Kalyan Banerjee visits Chandigarh

It was a great day. On 13th August, the Rotarians in Chandigarh were privileged to meet with the nominee of the Rotary International nominating committee, Rtn. Kalyan Banerjee, who has been selected to lead the Rotary world for 2011-12.
Both Rtn. Kalyan Banerjee and Ann Binota were received at the airport by Past Rotary International President R.K. Saboo and Usha ji, District Governor Chetan Aggarwal, and later in the evening, a quick reception was organised in his honour at Hotel Taj, which was attended by most of the RI Officers of our District with their spouses, some of the Assistant Governors and District functionaries who could make it to the city at such a short notice.
Speaking on the occasion Past Rotary International President recalled his first meeting in Surat in December 1978 at the District Conference where he made an audio-visual presentation on the District activities. "He has grown taller in all those years, and has made India proud", he said.
"Kalyan has brought a special gift to all of us in India, as he would be touching the Rotarians around the world with Indian ethos and Indian culture," Rtn Saboo added.
Rtn. Kalyan Banerjee, humbly expressed his gratitude to all the Rotarians of District 3080 for his first "unofficial reception" since, he said, he is the nominee of the Rotary International President's Nominating Committee at the moment.
"We are however going to start a new chapter in Rotary life by meeting you all, here in a city where heart of Rotary resides, and for Binota and I, it is a pilgrimage to the Mecca of Rotary," Kalyan Banerjee remarked.
"I am sure that we would not have reached thismilestone in Rotary without Raja and Usha, who had been so humble, and when the announcement came, Raja called up to thank me for the perfect birthday gift that he received from me, which perfectly demonstrate his greatness as a true leader."
"I will look at the future with guidance of all Rotarians to meet the challenges of tomorrow," he concluded.
As a token of their gratitude, Rtn Kalyan Banerjee and Ann Binota presented shawl each to Past Rotary International President Raja Saboo and Usha.
On behalf of the District senior RI Officer, PDG Lakshmi Sagar, presented a beautifully carved idol of Ganesha to the couple.
It was momentous occasion to share those beautiful evening with Rtn. Kalyan Banerjee, whom District Governor Chetan Aggarwal described as a Savior, a dedicated humanitarian who is out to serve the humanity most befittingly, true to his name, "Kalyan".

Bhavan Vidyalaya Interact Club installed

The new team of young Interactors of Bhavan Vidyalaya, organised the Installation function on 6th August 2009.
President G.S. Lakhmana was the chief guest, who was accompanied by Past Rotary International President R.K. Saboo (who is also the chairman of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan), District Governor Elect Madhukar Malhotra, Immediate Past President S.K. Duggal, Director Community Service Mahesh Gupta, Past President K.K. Gupta, Interact Chair Rtn Subhash Marriya, Past President Charanjit Singh, along with the School Principal Mrs Vinita Arora, and Vice Principal, Interact coordinator, and the school staff.
Outgoing President Apporva presented the report of their last year's activities and the newly installed President Intr. Rochak Singla, assured his club's participation in various service projects.
Speaking on the occasion, Past Rotary International President R.K. Saboo, said that the students participating in Interact become happy persons with good character and ethical qualities which are great asset for the lifetime for any individual.
He emphasised that each year new leadership comes and takes over the reins of the clubs with the promise to excel. Excellence, he emphasised, does not mean competing with others but, more importantly, competing with yourself. He advised the young Interactors to set up their own benchmarks for excellence and do not compare yourself with others.

Monday Meeting is very Special

This Monday is very special meeting day for all of us. As hosts of the District Intercity assigned to us by DG Chetan Aggarwal, to welcome Rotary International Director 2009-11, Rtn. K.R. Ravindran, from Colombo, Sri Lanka, it is our special obligation that we are there as perfect host to receive our guests from various Rotary Clubs of the District.
We assemble at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Sector 27, Madhya Marg, Chandigarh at 4:00pm sharp to stand along our President Rtn. G.S. Lakhmana, and his team, and take charge of various responsibilities to make this function a success.
We need people to look after our guests, handle registration, hospitality, venue arrangements, and more than anything else, your presence.
Surely, we shall see each other on Monday.