The Magic of Rotary’
| Meeting Date | 20 Jul 2024 |
| Meeting Time | 18:30:00 |
| Location | Poona Club of Pune Central |
| Meeting Type | Regular |
| Meeting Topic | The Magic of Rotary’ |
| Meeting Agenda | |
| Chief Guest | Rtn. PP Jignesh Pandya |
| Club Members Present | 43 |
| Minutes of Meeting | Opening and Remembrance. The meeting commenced on a sombre note as the club mourned the loss of former Rtn Cmde Rajan Vir (Retd), a member of RCPC from June 1987 to June 2023 when he left the Club on health grounds. His passing marks the end of an era for our club, and he was fondly remembered for his dedication and contributions over the years. To honor his memory, the President requested everyone to stand up and observe one-minute silence. After that, Rtn PP Suhas Merchant shared his memories, highlighting Rtn Cmde Rajan Vir's journey from a Navy Commodore to a dedicated Rotarian. PP Suhas Merchant reminisced about Rtn Cmde Rajan's leadership in organizing club visits to IRS Vikrant and his active role at the district level, particularly in the Environment Committee and as Sergeant-at-Arms. His punctuality, discipline, and unwavering commitment left an indelible mark on the club. Following PP Suhas Merchant, Rtn. PP Raja Kharadkar expressed his sorrow and paid tribute to Late Rtn Rajan Vir and his wife Late Gita. He highlighted Rtn Rajan Vir's significant contributions, including initiating the river cleaning project and establishing the club's first Sister Club with a Rotary Club in the UK. Rtn Rajan Vir's dedication and disciplined approach were admired by all, and his legacy continues to inspire the club members. Recognition of Visiting Rotarians and Guests We were delighted to welcome our visiting Rotarians, Rtn Pradeep Munot from RC Poona Downtown and Rtn Narendra Dobariya from Rotary Club of Surat. We also had guests Mr. Prakash and Saroj Gugle attended our Weekly Meeting as prospective members, to get a feel of what the Rotary Club of Pune Central is all about. Rtn. IPP Aruna Rathi from RC Poona Downtown was also present. Club Contributions and Awards In the spirit of giving, President Brigadier Raja announced and thanked Rtn. Arun Jindal for his contribution of $1,000 to the TRF Annual Fund. The President announced that our Club can proudly boast of 5 (Arch Klumph Society Members). District Governor Rtn. Shital Shah had felicitated all AKS Members of District 3131 at his Installation Ceremony on 07 July 2024, but since Rtn. PP Ajay Dubey was not present, President Brigadier Raja collected the award on his behalf. The same was presented to PP Ajay Dubey by Brigadier Raja at this meeting. The President also highlighted the remarkable achievement of having five AKS members in our Club. Globally, there are only 1,400 AKS members among millions of Rotarians, underscoring the significant contributions of our members. Rtn. PP Krishan Jhunjhunwala was honoured with a PHF (Paul Harris Fellow) + 5 pin for his generous donations exceeding $6,000. This recognition reflects his ongoing commitment to the Rotary Foundation. Caption Contest and Additional Announcements The club held a caption contest, and the name of Rtn PP Uday Dharmadhikari was announced as the winner. The club congratulated him and appreciated the creativity of all participants. Further announcements included the attendance report, upcoming meeting details, and the club's local polio collection, which amounted to Rs. 4100. The next meeting is scheduled for July 27, 2024, at 6:30 PM in the same hall, focusing on the club and trust budget for the rotary year 2024-25, followed by an interactive session on the safety of senior citizens. The Magic of Rotary The highlight of the evening was a captivating presentation by Rtn Dr. Jignesh Pandya on "The Magic of Rotary." Dr. Pandya, a PhD in Economics and an acclaimed theatre artist, shared his unique perspective on Rotary's impact beyond facts and figures. Dr. Pandya, the Chartered President of the Rotary Club of Bibwewadi, Pune, used an engaging audio-visual session to illustrate Rotary's principles of "Service Above Self" and fellowship. He shared rare videos and stories, drawing parallels from popular movies and real-life examples, to highlight the transformative power of Rotary's service and friendship. Dr. Pandya emphasized that friendship and fellowship are the cornerstones of Rotary. He recounted the origins of Rotary, where a group of friends in Chicago, led by Paul Harris, started the first meeting with a focus on friendship. This foundation of camaraderie laid the groundwork for Rotary's service-oriented mission today. Through his storytelling, Dr. Pandya demonstrated that Rotary is not just about service but also about building meaningful relationships. His insights left a lasting impression on the attendees, inspiring them to continue their service with renewed enthusiasm and a deeper sense of community. Wished happy birthday to R’Ann Neelam Mehrotra, Mr. Pankaj Mathur and Rtn. Rakesh Makhija The Icebreaker Fellowship hosted by Rtn Madhvi Kshetty was a big hit, with delicious starters and food enjoyed by all.... Next Week's Meeting • Date: Saturday, July 27, 2024 • Time: 18:30 • Venue: Poona Club Conference Hall 1 • Agenda: A presentation on the ‘Club and Trust Budget’ followed by a short 10-minute interactive session by a Zicom representative on ‘Safety of Senior Citizen’ This will be followed by a Mini Fellowship. |
