THE THE THE BULLETIN OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF MADRAS | 2019-20 LIGHTHOUSE LIGHTHOUSE LIGHTHOUSE Edition # 46 JUNE 2, 2020 9 Pages • • FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK Rtn. Biswajit I leave you with a quote… Read on and enjoy this issue of the Lighthouse. Stay Home, Wash your hands, Stay Safe! “To give real service you must add something which cannot be bought or measured with money, and that is sincerity and integrity." Dear Members, Even during the grim Covid scenario, the wheels of Community Service is moving with our President delivering the medical equipment (Global Grant) to four hospitals. If you want to get inspired and charged up, especially the Green Rotarians, please do not miss the Rotary and Me story of PDG JB Kamdar, as told by him. – Donald A. Adams Here is a dedicated, soft spoken and classy Rotarian who is as much well mannered as she is well dressed – Rtn Anuradha Ganesan. PRESIDENT SPEAKS Rtn. Dr. Vijaya Bharathi Rangarajan In the end, let me say, I don't think or feel any of our Members are targeting me individually or the Board Members. I take it in the right spirit for the betterment of the Club and for the kind of service projects that we are offering to the community. In a day or two we will be ready to share the ϐinancial summary. Just like doctors, auditors, lawyers, Members have difference of opinion, but that's what keeps a Club active as long as members adhere to the values set at this iconic Club. It's been an honor to be your President and represent the Club for the year 2019- 2020. A president needs to be guided by the Board, especially as my background is on the medical side - which is why I have taken extra care on spending, whether it's your donations or through the Global Grant. Every paisa when donated for a cause is important. As I said in my email, I honor and respect all your comments and suggestions. I only asked that they could be directed to either me or the President Elect Rtn Kapil or the President Nominee Rtn Mohan Raman or any of the Board Members as we are working in unison on all issues. I have taken the initiative to place our RCM banner behind me as I am not tech savvy enough to have it on my screen. We have now completed 91 years and with that an achievement, each President has worked with passion and pride to keep this Club going in all respects and with the 100th year approaching and many more miles to go before we can rest. Dear Members, you have an elected body of Board Members plus three Senior Members as advisors to the Board, with different backgrounds to help take the Club forward in the best possible way. At the same time, all your suggestions and comments are most valuable to the Board. At the start of the lockdown, we had to go with e–Meetings not knowing how long this would go on. I truly miss seeing all your faces for nothing can replace the pulse of people when we have eye contact and meet face to face. It is so much easier to resolve issues in person and we can come to a better understanding. Here, on the screen it's a different world. The new and younger Rotarians must be able to imbibe the energy and garner the enthusiasm as shown by some of our Members to keep our RCM ϐlag ϐlying high. For example, PP Rtn PN Mohan, even at his age, insisted on coming to the puja at the Koladi lake. Rtn Anuradha doused to both of us from head to toe with disinfectant. It was the ϐirst time we met after the lockdown and I felt we needed some extra prayers to overcome all the hurdles and delays of our projects. Good Afternoon Dear Members,
Transcript
THE
THE
THE
BULLETIN OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF MADRAS | 2019-20
L I G H T H O U S EL I G H T H O U S EL I G H T H O U S EEdition # 46 JUNE 2, 2020 9 Pages • •
FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
Rtn.Biswajit
I leave you with a quote…
Read on and enjoy this issue of the Lighthouse. Stay Home, Wash your hands, Stay Safe!
Dear Members, Even during the grim Covid scenario, the wheels of Community Service is moving with our President delivering the medical equipment (Global Grant) to four hospitals.If you want to get inspired and charged up, especially the Green Rotarians, please do not miss the Rotary and Me story of PDG JB Kamdar, as told by him.
–DonaldA.Adams
Here is a dedicated, soft spoken and classy Rotarian who is as much well mannered as she is well dressed – Rtn Anuradha Ganesan.
PRESIDENT SPEAKSRtn.Dr.VijayaBharathiRangarajan
In the end, let me say, I don't think or feel any of our Members are targeting me individually or the Board Members. I take it in the right spirit for the betterment of the Club and for the kind of service projects that we are offering to the community.In a day or two we will be ready to share the �inancial summary. Just like doctors, auditors, lawyers, Members have difference of opinion, but that's what keeps a Club active as long as members adhere to the values set at this iconic Club.It's been an honor to be your President and represent the Club for the year 2019-2020.
A president needs to be guided by the Board, especially as my background is on the medical side - which is why I have taken extra care on spending, whether it's your donations or through the Global Grant. Every paisa when donated for a cause is important.
As I said in my email, I honor and respect all your comments and suggestions. I only asked that they could be directed to either me or the President Elect Rtn Kapil or the President Nominee Rtn Mohan Raman or any of the Board Members as we are working in unison on all issues.
I have taken the initiative to place our RCM banner behind me as I am not tech savvy enough to have it on my screen.
We have now completed 91 years and with that an achievement, each President has worked with passion and pride to keep this Club going in all respects and with the 100th year approaching and many more miles to go before we can rest.
Dear Members, you have an elected body of Board Members plus three Senior Members as advisors to the Board, with different backgrounds to help take the Club forward in the best possible way. At the same time, all your suggestions and comments are most valuable to the Board.
At the start of the lockdown, we had to go with e–Meetings not knowing how long this would go on. I truly miss seeing all your faces for nothing can replace the pulse of people when we have eye contact and meet face to face. It is so much easier to resolve issues in person and we can come to a better understanding. Here, on the screen it's a different world.
The new and younger Rotarians must be able to imbibe the energy and garner the enthusiasm as shown by some of our Members to keep our RCM �lag �lying high. For example, PP Rtn PN Mohan, even at his age, insisted on coming to the puja at the Koladi lake. Rtn Anuradha doused to both of us from head to toe with disinfectant. It was the �irst time we met after the lockdown and I felt we needed some extra prayers to overcome all the hurdles and delays of our projects.
Good Afternoon Dear Members,
T H E L I G H T H O U S E • J U N E 2 , 2 0 2 02MINUTES OF TH MEETING
AwardsandRulesIt was �irst time in the 91 years history of Rotary Club of Madras that the Club Assembly was held on virtual platform using Zoom. President Rtn Dr Vijaya requested incoming President Rtn Kapil to take over the proceedings and share his plans for 2020 - 2021.
1. Rtn N Prakash has replaced Rtn Ashok Banerjee as Director Community Service-1.
Rs 1 crore besides securing the largest global grant our club has ever applied for. Before moving on to the main agenda of presenting the plan for
2020-2021, he made two announcements.
He in his opening remarks mentioned these are unusual times, hence our responses too need to match the challenges it throws. He recognised President Dr Vijaya Bharathi and her team for an incredibly successful year. He mentioned she has single handedly raised over
President Nominee Rtn Mohan Raman who is handling the portfolio of 2. To Merge Vocational Service into Community Service-2.
CallingtheMeetingtoOrder
(Refer page 1 - President Speaks)
Secretary'sRemarksThe Secretary informed that the next weekly Meeting on June 9th would be a closed door meeting. PresidentRtn.DrVijayaBharathiRangarajanRemarks
President Rtn Dr Vijaya Bharathi welcomed the Rotarians and wished the President Elect Rtn Kapil Chitale and his team the very best. BirthdaysandAnniversariesSecretary Rtn M Sesha Sai read out the birthdays and wedding anniversaries for the week of the members and spouses who celebrate that week.
The President requested a video to be played of Rtn Rinku Mecheri speak on the Four Way Test. Con�irmationoftheMinutesThe President called for the con�irmation of the Minutes of the 45th Meeting and it was acknowledged.
FourWayTest
WelcomebythePresident
The President Rtn Dr Vijaya Bharathi Rangarajan Called the 46th weekly Meeting to order after she was collared with the Presidents Jewel. PresidentElectRtnKapilChitle-Remarks
e
BIRTHDAY
WEDDINGJune 10th - Rtn Prakash N
June 14th - Rtn Gopal KannanJune 13th - PDG Natarajan M DrJune 11th - Rtn Arjun Ananth
June 10th - Rtn Ranjeeth D Rathod
June 16th - Rtn Ishwar Achanta
June 12th - Rtn Mohan Kumar
June 13th - Rtn Hiren Bhasker Shah
June 12th - Rtn Balakrishna Rao M
June 15th - Rtn Sudha Shivkumar
Subramanyam
T H E L I G H T H O U S E • J U N E 2 , 2 0 2 0 3
ClubServicePresident Elect Rtn Kapil asked Rtn Shanno Ravi to present her report. Rtn
Shanno introduced her team and mentioned that till things get better E-meetings and E-fellowship will continue.
CommunityService-2
FundRaisingandPublicRelationsRtn Hemant Chordia mentioned that these unprecedented times has thrown most of the usual events out of gear. He announced his team for the year.PresidentNominee
YouthServices
Director Rtn Anuradha Ganesan announced her team and budget for all the projects under her responsibility. For Rotary Nagar she mentioned that Digital Classroom will be enabled. Work is in progress for six lakes restoration. All other areas will continue with the activities carried out this year.
Director Rtn Balaji Chinni mentioned that some more schools will come in fold of our Interact Clubs. He also added that once situation gets better, lot of sports activities has been planned.
This was followed by brief presentation given by President Nominee Elect Rtn Jayshree Sridharan who has donned the mantle of International Relations, Sister Clubs and District Interface. Awards and Rules stated that most of the awards will be conferred once we start meeting in person. He went on to mention that the year will start with newly constituted Krish Chitale award. WV Raman who was to receive the award in sports category for his outstanding contribution will receive the same next year. As far as rules are concerned, he mentioned post study by the current team the updated by laws will be printed.CommunityService-1Director Rtn N Prakash presented �inancial outlays for the 10 projects under his responsibility. A gap of Rs 33.5 lakhs was presented for a total outlay of Rs 332 lakhs which needs to be raised. In the current situation running of Boys Town was a concern which was expressed.
VoteofThanksIncoming Secretary Rtn P B Prasad delivered the Vote of Thanks by �irst thanking the President Rtn Dr Vijaya Bharathi Rangarajan. He thanked all the incoming Board Members for their presentations in an elaborate way. He thanked Rtn Rajesh Somasundaram for his help in navigating the e-Meeting in a �law less manner. AdjournmentoftheMeetingPresident Rtn Dr Vijayabharathi Rangarajan adjourned the Club Assembly weekly meeting of Rotary Club of Madras.
AssistantSecretaryLighthouse next year will be under Rtn Shakti Girish, the incoming Assistant Secretary. She mentioned that the essence will be as it has been this year. She plans to cover more Rotarian families while keeping with PE's theme. SpecialProjects
The presentation was followed by a brisk Q&A session.
TreasurerClubFundsTreasurer Club funds presented the budget for 2020-2021 and discussion on the same was deferred to the next meeting, hence not approved.
In absence of Rtn S Balakrishnan, Director for Special projects, President Elect Rtn Kapil Chitale made the presentation. Rotary for Industrial renaissance will work on executing a holistic plan and protocol to identify safe workers. This project will help Industry to start work in an informed manner thus optimising the work force leading to better productivity.TreasurerCharitableTrust
Rtn Gooch Treasurer Charitable Trust presented the combined community service project consolidated budget. Highlight was gross value of Rs 4.8 crores with fund requirement of Rs 1.36 crores.
The recent times have been challenging for most of us and in these times, this test has guided me in the following ways: As a relatively young Rotarian, the Rotary Four Way Test is for me, a litmus test for what we practice in our daily lives. I joined Rotary to learn how to give back more to deserving causes and communities around us. I have found myself to be among a group of inspiring individuals who have imbibed giving back into their very being. The members of RCM have supported, encouraged and even nudged me to be a better version of myself and I wear my badge with immense pride. Our leadership has proven their mettle in times, certain and uncertain and I am proud to call them peers.
1. To seek the best from my peer group and respect them for the work they do2. To have faith in their sense of fairness and show patience in uncertain times
Thank You.3. Work collaboratively and give back with compassion 4. Make sure that I can be a positive contributor to a better future for us, in Rotary and outside.
FourWayTest
RtnRinkuMecheri
Dear Rotarians,
RtnMSeshaSai
Our Next weekly meeting on 9th June, 2020 will be a closed door meeting. (attendance for Members only) at 5 pm.
Rotary Club Of MadrasHonorary Secretary Fellowship - 4.30 pm to 5.00 pm.
ClosedDoorMeetingNEXT MEETING
T H E L I G H T H O U S E • J U N E 2 , 2 0 2 04
I Miss You Too MuchTo Let You Go!
He found the man at home, alone, sitting in front of a �ireplace where a bright and cosy �ire burned. Guessing the reason for the visit, the man welcomed the leader. There was a great
silence.
The host was paying attention to
everything, fascinated but restless. Before long, the lone ember �lame subsided, until there was only a momentary glow and the �ire suddenly went out.
After a few weeks, one very cold night the leader of that group decided to visit him.A man, who regularly attended meetings with his friends, without any notice stopped participating in the activities. The two men only watched the dancing �lames around the logs that crackled in the �ireplace.After a few minutes the leader, without saying a word, examined the embers that formed and selected one of them, the most incandescent of all, removing it to the side of the brazier with a pair of tongs. Then he sat down again.
Very few words had been spoken since the greeting.
Very simple: because each member that withdraws takes �ire and heat from the rest.It is worth remembering that each member of RCM has contributed and is contributing in some way to the RCM �lame.
It does not matter if sometimes we disagree with each other. What matters is to be connected and communicate. Some of us are silent , others very active, we are meeting here to learn, exchange ideas, help the underprivileged or simply know that we are not alone, that there is a group of people whom we can count on..In these times, people may just stop coming for a variety of different reasons. Check, call, understand, support and bring back to the fold. Let each member know, that we miss him or her too much to let them go!
The leader, before preparing to leave, with the pliers returned the cold and useless coal, placing it again in the middle of the �ire. Immediately, the ember was rekindled, fuelled by the light and heat of the burning coals around him.When the leader reached the door to leave, the host said: Thank you for your visit and for your beautiful lesson. I will return to the group.
It is good to remind you that we are all responsible for keeping each other's �lame burning and we must promote the union between all so that the �ire is really strong, effective and lasting.
Let's keep the Rotary and RCM �lame alive!
Why are groups extinguished?
In a short time, what was a sample of light and heat, was nothing more than a black, cold and dead piece of coal.
After my return from an intensive training during RI Assembly in San Diego in February 2005, a team was carefully chosen to implement the RI President's vision. Many key Members were from RCM
After taking up District Chairmanship for various avenues with successive Governors like Ramkumar, Ganapathy, Balaji, Sv Rm Ramanathan and Benjamin Cherian in 2005, I had the honor of being elected as the District Governor for Rotary year 2006-2007.
This chronicle of my Rotary journey would be incomplete without a special mention of late PP Krish Chitale. Through this lifelong friendship that started way back in 1994, I have imbibed a “gold standard” quality of life of integrity, commitment, and value systems.
Soon after Marlene and I had the unique opportunity to meet the legendary Dr Ken and Eva Hobbs of the Rotary Club of Whitby when Krish invited us to join them on a Mediterranean cruise . Over the next eighteen days it was an amazing learning experience as I came to know many success stories of Rotary projects and Matching Grants on the ship's bar, The Crow's Nest. The two Rotary friends had continued to put together, over so many years, especially the campaign of vaccination against Measles and Polio.
After gaining some deep insights of the traditional values of RCM from PDG Dr M Natarajan, I was inducted in 1995. Mentored by Krish from day one on Rotary's �inest principles including attendance, made me an engaging Rotarian.
In June 1996 Krish invited me to join him to attend the Rotary Convention at Calgary that left me with a lasting impression of the Internationality of Rotary. Many such Conventions with Hobbs and Krish followed thereafter.
In the meantime in 1997 as Chairman-Community Safety committee, I did some creditable projects with the help of the ever supportive Rtn CN Ramdas.
• Water and Sanitation for Corporation schools • Desilting and renovation of Temple tanks, particularly the one at Saidapet, inaugurated by the then Mayor of Chennai.• Dream Flight project that took around 200 children from the surrounding orphanages on a �light to Tirupati and back, courtesy Rtn Raja of Jet Airways. • Contributed Rs 5 lakhs towards the Kargil Fund.
That year of Presidentship was the most enjoyable year in Rotary. It was full of excitement, energy, and multiple activities –
• Awarded For The Sake of Honour Award to Shri Venu Srinivasan of TVS Motors. On our return in 1996, I became a Paul Harris Fellow at the request of PP Somu. I also made my father a Paul Harris Fellow
and I was very touched by RCM's special gesture to recognize him at a regular Club Meeting in July 1998.
All in all, it was a very gratifying
experience with enormous support, goodwill and well-meaning advice from the Board, especially my ever smiling secretary Thomas Phillip and stalwarts like PDGs Dr MN, CT, RK, Krishnaswamy, Balaji, Benji , M Srinivasan and of course, Krish.I came in as replacement President in 1999 - 2000 in place of Rtn MC Shanker who had resigned due to personal reasons. I had the privilege of having Ken and Eva Hobbs over for my installation and became the �irst Major Donor from RCM at the installation. Here I wish to thank Rtn Raja of Jet Airways who arranged for 2 complimentary �irst class tickets on British Airways for Ken and Eva.
In a �itting �inale, when I passed on the baton of the Club Presidentship to my good friend Verghese Chummar, my ever supportive Marlene also became a Major Donor.
Addressing as the Chairman of the RotaryInstitute 2010, Bangkok
With Ann Lorna, PRIP Bill Boyd andAnn Marlene
With Ann Marlene
Post Governorship, I took on positions that came with higher responsibilities –
• For the �irst time our Club President opted out of the District Awards competition knowing the DG's Club with large and varied projects would sweep the Awards. I truly appreciated that gesture of Ravi.
• In a joint ceremony, Ravi Katari was also installed as the President in a classy ceremony the same year and ensured the Club contributed a stupendous sum of USD 150,000 to the Rotary Foundation.
• A goodwill visit with a group of Rotarians to Turkey and Dubai. Star guests were PDG RK and Kamala and she had been
elected, just then, to be the Chairman of the International Inner Wheel. • All those who supported me during this time in the form of Noraseth Pathmanand (the then RI Director), KR Ravindran (the Trustee of the Rotary Foundation) and RI President (Bill Boyd) became our lifelong friends.
• Handed over USD 100,000 to Chief Guest Trustee TRF KR Ravindran as our District's �irst contribution to TRF on the day of my Installation as Governor. All credit to PP VKCK of RCM and that record stands unmatched to this day.
• Providing benches, water and sanitation to numerous schools to support the Schools into Smiles, an initiative started by PDG Benjamin Cherian.
• Thanks to the encouragement of the then RRFC PDG KV Chari, an endowment of USD 25,000 was created a few days before the installation.
• A record breaking USD 500,000 from the district was contributed to TRF thanks to PP Chandrakumar.
It turned out to be an amazing year but left little time for attending to my business. I had set up a full-�ledged Rotary of�ice near my home and I rarely visited my corporate of�ice. Some of the projects executed during my Governorship that gave me a sense of immense grati�ication are –
• In 2010 at the District Conference of my friend and District Governor W Anand, Markene and I had the honour of becoming the �irst ever Arch Klumph Society Members from South India in the presence of the then RI President Elect Kalyan Banerjee.
• In 2014, KR Ravindran became RI President and I was made Chairman of the Multidistrict PETS that was organized at Colombo in March 2015.
• In 2009, KR Ravindran invited me to be the Chairman of the Rotary Institute to be held at Bangkok in Dec 2010.
But for whatever success I have accomplished and all the satisfaction, Marlene and I have derived from my Rotary career I cannot fail to remember and thank Krish Chitale, the numerous other friends within and outside India, especially from the RCM, who have helped to make my Rotary journey such a gratifying successful and memorable one. –PDGJBKamdar
• RIPE Kalyan Banerjee later invited me to be a member of the Rotary International's Finance Committee (2011-2014), a �irst for a Rotarian from South India. The process of budgeting, comparison of Budget Vs Actuals, meticulous planning and allocation of funds based on budgets with deep focus on accountability and stewardship, all proved to be a great learning curve for me. The best form of thanks would be for Marlene and I to continue to do the good work that started way back in 1994.
• Attended numerous District Conferences representing RI President. including NK Gopinath as District Secretary because they all had the requisite experience being Presidents of RCM. Many equally competent Rotarians from other clubs were also part of the District team.Thereweremany�irststomyGovernorship• PETS was held as a joint seminar with RI District in Colombo, Sri Lanka. • The District Of�icers Training was held outside India in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia.
• In 2017, I was chosen to be Chairman of the Rotary International South Asia Literacy Summit in Chennai under the guidance of RIPN Shekhar Mehta that was another eye opener and a great learning experience.• But the ultimate joy of learning in Rotary was, being invited by President Mark Maloney to be the Rotary International Training Leader to train Incoming Governors at the International Assembly which was held in San Diego in 2019.• Last but not the least, at the Rotary Institute, Indore in November 2019, Marlene and I had the special privilege of being inducted into the second level (Chairman's Circle) of Arch Klumph Society as our overall contribution exceeded USD 500,000.
T H E L I G H T H O U S E • J U N E 2 , 2 0 2 06
Global Grant - Covid 19 EquipmentDistribution - RCM GG 2011502
COMMUNITY SERVICE
• Pulse Oximeter – 150 nos.
• B P Machine Portable – 100 nos.
KilpaukMedicalCollege• BP Machine Portable-100 nos.StanleyMedicalCollegeandHospital• Pulse Oximeter – 150 nos.• BP Machine Portable – 100 nos.GovernmentOmandurarSuperSpecialityHospital• Pulse Oximeter – 150 nos.• BP Machine Portable- 150 nos.
n 03.06.2020 the following Covid-19 omedical equipment was received at Sundaram Medical Foundation (SMF). The SMF staff along with Mr Venketesh distributed them to the following four hospitals.As and when further materials are received, they will be given to the hospitals.RCM sticker will be placed on the bigger items.RajivGandhiGovernmentHospitals• P ulse Oximeter – 150 nos.
Top 25 ranking of Rotary Clubsbased on their all timecontributions to TRF
SomeofyouhavereachedouttomeinthelastfewdaysaboutpayingtowardstheCOVID19reliefthatyouhadcommittedtoatthebeginningofthepandemic.We understand some couldn’t do the needful due toof�icesbeingshutdown.
Send in your articles, news, write-ups to be considered for publication here on [email protected] in touch with the Lighthouse, your very own RCM magazine!
Design: www.studiodescience.com
EDITED AND PUBLISHED BY:Rtn. Asst. Secretary, Rotary Club of Madras, 'Rayala Towers',2nd Mezzanine Floor, 158, Anna Salai, Chennai - 2, Ph: 28591020.
Visit: www.rotarymadras.inContact club secretariat at: [email protected]
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