Rotaweek 27-Jan-2008

[Dipak R Sarbadhikari]

THE ROTAWEEK
A compendium of Rotary news
No. 830 Sun 27-Jan-2008

 

MAKE DREAMS REAL
_______________________________________________________

 

THEME 2008-09 ANNOUNCED

 

14-Jan-2008
 
RI President-elect Dong Kurn Lee announced the 2008-09 RI theme
Make Dreams Real, to incoming district governors at the 2008
International Assembly. He urged them to use their resources to help
curb child mortality. Lee said he was in disbelief when he learned that
30,000 children under the age of five die every day from preventable
diseases such as pneumonia, measles, and malaria.

 

"Once I understood the issues behind that terrible number, I knew
what I needed to do," Lee said. He told the incoming governors
that Rotary will keep the service emphases of recent years -- water,
health and hunger, and literacy -- but asked them to focus their
efforts in each of these areas on children.

 

"In 2008-09, I will ask you all to Make Dreams Real for the world's
children," he said. "This will be our theme, and my challenge to
all of you."

 

"Children are killed by illnesses that become deadly in combination
with poor sanitation and malnutrition," Lee said. In addition, families
stricken by extreme poverty are trapped in a cycle that only leads
to more unnecessary deaths. "It's a cycle that is not interrupted
because there is no access to education."

 

He challenged the audience to do their part to give children "hope
and a chance at a future" by reducing the rate of child mortality
in the world.

 

"We will bring clean water to their communities and create
sanitation projects that keep children healthy," Lee said.

 

As the incoming governors begin preparing for the year ahead
with the training and inspiration they receive at the International
Assembly, Lee reminded them of Rotary's power and encouraged
them to use their resources efficiently to maximize the good
done around the world.

 

Rotarians can improve children's health, Lee said, even in small
ways, such as delivering mosquito nets, rehydration salts,
vitamins, and vaccines. "So much more can be done with just
a little more: a trained birth attendant, a simple clinic, a school
feeding program, a visiting nurse," he continued. "These are
simple and direct ways to save children's lives."

 

In 2008-09, Rotarians will be asked to open their eyes to the
needs of children in communities near and far, Lee said.

 

"Children die not because nobody can help them, but because
too often, nobody does. But you and I, here in this room, are
Rotarians, and helping is what we do best," he said, adding that
"our job is to Make Dreams Real for children. If every one of us
does this, at the end of our year, we will all have achieved
something wonderful."

 

See the logo and watch the video online:
http://www.rotary.org/en/MediaAndNews/News/Pages/080114_news_ia_theme.aspx

 

 

 

INDIAN ROTARIAN TO DONATE $2 MILLION TO HELP END POLIO
________________________________________________________

 

By Tiffany Woods

 

Rotary's efforts to eradicate polio have gotten a US$2 million boost
from a Rotarian diamond and jewelry magnate.

 

Harshad Mehta, a native of India who is a senior partner in the
Belgium-based Rosy Blue diamond and jewelry company, has pledged to
donate the money to Rotary's polio eradication efforts over the next
three years.

 

Mehta, the largest Indian donor to The Rotary Foundation, was
inspired to make the commitment after learning about the Bill &
Melinda Gates Foundation's $100 million challenge grant for polio
eradication. Rotary must match the grant dollar for dollar over a
three-year period.

 

Foundation Trustee Chair Robert S. Scott recalls a conversation with
him in December, when Mehta suddenly said, "I will give $2 million
toward the match." It was "a very exciting development and an
extremely generous" commitment, says Scott.

 

Mehta, 60, joined the Rotary Club of Bombay Metropolitan in 1986 as a
charter member. His previous contributions to The Rotary Foundation
have totaled more than $1 million. Some of the money has been used to
endow an Ambassadorial Scholarship that finances recipients' studies
at universities.

 

Mehta serves as chair of the United Arab Emirates operations of Rosy
Blue, a family business that employs more than 15,000 people around
the world. He's also Armenia's honorary consul in Mumbai and the vice
chair of the Dubai Diamond Exchange. He is a past chair of the Gem
and Jewelry Export Promotion Council and a past vice president of the
Federation of Indian Export Organizations.

 

In his spare time, he enjoys reading, listening to music, walking,
swimming, playing cricket, and spending time with his wife, three
children, and five grandchildren.

 

In the final push to stop polio, Mehta urges Rotarians not to give
up. "We must further strengthen our resolve as we are so close to the
ultimate goal," he says. "Any slackening at this point will result in
a total loss of all the time, effort, and money put in over the past
years."

 

Source: Rotary International News
Courtesy: eFlash_Rotary

 

 

 

E-CLUBS HELP ROTARY ADJUST TO THE 21ST CENTURY.
________________________________________________________

 

At the 97th RI Convention in June, Ryofu Pussel, president of the
Rotary E-Club of the Southwest, USA, addressed fellow members
on the importance and viability of their club and e-clubs
throughout Rotary.

 

The 34 members, 7 of whom live outside the United States, were
in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, spreading the word that they are just
like any other club. They pay dues, participate in community
projects, and form friendships.

 

But instead of walking into a room for a meeting every week, they
log in to a Web discussion forum.

 

“With e-clubs, you can get people with different backgrounds, values,
and opinions, which enhances the understanding of other cultures,”
says Pussel, who lives in Japan.

 

Much of the Rotary world has been slow to accept e-clubs since
their inception in 2001. But Pussel sees a positive change in
attitude because Rotarians are taking notice of some of the
important projects e-clubs are carrying out.

 

Pussel’s club is one of the 14 e-clubs that initiate projects worldwide.
The group has been raising money for the Ashley Kaimowitz Fund,
named after an Interactor and Youth Exchange student

 

Pussel, who previously belonged to the Rotary Club of Naruto Chuo,
Tokushima, Japan, considers e-clubs the best solution for people
who have extensive business commitments, like himself, or health
problems that prevent them from regularly attending meetings.
He also believes the e-club model will help with member retention.

 

“I did not want to give up on Rotary because I wasn’t able to make
the meetings,” Pussel says. “I was so happy to join our club and
continue Rotary’s goodwill.”

 

Source: RotaryWorld January 2008

 

 

 

REQUEST RECEIVED THROUGH THE DISTRICT WEBSITE
________________________________________________________

 

CAN ANY ONE HELP?

 

Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2008
From: "Vinoth. S Chordia" <svch...@gmail.com>
To: dipaksar...@gmail.com
Subject: From 3290-WEB

 

Dear Sir,
 
My Name is Vinoth S Chordia, living in Chennai.
 
I had recently come accross to view my school
[Bhavans Gandhi Vidyasharam, Kodikanal] friend Sujoyeeta Ghosh
who is living in 215A, Prince Anwarshah Road. Kolkatta - 33.
She moved on to Austrlia to become a lawyer. I have completely
lost contact with her. if you could be kind enough to give me her
present phone number it will be utmost appreciated.
I am pasting a link below for you to identify her.
 
http://rotarnet.com.au/Magazine/articles/dec04/37.html

 

 

 

Regards
________________________________________________________

 

Dr Dipak R Sarbadhikari
RC Calcutta
Editor Rotaweek

 

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