Sunday 28 May 2017

Brand Value for an NGO

Since we decided on this year’s oration under Kalyan Banerjee Leadership Lecture by Brand Guru Shri Jagdeep Kapoor titled Leadership Brand. Brand Leadership, it set me thinking about the value of having a good Brand for an NGO in achieving its vision and mission.  A little search on ‘Google’ and I came across some very interesting stuff!

A key factor in people deciding which charity they want to support includes the emotional stimulation that NGO can provide. Supporters expect an NGO to have certain core values; that they are compassionate, caring and ethical. If you think of a charity that has a strong brand, at the heart of it you’ll find they are exceptionally good at expressing what their core values are.

As an NGO we need to define our vision, mission and values and what it is about our Club that is different from other Rotary Clubs and other NGOs.  This will help every one of us to deliver a clear message which will inspire and motivate people to join us as members or partners in our community service projects.

A strong visual identity also plays a vital role in brand building. Our visual identity is made up of many components; our logo, the colour palette, images, fonts, typography, illustration and much more. All of these components when put together help to convey the personality of our club and most importantly allow the community to instantly recognize us.


It’s time we at Rotary Club of Bombay West formulate a strategic plan to build our Brand by developing our own vision, misson and values which are realistic and achievable and design a robust visual identity in sync with Rotary International but at the same time differentiating us from other Rotary Clubs and NGOs in our neighborhood.

- Aslam Merchant, President 2016-17

Friday 26 May 2017

Etiquette Workshop for Spouses

Essential Personal, Social and Professional Etiquette Workshop, one of its kind was held on May 25th at the Rotary Service Centre for spouses and lady Rotarians by Rtn.Girijaa Deshpande (Director DG Consulting) - a professional transformational coach and trainer.

The Workshop hosted by Rotary Club of Bombay West and arranged by District First Lady, Seema Mandhania and R/Ann Shahin Merchant. The workshop was well attended by twenty-four ladies from District 3141, including First Lady Shahin Merchant, Rtn.Shefaali Shah, R/Ann Nita Sanghvi and R/Ann Vandana Joshi. The positive feedback received from the participants was overwhelming.

Certificates of Participation were given to the participants at the end of the day at the Closing Ceremony which was graced by DG Gopal Mandhania, AG R.R.Singh, District Secretary Virendra Widge and President Aslam Merchant.  

- Report by R/Ann Shefali Shah

Lifetime Achievement Award to Prof KCR Raja


Rotary Club of Bombay West conferred Lifetime Achievement Award on its Past President Prof.KCR Raja at a function held on 24th May 2017 at Rotary Service Centre, Juhu, Mumbai.  Rtn.Kalyan Banerjee, Past Rotary International President and Trustee Chair 2016-17 as the Chief Guest.


Prof KCR Raja, an excellent management educator and counselor has, during his career, displayed exceptional commitment towards is profession. His remarkable contributions to the management education are the pioneering efforts at establishing University of Mumbai’s Garware Institute of Education & Development, The GIDC Rajju Shroff ROFEL Institute of Management Studies and GR Business School with funding support from The Rotary Foundation, the United Phosphorous Group and the GIDC.  Shri Raja was also associated with Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, Somaiya Institute, S.P.Jain Institute of Management Studies & Research, Tata Insitute of Management, Tata Training Centre, Bombay Management Association and Ahmedabad Management Association. 

Also present at the event were his close friends and family members including Rtn.Gulam Vahanvaty, Rtn.Madhav Mohan and Shri B.Banerjee.
A citation and plaque was handed over to Prof KCR Raja on behalf of the Club amidst a standing ovation by the audience present to witness the event.