Rotary Peace City

The most photographed monument in Chandigarh 

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

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

Today there are over sixty Rotary Peace cities.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Objectives

The objectives of Peace Communities are :

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

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

 LET’S STRIVE FOR :

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

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

Rotary PGI Serai

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rtn CJ Singh

PGI and Rotary to work for a TB-Free Chandigarh

Walkathon held at Sukhna Lake to observe World TB Day

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kings XI Punjab and Rotary Chandigarh tribute to CRPF martyrs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mohan Fibre Products supports blood donation movement

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Barry Rassin to lead Rotary International next year

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mark Maloney nominated RI President Nominee 2019-20

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I'm a Rotarian. I make the Difference

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

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

Do a Daily Good and make a Difference.  

Howsoever small it may be.  

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

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

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

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

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

And that is what makes a Rotarian more humane. 

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

Get ready for Inter-District RYLA3080 Chandigarh

Let’s serve together, work together and enjoy together

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


My Dear Fellow Rotarians

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

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

 I bow to all of them !

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

May our tribe continue to expand joyfully.

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

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

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

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

My best wishes and warm regards to all of you .

Rtn. Neenu Vij
President 2016-17

How to make your business reach 1.2 million prospects

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

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

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

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

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

Create your own offer.

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



'via Blog this'

Six Steps to Make a Difference!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(c) CJSingh / September 14, 2015

Rotarians gift life to farmer’s son from Uttrakhand

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Vocational Awards for Do Gooders

Two teachers honoured for Rotary International Literacy Mission Certificate of Honour

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

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

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

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

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

Rotary Club Chandigarh gifts life to 7 children from Rwanda

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




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

 

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

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

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

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







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

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

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

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

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