Thursday, January 14, 2010

Rotary Themes

Yesterday, our incoming District leader, DGE Madhukar Malhotra and Neeru left for the International Assembly for their training. Two most essential aspects of this event is that there is a lot of hard work and reading that the DGE need to know, and, very importantly, will receive the new RI theme for the next year from the incoming Rotary International leader, Ray Klinginsmith.

The tradition of crafting a theme is credited to 1949-50 RI President Percy C. Hodgson, who outlined a list of four objectives for his term in office. Among them were the better application of the principles of vocational service and dedication to world understanding and peace through international service programs.

Though Hodgson's 83-word proclamation ran substantially longer than today's shorter, punchier themes, Rotarians' desire to celebrate and support their president's annual program of service has remained the same. Other early themes include Rotary Is Hope in Action (Joaquin Serratosa Cibils, 1953-54), Kindle the Spark Within (Nitish C. Laharry, 1962-63), and Good Will Begins with You (Ernst G. Breitholtz, 1971-72).

In the decades that followed, RI presidents introduced theme logos, lapel pins, ties, and scarves. Theme ties were introduced in the 1990s, and are now given out yearly. Many have incorporated the theme for the year. The first scarves showing the RI theme were designed by 1998-99 RI President James L. Lacy and his wife, Claudine, Follow Your Rotary Dream.

A list of past presidents and RI themes can be found in the Official Directory and the District Directory. CJ

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Our Club Honors H.K. Dua

This was a very special evening this Monday, as our Club felicitated Mr. H.K. Dua, Editor-in-Chief of The Tribune group on his elevation as nominated member of Rajya Sabha. He was accompanied with his wife Ms Adity Dua.
Mr. H.K. Dua, who is also an Honorary Rotarian with our club since 2004 is a highly respected journalist in the country today, whose knack for calling a spade a spade with forthrightness and courage, have endeared everyone, especially the readers of 'The Tribune'.
Introducing Mr Dua, Past Rotary International President Rajendra K. Saboo, remarked that Mr Dua holds a special place in the heart of the readers of 'The Tribune', and more so his "right to write the right" has shown the high ethical standards he had been following as a journalist.
Rtn. Subhash Marriya, Vice President of our Club, who presided over the Monday meeting of the Club (Rtn. Pres. G.S. Lakhmna having been hospitalised), remarked that with Mr Dua's elevation to Rajya Sabha, would make him the "voice of the country".
Mr. Dua lamented the miscarriage of justice and administration that impacts the lives of the people, and the pitiable condition of over 30 crore Indians, who even after the country's freedom, continue to reel under abject poverty, illiteracy, hunger, and disease. And the next generation of this population having been deprived of proper education and employment is left with no choice except to be an easy prey to the communal and criminal forces who recruit them for their wily designs. Their anger, he said, is manifesting itself today in the communal and separatist activities in the country, wasting a vast pool of human energy in senseless violence and arson.
As a journalist, the responsibility of the media is to educate and inform the people, and meet the expectations of the large populace, truthfully and honestly, which is the responsibility of a legislator too, he remarked.
We shall be failing our readers, the society, and the country, if we do not perform our duty as representatives of the people, he affirmed.
What would you do when the Parliament is not in session, is the question he has been asked most often, to which Mr Dua responded very aptly, that considering the extent of the problems that beset our country today, there is no dearth of work which a Parliamentarian need to and can do.
We wish Mr Dua best of luck as he proceeds to take up this new challenge which would stand in good stead of the country.