Lakhmanas respond to keep little souls warm

When I visited Dhanas center recently with Rtn G.S.Lakhmna, 25 children were found to be from very weak economic backgrounds. With the onset of winter, we were requested by the teacher to help by providing some woollens to these kids.By then we had already distributed woollens to 60 kids in two other centers so Rtn Lakhmna volunteered and Ann Dolly Lakhmana was given the childrens' measurements - the good Samaritan that she is, she bought warm track-suits in a day which were distributed to the children at Dhanas today, the 18th December. 
God bless Lakhmnas!
Woollen caps will be given by us alongwith warm socks for the kids' parents. It will be a warm and joyous Christmas for these children this year!
All are welcome to this joint program of Rotary & Bharat Prakarsh Foundation(BPF). If you also want to help please call.These under-privileged kids need all the kindness of well-meaning people like you.

Rtn. Neena Singh

President Duggal bereaved

Rtn. Pres. Dr. S.K. Duggal has lost his younger brother today, 10th December 2008 in Delhi after a prolonged illness.  

Rtn. Dr. Mangla Dogra also lost her mother in an accident and cremation was held on Monday, 8th December.

We deeply grieve and condole these untimely deaths.  May the Almighty grant peace to the departed souls and give courage to the members of the family to bear this loss with fortitude. 

Blood Donation Camp on 11th December

The 9th Annual Amrita Darshan Blood Donation Camp is being held at Aroma Hotel on Thursday, 11th December 2008 from 10am onwards.  This is an annual feature which is held every year in memory of Rtn. Man Mohan Singh's father, late S. Darshan Singh Kohli.  This year, it is being held in memory of his mother too who passed away in May this year. 

The Kohli family has requested all to join for brunch at Hotel Aroma, and inspire the donors, even if you are not donating. However, if you can bring along an eligible member of the family or any other volunteer donor with you, it would be great. 

Mrs. Keshni Anand Arora, IAS, Commissioner and Secretary Tourism, Government of Haryana, would inaugurate the camp. 

All are requested to join in. 

Rotary Family Day

December is designated as Rotary Family Day, and therefore, the Sunday, 7th December 2008 is Rotary Family Day Out. 

A picnic has been organised in the Kansal Forest Range, where pot-luck lunch will be served. There is a lot of entertainment, fun, and games for everyone.

Let's be a part of it. 

The Monday meeting stands preponed and Sunday would be the meeting day for this week. So make up your attendance too.

The New Face of Terror

The nightmarish happenings at Mumbai have shocked every one of us. And the biggest challenge today our world faces is terrorism...the misguided individuals out to prove their point through violence, hatred, mayhem, and what not. 

This Monday, on 1st December 2008, an expert on the subject has been invited for an interactive session on this topic that concerns everyone of us. 

Please join in the debate. 

Club Update

The business meeting scheduled for 24th November stands postponed and instead our Rotarian Dr. Gautam Munjal, an expert orthodontician would talk about protecting our teeth. 

Members are also requested to register themselves for the District Conference scheduled on 14-15 February at Panchkula.  Kindly contact President/Secretary for more details.

Business Meeting on 24th Nov

Next Monday is scheduled for Business Meeting.  Rotarians are requested to kindly come up with ideas that they would like the Club to take up. 

The major agenda item would be election of office bearers for 2009-10, the participation in the forthcoming District Conference on 14-15 February 2009 which our Club is hosting, and the bon voyage of Rtn. DGN Chetan Agarwal to be hosted by our Club.

It's 17 now!

The total number of surgeries has touched 17 now under our matching grant project, the Gift of Sight. Recently, 55 year old Mrs. Raj Rani, who had lost her vision in right eye due to long term diabetese, functional vision was restored under the expert hands of Dr. Vishali of AEC, PGI, Chandigarh, who also restored functional vision of another 21 year old Birbal, who had lost eye sight due to an injury at his work place. 

And all those who hold the doubts, as to "Why give to the Rotary Foundation?" have numerous reasons to look around, and ask the person who is able to once again see the sunshine, the colorful life around, and of course, his family and friends...and how it is making the difference to their lives?   Can you measure the value of this happiness?  What our Rotarians and those in Coral Gables gave and matched by The Rotary Foundation, is perhaps, miniscule compared to the value this Gift of Sight would mean to an individual...to every individual who would be able to see again!

CATS Blood Donation Camp on 21st November

So moved I was with their enthusiasm that I forgot to write the date of the 4th CATS Blood Donation Camp.  It is at Blood Resource Centre in Sector 37, Chandigarh, on Friday, 21st November. 

And those of us who have not heard about CATS, it is a motley group of adventure minded entrepreneurs, professionals, CEOs, bureaucrats, academicians, home makers, and students who are a part of Chandigarh Adventures Treks and Sports.  Do read about their adventures on their blog.
And why CATS bleed every three months? Click here to know more.

CATS to organise 4th Blood Donation Camp

Every three months, CATS get into action and voluntarily start asking their leader CAT Supreet, sister of Rtn. Amrit Pal Singh, "Now when do we bleed next?"  In the last three camps, they have responded exceedingly well touching everyone with their true concern for the people who might need the blood to survive, and live again!

Now again, the CATS are ready to give blood in support of our Club's Heartline Project. This time their target is 55 units, so as to reach the 200 target with this camp having earlier contributed 145 units. And believe me they are as enthusiastic as ever. Rotarians, members of their families, and the staff from their offices are also welcome to join the noble task, and reiterate their commitment to humanity. 

The camp will be on from 8:30am onwards till 5pm at Rotary and Blood Bank Society Blood Resource Centre in Sector 37.

You can look at CATS blog for their earlier blood donation efforts.

Gurpurb Celebration on 10th November

The Club is celebrating Guru Nanak Dev ji's gurpurb with a talk by Dr. H.S. Shan, a noted scholar, who would be speaking on "Guru Nanak's Poetry as a Medium of the Message".  The meeting shall be followed by pot-luck langar, which is being prepared so fondly by the families of Rotarians to share it together. 

Dental Health Workshop for Teachers

Bharat Prakarsh Foundation, dedicated to spreading literacy and led by our Rtn Neena Singh, joined hands with our Club to organise a Dental Health and Hygiene workshop on 7th November for the school teachers and volunteers who teach never-gone-to-school children in Dhanas. 

The teachers and volunteers of Dhanas AIE Udaan Centre which operates inside Government Senior Secondary School, village Dhanas (near Chandigarh) attended the workshop in the clinic of our famous orthodontist, Rtn. Dr. Gautam Munjal. 

Club President Rtn S K Duggal and Secretary Rtn Anil Chadda also attended the workshop.The teachers were given a detailed audio visual presentation for teaching correct dental habits so that these can be taught to the children at the center, as also demonstrated the right brushing techniques which every teacher learnt.  

The teachers were given samples of toothbrushes and tooth paste tubes for distribution to these children.

Next week it is planned to give to these children,  stationery (copies,pencils and crayons) and some refreshment.

There are three Udaan centers running in Dhanas with 90 children from poor economic strata between the ages of 6-14years. Of these 90 children,71 are graded at Class 1 level so we will be catching them young and impressionable for good habits and mainstreaming.  

Make Every Monday Matter

An excellent suggestion has come from our member Rtn. Neena Singh, and I am reproducing the same here. 

There are innumerable ways in which one can contribute to making the world we live in better and these ways are not rocket science but lie in the simplest of things viz.donating old books,picking up some litter,using eco-friendly bags,re-using paper envelopes, planting a sapling,starting a car pool,the list can go on and on...

Let every Rotarian suggest ideas to make our world more clean,more green and more environment friendly! We will use these ideas to make every Monday matter and commit to practice it ourselves and motivate others in our circle/community also to join in this mission.Let us make a difference.

In the words of Dr.Martin Luther King (Jr) -
"Everyone has the power of greatness. Not for fame but greatness. Because greatness is determined by service."

Let us as Rotarians strive to make every day better starting Monday which is our Meeting Day.My idea :

If each one of us decides to shun the use of plastic bags and instead use eco-friendly re-usable canvas shopping bags - imagine the difference it would make.
US Statistics say that 7 billion paper bags and 400 billion plastic bags are used every year.90% of all grocery bags are plastic.Do you know the average length of time an average high density plastic bag will exist on earth- 1000 years! An average family accumulates appx 60 plastic bags every 4 trips to the grocery/veggie store.When San Francisco banned the use of plastic bags it eliminated 100 million plastic bags/year!

ACT TODAY
1.Buy several canvas bags.
2.Keep spare bags in your car.
3.Use these bags for grocery and vegetable/fruit shopping.

YOU MATTER
- You would accumulate 1000 fewer bags this year if you and your family start the action.
- Paper and plastic bags are an environmental hazard-they biodegrade slowly or not at all.
-They deplete energy and natural resources,endanger wildlife,and poison the soil.
MAKE A SHIFT TODAY-FROM PAPER AND PLASTIC TO CANVAS.
We could help in making Chandigarh the first PLASTIC FREE city in India .

Yes, each one has to make Monday matter...every day of the week. Let's start with our Monday fellowship fruitful and meaningful, and taking up the cue from Neena Singh, we would like to utilise our fellowship time to come up with new ideas.

Diwali Greetings

As we send our best wishes to our readers on Diwali, which is just round the corner, the Rotary Club of Chandigarh along with their partners Rotaract Club and the Inner Wheel Club are celebrating this occasion with the senior citizens. This is an annual event where senior citizens are invited and the young Rotaractors organise various games with them, while Rotarians take care of their comfort, culminating with fireworks, and a sumptuous hi-tea served by the Inner Wheel members.
20th October is the day when we shall be having this Diwali celebrations from 4pm onwards at the Rotary House.

Vision restored

Vision of another three people was restored last week taking the total number of surgeries successfully done under the Gift of Sight project to 11. The recent surgeries include 10 year old Narender Kumar, who damaged and detached his retina when a syringe needle pierced his eye while playing with his siblings. His father, a rickshaw puller, with four children was hard pressed to take care of the surgery expense.

Amit Kumar, (13) got hurt in the left eye while playing. He had been
operated twice at PGI but needed another surgery. Patient’s father is the only
earning hand in the family of 5. The boy will be able to retain
functional vision after surgery in the left eye.

A 70-year old destitute, Amar Singh, was also operated to restore his failing vision.

Our thanks to Dr. Amod Gupta, and Dr. Vaishali Gupta, whose deft hands work so dexterously and care to bring hope to the sightless. And our fellow Rotarians at Coral Gables in USA feel elated that the fruit of their efforts is helping people across the continents, to see again.

Rotaract MCM to make presentation

This Monday at our regular meeting, the 6th October, the Rotaract Club of MCM DAV College, Sector 36, Chandigarh, which is an all women Rotaract Club, will make a presentation on "Role of Women in Indian Society", at 6pm at Rotary House. It shall be truly exciting to gain a perspective into the minds of young women.

Auto mechanic would be able to see again

Continuing with the Gift of Sight project of Rotary Club of Chandigarh in association with Rotary Club of Coral Gables, USA, under the Rotary Foundation's matching grant, the sight of an auto mechanic has been restored.
Subhash, a 50 year old auto mechanic from Kartarpur in Punjab, was operated on 26th September 2008 by Dr. Vaishali Gupta at the Advance Eye Centre, PGI, Chandigarh.
Subhash had been diagnosed with lens disorder, internal bleeding and retinal detachment in his left eye. This was a result of an industrial injury that he had suffered due to blunt trauma with a steel spring.
Subhash is the only earning hand in his family of six including four children. He will be able to gain functional vision in his left eye after the surgery.
This is the sixth surgery under the project.

Mahatma Gandhi and Rotary

As we remember Mahatma Gandhi on his birthday, I remember the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, who wrote: "Gandhi was inevitable. If humanity is to progress, Gandhi is inescapable. He lived, thought and acted, inspired by the vision of humanity evolving toward a world of peace and harmony. We may ignore Gandhi at our own risk."

Indeed, 'we may ignore Gandhi at our own risk'. His message of non-violence, ethics, peace, and service are well known and these are some of the issues that are so close to our heart in Rotary.

Gandhi knew Rotary, and had met many Rotarians and also spoken at some of the Rotary programs. Gandhi wrote an article, "My 7 points for a new world order", which appeared in the February 1942 issue of The Rotarian magazine. That article was included in The Rotarian Reader, published in 1986, which contains the most precious articles published in Rotarian magazines during the first 75 years of its publication (1911-1986). Gandhi's picture appeared on the Cover Page of the book.

And there is a remarkable similarity in the ways that Rotary's 4 Way Test and Gandhi's Satyagraha were conceived and applied; as well as between Rotary's Motto of Service Above Self and Gandhi's Mission in life of Helping the Helpless.

Let's continue to 'Make Dreams Real' for the humanity at large, for the world we live in, and for our children...in true Gandhian way...in true Rotary way.

Turning Tears into Smiles

Past Rotary International President Rajendra K. Saboo has written a moving recount of his visit to the flood affected areas in Bihar, which has been published on page 11 of The Tribune. The extent of damage that it has caused to over 3 million people who have been rendered homeless and without any means of subsistence cannot be imagined. Yet the real work starts now.
You can read this article on The Tribune's online edition too. Just click here.

Gift of Knowledge Project revisited

President S K Duggal, Rtn. K K Gupta and Rtn. A P Singh visited the YTTS Centre at Mauli Jagran to interact with the children and their parents on Saturday 13th September 2008.
The teachers and the office bearers of partner organisation YTTS were also present on the occasion. Parents were complimented on their resolve to get their children better education and take advantage of the project by improving on their performance in studies.
President S K Duggal distributed hygiene kits to all the children. A talk on health and maintaining good hygiene was delivered by Dr. Ms. Chhaya after the meeting. It was encouraging to see the enthusiasm of the children although they face compelling circumstances at homes.
There are two batches of children benefitting from this project, one at YTTS, Mauli Jagran and the other at Hans Raj Public School, Panchkula.
This project was started to provide additional coaching to the bright but poor students from class 9 so that they score good marks and are able to get into good professional colleges after plus two. It is heartening to see that most of the students taking advantage of this project are girls.
We are grateful to Rtn. K K Gupta for religiously working for the success of the project.

Rotary Open Hearts

In 2005-06, thanks to our twin city partner, Rotary Club of Lake Success Gold Coast, New York, USA, and especially Rotarian Ravishankar Bhooplapur, our Club started a project under the Rotary Foundation's Matching Grants, the Rotary Open Hearts to provide free surgery to 18 children from Pakistan.
Over these past years, the children have come and have been successfully treated at our partner hospitals, PGI, Chandigarh, and the Fortis Hospital Mohali.
On 16th September 2008, the eighteenth child, a fourteen year old boy, Neelkanth, son of Shri Das Pitambar of Sanghar, Pakistan, was operated by Dr. T.S. Mahant, at Fortis Hospital.
As these children have returned home with their parents to start life afresh, a unique bond of friendship and affection has been created between these families and Rotarians across the border, that would, insha allah, further strengthen the bonding between the two countries.
The words of one of the children from Pakistan, that "Pakistan gave them birth, and India has given them life", still rings loud and clear that speaks volume for the success of the bridges of goodwill, understanding, and friendship that have been created.

Another sight restored

Dharmender's world had shattered when a steel bar hit his left eye, dislocating the eye lens, at the factory he was working in. He belonged to Bihar and had migrated to Buddewal near Ludhiana in search of work where he started working and earned about USD70 per month. The only child of the family and only earning hand, was rushed to several local doctors but to no avail. Ultimately, his uncle, who rushed from Bihar, took him to PGIMER, where he was operated on 16th September at the Advance Eye Care Centre by Dr. Vaishali Gupta, under Rotary Gift of Sight project.
Dharmender is on his way to recovery. He would be able to retain 6x18 vision in his left eye with the help of spectacles, and be able to work.

Bihar needs you!

It takes more than sheer courage to venture into hazardous unchartered territories ravaged by floods. Yet Past Rotary International President Rajendra K. Saboo along with PDG Ranjit Bhatia of our District was in Bihar to personally oversee the distribution of the relief packets sent by our District.
"I was moved by their calm visages as we splashed our way through water logged roads with water for miles and miles," Rtn. Saboo recalled in his presentation to the Club this Monday.
"May be they had resigned to their fate, or was it the resilence of human spirit, or perhaps they were endowed with exceptional courage by God to accept this challenge", he said.
Rtn. Saboo informed that now the water is receding and immediate need is for medical help and paramedical staff, volunteer doctors who can travel down to this area and provide immediate medical help to the people, who have lost everything.
The fury of Kosi, he said, has washed away 866 villages and has affected over 25 lakh people whose rehabilitation would be the next big challenge. Besides medical help there would be need to rebuild some of the infrastructure, schools, provide books and stationery for the people have lost everything.
He requested that no cash or used clothes should be sent as relief, and the best way is to contribute to the "Chandigarh Rotary Club Service Trust", and the money would be sent to the District Governor, who is in constant touch with the Rotarians in Bihar, and arranging requisite relief supplies as per their needs.
As of now, our Club has decided to contribute Rs.6 lakh. Each packet containing essential clothes, blanket, medicines, costing Rs.400 each are being prepared by Rotary District 3080, and every member in the Club has decided to help sponsor at least five members that on an average constitutes a family, at a cost of mere Rs.2,000.

The Story of First Surgery

The 18-year old Sarvesh, the first beneficiary of the Gift of Sight project, had been having severe eye inflammation and had lost considerable vision in her right eye.
When she was brought to PGI's Advance Eye Care Centre, Dr. Vaishali Gupta examined her and found that she was suffering from Cysticercosis - a very common parasitic infestation of the central nervous system worldwide. Humans develop cysticercosis when they ingest eggs or larvae of the tapeworm Taenia solium, which are usually found in fecally-contaminated water and undercooked pork.
The parasite had travelled to her eye and had infested the retina leading to loss of her vision. If left untreated she would have turned completely blind, the doctor said.
Dr Vaishali operated on her, removed the parasite, and repaired her retina, restoring her eye sight to 50% level, and there would be no further deterioration at least.
Our congratulations to the team of surgeons at Advance Eye Care Centre at PGI.

Dr Tom Grams visits Dental Chair project

Rtn. Dr. Tom Grams from Colarado USA was in our Club last Monday as a volunteer dentist for the dental dispensary set up by Rtn Dr. H.S. Coonar of Rotary Mill Hill, at village Hansali in Punjab. Earlier in the day he visited the Institute for Dental
Studies and met with the Director Principal Dr. A.Gauba and was highly impressed by the
facilities there, and the dental chairs installed by our Club in association with Rotary Club of Mill Hill, UK.
Rtn. Dr Grams exchanged the Club flags on this occasion. He has been working overseas and has done service work in many parts of the world, especially Guatemala, Mynamar, Nepal, and Afghanistan. He was accompanied by Dr. Dheeraj who is working as a dentist at the dispensary in Hansali.

Message from Coral Gables

Here's a message from Rtn Noelle from Rotary Club of Coral Gables, USA, our twin club, and partner in Rotary's Gift of Sight project.
She writes in response to the news of the first surgery done at PGI last week, "When you serve something bigger than yourself, it gives your life a whole new meaning." Blessing to all for our ability to do good for others.

Relief for flood victims in Bihar

Past Rotary International President Rajendra K. Saboo is visiting flood-affected areas in Bihar to oversee the distribution of relief material from District 3080. Various clubs have responded to the relief call, and our Club is also contributing about Rs.3 lakh immediately towards distribution of special kits containing essential clothes, medicines, and food.

First surgery under Gift of Sight performed

Mrs. Sarvesh, an 18-years old resident of Chhattarpur Pahari, New Delhi was operated successfully for eye-disorder. Dr. Vishali Gupta of Advance Eye Care Centre PGI, Chandigarh, operated on her on 9th September, successfully. Our heartiest compliments to the AEC, PGI for restoring the eye sight of Sarvesh.

The Gift of Life project has been started under The Rotary Foundation's matching grant to restore eye to at least 160 patients suffering from retinal disorder.

11 months old girl from Pakistan saved

The Rotary Club continues to save lives of children under its Rotary Heartline project.  The project which began in 1999 has so far saved the lives of 240 children as of date, including 30 from Pakistan. 

Last week 11-months old girl, Yusra, from Pakistan arrived in Chandigarh on a special request from the Rotarians from Pakistan to Past Rotary International President R.K. Saboo. 

Fida Hussain, her father, who works as a driver in an airline company, and her mother Bushra Hussain, crossed the Wagah border to arrive in Chandigarh where Rotarians admitted her to their partner hospital, Fortis Hospital Mohali. 

The problem was discovered by parents when Yusra was barely two months old, and with no facilities in Pakistan to handle congenital cardiac disease for such a small child there was no chance of her survival.  Her father continued his search and learnt about Rotary programme being run by Rotary Club of Chandigarh. The local Rotarians got in touch with PRIP R.K. Saboo, and the child was ultimately brought to Chandigarh. 

Dr. T S Mahant, Executive Director - Cardiac Surgery, Fortis Hospital, Mohali, said, “Baby Yusra was admitted in Fortis on Aug 19 and after her initial investigations she was taken in for heart surgery on Aug 25. She was diagnosed with TOF (Tetrology of Fallots) i.e. her body used to turn blue.  I feel very happy that she has shown remarkable progress and will  be able to lead a normal life now”.

Commenting on the successful surgery, Mr. S K Duggal , president , Rotary Club, said, “Our foresmost motive is that no child should die for want of money, and if we are able to forge bridges of better understanding and goodwill amongst people across the border, as human beings, our mission is served."

Monday Meetings since July

Women in Governance

This is a series that the Club has started to celebrate womanhood and recognise the accomplishments of the working women, especially those in bureaucracy.  
On 28th July, Ms Navraj Sandhu, IAS, from Government of Panjab spoke on the subject and again on 8th September 2008, Ms. Jaspreet Talwar, IAS, Special Finance Secretary, Punjab, addressed the issue. 

On 4th August, PDG Yash Das, RRFC Zone 5, addressed the Club on Membership Development & Retention

On 11th August, there was no meeting which was postponed to 15th August, for celebrating Independence Day with the children from slums.

On 18th August, Rotaract Club installation was held in the Club. DGN Chetan Aggarwal was the chief guest.

25th August saw the celebration of Janmashtmi.

On 1st September, Mr Justice (retd) J.S. Narang spoke about ethics in legal profession. 

On 8th September, besides the presentation by Ms Jaspreet Talwar, Dr. Tom Grams from UK was a visiting Rotarian.

On 15th September, a special presentation on the relief work done by Rotary under the leadership of PRIP R.K. Saboo for the flood affected people in Bihar, would be held.

22nd September, there is a presentation by TheatreAge group organised by Inner Wheel Club.

29th September: Business Meeting

Installation on 14th July

The joint installation of Rotary Club and Inner Wheel Club of Chandigarh shall take place on Monday, 14th July 2008 at 7pm, at Bhavan Vidyalaya, Sector 27, Chandigarh.

Mr. Ramesh Inder Singh, IAS, Chief Secretary Government of Punjab, shall be the chief guest.

Rotarians are requested to join in with their families to compliment the outgoing leadership of Rotary under Rtn. Arvind Mehan, and welcome the incoming team under Dr. S.K. Duggal.

Dr. S.K. Duggal to lead the Dream Team

Dr. S.K. Duggal is the new Club Prsident who is leading the Dream Team for 2008-09. He is totally focussed on helping the children in learning the three Rs and bring them into the social mainstream. The entire team is concentrating on making the difference in the lives of the people, as the Club enters 51st year of its service to the community.

50 Years Celebrations

The Club's 50 years' celebrations had been grand. In fact, these resulted in a series of activities that continued for a fortnight and provided the foundation for many on-going activities for the Club. Each activity/programme chairman contributed excellently to the planning and successful execution of the activity, which not only brought together and involved the Rotarians and their families but also provided a grand window to the community at large to share the accomplishments of Rotary.
May 1 saw the photo exhibition, "Golden Memories from the History of Good" that featured some select moments of club's history over the years, captured by Rtn. S.P.Handa, who happened to be the first photographer in the city, and was famous for his studio, Chandi Studio, in Sector 17. Some of the recent activities were compiled on composite posters on major projects.
May 3 brought together schools and teachers from 30 schools, since 418 entries were received from children for 'Save the Girl Child' campaign. Rtn.Neena Singh with her team worked meticulously with the Education Department of Chandigarh Administration, and encouraged children to participate. It was an overwhelming response, and some of the ideas that were thrown up by the children were simply astounding. However, it was the initiation and the front-runner of the Club's major initiative against female foeticide, Hamari Beti (our daughter).
On May 5, leading Rotarian doctors of the Club left their clinics and drove down into the narrow lanes of Bapu Dham colony, almost on the outskirt of the city, to conduct a medical camp. Nearly 400 patients were examined and treated for dental ailments, eye problems, gynae, ENT, and general health. So much so, 72 patients who were identified to be suffering from cataract, were referred to Grewal Eye Institute, owned by a Rotarian eye surgeon, Dr. Grewal, who offered to provide free cataract surgeries. What better way to serve!
Gift of Knowledge was the next programme that was launched on May 6th, under which 30 bright boys and girls of 9th standard who otherwise cannot afford higher education due to financial problems, have been selected for special education and counselling, as well as scholarships for higher studies at the college and university levels.
On May 8, the Rotary International President Elect D.K. Lee and his wife Young Ja Lee, flew in from Korea to take part in the Golden Jubilee celebrations. Accompanying him was Mr. Ashok Mahajan, Rotary International Director. The evening function brought in over 300 delegates from all over Rotary District 3080 that made every Rotarian proud of being a part of this never-ending journey.
On May 9, the Club had planned 'Children's Day Out' for economically challenged kindergarten children from Bapu Dham colony. Fifty of them had gala time, as they climbed up the double-decker bus of the tourism department for a round of the city. And to flag them off, RI President Elect DK Lee, came specially and interacted with them.
However, his departure on May 9 did not mark the rest day, as Rotarians again got busy preparing for the launch of 'Hamari Beti' programme. On May 12, Monday, the well-known campaigner and a missionary of female foeticide program, Mr. Justice Vijender Jain, Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court, was the chief guest, along with several other eminent judges including Mr. Justice Rakesh Garg, Mr. Justice Jaswant Singh, Advocate General Mr. H.S. Mattewal, former judge of Supreme Court of India, Justice Sodhi, were present.
'Hamari Beti' (our daughter) is a major initiative that the Rotary Club has taken in association with Fortis Hospital Mohali against female foeticide. A helpline was also initiated for the mothers-to-be.
But this certainly is not the end, as the Rotarians now get ready for the next step...another project that could reach out to the people in need.

200 Heartline Surgeries Completed

The Club has saved 200 children from withering away under its Rotary Heartline project. These young lives were saved by providing free heart surgery at our partner hospitals, PGI and Fortis Hospital. We are grateful to all the Rotary Angels who have continued to lend a helping hand in this noble project with their financial contribution. But the project is not over. Our promise is not to let any child die of congenital heart disease, for want of money. So let's continue to hold hands, and walk together, and gift a life.

Indo-Australian ties

Australia offers limitless opportunities to study, work and live there. His Excellency Raymond Keith Hollis, former Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Australia shall be in our Club to address the Rotarians next Monday, 28th January,to unravel the options available to the Indians.

Pleaes be there.

CATS donate Blood

It was a touching gesture for the members of CATS (Chandigarh Adventures, Tours and Sports), who came forward to donate blood for the free cardiac surgery of children operated at Fortis under the Rotary Heartline project of Rotary Club of Chandigarh.
On a call given by the 'Head' CAT, Ms Supreet Dhiman, the sister of our Club Secretary A.P.Singh, to all the CATS, that on 18th January, that many of them responded enthusiastically. Not to be left behind were several doctors and medical staff of Fortis Hospital, who were full of verve and vitality to be a part of the effort.
Most commendable had been the role played by Dr. Neerja of Fortis Hospital in motivating the Fortis staffers. Our hats off to Babbi Harbhajan Singh who stood by Supreet the whole day.
To encourage the CATS members were President Arvind Mehan, Secy A.P.Singh, IPP Man Mohan Singh, PP kewal Seth, Rtn D.V. Bhatia and PP Charanjit Singh, and of course, Dr. Ashok from Fortis.
On 18th, 25 units of blood was collected and the next day again more CATS tropped in taking the toll to 34...and many more have committed to join the noble cause.
Our thanks to everyone for pitching in the truly sportsman spirit to partake in this noble 'adventure' too.

Twin Club Agreement with Coral Gables, USA

Our Club has entered into a Twin Club agreement with Rotary Club of Coral Gables, Florida, USA. The agreement was formally signed on Monday, 7th January 2008 by President Arvind Mehan, and Hony Rtn Noelle and Club Administrator Terry.
This is the third such twin club agreement and we do hope that both the clubs shall be able to start some new project to benefit humanity.
The earlier Twin Club agreements exist with Rotary Club of Lahore, and Rotary Club of Gold Coast, New York, USA.

A spiritual evening

This Monday, the 14th January shall be a special recital of sufi poetry from Gurbani by the famous Prof Dr. Jagir Singh. It would be a 45 minutes of sheer 'anand', a spiritual connection, an invocation to the Lord and the Almighty, that would help us stop for a while and rediscover our inner being.
The meeting has been organised jointly with the Inner Wheel Club of Chandigarh, who have also arranged a sumptuous 'Langar' prepared with deep affection, love and care, for everyone to partake.
All Rotarians are requested to join in with their family members, and friends.