Atlanta,
Jan 2013: Rotary Club of Emory Druid Hills organized a Christmas dinner
party to celebrate its fourth anniversary and also to induct new
members at the Palace Restaurant on December 13, 2012.
The
proceedings were emceed by Chittaranjan Jyotishi, who warmly welcomed
all and conducted the Call to Order. He invited his son Rajesh to sing
a song. Rajesh has cut his first CD of his own songs called ‘Carpe
Diem’(Cease the Day) and will soon be releasing his second CD, ‘World
is Yours’. He sang an apt song for the occasion- ‘Immune’ from his
upcoming CD, with uplifting lyrics exhorting all to lend a helping hand
during the current economic downturn and natural calamities. President
Chittaranjan Jyotishi delivered the Invocation address and former
President of the RCEDH, Roger Williams led the Pledge of Allegiance.
President-Elect,
Rotarian Ravi Chander commended Atlanta’s well known and respected
Attorney Dr. Chandler Sharma and his wife, also a high profile social
activist Dr. Paddy Sharma for their support in his goal of helping at
least a thousand villages in India to get safe drinking water, free of
Fluorosis and other water borne microbes. He explained that matching
grants helps in turning a dollar worth of donation into three dollars.
A dollar one grant at Club level then goes to District level and
finally to Rotary International level to increase three-fold. And if
there is an international partner, it increases six-fold. With the help
of International partners in Hyderabad and Secunderabad ,Rotary Club
has 200 projects that have already been completed and has helped about
5 million people get pure drinking water, he said.
Rotary Club’s
Treasurer Hemang Desai, CPA, said he was proud to be a member of the
Rotary Club and requested all to support the club by enrolling as
members.
Dr.Chandler Sharma noted that Rotary is about the
Four Way Test, which should guide one in his private and professional
life. The Four Way Test is (1) Is it the TRUTH?;(2) Is it FAIR to all
concerned? (3)Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? (4) Will
it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned? Dr. Sharma recognized some of his
closest friends in the audience and extended his unconditional support
to Ravi Chander in his remaining Safe Drinking Water in Village
projects.
Dr. Paddy Sharma ,who is an outstanding social
activist and philanthropist is also a passionate Rotarian since 1984.
She said that she loves Rotary because of its motto ‘Service above
self’. She has been fortunate to attend international Rotary
Conventions and also interact with Rotarians both in the US and abroad
and was highly impressed with their dedication, commitment and selfless
service in helping the poor and needy. Recently she too experienced an
inner joy in participating in “Meals on Wheels’ service to the
community and also giving ‘School Dictionaries’ to Third Graders in a
School.
Rotary Club’s Past President Roger Williams lauded Dr.
Paddy Sharma for her vision in founding RCEDH in October 2009.”To me
Rotary means ‘Joy’. I experienced that when delivering toys to a Women
and Children’s Shelter in Atlanta. It is all about ‘Dash’ in your life.
The dash between the date you were born and the date you left. What did
you do in that time-frame. Whose life did you touch. So commit yourself
to help others.”
Atlanta’s Global Mall owner, President of Ekal
Vidyalaya-Atlanta Chapter, and philanthropist Shiv Aggarwal who is also
RCEDH PR Committee Director also stressed ‘selfless service’. A mother
gives 100% selfless service to her child. Make your life worthwhile by
giving even 1% if you can,” he said.
GOPIO Atlanta’s
President Bhairavi Nadgonde said that she was highly impressed with the
work and outreach projects of the RCEDH. She informed the audience
about GOPIO, which fights for Human Rights violation of people of
Indian origin and also causes and concerns affecting NRIs.
Chief
Guest, Past Assistant District Governor Donna Turner, in her brief
address said she was excited and honored to see service projects of a
magnitude she hadn’t seen before. These projects to alleviate human
sufferings are really praiseworthy. ‘Life is not about success. It is
about significance. Try and make a significant difference in lives of
others,” she said.
She commended Dr.Chandler and Dr. Paddy
Sharma for being a driving force behind RCEDH. “This chapter will be an
inspiration to all other chapters in the US” she said.
Donna
Turner invited Dr.Chandler Sharma and President Jyotishi who had
sponsored three new members-Mehul Raja, Palm Sheikh, and Rev. Dr. Dalip
Kumar, to join her in their induction ceremony, and present pins and
badges after the oath-taking.
Kokila Kumar recited the 4-Way-Test which is a cornerstone for all Rotarians.
A
power point presentation was prepared by president Jyotishi and kept
running continuously to identify what Rotary is about and RCEDH goals
and ambitions.
Vote of Thanks and appreciations to all guests
was offered by an ebullient President Jyotishi who commented, “Together
we will alleviate poverty by providing education and eradicate sickness
like polio, aids, and leprosy and help provide clean water and
efficient sanitation and more. The Rotary Foundation is at work to
support all Rotarians for their worthy projects and goals. Let’s learn
and work together; work and take a task one at a time and be real
Rotarian.”
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