Announcements
RI President named Man of the Year
Our 2011-2012 President Kalyan Banerjee has been named Man of the Year by Southeast Asian Times Magazine. His picture is on the front page of the New York edition. If you take the time to read the 9 page article, you cannot help feeling blessed to be a member of our great Rotary.
He said that, in America Rotary is considered an organization of old people and in India, it is growing because of young people. He tells young people that they might be very busy, but they can spare two hours per week for social service.
If you are one of the people who scrolls through all 9 pages of these Banerjee articles, you will be a very informed and inspired Rotarian. Here is the link. Just click on it.
http://thesouthasiantimes.info/node/1384
My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Rotary,
First day of a brand new year is always a special one. All of us irrespective of whether we are rich or poor, weak or strong, this day bring to everyone a new ray of hope; hope of making the new year a better one than the last. Whilst hoping that the year 2011 and especially the Rotary family month was a happy and a meaningful one, Shirani and I wish each and every one of you and your loved ones that 2012 to be the most successful and prosperous year ever with peace and happiness throughout.
As Rotarians, on the 1st of January, we are reminded that our job is only half done. Judging by the Club reports we are receiving each month, we note that almost every club needs to accelerate now in order to complete their Annual Program in time for the District Assembly. Dear Club presidents, Kindly evaluate your progress up to now with your Board members and Committee Chairs and set up an action plan to complete the Citation Goals / Foundation Goals etc within the next couple of months. Be determined to make a difference this year as the opportunity may not come your way again.
As I write this note almost 500 of you have registered for the District Conferencewhich will be held on the 10th/11th February, 2012 at the Lotus Pond Theater and Ceylon Continental Hotel. We will be privileged to have the Rotary International President 2013/14 Ron Burton as our RI President’s Representative for this all important event. The Fiesta that will be organized by Colombo Fort club will be a unique experience and a great opportunity to unwind with your fellow Rotarians and friends. Please register at your earliest to avoid disappointment.
January is dedicated to “Rotary Awareness” and what better way to celebrate the theme other than by making our own members and the community aware of all the wonderful work we the Rotarians do through a series of structured programs to make this world a better place. This is also the opportunity for all of us complete at least 5 simple tasks to justify our membership in Rotary and support our clubs to reach 100% “Effective Rotarian” status. We must remind ourselves that we are in Rotary because we believe in “serving above self” for the greater goodness of our fellow brethren.
My Dear friends in Rotary, I wish you a happy new year. I pray that I may bring no tear to any eye and when this new year in time shall end, let it be said, I have played the friend you needed me to be and I lived, loved and labored hard to make of it a happy year.
“Reach within to embrace humanity”