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.

New Designated Months

The Board modified Rotary's calendar of special observances to designate specific months highlighting the Areas of Focus. The new special observance months are:
•    September: Basic Education and Literacy
•    October: Economic and Community Development
•    December: Disease Prevention and Treatment
•    January: Vocational Service
•    February: Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution
•    March: Water and Sanitation
•    April: Maternal and Child Health
•    May: Youth Services


The R.I Board approved a change in the "additional per capita dues," as provided for in the RI Bylaws, to pay for the projected expenses of the Council on Legislation from $1.00 to $1.50, effective 1 July 2015.

Women are no less than Men

The Power of a WomanPast President Rtn. Arvind Mehan
Rotary Club of Chandigarh

In our last meeting we enjoyed a very elucidating talk by Ms. Gul Panag on Women Empowerment. The main emphasis was put on Gender inequality and bias. Be that as it may, an important aspect to know  for the woman is to unleash her inherent strength and power. The more confidently she projects it in society the more it will be recognized by man and she will earn her rightful respect and honour. The woman should not consider herself as the weaker sex, not even the fairer.

On watching the hindi movie “Mardani” recently, in my naiveté, I did not know but then realized that this attribute was not the private domain of men. It belongs to them as well. It is all about valour and courage and women only need to pledge to have it.

Let an inner voice resound in them that they are great just the way they are in the way they look but to change the way they become in their physical and mental strength.

Let a day come when the Miss India contest is held not for beauty or poise but for a track record of bravery or courage, sports or martial arts and for their leadership skills.

Our daughters, sisters or even the mothers of young children should be encouraged to go to gyms for physical fitness or to learn martial arts rather than beauty parlours which may be patronized only by senior ladies and men who may want to cheat their own age. Not that looking good in life is not important but only after one is physically fit and strong.

Basically the mindset has to be changed right from the age of toddlers so that they learn about gender equality right from the start. Boys should be sensitized right in kindergarten about gender respect. Girls should be made to realize from a very young age that they may very well be but are not supposed to look just pretty but grow up to be as important bread winners as men. They should not think of marriage as a position of shelter or support of a man in life but as being an equal if not stronger partner. It seems like an easy way out but girls have to be hard working and capable as well. They should pursue professional education seriously to make good careers and become financially independent if they have to fight the age-old scourge of dowry and other social evils.

On the same token, men of course should know that women have an equal right to go out and work and the responsibility of looking after children and the household as well as cooking is not the private domain of women. It belongs to them as well. All this conditioning for the children has to be done seriously as parents and teachers.

On hearing Gul Panag speak, one could make out that she is a ‘Mardani’ in many ways and was truly great leadership material and not just pushed into politics because of her celebrity image. Same is the case with Smriti Irani, whom one thought of similarly, once you get a chance to listen to her and realize how strong and able she is.

We have umpteen cases of such strong women leaders, past and present, who could take on the strongest of men leaders in any arena. But we need a lot more in society – much, much more. Let every young girl and woman of our country carry a conviction that she is no less in any field involving physical or mental dexterity than a man.

Let her carry a halo around her exuding strength, courage and power. Then let us see how men misbehave in any way with her. Once they know that women are not an ‘underdog’ in any field, they will cease to behave like ‘dogs’ like some of them are known to do when you hear of cases of rape and sexual harassment. Let there not be any modesty in women about their raging power lest the men attempt to outrage it!

Gul Panag speaks for Women Empowerment

Change the mindset to empower women, says Gul Panag

Bollywood actor Gul Panag addressed our Club on 2nd September during the regular Monday meeting of the Club on ‘Women Empowerment in the 21st Century’ at the Rotary House.

Speaking to Rotarians she emphasized the need to organizations like Rotary to take up the women related social issues to make a difference in their lives.

The change is possible that a relentless efforts need to be made to bring about the positive change in the society that could give equality to women and freedom to pursue their dreams.

I was lucky, she said, that I got the parents, and now my husband, who have been completely supporting me in whatever I wanted to do in my life, though not all girls are that lucky.

The mindset needs to be changed though I know, she emphasised it would take years, and decades and may be centuries.  The social ills like sati took hundred of years to vanish from India despite the draconic laws that British government tried to enforce to ban this practice.

Though the judicial intervention would be required to bring about the change it is the men and women alike have to raise their voice against women atrocities, she said.

Later PDG Kawal Bedi, another epitome of women empowerment, presented a memento to Gul Panag.

Why must youngsters join Rotaract?

As the new academic session starts, it is time for the Rotaract Clubs to gear up their act, plan their activities, and more importantly, start recruiting new members.

A hassled Rotaract Club's President came up to me with the question, "Sir, when we approach the new students to join Rotaract, they ask what benefit they will get out of it, and even my teachers often ask me, 'Why should anyone join Rotaract?' "

Well, for all those hassled and harried Rotaract leaders, here are a few facts which you may use for your pitch.

WHAT IS ROTARACT? 
Rotaract simply means Rotary In Action, and is an affiliate of Rotary international.  Rotaract is the official program of Rotary International which came into existence in 1968. The first club chartered was Rotaract club of North Charlotte, North Carolina USA on March 13, 1968. It comprises of young adults between the age of 18 to 30 either community or institutional based.   Today, Rotaract has grown into a strong, international network of over 8,000 clubs in more than 167 countries.

PURPOSE 
The purpose to Rotaract is to provide an opportunity for young men and women to enhance the knowledge and skills that will assist them in personal development, to address the physical needs of their communities and to promote better relations between all people worldwide through a frame work of friendship and service.

WHY JOIN ROTARACT? 
The reasons for joining Rotaract are:
- To develop professional and leadership skills.
- To emphasis respect for the right of others, and promote ethnical standards and the dignity of all useful occupation.
- To provide opportunities for young people to address the needs and concerns of the community and our world.
- To provide opportunities for working in cooperation with sponsoring Rotary club.
- To motivate young people for eventual membership in Rotary
In addition, you must have the mind to render selfless service to humanity and also at every time you must be ready to surrender your Time, Talent, Treasure and Thinking (4T's).

ADVANTAGES OF BEING A ROTARACTOR
Leadership Development: Rotaract is an organisation of leaders and successful people, serving in Rotaract Positions like a college education. Leadership learning, how to motivate, influence and lead leaders.

Continuing Education: Rotaract is a learning opportunity and is a continuous training in doing research and assessment of critical community needs, strategizing, developing plans, creating and managing teams and other resources, raising funds, and celebrating achievements.   This is a complete education in developing multifarious management skills encompassing management of resources, production, humans, finances, publicity, promotions, and projects.

Global Citizenship: Rotaractors wears pin that say "Rotaract Club". There are many places on the globe that do have a Rotary club. Every Rotaractors is welcome, even encourage to attend any of the Rotary Clubs meeting or that of the Rotaract clubs around the globe; this means instant friends in both one's community and in the world community.

Professional Network: This is a significant advantage which Rotaractors enjoy over other professionals. Everyone needs to network especially when a young boy and girl wants to work as an intern or is looking for a job after studies.  Rotary’s network of business people and professionals help them get the desired internship/placement.

Career Advancement/Professional Growth: Being a member of the Rotaract Club helps young boys and girls receive instant recognition for their community service projects, which gives them credit rating during further studies abroad or during internship/placements, since Rotaract and its sponsoring organization Rotary enjoys international recognition, and Rotaractors get a headstart.

The Opportunity to Serve: Rotaract is service; its business is mankind while its product is service. Rotaractor provide community service to both local and international communities. This is perhaps the best reason for becoming a Rotaractor, the chance to do something for somebody else; to sense the self-fulfillment that comes in the process, and the return of that satisfaction to one's own life. It’s richly rewarded.

Ethical Living: Rotaract movement infuses amongst its members the spirit of giving, and ethical behavior, which augurs well generally for the world at large.

Participation in National and International Conferences: Rotaractors are eligible to register for any of the Rotary or Rotaract conferences held around the world.

Youth Exchange Programme: Rotaractors can also join in many of the youth exchange programmes that Rotary organizes giving youngsters the opportunity to travel to other countries, attend short term workshops, or long-term academic studies.

Rotary Club Chandigarh wins Best Club Trophy

Rotary Club of Chandigarh won the running trophy, second time in a row, for the Best Club in Rotary District 3080. 

The trophy was presented at the District Annual Awards function, 'Abhinandan', and was received by President of the Club Rtn. Hassan Singh Mejie, Secretary Desh Deepak Khanna, and all other members of the Club.

The outgoing District Governor Rtn. Rakesh Aggarwal, whose term also finishes today for 2013-14, congratulated the Club which under the leadership of President, Rtn. Hassan Singh Mejie, outdid every other club in the District in its overall performance, from managing excellent projects to raising funds and contributing to The Rotary Foundation, out of the 79 clubs in the District.

The Club received several other awards for its multifaceted performance in the Rotary District 3080, which comprises Chandigarh, parts of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Utrakhand and Uttar Pradesh. 

Past Rotary International President Rajendra K. Saboo, PDGs from the Club Rtn. Kawal Bedi and Rtn. Madhukar Malhotra, PE Prof Paramjit Singh, President Nominee D.P. Singh, along with many members of the Club including PP Abhilash Kapoor, PP Praveen Goyal, PP Baldev Aggarwal, PP C.J. Singh, PP Man Mohan Singh Kohli, IPP Vivek Gupta, Sukhjit Singh Gill, Rajneesh and Mona Khattar, Ann Alpana, received the trophy. 

Rtn. Col. Dilip Patnaik, District Governor 2014-15 formally received the baton of leadership from DG 2013-14 Rtn Rakesh Aggarwal.

Dainik Bhaskar Pride Award for Rotary Club Chandigarh

Dainik Bhaskar confers Pride Award on Rotary Club of Chandigarh for its Heartline Project

Governor of Punjab, His Excellency Shri Shivraj Patil, gave the trophy and a citation, which was received by the Club's team of Rotarians including Past Rotary International President Rajendra K. Saboo, President Hassan Singh Mejie, Past Presidents Baldev Aggarwal, Charanjit Singh, Manmohan Singh Kohli, Neena Singh and Vivek Gupta, besides Project Chair Sukhjit Singh Gill and Mona Khattar.

The award is a community recognition of the great efforts of the Rotarians for their zeal and mission 'not to let any child die for want of money'.

Since 1999, when the project began as Gift of Life (now known as Rotary Heartline)  under matching grant project, the Club decided to continue with its mission even when the matching grant was over, and till date 500 lives of children have been saved by providing free cardiac surgery.

Our heartiest compliments to every Rotarian, their families, our partner Fortis Hospital Mohali, and the angel supporters who continue to bring back the smiles on the faces of these children and their families.

Rotarians to mend hearts of 7 children from Rwanda

Rotary Club of Chandigarh received seven children from Rwanda who arrived here on Sunday, for their heart surgeries.

The youngest of all, Evan is a 7 months old child suffering from Down syndrome and is accompanied by his mother, Uhiriwe Chantal.

Rtn. Pres. Hassan Singh Mejie with the first lady, besides Past Presidents Kewal Seth, Praveen Goyal, Baldev Aggarwal, Charanjit Singh, and Vivek Gupta, President Nominee Rtn. D.P. Singh, Rtn. Sukhjit Singh Gill, Rtn. Mona Khattar, and Rtn. Jatinder Kapoor, received the children at the airport and brought them to the Rotary House, where they met the media and had their lunch, before being shifted to the Fortis Hospital.

Rotary Club of Chandigarh had been engaged in providing free heart surgeries to children from various parts of the country as well as from abroad through our partner hospital, under Rotary Heartline project, since 1999, informed Rtn. Hassan Singh Mejie, President of the Club.

Former world president of Rotary International, Rtn. Rajendra K. Saboo, who conceived this project which has saved 499 lives of children already, is a happy man, who rejoices at the innocent smiles of these children, which transcends any boundaries.

Most of the children suffer from rheumatic heart disease (RHD) with some of them having the leaking heart valve, and will be operated by Dr. T.S. Mahant, Executive Director CTVS at the Fortis Hospital Mohali in the next two weeks, informed Rtn. Sukhjit Singh Gill, the chairman of the Heartline committee.

According to Rotary Club Chandigarh President Hassan Singh Mejie, this was a part of our commitment to the children of Rwanda to provide free heart surgeries to 30 children, and it is the third group of 7 children which has arrived now.

Amongst the children include Master Prince (9 years), Miss Brigitte (9), Miss Josiane (14), Miss Dativa (14), Master Fils (17), Miss Vedastine (15), and Evan (7 months).

The children are accompanied by Dr. Emmanuel Rusingiza Kamanzi, and  Heshima Christophe, along with mother of Evan, Mrs. Uhiriwe Chantal.

The Club which launched the Rotary Heartline project in 1997, has already saved the lives of 499 children, which included children, besides from India, 15 each from Malawi, Nepal, and Rwanda, 33 from Pakistan, 7 from Uganda, two from Afghanistan, and one from Iraq.

ROTARY SCHOLARSHIPS for Water and Sanitation Professionals

Rotary International and the UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education have teamed up to tackle the world’s water and sanitation crisis by increasing the number of trained professionals to devise, plan, and implement solutions in developing and emerging countries. Through this partnership, The Rotary Foundation will provide grants to Rotary clubs and districts to select and sponsor 16 students each year.
The Rotary Scholarships for Water and Sanitation Professionals have been designed to promote long-term productive relationships between Rotarian's and highly skilled water and sanitation professionals in their communities. Rotary scholars will benefit from the support they receive through regular contact with sponsoring Rotarian's from their home country and the opportunity to interact with Rotarian's in the Netherlands.
After graduating, scholars’ expertise will be put to work improving water and sanitation conditions in their own community with a project the scholar and sponsoring Rotarians will design and implement together.
In addition, Rotary Foundation alumni are part of an extensive network of fellow Rotary scholarship recipients and Rotarians worldwide. Becoming involved with a local Rotary club and the alumni association allows scholars to stay connected to Rotary’s global community and resources.
Students eligible for this scholarship must be provisionally admitted to one of the following degree programs at UNESCO-IHE (joint programs are not eligible):
• ~ MSc in Urban Water and Sanitation
• ~ MSc in Water Management
• ~ MSc in Water Science and Engineering
Students provisionally admitted to one of the three eligible UNESCO-IHE academic programs will seek the sponsorship of their local Rotary club or district and  completed applications must be received by The Rotary Foundation from sponsor Rotarians no later than 15 July of the year in which studies begin.
Scholarship awards will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Early submission is highly encouraged.
TRF awards scholarships in the amount of €25,000. Funding to cover additional costs (including international travel) related to participation in the academic program will be coordinated by UNESCO-IHE.

Contact information
Questions about the scholarship and application process can be sent to  grants@rotary.org
OR contact Ms Ineke Melis, Senior Fellowship and Admission Officer,
Phone   +31152151705
Email i.melis@unesco-ihe.org
or
Rtn. Pres. Hassan S. Mejie, Rotary Club of Chanidgarh
rotaryclubchandigarh@gmail.com

Celebrating 3-Years of Polio-Free India

It is a matter of great pride for all Rotarians worldwide that India has completed three years without any case of polio, qualifying it for the WHO certification for Polio-Free India, said Rakesh Aggarwal, District Governor of Rotary International District 3080, who was in the city today on his official visit to the Rotary Club of Chandigarh.

People positioned themselves in front of the giant Rotary wheel
in front of the Neelam theatre and clicked their heart out. 

He complimented Rotary Club of Chandigarh for celebrating this milestone by illuminating the Neelam city building in Sector 17 Plaza by Mr. Anil Kumar, IAS, Home Secretary, UT Chandigarh, in the evening, as also the Rotary House.  Buildings all across the nation including India Gate and Red Fort would be illuminated to mark the occasion, he informed.

People eagerly watched the Rotary's journey and efforts in
eradicating polio

Rotary worldwide has contributed more than US$1.2 billion and countless volunteer hours to the polio eradication efforts since 1985 when Rotary mooted this project and later brought on board WHO, UNICEF, US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, and the national governments of countries around the world.

District Governor Rakesh Aggarwal, IPDG Manmohan Singh,
Pres. Hassan Singh Mejie along with other Rotarians of
Rotary Club of Chandigarh, and the Rotaractors 

The three-year achievement also sets the stage for the polio-free certification of the entire South East Asia Region of the World Health Organization in the first quarter of 2014 by the Regional Certification Committee.

UT Home Secretary, Mr. Anil Kumar IAS (third from right)
watches the video after illuminating the Neelam theatre building,
along with PDG Madhukar Malhotra, and Assistant Governor
Ajit Gulati at Sector 17 Plaza.

Rotary says the challenge now is to replicate India’s success in neighboring Pakistan (which is in a different WHO region), one of three remaining polio-endemic countries. Afghanistan and Nigeria are the others. Collectively, they create a reservoir from which the opportunistic disease can emerge to re-infect areas where it had been previously stopped. So-called “imported cases” are occurring now in Syria and several African countries.  In 2013, imported cases in non-endemic countries outnumbered the total in the endemic countries 224 to 145, underscoring the importance of stopping the virus where it remains endemic.
Rotary Governor Rakesh Aggarwal also presented hearing aids to children of Patiala School for the Deaf.
President Hassan Singh Mejie of Rotary Club of Chandigarh informed that Gift of Hearing project was launched last year in collaboration with The Rotary Foundation and the partner Rotary Club of Charlotte, USA of Rotary District 7680, to restore the world of sounds amongst children with hearing disorders. So far, he informed, 29 aids have been given to the deaf and mute children who are now being further rehabilitated by speech therapist to decipher sound and language.
Earlier in the morning, Governor Rakesh Aggarwal and President Hassan Singh Mejie alongwith members of Rotary Club of Chandigarh presented two wheel chairs to the Chandigarh Railway Station for the convenience of the physically challenged, weak and old passengers.

‘Light Up Rotary’: New Rotary 2014-15 Theme Unveiled

RI President-elect Gary C.K. Huang chose Light Up Rotary as his theme for 2014-15. Huang was inspired by the teachings of Chinese philosopher Confucious who said: "It is better to light a single candle, than to sit and curse the darkness."

"There are so many problems in the world, so many people who need help. Many people say, 'There's nothing I can do.' So they sit there doing nothing. Meanwhile everything stays dark," Huang told the 537 district governors and their spouses and partners who are attending the 2014 International Assembly in San Diego, California.

"The Rotary way is the Confucius way. The Rotary way is to light a candle. I light one, you light one, 1.2 million Rotarians light one. Together, we light up the world," said Huang, who is a member of the Rotary Club of Taipei in Taiwan.

After announcing his theme at the opening session of the five-day training meeting, Huang urged club members to Light Up Rotary in the coming year by hosting a Rotary Day in their community and including local Rotaract and Interact members in their service projects.

"How you Light Up Rotary is up to you," Huang said. "You know where you are strong, you know what your community needs, and you know how you can help."

Huang also shared his membership development goals, including the need for more women and young adults and his goal to increase membership to a total of 1.3 million members. He asked Rotarians to invite their spouses, family members, and friends to join Rotary.

"We need to assume leadership for building strong clubs, and that starts with bringing in new members," he said.

Addressing the status of the fight against polio, Huang noted that with the current momentum Rotary is on track to achieve full polio eradication by 2018.

"When we eradicate polio — and we will — we will have proved ourselves an organization capable of great things. And we'll be even better equipped for the next challenge we choose to take on. We'll have given the world a gift that will endure forever," he said.

By continuing to fight against polio, setting an example in local communities, and growing membership, Huang hopes to see Rotary shine brighter than ever.

"Light Up Rotary is our theme, but it is more than our theme. It is how we live in Rotary, how we think in Rotary, how we feel, how we work," Huang said. "It is how we make a difference — every day, in every club, every district, and every country where we serve."

Download the 2014-15 theme logo and materials

Rotary is Opportunity

Rtn. Frank Deaver, Rotary Club of Tuscaloosa, Alabama USA, explains his concept of Rotary. 

What is Rotary? Reduced to a single word, Rotary is Opportunity. 

RI Past President Clem Renouf said, "Rotary takes ordinary men [and women], and gives them extra-ordinary opportunities."

Of course, Rotary is many other things. The words "service" and "fellowship" are often employed to describe the international organization. Other descriptions are valid, of course, but perhaps there is no better single word to encompass all that Rotary stands for. Rotary is opportunity, including – perhaps starting with – service and fellowship, but extending far beyond those two basics.

Rotary is opportunity for acquaintance. 
Without Rotary, members would have much more limited local acquaintance, limited perhaps to workplace and residential neighborhood. Through Rotary, acquaintance is spread across the community, and with the benefit of the classification system, it includes representatives of most of the local businesses and professions.

Rotary is opportunity for networking. 
Paul Harris initiated that first gathering of friends because of a desire for friendly social contacts. But one of their first decisions was to limit new members to one representative from each business and profession, and emphasis was given to targeting their business relations primarily to one another. Rotarians have confidence they can turn to each other for professional or business needs.

Rotary is opportunity for personal growth. 
A member becomes a committee chairman, a club secretary, or president, and rising to expectations of the job, gains self-confidence, poise, and increased leadership ability.

Rotary is opportunity for better citizenship. 
Through weekly programs, Rotarians enlarge their understanding of government, business, and society. Through participation in community projects, they gain appreciation for local needs, and their ability to meet some of those needs.

Rotary is opportunity for mentoring. 
Through club sponsorship of Interact and Rotaract clubs, through school projects or literacy programs, members are challenged to share their expertise in situations that would not be available to them other than through Rotary.

Rotary is opportunity for ethical awareness.
Emphasis is placed on high standards of personal integrity, for example those spelled out in the Four-Way Test. These expectations call on Rotarians to practice and encourage ethical behavior in the workplace and the community.

Rotary is opportunity for world understanding. 
Through exposure to Group Study Exchange teams, to departing and returning Ambassadorial Scholars, and to Youth Exchange, Rotarians gain a multi-cultural awareness, and insight into the world society.

Rotary is opportunity – let us not overlook this – for fellowship and service.
But isn’t that included in and enlarged upon in all of the other opportunities mentioned? The word "opportunity" obviously leads us to ask, and answer, "Opportunity for what?" The opportunities mentioned here are only a beginning; many more could be added.

But the central fact remains: Rotary is Opportunity

New Landmark in fight against poverty this year for India

India to be certified polio free in January this year.

This would be a landmark year in the history of India's fight against polio, and the history of Rotary's crusade to banish polio from this world.

Officially it would be 13th January when India would complete three polio-free years.  While the Rotary is all geared up to commemorate this event throughout the country, our Club has also ambitious plans.  We would expect every Rotarian to be a part of it and join in large number.

13th January being Monday is also the time when our District Governor Rtn Rakesh Aggarwal and the first lady would be with us on his Official Visit.

Watch out this video 

Deputy High Commissioner joins Rotarians for Christmas celebrations

British Deputy High Commissioner in Chandigarh David Lelliott and his wife Lizeth celebrated Christmas with nearly 70 children from Bapu Dham Colony and Dhanas, at Rotary House here today. 

Lelliott with her two children reached the Rotary House at 11am sharp and thoroughly enjoyed, distributed goodies and Christmas cake, and danced with them to the beat of dhol.

Our Santa Claus, Pres. Hassan S. Mejie, was in full joy and mood to make this Xmas a very special day for over 70 children from Rotary Balwari in Dhanas and Bal Bahar School in Bapu Dham Colony Sector 26.

He had organised Kachi Ghorri folk dancers and puppeteers from Jaipur to regale the little kids, and for many a Rotarians and their families it was a great experience and exciting moment to recall her childhood days when she had last seen the puppet show.

To complete the fun every child had a camel ride, while the melodious choir from choir from Chandigarh Bible Fellowship sang the carols on the occasion.











David Lelliott joined the fun and eagerly distributed refreshment to little children, and later both, David and Lizeth handed over Xmas gifts to children.

Thanks to all Rotarians and Rotaractors who made the Xmas celebrations a great success.

From Silence to Sound... Slideshow for You!

Just in case you are not able to see this video, please click here. 

From Silence to Sound

Imagine a child born without a basic faculty of hearing...something that we take for granted. Imagine a world where the dance party, loud music, sounds of traffic or chirping of the birds do not evince any interest.  Imagine a world where the shouts, cries and laughters are mere visual gesticulations with no emotional chord for someone without the ability to hear them.  

I happened to visit such a school for deaf and mute in our city, and it was the recess time.  There were hundreds of children who were quitely running around, some just sitting on a bench and stairing at the moving figures, others quitely standing along a pole, while a few sat under a tree... trying to talk to each other in sign language.

Their condition moved the Rotarians of Rotary Club of Chandigarh to start a project last year with the support of The Rotary Foundation under its matching grant with Rotary Club of Charlotte, USA, as partner, to not only provide cochlear implant where possible but also extensively examine the children in schools to detect hearing loss and provide hearing aids to them. 

President Hassan Singh Mejie and Secretary Desh Deepak Khanna along with another member of the club who is a trained audiologist and speech therapist, Rtn. Ritu Chaudhary, came across Patiala School for Deaf, and found that many of the children with hearing impairment had been abandoned by their parents. 

Most heart rending part is that during vacations there are many children who have nowhere to go and they stay put in the school's hostel, informed Col. Karminder Singh, Director of Patiala School for the Deaf, and if some of these children can be treated to overcome this physical disability, they would be able to enter the society's mainstream, he added. 

The team of Rotarians visited earlier to the school and Rtn. Ritu Chaudhary identified 24 such children who had moderate to severe hearing loss and could possibly hear the sound with the help of hearing aides.  

On Tuesday, 17th December, the team drove 80kms through the early morning fog to the school, re-examined them and fitted them appropriate hearing aides.

Though the children would start hearing the sound but would require the support and coaching by a trained audiologist to help them understand various sounds and learn to decipher them and use their vocal chords too, because the deaf students are also mute and can learn to speak only after they hear various sounds, informed Rtn Ritu Chaudhary. 

The children after receiving their hearing aids were ecastic and jumped with excitement on hearing the world around them, and once they get to develop their speaking abilities and understand language, they would be able to enjoy their life more fully, Rtn Desh Deepak Khanna said. 

According to an estimate, over 24 million children suffer from this debilitating disability and nearly 1 lakh babies are born every year with profound hearing loss. This project would change lives of many such children who have partial hearing loss, he added.

We spent 90-minutes of our drive back home almost silently; perhaps each one of us was quitely expressing our gratitude to the Almighty for giving us the opportunity to change these little lives, Pres. Hassan S. Mejie said. 

Bhavan Vidyalaya gifts a School to flood-ravaged Uttrakhand

The students and staff of Bhavan Vidyalaya of Chandigarh have embarked on an ambitious plan of building a school in the flood-struck Uttrakhand.

On an appeal that the Chairman of Bhavan Vidyalaya, Mr. R.K. Saboo made last month, the children and staff responded enthusiastically and have worked in unison to collect Rs.10 lakh within a week, informed Ms Vineeta Arora, Principal of Bhavan Vidyalaya, Sector 27, Chandigarh.

Both the junior and the senior sections of the school collected the amount by reaching out to their parents and community to ensure that children in many villages who have been deprived of their school would be able to return to resume their studies, she said.

A cheque of Rs.10 lakh was presented by the students, staff and Principals of both schools namely Ms Vineeta Arora of the seniors branch and Ms Taruna Vashisht of the junior school, to the Rotary Club of Chandigarh, to make this project possible.

The senior school collected Rs.6.47 lakh and the junior wing in Sector 33 collected Rs. 3.53 lakh for the project.

So much was the involvement of the children that they designed the entire campaign and several entries were received for the brochure too out of which the one designed by Charvi Kaul of 7th class got selected which was printed and sent out.

The Rotarians in the country have committed to build and /or undertake major repair of all the schools upto Primary level numbering 175 schools in the districts of Rudraprayag and Uttarkashi, the most ravaged region of Uttarakhand due to the disastrous floods of September 2013.   In addition, desks and benches for 67,000 children will aiso be provided by Rotary.  Nation-wide efforts are afoot to ensure that the children in this area are empowered to become better citizens, former world president of Rotary International Rajendra K. Saboo informed.

Each school in the village built by Rotary will have proper classrooms, toilets and drinking water facilities and shall be managed by the managing committee.   .

Club News - September 23, 2013

Thank you
We received a request from Govt Home Science College to sponsor  study cost of two girls from very poor families. We are grateful to Rtn Dr I.D. Shukla and Rtn Vinod Arora for agreeing to bear the cost of Rs 20,000 each. Their noble gesture will go a long way in helping these two academically brilliant girls finish their studies. Due to lack of resources both the girls were planning to drop-out.

We will also like to thank Rtn Atma Ram Singh (Rs 10,000), Rtn Anil Chadda (Rs 10,000), Rtn P.J. Singh (Rs 10,000) Rtn Mahesh Gupta (Rs 3,270), Rtn Hatinder Khattar (Rs 3270) and PP Abhilash Kapoor (Rs 3,270) for together sponsoring RYLA participation fee of 12 children from EWS families. Thank you PDG Kawal Bedi for motivating the donors.

Home Science College Rotaract Club Installation
The Installation ceremony of the Home Science College Rotaract Club was held on 23 September. Rtr Roopi Rupinder Kaur took over as the new President. The new team was pinned by President Hassan Mejie. Among the Rotarians present were: Rtn Mona Khattar, PP Praveen Goyal, Rtn R.K. Taneja, Rtn Jatinder Kapur and Rtn Desh Deepak Khanna.

Principal of Home Science College, Rtn Madhu Nanda and the counsellor, Dr. Jagjiwan Kaur also braced the occasion.

President Mejie congratulated the outgoing President, Saloni Jain and her team for the excellent work done, as also the incoming President and her team. He also appreciated the huge jump in membership, from just 37 a year back to over 70 now.

He invited the Rotaractors to join him this year in various out of box activities he has planned to hold and also encouraged the Rotaractors to come up with a grand plan for showcasing Rotary as the champion of Polio eradication, as also organize a mega Blood Donation camp.

Help for a Nepali  labourer
We received a request from Ms Anuradha of PGI to help Mr Man Bahadur, a poor labourer from Nepal, get heart operation done from PGI, costing Rs 75,000. A sum of Rs 40,000 had already been collected. We decided to contribute Rs 20,000 from the Sunshine collection.

Lucky  Draw
The Lucky Draw (a gold coin) this Monday was won by Rtn Shuchita Luthra.

Condolences
Our heartfelt condolences to Rtn Pawan Katia on demise of his Brother-in-law.

We also extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of PRID O.P. Vaishnav who died on 18 September 2013. A Rotarian since 1959, he was a member of the Rotary Club of Delhi Midtown and had served RI as Director in 1999-2001 and as a Trustee of the Rotary Foundation in 1996-2000. As per his wish, his body was donated to AIIMS.

Our heartfelt condolences are also extended to PDG Manpreet Singh Gandhoke and his family, on demise of his father, S. Gurbachan Singh Gandhoke on 25 September.

Country needs decisive, bold and a true leader as PM

Chandigarh, September 23:  "Decisive", "bold policy maker", "visionary", "communicative" were some of the adjectives that the Rotarians used to describe the expectations they have from the prime minister of the country at a panel discussion organised here at Rotary Club of Chandigarh. 

Looking at the dismal socio-economic situation and freebies being doled out by the government as populist measure to garner votes is ruining the country, said Atma Ram Singh, Director, Drish Shoes.  The unstable policy and poor execution of existing policies is bane for the businesses, he said 

Providing a professional's perspective, Dr Raman Abrol, an ENT specialist remarked that despite the country having immense knowledge base of technocrats and professionals we remain an under-developed country. Absence of rational policies deployment of doctors and paramedics in the country are not available in rural areas despite the fact that these medical professionals are admitted in medical colleges under rural or reserved quota, he lamented. 

Nagina Bains, a young professional, said that the PM should take the responsibility for the ministers and other departments, besides being transparent in its governance initiatives with open communication which is absent currently. 

Chief Guest at the meeting, Mr. Dinesh Kumar, Associate Editor, The Tribune who has also been a Rotary Peace Scholar, remarked that governing a country like India has become difficult especially with the advent of coalition governments that are more of 'collision' government, leading to indecisions and ineffective policies. 

Unfortunately every ill in the society can be attributed to the weak leadership and non-accountability that is breeding corruption and other social evils in the country. 

The time has come that the politicians are given a fixed tenure who should expressly demonstrate good leadership qualities, he said. 

It is time also, he added, that the PM after elections should become apolitical and rise above even beyond his own political party to provide a wholesome visionary leadership. 

There had been an interesting exchange of ideas and audience participation. 

PP Rtn. C.J. Singh conducted the panel discussion with PP Rtn Arvind Mehan proposed a vote of thanks.  PDG Rtn. Kawal Bedi presented a memento to the chief guest Mr Dinesh Kumar, while Rtn. S.S. Kakkar, presented personalised Rotary club mugs to each of the panelists. 

Club News - 9 September

Rwanda High Commissioner visits to express gratitude
H.E. Ernest Rwamucyo, High Commissioner of Rwanda to India, visited us on 10 September to express his country’s gratitude for treating children from Rwanda under the Heartline project and for the forthcoming medical mission. 

A medical mission to Ethiopia and Rwanda is going on 29 September. The mission to Ethiopia is being led by PDG Madhukar Malhotra and the mission to Rwanda is being led by PDG Ranjit Bhatia, under overall leadership of PRIP R.K. Saboo.

E-Club Meeting
Rotary E-Club of Chandigarh Technocity  held its once a month formal meeting at JW Marriot on 8 September. Other than President Hassan S Mejie, there were Rotarian visitors from Nasik and Rotary Club of Canada Corner.

Blood Donation Camp at DAV College
Rotaract Club of DAV College organised a blood donation camp on 9 September. [In the pic] PP Parveen Goyal, President Hassan Mejie, Mr Vineet Joshi, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Punjab & Media Advisor to Chief Minster and Mr. Joshan, Principal DAV College.

Lucky Draw

The Lucky Draw on 6 September (a crystal vase) was won by Rtn Jaiprakash Hasrajani.

 

Installation of Team 2013-14 of St Stephen’s School, Sector 45

The 2013-14 Team of Interact Club, St Stephen's, Sector 45, Chandigarh was installed on 9 September 2013 by President Hassan Singh Mejie. He was accompanied by: Rtn R.K. Taneja, Rtn Lalita Jagmohan, Rtn Mona Khattar, Rtn O.P. Sukhija and Rtn Desh Deepak Khanna.

Heartline Update
Surgery # 477: Bhawna Devi, 6 years old daughter of Mr Sunil Dutt from Village Binoi, Tehsil Kasauli, was successfully operated on 2 September.  Patient’s father is a farmer.

Surgery # 478: Taranveer Singh Nehal, 2 years old son of Mr Gurpreet Singh from District Sangrur, was successfully operated on 5 September. Patient’s father is working as daily wager.

Surgery # 479: Mithlesh Kumar, 15 years old son of Raj Dev Yadav from  District Supaul (Bihar), was successfully operated on 6 September. Patient’s brother is working as a labourer.   This was the 16th surgery of 2013-14.

All surgeries were performed by Dr Mahant at Fortis Hospital.

Economic Challenges Facing India

 When a renowned management guru and an economist speaks everyone listens. The same was true of our Club too, which saw a record attendance at the 9 September meeting in which we had Dr S.P.S. Pruthi as the guest speaker.

The current economic crisis, said Dr Pruthi, was triggered by the announcement by USA to tone-down the Quantitative Easing it had triggered to tackle the 2007 sub-prime economic crisis. More than 12 trillion dollars were pumped-in by USA as part of the quantitative easing and that kept everyone going  since then.

But, was the announcement of QE tone-down the sole cause of the rupee tumbling and the beginning of India’s economic problems. Certainly not, said Dr Pruthi. We wasted the first 40 years after our independence doing nothing for the economy. he said. Since 1991 we did usher-in reforms and that helped to turn the tide. But, these reforms have been half-hearted. Political and bureaucratic controls have not been withdrawn the way they should have been.

To meet the economic crisis head-on, we need to ensure growth. For that we require structural changes, foreign money, infrastructure development and, above all, we need to improve the faith of others in us. The comfort level for investors also needs to be improved manifold.

Reserve Bank of India, he added has very limited options available to it. Besides, he added, it has no control over corruption, import & export and business environment.

Dr Pruthi also felt that in today’s globalized environment the authority of the State is limited, especially in economic matters. Markets have their own mechanisms and reasons to go up or down. They do not listen to any authority. Thus, we need to change our decision making patterns to be able to compete better in the international environment.

Dr Pruthi also emphasized on the need for  a strong leadership that  respects constitutional authorities. Besides, it is important that we ensure that money is invested in talent and technology development.
Pragmatic foreign policy is another very essential requirement to become economically strong. Dr Pruthi gave examples of USA and Japan post World War-II, as also USA and China in recent years who improved their relations for strategic reasons and thus gained economically.  “Practical and intelligent policies only can help us become an economic power”, he said. “Soch (thought process) is important. Soch ko badlo,” he added.

Dr Pruthi’s talk was followed by a Q&A session. PP Arvind Mehan wondered why India has inconsistent and changing policies? Inconsistency is due to lack of will, said Dr Pruthi. Today, the need is to indigenise our Railways, Defence etc requirements to save on foreign exchange and improve balance of trade but nothing much is done on this end.

Rtn G.S. Chawla wondered if India can do without FDI. To this Dr Pruthi replied, “There is no need to restrict FDI. USA thrives because the whole world gives money to it. The need of the hour is to promote savings and restrict imports by indigenisation.”

Rtn Ashok Khanna asked “when can we hope to see stability again.” Dr Pruthi was of the opinion that eventually India is an ideal place for growth. It consumes a big percentage of what the world produces. “All we need to do is to take the right economic decisions and things will improve,” he said.

Dr Pruthi was jointly introduced by PP Man Mohan Singh Kohli and President Hassan Mejie. Rtn Mahesh Gupta presented him a memento. PDG Kawal Bedi presented him a bouquet. Rtn Dr Rajinder Kaur presented a bouquet to Mrs Vanita Pruthi. Vote of thanks was proposed by PRIP R.K. Saboo.

Club News - September 2

Farewell to children from Rwanda

On 4 September, the children from Rwanda, their mothers and nurse Chris were seen off at the Chandigarh airport by Rtn Mona Khattar, Rtn Geetika Rao. and Rtn Sukhjit Singh Gill.
Earlier, on September 3, a grand farewell dinner was hosted by PP Man Mohan S. Kohli at Hotel Aquamarine. PRIP Raja Saboo and R’Ann Usha, Presi. Hassan Mejie & R’Ann Harkiran, Rtn Jatinder Kapoor, Rtn Mona Khattar, Rtn Geetika Rao, and Rtn Sukhjit Singh Gill attended.
The children were presented toys, and their mothers and nurse Chris were given gifts. A farewell cake was cut and  everyone  wished them a safe journey.

Congratulations
Rtn Naresh Nanda and R’Ann Reema have been blessed with twin daughters. Our heartiest congratulations to them.

Get Well Soon
R’Ann Neeraj, wife of PP Charanjit Singh, was operated on 4 September. We wish her speedy recovery.

Thank You
We thank Rtn Jagesh Khaitan and his TPK Welfare Trust for donating Rs 65,000 for one heart surgery under our Heartline project.
We also thank Rtn Neenu Vij, Chair Club Administration, for working hard to get the termite ridden RVTC basement rooms cleaned and prepared to house the Library.

Bon Voyage
We wish PP Arvind Mahajan Bon Voyage for his trip to Europe from September  5 to October 11.

MCM DAV Rotaract Club Installation
The Installation Ceremony  of 2013-14 team of Rotaract Club of MCM DAV College for Women was held on 27 August. PP Baldev Aggarwal was the Chief Guest. Ms Manshul Jain has taken over as the new President.

President Hassan Mejie, in his speech, asked Rotaractors to think of out of the box programs and activities for the year. They were also encouraged to organise a big blood donation camp and raise funds for The Rotary Foundation and Uttarakhand Flood victims relief.

Interact Installation
Installation Ceremony of Interact Club, St. Stephen’s School Sector 45, Chandigarh will be held on September 9, at 12.20 pm. Members are requested to attend.

Lucky Draw

The Lucky Draw on 2 September (a crystal vase) was won by PP Vijay Wadhawan. [In the pic] Swami Krishnananda Giri giving the Lucky Gift to PP Vijay Wadhawan (right). Rtn Vivek Atray is standing in the Centre.

Fundraising Dinner

Celebrate Diwali with Rotary
Join us for an Evening with a Difference
To Ensure that no Child Dies for Want of Money!
 

Please join us for the Rotary Club of Chandigarh’s Fund Raising Dinner 2013, as we partner to provide Heartline, Gift of Sight & Hearing surgeries, as also  for  Gift of Knowledge and safe water and sanitation for communities in need.

 Open to Club Members and the public, the signature event will feature live Dance Performances, outstanding local cuisine, a sit down dinner, cocktails, and live auctions.

DATE: Saturday, October 19, 2013, 

Time:  7:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
VENUE: A 5 star Hotel in Chandigarh.

Donate  generously and reserve your seats as a Diwali gift for your spouse

Individual Plate: Rs 11,000,  VIP tables for: Rs 21,000 per plate

LIMITED SEATS. Register before 10 September 2013.

Unique & Exciting options on offer for Corporate Diwali Gifting
Contact President or Club Secretary.

Club News - August 26

Generous Donation
We are grateful to Mr Sandeep Dhawan, son-in-law of Late PP Janak raj Grover, for donating Rs 2.60 lakh for four Heartline surgeries.

Vocational Training Programme Update
As on August 26, 2013, we have 28 students in Tailoring class, five students in Beautician class and 36 students learning computers.

Emergency Preparedness Polio Workshop
PP Praveen Chander Goyal, DPPC 3080, attended the Emergency Preparedness and Response for Polio Workshop at Jaipur on 6-7 August, 2013. He was among the team that attended on behalf of Rotary International. The workshop was jointly hosted by World Health Organization and UNICEF. Topic of discussion was: Action to be taken by Rapid Response teams in case a polio case is detected.

D-3080 Polio Orientation Workshop
The District 3080 Polio Orientation and Planning Workshop for the States of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh was held at Competent Palace, Seilaqui, near Dehradun on 11 August. It  was hosted by Rotary Club of Doon Vikas.

Health Minister of Uttarakhand, Mr Surinder Singh Negi, was the Chief Guest. DG Rakesh Aggarwal, in his address, appreciated the role of Rotarians in the Polio program and wanted them to keep working on it till Polio is eradicated from the face of the earth.

District 3080 Polio Chairman, PP Praveen Chander Goyal told the gathering that although three countries are still having Polio cases, this year there had been an onslaught of Polio cases from Somalia (100 cases) and Kenya (10 cases). These countries were Polio free and the virus was imported to these countries. He also spoke on the Children for Children project, in which school children are motivated to collect funds for  Polio.

Presentation on Hypno-therapy
On August 26, as part of the programme of our weekly meeting, Mr Sandeep Kumar gave a presentation on hypno-therapy and explained how this technique is being successfully used to treat alcohol and drug addiction. He claimed a very high success rate—93 per cent people recover in six sessions, he claimed. Hypno-therapy works on thought, emotion, energy and state of mind, he said, and helps in inculcating  positive thinking for healthy living.

Railings Installed
Railings have been installed on the stairs outside, as well as those leading to the stage in the meeting hall, for the benefit of our senior members. This meets a long pending demand.

LUCKY DRAW

The Lucky Draw on 26 August (a crystal vase) was won by Rtn Jaspal Sidhu. [In the pic] R’Ann Harjeet Kaur, wife of PE Prof Paramjit Singh, giving away the gift to Rtn Jaspal.