Punjab Governor flags off Rotary's gift of Diwali sweets for Army Jawans

Four tons of sweets sent by Rotarians of District 3080 fifth year in a row 

 

In no way we can ever thank our jawans and their families for their sacrifices as they guardiour borders, said Governor of Punjab and Administrator UT Chandigarh, Shri V P Singh Badnore, as he flagged off three army trucks containing Diwali sweets. 

We in Punjab, being a border state, have one or the other relation serving in the defence services and this is commendable that Rotarians continue to remember them year after year, he said. 

He commended the Rotarians for their continued gesture of sending sweets and greetings on Diwali to jawans serving in the harsh conditions on our borders. 

The project which was initiated in the year 2016 by Rotary Club of Chandigarh at the instance of Mrs Usha Saboo wife of the former world president of Rotary International Rajendra K Saboo, has now participation from Rotarians of other Rotary clubs in the District 3080 which comprises besides Chandigarh, parts of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, UP, and Utrakhand. 

The programme continues to be spearheaded by the past district governor Rtn Kawal Bedi wife of an ex Indian Army Officer, who manages the entire logistics assisted by the past president of the club Neenu Vij and her husband Praveen Vij who takes care of the airlifting of the consignment through the Indian Air Force.

The current District Governor of Rotary District 3080 Ramesh Bajaj said that this is a humble gesture from Rotarians to acknowledge the great sacrifices that our jawans make.  

Club President Sukhjeet Singh Gill said that Rotarians are grateful to the Indian Air Force and all the Rotarians from District for keeping this project going.  He said that the project is very close to his heart having lost many close relations in defence forces during the war with Pakistan. 

The consignment of 4000 kg of mithai worth over Rs.20 lakh would be airlifted by the Indian Air Force to be delivered in the border areas of North East, China border, Kupwara, Pithoragarh areas, of Siachin, Leh.and Ladakh, informed PDG Madhukar Malhotra. 

Inner Wheel President Komal Gupta amongst others was present on the occasion. 

Sukhjit Gill is Rotary Club Chandigarh’s new President

Rotary Honours Justice Rajiv Sharma by conferring Paul Harris Fellowship

Hon'ble Mr Justice Rajiv Sharma of Punjab and Haryana High Court

Chandigarh, 6^th July:  Rotary Club of Chandigarh installed its new President Rtn Sukhjit Singh Gill and Team for 2020-21 here today through a virtual meeting in the presence of various dignitaries and prominent Rotarians from District 3080.

Rtn Sukhjit Singh Gill, who is a financial consultant took the collar of presidentship from his predecessor Rtn Surinder Pal Kaur, an ex-IRS officer.

Mr Justice Rajiv Sharma  of Punjab and Haryan High Court was the Chief Guest and District Governor Ramesh Bajaj was the Guest of Honour.

President Sukhjit Singh Gill took over the reins of the Club.
Seen with him is his wife Dr Kamaljit Kaur

Outgoing president Surinder Pal Kaur informed that the club has spent nearly Rs.1.8 crores including Rs.55 lakh during the Covid on providing medical supplies to PGI, GMCH32 and General Hospital Sector 16, besides extensively providing dry ration and prepared food to the doctors, migrant labour.

The club was able to undertake 16 children for heart surgeries under club’s Heartline project, besides various initiatives in the village Saketri, and throughout the lockdown the Club continued to meet regularly.  

On this occasion, Mr Justice Rajiv Sharma was conferred the Paul Harris Fellowship for his contribution to the environment,  by the Club contributing USD1000 to the Rotary Foundation.

Speaking on the occasion the chief guest who himself is a great environmentalist and known as ‘green judge’, Justice Rajiv Sharma said that everyone should be concerned and caring about our environment beyond our own homes.  He said global warming and other environmental destruction would lead to crisis for our earth and humanity.

He advised we must start living in harmony with nature, and respect environment and lamented the growing disharmony being caused by our dependency on technology especially the mobile phones. 

Rtn Sukhjit Gill shared the roadmap for the club during 2020-21 and said that the club shall continue to impact lives through blood donation camps, promote the flagship project with free heart surgeries through its partner hospitals, sensitise school children in menstrual hygiene and sanitation, launch of health education centre for the children of the city, and health of women and children.

Rotary Vidya Sadan in Bapu Dham shall be strengthened further to educate drop-out girls, and provide crèche facility for the daily wagers, and clubfoot treatment to children in GMCH32.

District Governor Ramesh Bajaj, guest of honour, stated that despite the continued lockdown the Club shall continue to reach out to the community come what may. Sharing success mantra with the new team, Ramesh Bajaj asked to follow ‘BMW’ i.e. prayer, Bless My Wisdom, Bless My Work,  Bless My Words, and Burn My Worries.  He advised the leadership to put up three factories for success, one, of Ice factory to stay cool; sugar factory to speak sweetly; and the third, love factory to instill compassion and love in your heart.

Earlier former world president of Rotary International, Rajendra K Saboo said that the leadership inRotary changes on 1^st July and he congratulated outgoing president Surinder Pal Kaur for her stellar achievements during challenging times and complimented the incoming team for their plans.

Assisting President Sukhjit Singh Gill in the team 2020-21 are Vice President Praveen Agarwal,  Secretary Gurvinder Saggu; Baldev Garg, Treasurer; Sonia Dhillon, Jt Secy; Dinesh Dua director club service, Vinod Kapoor, Director Vocational Service; Lalita Grover, Director Community Service; Gurmeet Chawla; Director International Service; Baldev Aggarwal Director Youth Service; Kulbir Dogra, Sergeant-at-Arms; PRID Rajendra Saboo, PDG Kawal Bedi, PDG Madhukar Malhotra, PDG Praveen Chander Goyal.

Those who joined the meeting included past district governors Ranjit Bhatia, Madhukar Malhotra, Yoginder Dewan, Manmohan Singh, Praveen Goyal,  Jitendra Dhingra,  district governor elect Ajay Madan, Usha Saboo, Inner Wheel President Komal Gupta, and Rotaractors amongst others with Rtn Dinesh Dua and Rtn Suditi Jindal moderating the session.

Past President Neena Singh recited the mool mantra of Japji while Rtn Ruchi Singla recited the Gayatri Mantra as invocations at the beginning of the meeting.

The Club was chartered on 13 May 1958 and has since grown with the city launching various projects for the community.

Rotary Club delivers dry ration in Kachhi Colony

Chandigarh, 22 April:  Rotary Club of Chandigarh delivered 1,400 dry ration bags in Kachhi Colony in village Dhanas.

Club President Surinder Pal Kaur informed that senior Rotarian Jatinder Kapur along with two young Rotaractors, Abhishek and Bhupinder, accompanied the SDM Central Shri Nazuk Kumar, and supervised the distribution of the dry ration.

 “This is the most equitable distribution system that Administration is using marking each house with house number, number of families and number.of souls living there, so that deserving families get the ration," informed Rtn Jatinder Kapur.

Dry Ration for families in sealed village Faidan from Rotarians

Chandigarh, 9 April:  Rotary Club of Chandigarh has volunteered to provide 1000 bags of dry ration after every five days, to familes inside village Faidan which was recently sealed down in the city, informed President Rotary Club Chandigarh Surinder Pal Kaur.

The supplies were handed over today to the Administration by President Surinder Pal Kaur, accompanied by past presidents Rtn Anil Khanna, Rtn Baldev Aggarwal, and Rtn Pankaj Khanna.

Deputy Commissioner Mandip Singh Brar commended the Rotarians for their continued support to the Administration in these challenging times.

Former world President of Rotary International Rajendra K Saboo informed that village Faidan located adjacent to Sector 48 which was sealed, is inhabited by nearly 3700 families (19,000 residents) who need ration supplies, and Rotary Club shall be providing 3,000 dry ration bags over a period of three weeks, i.e. 1000 bags every week.  

Each bag contains one week supply of 5kg Atta, 2kg rice, 2kgs Dal, 1 Kg sugar, 1 litre oil, 1/2 kg salt,  200gms of turmeric red chilli powder, jeera etc, costing Rs 590.

Rotarians supervise the packing of each bag at the vendors approved and selected by the Chandigarh Administration, and will be spending almost Rs.18 lakh for this humanitarian project which is being contributed by club members, informed President Surinder Pal Kaur.

The Club is already supplying daily 500 cooked meals each for lunch and dinner for junior doctors and nurses to PGIMER and 400 meals each in the afternoon and evening for the daily wage earners and migrant labours, thanks to the active involvement of Rtn Kawal Bedi, a past district governor of the club, in coordinating the activities and raising funds.

Rotarians to arrange 3000 PPE kits for PGIMER

Looking at the paucity of the PPE sets, Rotary Club of Chandigarh has organized 3000 PPE kits to be supplied to the PGI, informed former world President of Rotary International Rajendra K. Saboo.

He informed that 2000 sets are expected to reach by 6^th or 7^th April while another consignment of 1000 should be there by 16^th April, costing Rs.18 lakh.

The Club has already supplied 50 N95 masks, 25,000 3ply masks, 200 PP gowns and 10,000 examination gloves to PGIMER, informed Club President Surinder Pal Kaur, spending over Rs.12 lakh on medical supplies.

 “We are grateful to people of the city and philanthropists who have joined the cause and continue to provide financial support,” she added.

Already the Rotarians are working to provide nearly 400 lunches and dinners to the junior doctors and nurses in PGI through the Gurudwara with the coordination of Dr Anil Gupta, and gurudwara’s coordinator Sukhdev Singh.

Two meals for 400 daily-wage earners and migrant labour are also being prepared at Gurudwara Sector 8 which with the support of H.S. Narula which is being coordinated by past district governor Rtn Kawal Bedi, and distributed through SP Headquarters Manoj Meena

Another family of Rtn. Teena Virk with her husband Ravi who have been given volunteer pass by Mohali SDM, have taken upon themselves to distribute meals every day in Phase 11 industrial area, and at the slums having served over 200 people in past six days.    “It is heart-rending to see aged people and children lining up with expectant hope,” said Teena.

Sarabjit Sekhon, a member of the Inner Wheel (the women wing of Rotary) Club of Chandigarh is daily supporting daily-wage earners on her own.  Besides, the Inner Wheel Club members have taken care of nearly 50 families of the daily wagers supplying them with ration for a month.

Rtn Neena Vij and Rtn Dr Seema Gupta are taking care of 126 families with daily ration in Saketri area which is an adopted project of Rotary Club Chandigarh.   Special milk supplies have also been arranged for the children and the expectant mothers in that area.

Rajendra K Saboo informed that 2100 kg of rice was handed over to the Chandigarh Administration through Rotary’s District Governor Rtn Jitendra Dhingra as soon as the lockdown was announced, and is mobilizing another Rs.15-20 lakh for the Administration to arrange food for the daily wage earners and migrants.  

Rotarians on the forefront of the fight against COVID19

Rotarians had been doing their bit behind the scene and taking care of the medical supplies as well as feeding the hungry in the city.

Past Rotary International President Rajendra K Saboo along with members of Rotary Club of Chandigarh had been spearheading the task force to help the Administration and the medical authorities.

Rotary Club Chandigarh had been supplying N95 masks for doctors, as well as gloves and 3-ply masks for the nurses and paramedic staffs.

Already 50 N95 masks, 25,000 3ply masks, 200 PP gowns and 10,000 examination gloves have been supplied to PGIMER, informed Club President Surinder Pal Kaur. 

The Club is arranging another consignment of 1000 PPE sets for the doctors of PGIMER and 500 PPE for GMCH Sector 32, she said.

The Club has already spent over Rs.12 lakh for the medical supplies alone so far, she added, while another senior Rotarian of the Club, Past District Governor Kawal Bedi is coordinating the daily supply of 1000 food packets for the junior doctors and nursing staff in PGIMER.

In so far as the food for the daily wage earners and migrant labour in the industrial area, the Club has been organizing 400 food packets daily with the logistic support of DGP Sanjay Beniwal, besides 145 families in the club’s the adopted project at Saketri village have been supplied ration with the active involvement of Rtn Neenu Vij and Rtn Dr Seema Gupta.

The Inner Wheel Club members have taken care of nearly 50 families of the daily wagers supplying them with ration for a month.

Rajendra K Saboo informed that 2100 kg of rice was handed over to the Chandigarh Administration through Rotary’s District Governor Rtn Jitendra Dhingra as soon as the lockdown was announced, and is mobilizing another Rs.15-20 lakh for the Administration to arrange food for the daily wage earners and migrants.

There are Rotarians from other clubs especially in Mohali and Panchkula who are working closely with the Administration to manage this crisis situation.

Doing Good in the Times of Crisis

Listen to the Rotary's Voice of Good. 
Here is a podcast.
Click here to listen. 

Hats off to all the Rotarians of our Club who are engaged in doing good.

Rotary's Voice of Good was initiated way back in the year of Rtn. Neenu Vij in March 2017.   This was intended to be a Rotary's Radio Project.   Somehow it could not take off.  However, we shall continue to have the podcasts from time to time to spread the 'Voice of Good' 

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan grateful for Rotary’s partnership

At the Centennial Summit in ­Kolkata, Union Health ­Minister Harsh Vardhan praised Rotary’s healthcare programmes and urged Rotary to be part of the PM’s Ayushman Bharat scheme.

Read More on Rotary News Online

Rotary Peace City

The most photographed monument in Chandigarh 

The Rotary Peace City project, earlier known as Rotary Peace Symbol Project, was initiated in 1993 by Rtn Tony Quinlivan, which was an offshoot of an initiative of Rotary Club of Wagga Wagga-Kooringal, NSW, Australia in District 9700 in 1992.

On 23^rd February 1993, Wagga Wagga became the first Rotary Peace City in the world.

Today there are over sixty Rotary Peace cities.

On 22^nd June 1994, on 75^th anniversary of Rotary Club of Manila, Philippines, Manila became the first declared international Rotary Peace City.

The concept hit the Indian shores on 20^th December 1999, when Chennai Kilpauk City became the first Peace City in India.

Chandigarh became the second city after Chennai to be declared the Rotary Peace City on 12^th December 2003.

It was in September 2003 that Past Rotary International President Rajendra K. Saboo, the then Special Ambassador for Rotary Peace Communities projects around the world, presented the proposal before the Club members. It was a meeting dedicated to celebration of Diwali with senior citizens.  The members accented and the work was in full swing.

Local architects were approached for a design idea, and the concept submitted by Rotarian architect couple, Sandeep Luthra and Suchita, was accepted.

The project cost at that time was for Rs.5 lakh and search for sponsors began.  Newly joined Rtn. Arvind Mahajan along with Past President Kewal Seth, and Rtn. Charanjit Singh made a presentation to the Chief General Manager of State Bank of India, who was convinced and agreed to support the project.

The Chandigarh Administration very kindly agreed to provide the space on the Sukhna Lake and ultimately in December, the peace monument was ready.

Rtn. President Vijay Wadhawan, Rtn. P.J. Singh and many other Rotarians supervised the construction of the peace monument which is made of granite and steel.

The Peace Monument was dedicated to the city on 12^th December 2003, by the world President of Rotary International, Mr Jonathan B. Majiyagbe who formally hand it over to the Administrator of UT, Chandigarh, His Excellency Mr Justice O.P. Verma (Retd), the Governor of Punjab.

The Pledge for Peace was signed by the then Mayor of Chandigarh Subhash Chawla and District Governor 2003-04 Kawal Bedi.

Rotary Club of Chandigarh has organized a number of events around the peace monument, and visiting Rotary dignitaries to the city make it a point to visit the place.

 

Objectives

The objectives of Peace Communities are :

• Respect for the life and dignity of every person, without discrimination or prejudice;
• Rejection of violence, in all of its forms and towards all people
• Resolution of conflict among people within local global communities;
• Reconciliation of difference and the pursuit of harmony; and
• Freedom of expression and cultural diversity.

 The Plaque installed on the peace monument at the lake reads:

 LET’S STRIVE FOR :

• COMMUNITY HARMONY
• CULTURAL DIVERSITY
• REJECTION OF VIOLENCE
• RESOLUTION OF CONFLICT
• RECONCILIATION OF DIFFERENCES
• FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

Speech Mr Manoj Kumar Parida, IAS, at Rotary Club Chandigarh

Rotary PGI Serai

 

Rtn. Rajendra K. Saboo had been elected RI Director 1981-83, and it was during that time that the then Director of PGI, Dr. I.C. Pathak, described the problem of attendants of the patients who had to face the vagaries of weather and stay in the open or in car garages.

In 1982 with J.R. Khanna as club president,  decided to built the first serai for the attendants of the patients in PGI.

The club raised money and collected Rs.75,000 and on behalf of the club the first cheque for construction of the PGI serai in its campus was presented by the then Rotary International President Hiroji Mukasa to the Director of PGI Dr. I.C. Pathak.

The club made presentations in various schools and donation slips were printed and handed out in schools to raise funds for the project.  Special slide presentations were made using the actual photographs of the scenario and the living condition of attendants that moved the teachers and students.

In 1983-84, under president D.S. Swani, another Rs.1.75 lakh were raised and the construction of the ground floor was completed.  

The club intensified its fund raising efforts and raised Rs.50,000 through sale of coupons in schools and public, and another Rs.1 lakh by publishing a souvenir.  Another Rs.50,000 was raised through the premier show of the Amitabh Bachhan starrer “Coolie”.

During 1984-85, when R.M. Suri was the president, the club undertook a massive fund-raising drive in October 1984.  Rotarians wearing blue sashes and holding donation boxes, started going around the city, from shop to shop, and from house to house, requesting people’s contribution to the project.  Several teams of Rotarians fanned out in different parts of the city, including Sector 17, Industrial Area, and residential areas to collect fund.

The Club was able to raise Rs.2 lakh that helped in completion of the PGI serai that year.

On 28^th of June 1985, the keys to the PGI serai were handed over to Dr. I.C. Pathak.

The Club spent Rs.4.6 lakh on this project that brought relief to numerous attendants who accompanied the patients in PGI.

The Club has remained actively involved with this first major project of the Club and till date had been doing annual maintenance of the facility though its upkeep is the responsibility of the PGI. 

Rtn CJ Singh

PGI and Rotary to work for a TB-Free Chandigarh

Walkathon held at Sukhna Lake to observe World TB Day

On the World TB Day, the Department of Pediatrics PGIMER and Rotary Club Chandigarh have teamed up for TB-Free Chandigarh.

A walkathon was organized at Sukhna Lake, which marked the beginning of a partnership towards global initiative to End TB, and generate public awareness.

Dr Jagat Ram, Director, PGIMER, along with his wife flagged off the walkathon in which Rotarians including Past Rotary International President Rajendra K. Saboo, Rotaractors, nursing staff of PGI, students and teachers of Bhavan Vidyalaya Chandigarh, and citizens participated.

Rtn. Dr. Meenu Singh, head of pediatric pulmonology Advanced Pediatrics Centre at PGI said that Chandigarh harbours nearly 3,000 notified TB patients and approximately 250 pediatric patients.

Department of Pediatrics, PGIMER and Rotary Club Chandigarh have teamed up and shall be working together to combat TB in Chandigarh  through a series of event like screening for patients in residential colonies and organising public awareness campaign, she said.

This curable disease is still the world’s deadliest killer claiming nearly 4,000 lives per day globally and through a concerted efforts by WHO and different global agencies since 2000, nearly 54 million lives have been saved.

Last year the Prime Minister of India gave a clarion call to end TB by 2025, five years earlier than the global target.

The walkathon marks the partnership of PGIMER with Rotary Club of Chandigarh and accelerate action to End TB, said President A P Singh, President, Rotary Club of Chandigarh.

The theme of World TB Day 2019, ‘It’s time’, puts the accent on the urgency to act on the commitments made by global leaders to scale up access to prevention and treatment;  build accountability;  ensure sufficient and sustainable financing including for research;  promote an end to stigma and discrimination, and  promote an equitable, rights-based and people-centered TB response.

On 24 March 1882 Dr. Robert Koch officially announced the discovery of bacterium causing TB and it is this day each year which is observed as world tuberculosis day, to raise the public awareness about health, social, and economic consequences of the dreadful disease.

Kings XI Punjab and Rotary Chandigarh tribute to CRPF martyrs

Kings XI Punjab and Rotary Club Chandigarh give Rs.25 lakh to 5 families of martyrs from Punjab and Himachal Pradesh.

Rs.5 lakh each to the CRPF jawans from Punjab and Himachal

In a unique campaign run by Kings XI Punjab, with the assistance of the Rotary Club for the CRPF jawans who lost their lives during the Pulwama attack, had their families present at the press meet today and were each given cheques of Rs 5 lakh by Kings XI Punjab.

The five CRPF jawans who lost their lives were Jaimal Singh from Dharamkot, District Moga; Sukhjinder Singh from Tehsil Patti, District Taran Taran; Maninder Singh Attri from Dinanagar, District Gurdaspur; Kulwinder Singh from Tehsil Anandpur Sahib, District Rupnagar; and Tilak Raj from Kangra, Himachal Pradesh

Present at the event were Kings XI Head of Operations Anant Sarkaria, Rotary District Governor Rtn. Praveen Goyal, Rotary Club Chandigarh President Rtn. A.P. Singh, Kings XI Captain Ravichandran Ashwin, Mayank Agarwal, and Mandeep Singh in the presence of Senior DIG CRPF Punjab V.K. Kaundal, and other senior Rotarians.

Anant Sarkaria said, “We are extremely grateful to have partnered with the Rotary Club of Chandigarh for this project who have helped us connect with the families of our brave jawans, who put their lives on the line every single day for us, and we as a team would like to stand behind and honour their sacrifice.”

These five jawans being honoured were part of the 78-vehicles convoy carrying 2,547 CRPF personnel who were ambushed and attacked at Pulwama on 14th February.

Rotary Club Chandigarh President Rtn A.P.Singh said that three years back we had initiated the project of sending 5000 kg of sweets every  Diwali to the jawans at the border, and we are grateful to KXIP for making us a vehicle of doing good for the Pulwama martyrs as well.

Mohan Fibre Products supports blood donation movement

Mohan Fibre Products Ltd, a leading manufacturer of moulded fibre packaging for fruits, contributed Rs.21.50 lakh to the Rotary & Blood Bank Society Resource Centre of Chandigarh in April this year out of its CSR funds to support the purchase of a new mobile blood donation van.

Past Rotary International President Rajendra K Saboo, Chairman of the Centre along with the Director Dr Manish Rai, Administrator Surinder Pal Kaur, Rotary Club President P.S. Matharoo, along with other board members of the Mohan Fibre including Managing Director Mr Krishan Kumar, Mr Brijesh Kumar, Rtn Past District Governor Madhukar Malhotra.

Rtn Krishan Kumar had been a great supporter of humanitarian causes and had earlier supported generously the 'Kayakalp' project at PGI in the paediatric ward, said Rajendra K Saboo.

Handing over the cheque to the Centre, Rtn Krishan Kumar, in his most humble way, assured all support to the Centre for any further requirements.

The order for the van has been placed with the Swaraj Mazda for supply and fabrication of the van.

Rotary and Blood Bank Society Resource Centre is one of the finest modern blood bank promoted jointly by Rotary Club of Chandigarh and the Blood Bank Society. 

10 Reasons every Club should adopt public image st...

Rotary District 3080 Public Image: 10 Reasons every Club should adopt public image st...: Rotary Public Image continues to receive attention increasingly to share Rotary's humanitarian successes ar...

Barry Rassin to lead Rotary International next year

Following the unfortunate demise of Samuel Frobisher Owori, who was to take up the leadership of Rotary International in 2018-19, the nominating committee has selected Barry Rassin of the Rotary Club of East Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas, for the position. He will be declared the president-elect on 1 September if no challenging candidates have been suggested.

As president, Rassin aims to strengthen our public image and our use of digital tools to maximize Rotary’s reach.

“Those who know what good Rotary clubs do will want to be a part of it, and we must find new models for membership that allow all interested in our mission to participate,” he says. “With Rotary more in the public eye, we will attract more individuals who want to be part of and support a membership organization that accomplishes so much good around the world.”

Rassin earned an MBA in health and hospital administration from the University of Florida and is the first fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives in the Bahamas. He recently retired after 37 years as president of Doctors Hospital Health System, where he continues to serve as an adviser. He is a lifetime member of the American Hospital Association and has served on several boards, including the Quality Council of the Bahamas, Health Education Council, and Employer’s Confederation.

A Rotarian since 1980, Rassin has served Rotary as director and is vice chair of The Rotary Foundation Board of Trustees. He was an RI training leader and the aide to 2015-16 RI President K.R. Ravindran.

Rassin received Rotary's highest honor, the Service Above Self Award, as well as other humanitarian awards for his work leading Rotary’s relief efforts in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake there. He and his wife, Esther, are Major Donors and Benefactors of The Rotary Foundation.

Mark Maloney nominated RI President Nominee 2019-20

Mark Daniel Maloney is the choice of Nominating Committee as RI President Nominee 2019-20.

Mark Daniel Maloney, of the Rotary Club of Decatur, Alabama, USA, is the selection of the Nominating Committee for President of Rotary International for 2019-20. He will be declared the president-nominee on 1 October if no challenging candidates have been suggested.

“The clubs are where Rotary happens,” says Maloney, an attorney. He aims to support and strengthen clubs at the community level, preserve Rotary’s culture as a service-oriented membership organization, and test new regional approaches for growth.

“With the eradication of polio, recognition for Rotary will be great and the opportunities will be many,” he says. “We have the potential to become the global powerhouse for doing good.”

Maloney is a principal in the law firm of Blackburn, Maloney, and Schuppert LLC, with a focus on taxation, estate planning, and agricultural law. He represents large farming operations in the Southeastern and Midwestern United States, and has chaired the American Bar Association’s Committee on Agriculture in the section of taxation. He is a member of the American Bar Association, Alabama State Bar Association, and the Alabama Law Institute.

He has been active in Decatur’s religious community, chairing his church’s finance council and a local Catholic school board. He has also served as president of the Community Foundation of Greater Decatur, chair of Morgan County Meals on Wheels, and director of the United Way of Morgan County and the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce.

A Rotarian since 1980, Maloney has served as an RI director; trustee and vice chair of The Rotary Foundation; president’s aide; zone coordinator; and a leader on the Future Vision and 2014 Sydney Convention Committees. He serves on the Operations Review Committee and has served on the Rotary Peace Centers Committee. He has received the Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service and Distinguished Service Award. Maloney and his wife, Gay, are Paul Harris Fellows, Major Donors, and Bequest Society members.

I'm a Rotarian. I make the Difference

On Ist of July the entire Rotary world would get into action with renewed vigour to Make a Difference.  And already the plans are afoot and the new team is all set to take up the baton of leadership from their immediate predecessor, to take Rotary to still greater heights.

Each one of us is capable of making a difference in the life of someone; in our family, our immediate neighbourhood, the city or town or the country we live in, and in the process, in the entire world. 

Do a Daily Good and make a Difference.  

Howsoever small it may be.  

I am reminded of the tale of a child who finds lots of fish left dying on the seashore with the receding tide.  He picks up a fish and throws it back into the sea.  And he keeps on moving, picking up another fish with his little hands and throwing it back into the water.   

Watching the little child's action from a distance, an old man approaches him and tells him, that he won't be able to do anything since there are thousands of fish on the shore.  It would be futile.  It won't make any difference what you are doing, says the man. 

It won't make any difference what you are doing, says the man. 

The child picks up another fish from the sandy shore, gasping for life, shows to the man, and says, "It makes a difference to this one at least," and throws the fish back into the water. 

Let's remember, as a Rotarian, we cannot ignore our potential to act and save a life.  Or even change a life through little acts of kindness as humans.  

And that is what makes a Rotarian more humane. 

Tell to the world, "I'm a Rotarian. I Make a Difference"

Get ready for Inter-District RYLA3080 Chandigarh

Let’s serve together, work together and enjoy together

Soft spoken, accomplished artist, sensitive to the societal concerns, the incoming President of our Club Neenu Vij, is a person who is ready and enthused to take up the baton of leadership for 2016-17, and run on the path of service with the support of Rotarians and their families.  Here is her first communication to all the Rotarian friends, which we reproduce here: 


My Dear Fellow Rotarians

It’s my absolute privilege to write to you all as President Elect of this prestigious club.

When I sit back and read the history of this club, I am in awe of it. A club whose history runs parallel to the growth of a dream city, the efforts, passion and vision of all the Rotarians who served as presidents, from Justice Mr.R .P. Khosla in 1958 to our current President Mr. D. P. Singh. The high standards set by all of them, the memorable moments shared and result-oriented projects delivered, my admiration and idolization manifolds.

 I bow to all of them !

I appreciate the gestures of members who have been contributing in terms of resources, ideas, time and energy, by attending meetings, sponsoring and participating in projects.and being available when the need arises.

May our tribe continue to expand joyfully.

I feel proud to be a part of that club which has produced a Rotary International President. A rare honour for all of us. His knowledge, observation, motivation and  guidance is what every club aspires for!

This feeling gives me immense energy, confidence and creative stimulation  that you have reposed your faith in me and my team and  have  given us a chance to serve this glorious club.We shall put in our best to explore new avenues to serve humanity. I shall always  need your support, strength, guidance, time, talents and resources to accomplish a vast number of service and fellowship ideas.

Let’s serve together, work together and enjoy together.

You are free to share your ideas, visions and projects which you think we can achieve. Please fill the attached form and send it back to me. I would like to know you better.

My best wishes and warm regards to all of you .

Rtn. Neenu Vij
President 2016-17

How to make your business reach 1.2 million prospects

Whatever business or vocation you may be in...here are just a few steps to take your business to 1.2 million prospects. 

Check out the Rotary Global Rewards programme that gives access to 1.2 million Rotarians as well as Rotaractors community around the Globe.

All you need to do is to register your business and offer any discount/special privilege for the Rotarians and Rotaractors.

Rotary and Rotaract club members can now offer discounts on products and services from their own businesses. You can choose to make your offer available to people in your community, your region, or around the world.

After signing in to your My Rotary account, select the Create a New Offer tab on Rotary Global Rewards. Need more help? Refer to How to create an offer (PDF).

Create your own offer.

Rotary Global Rewards | My Rotary: "Rotary's member benefits program gives Rotary and Rotaract club members access to discounts on a variety of products and services selected with their interests in mind."



'via Blog this'

Six Steps to Make a Difference!

As Rotarians we face with numerous issues and problems around our neighbourhood, in our community, and unlike 80 percent of the people who would like to crib and complain, or blame the people, the municipal corporation or the government for not doing anything about it.   

But fortunately, you as a Rotarian, belong to that 20 percent class of people, who are happier, who know that any problem is just a mere challenge, and is a situation which can be tackled effectively.

You are the person who is a professional and a leader in your business or vocation and know that you can bring about this change.  You are that 20 percent of the confident community leader, as a Rotarian, who knows that everything is possible.

How one goes about this?
The moment you discover a community issue that needs to be tackled immediately, stop for a while, and write down :

How can I change this situation and transform the lives of the people affected by it?  Simple. As a leader in your business or profession this is a normal management challenge and you handle those situations normally like any manager would do to find out the process involved. This is just like any other project.  Draw out the matrix for

•         WHAT the problem is? Define it. How bad the situation is. What is the source of the issue? What specific problems it is causing to the community?

•         WHO would benefit? Talk to the people, and find out what would make them happier. What change they would need? What are their specific requirements?

•         WHICH are the specific resources that you would need for the project?  Money, human resources, cooperation of the community and other stakeholders? Identify them and list that out. And most significant aspect is the knowledge, skills and expertise that you as a Rotarian, and a leader of your business can bring on to the table.

•         Ask other Rotarians in the Club how they can contribute. What are the key skills they can deploy to bring about this change.

•         WHEN: The timeline. To execute any plan, one needs very specific timeline to implement the project. List out the step-by-step process involved.

•         ACT NOW.  That is the mantra. The ultimate success of any project or plan is to start. Go ahead and just do it.

(c) CJSingh / September 14, 2015

Rotarians gift life to farmer’s son from Uttrakhand

Today, the club gave a warm send off to Mahinder (17), who was successfully operated on 1st July under the deft hands of Dr. T.S. Mahant, Executive Director CTVS, Fortis Hospital. 

This was the 559th heart surgery that the Club completed since 1999 when the project to save the lives of children suffering from congenital cardiac disease was initiated, informed Club President D.P. Singh, and till date 560 children have begun new life under the project. 

Mahinder came to the city with his elder brother and uncle for further check up about six months back.  Son of a farmer, Prem Lal, from village Lundra of tehsil Chamoli in Uttrakhand, the family was in for a shock when they learnt about his critical heart condition at PGI. 

The estimated expenditure was Rs.2.75 lakh, which his family could not support.  Stranded and suffering in serai in PGI, they were looking for help when a journalist from Dainik Bhaskar learnt about his plight and published a story. 

Past Rotary International President Rajendra K. Saboo noticed it and informed the club functionaries.  Rtn. Mona Khattar, club secretary, got in touch with the child, had his tests done and on 1st July, the deft hands of Dr. T.S. Mahant, Executive Director and cardiovascular surgeon, at Fortis Hospital, successfully operated and replaced his two defective heart valves, giving a new lease of life to Mahinder. 

At the Rotary House, Mahinder and his brother Om Parkash were all smiles.  Mahinder wanted to go back home and resume his class 10th studies. 

PP Baldev Agarwal, co-chair of Rotary Heartline Project said that club is grateful to all Rotarians, their family members and philanthropists who continue to support the Club's efforts to save the lives of these children. He reiterated that the club had committed way back in 1999 not to let any child die for want of money. 

Club Secretary Rtn Mona Khattar who had been looking after Mahinder and personally taking care of his needs, felt satisfied and joyous to see Mahinder hale and hearty from his earlier pale and sick condition when she saw him for the first time. 

Vocational Awards for Do Gooders

Two teachers honoured for Rotary International Literacy Mission Certificate of Honour

Rotary Club of Chandigarh honoured five citizens for going beyond the call of their duty to serve the people.

Mayor of Chandigarh Smt Poonam Sharma gave away the awards to the five citizens and commended Rotary for recognizing the contribution of ordinary citizens to the society.

She said that she would not only would seek Rotary’s help in honouring the mothers of baby girls, promoting literacy, and participate in ‘swachh bharat abhiyaan’, but would also join hands with them in the humanitarian work that the Rotary is doing.

Mayor Poonam Sharma presented the Certificate of Honour from Rotary International Literacy Mission to Varinder Kumar and Gurmeet Kaur, teachers of the Government Model Senior Secondary School for their contribution to promotion of literacy.

Vocational Awards were given to Alka Bhalla, Teacher of St. Stephen’s School, Togan; Jyoti Parkash, the office clerk at PGIMER; and Mehar Singh, dresser in the Institute of Health,Panjab University, Chandigarh.

Rotary Club Chandigarh gifts life to 7 children from Rwanda

Seven children from Rwanda returned to their home with new lease of life thanks to you, the Rotarian friends in our Rotary Club of Chandigarh, who have always been like angels standing by them to take care of them.




This was the last of the promised 30 surgeries that Past Rotary International President Rajendra K. Saboo had made to the Government of Rwanda on one of his earlier intercontinental medicare missions to the country.

 

District Governor of Rotary District 9150 from Rwanda Jean Runuya, Past RI President Rajendra K. Saboo and Usha Saboo, alongwith other members of the Club gave a touching farewell to these seven children at the Rotary House here today.

Jean Runuya profusely expressed his country’s gratitude to the Rotary Club of Chandigarh and team of doctors under Dr. T.S. Mahant, for saving the lives of these children. It is heartening to see how parents handover their little children to the Rotarians with great hope and expectation, to travel to distant land and await their safe return.

Prof. Paramjit Singh, President of the Club informed that one boy and six girls aged between 11 and 16t years, accompanied with Dr. Rutare Samuel and male nurse Heshima Christophe, reached the city on 30th January this year, suffering from various congenital cardiac disorders, and were operated at the Fortis Hospital Mohali.

Dr. T.S. Mahant, Executive Director, CTVS, Fortis Hospital Mohali. who led the team of surgeons, said that the children suffered from serious condition called rheumatic heart disease which often requires repair or replacement of heart valves.  Such children can’t play, walk or do normal activities due to breathlessness, chest pain, heart palpitations, etc. The valve-replacement surgeries were long and complicated yet successful and we are happy that these children would be able to lead happy and healthy lives.







Heartline Project chairs Sukhjit Singh Gill and Mona Khattar added that children have recovered well and Rotaractors of the club had also taken to the city for an outing last week and entertained them.

Rajendra K. Saboo informed that the Club had been able to save 546 lives of the children, which included several children from abroad, since India is at a stage when it can give back to the world its knowledge and expertise.

All this had been made possible from the donations by individuals and organizations to support the cost of the surgery which is shared by the Club’s partner hospitals, PGIMER and the Fortis Hospital Mohali.

Out of the 546 children saved under the project, there had been 30 children from Rwanda, 15 each from Malawi and Nepal, 34 from Pakistan, 7 from Uganda, 5 from Nigeria, two from Afghanistan, and one from Iraq.