Rotaweek 841-20Apr2008

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THE ROTAWEEK
A compendium of Rotary news
No. 841 Sun 20-Apr-2008



DISTRICT EVENTS IN APRIL
________________________________________________________

Sunday, April 20, 2008
Naba Barsher Aadda - Asilo Baisakh Laha Bari, 7pm

Friday-Sunday, May 02-04
RYLA - Joka, I. I. M., Joka, 3-30pm

REPORTING
District Awards Reporting latest by 30 May 2008
to Chairman, Awards, DGN Utpal Majumdar


REMINDER TO ALL CLUBS DOING MATCHING GRANT PROJECTS
________________________________________________________

AS PER THE INDIA GRANT REPORTING REQUIREMENTS ALL
REPORTS ARE DUE FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31ST MARCH .
(SEE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS BELOW)

The clubs are reminded and REQUESTED to submit their Reports
within 31-05-2008

NON COMPLIANCE CAN LEAD TO CLUBS BEING DENIED
PARTICIPATION IN FUTURE PROJECTS.

INDIA GRANT REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

1) Progress Report as on 31st March (due by 31st May) to include: -

a) if the grant amount is not utilized because the grant amount was
received in March :-
" Bank Statement/Bank Pass Book in original or Photocopy certified
by Bank Manager indicating the date on which the grant amount
was credited.

b) If the grant amount was not utilized though the grant amount was
received before March: -
" TRF Progress report stating why the grant amount was not yet
utilized;
" Bank Statement/Bank Pass Book in original or Photocopy certified by
Bank Manager indicating the date on which the grant amount was
credited.

c) if a portion of the grant amount is utilized progress report to
include:-
" TRF progress (Narrative) Report;
" Utilization Certificate along with Statement of Receipt and Payment
for grant amount certified by Chartered Accountant (along with
his membership number)

2) Final report (within two months of project completion) to include:
-
" TRF Final (Narrative) Report along with the Financial Statement;
" Utilization Certificate along with Statement of Receipt and Payment
for grant amount certified by Chartered Accountant (along with
his membership number)
" Bank statement/ Bank Pass Book in original or Photocopy certified
by Bank Manager. If multiple grants are paid to single FCRA Account,
Bank Reconciliation Statement is also required.
" Original or photocopies of Bills of Payment/expenses vouchers.
If photocopies are submitted to RF(I), an undertaking stating that
"all originals will be kept for a period of 8 years and will be
produced
as and when required by RF(I)".
" Beneficiary information (Photographs/ newspaper clippings/
appreciation
letter from beneficiary, etc.,)
" Refund, if any.

> Acknowledgement of amount received from RF(I) should be sent
to RF(I) as soon as the payment is received by Clubs/District/
Project Contacts.

> In case of District Simplified Grant/District Projects, the report of
District must be supported by corresponding reports (Financial and
TRF Report Progress/Final) of clubs.

> Copy of certified Form FC-3, if the grant is paid under FCRA Waiver.

Santosh Arora (DGSC)
93310-02294
santos...@yahoo.com


R I PRESIDENT'S APRIL MESSAGE
________________________________________________________

Dear fellow Rotarians,

Rotary is uniquely privileged to be a well-established, religiously
and politically neutral organization with no governmental ties or
obligations. We are known and respected as a group of men and
women who simply come to help - by bringing clean water and food,
teaching literacy and numeracy, providing assistance after a
disaster,
ending polio.

When there is a need, a crisis, or an emergency, Rotary is there.
We know that, as Rotarians, part of our role in any crisis is to
bring
people together, rather than drive them apart. It is our role and
also our responsibility.

Today, we are faced globally with a new crisis: the changing
environment and the changing climate. It's a frightening situation
that will affect everyone but will hurt the poor and the weak far
more than the wealthy and the strong. The days of wondering and
considering and hoping are at an end, as it has become ever clearer
that we are on a course that can be slowed but not stopped.

This past summer, the Arctic ice cap melted at a pace that exceeded
even the most pessimistic expectations. The rate of melting and
warming is accelerating in what seems to be a cycle of ever-
increasing speed, and we cannot pretend that it will not affect us.
It already has. In the American West, water is becoming more and more
scarce as less snow falls every winter to refill lakes and streams.
From my window in Evanston, I can see Lake Michigan, whose water
level, like the other Great Lakes, is near or already at a record
low. And as the supply of fresh water diminishes, the sea levels are
rising, putting low-lying nations - many of them poor and
developing - at increasing risk.

We know that in the years and decades to come, there will be crises,
and there will be challenges. Will we let them drive us apart, or
will we use them to bring us together? Will we be fragmented, or will
we come together to address the universal needs of all people? Will
we choose to address the desires of the rich over the needs of the
poor, or will we do what is best for everyone on our planet?

The greatest challenges lie before us, now and in the years to come.

Wilfrid J. (Wilf) Wilkinson
President, Rotary International

Source: The Rotarian



TRF CHAIR'S APRIL MESSAGE
________________________________________________________

APRIL RECOGNIZES MAGAZINES AND MORE

Dear family of Rotary,

In this world of immediate information through the Internet, e-mails,
blogs, and cell phones, the very idea of celebrating Magazine Month
sounds somewhat old-fashioned. Although information about Rotary
Foundation programs is immediately available at www.rotary.org, your
Rotary magazine is still the best place to read in-depth accounts of
the Foundation's remarkable work around the world.

In fact, the many pamphlets, guides, and request forms available from
The Rotary Foundation continue to play a major role. For example,
printed take-home instructions are still the most effective way to
ensure that Foundation seminar information is reviewed at a later
date. Every Rotarian should carry a copy of the latest Rotary
Foundation Facts (159-EN), a concise, up-to-date summary of the
activities of the Foundation, which is published each November and
available from the RI Secretariat.

When recognizing our magazines and other printed materials, let's not
forget that the timeliest way to get information is on our Web site.
During April, for example, the Future Vision Committee will report to
the Trustees, who will be making many decisions about the future of
the Foundation. These decisions will be reported on Rotary.org, and I
ask you, as so many did in October, to comment online so that your
Trustees will have the benefit of your opinions. Since its inception,
the Future Vision Committee has relied very heavily on the opinions
of Rotarians at all levels. In this final lap, we need these thoughts
more than ever, and our Web site provides an excellent way to get
your feedback.

Our Web site is indeed essential today, so let's include it in our
celebration of Magazine Month.

Robert S. Scott
Trustee Chair, The Rotary Foundation, 2007-08

Source: The Rotarian



RI DIRECTOR ASHOK MAHAJAN'S APRIL MESSAGE
________________________________________________________

THE NAME "ROTARY" SHOULD BECOME A TRADE MARK OF SERVICE

What is an image? It is a reflection of what we are. What are we?
Are we compassionate? Are we caring? Are we concerned with the
problems of others'? Are we strong enough to tackle some of these
problems? Are we united to take action? Are we recognised by the
community as an effective tool to answer some of their demands?
Are we capable to help? Are we changing with the changing needs?
Are we geared to respond to new challenges?
A possible answer to many of these questions and some more is
what Rotary should show as its image.

Realising that the needs are immense and never ending. Rotary can
do so much more. If this dictum is explained to the community that
needs assistance, we will be able to project Rotary as an instrument
for addressing some of the demands.

The image of Rotary depends on the men and women and our
children which constitute the workforce. A community being helped by
Rotary may not necessarily interpret the wheel of Rotary as the force
but will always recognise the men and women, who came to their help.
Thus, every Rotarian is an example of love, helpfulness, care and
concern.

There are over 95,000 Rotarians in India. There can, therefore, be
around 400,000 people in our workforce. These soldiers of our force
should try to project Rotary as the banner under which this help is
coming. These volunteers of service may be regarded as the working
hands of Rotary hut Rotary's ideals should also be highlighted. The
name "Rotary" should become a trade mark of service. If they can
recognise names such as Coca Cola or Gillette or Cadburys or Nike
or Reebok or Bata, they should also recognise Rotary as a trade
mark of service -- compassionate service, service with no axe to
grind, service with a smile, service with propound dignity and
service
with commitment.

Once our trade mark "Rotary" becomes as famous and as acceptable
to the community. Rotary can spread its wings and soar into the skies
with great accomplishments. The name "Rotary" and its emblem
"The Wheel" should generate positive feelings in the hearts of all
those
who need assistance. If this is achieved, Rotary will reach the
pinnacle
of existence.

Rotary Shares its wealth -- human wealth in the form of its members
and their families and financial resources -- with the communities
that need assistance. Once this is achieved. Rotary can share its
ideals,
its goals, its objectives and even its weaknesses with the community
which will understand that Rotary is not "Superman" who can fight all
evils but that Rotary is made up of humans with many limitations.
But within its scope, Rotary can surely be "Superhuman" with
commitments that are beyond the expectations of the needy.
That is our strength.
Let us project this as our image.

Rtn. Ashok Mahajan
Rl Director 2007-2009


NEW POLIO WEB SITE
________________________________________________________

Rotary has launched a new "mini" Web site to give the general public
an
opportunity to help end polio by contributing to Rotary's US$100
Million Challenge from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Check out the three-page site at www.rotary.org/endpolio. The new
site
will be marketed throughout North America starting this month. All
funds raised will go directly to The Rotary Foundation in support of
polio eradication.

Rotarians should continue to contribute through the Member Access
Portal at www.rotary.org.

Source: Rotary International News
courtesy: eFlash_Rotary



SOME ACTIONS TAKEN BY RI BOARD
________________________________________________________

The third meeting of the 2007-08 RI Board of Directors was held on
22-25 January 2008, in Evanston, Illinois, USA. At this meeting, the
Board reviewed reports from 11 committees and recorded 83 decisions.

CLUB AND DISTRICT MATTERS
The Board extended the deadline for district consolidation to 31
December 2008 to several districts that showed positive membership
growth but that had not yet met the district size minimum of 30 clubs
and 1,000 members. The Board took action to consolidate six districts
into three new districts and also congratulated 20 districts that
reached the district size minimum.

To allow for a more complete evaluation of a governor's year in
office, the Board extended the deadline for submission of the
governor's report to 15 May in the year the governor serves.

RI ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCES
In accordance with RI Bylaws requiring the Board to periodically
review the composition of zones to maintain an approximately equal
number of Rotarians in each zone, the Board realigned the 34 zones
and sections within zones, as shown in an appendix to the January
2008 Board minutes, to be posted on the RI Web site. The Board also
appointed a committee to establish an implementation schedule for the
changeover to this new zone structure.

Recognizing the potential of e-learning as a training strategy for
Rotarians, the Board requested the general secretary to begin
incorporating e-learning into future business processes, and to
develop a comprehensive e-learning proposal for review by the Board
at its next meeting.


RI PROGRAMS, COMMUNICATIONS, AND AWARDS
To ensure that regional Rotary magazines are best serving local
Rotarians, the Board requested the general secretary to conduct a
readership survey of all regional magazines in 2008-09. The
subscription fee for international subscribers to The Rotarian will
increase from US$12 to US$24 annually, effective with the July 2008
issue.

The Board approved one new Rotarian Action Group:
Rotarian Action Group for the Alleviation of Hunger and Malnutrition.
Clubs and districts are encouraged to get involved in microcredit
projects through The Rotary Foundation and the Rotarian Action
Groups for Microcredit.

The Board terminated five Rotary fellowships and required 27 other
fellowships to provide reports and/or show improvements in their
operation by 1 April 2008 or face termination.

The Board agreed to continue RI's very successful public relations
grants program in 2008-09, which will award districts on a
competitive basis a total US$2 million in grants to conduct local PR
initiatives.


INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS
The Board tentatively selected Seoul, Korea, as the site for the 2016
RI Convention and reaffirmed that the 2015 RI Convention should be
held in either Latin America or the western United States.

Source: Rotary International



Regards
________________________________________________________

Dr Dipak R Sarbadhikari
Editor Rotaweek, RC Calcutta
District 3290 Webmaster

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