravindran for conducting such a great convention and for making the organisation more accountable and enhancing Rotary’s Public Image. We should now concentrate on eradication of TB, and create social responsibility through TEACH and WASH programmes.

heers to Rasheeda for portraying the Seoul

Interesting issues of RN he May issue has many inspirational stories. The talk with RIPE John Germ shows the way Rotarians can serve mankind and the interview by Rasheeda Bhagat with incoming Trustee Chair Kalyan Banerjee motivates us to get more involved and ‘Do Good’ in the days to come. Veeranna A Huggi RC Shimoga – D 3180

ongratulations for yet another very informative issue of Rotary News. We are in Rotary because we are motivated, wish to motivate and serve others. I am a proud Rotarian; if 1.2 million Rotarians can bring a change in the world, imagine what more we can do if more people join

4 ROTARY NEWS JULY 2016

Susant Tayi

Rotary … so let’s all promote Rotary wherever we go. Dr Rajendra Singhania RC Raipur West – D 3261

our editorial Winds of change at Rotary was very interesting. No doubt change is necessary, but the decision to enhance RI dues pinches and causes anxiety among all. Most people will agree with RI President K R Ravindran that women know the needs of the community better but their opinion is not sought. He says: “A club that shuts out women, shuts out much more than half the talent, ability and the connections it should have.” In Creating an IIT-like college for blind, Deepa Gadgil, along with other women Rotarians, are playing a major role. Happy schools, minds

t is always a pleasure to read your Editorial every month. Your message penetrates in the hearts of the readers. In the June issue you had focussed the attention of Rotarians on “20,000 Indian Rotarians do not subscribe to any Rotary magazine.” This figure is an eye-opener for all Rotary clubs and the Rotarians. I admire the power of your pen. Your article Sangam of training, leadership and service on the contribution of Rotary in States like Chhattisgarh, Setting goals and enforcing rules, Data theft and Sanitary Napkins, are interesting to read. My heartiest compliments for your dedicated service to the Rotary Community. I eagerly wait to receive Rotary News every month. Om Prakash Sahgal RC Bombay Midcity – D 3141

t is very sad to note that most of the Rotarians do no subscribe to any Rotary Magazine. In fact RI should make it mandatory to have at least one Rotary Magazine in a month per Rotary member. I fully agree with our RI President that even in the digital age, a hard copy can inspire, connect and give lot of visuals, informative matter and deep-rooted social activities all at a glance. Piyush Doshi RC Belur – D 3291

inS is an important Rotary project but apart from constructing toilet blocks in schools,

LETTERS hygienic disposal of soiled sanitary napkins is equally important. It is good to note that Rtn J Govindaraj, RC Madras East, is making sanitary napkin vending machines and incinerators. N Jagatheesan, RC Eluru – D 3020 Kashmiri Pundits am a Rotarian for the past 25 years. Rotary as well as Rotary News is always above all caste, creed and religion. But the article Memories ... of Kasheer by Somnath Sapru tries to sow the seed of hatred while praising Kashmiri Pundits. Islam never promotes violence in any form. PP Iqbal RC Dindigul Midtown – D 3000

he account of terrorists’ attack on Kashmiri Pundits and their sad plight of having to flee their native land is both shocking and heart touching. Though they had to migrate, they maintain their identity with their costumes, traditions, culture, language, festivity, etc. They have become refugees in their own country which is quite pathetic and sorrowful. SG Sayagavi RC Davanagere Vidyanagar – D 3160

A sher for the Editor! am a big fan of your writing. Your editorials are a dose of inspiration for me. A Sher for the Editor: “Shabdon ke Sitaron se jahan aise chamka diya, Unki roshni se andhre ujale ho gaye. Sunita Moudgi Spouse of Rtn Baljinder Moudgi RC Samana – D 3090

he article on Immunising India in the June issue was excellent. The experience shared by volunteers from UK and other countries regarding NID was very useful. Our club has done 40 projects to create awareness on vaccination and nutrition in villages this year. Let’s create a healthy India and a Polio-free world. Dr Jayesh Suthar RC Sidhpur – D 3051

he article Keep moderate, regular exercise going is very informative. Thank you for publishing articles on health and general topics. PHF Veerabhadrappa HN RC Davangere Midtown – D 3160

his year I served as a GSE zonal co-ordinator; I find Rotary News is a very good quality magazine and

The cowboy rides away ... ou may have a cowboy hat, spurs, chaps, and a horse but you’re not a cowboy till you can ride like one. TRF Chair Ray Klinginsmith has really ridden like one and blazed a commendable trail. Harjit Singh Khurana RC Ludhiana – D 3070

low priced too, giving experience and essence of Rotary and all Rotarians should subscribe and read it regularly. Happy to note that the Rotary World Magazine Press Editors seminar was held in May where the Editors shared their views and ideas. I suggest that every month you carry one or two major projects from other countries in our magazine. Suresh Kumar Devaki RC Rayachoty – D 3160

Qawwali Time he write-up Qawwali time in Hyderabad depicting RI Director Manoj Desai and spouse Sharmishtha brings cheers with their smiles. Smile and the world will smile with you; thank you for bringing us these cheerful moments. Radheshyam Modi RC Akola – D 3030

We welcome your feedback. Write to the Editor: rotarynews@rosaonline.org; rushbhagat@gmail.com JULY 2016

ROTARY NEWS 5

From th e E d i t or ’s Desk

Fun time at Seoul

hether it was managing the smooth movement of 43,000-odd Rotarians through the various halls and corridors of the massive hi-tech KINTEX facility or transferring them from the various hotels across Seoul city to the Convention venue, about an hour’s drive away, the logistics and management of RI President K R Ravindran’s 2016 Seoul Convention left the delegates highly impressed. The development of Seoul itself, into a gigantic, modern hi-tech city, with a plethora of huge multi-tiered flyovers, multi-laned wide, smooth roads, is a modern day marvel. And yet for all its technology and gleaming steel and glass high rise buildings, scenic beauty has not been a casualty. The River Han, the fourth longest in the Korean peninsula that winds its way through the Seoul National Capital Area, adds charm to this modern city, with 27 bridges straddled across the river at various points, allowing huge patches of greenery, riverside pedestrian walkways, restaurants, etc. The best of Korean efficiency was on display at the Convention, my first, so I don’t have another experience to compare it with. But I did talk to Rotarians from different countries, veterans of multiple Conventions, who said this was one of the best organised and well planned Conventions they had attended. The weather gods changed course and even light woollens had to be discarded, and caps and sunscreens became necessary to traverse the huge distance between Kintex 1 and 2, most of which could be covered on mechanised walkways; the first one had the major sessions, and the second had the sprawling House of Friendship with its numerous Rotary stalls, shopping booths, and of course food stalls, from which you could get any type of food. While the more adventurous foodies made a beeline for the Korean cuisine, dominated by heavy non-vegetarian delicacies, the more conservative ones stuck to pizzas and pastas! I rooted for the chicken biryani from an Indian stall; it was reasonably good. More than anything else, it was a great boon to get free wi-fi connectivity at the venue!

While the opening session had its own drama, with Rotary Founder Paul Harris strolling into the hall — through a screen hologram of course — to find out what the whole fuss was about, and world dignitaries such as the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Sri Lankan and Korean heads of state addressing it, it was the closing session that won hearts for Ravindran. In a poignant address, he disclosed how 53 years ago Rotary gave him the most precious of gifts … his mother, who was nursed back to health after a paralysing polio virus attack thanks to the dynamic Rotarians from his grandfather’s Club. And, if a mega event is happening in Korea, it has to have Psy of Gangnam fame. He came, performed live, and sent the assembled Rotarians crazy with his music and dance. As Ravindran mentioned, for 51 weeks Rotarians work through their clubs in their towns and communities (“though our work is international, our experience of Rotary is local”). But this one week, the Convention week, they leave their homes and board flights with anticipation and excitement … knowing that they will be meeting new people, making new friends and cementing new partnerships to do even more good in the world. Well, that journey is over. A new Rotary year begins … bringing in brand new teams across the world — at RI as well as Clubs — brimming with ideas, and encouraged and emboldened by the outgoing leaders, whose work they hope to continue. Change is great, change is inevitable, but the change which doesn’t guarantee and deliver continuity of good work and great ideas, is not worth making. Good luck to all new leaders and teams across the Indian Rotary world! Do great work, but keep us informed at Rotary News … so that we can take your work to the entire Rotary world.

Rasheeda Bhagat JULY 2016

ROTARY NEWS 7

President Speaks

To serve humanity Dear Fellow Rotarians, Today, we look ahead toward a Rotary year that may one day be known as the greatest in our history: the year that sees the world’s last case of polio. Wild poliovirus caused only 74 cases of polio in 2015, all of them in Afghanistan and Pakistan. As we continue to work tirelessly toward our goal of eradication, we must also look beyond it: preparing to leverage our success into even greater successes to come. It is tremendously important to Rotary’s future that our role in the eradication of polio be recognised. The more we are known for what we’ve achieved, the more we’ll be able to attract the partners, the funding, and, most important, the members to achieve even more. We’re working hard at RI headquarters to be sure that Rotary gets that recognition. But it can’t all happen in Evanston. We need you to get the word out through your clubs and in your communities about what Rotary is and what we do. We need to be sure that our clubs are ready for the moment when polio is finally eradicated — so that when people who want to do good see that Rotary is a place where they can change the world, every Rotary club is ready to give them that opportunity. We know that if we want to see Rotary Serving Humanity even better in the years ahead, we’ll need more willing hands, more caring hearts and more bright minds to move our work forward. We’ll need clubs that are flexible, so that Rotary service will be attractive to younger members, recent retirees and working people. We’ll need to seek out new partnerships, opening ourselves more to collaborative relationships with other organisations. Looking ahead, we also see a clear need to prioritise continuity in our leadership. We in Rotary are all playing on the same team, working toward the same goals. If we want to reach those goals together, we all have to move in the same direction — together. Every day that you serve in Rotary, you have the opportunity to change lives. Everything you do matters; every good work makes the world better for us all. In this new Rotary year, we all have a new chance to change the world for the better, through Rotary Serving Humanity.

John F Germ President, Rotary International

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Message from the Foundation Chair

100 years

Celebrate of doing good

he start of a new Rotary year is always an exciting time. We have a new inspirational theme, new club officers and exciting new projects to work on. In 2016–17, we also have a very special occasion to celebrate: the 100th anniversary of our Rotary Foundation. Since 1917, when Arch Klumph proposed an endowment “for the purpose of doing good in the world,” The Rotary Foundation has grown into a world-class humanitarian organisation. Few other charitable foundations can claim a 100-year history — all the more impressive when you consider its humble beginning of only $26.50. The fact that our Foundation now has $1 billion in assets is a testament to the remarkable generosity of Rotarians worldwide. I often wonder just what our Foundation will look like when all Rotarians, everywhere, give it their sustained support. I hope each of you will take the time to consider our Foundation’s many successes, achievements we can all be proud of. Over the past century, we have provided $3 billion to tackle a wide range of problems, large and small, in thousands of communities worldwide. Our global and district grant projects are saving and transforming lives, and we are educating scholars and training professionals to carry on this vital legacy. Our centennial offers an ideal opportunity to remind our members — and tell the rest of the world — about our Foundation’s rich history of humanitarian work. It’s time that everyone knew about our leading role in the battle to end polio, a fight that Bill Gates and others agree would never have been possible without Rotary’s extraordinary dedication. Let’s also spotlight the many ways we’re fighting other devastating diseases, providing cleaner and safer drinking water, spreading education by promoting literacy and helping local economies grow. However you celebrate our Foundation’s centennial, I hope you will make that celebration as public as possible. Hold an event that involves your entire community and showcases The Rotary Foundation’s good work. You’ll find many ideas for centennial celebrations at www.rotary.org/foundation100. RI President John Germ’s theme, Rotary Serving Humanity, speaks directly to the work of our Foundation, which for years has enabled Rotarians to embrace humanity and serve those in need. This year, let’s commit to sharing those inspirational stories, just as we continue to write more and more of them.

Kalyan Banerjee Foundation Trustee Chair JULY 2016

ROTARY NEWS 9

RI Director

Message New year, new mission

riends, we are on a never ending journey for a better tomorrow. I would like to convey my sincere thanks to the District Governors of 2015-16, whom I call ‘Speedy Sheriffs,’ for creating many milestones, as 90 per cent of them have fulfilled their goals. Last year we tried to be A Gift to the World and this year we will prove that Rotary is Serving Humanity. Each leader (Club, District, Zone and Rotary International) is in search of newer ways to achieve self-decided goals — goals that are smart, challenging, exhaustive. This is a special year — the Centennial year of TRF. The Chairman of Trustees of TRF is our own PRIP Kalyan da. The Smiling Sheriffs (2016-17 DGs) have pledged to create a new milestone for India by raising $26 million. Friends, nothing is impossible! I am happy that all DGEs have analysed the results and finalised their goals. They will be helped by the ‘friends in the field’ — the Assistant Coordinators of their RCs, RRFCs, RPICs, EMGAs — during the year to realise their dream. It is vital for all DGs to stay away from politics and invest their time in achieving goals. Last year we saw some could not achieve their goals and this was mainly due to indulging in politics. Friends, at Jaipur you voted for Rotary's DNA — Service and Integrity. I wish you all the best for enjoying the journey of Rotary Serving Humanity.

Manoj Desai Director, Rotary International

Board of Permanent Trustees

Governors Council RI Dist 2981

A Mani

RI Dist 2982

T Shanmugasundaram

RI Dist 3000

M Muruganandam

RI Dist 3011

Dr N Subramanian

RI Dist 3012

Sharat Jain

RI Dist 3020

Dr S V S Rao

RI Dist 3030

Mahesh H Mokalkar

RI Dist 3040

Darshan Singh Gandhi

RI Dist 3051

Dinesh Kumar V Thacker

RI Dist 3052

Ramesh Choudhary

RI Dist 3053

Bhupendra Jain

RI Dist 3060

Hitesh Manharlal Jariwala

RI Dist 3070

Dr Sarbjeet Singh

RI Dist 3080

Raman Aneja

RI Dist 3090

Sanjay Gupta

RI Dist 3110

Dr Ravi Mehra

RI Dist 3120

Dr Pramod Kumar

RI Dist 3131

Prashant Deshmukh

RI Dist 3132

Pramod Shashikant Parikh

RI Dist 3141

Gopal Rai Mandhania

RI Dist 3142

Dr Chandrashekhar Kolvekar

RI Dist 3150

Ratna Prabhakar Anne

RI Dist 3160

Sreerama Murthy

RI Dist 3170

Dr Vinaykumar Pai Raikar

RI Dist 3181

Dr R S Nagarjuna

RI Dist 3182

Devarunda Subbegowda Ravi

RI Dist 3190

H R Ananth

RI Dist 3201

Dr Prakash Chandran Arackal

RI Dist 3202

Dr Jayaprakash P Upadhya

RI Dist 3211

Dr John Daniel

RI Dist 3212

Dr K Vijayakumar

RI Dist 3230

Natrajan Nagoji

RI Dist 3240

Dr Rintu Guha Niyogi

RI Dist 3250

Dr R Bharat

RI Dist 3261

Deepak Mehta

RI Dist 3262

Narayan Nayak

RI Dist 3291

Shyamashree Sen

PRIP PRIP PRID PRID PRID PRID PRID PRID PRID RID RIDE

Rajendra K Saboo Kalyan Banerjee Sudarshan Agarwal Panduranga Setty Sushil Gupta Ashok Mahajan Yash Pal Das Shekhar Mehta P T Prabhakhar Dr Manoj D Desai C Basker

RI Dist 3080 RI Dist 3060 RI Dist 3011 RI Dist 3190 RI Dist 3011 RI Dist 3140 RI Dist 3080 RI Dist 3291 RI Dist 3230 RI Dist 3060 RI Dist 3000

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (In addition to Board of Permanent Trustees)

DG M Muruganandam

RI Dist 3000

Chair - Governors Council

DG Shyamashree Sen

RI Dist 3291

Secretary - Governors Council

DG Sarbjeet Singh

RI Dist 3070

Secretary - Executive Committee

DG Natrajan Nagoji

RI Dist 3230

Treasurer - Executive Committee

DG Gopal Rai Mandhania

RI Dist 3141

Member - Advisory Committee

ROTARY NEWS ROTARY SAMACHAR Editor Rasheeda Bhagat Senior Assistant Editor Jaishree Padmanabhan Send all correspondence and subscriptions to ROTARY NEWS TRUST 3rd Floor, Dugar Towers, 34 Marshalls Road Egmore, Chennai 600 008, India. Phone : 044 42145666 e-mail : rotarynews@rosaonline.org Website : www.rotarynewsonline.org

Champion of

Chattanooga Kevin Cook Whenever John Germ saw a need in his hometown, he engineered a solution. He’ll bring the same can-do attitude to the office of RI President.

ust before John Germ dropped by, Rick Youngblood took a deep breath. “You want to match his energy,” he says, “but he makes it hard to keep up.” Youngblood is the President and CEO of Blood Assurance, a regional blood bank in Chattanooga, Tenn., that Germ helped found in 1972. After his visit with Youngblood, Germ strode between mountains of empty bottles and cans at Chattanooga’s John F Germ Recycling Centre at Orange Grove, which he designed, before he drove to a construction site and popped a cork to dedicate a Miracle League field where special needs children will play baseball — all before zipping to the airport for a flight to Chicago and a cab ride to Rotary International World Headquarters, where he takes office as President of RI this month. Why the breakneck pace? “I don’t have hobbies,” he says. “Civic work is my recreation.” Not long ago, Germ, 77, spent a raucous evening at the Chattanooga Convention Centre, enjoying jokes at his expense. “John is a very influential person,” his friend Harry Fields announced from the podium. “I can’t tell you how many people emulate him … at Halloween. I mean, he’s the epitome of tall, dark and handsome. When it’s dark he’s handsome!” Nobody laughed harder than the guest of honour at the celebration of his contributions, which was referred to as the “roast of John

12 ROTARY NEWS JULY 2016

Germ.” The dinner raised more than $75,000 for Chattanooga State Community College. In closing, Fields noted Germ’s contribution to his community and the world: “100 per cent of himself — and everyone else he can shake down!” A legendary fundraiser, Germ led Rotary’s $200 Million Challenge, an effort sparked by a challenge grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Rotarians ultimately exceeded that number, raising $228.7 million to fight polio. He has already served Rotary as Vice President and Director, and The Rotary Foundation as Vice Chair and Trustee. His contributions to the fight to eradicate polio led to his selection as one of the 12 US Rotarians honoured at the White House in 2013 as a “Champion of Change” — someone who has improved communities around the world. As President, Germ chose three simple, no-nonsense words to be the theme of his year: Rotary Serving Humanity. “Rotary has kept its light under a bushel for too long,” he says. “We need to do a better job of promoting our cause. That’s the challenge ahead, but I don’t see it as a problem. I don’t believe in problems — I believe in opportunities.” The son of a stonemason, who built the family home with his own hands, excavating its foundation with a shovel and a wheelbarrow, Germ developed his work ethic early in life.

John Germ at his downtown office in Chattanooga.

Nothing came easily. Other schoolboys made fun of his name — “they called me ‘Bacteria’ ” — and his parents couldn’t afford college tuition. After a stint in vocational school, he paid his way through the University of Tennessee at Knoxville by working in a machine shop and serving food in a dorm cafeteria. After graduating, he joined the US Air Force. Soon promoted to captain, he was navigator on a 50-ton Douglas C-124, ferrying troops and tanks to Vietnam. “Unfortunately,” he says, “we flew home with soldiers’ bodies.” In 1965 Germ’s C-124 carried the Gemini IV

space capsule to Cape Kennedy. On another mission, the giant plane lost two engines and skimmed the ocean, shaking like a bumper car all the way back to base. “When we landed, we found seaweed hanging off the fuselage,” he says. “That’s how close we came to a watery grave.” When Germ’s military service ended, he joined engineering firm Campbell & Associates in his hometown. His boss, George Campbell, liked the young flier’s can-do attitude. “Within 10 years,” Germ told him, “I’ll either own some of this company or I’ll be your biggest competitor.” He

wasn’t wrong. He eventually became chairman and CEO of the firm, which went on to serve Chattanooga’s airport, its most prominent hospital, several downtown high-rises, and the Convention Centre. One of his challenges was a new cineplex, where the owner gave him a warning that puzzled him at first: “Don’t make the air conditioning too good.” Germ asked, “Why not?” “Because the customers need to smell the popcorn; we make most of our money at the concession stand.” As President, Germ wants to “find the popcorn smell that’ll bring people

to Rotary. And what is that? Service. We’ve got a service-minded generation coming up. We’ve got to get our message out to them, and we’d better do it fast.” Part of that message, he says, is that polio hasn’t been eradicated yet. We may be “this close,” but there were still 74 cases worldwide last year (all in Pakistan and Afghanistan). His own father was struck with the disease as an adult. “We were on a fishing trip when my brother said, ‘Daddy can’t walk,’ ” Germ recalls. “We carried him back to the car. Doctors said he’d never stand up again, but he did exercises. He tied

Germ and his wife, Judy, at their riverside home in Soddy-Daisy, Tenn., which he designed.

an iron weight to his leg and tried to lift it. Little by little he got to where he could lift that weight and wave it around. He walked with a limp after that, but he walked.” Germ thinks he inherited a little of his father’s stubbornness. “I don’t give up easily either,” he says. He’s certainly not giving up on supporting polio eradication — and he’s calling on Rotarians to follow his lead by urging every Rotary club to give at least $2,650 to fight polio during his term, which is also The Rotary Foundation’s centennial year. The number commemorates the first donation — of $26.50, made by the Rotary Club of Kansas City, Mo., in 1917 — to the Foundation. During the 2017 Rotary International Convention, a birthday celebration is also planned for Arch Klumph with tickets costing $26.50. If that all sounds a little gimmicky, fine. “If we can get people to pay attention,” Germ says, “they’ll see that Rotary is doing great things in the world.” While preparing for his presidential term, he stayed in touch with friends and allies — often from the nerve centre of his world, a maroon leather La-Z-Boy recliner in his comfortable home on the Tennessee River. He designed the house himself. He hangs corncobs on the poplars out back to feed the squirrels that run around his porch. His desk holds a photo of Germ dressed as Elvis Presley, entertaining at a district conference, and a plaque his wife brought home from the local Hobby Lobby. The plaque reads, “Integrity is doing the right thing when no one else is watching.” “It made me think of John,” says Judy Germ. Since her husband of 57 years became President-elect last fall, “Rotary has consumed our lives,” she says. “In a good way.” His presidency marks the apex of a life devoted to service. Previously active in the Jaycees, Germ joined the Rotary Club of Chattanooga in 1976. A natural leader and inveterate schmoozer, he has set fundraising

We’ve got a service-minded generation coming up. We’ve got to get our message out to them, and we’d better do it fast.

records for Rotary and other organisations. The Blood Assurance programme grew from a single blood draw into a regional network that supplies over 70 health centres in the Southeast with more than 100,000 units a year. It began when the United Way sent three doctors to the Chattanooga Jaycees to seek help with a blood shortage, recalls Germ’s friend and Co-Founder of Blood Assurance, Dan Johnson. “John was the Jaycees President and I was treasurer, so I got to watch him in action,” Johnson says. “When he goes to work, he never looks back. From nothing, we grew to our current budget of $29 million.” With help from Germ, Johnson and others, Blood Assurance got its message out: Donating a pint of blood is a painless way to spend 30 minutes and save three lives. “We owe much of our success to John Germ,” says Youngblood. “To me, he epitomises three aspects of leadership: He’s a gentleman at all times, he’s compassionate to all people and he’s an achiever. If John can’t get something done, it probably can’t be done.” According to Fields, Germ’s success as a fundraiser comes from his out-of-the-box thinking. “Go back to the '90s, when he was district governor. People thought of him as Mr Chattanooga. We bought a barrel of Jack Daniel’s whiskey in honour of (well-known Tennessee Rotarian) Bill Sergeant. A barrel is 266 bottles’ worth, so we gave one bottle from that barrel to anyone who donated $1,000, and we raised $250,000.” The two men have often tended bar for charity, wearing matching aprons marked JULY 2016

ROTARY NEWS 15

With Judy in the den, John sits in a recliner he refers to as his headquarters, staying in touch with the wider Rotary world on his laptop.

“Bar” and “Tender.” “My friend John is my greatest hero,” says Fields. At the recycling plant Germ converted from a run-down dairy in 1989, adults with developmental disabilities sort tons of recyclables into great stacks of bottles and cans. “He has been involved in every bit of what happens here, from engineering the building to helping us negotiate contracts with the city,” says Tera Roberts, Director of adult services for the centre. Few of the employees would have a job if not for the recycling centre, and they can keep anything interesting they come

My question isn’t ‘How many meetings did you make?’ It’s ‘How are you making a difference in your community?’

16 ROTARY NEWS JULY 2016

across. One worker found a crumpled $100 bill. To finance the city’s new Miracle League field, one of the best-equipped in the country, Germ enlisted co-sponsors including Berkshire Hathaway, Blue Cross Blue Shield and his own Rotary Club of Chattanooga. “Every kid should be able to play sports,” he says. “It’s not just for the child, but the whole family. What’s better than a child hearing his mom and dad cheer when he plays?” Another of his causes, the First in the Family programme at Chattanooga State, provides scholarships for students who couldn’t attend college otherwise. Flora Tydings, the school’s President, calls Germ “an excellent role model to many of our students who, like him, are the first in their family to attend college.” Today his schedule changes daily — sometimes hourly — as he keeps up with the duties of his new office. On his agenda, he says he would like to

see Rotary operate more like a business. “We’ve been getting leaner, and I’d like to speed that up. In January, for instance, we’re going to hold our Board meeting in Chicago instead of San Diego. That means we won’t have to fly a couple dozen staff members to San Diego and put them up there. It’s just common sense.” He wants to shorten Board meetings, shrink some RI committees and save money on committee meetings to make Rotary more cost-effective. Half a century after landing his last C-124, Germ sees himself as Rotary’s navigator, plotting a course toward a bright future. “It’s going to be a team effort,” he says. His main target after polio will be Rotary’s static membership. On that issue, he says, “The fault is with us, the current Rotarians.” He wants members to “step up their outreach. I really think one of our main problems is that we don’t ask enough people to join. Why? For fear of rejection. We need to get over that — to get out there and bring in new members we’ll be proud of.” To appeal to younger members, he supports a new move (approved at the Council on Legislation in April) that allows membership in Rotaract and Rotary at the same time. “I’m all in favour of that,” he says. It doesn’t stop there. Germ supports flexibility in many Rotary matters. “Our clubs have always been organised around a meal. Lunch and dinner were part of our dues, and that system served us well. But society has changed,” he says. Rotary International is catching up by allowing clubs more leeway in when and how they meet. “How do we accommodate the 30-year-old businessperson raising a family? Well, for one thing, we could pay less attention to attendance,” he adds. “My question isn’t ‘How many meetings did you make?’ It’s ‘How are you making a difference in your community? ’” Pictures by Alyce Henson Reproduced from The Rotarian

District Wise TRF Contributions as on May 31, 2016 (in US Dollars)

District Number

APF

2981 2982 3000 3011 3012 3020 3030 3040 3051 3052 3053 3060 3070 3080 3090 3100 3110 3120 3131 3132 3140 3150 3160 3170 3180 3190 3201 3202 3211 3212 3230 3240 3250 3261 3262 3291 India Total

85,766 56,809 2,59,039 84,601 1,88,573 1,29,638 25,345 24,267 19,275 1,710 22,978 2,87,908 36,011 97,210 59,718 42,388 91,756 96,312 2,26,222 58,463 7,52,411 13,474 22,404 48,216 2,14,955 7,28,917 2,18,913 82,121 85,516 87,693 3,04,529 1,11,156 71,719 25,399 1,31,807 59,786 48,53,007

3220

1,43,424

3271 3272

22,757 11,769

3281 3282

1,30,355 62,438

3292 South Asia Total World Total

2,37,820 54,61,570 10,01,33,531

PolioPlus*

Other Restricted

India 21,214 0 15,039 0 525 0 5,098 19,930 9,163 1,37,431 93,173 105 122 56,251 779 44,065 227 0 0 98,989 0 1,050 2,188 20,486 397 24,815 31,454 27,521 0 0 0 23,454 12,949 73,230 156 0 9,997 82,138 3,944 0 54,238 1,59,247 4,000 27,001 0 0 1,335 37,716 4,029 3,858 9,379 2,73,085 1,04,346 100 4,634 525 1,000 0 2,369 6,000 26,213 4,13,923 700 203 1,300 35,162 0 0 1,225 12,028 0 1,20,917 4,21,192 16,99,230 Sri Lanka 21,776 89,188 Pakistan 26,936 989 12,456 (200) Bangladesh 50 77,762 25 0 Nepal 4,319 8,66,438 4,86,754 27,33,407 2,18,11,721 1,28,39,756

* Excludes Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. * Does not include contribution of Mrs Rajashree Birla ($1,000,000)

Total Endowment Contributions Fund 197 0 0 13,324 0 2,24,809 0 0 0 0 0 22,000 0 17,758 0 2,000 0 0 9,811 37,500 2,16,170 40,010 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,000 692 42,219 16,606 11,000 0 42,000 0 6,97,096

1,07,177 71,848 2,59,564 1,22,954 3,35,166 4,47,725 81,717 69,111 19,502 1,00,699 24,028 3,32,581 61,223 1,73,942 59,718 67,842 1,77,935 96,468 3,28,169 99,907 11,82,066 84,485 22,404 87,267 2,22,842 10,11,381 3,23,359 87,280 87,516 96,755 7,86,883 1,28,665 1,19,182 25,399 1,87,060 1,80,703 76,70,524

7,608

2,61,997

0 0

50,682 24,025

14,913 3,000

2,23,081 65,463

0 7,22,618 1,46,07,910

11,08,577 94,04,348 14,93,92,917

Source: RI South Asia Office

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An “incredible”

Convention Rasheeda Bhagat The Seoul Convention, thanks to meticulous planning, and the huge patronage it got from Rotarians, was a Rotary Convention with a difference.

ith Paul Harris, the Rotary Founder making an appearance (through Hologram on a giant screen of course), the 107th RI Convention of RI President K R Ravindran got off to an interesting start at the sprawling KINTEX facility about an hour’s drive from Seoul's city centre. Describing it an “incredible event” (after all over 43,000 delegates had registered for this Convention), Paul

Harris comments that he has been to many conventions but it looked as though half the Rotary world was there. Admitting that “this is my first time in Korea,” he adds, “Being with Rotarians, having fun, sharing views, making new acquaintances, we’ve always called it fellowship!” Addressing the opening session, Ravindran related the story of a king’s falcon who refused to fly as he was too

From right: Juliet Riseley, RIPN Ian Riseley, Judy Germ, RIPE John Germ, RI President K R Ravindran, Vanathy Ravindran at the inaugural of the Convention.

comfortable on his perch. After trying all tricks, the King asked a farmer to help; he achieved the objective by just chopping the branch! Similarly, Rotarians would have to leave their positions of comfort in order to fly ... “to fly your farthest, you have to say, I am going to leave the things I know.” He said being an RI President was not just an honour; it was also a responsibility. “From the day I was

PRIP Rajendra K Saboo, Sharmishtha Desai, RID Manoj Desai, PDG Ravi Vadlamani, Vanathy Ravindran and RI President K R Ravindran at the South Asia Reception.

nominated, I approached the job of running Rotary, as I would the running of any big business: striving to keep our costs low, our productivity high, our operations efficient; and focusing on increasing value for our members.” And what he sought from Rotarians was also asked of both RI leaders and staff. His efforts had yielded not only “substantial fiscal savings but also new and creative ways to give Rotarians good value for the cost of their membership: such as Rotary Global Rewards.” These allowed concessions on everyday transactions done via their smart phones; Rotary Rewards has had over 80,000 visits with over 13,000

When Ravindran was classified “unskilled labour”

I President K R Ravindran described for the Convention delegates his recent experience as a volunteer in a medical mission led by Past RI President Rajendra K Saboo, in which 20 specialist doctors from India brought in both their skills and equipment to perform some 400 surgeries in one week. When he volunteered his service to one of these experts, he asked what experience I had. To suitably impress him I said, “I run a

multinational business and I’m the President of Rotary International.” He thought for a moment, and said, “All right, we will put you down for unskilled labour.” But spending that one day pushing wheel chairs and moving patients in and out of surgery, he felt proud of being a Rotarian. For who else but Rotary could do a project mobilising resources and skilled personnel and meeting needs in an African country, asked Ravindran.

We are grateful to have Rotary in our country, as a community with Rotary is better off in every way than one without it. Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe

redeemed offers already in less than one year. “Whether you’re shopping online at Marks & Spencer, visiting Walt Disney World in the US, or buying electronics at Harvey Norman in Australia, it’s worth looking first on Rotary Global Rewards.”

A demanding vocation Yes, Rotary was indeed a demanding vocation — it sought members’ time,

energy and resources. But to grow the organisation, “it had become increasingly clear that the traditional Rotary model, of weekly meetings and meals, may not be a viable proposition to the professionals of all ages we most need to attract. And so your Board proposed, and your Council approved, increased flexibility in how we meet, and in the types of membership — giving clubs more JULY 2016

ROTARY NEWS 19

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

autonomy to make the choices that will work for them.” These changes had been done with an eye on the future, “in which the business of Rotary will be conducted on a level more ambitious than ever before,” Ravindran said. In order to drive Rotary towards “greater efficiency, building our resources, doing the most with what we have — in order to see that, you have to step outside those walls, and like the falcon, you have to fly.” This, concluded Ravindran, was the “privilege I have had in this Rotary year. Of flying above the landscape of Rotary, soaring over its fields and its mountains, its rivers and its valleys. In dozens of countries, hundreds of projects, I have seen the countless ways that Rotary has been A Gift to the World.” The amazing projects he saw during his year as President included: •

Display of flags of various countries at the Opening Ceremony.

In Nepal, a year after their devastating earthquake, the first fruits

RI President K R Ravindran.

This Rotary year Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had the RTKXKNGIG QH Ć&#x20AC;[KPI CDQXG VJG landscape of Rotary, soaring QXGT KVU ĹżGNFU CPF OQWPVCKPU rivers and valleys, in dozens of countries with hundreds of projects. RI President K R Ravindran

â&#x20AC;˘

of a partnership between Rotarians and their government will result in 140 new schools, and hundreds of homes, to replace those destroyed. In Chile, several children would have productive and fulfilling lives, because of the Rotary disabled childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s centre. In the Himalayan State of Uttaranchal in India, post the devastating 2013 floods, Rotary had stepped in to rebuild 32 schools

When a war was stopped for Polio

ddressing the opening session Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had the record audience spellbound when he announced that if Sri Lanka did not have a polio case for the last 20 years, it was thanks to the efforts of “your President K R Ravindran.” Saying it was a matter of great pride “for us in Sri Lanka that you’ve chosen someone from our rather small country to head your great organisation,” he went ahead to give details of how “we ended polio in our country at the height of an armed conflict and terrorism.” Back in 1995, a few Rotarians, got together with UNICEF and approached the Sri Lankan Health Minister saying they wanted to do an NID (National Immunisation Day). Rotary had pledged to bring in $1.5 million and looked for the rest from the Government to vaccinate the whole country against polio in one shot. The officials agreed and said all the children could be vaccinated except for those in the north and the east as the Government did not have access or control of those areas at that time. “But for the Rotarians this wasn’t acceptable as Rotary money could not be used for vaccinating only half the country. The health ministry officials looked at the crazy Rotarians and said: ‘In case, you haven’t noticed, there is a war going on here, and we don’t have control over those areas, so what do you want us to do?' Your

22 ROTARY NEWS JULY 2016

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

President Ravindran answered them saying don’t worry about it, we’ll take care of the war.” A sceptical health minister said: “Ok, go ahead; if you can stop the war, then we can vaccinate the whole country.” Two months later Ravindran returned with a letter delivered to his and the UNICEF office by the LTTE which said we will lay down our weapons if the Government will lay down theirs. On the NID, a ceasefire came into being, the weapons were laid down on both sides and the Rotarians, UNICEF and Red Cross representatives and Government health workers went with a white flag in the north and east “where none would have dared to go and they gave us a polio-free Sri Lanka,”

said Wickremesinghe, amidst thunderous applause. Rotarians have come forth to help during several natural disasters; after the 2004 tsunami, the Rotarians, under the leadership of Ravindran, built 25 schools and later a maternity hospital. “We are glad to have Rotary in our country, as we have seen that a community with Rotary is better off in every way than one without it,” he added. Convention Co-Chair and RIPN Ian Riseley said this was Rotary’s 107th Convention and it was a pleasure to organise it in Korea, “a vibrant and dynamic country, world leader in technology, which retains a sense of history in an atmosphere of cordiality.”

United Nations and Rotary have a long productive history; Rotarians even helped with the founding of the United Nations. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

in remote and inaccessible areas where building materials had to be carried, brick by brick, on workers’ backs. These projects showed not only compassion, but also generosity, ingenuity, creativity and skill. They showed what we can do in Rotary — when we approach the business of service, with our full attention, our full expertise — and a full heart. He concluded by saying that when he took up “this job” 11 months ago, he was convinced that Rotary must be run like a business. To those who said “but Rotary is not a business, I said, yes, it is. But it is a business like no other. Our business is literacy, health, livelihood, hope … life itself — and to so many of those we help, our business is miracles.”

When Rotary helped in the formation of UN Addressing the opening session, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, a Korean politician and statesman, said the partnership between Rotary International and the United Nations is “invaluable, as our common objective is saving lives.” Thanking Rotarians for “the remarkable work you do all around the world,” he said Rotary often helped UN reach its goals. “Our two organisations have a long productive history; Rotarians even helped with the founding of the United Nations.”

Rotaractors at the Convention.

Ban Ki-moon cited Rotarians’ presence at the San Francisco conference in 1945 that led to the birth of the UN and the efforts of former Rotary International President Allen Albert in forming the UN. He was a passionate defender of human rights and human understanding. Thanking Rotarians for the monumental work they had put into the efforts to eradicate polio, he urged them to continue till the goal of Zero Case was achieved. He recalled his attending “so many Rotary events. I will never forget taking part in the Centennial celebrations in Birmingham. We arrived to see the flags of over 150 countries and friendly Rotarians. I find the same sense of excitement today in Korea.” More than its numbers, the strength of Rotary lay in the way “Rotarians use their time, funds and energy to help our world. You have made a monumental contribution towards eradicating polio. The UN is proud and grateful for your contribution in ending this debilitating disease,” he said. The UN Secretary General added that when RI launched this campaign in 1985, “over 350,000 children were

paralysed by polio every year. Individual Rotarians have generously contributed an astounding $1.2 billion. They’ve engaged donor Governments to donate an additional $6 billion. Thanks for your noble contribution and congratulations for ending polio by 99 per cent.” He sent out the grim reminder that but “for your efforts, some 16 million people, who would otherwise have been paralysed by polio, can walk now. And about 1.5 million children are alive today thanks to PolioPlus.” What was more, “over the next 20 years, polio eradication will save over 50 million lives. We are all anxiously waiting for Case Zero; till that comes we have to redouble our efforts. I have personally, along with my wife, immunised children in Angola, Indonesia, India, Nigeria and other countries.” He concluded by urging the gathering to “keep up the fight, continue to raise your voice, hold your governments accountable and campaign hard, till we end this disease.” Picture credit: Rasheeda Bhagat and www.rotary.org Designed by N Krishnamurthy JULY 2016

ROTARY NEWS 23

South Asia Reception

Let’s respect Rotaractors: John Germ Rasheeda Bhagat

ou’ve got strong roots in this organisation, you’ve had and continue to have great leadership to take Rotary forward in the next century of service. India used to be a receiving country, most of the grants went to India and South East Asia. But now you are a leading giving country. Not only in leadership but you’re also giving in the ability to train more individuals. Don’t rest on your laurels.” This was the pep talk given by RI President Elect John Germ at the

From a receiving, you are now a giving country. But don't rest on your laurels. RIPE John Germ

colourful South Asia Reception hosted at the Seoul Convention by RI Director Manoj Desai and spouse Sharmishtha, where the paneer and chicken tikka masala were a big draw for the Indian delegates yearning for home spices. Reminding Indian Rotarians how they had worked as one big team to eradicate polio, he urged them not to rest on their laurels and remain vigilant on polio as “only a little bit of border separates you from Afghanistan and Pakistan, which still have polio cases.”

He also complimented Indian Rotarians for working earnestly to get the girl child back to school by building separate toilets for them through the WASH programme. “And now you’re working towards total literacy; and you can do all this because you are working together with both the government and the private sector.” On Rotary’s future, the incoming President said the challenge remains to get more young people into the organisation. “The average

age in this room could be 65, or 70; we can’t afford to keep aging this organisation.” Earlier that evening, he had met many Rotaractors; “they don’t believe Rotary respects them as individuals or as an organisation and only looks at them as labour, not as equals. We should be embarrassed that they feel this way about us.” And when “I asked them what we could do to help them, the answer was: ‘Treat us as equals.’ And we should do that because this organisation will help us to grow and prosper.”

triking a mellow note, RI President K R Ravindran said that it was good to “see all my friends here, though we all miss (PRIP) Kalyan (Banerjee). All our prayers are with him as he faces a few challenging

days”. As his term came to an end, “the legacy I leave behind is continuity. John (Germ), (RIPN) Ian (Riseley) and I work closely together. The General Secretary (John Hewko) and the Board work together and the Board and Trustees work together.” Very often “we talk about our zones, and I can say we’ve done very well (Zones 4, 5 and 6A) in both membership and projects, and we are right there among the top in TRF.” Ravindran added that as the first President from Sri Lanka, “my term as President was much less of power and much more of responsibility.” Unlike Presidents from a big country like US, when “you come from a tiny country like Sri Lanka, when you do something right or wrong, it has a very big effect … and the way they judge your country depends on the way you conduct yourself. I had the weight of Rotary, the weight of Sri Lanka and Asia.”

When you come from a tiny country like Sri Lanka, the way they judge your country depends on the way you conduct yourself. I had the weight of Rotary, the weight of Sri Lanka and Asia.

So was he sorry to leave, he was often asked. “The answer is no. I am really happy to have my life back, to wake up in my own house in my bed, happy to go back to my business.” And of course, greet his little granddaughter every day at breakfast! The Rotary leaders who attended the reception, organised impeccably by PDGs Ravi Vadlamani, A S Venkatesh and T V R Murti, were PRIP Rajendra K Saboo, TRF Trustee Sushil Gupta and spouse Vinita, RIPN Basker C and spouse Mala, RI General Secretary John Hewko and spouse Margarita, several RI Directors and TRF Trustees, both present and past. Picture by: Rasheeda Bhagat

When Rotary gave his mother

back to K R Ravindran Rasheeda Bhagat

ifty-three years ago, my mother’s life was perhaps the very first to be saved from polio by Rotarians. We have saved millions of lives since then; but 53 years ago, Rotary gave me the gift I prayed for. It gave me my mother back.” With these rather uncharacteristic emotional words RI President K R Ravindran moved the huge gathering at the RI Convention’s closing ceremony, with many in tears. It’s a personal story that only a few close to him know. That he chose

to share it with the larger Rotary world gave it special meaning as it came at a moment of heightened expectation that soon Rotary would “give a gift that will endure forever: a world without polio.” Ravindran recalled how as an 11-year-old, he was subjected to the trauma of watching his mother struggle even to breathe and rushed to hospital completely paralysed. In

the midst of a Rotary committee meeting his grandfather, also a Rotarian, had hosted in his living room, a call from the hospital devastated him. She needed a ventilator to survive; the few available in Sri Lanka were all in use. But the Rotarians present acted quickly. One, a bank manager got the required foreign exchange cleared, another a Swiss Air manager, arranged to fly the ventilator the following day. “There was so much red tape at that time in Sri Lanka, but somehow, those Rotarians made it all fall away. By the following morning, the machine was on

RI President K R Ravindran with his granddaughter Raika.

The final goal — a world certified polio-free — will take three years. We have to keep up our efforts, not just for another few months but for at least another three years. John Germ

a plane, and by evening, in the hospital helping my mother to breathe.” She stayed in the hospital for nearly a year, but recovered slowly and though “carried there on a stretcher, when she left it, she walked.” And she lived for another 48 years, till she passed away five years ago. Apart from their tremendous work on polio eradication, Rotarians could be truly proud of the midwives they train to deliver healthy babies; the sanitation they bring to schools to ensure healthier students who would go on to better futures, and bring greater prosperity to their communities and their nations. After his speech, members of his club — RC Colombo, Sri Lanka, and RI President-elect John Germ’s RC Chattanooga, USA, took the stage to exchange club banners, a tradition that marks the changing of the guard.

ddressing the closing session Germ said that Rotary was about to begin “the most progressive year in its history. You told us that we need to change and become more flexible so

RIPE John Germ.

that Rotary service will be attractive to younger members, recent retirees, and working people.” With groundbreaking legislation passed at the recent CoL, “clubs now have the opportunity to be who they want to be, but at the same time remain true to our core. I’m pleased to share with you that Rotarians all over the world are responding with great excitement.” Stressing the need for Rotarians putting all their focus on polio, Germ said that getting to Zero Case, when that happens, still didn’t mean that we’d gotten to the end. The final goal — a world that is certified polio-free, would take three years without a single case. “That means we have to keep up all of our efforts, not just for another few months but for at least another three years. And we can’t forget that we are still $1.5 billion short of the money we’ll need to get the job done.” Of course it wasn’t the job of Rotarians to raise all of that money, “but it is our job to advocate, anywhere

and everywhere we can, to make sure that it is raised. We need to be talking about polio, tweeting about polio, putting polio front and centre in the minds of our communities and our elected officials.” It had taken 30 years of hard work and soon — 1.85 billion Rotary dollars and more than 2.5 billion immunised children later — “we’re going to finish it. And when that moment comes, we need to be ready for it, to be sure that we are recognised for that success, and leverage that success, into more

years ago, Rotary

gave me the gift I prayed for. It gave me my mother back. K R Ravindran

JULY 2016

ROTARY NEWS 27

TRF Trustee Chair Ray Klinginsmith addressing the TRF session.

elivering The Rotary Foundation Keynote address, TRF Chair Ray Klinginsmith gave details of how the Foundation had changed in the last 40 years to achieve its current level of success. He said Rotarians should be immensely proud of TRF, which only had three programmes in 1975–76 — International Scholarships, Group Study Exchange teams and Matching Grants. It received total contributions of $8.4 million that year, “which was a new and impressive record. But last year, the Foundation received total contributions of $269 million, about 32 times the total amount received 40 years ago.” And next year being the Centennial, “our goal is $300 million.” Even if the US dollar’s value in 1976 was converted to the current time, and the contribution adjusted for inflation, it would be worth $35 million, only 14 percent of the total TRF received last year! Coming to expenditure, he said that in 1975-76, the Foundation had

TRF’s Triumphs

spent $5.7 million, with 86 percent of the funds being spent on International Scholarships, 13 percent on Group Study Exchange and 1 percent on Matching Grants! But “what a change has occurred in response to the preferences of Rotarians, as shown by their usage of DDF, through the last 40 years! We now have added the PolioPlus programme, which has placed Rotary on the world stage with our stunning progress in the eradication of polio.” After adding the popular Rotary Peace Centres programme, the earlier programmes have been replaced with district grants and global grants. Klinginsmith said International Scholarships had started in 1948, when ships were still the mode of international travel, and the Group Study Exchange teams were initiated in 1965, just as the jet age was starting. But gradually Rotary districts preferred using their DDF for humanitarian projects. With the advent of the Future Vision Plan, Rotarians were now

undertaking larger and more sustainable projects; “very few organisations would have been able to make such a significant shift in their programmes, particularly those almost 100 years old at the time! But The Rotary Foundation, did it — and did it well!” A triumphant Klinginsmith said that as TRF gets ready for its Centenary celebrations next year, “I am pleased to tell you that The Rotary Foundation has never been stronger than it is today. Last year, it had made it in the CNBC list of the Top 10 Organisations Changing the World in 2015, being ranked 5th! What an achievement! Our Foundation is truly Bigger, Better, and Bolder than ever before.” He revealed that he himself was a TRF scholar, and “this year marks the 55th anniversary of my arrival in Cape Town to study as a TRF scholar. The intervening years have been an incredible adventure in Rotary service for me, and I have seen countless projects and activities in which Rotarians are truly improving the lives of so many people with TRF assistance.”

was launched in 1938 to sell

Rasheeda Bhagat

Not many people know Samsung

groceries. But now it is a top manufacturer of TVs, mobile phones and kitchen appliances. John Hewko

partnerships, greater growth, and even more ambitious service in the decades to come. We need to make sure that everyone knows the role that Rotary has played in making the world polio-free.”

I General Secretary John Hewko said it was apt the Convention was being held in Korea, which was for its innovations. Not many people outside Korea “know that Samsung was launched in 1938 to sell groceries. Since then, it reinvented itself multiple times. It listened to its customer base, followed retail trends, took advantage of opportunities, and now is a top manufacturer of TVs, mobile phones and kitchen appliances.” Rotary too was on a path of innovation. With its membership of 1.2 million “we’ve brought polio to its knees.” And in the last few years more innovations had been initiated, including a redesigned website — Rotary.org, and over 20,000 Rotary clubs had

Last year, our Foundation received total contributions of $269 million, about 32 times the total amount received 40 years ago. Ray Klinginsmith

A delegate uses the Segway to move about within the Convention venue.

adopted Rotary Club Central to set and track their annual goals for membership, service and Foundation giving. Also to improve “our public image, we recently completed a comprehensive brand strengthening initiative and rolled out a new visual identity, stronger messaging, and expanded media outreach.” Hewko added that Rotary’s work was now getting positive media coverage, from prestigious publications such as Time Magazine, New York Times, Forbes, BBC, Al Jazeera, CNN and Sky News. “And our End Polio Now campaign is a finalist for the Silver Anvil awards, known as the Oscars of Public Relations.” (since then — a winner.)

Rotary’s social media presence has also become much stronger, he added. The live stream event for World Polio Day last October had surpassed all previous records, reaching 145 million people through shared content on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. The April Jubilee at St Peter’s Square on invitation of Pope Francis, which was attended by 9,000 Rotarians, not only got great media coverage, “on social media, this event was off the charts. Just one FB post with the Pope’s message got 87,000 likes and reached 1.3 million people within 48 hours.” Pictures courtesy: rotary.org Designed by S Krishnapratheesh JULY 2016

ROTARY NEWS 29

A Convention moment ... Rasheeda Bhagat

he closing session of the Seoul convention was made memorable of course by great speeches from the top Rotary leadership, including R I President K R Ravindran’s re-living his trauma as an 11-year-old child when he watched his almost paralysed mother being taken to the hospital struggling for every breath, until the ventilator arranged by a group of Rotarians was flown into Colombo. This was almost a kind of farewell speech because he will not be addressing any large Rotary gatherings till his term ends in June. But the delegates, many of whom were wiping their tears, had another treat in store. As the Ravindrans stood on the stage acknowledging the prolonged applause, their little 18-monthold granddaughter Raika, who was playing by herself

30 ROTARY NEWS JULY 2016

in the front row, spotted her beloved grandpa on the stage. She did not care this was the President of RI at his moment of glory in front of an adulatory audience. Unnoticed by her parents, she quietly made her way to the front of the stage and began climbing the steps, calling out ‘Pa’ to Ravindran. Noticing this, Ravindran hastily walked down to meet her, scooped her up in his arms, and carried her back to the stage, even as the applauding delegates were on their feet. To many this was the most endearing moment of the conference. “It was such a beautiful moment, so natural … of course such things can’t be rehearsed. The music was outstanding. I’ve attended some 40-odd Conventions, but this was one of the most dignified closing sessions, said a past RI President.

Coca-Cola teams up with Rotary to End Polio Team Rotary News

t the Rotary International Convention in Seoul, Coca-Cola Pakistan reiterated its support to Rotaryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s polio eradication efforts in Pakistan by announcing Rs 10 million for the cause. The money will be used to provide seven solar water filtration plants at Karachi, Sindh and Nowshera, the high risk regions of waterborne diseases, and thereby check the transmission risk of pathogens such as the polio virus. Coca-Cola is partnering with Pakistan National

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PolioPlus Committee since 2012 to fight the disease in the country by carrying polio awareness messages on their bottle labels and billboard sites. The two organisations are jointly working towards a cleaner environment, better sanitation and providing clean drinking water for the people by installing RO plants. The partnership between CocaCola and Rotary is in line with the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s CSR strategy to enhance community well-being through the provision of safe drinking water. Â&#x201E;

India Day at Evanston Team Rotary News

he Rotary Foundation inducted six Rotarians from India and one from Sri Lanka into the Arch Klumph Society, celebrating the event as India Day. Their portraits will now adorn the Societyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gallery on the 17th floor of RI headquarters at One Rotary Centre, Evanston. The following donors have contributed

$250,000 to the Foundation to qualify for the AKS membership: Rtn Bahri Baldevraj and Janaki Malhotra â&#x20AC;&#x201D; RC Pune Central, D 3131; Rtn Gopal and Bharathi Balasubrahmanyan â&#x20AC;&#x201D; RC Madras Coromandel, D 3230; Rtn Om Prakash and Sneh Prabha Khanna â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

RC Bangalore Indiranagar, D 3190; Rtn M Radhakrishnan and Rema Radhakrishnan â&#x20AC;&#x201D; RC Pune Chinchwad, D 3131; Rtn Saif and Rauzat Qureishi â&#x20AC;&#x201D; RC Bombay Pier, D 3141; Shravan NS and Lavanya NS â&#x20AC;&#x201D; D 3190; Rtn Bhashkumar and Zipporah Rajan â&#x20AC;&#x201D; RC Kandy, Sri Lanka, D 3220.Â&#x201E; JULY 2016

ROTARY NEWS 31

rotary.org

Convention Colours

Above: Korean children at the inaugural; Below: Vinita Gupta with Judy Germ; Right: RID Manoj Desai and Sharmishtha Desai at the 3K Walk for Peace.

Above: RI President K R Ravindran and Vanathy Ravindran at the South Asia Reception. Also seen: TRF Trustee Michael K McGovern, TRF Trustee Sushil Gupta and Vinita Gupta; Below: RIDN Basker C and Mala Basker with RI Vice President Greg E Podd and spouse Pamela Podd.

rotary.org

Above: (From left) TRF Trustee Sushil Gupta, Vinita Gupta, Sharmishtha Desai and RID Manoj Desai; Left: K-Pop celebrity Psy performing at the Seoul Convention.

PRID Shekhar Mehta with TRF Trustee Bryn Styles.

rotary.org

Above: Margarita Hewko and RID Jennifer Jones shake a leg at the Convention; Below: RIPE John Germ and Judy, RID Manoj Desai and Sharmishtha and TRF Trustee Sushil Gupta with DGs and DGEs.

Pictures by Rasheeda Bhagat; Designed by S Krishnapratheesh

Meet your Governors Rasheeda Bhagat and Jaishree

No gender discrimination for her! Shyamashree Sen, Book publishing RC Calcutta Metro City, D 3291

t feels great to be a woman Governor, the only one in India,” smiles Shyamashree Sen, adding “I am really looking forward to my experience as DG of my District.”

For her year, she has “many plans which I hope come through. My District is looking forward to some changes … some interesting changes.” she says mysteriously. Of course this being the TRF Centennial, she has huge targets for TRF collections. “I hope to achieve our targets; of late, our District has not been doing too well, and I want to ensure more participation of Rotarians in giving.” On the reason why a rich metro like Kolkata should be lagging behind on TRF goals, she says, “people have some hazy ideas about the Foundation which we want to correct through doing great projects.” Her main focus will be on the two core areas of Rotary — WinS and Literacy, and her endeavour will be to connect both through good projects. Shyamashree says that personally her Rotary journey has been great and she has never encountered any gender discrimination. She joined in 1993 when she was invited by some Rotarians who told her a new club was being started. “Since then it has been a roller coaster ride. This is not my first attempt to be DG; the first time I tried in 2003, failed, felt I had to learn and grow more and tried again in 2012, but lost by a very low margin.” She finds the lower number of women in Rotary a cause for concern. “This is a difficult area because the mind-set still remains the same … male-oriented. Rotary has had only male members for too long; 84 years is a huge legacy.” Asked if she is disturbed by the politics in Rotary, she says, “It’s very disturbing, because we are here to do service and make friends. Politics come out of jealousy which is uncalled for. I feel all this restlessness and strife is because our minds are not at peace with what we are doing. The day we resign ourselves … and say we are here for a purpose which is to make friends, learn the ropes and serve the community, things will change." As a PR consultant, she is very confident of taking Rotary’s public image to a new high. She is married, and her husband, a Captain in the merchant navy, is a Rotarian too.

Rotary has given me life itself

Rotary has taught me leadership

Dinesh Kumar Thacker Pharmaceuticals RC Gandhidham, D 3051

D S Ravi, Coffee and pepper planter, RC Mudigere, D 3182 (bifurcated from 3180)

e joined Rotary in 1975 when he was invited by his friends. During his year as DG, his priorities for the District, which has 63 clubs and about 2,500 members, will be membership, strengthening the clubs and raising maximum funds for TRF during its Centennial. During the last 40 years he has enjoyed his Rotary experience so much that Dinesh Kumar enthusiastically says: “What has Rotary given me? It has given me everything … in fact, I would say Rotary ne mujhe zindagi hi de di hei.” (It has given me life itself.) He earnestly explains how Rotary has been a life-changing experience for him. “From the very beginning of my Rotary journey, my experience has been that if I, or anybody else, was doing Rotary service projects or any other work, it was as though a divine power was with me/us.” At a loss for words, Kumar says that what he has experienced is so amazing “that I simply cannot put it into words. Suffice to say that if I undertake a Rotary project, I feel the presence of a divine power helping me to move that work forward and complete the project.” He adds that there is a general feeling among his fellow Rotarians that whoever is dedicated to Rotary … “whether you call it religion or not, it is religion but without ritual.”

oining Rotary in 1994 in a Bangalore club, when he moved his coffee and pepper estate to Chickmagalur, he joined RC Mudigere, which “is a rural club that was started in 1983.” The District has a membership of 3,400 and 77 clubs at present and “and we are planning to add an additional 11 clubs.” Ravi says that when he shifted from Bengaluru, the local Rotarians asked him to join the club and he helped implement many good projects. Building a crematorium at a cost of Rs 51 lakh, was among one his bigger projects. On his Rotary journey, he says Rotary has given him “so many things, but principal amongst them is leadership. Only Rotary taught me how to take initiative, responsibility and evolve into a good leader.” He says it is now very difficult for people to believe that once upon a time “I used to be a very shy guy, who would always be sitting at the back, and frankly, very happy not to be noticed by anyone. But Rotary changed all that.” During his year as DG, he will continue to focus on membership, which is already a strength, and good projects in both WinS and Literacy. “And, though I can’t compete with the bigger and richer Districts, I will work to raise the maximum amount for TRF … we will compete with ourselves!” JULY 2016

ROTARY NEWS 37

Promoting friendship exchange Hitesh Kumar Jariwala Financial Consultant RC Surat, D 3060

Giving a boost to Public Image Natrajan Nagoji Shipping & Logistics RC Madras South, D 3230

e became a Rotarian in 1987 “officially;” having been a Rotaractor since 1970. “Rotary has always been a way of life for me.” His wife, Bhishma, a Rotarian too, says Rotary is his first love. The District is active in friendship/youth exchange programmes with participation of around 70 youth exchange students in the last 5 years, and has hosted an equal number. Jariwala’s focus is, “of course, on promoting the programme.” As to how he wants to conduct his year, he plans to follow what RIPE John Germ had taught them at San Diego in January. Project Smile, the signature of the District that has treated hundreds of children suffering from cleft lip/palate, will be his priority too. He has asked all Districts to screen children with the disorder and inform him. Doctors from the Institute with whom they have tied-up will perform the corrective surgery free of cost. His plans to celebrate TRF Centennial includes an exclusive fundraiser by every club and “the proceeds, be it Rs 5,000 or 5 crore, will go to the Foundation. We also plan to invite past beneficiaries to talk on how the Foundation’s contribution has brought a positive transformation in their community.” This will inspire Rotarians to give to TRF. He expects a 10 per cent growth in membership during his year.

38 ROTARY NEWS JULY 2016

t is back to basics for me. I want to strengthen clubs and observe punctuality in meetings,” says Nagoji, a Rotarian of 16 years. His brother and brother-in-law are Rotarians too. His focus for the year is to take WinS and Literacy forward in his District and “of course, TRF Centennial has a special place.” He has lined up exclusive fund raisers for celebrating the Centennial and that includes a “dinner with RIPN Ian Riseley during his visit to Chennai.” Nagoji is excited about the Rotarytv.in — a satellite channel that is scheduled to go on air from June 30 when his installation will be live-streamed. “It will give more visibility to Rotary as projects can be showcased to the world,” he says. Family participation and bonding are the best he likes about Rotary and is happy to have won the ‘Rotary Ratna Award’ in 2001.

Tobacco-free region and model villages Ramesh Choudhary Building material processing RC Udaipur, D 3052

Safe drinking water, his precedence A Mani, Education Management RC Pondicherry Cosmos, D 2981

want each of my clubs to adopt a village and transform them into model Rotary towns,” says Ramesh Choudhary. Making public places tobacco-free is his other focus. His experience of 26 years as a Rotarian has taught him that Rotary encourages high thinking and generosity. He recalls a car accident, 10 years ago, when as a Rotarian he was able to save the lives of five people by getting them vital medical aid. “That was my Rotary moment,” he says. His plans for the District include at least 100 e-learning centres and 200 Happy Schools and increase TRF giving to $5 lakh. “We have an agreement with Hindustan Zinc to construct 1,000 toilet blocks this year, as part of the WinS programme,” says Choudhary. He wants to increase his District’s membership figures by 15 per cent and bring more women and young citizens into the team.

urs is a coastal area and safe drinking water is a major issue. So that is my priority,” he says and quickly lists out his bucket list for the year — a skill development centre to make youth employable, cent per cent enrolment of his team on Rotary Club Central, construction of 100 toilet blocks in girls’ schools and launching of the District website. Mani joined Rotary in 1998 and took voluntary retirement in 2013 from his vocation as a commerce lecturer to become a “full-time Rotarian.” He recounts his best moment in Rotary when he, as District Secretary, collected $25,000 for the Polio Fund through his students in a single week. He had raised $43,000 during the year. “This gives me the confidence to raise $10 million for TRF in its Centennial year.” Another incident that is close to his heart is when his club brought water to his native village by digging an open well with help of a Global Grant. “Nearly 3,000 villagers benefitted from that.” JULY 2016

ROTARY NEWS 39

He champions $1M donors for TRF Rasheeda Bhagat Meet this RI Director from Taiwan who is passionate pa about raising mega bucks for The Rotary Fo Foundation.

f you are impressed with Rotary International’s Arch Klumph Society members who donate a whopping quarter million dollars to seek a place in this distinguished gal gallery, listen to what RI Director from Zone 10 B, Hsiu-Ming (Fredrick) Lin has suggested to the TRF: Why aim only at AKS members donating just jus $250,000? “I am suggesting to the Finance people that as the TRF gets ready to celebrate its Centennial, why not we aim for a category where the person donates $1 million instead of jus just $250,000.” To my surprised look, he hastily shot explains, “No, no, not at one shot, my suggestion is that they should be allowed to reach this figure in five years, so every year they can donate a part of this amount amount. Maybe the Centen Centennial would be the best time for us to launch the ‘Million‘Million dollar Campaign. Campaign.’ Anyway, this is only my suggestion.”

t is not difficult difficul to see where Lin’ Lin’s confidence comes from from. 40 ROTARY NEWS JULY 2016

He explains that each year RI celebrates an AKS Day when AKS members are hosted a reception at the RI headquarters in Evanston. There I interviewed last October Lin as well as RI President K R Ravindran. As I was talking to the latter, he was due for a short presence at one such AKS Reception being held in the building and he invited me to peep in. Of course this was scheduled to be followed by a gala dinner. Says Lin, “We all know that TRF has AKS members, but when you have more than five such members, they call the Induction Day Taiwan Day, or India Day or whatever. Do you know that we’ve had seven consecutive Taiwan Days? This year too it was Taiwan Day,” he smiles. And Lin, a Rotarian since 1988, has reason for a broader smile. This year, Taiwan already has in its AKS bag, five AKS members. And this we’ve managed in four months of the Rotary year. “A week ago, (October 2015), when RIPE John Germ was in Taiwan, we gave him a surprise by inducting two AKS members. He was invited to the stage to pin those two AKS members.” As for the $1 million club, Lin has an ace up his sleeve; “I have some four or five people in mind for this; if they agree with the idea, in 2017 I will bring them on the stage in a special ceremony at the TRF Convention in Atlanta!”

With such generosity, small wonder that a tiny country like Taiwan, with barely 33,000 Rotarians, was No 5 in the world on the TRF giving list. “Last year we donated $9.2 million, but that was a good year because a single Rotarian had donated $1 million. Of course this cannot happen every year,” says Lin.

n his priorities as Director during his two years (2015–17), Lin, who is the Managing Director of Continental Worldwise Ent Co, a firm specialising in system design and integration for satellite communications, says that when Gary Huang, who hails from Taiwan, was the RI President (2014–15), his goal was to take the membership up to the 40,000 mark. “So I will concentrate on membership. That way our districts can increase; right now we have only half a zone and seven districts.” More members and an expanding region will also help “bring in our language into RI,” he adds. By 2017–18, he hopes these districts will split into 12. “Our districts are getting too big; for instance my District (3520) has 6,500 members. That is too large and a district governor cannot handle so many members.”

is Zone (10 B) includes Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau and Mongolia and a part of China — Shanghai and Beijing.

Over seven years we’ve given half a million dollars for computers in Nepal’s schools. As the earthquake has ruined everything, we’ll start helping all over again.

Rotary and China are always an interesting topic. So how many clubs does China have? “Well, now it is ten, it used to have only two during Gary’s year (2014–15), but he was successful in adding another eight clubs. But these clubs have only foreigners or expats as members.” Shanghai has two clubs, again, only with ex-pat members. On the projects in Taiwan, the RI Director says that they do “some rather big projects … of half-a-million dollars through global grants.” The biggest one is screening for hepatitis B which is a problem in the area. Then there are smaller water projects, such as supplying water to the “Aborigines in the mountain areas. We too have poor people, like in every country,” he says. The Taiwanese Rotarians are also working “big time in education, and giving scholarships. My Club (RC Taipei Tungteh) alone is giving scholarships worth $300,000 dollars. We’ve also given computers and school desks for schools in Nepal.”

+P ſTUV HQWT OQPVJU QH VJKU Rotary year Taiwan already JCF KP KVU DCI ſXG #-5 members.

Lin explains that during the last seven years, they have given over half a million dollars for computers in a cluster of schools in Nepal. “Unfortunately the earthquake has ruined everything but we will start with helping them all over again.” He adds that his District has also been active in India for ten years, particularly in the Gift of Life programme for heart surgery. “When there is need we’ve given money, sometimes $50,000, sometimes $100,000. We give over 45 per cent of our District Designated Funds abroad.” Pictures by Rasheeda Bhagat Designed by N Krishnamurthy JULY 2016

ROTARY NEWS 41

Lessons from the wild Dr P Srinivasan

s an avid photographer of nature, I frequent the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. After the first few trips, I started realising what the animals are trying to teach us and we refuse to understand. In one of the trips, I was wondering what would be the view of the wilderness, if I were a mongoose. So I started working on a project â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Mongoose View.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; In this particular instance, I had set my expensive equipment at 18 inches above the ground after carefully checking the surroundings and was waiting for the ideal frame. I saw a herd of elephants at about 200 metres and noticed that the wind was carrying my scent away from the herd. That meant they were not aware of my presence! A few minutes later, I noticed an elephant breaking away from the

herd and moving towards me. And I developed instantaneous courage to take this image. The elephant was around 15 feet away and walking towards me. I was surprised at the chain of events that followed. The elephant changed its direction and I wondered why. Looking closely at the image I realised that the wind direction had changed suddenly and carried my scent thus prompting the elephant to act. That day I learnt one more fact. Everything is dynamic in this world and things could change anytime for good or bad. Anticipation and ability to take action is important for survival. The writer is co-founder of Jeevan Public Cord Blood Bank and award winning nature photographer.

The Medical Mission team with PRIP Rajendra K Saboo and the President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame (centre).

Reaching out to Rwanda David Hilton & Melissa Hilton An intercontinental medical mission and vocational training programme of D 3080 at Rwanda, Africa

n our recent Rotary Medical Mission from District 3080, our team of 18 doctors and 9 volunteers was given a warm welcome by the Rotarians of Kigali in Rwanda. Earlier this year we had taken similar ones to Malawi, Ethiopia and Rwanda. These medical missions beyond borders were introduced by PRIP Rajendra K Saboo and Usha Saboo in 1998-99, which have successfully delivered crucial vocational training and medical treatment, including free surgery, for the needy across Africa. An AV presentation on the Medical Mission to Rwanda drew several appreciations at the Rotary Convention in Seoul. “We don’t know numbers. We count human lives. This 44 ROTARY NEWS JULY 2016

is how we can touch people,” says Saboo, talking about the Mission in the video. For him and spouse Usha, these missions are “the elixir of life” that gives them “renewed energy.” “You don’t need to be a surgeon to do what you’re doing. You can just donate your skills for a day or two and that could make a difference to so many people. The satisfaction that you get cannot be paid for by money,” says RI President K R Ravindran.

RI President volunteers The Rwanda mission had an additional significance with the participation of President Ravindran and Vanathy as volunteers. Donning the OT uniform, the couple pushed trolleys of medical equipment, ferried patients to and from

the operation theatre, cheered the sick in the wards and witnessed amazing, life-saving surgical procedures conducted by our doctors. Commenting on Ravindran’s participation in the mission, PRIP Saboo says, “Ravi wanted to do so as he has always felt that, regardless of the position that we may acquire in Rotary, sometimes we need to roll up our sleeves and get personally involved in serving humanity. This is one of the paramount ways, he feels, we make ourselves a Gift to the World.” The medical team worked in the University Teaching Hospital CHUK and Rwanda Military Hospital, sharing modern techniques, methodology, vocational training and skills with the local medical staff. Our surgeons

Regardless of the position

The Medical Mission Team

that we may acquire in Rotary, sometimes we need to roll up our sleeves and get personally involved in serving humanity.

treated around 300 patients for various health disorders.

rthopaedic Surgeons: Rajan Sharma, Asit Chidgupkar, Shri Mohan, Yash Shirshetty and Karvekar Shashank; Urology: Narender Kashyap and Sanjay Deshpande; ENT: R Sanjay Manthale and Dipak Leuva; General Surgery: Karan Singh and Bhanu Parmar; Anaesthesiologists: Surinder Singh, Ramesh Kumar, Vikas

Kumar, Lokesh Chinchkhede, Seema Waikdande and Gian Chand Chauhan; Pathologist Histopath: Rajiv Pradhan. The Volunteer Support Group included PRIP Rajendra Saboo, Usha Saboo, DG David Hilton, Patricia Hilton, PDG Ranjit Bhatia, PDG Manpreet Singh Gandhoke, H S Saggu, Mona Khattar and Melissa Hilton.

Life altering surgeries Michel Bizimungu (32) had ruptured his patellar tendon of the knee while playing soccer, and was unable to walk for six months. Orthopaedic Surgeon Asit Chidgupkar treated him with a tendon graft and some ancillary fixation and Bizimungu is now on his feet, works out at the gym and is ready to play soccer again! You should have seen the joy on the face of a woman after our surgeons — Karan Singh, B P S Parmar, Dipak Leuva and Vikas Tyagi — removed a 7.5 kg tumour that had been inside her for 15 years! The surgery lasted for three hours. Parmar, a laparoscopic surgeon, performed several surgical

procedures after repairing the laparoscopic apparatus that had been lying unused for over a year at the hospital. Leuva, an ENT surgeon, demonstrated cadaver nasal endoscopic surgery training for the medical staff at the Police Hospital.

We don’t know numbers. We count human lives. PRIP Rajendra K Saboo

PRIP Rajendra K Saboo, RI President K R Ravindran and Vanathy Ravindran at one of the wards.

Project Chair PDG Ranjit Bhatia and Medical Director Dr Rajan Sharma coordinated the logistics with support from Rotarians and Rotaractors of D 9150. Ravindran and Vanathy met the children who had earlier undergone heart surgeries through our Heartline project at the Fortis Hospital, Mohali, (published in Rotary News, June issue). They, along with Usha Saboo and Patricia Hilton, visited the children’s wards at both the hospitals and cheered them up with gifts. At a dinner hosted by the Rotarians of D 9150, in which Jeannette Kagame, spouse of Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame, was the chief guest, PRIP Saboo announced that D 3080 will sponsor heart surgeries for 20 children from Rwanda, at Fortis Hospital in Mohali, through our Heartline Project and organise specialised training for ten Rwandan doctors in Chandigarh. Minister of Health Dr Agnes Binagwaho also hosted a farewell dinner for the team. President Kagame appreciated the services of the medicare team at a special meeting hosted in our honour. (David Hilton is the DG of D 3080 and his daughter, Melissa is a member of RC Melbourne Park, D 9800, Australia.) JULY 2016

ROTARY NEWS 45

Dear Fellow Rotarians, “Moving around the country, I see that Total Literacy and the TEACH Programme has gained tremendous momentum among Rotarians and Rotary in India. In the past one year we made huge advancement and breakthrough in the programme and I must congratulate each one of you for having done a commendable job this year. My compliments to all of YOU. The response generated at the Presidential Conference in Kolkata and the footfall at the TEACH booth in the Seoul Rotary Convention reflects we are moving ahead in the right direction. I am especially happy to see the success of ‘Asha Kiran … a ray of hope’ and the effective use of social media in it. I thank you all for your generous contribution towards this project to send children back to school. The other programmes have also gained momentum and there will be a quantum leap in implementing

them, especially with the important partnerships forged. In two years I envision an India, where every government school will be digitised, thousands of schools will be Happy Schools, thousands of teachers trained and 200,000 children sent back to school. All of this will be possible with your tremendous efforts and initiatives. I also compliment the National Committee and the RILM staff for the efforts put in by them. Inspiration comes from a successful beginning and the last Rotary year has paved out the path for a strong base for Total literacy for the TEACH programme. As we begin a new Rotary year, I wish the very best to all of you in your mission to achieve ‘Total Literacy and Quality Education.’ Let’s keep the flag of Literacy flying high with full fervour and fire.” Regards Shekhar Mehta Chair, Rotary India Literacy Mission

T-E-A-C-H at SEOUL

howcasing T-E-A-C-H projects at the Rotary International Convention’s House of Friendship was a significant milestone for RILM this year. The overwhelming response generated over the five days at Seoul proved we are moving ahead in the right path. Termed as the best booth at HOF this year, the T-E-A-C-H stall was buzzing with senior Rotary leadership and Convention attendees.

Rotarians at the TEACH booth at The Rotary Convention in Seoul.

46 ROTARY NEWS JULY 2016

With visitors from Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, USA, Mexico, Australia, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Ireland, Bangladesh, Canada, Germany, Korea, Tanzania, Brazil, Argentina etc, the TEACH programme reached out to those who want to take up and implement it in areas where literacy is a big challenge. The e-learning vertical had the maximum takers, along with Asha Kiran and the Happy School programmes. Seeing the response of the visitors and establishing new partnerships, this Convention proved to be an important foothold for RILM. We are hopeful that TEACH will lay the foundation for a revolution in the global education and literacy.

RILM’s partners

t the Kolkata Presidential Conference held in March, RILM signed partnership with Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation Limited, Kailash

RILM Chair PRID Shekhar Mehta at the T-E-A-C-H booth at Seoul Convention.

Satyarthi Children’s Foundation, Friends of Tribals’ Society, Macmillan Publishers India Private Limited, British Council India, the HRD Ministry and Naik Worldwide Library (For details, read Rotary News, April’16 issue).

Furthermore, RILM has effected an agreement with Wizdoms Libraries to establish libraries in schools, and Eurokids International to equip schools with adequate infrastructure.

Glimpses of T-E-A-C-H programme in 2015-16 TEACHER SUPPORT

Aiming to assist the Central and State governments’ on-going efforts, our aim is to improve the professional abilities and performance of teachers in selected government/government-aided primary/elementary schools through better training and use of modern teaching aids to enhance the learning outcome of students. As of June 2016 z z

Around 5,596 teachers were trained Over 4,700 teachers recognised with the ‘Nation Builder Awards.’

The module comes in an LCD projector as an integrated product where the software is already uploaded. This single classroom installation is affordable and of high quality. As of June 2016 z

5,459 e-learning modules installed across the country

1,350 ongoing installation of e-learning modules

More than 21,83,600 children are benefitting from this project

E-LEARNING

ADULT LITERACY

The E-learning programme aims to improve the language abilities and better comprehension of students/teachers through usage of standard language and pronunciation in voice-overs and concepts in audio-visual format.

RILM’s Adult Literacy programme seeks to educate non-literates above 15 years in urban and rural areas and skill them by leveraging available government assistance. JULY 2016

ROTARY NEWS 47

As of June 2016 z

69,978 student volunteers engaged in teaching an equal number of adults Around 600 Adult Literacy Centres are running across the country.

Association of Inner Wheel Clubs in India Dear Inner Wheel Club Members, My compliments to you for your outstanding work done in the T-E-A-C-H programme, especially for Asha Kiran … a ray of hope and Happy Schools. Thank you for your constant support, remarkable energy and generous contributions. We at RILM are continually inspired by your dedication and generosity and successful implementation of the T-E-A-C-H programme. I hope to see the fervour and enthusiasm doubling this year to meet our goals of making India literate. We hope the Association of Inner Wheel Clubs in India will continue to support RILM’s T-E-A-C-H programme and make it a roaring success in the upcoming Rotary Year.

CHILD DEVELOPMENT

The Child Development programme called Asha Kiran … a ray of hope is to send out-of-school children back to schools. The objective is to mainstream these children to State-funded primary/elementary schools. Asha Kiran children are: z

Those in the age group 7 to 14 who have never been to school or not attending school for more than 45 days without any information to school and laggard in comparison to his/her age and class.

Regards Shekhar Mehta Chair, RILM

ACTIVITY SNAPSHOTS z Adults from 70 Adult Literacy centres in IWD 314 are ready to appear for their NLMA examination. z

Clubs in IWD 314 organised various teachers’ training workshops. A total of 325 teachers were trained on science experiment, classroom management strategies, importance of hygiene and effective use of teaching aids.

IWC Mysore Central, D 318, inaugurated its third Happy School and a toilet block.

IWC Gwalior, D 305, has made four Happy Schools in five months.

IWD 317 inaugurated the 14th Happy School sponsored by IWC Hubli.

As of June 2016 z

RILM has currently entered into an agreement with 28 NGOs spread over 10 States to send 32,867 out-of-school and dropout children. 50,000 children have been identified to be taken under this programme.

HAPPY SCHOOL

This project comprises activities to provide/upgrade infrastructure and co-scholastic facilities in government/ government-aided primary schools to make them attractive for students and teachers. As of June 2016 z

Out of the 1,000 targeted, 789 government/ government-aided primary schools have been transformed into Happy Schools.

48 ROTARY NEWS JULY 2016

Home District fetes RIDE Team Rotary News

adurai (South India) recently hosted the who’s who of Rotary India to celebrate the appointment of Basker C as the incoming RI Director. The Rotarians of D 3000, under the leadership of DG R Theenachandran, had organised a grand reception which held more significance as the RIDE, a member of RC Karur, belongs to the District which also observes its silver jubilee year. DGE M Muruganandham and DGN P Gopalakrishnan were also present. The guest list included PRIP Rajendra K Saboo, TRF Trustee Sushil Gupta, PRIDs Panduranga

Setty, Ashok Mahajan, Y P Das, Shekhar Mehta and P T Prabhakar and over 200 RI officers of Zones 4, 5 and 6. RI President K R Ravindran and RI Director Manoj Desai conveyed their wishes through a video presentation and the chief guest PRIP Saboo felicitated Basker and spouse Mala with a memento. He recalled the then RI President Stanley E McCaffrey’s advice to him when he took over as RID in 1981, “Your concern should not be what the image of your country is at the moment, but what will it be when you leave the RI Board,” and to Basker, he added, “two years will fly. I pray that God shows you the right path because you have the courage to tread that path.”

PRIP Rajendra K Saboo honours RIDE Basker C while Nalini Prabhakar garlands Mala Basker.

Past RI Directors also complimented Basker. Setty assured him of his support in his endeavours as Director, and so did Mahajan. Trustee Gupta, remembering his efficient management of the 2013 Zone Institute at Singapore as Institute Chair said that he had “the capabilities to take Rotary to another level. You are going to the RI Board at a time when the stock of India is high and we are considered to be the future of Rotary.” Das said that Basker has exemplified himself; be it the Singapore Institute or as the Rotary Coordinator, he has shown that he can achieve what he sets out to do, and wished him greater success and glory in his new role. Mehta and Prabhakar also congratulated Basker and wished him success in his endeavours. Basker acknowledged his new role and said, “This position has been bestowed upon me with trust that I will deliver the goods what is required to make India No:1 in the world map of Rotary International. And I seek your support.” He thanked his Rotarian father who introduced him to Rotary, his home club and District which encouraged him to excel in leadership, and all the RI leaders of Zone V who elected him to the post. He outlined his plans for 2017–19, saying, “We need to strengthen the clubs. Every club in India will have the most disciplined practices, towards which governors of 2017–18 will set new trends and hence, be known as ‘Trendsetters’ and those of 2018–19 will promise more and do more and be known as ‘Miracle chasers.’ JULY 2016

ROTARY NEWS 49

Cheering Single Mothers Team Rotary News Six Rotary clubs of Pune join hands to encourage and guide single mothers.

ll single mothers are essentially courageous and resilient, but social conditions make their journey difficult. Instead of getting bogged down by those around them, they should learn to enjoy life to fullest, carry on their parenting duties, and most important, network with others in similar situations. This was the consensus at a oneday seminar titled ‘The World of Single Mothers’ organised jointly by six Rotary clubs in Pune — Pune Elite, Pune Inspira, Pune Mayur, Pune Pride, Pune Sarasbaug and Pune South, with ASMI — A Single Mother’s Initiative, a support group for single mothers. Single mothers

50 ROTARY NEWS JULY 2016

and their family members, counsellors, Rotarians and others attended. Medha Kulkarni, an MLA from Pune, was the chief guest and DGE Prashant Deshmukh participated. The panel of speakers included Renutai Gavaskar, a veteran social crusader and founder of the Eklavya Nyasa that works for destitute children, Dr Sanjyot Deshpande, a prominent

psychologist, Ajit Kulkarni, a senior lawyer in family law, Smita Joshi, senior counsellor, Rtn Sumedha Bhosale and Rtn Prasanna Deshpande. Renutai implored single women to be happy, saying, “We are alone but not lonely. Being alone is not a thing to despise because it gives us the strength of decision-making. In a way, all of us are alone. One irresponsible comment

From left: President Shobha Nahar (Pune Inspira), Rtn Padmaja Deshmukh, President Mrunalini Prabhumirashi (Pune Mayur), PDG Mohan Palesha, DGE Prashant Deshmukh, President Vinayak Deshpande (Pune South), President Amit Shah (Pune Sarasbaug), President Parag Mulye (Pune Pride), Rtn Prasad Shrimani (Pune Elite).

can create havoc in someone’s life and we are all responsible for this sin, so please do not commit it. Tell yourself, ‘I am proud to be alone.’” In her address, Dr Sanjyot Deshpande recounted the experiences of single mothers whom she has met and said, “All of them are courageous, strong, they are strugglers, they are resilient. However, these women are nagged by the question, ‘Do I deserve this?’” Touching on a raw nerve, she said a single woman is often seen as a vulnerable woman. In our society, all women struggle to cope with loneliness. A big problem is the invisible presence of the absent person. Even if that person is not present in their life, they constantly feel his presence. For all such women, trauma healing is most important and must be addressed on a priority basis. Ajit Kulkarni outlined the legal provisions available for single mothers, and said, “An unwed mother has all rights over her child. Earlier, only the father was considered as the natural guardian of the child. However, the Supreme Court has held that mothers are also the natural guardians of her children.” It has also ruled that the father’s signature was

Live happily and that happiness will percolate to the kids. Medha Kulkarni

not required on the passport and other documents for the child. Smita Joshi, with her experience of over 18 years as a family court counsellor, narrated incidents where children were emotionally torn because of the rift between their parents. “Parenting per se is a challenge, and more so for single mothers. Kids need both the parents. Do not try to prohibit custody of the kid. No matter how grown up a kid is, he/she still needs a mother. Hence, children must be provided with emotional support.” Mrunalini Prabhumirashi, founder of ASMI, said, “A single mother has to

play the role of nurturer and provider. She is the ‘total parent.’ There are advantages of single parenting such as a strong bonding between child and parent, and such children invariably developing more respect for women.” While sharing tips on how to succeed as a successful single parent, she said ASMI has a support group which can be accessed by single mothers. Medha Kulkarni promised all possible government help to single mothers. “I came here to understand the subject because so many families need it. You may consider me your elder sister and come to me any time. Women have the right to enjoy life and spend on themselves. Live happily and that happiness will percolate to the kids.” Urging women to raise their sons appropriately, she said that they should be brought up in such a way that they can take on women’s roles easily. Rtn Sumedha Bhosale shared tips on occupational and emotional fitness. Rtn Prasanna Deshpande, an investment consultant, provided guidance on money matters and urged women to seek expert advice before making investments. JULY 2016

ROTARY NEWS 51

Why single out Mona Sitwala

he dust from a pink storm of another Women’s Day celebration has settled down to a year of rest. Facebook, WhatsApp, and newspapers of course, were flooded with pictorial details of lunches, gifts, movies, awards, etc for women cutting across all strata of life. What’s more, my maid also did not turn up citing the same reason! While going through this euphoria I felt terribly left out, as it seemed I was the only one not having a good time. Rather, there I was, slogging through my club’s TRF contributions. This set me thinking “What’s wrong with these females?”, or, more frightening “Is something wrong with me?” Half the world’s population going gaga over the allotment of a single day to them makes me really nervous. Going through the list I find this special

When someone says a ‘lady Rotarian,’ they are actually suggesting that you are not one of them but an odd one out in their holy kingdom.

52 ROTARY NEWS JULY 2016

day sandwiched between World Wildlife Day and World Sleep Day. Really? I think this appeasing is ridiculous and absurd. Women, by even acknowledging such a day, show just what they think of themselves. Second grade human beings happy with 24 hours of interim glory? Similarly, nowadays there is this uneasy babel about Women in Rotary, our organisation, presently in its 111 years of existence. Initially, being a ‘men only’ entity, it successfully kept women out of its fold for many years. But for three decades now Rotary has opened its doors to welcome women members. Perhaps it finally realised that the presence of women was necessary for survival in the 21st century. Fine. So, now we have the ‘lady Rotarians.’ Ever heard of an ‘Indian’ Rotarian, or ‘American,’ or ‘Brazilian’ Rotarian? Or, for that matter, a Hindu, Christian, or Muslim

women in Rotary? No women’s empowerment programme is going to work where women doubt their own parity. Rotarian? Of course you haven’t … for Rotary is above caste, creed, nationality. But not gender. When someone says a ‘lady Rotarian’ or a ‘lady President,’ they are actually suggesting that you are not one of them but an odd one out in their holy kingdom. Women, extensively, are fighting a multitude of injustice, but discrimination and segregation, are the worst of all wrongdoing. In Rotary, everyone is a Rotarian. We are on the same platform. A President is simply a President, a Governor, just that. Gender is incidental. And, there is no need for hashtags. Equally disturbing is the new trend of ‘all

ladies’ Rotary clubs. This concept is again beyond comprehension and should be taken note of very seriously. If women wanted to alienate themselves and be restrictive, then what was wrong with Inner Wheel? Women fought to be a part of Rotary. Now, by being exclusive, they are throwing themselves back into the isolation from where they came. Are these Rotarians planning not to go into the district or international arena? Rotary, I understand and hope, is no kitty party. To permeate and blend is the best way to equality. If women want to be accepted as comparable entities, they have to think of themselves as equal. No women’s empowerment programme is going to work where women doubt their own parity. As long as they are happy being a sacrificing daughter, sister, wife or mother, they will never be seen as an individual. In the present challenging times and scenario, we at Rotary can do better than debate and discuss Women in Rotary. We would be better off searching for Rotary in Women, Rotary in Men and above all Rotary in Rotarians. (The writer is IPP, RC Surat Roundtown, District 3060)

JULY 2016

ROTARY NEWS 53

Honouring workers Team Rotary News

C Tiruchirapalli, D 3000, recently honoured representatives of various groups that render people a daily service. These included two postmen, one telephone linesman from BSNL, four staff nurses from private hospitals, two small entrepreneurs, and a Trichy Corporation worker. President of the club A Alagappan said that most of the people selected for these awards have been rendering quiet and efficient service for over one to two decades. Presenting the awards, N S Prema, Commissioner of Tiruchirapalli Corporation, congratulated Rotary for recognising and honouring these silent workers. She also sought Rotarians’ help in the

Tiruchirapalli Corporation Commissioner N S Prema presenting an award WR D VWDႇ QXUVH LQ WKH SUHVHQFH RI 3'* 0 (ODQJRYDQ

Swachh Bharat campaign, and urged them to join her in making Trichy one of the cleanest cities of India. PDG M Elangovan was the guest of honour.

The awardees expressed gratitude for the recognition, which they said, will help them do their work even better.

Inner Wheel serves Special Children Team Rotary News

DV Government School is the fourth Happy School in Poomthopp that is sponsored by the Inner Wheel Club of Alleppey, IW District 321. The club constructed a toilet block, renovated classrooms, donated computers, desks and benches at a cost of Rs 1.2 lakh. Assisi Vidyalayam, a school that caters to 325 special children, received a facelift and stationery donation too. Club President Radha Ponnambalam says, “Differently-abled children are hyperactive and aggressive. Some get violent and restless.” Teachers at the school apply occupational and art therapy to engage these students. But often run out of the stationery supply that comes only once a month. “We gave them ample stationery as colouring helps them cope with hyper-activism and delayed sensory response.”

54 ROTARY NEWS JULY 2016

Rotary Means Business Jaishree

From left: RMB - Coimbatore Chair A Arivudainambi, Rtn G Kannan with District Director Vocational Services Rtn M D Ravindranath at the inauguration of the Coimbatore Chapter.

hile Rotarians work together for service and fellowship, ushering in transformation in communities, here is one more reason for them to network. They can be part of the Rotary Means Business (RMB) group that helps in furthering their mutual business interests. RMB is a fellowship of Rotary International and is active in 48 countries, having been initiated in San Francisco three years ago. Its mission statement reads: ‘Rotary Means Business encourages Rotarians to support the success of their fellow Rotarians by doing business with them, and by referring others to them.’ District 3201 recently launched the country’s first chapter in Coimbatore through the concerted efforts of Rotarians A Arivudainambi,

G Kannan and V Unnikrishnan. The membership has grown from 18 to 25 in the three months after its launch. How it works

RMB is only for Rotarians. Each chapter will have one Rotarian from each classification to avoid clash of business. Thus, the Coimbatore chapter has an architect, interior designer, real estate agent, builder, auditor etc., as members. Annual subscription is $10. Networking meetings are held fortnightly at the residence or business location of its members by rotation; this way, members will get to know the host and his business on a more personal level. Members make a detailed presentation of their business, products and services. The direct interaction helps them exchange business leads and they also give personal recommendations

to close a deal. There is lot of learning, interaction and hence it is a winwin proposition for all, says RMB Chair Arivudainambi, a building material distributor and member of RC Coimbatore Manchester. Rotarians from places such as Chennai, Cochin, Palghat and Mysuru have evinced interest in forming such chapters in their regions. RC Chennai North, D 3230, is all set to install its chapter at Chennai with PDG G Olivannan as the Charter Chair. The group has created interest in non-Rotarians too, and this initiative might prove to be an attractive membership tool. Members can advertise their business in the fellowship’s website: www.rotarymeansbusiness.com. Interested Rotarians may contact the Coimbatore RMB Chair at rmb@ rmbcoimbatore.com JULY 2016

ROTARY NEWS 55

Providing batik training Ashok Kumar Agarwal

RI President K R Ravindran displaying the batik shirt in the presence of RID Manoj Desai and DG Chandu Agarwal.

hen the tail lights of Flight AK-62 finally blinked for the last time before disappearing behind the cloudy sky towards Kuala Lumpur, I heaved a sigh of relief. My dream of 8 years was coming to fruition. Ever since I visited the batik manufacturing unit in Kuala Lumpur in 2006, I was dreaming about a similar centre at Santiniketan. Batik was introduced by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore in the early 1930s in Santiniketan, but it was languishing in a time warp. Batik as an art form had progressed much ahead but not in Santiniketan. If we could reintroduce this here, many people could get an opening for a new livelihood, we thought. The first faltering step to make this dream real was taken in the Silchar conference where the RIPR was the well-known, vastly travelled Rotarian Gulam Vahanvaty. I tentatively asked him for some Rotary contact in Malaysia. Sure enough, after returning to Mumbai, he sent me two names with 56 ROTARY NEWS JULY 2016

their contact details. The next obvious step was to get in touch with the DRFC and the Governor of RI District 3300 Dr Rajindar Singh and Rtn Kirenjit Kaur respectively. Quick correspondence resulted and was followed up with a face-to-face meeting at the Sydney Convention with the DRFC and in Kuala Lumpur with DG Kirenjit. District 3300 agreed to become our International partner for a two-way VTT-cum-batik training centre at Santiniketan. After a long application process, TRF was satisfied that this was a

Batik was introduced by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore in the early 1930s in Santiniketan, but it was languishing in a time warp.

worthy project and approved the project costing $32,410. After undergoing a 7-day rigorous and successful training in Kuantan, Malaysia, the four-member team, which included my daughterin-law Bahar, who holds a Masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in Arts and who was sponsored by me, returned and we set up the training centre at Shyambati, Santiniketan. The team leader and the lifeline of this project was Rtn Prasanta Ghosh. The centre was inaugurated by the famous painter and Rajya Sabha MP Jogen Chowdhury. It started functioning in June 2015 and has already trained 80 people in the art of batik. Recently, we presented two shirts to visiting RI President K R Ravindran and RI Director Manoj Desai when they visited Guwahati. We expect to train 200 batik craftsperson in the next two years. (The writer is member of RC Tagoreland, D 3240.)

Farmers get high on Haldi Jaishree Turmeric cultivation ushers in a positive turn around for Saurashtra’s farmers.

hree years ago, when Metoda village near Rajkot was reeling under severe drought crisis, the farmers were distraught. The maintenance cost of cotton and groundnut they cultivated was too high and the market for their produce was declining. They were on the lookout for a crop that required less maintenance and less water, but gave more returns. Rotary Club of Rajkot, D 3060, got into the act and with the help of two

Ph D students of the Junagadh Agricultural University, researched on the possibility of cultivating turmeric to help the farmers. They found that the crop yields were high in these regions which had abundant sunlight and low humidity. The club piloted turmeric farming among 120 members of their 4 RCCs in the village on 250 acres of land. Dr Bakshi, Chairman and Managing Director of maxEEma Biotech,

Rtn Harshad Adani guiding an RCC member in a turmeric farm.

Ahmedabad, trained them to use organic pesticides and fertilisers. At the end of nine months, the farmers celebrated a rich harvest. The RCC members spread the word among the farmers of the Saurashtra region, encouraging and guiding them to grow turmeric. “About 5,000 acres of land around Junagadh, Amreli, Morbi, Wankaner and Rajkot is all set for the crop this season,” says Club Secretary Sakina Bharmal. The club distributed rhizome seeds to the farmers well before the monsoon so they could reap a profitable harvest. The Project-in-charge Rtn Harshad Adani is providing the inputs to help them with organic farming. No chemicals are used; only natural fertilisers such as cow dung, farm compost and pesticides such as buttermilk, neem paste and lemon paste, while drip irrigation takes care of the water needs of the crops. The Rotarians help in marketing the produce by connecting the farmers with corporate agencies who can procure bulk quantities. “The Adani group has agreed to buy 5 tons annually and pay more than the market rate which is Rs 100 a kg,” says Sakina. While only the Patel community was engaged in farming when the club started the project, today the success of turmeric farming the organic way — it means less maintenance, low water requirement, more returns — has now drawn in the non-Patel farmers too. This 76-year old club has won RI’s significant achievement award for this project. JULY 2016

ROTARY NEWS 57

CONVENTION

Car-free Atlanta

End Polio Now wins Silver Anvil Award Team Rotary News

ith a sprawling metro area, Atlanta gets a bad rap for its traffic. But the city’s downtown is home to a variety of pedestrian-friendly attractions, so when you’re in town from 10 to 14 June for the 2017 Rotary International Convention, a little curiosity is all the fuel you’ll need. Walk out front of the Georgia World Congress Centre (above), the convention’s home base, and you’ll practically stumble into CNN Centre, the birthplace of 24-hour TV news. CNN studio tours last about 50 minutes and offer a behind-the-scenes look into broadcasting. Across the street, soak up some sun at Centennial Olympic Park. Once the central gathering place for the 1996 Olympic Games, the park is now a great place to check out a free water show at the Fountain of Rings, one of the most photographed landmarks in Georgia. Nearby is the World of Coca-Cola, where you can sample more than 100 drinks from around the world, and the Centre for Civil and Human Rights, where you can view the personal effects of American civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. For sports fans, a short stroll down Marietta Street will take you to the College Football Hall of Fame, where you can view helmets and trophies of your favorite college teams and take in exhibits like the Game Day Theatre, which offers a behind-the-scenes look at game day through the perspectives of former players and coaches. – Deblina Chakraborty Register for the 2017 Rotary Convention in Atlanta at www.riconvention.org. 58 ROTARY NEWS JULY 2016

he End Polio Now campaign of Rotary International onal has won thee Silver Anvil Award off The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) PRSA) for excellence in Global Communications. RI’s Manager-Corporate Communications Petina-Dixon Dixon Jenkins received the prestigious award, referred ed to as “the Oscars of PR”” by General Secretary John Hewko. PRSA, foundedd in 1947 and headquaruartered in New York, is a

non-profit association of public relations and communications com professionals. The orga organisation recognises the best PR cam campaigns with Silver Anvil Awards in various categories. This year the Awards Ceremony was held on June 9 in New Y York City. The entries were eevaluated based on four compo components — research, plannin planning, execution and evaluation uation. The runner-up in this categ category was Johnson & Johnson. Other winners at John the event e included Michelin, The Home Depot Foundation, REI, Starbucks and tion Universal Pictures, to name Univ a few.

Into the

wild Kiran Zehra

ree trunks wrapped in creepers, green moss on slippery rocks by a stream, and a carpet of bright crimson wild flowers, are the vivid memories of Apoorva Mandhe who recalls her adventure RYLA experience as “a chance of a lifetime.” Pug marks of leopards, elephants and bears excited this youngster, one of the 30 students from Moharidevi Kanya Shala, who participated in the RYLA conducted by RC Akola, D 3030 and the Youth Hostels Association of India (YHAI), Akola unit at Khatkali near the Melghat forest. This is among the nine tiger reserves in India that come under Project Tiger, a wildlife conservation programme from 1972 to protect the Bengal tigers. “Sighting a tiger would have been exciting,

but we only got to see black monkeys, parrots and other beautiful birds,” says Nikitha Mangesh Narsu, another RYLA participant, who was “fascinated by the bright and colourful butterflies.” Ground work for the RYLA camp began two months ago with Rtn Nehru Taraporevala, the Vice President of YHAI planning the trail keeping in mind the safety of the girls as “this is a jungle and we did not want to become their (wild animals’) dinner,” he jokes. Rtn Radheshyam Modi and Taraporevala did not want to host the camp inside the village because “this was no picnic. The main focus of the camp was to impart a sense of care for the environment through experiencing wildlife,” says Modi.

On her two-night sojourn in the tent, Apoorva says, “The first night at the camp was scary and we feared if some wild animal would come and rip the tent apart, so we kept peeping outside and landed up star gazing.” Taraporevala made sure they stayed close to nature, so each tent had mats, and the girls were given two blankets each. A cook was taken to the camp site as they did not want to depend on the villagers for anything and “hot and tasty food was provided to the girls on time. No luxury here, only nature and its abundance,” he quips. The Nature Study Camp gave the girls an opportunity to discover the local forest, take an uphill trek, discover the remnants of an old palace, do some bird watching, learn about endangered species and engage themselves in some exciting sports such as crossing a river on a rope, and last, but not the least, dance around the camp fire. Another participant of the RYLA says her father who rides an auto rickshaw is still wondering how Rs 700 was enough for all the activities that she participated in. The aim of the RYLA was not just to provide entertainment for these underprivileged girls but to help them understand the need for conservation of forest and wildlife and learn a few survival skills to boost their confidence. JULY 2016

ROTARY NEWS 59

WinS Transforms India

Courtesy: WinS Times, May 2016

Quenching thirst in Assam Kiran Zehra

an you imagine what is in the water we drink?” asks Rtn Shivani Tiberwal, President, RC Greater Tezpur, D 3240. She is shocked that her State of Assam, “tucked in between the foothills of the Himalayas and the Brahmaputra River, has about 17,692 water sources that contain excessive components of iron, arsenic and fluoride, posing a grave threat to people’s health.” A survey conducted by IIT Guwahati and the Public Health Engineering Department that revealed that more than 7,00,000 people in the State were exposed to arsenic contamination. The cases of Hemochromatosis, a genetic disorder, caused by excessive absorption of iron from water began to rise in the State and the need to provide safe drinking water became a priority. Piped water supply with the provision of aeration and filtration was proposed

17,692

About water sources in Assam are high in iron, arsenic and flouride components.

A beneficiary testing the T-pump.

to tackle the problem of excess iron in drinking water. While the Indian Government installed this scheme under its National Rural Drinking Water Programme, RC Greater Tezpur decided in 2008 to provide safe and clean drinking water at public places, schools and colleges under its project Jeevan Dhara. Water booths Considering the number of footfalls at different locations, the club zeroed down on Thakurbari Temple Complex that had about 1,00,000 people visiting every day. The booth cost Rs 1,35,000 and the money was donated by the Club and its maintenance was handed over to the Temple’s Trust. This water booth was initially installed with a traditional sand-filter, but has now been upgraded to an Aquaguard. Situated near the Civil Hospital, it also provides a big relief to the visitors and patients’ attendants. “I have been drinking water here for the last three years and when I go back home I take

some water for my wife,” says Charnak, a rickshaw puller. The T-pumps “We came across Garwany Patty which is home to 50 poor families. The contamination level in the water was high,” says Shivani. The Rotarians raised funds and installed T-pumps — a self-powered hand pumping system that pushes water through a filter delivering clean water in less than 10 seconds. More locations were identified; and with funds generated from the District grant and members contributions, T-pumps were set up at various other localities. RO for colleges and schools In its next step the club plans to install water filters at municipal schools. An RO filtration facility was installed at the Tezpur College that caters to 2,800 students. “Various clubs have now started implementing the same model in their regions and are providing safe drinking water,” concludes the Club President. JULY 2016

ROTARY NEWS 61

Club Corner RC Chennai Mitra D

3230

The club provided toilet blocks, repaired the RO plant and re-laid classroom floors at the 120-yearold Olcott Memorial Higher Secondary School in Chennai. The project, costing Rs 9.8 lakh, was done with global grants from TRF, RC Madras Coromandel and RC Kandy, D 3220, Sri Lanka.

RC Deolali D

3030

The Rotarians had organised a squint eye correction camp for children and adults at an eye hospital in Deolali. The club has been involved in correcting this disorder in people for the past 17 years.

RC Patan D

3051

The Rotarians organised a Vaidik Ganit workshop with faculties from National and State level Maths clubs. Over 400 students from various schools in Patan benefitted from the programme.

RC Dombivli City D

3142

The club dedicated a van costing Rs 5 lakh and equipped with various scientific equipment and consumables, for the Science on Wheels programme. The van will visit schools without science labs in remote areas such as Mokhada, Wada and Jawhar to demonstrate science practical to students. 62 ROTARY NEWS MAY 2016

Attention Club Heads We at Rotary News Trust are very keen to ensure you get your Rotary News copy in time and at your doorstep. BUT HELP US z

Bring to our notice any complaints of non-receipt IMMEDIATELY Check and Recheck your postal code which is important for timely delivery. One digit wrong and the magazine is thrown away by the Postal Department. Changes in your members list — additions, deletions have to be intimated to us. We DO NOT automatically get this RI data.

Follow these pointers and help us serve you better.

Own a piece of Rotary history “Doing Good in the World: The Inspiring Story of The Rotary Foundation’s First 100 Years” commemorates the Foundation’s centennial in 2016–17. This book tells the fascinating story of how The Rotary Foundation became one of the world’s leading humanitarian organisations. You can order a hardcover copy for $40 or a leather-bound limited edition for $100.

Order today at

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ANNOUNCEMENT With effect from July 1, 2016 the revised RI exchange rate is US $1 = INR 67.00 Source: RI South Asia Office

Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Editor, trustees of the Rotary News Trust, or Rotary International. Every effort is made to ensure that the magazine’s content is accurate. Information is published in good faith but no liability can be accepted for loss or inconvenience arising from errors or omission. Advertisements are accepted at face value and no liability can be accepted for the action of advertisers. The Editor welcomes contribution of articles, news items, photographs and letters, but is under no obligation to publish unsolicited material. The Editor reserves the right to edit for clarity or length. Contributors must ensure that all material submitted is not in breach of copyright or that if such material is submitted, they have obtained necessary permission, in writing, for its reproduction. Photographs in this publication may not be reproduced, whether in part or in whole, without the consent of Rotary News Trust. Printed by Mukesh Arneja at Thomson Press (India) Ltd, Plot A-9, Industrial Complex, Maraimalai Nagar 603209, India and published by Mukesh Arneja on behalf of Rotary News Trust from Dugar Towers, 3rd Flr, 34, Marshalls Road, Egmore, Chennai 600 008. Editor: Rasheeda Bhagat. JULY 2016

ROTARY NEWS 63

Apply yourself

ould you like to contribute further to Rotary by serving on a committee? Each of Rotary’s committees, comprising Rotarians from around the world, works with the organisation’s leadership to ensure efficiency and promote the goals and priorities of the strategic plan. The following committees are searching for qualified candidates for openings in 2017–18. Most committees involve at least one mandatory annual meeting as well as correspondence, which may include email and webinars. Most committee business is conducted in English. To be considered for a committee appointment, visit on.rotary.org/committeeapplication2016 or email committeeappointments@rotary.org for the application form. Applicants should make sure that they are registered on My Rotary at www.rotary.org/myrotary and that their My Rotary profile includes current contact details. The application deadline is 14 August.

Committee

Function

Prerequisites

Commitment

Audit

Advises the Board on financial reports, internal and external auditing, and the system of internal control.

Independence, appropriate business experience and demonstrated financial literacy in accounting, auditing, banking, insurance, investment, risk management, executive management, or audit governance.

One six-year term; multiple meetings in Evanston.

Communications

Advises the Board on communication with key audiences.

Professional background and experience in a communication-related field.

One three-year term; one annual meeting in Evanston.

Constitution and Bylaws

Counsels the Board on constitutional documents and legislative procedures, including the Council on Legislation.

Must be comfortable reviewing legal and governance documents; legislative, legal, or Council experience preferred.

One three-year term; at least one annual meeting in Evanston; one Council on Legislation meeting in Chicago.

Election Review

Reviews complaints and disputes related to RI officer elections.

Must be a past district governor with strong knowledge of RI Bylaws.

One three-year term.

Finance

Advises the Board on Rotary’s finances, including budgets, investment policy and sustainability measures.

Professional background in a finance-related field; nonprofit experience preferred.

One three-year term; two annual meetings in Evanston.

Global Networking Groups

Oversees action groups, fellowships and vocational service, including operations, programme enhancements, proposals.

Strong candidates have led action groups, fellowships, or club- or district-level vocational service initiatives and are familiar with their policies.

One three-year term.

Committee

Function

Prerequisites

Commitment

Advises the Board and trustees on engaging programme participants, alumni and other youth and young professionals.

Rotarians: Experience working with youth and alumni; district committee leadership; prior Rotary programme participation.

Rotarians: One threeyear term; one annual meeting in Evanston.

Rotaractors/alumni: Leadership at the club, district and international level.

Rotractors/alumni: One one-year term; one annual meeting in Evanston.

Membership

Advises the Board on matters related to membership development, retention and engagement.

Must have significant knowledge of and commitment to membership attraction and engagement activities; members of clubs that have diversified preferred.

One three-year term; two annual meetings in Evanston.

Rotaract and Interact

Advises the Board on Interact and Rotaract; develops the Rotaract Preconvention Meeting programme.

Rotarians: Experience working with youth; direct experience as a mentor or Rotaract/ Interact adviser or district chair. Youth programme alumni are strong candidates.

Rotarians: One threeyear term; one annual meeting in Evanston.

Rotaractors: Leadership at the club, district and international level. Strong candidates have served as a district Rotaract representative, organised projects, or attended a Rotaract Preconvention. Age restrictions may apply.

Rotaractors: One oneyear term; one annual meeting in Evanston.

10+ years of experience in strategy development and monitoring; strong understanding of RI and Foundation programmes and services.

One six-year term; multiple meetings in Evanston.

Joint Young Leaders and Alumni Engagement

Strategic Planning

Reviews Rotaryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strategic plan and associated measures; advises leadership on other matters of long-term significance.

Reproduced from The Rotarian

New Directors take ofﬁce The RI Board of Directors has 19 members: the RI president, the president-elect and 17 club-nominated directors, who are elected at the Rotary Convention. The Board manages Rotary International affairs and funds in accordance with the RI Constitution and Bylaws. Eight new directors and the president-elect take office on 1 July.

Ian H S Riseley Sandringham, Australia an is a chartered accountant and principal of Ian Riseley & Co., a firm he established in 1976. Before starting the firm, he worked in the audit and management consulting divisions of large accounting firms and corporations. A Rotarian since 1978, Ian is a charter member of his club. He has served RI as treasurer, director, and member and chair of numerous RI and Foundation committees. Most recently, he was a trustee of The Rotary Foundation and co-chair of the 2016 (Korea) Convention Committee. Ian has been a board member for private and public schools, a member of the Community Advisory Group for the City of Sandringham, and president of Beaumaris Sea Scouts Group. He is a former president of Langi-Taan Ski Club and honorary auditor or adviser for a number of charitable organisations. His honours include the AusAID Peacebuilder Award from the Australian Government in recognition of his work in Timor-Leste, the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the Australian community, and the Regional Service Award for a

Polio-Free World from The Rotary Foundation. Ian is married to Juliet, a past district governor. They are Major Donors and Bequest Society members of The Rotary Foundation. They have two children and four grandchildren. Ian and Juliet live on 7 hectares at Moorooduc, where they practice their personal philosophy of sustainable and organic living.

66 ROTARY NEWS JULY 2016

Jorge Aufranc Guatemala Sur, Guatemala orge, a chemical engineer, has been director of Corporación Instatec SA since 2001. He previously was managing director of a chemical crop protection joint venture with Dupont in Central America. He has served Rotary as RI president’s representative; committee chair; regional Rotary Foundation coordinator; Council on Legislation representative; chair for Zone 21A Institute; RI training leader; and district governor. Jorge and his wife, Debora, are Major Donors and Benefactors of The Rotary Foundation. He is also a recipient of The Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service.

Gérard Allonneau Parthenay, France érard is a university professor of economics and management, former curriculum director at the Poitiers Business School, and former head of the management and business administration department of the undergraduate programme at the University of Poitiers. He has been a Rotarian since 1990 and has served Rotary as RI training leader, zone coordinator and district governor. Gérard is a Paul Harris Fellow and a Benefactor of The Rotary Foundation.

Mikael Ahlberg Ölands Södra, Sweden ikael is president of a business and management consultancy, and a certified business and executive coach. He is active in his community,

working with several boards as member and chair. A Rotarian since 1993, Mikael has served Rotary as RI president’s representative, committee member, assistant Rotary coordinator, RI training leader and district governor. He is a Benefactor of The Rotary Foundation.

Joseph Mulkerrin Hampton Roads (Norfolk), Va., USA oseph retired in 1982 from the U S Navy after a career of over 21 years in sea and shore duty. A Rotarian since 1984, he has served Rotary as RI president’s rep, zone coordinator, Council on Legislation delegate, committee and task force member, RI training leader, district Foundation chair, regional Rotary Foundation coordinator and district governor. Joseph is a recipient of RI’s Service Above Self Award and TRF’s Citation for Meritorious and Distinguished Service Award. He is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow, a member of the Paul Harris Society and Bequest Society of TRF. He and his wife, Ann, are Major Donors and Benefactors of The Rotary Foundation.

Eight new directors and the president-elect take office on 1 July.

Corneliu Dinca Craiova, Romania orneliu has been a marketing manager at SC Trust Consult SRL since 1994. He has a Ph D in economics/ regional development and strategic planning and is an expert in Romania’s European Union accession process. A Rotarian since 1997, he has served Rotary as club president, district committee chair, RI president’s representative, regional coordinator, GETS trainer and district governor. He also is on the board of directors for the Rotarian Action Group for Peace. Corneliu is a Paul Harris Fellow and recipient of the Vocational Service Leadership Award.

Hendreen Dean Rohrs Langley Central, BC, Canada ean runs Rhide Technologies Inc., which supplies products used in road construction. Earlier she was a nurse in Cape Town, South Africa, on Christiaan Barnard’s heart transplant team. From 1959–90, she was active in Red Cross in South Africa. She has served on the board of the West End Seniors’ Network in British Columbia and a girls school in Malawi. Dean has been a Rotarian since 1989 and has served RI as Rotary coordinator, regional Rotary Foundation coordinator and district governor.

Tadami Saito Toyota, Japan adami has been chair of Saito Hospital since 1973 and is past president of the Toyota City Orthopaedists Association and past director of the Toyota Medical Association. He is also board-certified as a sports and rheumatism doctor of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association. In his community, he was a councilor of the Social Welfare Juridical Person Hikarinoie for about 20 years. A Rotarian since 1979, Tadami has served Rotary as district governor.

Noel J Trevaskis Bega, Australia oel recently retired from a career in the agricultural industry in sales and marketing. He was an adviser to university researchers at the Centre for Mental Health Research at the Australian National University. He has received the Medal of the Order of Australia for his commitment to destigmatising mental illness. A Rotarian since 1996, he has served RI as Rotary coordinator, regional Rotary membership coordinator, membership committee chair and member, and district governor. He is a recipient of the Service Above Self Award.

JULY 2016

ROTARY NEWS 67

Chikan Artists of Lucknow Mehru Jaffer

ncouraged by the recent sale artisans but also connects them with of their embroidered cloth, prospective buyers through an online Tabassum Khan and Sheeba platform, apart from encouraging them to participate in design exhibiKhan planned to apply for a bank loan. tions across the country. Essentially, “We wanted money to buy more cloth. We dreamt of having our own wooden Kalra is a teacher and facilitator, while frames, more needles and more thread,’ the women take their own decisions regarding the kind of orders they want recalls Tabassum. However, after spending a few minutes with the bank to take on. They even have a certain official, they promptly dropped the freedom to create their own designs, idea of applying for the Rs 50,000 loan. based on the clients’ needs. For women “He wanted us to come home and told like Tabassum and Sheeba, who would us that his wife was interested in learn- otherwise never get to experience this ing embroidery. I felt he did not really kind of autonomy in their personal or mean what he was saying. I could see professional lives, this partnership has indeed been liberating. his actual intention,” says Sheeba. Married at 16, Tabassum was back As they made their way back home that day they never imagined that they’d at her parents’ home barely a year eventually be able to realise their dream later. Disheartened with the way things of becoming artisan-entrepreneurs, sell- had unfolded for her — she never went ing clothes embellished with exquisite to school, was pushed into early marhandcrafted chikankari embroidery. riage and then had to go through the heartbreak of a broToday, they are ken relationship, all part of a group of in her teens — she 11 women chikan All of us came back from took up chikankari karigars, who have to support herself. broken free from the exhibitions with loads of She learnt the craft exploitation that is orders. We have enough under the guidance intrinsic to their line work for the moment and of Shilpguru Ayub of work and have an assured income for Khan. For years she established their worked magic with individual identities several months. her nimble fingers as artisans. and though she was How did they conferred with a manage to accomState award for craftsmanship in 2005, plish this seemingly unimaginable feat? Ask Tabassum and she attributes her struggle to earn a decent living this positive change to Jaspal Kalra, a continued. Indeed, awards or not, that’s the professor of fashion design, who set up Sangraha, an organisation that not lived reality of chikan karigars. In and around Lucknow, chikan embroidery only conducts a ten-month training provides employment to about 250,000 programme in design for chikankari 68 ROTARY NEWS JULY 2016

artisans, mostly women, apart from a million people who are associated with the trade, as raw material suppliers, contractors, manufacturers and retailers. Despite being a thriving sector, it is largely informal, which means the artisans earn wages from sub-contractor or traders, on a per-piece rate. Consequently, their bargaining power is non-existent and the earnings poor. Both Tabassum and Sheeba have grown up watching the women of their household sit down to embroider after finishing their chores. This was the only way for Muslim women, in particular, to add to their usually unstable family income. Literacy amongst these families is low, poverty is high and they continue to live in conservative neighbourhoods where women are not encouraged to be seen or heard. So, for want of any other way to make money without having to step out of

their home they readily accept whatever amount the contractors offer. There was a time when Naima Arshi’s illiterate mother did not know what lay beyond the boundary of her courtyard. “Ironically, poverty liberated me. When I began to earn some money by doing chikan embroidery my husband did not object. How could he? We were so poor. He welcomed the earnings and I used them to educate my children. We are still poor but at least Naima is a university graduate and that gives me great satisfaction,” she says. Whereas her mother may consider them to be hand-to-mouth even now, Naima does not see herself as either poor or deprived. She’s happy that unlike many girls in her community, she has a bank account. She has followed in her mother’s footsteps in so far as she has taken to doing chikankari

for a living. However, her work experiences are very different. She too is attached with Sangraha. “Sir has taught us the finer nuances of design and shared the different ways in which we can sell our work. He encourages us to deal directly with customers. While other chikankars get around Rs 140, at Sangraha we earn Rs 180 for a day’s work,” she says. Kalra set up Sangraha in 2015 with an idea to preserve the craft and help artisans gain sustainability and independence. With a mission to empower them with education, market-related services and finance, it started off by providing design education to 11 artisans and encouraging them to participate in various exhibitions in Lucknow, Delhi, Pune and Jaipur. Not long ago, Tabassum and her fellow karigars had travelled to Delhi where customers showered them with

praise and orders. At the time, says Tabassum, she sold embroidered cloth worth more than Rs 20,000. Mumtaz Jahan, another artisan at Sangraha, happily talks about how she came back from Pune having sold goods worth Rs 7,000. “All of us came back from exhibitions with loads of orders. We have enough work for the moment and an assured income for several months,” smiles Tabassum, who is a guru of sorts to the women. Naima, Mumtaz and Shabnam acknowledge that they have fine-tuned their stitches under her expert guidance. The women also share that Tabassum is never scared to take up a challenge or to experiment. Fearless and talented, she has a ready wish list, “It’s my dream to own a house, travel around the world with my girl-artisan friends and I would love to see international models walk the ramp in Paris, clad in clothes designed by me,” she says. All this will be possible when women continue to expand the scope of their work and Kalra’s direction will be valuable in this regard. “The government has introduced schemes for entrepreneurs but I have yet to explore how these can assist artisans associated with Sangraha. As I see it now, Make in India is more technologyoriented and Stand up India is targeted at women and SC/ST communities. Essentially, the core problem with many such schemes usually is that they don’t have any provisions for creating market linkages and simply stress on giving loans. Lack of education and understanding of market trends expose the artisans to exploitation by buyers and customers,” he says. Dreaming big and having serious ambitions is never really an option for most women chikan karigars, but this lot has definitely moved on from the days of being exploited to being the masters of their designs and destinies. (© Women’s Feature Service) JULY 2016

ROTARY NEWS 69

Managing Depression Dr Sheela Nambiar

here are times in our lives when we feel ‘under the weather,’ ‘low,’ ‘down,’ or ‘a bit depressed.’ Things happen that may not make us feel quite as thrilled with life as we’d like to be. When you don’t feel positive, there are several things you do as a reflex. You slouch, curl your shoulders inward, keep eyes downcast, cry, withdraw from social contact and your movements and actions slow down. Of course each one is different. Some may respond very differently by throwing themselves into work and camouflaging the negative emotions with distractions. Some others may address the problem by turning to alcohol or other addictions. It all depends on how your mind perceives the emotion and how it tries to deal with it. Below are some questions you can look at to see if you feel or have experienced any of the common side effects of feeling low, or more seriously, have been clinically depressed. z

Do you feel low or in a sad mood much of the time?

Do you wake up feeling low?

Are you unable to concentrate on the things you actually want to?

Have you lost interest in things that used to interest you before?

Have you lost your appetite? Or do you eat too much, indiscriminately and without really much pleasure or without thinking about it?

70 ROTARY NEWS JULY 2016

Do you have thoughts of suicide?

Do you cry often?

Do you feel emotional about simple things, which perhaps may not have otherwise bothered you?

Do you feel angry or upset much of the time?

Do you have trouble sleeping?

Do you feel a lack of purpose in life in general?

If you experience any of these symptoms, you are most probably suffering from depression. The causes are varied and need to be addressed. z

Low-level stress over the years (bad marriage, difficult childhood, lack of love while growing up, poverty, difficult job/employer with harassment at work). These things do not necessarily cause you to sink into a depth of despair overnight, but can, over a period of time deplete your ability to deal with day-today existence, in a positive frame of mind.

Acute stressors like divorce, loss of a loved one, moving home, loss of home, bankruptcy, etc, may cause you to slip into depression suddenly and quite severely. Although feeling down or depressed is part of the healing process, a persistent feeling of a low mood following such an event should be addressed.

Some people are hardier than others, enabling them to ‘just deal with it.’ That doesn't mean they are immune to the effects of stressors. It just means they have developed an effective coping mechanism. What could you do about it? Here are some simple strategies to incorporate into daily living to minimise the effects of stressors that invariably come our way. These are also ways to combat feeling of negativity when they do envelope us. z

Eat whole foods. Cut down sugar and processed foods; they

cause inflammation and weight gain, which in turn can make things worse. Poor body image, self-criticism and negative feedback about the way one looks only compound feelings of inadequacy and sadness. z

Exercise regularly. It will elevate the mood by releasing endorphins or the feel-good hormones. Done regularly, exercise will help one cope better even with low moods.

Get enough sleep. Lack of good sleep is one of the major reasons for poor productivity, low mood, fatigue and depression.

Take supplements like Omega3, a multivitamin and Vitamin D3. Vitamin deficiency has been shown to lower mood. Omega-3 is important for brain health.

Learn ways to specifically manage stress. Meditation and conscious

relaxation techniques are very effective for calming the mind. z

Create your own social network. It’s important to have an inner circle of close confidants that one can trust and rely on. The second circle of ‘social connections’ is wider and consists of people one loves or cares about, but does not necessarily confide in or even connect with all the time. It could be family, friends or old classmates. These are people you interact with socially, perhaps meet often, chat with, enjoy a drink with and are comfortable with. The third circle is your extended social circle of people you are really not close to but whom you know and meet occasionally.

It’s important to make these clear distinctions between people you know and interact with in your life. Your innermost circle consists of people who can influence you. There may even be someone in the third circle that you may be influenced by. Perhaps an old school teacher, a mentor whom you are not close to but respect and try to emulate. These people are your distant influences. You may have many, including non-living legends and heroes. The innermost circle may be small but is the most important for your mental health. If you are assured of a couple of people you can turn to in times of need or talk to when feeling under the weather, you can quite effectively manage to ward off depression. Find a good therapist. Not just someone who will medicate you to suppress symptoms but someone who can be a third party listener for you to talk to. Medication will most definitely treat the symptoms but often, when the cause itself is

Create your own social network. It’s important to have an inner circle of ENQUG EQPſFCPVU VJCV QPG can trust and rely on.

not dealt with, it gets you nowhere eventually. A good therapist is almost a necessity these days when no one really has the time to listen! He is an unbiased person who can listen to your problems (or perceived problems) and help you come up with a solution. Many a time, even your close friends or family may have a vested interest in how you react or respond to a situation. Their evaluation of your problem is often subjective because of their relationship with you. At times like this, it may be better to spend time with a therapist to find the best way around your feelings. Having said the above, I must add that anti-depressants have a real role to play in the management of depression. They may be required in cases of severe depression that does not respond to the above lifestyle management. Or, for those who suffer from severe bouts of depression despite lifestyle management. They need to be prescribed and monitored carefully. Many have side effects that have to be clearly explained to the person and her family. But the addition of lifestyle management is paramount if you want to wean off medication and lead an improved and productive life. (The author, an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, is a Fitness & Lifestyle Consultant, and has published two books: Get Size Wise; Gain to Lose) Designed by N Krishnamurthy JULY 2016

ROTARY NEWS 71

Simple Economics

Big David, small Goliath

TCA Srinivasa Raghavan

What gives the RBI governor so much power? … It’s all about money!

here used to be a time when very few people knew who the governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was. But ever since Dr Raghuram Rajan, a world famous economist, took over as governor, most literate persons — and even those who watch only TV — will be able tell you who he is. Dr Rajan has

become a household word, all thanks to an institution about which only the finance ministry, the IMF, Dalal Street and economists had heard. But slowly, over the last 25 years, that has changed. The economic liberalisation of 1991 allowed India’s stock market a greater role in India’s industrial development by letting it finance companies which needed money. Since then the RBI has gradually become a key — some would say the most important — player in India’s financial markets. After all, it sets the price of money by taking steps that influence the rate of interest. The EMI you pay for your TV, washing machine or smart phone, is determined by the RBI which decides what the price of money should be. That’s not all. The RBI also finances the government, not to mention

the banks, when they run into trouble. It lends money to the government when the government’s revenue falls short of its expenditure. And it lends money to the banks whenever they need it. These two actions, taken together determine the price of the money in the country.

Inflation The RBI also determines the price level and the rate at which it is increasing, that is, inflation. By altering the price of money, the RBI can raise or increase the demand for bank loans and this influences the level of overall demand in the country. This, in turn, has a strong effect on the price level and inflation. As if this is not enough, the RBI also decides the exchange rate of the rupee. When the demand for foreign exchange exceeds what the market can supply, it is the RBI which supplies the necessary amount from its hoard. And when the supply of foreign exchange exceeds the demand for it, it is the RBI which buys up the dollars and hoards them. In this way it is able to decide what the exchange rate will be. In other words, it is one of the most important institutions in the country.

The EMI you pay for your TV, washing machine or smart phone, is determined by the RBI which decides what the price of money should be.

Naturally, the person who heads it also becomes very important, not least because of the way things are structured in the RBI. The governor is virtually a dictator there. He sits on the 19th floor in a massive office in Mumbai all by himself. And, with the help of inputs from those working on the floors above and below his floor, he takes decisions that affect the lives of everyone — people, firms and governments. No one is left untouched.

Power not absolute This, however, is not absolute power. The message as to who the real boss is has been clear. It is the government. The government tolerates an RBI governor, and can, if it so decides, remove him mid-term by asking him to resign. No governor has been dismissed so far because even though the government has the final authority over the governor, it has to be careful because of the

impact that a dismissal can have on the financial sector. In that sense, this relationship is between a small Goliath and a big David. The irony is that although the governor is appointed by the government, very soon many governors start defying it. This has been so ever since the first governor was appointed in 1935. He was removed by the government within two years because he would not do as the government bade him. Twenty years later, another governor had a serious quarrel with the finance minister and he too resigned because Nehru would not support him. Then in 1977, another one was asked to resign; and again another one in 1990. Governors who recognise the limits of their power do well. Governors who don’t, are soon brought to heel. In recent years they have tended to trade their independence for a second term which is usually of two years,

Governors who recognise the limits of their power do well; those who don’t, are soon brought to heel.

following the original one of three years. Since 1992 therefore, every governor has had five years at the job. There was no reason to believe that Dr Rajan should have been an exception. Many Indians, particularly the uncrowned emperors of the country, the media, had all come out in Dr Rajan’s support. But for some reason, Dr Rajan was the exception. We will know why when he writes his memoirs.

Developing IT Excellence Deepak Kelkar

C Pune Pride, D 3131, along with the Computer Society of India (Pune Chapter) organised a nation-wide IT Olympiad 2016 for students and professionals. The event was promoted by the

All India Engineering Board, Computer Society of India network and Digital Social Media Marketing and the College of Engineering, Pune and NASSCOM were the knowledge partners.

Jaskaran Singh, winner of the ‘IT genius of India’ award (student category), receiving cash prize of Rs 1 Lakh.

It was conducted in five stages and the grand finale had ten contestants shortlisted from 12,000 participants. The winners were given the title ‘IT Genius of India,’ and cash prizes ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 1 lakh were awarded for the achievers. The Olympiad aimed to develop excellence in IT practices among youngsters and provide a common national platform for IT professionals and students. Eminent personalities from the corporate and Rotary world including Arun Nathani, CEO and MD of Cybage India, Dr Sachin Lodha, CTO from Tata Consultancy Services, Dr Ahuja, Director of COEP and PDG Madhav Borate, RI District 3131, chaired the grand finale. (The author is Public Image Director and member of RC Pune Pride, D 3131.) JULY 2016

ROTARY NEWS 73

RC Villupuram

RI District 2982 The club set up a new library at the Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Kedar to encourage the students to read more.

RC Palwal City

RI District 3011 Course completion certificates were distributed to the trainees at Vijaypal Goel Shirof Skill Development Centre which is the clubs vocational training centre for underprivileged women.

RC Karur Wings

RI District 3000 The club along with RC Karur and RC Coimbatore Midtown, D 3201, conducted an artificial limb fitment camp that benefitted over 70 physically challenged people.

RC Hirai Chandrapur

RI District 3030 Students of LTV Primary School participated in a reading and essay competition conducted by the club to promote literacy.

74 ROTARY NEWS JULY 2016

RC Visnagar

RI District 3051 As part of its Swachchata Jagruti Abhiyan to promote cleanliness the club distributed dustbins to schools and colleges in the region.

RC Ringas

RI District 3052 The club conducted a medical check-up for the economically weak part of the society. Around 200 people benefitted from this camp.

RC Amritsar North

RI District 3070 The club distributed woollen shawls, fruits and grocery items for the inmates of Bhai Veer Singh Brid Ghar, a home for the aged.

RC Dehradun West

RI District 3080 The club donated handwash units to two primary schools in the region to promote the WinS initiative and conducted a session to teach the children the right way to clean their hands.

JULY 2016

ROTARY NEWS 75

RC Ferozepur Cantonment

RI District 3090 Rotarians conducted an anti drugs rally. Cyclist rode from Ferozepur to Faridkot, Punjab, to create awareness on drug abuse.

RC Jhansi

RI District 3110 Around 500 patients were screened at a health camp conducted by the club. Medicines were distributed at the camp site and a few were referred to hospitals for further screening.

RC Lucknow

RI District 3120 Sweaters and stationery items were distributed to students of the Government Primary School to help them attend school regularly.

RC Aurangabad Central

RI District 3132 Over 130 patients were operated for cataract at a surgical camp conducted by the club. Rotarians took care of the arrangements for food and accomodation of those coming from remote villages.

76 ROTARY NEWS JULY 2016

RC Mumbai West Coast

RI District 3141 The club partnered with RC Edinburgh, D 1020, England, and TRF to construct a toilet block at a rural village, Palghas. The $200,000 project has facilitated WASH in 46 Government schools in the district.

RC Kalyan Riverside

RI District 3142 E-learning kits were distributed at rural schools in Kinhavali, Chaure and Poi where around 1,200 children study.

RC Navanandi Nandyal

RI District 3160 The club distributed water bottles to children in anganwadis in the region to promote safe drinking water habits among the students.

RC Sullia

RI District 3180 The club constructed a passenger shelter at a cost of Rs 6,50,000 at a prime location in the region. The facility consists of a rest area and a public toilet.

ROTARY NEWS 77

Rotary

& Social media

Twitter

Photo contest

#Ashakiran

The Rotarian’s photo contest this year had nearly 500 entries and was judged by Keith Jenkins, a digital strategist for National Geographic. The categories were people, places and projects. The contest received entries from across the world. The magazine will feature a few of the images in its issue over the coming year.

Rotary India Literacy Mission’s twitter handle is flooded with success stories of Indian clubs supporting #literacy. Catch the RILM work force in action or share your clubs #RILM story at https://twitter.com/Rotaryteach.

Twitter / Facebook

Father’s Day Rotary International sent an online greeting to its celebrity fathers and the This Close Ambassadors.

Facebook

No new polio case in India Many Rotarians took to social media to express their dismay over “Polio has resurfaced in India,” a false alarm. INPPC Chair Deepak Kapur issued an official statement.

FOLLOW US On our Facebook page @RotaryNewsIndia or on Twitter @NewsRotary for latest news and updates from the Rotary World. Compiled by: KZ

WHERE CAN YOU LEARN TO BE A MORE EFFECTIVE ROTARIAN?

THE LEARNING CENTER PUTS THE TRAINING YOU WANT AT YOUR FINGERTIPS.

GET STARTED AT ROTARY.ORG/MYROTARY

Rotary at a glance As on June 1, 2016

Rotarians

: 12,36,477

Clubs

: 35,156

Districts

: 535

Rotaractors

: 2,13,601*

Clubs

: 9,287*

Interactors

: 4,62,806*

Clubs

: 20,122*

RCC members : 2,04,125* RCC

: 8,875* * As on May 2, 2016

Membership in India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives As on June 1, 2016 RI RI Rotary No of Women Rotaract Interact Zone District Clubs Rotarians Rotarians

5 5 5 4 4 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 6 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

2981 2982 3000 3011 3012 3020 3030 3040 3051 3052 3053 3060 3070 3080 3090 3100 3110 3120 3131 3132 3140 3150 3160 3170 3180 3190 3201 3202 3211 3212 3220 3230 3240 3250 3261 3262 3271 3272 3281 3282 3291 3292 Total

102 61 108 70 75 80 92 91 63 65 57 94 109 75 81 71 112 72 123 88 149 95 62 120 143 123 136 124 134 96 71 145 83 100 72 78 59 94 179 110 139 98 4,099

4,282 2,950 4,773 2,962 3,355 4,177 5,230 2,200 2,571 3,557 2,268 3,972 3,175 3,248 2,137 1,815 3,852 3,021 5,560 3,732 8,052 3,433 2,232 5,252 6,008 5,565 5,258 4,873 4,208 3,949 1,965 6,180 2,964 3,787 2,397 2,995 1,076 1,694 5,262 3,143 3,811 3,577 1,56,518

187 129 381 455 552 259 604 273 201 549 258 383 268 217 85 91 202 284 1,070 374 1,259 307 113 321 310 587 301 248 215 233 256 516 365 591 247 343 162 292 708 240 648 464 15,548

50 43 189 37 53 102 65 47 43 34 15 47 56 54 30 10 48 34 70 54 143 72 12 46 51 114 78 78 11 89 73 161 52 42 15 39 38 28 208 116 55 99 2,701

210 106 370 90 102 443 224 104 144 128 31 101 145 174 36 85 49 48 216 125 380 174 41 259 421 317 105 403 69 233 188 420 136 190 100 66 14 32 79 22 115 99 6,794

RCC

167 37 112 29 54 353 139 135 333 130 91 121 54 99 122 146 71 49 70 101 142 109 81 158 149 46 46 39 121 126 78 303 130 171 42 70 13 35 182 38 561 94 5,147

Source: RI South Asia Office

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Rotary Club of .......................................................................................................... RI District ................................ Name of the President/Secretary ............................................................................................................................... Address ...................................................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................................................................... City ............................................. State ................................................................ PIN 45% $PEF 1IPOF 0Ä&#x203A; 3FT Mobile ...........................................................E-mail ...............................................................................................

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President/Secretary Mail this form to: Rotary News Trust, Dugar Towers, 3 Floor, 34, Marshalls Road, Egmore, Chennai 600 008. Tamil Nadu, India. Ph: 044 4214 5666, e-mail: rotarynews@rosaonline.org rd

Subscription norms 1.

Subscription is for the Rotary year (July to June).

It is mandatory for every Rotarian to subscribe to a Rotary magazine.

The annual subscription for the magazine is Rs 420 per member.

Subscription for the full year must be sent in July, in the prescribed form.

Those joining after July can pay only for the remaining Rotary year at Rs 35 an issue.

Subscription account of the club with Rotary News is a running account and does not cease at the end of June every year.

Names of all members, with their complete postal address with PIN CODE must be typed and sent along with the form and DD/cheques payable at par.

Copies of Semi Annual Report SHOULD NOT be sent as address list.

Language preference (English or Hindi) should be stated alongside member’s name.

10. Members, please ensure that your name is included in the Subcribers’ list that your club sends us. Often, names of members who have paid their subscription, are left out from the club list. 11.

Clubs must inform Rotary News about reduction in number of members, if any, before or in May. Please help reduce wastage of copies.

12.

Clubs are liable to pay for the number of magazines we despatch according to the list available at Rotary News Trust.

13.

Unpaid dues of the club will be shown as outstanding against the club. Any payment received subsequently will be adjusted against earlier dues.

14.

Clubs with subscription arrears will be notiﬁed to RI and may face possible suspension.

15.

We are in the process of tallying our subscriber list with RI membership from India.

16.

If you want to switch to The Rotarian, please do so. But inform us immediately to avoid receipt of Rotary News. Or else your club will have to pay for it. JULY 2016

ROTARY NEWS 81

IN BRIEF Chicken breeding to end poverty

Driverless cars Rolls Royce has unveiled its driverless concept car, Vision Next 100, in London. Designed by Giles Taylor, Rolls-Royce’s Director of Design, the car is set to hit the streets in the 2040s. The car is controlled by an interactive programme called Eleanor that works as a chauffeur and assistant and even reminds occupants about appointments and tasks. It is a two-seater with plush interiors, no steering wheel, accelerator or brakes, but just two physical controls: “stop” and “go.” The passenger can alight in style at the destination as the glass roof lifts automatically allowing the occupant to stand up, while the door opens and a step glides out from below. A red light also shines from underneath the car providing a red-carpet feel. Audi, Google, Toyota and Nissan are few other companies working on driverless technology.

Microsoft’s Founder Bill Gates donated 100,000 chicken through his Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to Heifer International, a global development group, for helping impoverished families in sub-Saharan Africa. He had written on his website, GatesNotes.com, that the best way to improve the lives of the world’s poorest is not through computers, but by raising few roosters and hens. The maintenance cost of chicken is lower, they multiply fast and the eggs and meat can boost the family’s nutrition. The aim is to boost chicken breeding in West Africa by 30 per cent from the current five per cent. However, the Bolivian government has rejected his donation, describing it “offensive.”

Now it is Uber choppers At some time or the other, many of us would have wished if we could just take off and fly to our destination to escape the horrendous traffic on the roads. Taxi service provider Uber makes this daydream a reality. They are offering chopper service between airports, hotels and convention centres. The UberCopter service has been piloted in Brazil’s São Paulo with a starting ride-rate of $20 for a 6 km distance.

Smooth Criminal Ever since Michael Jackson performed the infamous gravity-defying lean in his Smooth Criminal, several fans had tried and failed to copy the move. But the mystery is out now! He, along with two others, had invented and patented a special shoe that had a slotted heel which slid onto bolts that protruded from the floor, thus creating a dovetail joint between the dancer and the stage. While strings were used in the music video, MJ had to get creative on the road, and these shoes helped him and his team to lean over at a 45 deg angle to the floor.

Eiffel Tower is taller in summer The height of the Eiffel Tower on Champ de Mars in Paris goes up by about 17 cm from its original 324 m during summer. When the Sun’s sharp rays shine on the Tower, thermal expansion causes the metal to expand, and this expansion stops at sundown. The structure shrinks during winter.

Compiled by Jaishree; Designed by K Vishwanathan 82 ROTARY NEWS JULY NOVEMBER 2016 2015

A new RNT role for them

t the annual Rotary News Trust meeting at Hyderabad, when it was time for the next batch of DGs (2016–17) to choose their representatives on RNT’s Executive Committee and Advisory body, RI Director Manoj Desai and incoming RI Director C Basker left the hall. “You can shout or fight as much as you want, but when we return, we want five names,” said Desai. And he had

them after a smooth, though animated discussion. So these five will serve RNT in the coming year. (From Left) Gopal Rai Mandhania (D 3141); Natrajan Nagoji (D 3230); Shyamashree Sen (D 3291); M Muruganandam (D 3000) and Sarbjeet Singh (D 3070). Text and picture by Rasheeda Bhagat

REGN. NO. TN/CCN/360/2015-2017 LICENSED TO POST WITHOUT PREPAYMENT NO.TN/PMG(CCR)/WPP-431/2015-2017 REGISTERED WITH REGISTRAR OF NEWS PAPERS FOR INDIA 3880/57 ROTARY NEWS PUBLISHED ON 1ST OF EVERY MONTH

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