Past RI President Kalyan Banerjee @ RCBW

Past Rotary International President Rtn.Kalyan Banerjee was the Chief Guest at the the first meeting of Rotary Club of Bombay West held on Wednesday, 8th July in the new rotary year 2015-16.

Expressing his deep sense of appreciation for the Club and in particular for the Kalyan Banerjee Lecture Series project of the Club where every year a prominent speaker is invited to share his thoughts on an issue of importance to the community.  He felt honored and humbled by this initiative of the Club.

While addressing the members of the Club and invited guests, PRIP Kalyan Banerjee was extremely positive about the growth of rotary world over with the changes he has seen happening in various countries to attract new and younger members to the rotary fold.  He mentioned about experiments of formation of satellite clubs, inviting spouses to join rotary, meeting once in two or four weeks instead of every week and giving more prominence to ‘engagement’ as opposed to ‘attendance’ - all with an eye on growth of rotary world-wide.  He said RI President K.R.Ravindran is toying with an idea of introducing discount cards for members which will entitle them discounts at select outlets owned by Rotarians all of whom do business with honesty and ethics.  This too is with the objective of attracting people to Rotary.

After Polio, Rtn.Banerjee said the focus in India was on literacy.  Rotary India’s Literacy Mission – to make India literate by 2017 – is certainly a difficult task, but that should not deter the Rotarians from working towards it.  If not by 2017, even if we are able to achieve this goal a little later, it should be a great feat by all means.  

- Report by President Elect Rtn.Aslam Merchant

Rotary's Blood Donation Drive A Great Success !!

Rotary Clubs from all over Mumbai and neighbouring Thane District (comprising of Rotary Dist.3140) along with its Youth Wing, The Rotaract Clubs, launched a massive Blood Donation Drive in Mumbai on 1st July, 2015 which is celebrated as Doctors' Day.  1st July also happens to be the start of new Rotary Year.

The campaign "Drop of Blood" swelled ocean of blood with the Rotary and Rotaract Clubs together collecting over 4400 bottles of blood in a single day.  Blood Donation camps in association with several Blood Banks were organized at suburban railway stations, colleges and other prominent public places.  

Rotary Club of Bombay West (RCBW) too participated in this project by holding a Blood Donation Camp at Sathaye College, Vile Parle East in partnership with Rotary Club of Parleshwar, Rotaract Clubs of Sathaye College and Parleshwar, Inner Wheel Club of Bombay West and Rotary DG Goenka Blood Bank, Andheri.  Within a matter of few hours, 185 bottles of blood were collected by the team which incidentally was the highest number of bottles collected at any centre on that day.  Kudos to the enthusiastic teams led by President Shirish Rege of Bombay West Rotary and President Anand Ramnani of Parleshwar Rotary for this feat which was appreciated by District Governor Subhash Kulkarni who also visited the centre along with Past District Governors Sajjan Goenka, Bansi Dhurandhar and other District dignitaries.  Dr.Yogini Patel, Director, DG Goenka Blood Bank, Past President Rajendra Ruia, Director - Medical Avenue, Arjun Hardasani, Chairman Medical Camps Jayant Sanghvi encouraged the efforts of the team by their personal presence at the venue. Logistic support and arrangements were made by Sathaye College under personal supervision of their Principal Dr.Kavita Rege.

President Shirish Rege Outlines Priorities for 15-16

President Shirish Rege who was installed as the President of Rotary Club of Bombay West for the Rotary Year 2015-16 outlined his priorities for the year while delivering his acceptance speech on 1st July, 2015.

Shirish informed the members and guests present at the Installation Ceremony that the focus during the coming year would be increasing the membership of the club, strengthening the medical centre of the club to create awareness about preventable diseases and arrange preventive medical camps, juvenile counseling with support of Hon.Rtn.DGP Praveen Dixit, road safety for citizens of Mumbai and literacy projects viz. E-Learning and Happy Schools. Shirish further informed that he will be also giving his due attention to projects under district thrust areas viz.TB prevention and awareness, Sukhada-WinS project (toilets for girl students), youth festival and Rotary India Literacy Mission.

Earlier, he congratulated the retiring President Mohan Joshi for the exemplary work done by him and his team during 2014-15 which has raised the bar for him and the future Presidents of this Club. He concluded his speech with an appeal to the members of the club for their support in planning and execution of community service projects.

Chief Guest District Governor Rtn.Subhash Kulkarni praised the Club and the outgoing President for the range of service projects undertaken during the past years.  He was also appreciative of the priorities outlined by Shirish Rege for the new rotary year.  

The Club inducted three Honorary Rotarians - Shri Pravin Dixit, Director General of Police and Head - Anti Corruption Bureau (Maharashtra), Shri Ashok Panvalkar, Executive Editor, Maharashtra Times (a TOI Publication) and Shri Vivek Padgaonkar, Director, Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India.

Click here to read President Rege's Acceptance Speech