Gateway 120711.pmd - Rotary Club of Bombay

lding everything in awe, every. President Kalyan BanerjeeThat plan predicts that in the It may not be a big issue today,next ten years Asia, and in Asia but as India grows socially and economically,maybe India and perhaps China,the loss of membershipwill become the driving force of is certainly going to be a big issue inRotary International. It will no the days to come. We are happy tolonger happen from America. see our old big-wigs, the Past DistrictAnd who knows what will happenGovernors, the movers andshelters totally change the life of aat that time? Perhaps ten or shakers carry on in Rotary, but whyfamily, they start to look at things twenty years down the line the headquartersare we losing in the ranks?differently.of Rotary International Well, now it’s time for me toApart from these, the Board of might shift from Evanston to wind up. But there is one thing thatDirectors in this Rotary year is Geneva, or maybe to Singapore – I would like to add as I end my talk.looking at ways to enhance Rotary’s and I am not mentioning Bombay I am looking forward to the nextpublic image not only at the Club purposely at this point in time. time we meet, you and I, perhapslevel, but also at the District, the Let me quickly touch on an area in this very Rotary year. No, it mayZonal and the country level. I urge or two that I know we need to engagenot be in these premises, in youryou to start locally and then expandin.Club; it may not even be in yourglobally, to embrace humanityThe first of these is working city or in the country. But Binotaalyan Banerjee exhorts Rotary Clubs to joinglobally as far as Rotary’s pub-with youth. Yes, we have Rotaract, and I are looking forward to meet-uding NGOs and State governmentslic image is concerned. We are seekingInteract and EarlyAct (in some ing all of you in Bangkok at the R.I.out resources to drive this ini-parts of the world). But let us look Convention of the decade.tiative forward.at those who have grown beyond Come one, come all! Please comeWe are also looking at New Generations,Rotaract but have not yet been in-for the next Convention in BangkokRotaract, Interact and vited to join Rotary. Can you try from May 6 to 9, 2012. Prepara-EarlyAct. I don’t know whether you and see whether you can involve tions are on in full swing. Andare familiar with EarlyAct. This is a them in some way, can you reach please come with your family.group of youngsters who are encouragedout to them before others reach out (I was in North India the otherto become active even before to them? As you know, I’ve been day when I met a gentleman andthey join Interact. They are not a talking about changing the colours asked him whether he was comingformal part of Rotary yet, but perhapsof Rotary, going from grey to green. to Bangkok. He said yes, he was. Iwill become a part of it. So let’s reach out to those (who have asked, will you bring your family?lyan and Vijay at the last meeting; were they We are also looking at new ways grown beyond Rotaract but have He said no, I won’t. When I askedprojects that would benefit the community? to communicate in the 21st century; not yet been invited to join Rotary) why, he said, it’s very simple, halfnot only through the media, but and hold their hands.the cost and double the fun!)also through social networking, enhancingLet me now share with you a fact But I say, this won’t do – Yehour connectivity, and thus that’s not very well known or talked nahin chalega! Let us rememberour collective strength, many times about, at least in India.that Rotary is a family event and ifover.We are all very proud of India’s you come together with everybody,This is an age when one and one growth in Rotary, that we add the you will enjoy a Rotary Conventionand one and one don’t make four largest number of members everylike almost nothing else. Sobut make 1,111. How can we do year, and that we have some of the come with your family to make itthat, how can we add value, this is youngest members. (I was very an affair to remember, to make thewhat we are trying to see as far as happy to see a number of younger Convention a truly memorableRotary is concerned. That’s the people here.)event.wers to the R.I. President and President Paul connectivity that we are trying to But what is not known well Will you come? (There are manybunch of flowers to his spouse Binota aim at.enough, or even talked about, is that ayes from the audience.) That’sAs we try to develop our own while we go on adding the largest more like it!social network and as we read about number of new members every year Let me end by thanking you forthem on the web... we will be happy in Rotary, we are also amongst the inviting me and Binota because Ito have your inputs, because I believetop losers of Rotary members ev-love being with all of you. And letthat the smartest, most imagieryyear. In fact, India is the third me share this little couplet before Inative and most innovative highest in losing members every go:Rotarians anywhere in the world year. Can you believe that? And didZindagi tab behatar hoti hai jab humcome from India, from amongst all you know that? At least I didn’t.of you. I would like your inputs But because we add so many newkhush hote hainand I really mean it. I often talk members our losses are not seen, Zindagi tab behatareen hoti hai jababout it and, what’s more, when I understood or appreciated.aapki wajah se hum doosron koents a set of first day covers to Kalyan Banerjee. go to other parts of the world, the Therefore, I ask you today, khush kar sakte hain.t right, Kalyan interacts with Sitaram Shah Rotarians there happily admit it, both as a Club and as a District,they don’t deny it, they are happy can we find out why are we losingso many members? If we areThis is what you are doing into acknowledge it.your Club, you are making othersYou would have heard of good, if we are doing good, if wehappy. And this is the reason whyRotary’s new Strategic Plan. I don’t are looking good, why are we losingall of us can be happier.know if you feel it is strategicmembers? Can you find out Thank you for being happy your-enough or whether The Rotary what is the number of losses in selves, thank you for making othersFoundation Future Vision is the real District 3140, in your own Club?happy and thank you for mak-way forward for our organisation. And what would you like to do? ing Binota and me the happiest ofPersonally, I feel that Clubs and Would you like to do something all.Districts in India are well ahead of about it? In other words, is retention(The members give a spontane-both the plans and we want to looksomething that we just ous standing ovation to Rotary In-ought and received Kalyan’s autograph. Many beyond the Strategic Plan as it talk about in Rotary, or should ternational President Kalyanpicture, Kalyan is joined by Dolly Thakore stands today.we be doing something about it? Banerjee.)July 12 to July 18, 2011 THE GATEWAY, The Bulletin of the Rotary Club of Bombay Page 7