It has been a month in the hot seat and I realise that being President is fun and very satisfying even though it takes a toll on my time and energy. The solitary reason I am able to function is due to a great pool of members and colleagues who only need to be asked to do a task and they tell me, ‘It will be done’.
The Annual Awards Programme at Sophia College beckoned us on 5th August. This being my first time, I was shocked and overwhelmed to see an entire auditorium filled with students, parents and teaching staff as audience and some of us Rotarians on the dais with the Principal. The respect and deference given to RCBMT members at this event is something every member should experience at least once. On 8th August, the students who participated in our International Youth Exchange Program to Germany in May 2017 shared their experience in a presentation at HR College. The acting German Consul Mr. Matthias Meyer and Rtn. Bernhard Steinruecke were present. We have had a long association with Sir JJ Dharamshala for the aged. On 11th August, RCBMT donated a Shortwave Diathermy machine and a Digital Ultrasonic machine for pain relief for the residents of this beautifully maintained and managed place. It was heart-warming to see so many of our members present here. I urge all of you to come for project events.
On 24th August, I had the privilege of visiting Anugraha Vidya Mandir, Ambernath to witness a cheque of r5 lakh being handed over by Fuchs Lubricants (I) Pvt. Ltd. This school-cum-orphanage has been generously supported by Fuchs Lubricants and our Club for many years. It was heartening to see a simple school bringing a life changing difference in the lives of tribal children studying here.
Befitting the doyen and his memory, we held a meeting on 2nd August to pay our respect and tribute to our dear departed member Dr. B.R. Barwale. The attendance and the number of members, who spoke nostalgically and shared their interactions with Dr. Barwale, reflected the respect and love we all have for him. On 16th August, our own member Rtn Dinesh Kanabar spoke on ‘Succession Planning’, a subject so important in present times and so relevant for most of us. Interesting aspects were brought to the fore and he left us all with food for thought. Abha Singh, eminent lawyer and social activist, our guest speaker on 23rd August, is passionate about women empowerment and spoke with powerful oratory about how the laws in India have failed to empower women. We had the Pre-OCV and Club Assembly on 30th August in which Asst.
Governor Rtn. Ashok Shetty interacted with the Office Bearers to help prepare for the OCV of the DG in September. In the meeting, it was heartening, though not surprising, to note that our Club is held in high esteem in the District not just for the projects that we do but for having our systems well in place. I am happy to inform that our application, the process of which started last year, for the Global Grant of $92,000 for Paediatric Heart Surgeries has been approved.
I convey my best wishes to all on the start of the festive season. We celebrated our Independence Day, Raksha Bandhan, Navroze and Ganesh Chaturthi in August and have a line up of festivals going ahead.
Pres Rtn Manoj Jalan
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