"This is the first time I am at the mic before 8 at an installation meeting", stated the Chief Guest when he addressed the gathering. It is one of the short and ‘straight-from-me-to you-talk’ we have heard at Rotary meetings. He urged the Club to induct more women as members, and contribute generously to TRF. He encouraged the members to Think about Rotary, spend Time on matters of Rotary, use the Talents for Rotary and give a portion of their Treasure to Rotary – his 4T mantra for Rotary’s growth.
A year has passed. Twenty four issues of The Southerner have been published and ‘the Best Bulletin’ award has been won. Toilets and water management systems have been rebuilt at schools. Fellowship meets and fireside get-togethers have been enjoyed. A few girls have been empowered after being trained in computer software and tailoring. Many more community activities have brought the old and new Southerners closer. Another year of Rotary service has passed.
The Southerner welcomes you to the new Rotary year, a Prakasamana [
a bright and glorious] year with Rtn. K Prakash and his team taking charge of the Club’s affairs at the meeting on 28th. The President-Elect handed over a cheque for `5,000 to the District Governor 2011-12 towards our contribution to The Rotary Foundation, covering the approximate cost of flower bouquets and mementoes usually presented at meetings. He also announced the first project of the year - a vocational training programme jointly with the Stenographers’ Guild, to train 20 physically challenged persons in Office Automation. The project is likely to cost about `32,500. He presented the cheque to Mrs. Girija Ramaswamy and Daughter-in-Law, Mrs Vijayalakshmi [picture on page 3]. He then introduced his 24- member-team for the year.Earlier, a jubilant about-to-be-Past President Mukund dedicated the District Awards to the members of the Club and thanked them for backing him up in all the projects and programmes. He handed over a cheque for
`25,000 to Rtn. Swathi for rebuilding the toilet block at Pugazhendi Pulavar Government School, Ponn Vilaintha Kalathur [about 500 students] with proper water and drainage system. The project will be organised and supervised by Rtn. Swathi. This is a project committed in 2010-11 and is to be completed in the current year. A crisp [about 10 minutes] Secretary’s Report presented by Rtn. Jawahar [with some help from Rtn. A G Shankar] provided an overview of the performance during the year.
