PRESIDENT Rtn. Dr. N.V. Arulmozhi Varman

HoNoRARy SECRETARy Rtn. Dr. R. Chandrasekhar

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Rtn. A.S. Venkhat Ramani

PRESIDENT ELECT Rtn. P N Mohan

PRESIDENT NoMINEE Rtn. Ranjit Pratap

Asst. SECRETARy / BULLETIN EDIToR Rtn. Mohan Raman

DIRECToR CLUB ADMINISTRATIoN Rtn. R. Rajenderan

DIRECToR yoUTH SERVICE Rtn. M Sesha Sai

DIRECToR PUBLIC IMAGE AND FUND RAISING Rtn. Harish K. Murthi

DIRECToR RoTARy FoUNDATIoN & INTERNATIoNAL SERVICES Rtn. M. Balasubramaniam

DIRECToR SERVICE PRoJECT 1 Rtn. R. Ravishankar

DIRECToR SERVICE PRoJECT 2 Rtn. K.M. Vinod Kumar

DIRECToR VoCATIoNAL SERVICE Rtn. S. Ravi

TREASURER (CLUB FUNDS) Rtn. Hemant Chordia

TREASURER (CHARITABLE TRUST) Rtn. Nimish C. Tolia

TREASURER (SPECIAL PRoJECTS) Rtn. Kishor Dandeker

The LighthouseBulletin of The Rotary Club of Madras

November 22, 2016 • 4 Pages

An Invisible HostOur own Rotarian PP.Dr.B. SHIVKUMAR (Shiv) was the

speaker in our regular meeting on the 22nd instant. He spoke on the topic “An Invisible Host”.

Shiv began by saying that the topic aroused a lot of curiosity among the Rotarians. They asked him before the meeting questions like whether the subject was something like An Invisible Ghost, or did it have something to do with God or was it something to do with Demonetization, which is the most hotly debated subject at present.

Shiv said the topic meant none of the above and maintained the suspense, at the same time bringing out a lot of humour in his characteristic style.

Shiv narrated a favourite story of Mark Twain about the visit of the famous French actress, Sarah Bernhardt to New York and how a couple denied themselves an evening of entertainment by the actress and instead used the money meant for the tickets to carry out a highly worthwhile project, which unfortunately turned futile. Rotarians all over the world are doing thousands of projects and it cannot be said that all the projects turn out to be good in spite of all the efforts and money put in to them. This brings up the question “What is a good project?”.

Shiv rattled out the names of several scientists from Japan, Austria, Russia, Italy, Germany and England and how each one acted as “An Invisible Host” to the citizens of the world, protecting them from various diseases. In peace as in war, we are beneficiaries of knowledge contributed by every nation in the world.

Shiv said while we Rotarians cannot be compared to the great scientists of the world, Rotary gives us the privilege of becoming “An Invisible Host” like them with service through The Rotary Foundation (TRF). Dr. Albert Sabin invented inoculating polio vaccine and Dr. Jonas Salk subsequently invented the oral polio vaccine (OPV). It costs Rotary 10 to 13 (US) cents for one dosage of 2 OPV drops to a child. A child needs minimum 3 doses for full immunization and thus it costs 30 to 35 cents for Rotary to administer the OPV free to the child. This means a Rotarian’s contribution of one dollar saves the life of 3 children somewhere in the world, a contribution of 100 $ saves 300 children, 1000 $ (as PHF) saves 3000 children and a Major Donor contribution of 10000 $ makes a Rotarian “AN INVISIBLE HOST” to 30000 children somewhere in the world, whether in Somalia or Pakistan or Nigeria or Vietnam.

Then Shiv presented a power point titled “MAGIC of TRF” given to him by PDG Raja Sreenivasan. The slides showed the great service rendered by TRF which was founded in 1917 and is in its 100th year now. The slides

made an emotional appeal with pictures of the Haves and Have nots, Homeless people and people with homes having nothing less, children suffering from starvation, malnutrition, hunger and lack of access to education and sanitation facilities and even showing people trying to live in less than Rs.75/- a day. The slides showed the MAGIC of TRF actually doing God’s work on earth in more than 210 countries. The MAGIC also shows how a contribution of Re.1 by a Rotarian to the TRF multiplies to Rs.4 through Matching Grants.

Shiv narrated several stories explaining why Rotarians should contribute to TRF at all. He narrated the story of Charles Plumb, a fighter Pilot of the US Navy who had 74 successful flights over North Vietnam, but got shot down on the 75th flight, just 5 days before his planned return to home in the US. Luckily he escaped by activating the parachute but got imprisoned by the enemies and spent 6 years as prisoner of war in an 8 feet x 8 feet cell.

A few years later a man came to Charles in a restaurant in Kansas and revealed that he was the one who packed the parachute. Charles Plumb became dumbfounded and shuddered to think what would have happened had this man not done the packing of the parachute properly.

Shiv asked the audience to reflect on how many people have packed so many parachutes (figuratively) to make our lives going. He raised a question “Is it not our duty to pack (figurative) parachutes for others for what we have received and continue to receive in our lives?”.

Shiv quoted from Thirukkural and from Sanskrit slokas and exhorted the Rotarians to become “An Invisible Host” to the world of “Have nots” as a Parachute packer and be a go-giver (instead of always being a go-getter) by contributing to the TRF which is doing worthwhile projects around the world.

Thus the answer to the question, who is “An Invisible Host” was made clear. It is you, the Rotarian!

2016-2017 • Edition No.21

The Lighthouse - Bulletin of The Rotary Club of Madras • November 22, 20162

minutes22nd NOVEMBER 2016

Sgt-at-arms Rtn M Srinivasan collared President Rtn Dr Arulmozhi Varman, who called the 21st weekly meeting of

RCM to order, followed by a silent invocationOne minute silence was observed by all

in respect of the demise of Rtn PP Indra Subramanyams sister.

The minutes of the 15th Nov’16 meeting was duly confirmed

President welcomed• District Governor Rtn Natarajan Nagoji

who has come to inaugurate the second phase of our Go Green Project

• AG. Dr P. Srinivasan• Speaker of the afternoon our Rtn PP. Dr

B.Shivkumar,who will talk on the ‘Invisible Host’

• Probus club members – Prob,Vardharajan & Prob.Ramakrishnan

• Rotaractors from Jeppiar College• Mr Balaji, Agriculture Department• Mr Manjunath, Horticulture expert

President then extended birthday & wedding anniversary wishes to the respective Rotarians/spouses who celebrate that week and thanked for their sunshine.

Rtn Jayant Hemdev, Fellowship Committee informed members that the full club fellowship musical evening ‘sa re ga ma’ is on the 25th Nov’16 at 7.30 pm at the same

place. This evening is meticulously planned by our gracious hosts and whole of our past round tablers. Looking forward to receive all for this rocking evening.

President Rtn Dr Arulmozhi Varman gave an overview of

our Go Green Project.President said that this year theme is the following up of the last year with sanitation/water conservation and now on to the Go Green,which is to reduce pollution and improve the quality of life.

1st phase – planted 500 saplings in Boys Town in August’16 (saplings are growing very well).

2nd phase – giving kits,with which one

GoGreen Project –

DIstrIbutIon of KItcHen GArDen KIts

The Lighthouse - Bulletin of The Rotary Club of Madras • November 22, 20163

With best compliments from:

Allovedic Health Care LLP

can have a kitchen garden on the terrace/balcony and grow vegetables which are free from pesticides and other noxious elements.

3rd phase – distributing kits, where kitchen and table waste can be converted into manure, which will continue to give products every year.

4th phase – giving water treatment plant installed in Gummidipoondi, where the water from toilets/bathrooms will be reused/reworked pollution free for our garden and our use.

The next extension is to put solar panels in Gummidipoondi and also solid waste Management/plastic segregation & disposal at our Rotary Nagar.

At each phase, details will be informed and make members involved also.

Rtn Dr Parkavi M, Chairperson, Go Green informed members that Go Green is an important project this year under the Vocational Service Avenue. Special thanks to Director Vocational Service Rtn S Ravi and his team.

In GoGreen, the first initiative is to plant 500 fruit-bearing plantation in Boys Town Gummidipoondi, which was done on 15th August this year.

Now installing terrace garden in our Rotarians residence, with the help of Jeppiar College Rotaractors, ably guided by the Tamilnadu horticulture representative Mr Balaji and Agriculture expert Mr Manjunath. Both experts will be present in every Rotarians home, while installing the terrace garden. This will be executed in 50 Rotarians homes. The object of this project is to educate our own Rotarians/families to grow their own vegetables, which is pesticide free.Also educating the young mind/the college going Rotaractors, the importance of agriculture and cultivating habit to grow at least for thie future requirements. District Governor will inaugurate the GoGreen

project by handingover the kits to our Rotarians and the project will be installed/executed/motivated by all Rotaractors for 14 weeks in our Rotarian home. Thanked DG Natarjan Nagoji, Ms Padmavathy of Jeppiar College, and the Rotaractors participating in this inauguration function.

District Governor Nagoji was in full praise for this great initiative of RCM and particularly the systematic approach followed in doing this step by step, so that it really happens and grow something concrete. DG lauded the monitoring aspect in this GoGreen and emphazised that if we value something, we will definitely take care of it. DG suggested that one of the family

members have to take responsible and let them have the ownership, which will be very effective & fruitful. This we have to inculcate into their brain/heart, so that they realize the importance.We have to live and leave a better world for our children/grand children. DG said that this RCM initiative is commendable and doing good not only to ourselves but also to the world.

DG Nagoji distributed the kitchen garden kits amidst applause to – Pres Dr Arul, IPP Venkhat Ramani, PDG Benjamin Cherian,Rtn A Namasivayam, PP NK Gopinath, PE PN Mohan, Rtn Dr Prashant Kekre, Rtn

M Srinivasan, Rtn Ashok Thakkar, Rtn Hemant Chordia, Rtn Mahinder Jain, Rtn M Balakrishna Rao, Rtn Punkaj Sachdev.

DG Nagoji also did the honors by presenting the PHF Medallion and Major Donor pins & certificates to the respective rotarians.

President presented a memento to DG Nagoji on behalf of RCM.

Today speaker our Rtn PP Dr Shivkumar, Additional Co-Chair for District Rotary Foundation Committee addressed the Club on ‘The Invisible Host’ with an aid of a PPT, highlighting the importance / benefits of donating to the TRF and appealing members to contribute to the TRF.

Secretary Rtn Dr R Chandrasekhar announced that the next weekly of RCM will be on the 29th Nov’16 at the same place same time.

Speaker: Mr Rajiv C Lochan MD & CEO of Kasturi & Sons.

Topic: Future of how news will impact our lives.

Secretary Dr Chandrasekhar thanked

the speaker our Rtn PP Dr Shivkumar for enlightening all on The Rotary Foundation and inspiring us to become Go-Givers instead of Go-Getters.

The meeting was then adjourned.

The kitchen garden kit will contain 10 bags

2 bags of manure2 bags of organic seeds/

fertilizers(anti fungal protection oil –neem oil) and methodology

leaflet and one packet of seeds for the following vegetables: palak,

raddish, keerai, mint, ladies finger, avarai, brinjal, tomato, chilli

29th Nov – Rtn Shoukath Sherif29th Nov – Rtn GM Udayanarayan4th Dec – Rtn M.Balasubramanian29th Nov – Ann.Uma

(Pres Rtn Dr Arulmozhi Varman)29th Nov – Spouse: KK Arun Krishnan (Rtn PP Nandita Krishnan)29th Nov – Ann.Somna (Rtn Vipin Sachdev)29th Nov – Ann. Sangeeta (Rtn PP Vivek Harinarain)30th Nov – Ann.K amala (Rtn M Sesha Sai)1st Dec – Ann. Niharika (Rtn Ramakanth Akula)1st Dec – Ann. Radhika (Rtn Shrikant Wakharkar)3rd Dec – Ann.Chandrika (Rtn A Sankara Narayanan)

Birthday

EDITED AND PUBLISHED BY: Rtn. Asst. Secretary, Rotary Club of Madras, ‘Rayala Towers’, 2nd Mezzanine Floor, 158, Anna Salai, Chennai - 2, Ph: 28591020.Contact the editor at: mohanraman@gmail.com. Design: www.studiodescience.com

Visit: www.rotarymadras.in Contact club secretariat at: office@rotarymadras.in

The Lighthouse - Bulletin of The Rotary Club of Madras • November 22, 20164

29th Nov – Rtn Sanjay Tulsyan Ann.Priya30th Nov – Rtn Suniel U Lulla Ann.Brinda30th Nov – Rtn J Kishor Dandeker Ann.Meghana4th Dec – Rtn Hiren B Shah Ann.Nita

Wedding

Rtn Anil Mulchandini – `1000Rtn Jayshree Sridhar – `15,000Rtn Pranay H Gambhir – `1000Rtn Dr Prashant Kekre – `1000Rtn PP K Gopal Ratnam –`2000

Sunshine

EDITORIAL COMMITTEEAdvisors: Rtn. PP N.K. Gopinath,

Rtn. Sunita SureshChairman: Rtn. Mohan Raman

Rtn. Shaan Katari Libby, Rtn. Bhaswar Mukherjee, Rtn. Shakthi Girish,

Rtn. Biswajit Babu, Rtn. Sandhya Sridhar, Rtn. R. Ravishankar, Rtn. Hiren B. Shah,

P.S. Sridharan

Game country!out of AfrIcA – 4

Travel, I suppose, is meant to refresh and reenergise as well as widen your world view.

It was also once seen as an ‘education’. Today, it is a way to snap out of the octopussy tentacles of technology as well. So if you are ‘game’ to travel, you can sample the below ‘benefits’!1. Breaking away from technology: Without

signals, the cellphone is like a toy. You can play games on it. Period. Therefore, delinking from work and routine life is what a holiday is about, and here, thanks to poor connectivity, everyone took a real ‘break’.

2. Therefore, with no cellphone to peer down at, all of us had to lift our heads and look around. The first thing that we saw was each other. I suppose husbands saw their wives and vice versa... and everyone saw fellow Rotarians and friends! There was plenty of lively stimulating conversation and recognition of ‘people’ as

ahem... ‘people’! Great fun. No one really played games though!

3. Game for wildlife? Well... it became almost an obsession for some – which resulted in some lovely photography and again, wonderful conversation on environments and people.

4. Relaxation and sleep: Huh? However, these are premium in our lives today... Therefore, just going away allows you time and inclination for these two, unfettered.

5. Travelling really far away also has a surreal way of delinking you from your own world – so much so that, it is refreshingly and truly a break!

So here is kudos to the Rotary team who works at creating such ‘breaks of art’; and kudos to ‘generations’ of teams who do this! For without them, would we really be game to go away?

.. Concluded.

Where we discover that there is a life outside our geographies and our cellphones...

- Rtn. Sandhya Sridhar