Four children from Malawi arrive for heart surgery

Four children out of 20 from Malawi, Africa, to be operated free of cost for congenital heart disease under the Rotary Club of Chandigarh’s Heartline project, arrived here in the city.

The offer to provide free heart surgeries for  twenty children from Malawi was made in April this year, when a team of voluntary doctors from the region led by former world president of Rotary International Rajendra K. Saboo and the then district governor Madhukar Malhotra had gone to Malawi and Zambia on a medical mission and treated patients there.

The four children who arrived from Malawi along with their  guardians included a two years old boy Brain Milanzi, suffering from atral septal defect (ASD), two six years old boys Hasting Maloya, and Patience Nkhoma, both suffering from ventral septal defect (VSD), and a 14 years old girl Prisca Patrick with Patent Ductus Arterisum diagnosis.

Rajendra K Saboo informed that all these children would be operated at one of the partner hospitals of Rotary Heartline project, Fortis Hospital Mohali, and are being admitted in the evening there.

He further stated that 10 doctors from Malawi would be sent by the Government of Malawi’s health department, for advanced short term training  in India which will be facilitated by Rotary.

Rajendra K. Saboo  who had been instrumental in starting the project of Rotary Heartline, earlier known as Gift of Life, under which Rotary Club of Chandigarh had been providing free heart surgeries to children suffering from congenital cardiac diseases since 1999.

So far 365 lives of children have been saved, he informed briefing the media here today,  and whenever there is a deserving case in and around Chandigarh, Rotary has always taken up such cases. The idea of taking up cases from other countries is to also serve beyond borders and live the eternal saying "Vasudevya Kutumbhkam" i.e. World is one family. Thus in the total surgeries done so far,there have been  2 children from Afghanistan, 6 from Nepal, 24 from Pakistan and 12 from Uganda over the years. 

   

Media reports Hepatitis Awareness Rally

Print and electronic media widely covered the Rotary Club of Chandigarh and Rotaract Club's hepatitis awareness rally.

Hepatitis Awareness Rally

Rotary Club of Chandigarh organized today the hepatitis awareness rally at Sukhna Lake, as a precursor to the WHO’s officially supported World Hepatitis Day which falls on 28^th July 2011.

Dr. Yogesh Chawla, Head, Hepatology Department, PGI flagged off the march with Rotarians, Rotaractors and their family members, distributing literature amongst the large number of people who gather at the lake on Sundays.

Hepatitis kills more than one million people every year and as per WHO report, approximately 500 million people worldwide are infected by hepatitis B or C1 necessitating awareness of the people, said Rotary Club Chandigarh’s President Neena Singh.

It is believed that one in 12 people worldwide are infected with these virus and majority of those infected by it do not know about it.

Rotary Club is also organizing a one day free screening camp at Rotary House, 107A, Sector 18A, from 10am to 5pm on Monday, Neena Singh informed. 

Are you ready to End Polio?

As we come closer to the eradication of polio from our country, with only 1 case reported so far in last six months, it is time to sit up and be extra vigilant, extra cautious, and more active in ensuring that the polio virus does not return.
The Emergency Preparedness Plan is what Rotary is working out with the government to be ready to combat in the eventuality of a polio outbreak. Our areas are more at risk with more migrations, and the need is to identify the migrants, sensitise them, and immunise the children travelling with them.
Yesterday, the Punjab PolioPlus Task Force, comprising of 24 senior Rotarians with Rotary International Director Yash Pal Das as Advisor, and PDG Shubh Karn Gupta as Chairman-Convenor along with Dr. Dinesh Singh from WHO and Dr. Balwinder Singh, State Immunisation Officer, Punjab, met at Chandigarh Judicial Academy to thrash out the immediate plans.
Past Rotary International President Rajendra K. Saboo who had all along been a great votary and driver of polio movement in the world, said that Rotarians, perhaps, feel that we are done with polio and "we're almost there".  "Almost", he emphasised, "is the most dangerous terminology that is leading us to complacency, and almost does not mean the completion of the task at hand".  He urged the Rotary leaders to engage Rotarians more and more in the task of keeping the pressure on, on the society, on the state agencies, on various other stock holders, so that any child carrying the virus gets detected at the early stages and reported.
Rtn. Yash Das said that for the intensified eradication activities planned until 2012, there is a global deficit of Rs.2992 crores, and hence continued financial support by Rotarians is a must.
He also pointed out that there is poor response to NIDs and approximately 60 percent of the children get covered despite massive efforts and in the next two days 40 percent uncovered children are reached out through door-to-door campaigns, which should be tackled by Rotarians.
The Task Force identified certain key areas in which Rotarians must intensify their efforts and involve themselves throughout the year, including :

• Developing and managing communication plan and ensuring better visibility through multi-pronged campaign
• Help in the Emergency Preparedness Plan and conducting mock drills to manage an eventuality
• Recognise doctors/revenue districts reporting maximum cases of AFP
• Organising media sensitization workshop
• Identifyication and reaching out to migratory population

Every Club, every Rotarian must come forward to make a difference and ensure that no child is left out.

'Hamari Beti' to go on air

After having successfully launched its Facebook community page, which has attracted community participation to join the debate against female foeticide, the Rotary Club of Chandigarh (District 3080) has been able to tie up with Panjab University’s School of Communication Studies, for initiating a radio series titled “Hamari Beti”.

The community radio, Jyotigramye 91.2 MHz, would be producing series of interview based programmes on various facets of the issue including female foeticide, crime against women, literacy, women empowerment, rights of women, the health issues, and the medical fraternity’s role in preventing the menace of female foeticide, etc.

The programme was kicked off with the interview of Rotary Club Chandigarh’s President Rtn. Neena Singh who spoke about the Rotary’s initiatives in reaching out to the women in the region and sensitise them to the isseue.

From Drop Box

We shall be enaging the local community and have interviewed people living in the villages and the residences around the campus, who would be part of the radio programme “Hamari Beti”, informed Rtn. Charanjit Singh, an alumnus of the School of Communication Studies.

The programme is aimed at reaching out to the community at large targeting the youth in the campus plus people living in Chandigarh in a periphery of 15-20kms radius, where this community radio is heard.

The recording bank is being created at the moment, and is being packaged with lots of other inputs from students and research scholars in this programme and would be launched within a fortnight for which some celebrities are being approached, informed Dr Archana Singh, Head of the School of Communication Studies, Panjab University.

How to 'Reach Within'

Rotary International President Kalyan Banerjee has charged the Rotary world with his spiritual message which is out and out call for action.  Each one of us can do it

As I started looking at various meanings or interpretations of the word, 'Reach', one definition impressed me. (n)  "the power of stretching out or extending action, influence, or the like; power of attainment or management; extent of force or capacity."

As a verb, it has been defined as "to extend an action, effort, or influence to; to penetrate as far as".

In short, there could not have been a better word than 'Reach' that inspires us to act, to make an effort and extend ourselves to look within and search the real meaning of life...our life.  One can delve as deep as one desires to be. And as Buddha says the answer to our existence, life's purpose, lies within our own consciousness. 

Each one of us are born with a purpose...to accomplish something...to make a difference. All we need to do is to look within to find the right answer.  Rotary provides us this opportunity every day....to meet destitute, deprived, diseased, or challenged - physically, socially, emotionally.  Everytime we reach out to help them, extend a helping hand, without knowing them, or without expecting anything in return from them...the godliness in our being emerges.  

Just do at least one good a day...minimum, though each one of us is capable of doing much more than that...and as Rotarians, we have been ordained and blessed to get this opportunity to think about others, care about them, and act to help them tide over their challenges in life. 

Once it becomes a part of our life... as a genuine desire emerging from within ourselves to feel for others, or as Past Rotary International President Raja Saboo often says "to step into the shoes of another", it takes us to another level of achievement of godliness...of being a better human being. 

The first part of the theme, "Reach Within" is what you need to practice, and the rest - "to Embrace Humanity" - becomes an automatic outcome which will ensure a better, beautiful and peaceful world for each one of us.

How to Reach Within? Here's a 10-Steps Forumula:

1. Just as you get up in the morning, while you are still sitting on your bed, raise your arms, close your eyes, and thank God for blessing you for another great day to do good.  Thank God for all the bounties that He has bestowed on us all. 

2. Go out in the open, and facing East, bow to the sun, close your eyes, and repeat to yourself, "This is a great day.  I have the power within me to do good and I shall make a difference in the life of someone today."

3. Sit silently and feel the flow of energy from your surroundings getting into you...the sunlight, the plants, the earth, and the air you are breathing. 

4. Focus at the point between the eyebrows, and feel the energy of life flowing into your body. 

5. Open your eyes, sit silently, breath normally, and remember that all human beings are created equal and each one is a creation of God. 

6. Remember, our purpose on this planet earth is to forget all the goodness we do to others, and forgive those who are not kind to us. 

7. Water the plants in your home with extreme love and care. Put out a water bath on the window sill or outside in the open for the birds to drink or dance joyfully in it. 

8. Learn to LISTEN to your family, your business associates, your colleagues, the people around you. Don't jump to conclusions. Have focussed listening. 

9. Be focussed to keenly look around, as a person out on a mission to do good. Ask yourself, "Can I do something to improve the situation or someone's life?"

10. Be proactive. List out tasks that you want to do for the general good of the society...for the people in need.  And how you are going to accomplish them. 

Repeat the process for 21 Days...without fail. And share it with others, what difference it has made in your life! I look forward to hearing from you.

Reach Within and make a difference!

Change with Continuity...thy name is Rotary!

Kalyan Banerjee, Rotary's 101st president, and the third from India, is our new leader this year, and William B. Boyd, of the Rotary Club of Pakuranga, Auckland, New Zealand, will take over as Rotary Foundation trustee chair. 

John Hewko has become Rotary International’s 12th general secretary on 1 July. He has said his priorities include improving Rotarians’ connections with the Secretariat and increasing awareness about what the Secretariat can offer. 

Other Changes include:

• Four pilot programs will begin 1 July, designed to improve recruitment and retention, allow for flexibility in club operations and structure, and give clubs an opportunity to explore new and innovative ways to promote member diversity -- all goals of the RI Strategic Plan. For each of three pilot programs – corporate member, associate member, and innovative and flexible Rotary club -- 200 clubs have been selected to participate, and about 125 will take part in a satellite club pilot program.  
• The Changemaker Award will accompany the Presidential Citation during the 2011-12 Rotary year. The award will encourage Rotarians to focus on change and will recognize clubs that make an extraordinary impact through their work in the Avenues of Service.  
• The World Community Service and Rotary Volunteers programs will be phased out as of 30 June, replaced by a new model designed to expand the resources available to clubs for connecting and partnering with one another. The RI Board approved a shift to a resource and support model for RI programs to reinforce the priorities and goals of the RI Strategic Plan.
• Efforts to enhance Rotary’s public image will be undertaken by 49 Rotary public image coordinators (RPICs) working in partnership with their zone’s RI director, regional Rotary Foundation coordinator, Rotary coordinator, and district governors. RPICs, who are selected by the RI president or Rotary Foundation trustee chair, have professional expertise in public relations, journalism, or communications and will help support the RI Strategic Plan by conveying effective public relations practices to district leaders.
• The Rotarian magazine launches its digital edition with the July issue. Subscribers can now choose to receive either the print or digital edition, or both. This would be a good time to buy a subscription for your Interact or Rotaract club, to inspire them with Rotary’s breadth.  
• Rotary clubs’ annual per capita dues to Rotary International will increase to US$51 in 2011-12. The 2010 Council on Legislation also set dues at $52 for 2012-13 and $53 for 2013-14.

Hamari Beti

Celebrating womanhood.  Sensitising people against the scourge of female foeticide. Taking action to correct the skewed male:female ratio in our country.
With this mission in mind our Club has renewed its efforts in this direction and proposes to take up projects that can bring about a positive change in our society. Under the leadership of Rtn Neena Singh, "Hamari Beti" would be one of the focus area.
Members would recall that as a part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of our Club, we had started this project. A school painting competition and slogan writing contest marked the beginning of this project which received tremendous response.  There had also been a tieup with Fortis Hospital, and the new Committee under the Community Service avenue would be renewing its ties with Fortis as well as forging new ones with the Hospitals around the tricity.
Already our Club has created a CAUSE on Facebook, and a new Group, HAMARI BETI,  has been created there to associate more and more people with this cause. And surprisingly there is great response from some of the youngsters. One girl has penned a poem and put it up on our page. Surely, if young people understand the issues, they perhaps would be ready to meet this challenge as they step into their married lives. Or even otherwise in their homes too.
So get going. Be a part of this mission. Save girls from extinction. 

Ring in the New!

Congratulations to every Rotarian as the new Rotary year dawns today.
It is a matter of great pride for Indians to have an Indian leading the Rotary world, Rtn. Kalyan Banerjee.
As we move ahead with ambitious plans and visions to make a difference in the lives of the people around us, the mantra that Rotary International President Kalyan Banerjee has given to the world is, "Reach Within to Embrace Humanity".
Thanks to the excellent leadership of Rtn. Neena Singh, who has launched an ambitious "Swachh Jiwan Abhiyaan" in Colony No.5.  Rotarians, Rotaractors and Inner Wheel members of our Club got together in large number and participated in the rally which was flagged off by young Municipal Commissioner of Chandigarh, Ms Prerna Puri, IAS.

The next batch of 25 girls from the colony for female adult literacy programme joined the "Roshni" school being run by our Club at RCC.  A set of books, notebooks and stationery was distributed to these young and not-so-young women from the colony who wanted to be a part of the adult literacy.

Read more about today's project's report at our Facebook page.  Are you a member on our Facebook presence? Not yet? Click here and Join the Action !

Applications invited for GSE Team to UK

For 2011-12, the Group Study Exchange team shall travel to United Kingdom in September 2011.  The last date for submitting the application is 18th June 2011 to Rotary Club of Chandigarh at Rotary House, 107A, Sector 18A, Chandigarh. 

Young Professionals working or residing in Chandigarh, (Rotarians and their blood relations are ineligible), can apply for this programme immediately before 18th June 2011.

Detailed criteria can be seen on Rotary International's website. (Click Here)

You can download the application form for GSE here

50 Glorious Years of Service to Humanity

Our Club is fortunate to have an iconic figure in Past Rotary International President Rajendra K. Saboo and his gracious wife Usha Saboo, and doubly privileged to have his constant guidance and support.  Fifty years ago they entered the portals of Rotary through our Club, in May 1961, and today, shine on the Rotary firmament like a bright star...of which we are proud of. 

Next meeting, the 16th of May 2011 is dedicated to this amazing couple who have touched the lives of people around the world in numerous ways.  To celebrate their 50 years of service to the humanity, the Club is having a special meeting followed by fellowship over hi-tea. 

You are requested to join with your families and have an open house with them in a face-to-face interactive session, wish them many more years of togetherness in Rotary service. 

Rotary Cares!

On 13th April, a 10-year old Karan, son of a rickshawpuller Raj Kumar from Ambala Cantt was brought to the PGI, after he suddenly fell down while playing with his friends.  His legs could not bear his weight and he was unable to walk.  Carrying him in his arms, his father reached PGI paediatrics department where he was diagnosed with landry guillain barre syndrome (LGBS) - a nervous  disorder affecting the peripheral nervous system. Ascending paralysis, weakness beginning in the feet and hands and migrating towards the trunk, is the most typical symptom. It can cause life-threatening complications, particularly if the breathing muscles are affected or if there is dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system. The disease is usually triggered by an acute infection.
There world was literally shattered as the doctors requested for special injections worth about Rs.60,000 to be injected to Karan to stop the spread of the disease. 
The housewife, Anu, who is a math tutor, and had brought the child from Ambala where Karan's mother worked as a maid, approached various sources, including our Club. While she herself shelled out Rs.30,000 immediately from her own savings to buy the first lot of injections, we sent out the appeal and within a few hours the remaining Rs.30,000 were arranged. 
Our special thanks to the Rotarians and others who responded immediately, especially  the Saboo family, Rtn AP Singh’s sister Supreet Dhiman and her Can and Will Foundation, Rtn. D.P. Singh, Rtn. D.V. Bhatia, Rtn. Lalita Jagmohan Singh, Rtn. Dr. Prashant Jain, and Rtn. C.J. Singh. 

Thanks to the prompt support by poor patient coordinator in PGI Dr. Anuradha Jatana for interacting with the doctors and the chemist M/s Kumar Brothers, Karan is now well on his way to recovery. He was relieved on 20^th May since the disease stopped spreading.  The boy would require physiotherapy to restore the working of his limbs.

Karan went back home smiling, and when what he wants to be, he shot back, “I want to be a doctor”. 

Make a Change, Save the Life!

Many of you might recognise these Rotarians who had been a part of the NID team from US led by Noelle. The ABC News, one of the leading news channels in US, reported the visit of this team. A must watch...look at the passion which drives these Rotarians from abroad in India to ensure that polio gets kicked out of here...and our world. Dr Basser who was part of the NID team last year shares his experience of his visit to India.
Click here to watch the ABC News story.

Where will you be meeting the world's Rotary Leader?

Chandigarh Judicial Academy in Sector 43B is the venue for the District Intercity to Welcome our Rotary International President Ray Klinginsmith on 25th March.
Have you registered yourself or not? Our Club is the host of this event and it is essential that each one of us register as couples for this meet.
Registration Fee is just Rs.175 for single and Rs.300 for couple.
Rotaractors can register themselves by paying just Rs.100 only.
Each member must reach out to Rotarians in other clubs in the tricity area to promote this event and invite them over to be a part of this grand opportunity to interact with their world leader...opportunity to learn...opportunity to get inspired.  More importantly, one learns tremendously from such leaders of repute, as to what it takes to reach the higher echelons of a service organisation.
Let's be there is large number.
You can confirm your participation by clicking here and filling in your particulars so that your name tag can be prepared. 

The fight is not yet over!

Just get set for another round of attack on polio virus.  SNID has been scheduled for Sunday, 27th March. So be ready for action.

Major task before every Rotarians is : 
a. Whenever and wherever you see a 5 years old, check out the mark on the little finger to see whether the child has received the polio drops or not.
b. Especially check your neighbourhood. Check out the child of your servant, the gardner, the dhobi around the corner, the labour in a house being constructed nearby or the settlements of labourers around the buildings under construction, the brick kilns.
c. Check out the children with nomad parents. You can find them in plenty on the Sector 21, Sector 22, Sector 34, Sector 15, and Sector 17. Have they been immunised?
d. Mark out such places where you think such families are there, and ensure on the 27th March that you take the team of paramedics with the polio dose, to all these settlements to ensure that they receive the drops.
e. Ensure coverage of people in transit. Man all the entries and exits to the city, request people to stop, check if there is a 5 years old or smaller child inside, and give the polio drop.
This is the only way we can ensure that polio gets wiped out from our country.

Rotary International President to visit Chandigarh

Rotary International President Ray Klinginsmith shall be in Chandigarh on 25th March 2011.  A unique, momentous opportunity for the Rotarians and their families in our District to meet the world leader of Rotary International...face-to-face. 

He is accompanied by the Rotary International Director K.R. Ravindran on the morning of 25th March and would be addressing the congregation of Rotarians in the evening at an intercity in the newly-built Chandigarh Judicial Academy's auditorium in Sector 43 (near ISBT) of Chandigarh.

Our Club has been given the opportunity to host this Intercity. All members are requested to register and make this event a grand success.

REGISTER NOW
The Registration Fee for the Intercity is Rs.175 (single) and Rs.300 (couple).  Kindly have your cheque,  drawn in favour of "Rotary Club of Chandigarh" sent to Rotary House, 107A, Sector 18A, Chandigarh, immediately.  

You can also confirm your participation by clicking here and filling in your particulars so that your name tag can be prepared. 

Put Ice in Your Mobile!

 Indeed. The concept of ICE is being promoted in Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali and we do hope that other cities would also follow suit. 

Parents should feed the ICE number in the mobile numbers carried by their children. 
They can feed the ICE number in the mobile phones carried by elderly, who may faint outside their homes in a park or on road, or may just forget their address. If they are carrying the mobile number at least someone can contact the right person. 
Just a few days back I found a 50-year old, fully drunk, lying on the road. There were people around and one of them trying to locate the number on which to call. And it was a big struggle since most people have 100s and 1000s of contact numbers in their mobile phones and to identify the right person quickly is often a challenge. Had there been ICE number added in the mobile, it would have been much easier. 
So just put it in your Mobile. Today. Now!

Polio Warriors reach Kolkata

Check out how the two polio warriors are doing in their mission to traverse India and spread the polio-awareness.
Having started from Chandigarh on 28th December, they have reached Kolkata. Read their travellogue and check out some interesting photos they have posted on our blog. Click here for a quick tour.

Shine...and spread Sunshine! Happy New Year.

Polio Warriors flagged off

It's been a proud moment today when two Rotaractors of our Rotaract Club of Chandigarh, were flagged off by Past Rotary International President Rajendra K. Saboo from Hans Raj Public School, Panchkula, where the District RYLA also culminated, for their 8000kms round-trip across the country to engage people in Rotary's fight against polio.
Rtr. Gaurav Gupta is final year engineering student of UIET, Panjab University pursuing BioTechnology and Rtr. Deepak Sharma is a first year BA student of DAV College, Chandigarh.
You can encourage them, guide them, and respond to their travelogue entries on our blog : http://poliowarriors3080.blogspot.com. 
You can check out their itinerary and the route map on the blog too. 
These 'Polio Warriors' left today for Delhi in the afternoon, and on the way were received warmly by the Rotarians of Derabassi. They have safely reached Delhi tonight.
Tomorrow morning they will be flagged off from Delhi and via Agra they would rest for the night at Kanpur on Day 2.

Let's spread light!

Make this Diwali
more bright, more joyful, more sfe
for the children of our world!

Let’s step up our fight to end Polio
and protect our children forever!

Fight Against Polio must continue!

What are we doing to eradicate polio? The biggest challenge before us is for each one of us to contribute to the Rotary Foundation to urgently complete the target of USD200 million that qualifies us to get Bill & Milinda Gates Foundation contribution. Luckily, Rotarians around the world have raised USD140 million. Yet, there is much more to be achieved.
Our District 3080 launched a fund-raising campaign "Children for Children", where school children in schools around the District are reaching out to the community to raise funds. More details can be had from DG Madhukar Malhotra or me.
We have been going around the schools and sensitising them about what Rotary is doing. Surprisingly, not very many know about Rotary's role. It's time each one of us reach out, share the facts about Rotary's contribution to this entire global campaign to eradicate polio from the face of this earth.
Here's a video produced by Rotary International and released last year on World Polio Day, i.e. 24th October 2009. It is interesting...informative...and possibly you might meet the Rotarians you know. How many did you spot? Check out.

Thank you for your support

Must watch this video...and get the message! 



Thank you for donating blood...and saving a life!

Heartiest Congratulations to Rtn. Neena Singh

Our heartiest congratulations to Rtn. Neena Singh who has been honoured with a commendation from the Chandigarh Administration for her work with the children in the slums, and her contribution in motivating them to study and change their lives. A massive effort. But it matters to all those who have been able to get into the classrooms, who spell hope for the future of our country.

Rotary Friendship Day

Every year we showcase Rotary to some of our friends and business asssociates, who, we think, are also the prospective Rotarians.
This Monday, we shall have a very special programme. Every member is requested to bring at least one friend/acquaintance along with his/her spouse to the Rotary meeting.
This is going to be a very special evening. Babbi Harbhajan Singh is bringing some choicest traditional cuisines from her home to celebrate the advent of 'Saawan'.
Please come with your spouse.

Medical Mission to Mandala on Rotary International website

Lest you forget the extraordinary success that the Rotarian doctors achieved in the tribal district of Mandala in Madhya Pradesh. Rotary International's website features this story now. Makes you feel proud of Rotary. Just click here.

Make Rotary "Bigger, Better, Bolder"

As the 2010 RI Convention in Montréal, Québec, Canada, drew to a close on 23 June, RI President-elect Ray Klinginsmith outlined his plans for his term, which begins 1 July.



Klinginsmith asked Rotarians to apply "cowboy logic" and make Rotary clubs "bigger, better, and bolder."

The fundamental principles of cowboy logic are taking pride in your work, talking less and saying more, doing what has to be done, and remembering that some things just aren’t for sale, he explained during the closing plenary session.

"I believe the way for Rotary to remain viable and vibrant in the next century is to help our clubs to be bigger, better, and bolder," Klinginsmith said. "The clubs are the life and breath of Rotary. Therefore, it is clear to me that my job is to help the district governors to help the clubs. We can do it, and we will do it, if all of us follow the simple solution of cowboy logic."

Follow the Flying Geese Paradigm

One common refrain is that the past presidents do not contribute, do not participate in projects, and are always critical. The past presidents, on the other hand, complain that they are not involved and nobody 'invites' us, and at times, they very vehemently suggest that the club should list out "our role as past presidents". Read on

Get to know Rotary!

Here's a link to slide show on the net for the new members. They will get brief information about Rotary, though there is a whole lot of exciting motivational and informative videos on You Tube too. Guide your members to these links.

RI Theme 2010-11 speech of Ray Klinginsmith

Read the full text of the speech by incoming Rotary International President Ray Klinginsmith. Click here

Felicitation Function in honour of RI President 2011-12 Kalyan Banerjee

 
Our District 3080 is hosting a function to welcome and felicitate Rtn. Kalyan Banerjee and his gracious wife Binota, on Sunday, March 28, 2010 at Ambala Cantt. All are requested to join this function in large number.
The programme is in the afternoon with registration and high tea between 3-4pm. The registration fee is just Rs.200 per person, and the same can be deposited with me at the earliest.
Programme is expected to be over by 7pm.
Please register now.

Rotary Medical Mission goes to Madhya Pradesh

Rotary Medical Mission led by DG Chetan Aggarwal with PDG Subhash Garg as the Mission Director, left for tribal district of Mandla in Madhya Pradesh yesterday. The mission has a large team of doctors on board and volunteers including past Rotary International President Rajendra K. Saboo, Usha Saboo, PDG Dhian Chand, Rotary Club Chandigarh President Rtn G.S. Lakhmna, Rtn Hatinder Khattar, Mrs Neelam Aggarwal, Mrs Brij Parmar, Mrs Praveen Garg and Mrs. Neelam Khattar.
The team of doctors from District 3080 comprises of 23 doctors (plastic surgeons, anesthetists, orthopedics, ENT specialists, dental surgeons, gynaecologists, opthalmologists, and general surgeons, along with 3 medical assistants with load of medicines and equipment.
From our Club, Rtn Dr. P.S. Chari, the receipient of Rotary's Service Above Self Award, is also accompanying the Mission along with ENT specialist Rtn. Dr. Raman Abrol.
Another team of doctors from District 3260 would be joining the medical mission in Mandla.
PDG Vivek Tankha of District 3260 is the livewire of the project who selected the area in consultation with the government of Madhya Pradesh which also is supporting this mission.
The mission has also been sponsored by Districts 6200 and 7490 of USA.
Rotary Medical Mission to district 3260 from district 3080, is in continuation of the Intercontinental Medicare Mission initiated by Past Rotary International President Rajendra K. Saboo, to involve Rotarian doctors and volunteers to serve beyond borders. There had been several missions that have served in various countries abroad as well as in India.

Happy Rotary Day

Heartiest congratulations on Rotary's 105th Anniversary. How're you going to share it? Let's come up with new project ideas and share with each other thru this blog.
It is also the Centenary of the Rotary International leadership, since it was in 2010 that Paul Harris became the first President of Rotary International.

Conference Registration

All members are requested to register for the District Conference, as well as for the special District Felicitation function in honor of Rtn PRID Nominees YP Das on 6th February. Kindly treat it as urgent.
The early-bird registration fee for District Conference @ Rs.1200 (single) and Rs.2300 (couple) closes on 31st January.

Join in the Evening of Celebration

District 3080 invites you to an evening of celebrations to felicitate Rotary International Directors Nominee Yash Pal Das and Shekhar Mehta.

The function is being hosted by Rotary Club of Chandigarh Midtown in the auditorium of National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & Research (NIPER), Sector 67, Mohali, on Saturday, Februaryn 6, 2010 at 3:45pm onwards.

Registration Fee is Rs.300 for single and Rs.500 for the couple.

Please join with your spouse and confirm your participation by sending an email now to Registration Chair Rtn PP Inderjit Sengupta, in.seng@gmail.com

Another light has gone!

Dr S.K. Duggal is no more. Born on 6th May 1937, Dr. Duggal was a highly respected individual who was most humble, generous, and a committed Rotarian. He joined Rotary in 1969 and served the Club with aplomb on various assignments. Though I had known him for the last two decades on professional basis, and had the opportunity to work with him when he was the President of Chandigarh Management Association, I found him a thorough professional, transparent and honest in his dealings, and would call a spade-a-spade whenever he felt so, besides demonstrating effective time management in all his meetings. Whether it was CMA, the Executives Club, and later as President of our Club, he would announce the time of starting and closing the meeting, and would strictly follow the timing, whether anyone was present or not.
He had been a great support when I had the opportunity to work with him in 2005-06. As Club Secretary, he would stick to the schedules and make sure that all correspondence and records are managed well. It was a great learning experience for me.

And yesterday at the Chandigarh Management Association's Foundation Day function, everyone was asking about him, and as is his habit to be meticulous and punctual, at 7pm he asked Mrs. Duggal to inform the CMA that he would not be able to come due to ill health.

Little did we know that he would just quietly move away from this mundane world to his Heavenly Abode.

Our heartfelt condolences to him and pray to Almighty to give strength to his family to bear this unbearable loss.

Register for Rotary Confluence 2010

The Rotary year's major annual event, District Conference is scheduled for February 20-21 at Panjab University's Law Auditorium. The two-days event shall feature some of the best non-Rotarian speakers with special programme for the ladies, and evening cultural at the Rock Garden over gala dinner.
Avail the Early Bird Registration of Rs.1200 single, and Rs.2300 couple. Sign up immediately to avail this offer.
A must for every Rotarian family.

Polio remains top priority with Ray Klinginsmith

District governors-elect got their first glimpse of the 2010-11 presidential emphases during the second plenary session of the 2010 International Assembly.

Polio eradication and outreach to youth and young adults top RI President-elect Ray Klinginsmith's "to-do" list. Also featured are the Future Vision Plan's six areas of focus:

* Peace and conflict prevention/resolution
* Disease prevention and treatment
* Water and sanitation
* Maternal and child health
* Basic education and literacy
* Economic and community development

Register for District Conference

The exciting annual event for every Rotarian, Rotary District Conference of our District 3080, is round the corner now.
Having been shifted to Chandigarh from Haridwar, the preparations are at full swing under the leadership of our DG Chetan Aggarwal with the help of the host club of Rotary Chandigarh Central.
It is time that we keep ourselves updated with the newer developments in Rotary, meet with the Rotary International President's Representative PRID Sushil Gupta, and get touched with the inspirational addresses some of the celebrity speakers which are featured in this conference.
On 19th February we have the pre-Conference Dinner with a musical performance and the registration charges for the same is just Rs.250 per person. Please inform your participation to the Conference Secretariat immediately so that appropriate arrangements can be made.
The Registration for the Conference has been extended upto 31st January at Rs.1200 (single) and Rs.2300 (couple). Please avail this early-bird opportunity and register. The new members with their spouses must attend this event in order to have an overview of the Rotary's work.

Upto 31st January Single Rs 1,200- Couple Rs 2,300-
Upto 14th February Single Rs 1,400- Couple Rs 2,600-
Spot February Single Rs 1,500- Couple Rs 2,700- (Without Kit)

Special programme is being chalked out for the ladies attending the Conference.

The registrations may be sent by cheques /drafts drawn in favour of "Rotary District Conference 2010" along with names of delegates, club & classification details may be sent to following address:
PP Rtn RD Singh
RC Chandigarh Central,
C/O New Public School
Sector 18-B
Chandigarh-160 018
Tel 098146 48480 Fax 0172- 4628480
e-mail riar@npschd.com

You can also transfer the registration fee through Central Bank of India, for which the details are given below.

CBIN 0280412 for
Central Bank of India,
Sector 18-C,
Chandigarh
Account -Rotary District Conference 2010 S.B. A/c No 4058

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

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.

Bon Voyage to Madhukar and Neeru

A grand Bon Voyage function was hosted by Rotary Club of SAS Nagar at the Diplast Farms at Dappar, on Sunday 3rd January. Despite the heavy fog and chilly weather, over 500 Rotarians from various parts of the District travelled to give their best wishes to DGE Madhukar Malhotra and Ann Neeru. Almost every past RI Officer was present at the function, which was conducted by PDG JPS Sibia. Past Rotary International President Rajendra K. Saboo and Usha Saboo, Rotary International Director Elect Yash Das and Manju were there on the dais.
A large contingent of over 60 Rotarians and their spouses from our Club joined at the function, who moved in a cavalcade from the Rotary House with Past Rotary International President R.K. Saboo in the lead followed by DGE Madhukar and Neeru in the car of PDG Kawal Bedi.
Despite the weather, everyone enjoyed the memorable moment and thanks to PP Ashok Gupta of Diplast who had made elaborate arrangements to host this event.
DG Chetan Aggarwal complimented Rotary Club of Chandigarh for providing an excellent leader in Madhukar and congratulated the couple and wished bon voyage to them. Please go to the temple of learning for more knowledge and enter the school as new entrant and with open mind to learn more about Rotary, he advised.
Past Rotary International President Rajendra K. Saboo spoke about the tradition of setting selfdiscipline and yet continuing with our bonding of friendship with each other. He also warned that future leadership shall be facing the weather like foggy, cold, chilly, windy and should be prepared for that. IT is going to be a platform for those who would take up the responsibilities, and ssaid that the Board of Directors of RI are considering the possibility of stripping the Rotarian of DG or PDG designation if he/she is found wanting in their performance. We are fortunate that in such camaraderie despite this weather would not deviate us from the warmth that we have for our incoming leader. He wished Madhukar Malhotra for being soft, palpable in order to be mounded with the Rotary knowledge and information that he would gain from his experience at Rotary Institute.
DGN Manpreet Gandhok, complimented the couple DGE Madhukar Malhotra and Neeru Malhotra, said that he felt proud of having this unique tradition of giving a send off to the incoming district governor through this bon voyage function which was highly appreciated at the Rotary Institute at Cochin.
RI Director Elect Yash Das said that the bon voyage is a unique tradition of our district, which gives the opportunity to every leader and every Rotarian to come together and showing solidarity with the incoming district governor. The second reason, he said, this acts as a morale booster for the incoming leadership to be ready for the exciting and memorable experience at the Rotary Institute, which would be a life-time experience.