Rotaweek 23 Mar 2008 Sunday

[Dipak R Sarbadhikari]

THE ROTAWEEK
A compendium of Rotary news
No. 838 Sun  23-Mar-2008

 

RIP-MARCH MESSAGE
________________________________________________________

 

March 2008

 

Dear fellow Rotarians,

 

Mohandas Gandhi once said, “If we are to teach real peace in
this world, and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we
shall have to begin with the children.”

 

What Gandhi understood so well was simply this: that anger and
hatred, arguments and differences, rivalries and quarrels are not
inherited or innate. They are learned. Children who see hate,
learn hate. But children who see sharing and love, learn sharing
and love.

 

The way things have always been is not necessarily the way they
will always be. For better or for worse, almost any status quo can
eventually change. When there is a new threat to be faced,
people can be divided by it and fight each other, or they can
come together and work together and find a solution to their
problems together. Every new challenge has the power to
divide – and the power
to unite.

 

In a world of change, Rotary must be the constant. And in a world
of increasing needs, Rotary must keep pace by making sure that
we have the strength and the numbers to do what needs to be
done.

 

In this Rotary year, I have asked Rotarians everywhere to focus on
sharing Rotary through membership. It is time to evaluate where
we are in this task. Have we all invited a potential new member to
a meeting? If we’ve succeeded in bringing in a qualified new member,
are we helping that member to grow and succeed in Rotary?

 

Rotary can only continue to serve if it continues to grow. Simply
maintaining our membership at current levels will not be enough.
As the world’s population and its needs continue to rise, we too must
rise to the challenge they present.

 

We must show the world that Service Above Self is more than just
a motto, and Rotary Shares more than just a theme. These words
are our truth – a truth that defines us, and all of Rotary.

 

Many decades ago now, Gandhi – who I think would have made a
very good Rotarian – said something else that resonates with us
as Rotarians: “Man becomes great exactly in the degree in which
he works for the welfare of his fellow men.”

 

Each of us has the opportunity to become great through our
Rotary service. Let us all be sure that this is an opportunity
that we seize.

 

Wilfrid J. (Wilf) Wilkinson
President, Rotary International

 

 

 

ABIR-E-RANGA- DISTRICT HOLI MEET 2008
________________________________________________________

 

SAT MARCH 29, NALBAN, 6 PM

 

District Fellowship Committee under the Leadership of District
Governor Rtn Anirudha Roy Chowdhury in association with
ROTARY CLUB OF SALT LAKE CENTRAL as Lead Host Club and other
clubs of Zone- VI as Lead Co-Host Clubs are organizing
Celebration of Colour- ABIR-E-RANGA-2008 on 29th March, 2008 at
‘NALBAN' Food Park, opp- Cognizant Building, Sector-V, Salt Lake City
Kolkata from 6.00 PM onwards.

 

To celebrate the arrival of Basanta Utsab, the evening has been
specially designed with lots of fun & frolic. We are looking forward
to welcome you with Uttariyas for Men and flowers for the fairer sex,
sweets  & gulal for all. Together let us swing to the mood of the
occasion with Basanta Utsab dance sequences  by musical troupes
and DISCO DANDIA for all those dance lovers with bagful of prizes
to be won.

 

For the young at heart, there is more to come as we’ve arranged a
FASHION SHOW and Live Band Music with Live performers- Male and
Female. There will be delicious Dinner served from 8.30 PM for
you to relish.

 

Our instant hit is sure to be the lucky draw with bagful of prizes to
be won, against the purchase of Raffle tickets of Rs 20/- each.
Not to forget HOUSE OF FRIENDSHIP WILL BE ON FROM 7.00 PM on
at cost.

 

To make it a more colorful and memorable evening, we are
anticipating 100% registration from your club.
Registration charges are Rs. 250/- only per person and the
Registration Cards are available from DG’s office ZOOM House,
Dist. Secretary (Admn's) office at 16 N.S.Road, BBD Bag, Kolkata,
Zoom - City Centre Salt Lake, Kolkata & Zoom, Barasat.
Please note that there will be limited Registration on the spot.
Hence arrange Registration in advance.

 

May I  request your club to become a Lead Co-Host Club  by
paying Rs 5000/- only. We have made provisions to become
Associate Co-Host Clubs by paying Rs 3000/.
This Co-Hosting will be treated as Service Project for your club.

 

Swapan Basu
PRESIDENT Lead Host Club
M- 9330805881
Mail: swapa...@rediffmail.com

 

 

WORLD HEALTH DAY
________________________________________________________

 

MON APRIL 7, ROTARY SADAN, 7 PM

 

Dear Fellow Rotarians,

 

I am glad to inform you that on the occasion of World Health Day
we are organising a :

 

Seminar on Health
at Rotary Sadan
on 7th April 2008
from 6.30 PM onwards.

 

Apart from World Health Day Slogan, we shall discuss on some very
common ailments like Diabetes, Blood Pressure, Cardiac diseases
and Preventable diseases of children by eminent doctors followed
by interactive panel discussion.

 

This is a District programme by Rotary Medical Corps Committee.
Host club is Rotary Club of Calcutta.

 

You are earnestly requested to attend this very useful programme
with all your club Members, RCC members and family.

 

Rtn. Dr. Sunil Kumar Nag
Coordinator, Rotary Medical Corps Committee, R.I. District 3290

 

 

 

ROTARY YOUTH LEADERSHIP AWARDS
________________________________________________________

 

MAY 2-4 IIMC JOKA

 

"AGRADOOT", the Joka RYLA 2007-08 is going to be held at IIMC,
Joka on 2nd, 3rd & 4th May.
Mostly Rotaractors & Interactors of RID 3290 and neighboring
districts will participate in the prestigious RYLA.

 

To be the partner Club of this event, Clubs may contact:
 
Dist RYLA Chair Rtn Sobhan Banerjee,
"Agradoot" RYLA Chair Rtn Dr. Subhasis Nag or
Host Club President Rtn Ratna Sinha.

 

 

 

ROTARY FOUNDATION
________________________________________________________

 

MARCH MESSAGE ROM TRUSTEE CHAIR
 

 

Dear family of Rotary,

 

Rotary Foundation alumni are a largely untapped resource with
tremendous potential for boosting Rotary club membership and
support for the Foundation’s programs. That’s why reconnecting
with alumni is one of our Foundation’s goals for 2007-08.

 

According to a 2006 survey, less than 3 percent of the more than
105,000 alumni of Foundation and RI programs are Rotarians. Yet
two-thirds of alumni say they are interested in joining a Rotary club,
a desire shared by more than 8 out of 10 current program
participants.

 

A mere 20 percent of Rotary clubs claim to recruit alumni into
membership. Imagine what impact these talented program veterans
could have on our Foundation, our organization, and the world if
100 percent of Rotary clubs invited them into membership.
President Wilf’s wish for a significant increase in total membership
would come true!

 

“We need younger members” is what we often hear at Rotary
seminars. Let’s invite alumni who have the professional qualifications
for Rotary membership to join our clubs. The average age in many
clubs would rapidly decline in direct proportion to the increase in
actives of the club. Encourage alumni who don’t yet qualify for
Rotary club membership to join or start a Rotaract club, or invite
them to participate in Rotary club and district projects. Be sure
to invite – and financially support, if necessary – your district’s
alumni to attend the first Rotary Alumni Celebration at the
Los Angeles convention, 13-14 June.

 

What better way to show alumni that Rotary Shares than by
sharing Rotary with them.

 

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

 

 

 

Regards
________________________________________________________

 

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

 

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