OFFICIAL CLUB VISIT – DG CHETAN DESAI
Good afternoon, my dear friends and Rotary President — tall, dark, and handsome. Not dark, but handsome for sure — Satyan, and all protocols observed. I am not going to talk about all the officers. It is an absolute privilege to stand before you today at the Rotary Club of Bombay, the very first and foremost Club of District 3141, a Club that is not just historic but truly iconic.
I have just been told that you have crossed 382 in membership. Give yourselves a round of applause — what a wonderful Club! The highest TRF giving ever and an unmatched legacy of service. At the heart of this great Club today is your young and dynamic President, Satyan, who has been a pillar of strength, energy, and commitment.
Friends, when we began this year, I shared three attributes of a successful leader: you have to be compassionate, you have to be committed, and you have to be consistent in your endeavours. And I am very, very happy. If the official Club visit of the governor has something to do with it, they spend a lot of money on the elected RI Officer, Rotary International. They invite us to Orlando and spend around $20,000 just to train us on the various aspects of how to administer the entire District. And this being a premium District, you know the responsibility is even greater.
So, we’re talking about why they spend so much. I have a 700-member team, some of whom are sitting here and doing a fantastic job. Our job is to resource people for the club Presidents and the Rotarians — that is our job. And when we go to OCVs, our job is to ensure financial transparency. The Club must function at the optimal level, as it should. On that note, can I request Satyan to please rise? If we were to draw a parallel to an examination — 10th, 12th, graduation, post-graduation — and the results were to be declared, I must say that “Pappu pass hogaya,” and that too with distinction!
So, give a huge round of applause for Satyan. Can I request the entire Board to please stand up? What fantastic record-keeping in the area of projects! One thing that is particularly heartening is that I have seen Satyan at all the District events, which is otherwise not so common. Right? But he has attended all the training seminars, right from our Prepare Seminars. Till now, he has been a constant source of inspiration for this Club. I think he deserves one more round of applause. Satyan, fantastic job! Very, very proud of you. I am telling you, my friend, you have done fabulously well.
Needless to say, you have set a superb record in performance, governance, and meticulous record-keeping — a benchmark for others to follow. Many times, when we go for OCVs, we ask for details: what has been done, what the Rotarians should know, and whether the governor and his team are doing the job they should be doing. So, I am just giving you some insights into what all 6,600 Rotarians have achieved, and I am extremely proud of this District and all its Rotarians.
At the recently concluded District Conference, Samanvay, Gyan Vasant Swami spoke about the difference between coal, graphite, and diamond. He said that Rotarians are like diamonds. Then, the Police Commissioner, Vivek Phansalkar, spoke about how our police force is a brand. When my turn came, I said, “District 3141 is a brand with 6,600 diamonds in it,” and that is all of you together. So give yourselves a round of applause! We are so proud. I am very, very happy to report what we have done so far.
Just to give you a brief overview, and these are all verifiable facts on rotaryindia.org. Right, Nirav? You can go to rotaryindia.org and whatever, I am saying, you will find it there. So, cumulatively, what have we done so far? More than 3,500 projects. More than 1.2 million beneficiaries already impacted. And I am very happy to report that we have crossed ₹100 crore in project value over the last eight months. This is what we have already achieved in terms of the two pillars of any Rotary District: membership and foundation. With the help of my fantastic team and all the vibrant Presidents, we are doing magical work this year. I am happy to report that we are nearing $3 million in the foundation — we are currently at $2.95 million. I am absolutely delighted to say that, as told to me by ARRFC and your PDG, Sandip Agarwalla, by February 28th of his year, the figure was $2.75 million. This year, we have crossed $2.88 million. That shows we are on course. I am sure that with the help of such leaders, we are going to exceed every benchmark set before us.
In a nutshell, these are some of the projects we have undertaken, and I wanted to highlight them so that all members are aware of the impact being created. We have raised funds for 2,000 paediatric heart surgeries, out of which 1,000 surgeries have already been completed. We have transformed the lives of 26,200 toddlers in the tribal areas of Jawhar and Wada by adopting 436 Anganwadis. Now, can I ask Dilip to please rise? These are the people, along with Nikunj Javeri and Dilip, who have done a fantastic job. They have ensured that all the foundation givings they have received has been matched by their own contributions, completing projects worth ₹6 crore.
The figure of 26,200 is a tangible number that can be verified. We are going to have a big ceremony there, Satyan. So, anyone from Bombay who wants to join is most welcome!
In the field of education, we have undertaken several initiatives, including the Vibrant Ideal Study App, which has benefited more than 20,000 students. Then we have the Life Skills Education for Adolescents through the Rotary Network (LEARN) programme with former Miss India, Swaroop Sampat — one of India’s top ten educators. With her help, we have trained more than 150 teachers, who, in turn, will transform the lives of around 5,000 students. This is another huge initiative in tribal welfare, with clubs coming together to implement projects worth more than ₹10 crores.
Since this Club is a leading Club of the District, there are some projects I would like you to consider supporting. One is in your vicinity — KEM Hospital. They want to shift their Paediatric Ward from the 10th floor to the 1st floor. The entire room is ready, but they need new equipment. The project is worth ₹5 crores, and this is something doable. I request you to consider supporting it.
Another project, which came to us just two days ago, involves Rajawadi Hospital in Ghatkopar. They used to have a dialysis ward, but it stopped functioning two months ago. An NGO has taken up a place next to the hospital, but they now need 10 dialysis machines. These are some of the projects we are working on. There are many more under CSR initiatives in the tribal areas of District 3141. I will send the list to Satyan, and you can undertake any of the projects of your choice. The money you contribute will yield tangible results, which can be cross-verified with the Rotary Foundation.
Friends, I would also like to recognise some stalwarts from your Club. I must acknowledge the outstanding contribution of our AKS and TRF Director, Vijay Jatia, whose leadership in global giving is an inspiration to us all. And of course, my dear friend and Assistant Governor, AKS Nirav Shah. Can you please rise and be recognised? He is doing a phenomenal job as our District Endowment Major Gift Advisor. He speaks about endowment funds, and he himself has seven endowment funds. Nirav, fantastic job! Taking inspiration from you, I decided to set up an endowment fund myself, and I have already donated to it. Your dedication and passion for TRF are unparalleled, and I am grateful for your commitment.
Before we conclude, I would like to share about a beautiful gesture that we always perform when inaugurating any project. Jwala, my wife, and I have to do the lighting of the lamp ceremony as chief guests. I take the candle, approach the lamp, and Jwala touches me — the lamp is lit. Jokes apart, it is such a sacred and beautiful ceremony.
At a school for disabled children, after the ceremony, the principal asked me, “Chetan Bhai, do you know the meaning of this?” I said, “No.” She explained that in Sanskrit, it is called Ma-ma. Ma-ma means the spirit of collaboration. It means “I am with you.” It means “Together we grow.” It means “Together we can, and together we will.”
With this thought, I leave this prestigious Club and all its members. If this District is to lead in giving, impacting more beneficiaries, and creating lasting change, this Club must come forward and do a fantastic job.
Once again, congratulations, Satyan, and the entire board for a truly vibrant and fabulous year. Thank you so much!