Installation RCB 2019-20
New Team takes over for 2019-20 at an elegant function.
The 85th year of Rotary Club of Bangalore began with a scintillating evening at Taj, MG Road. The beautiful venue, adorned with ginger lilies and marigolds, set a festive ambience for the start of the Rotary year 2019-20 and was overflowing with Rotarians, Anns and guests, as well as a large contingent from the District 3190 and Dazzler Presidents.
An interfaith prayer was led by Rtn. PadminiNagachandra who explained the ethos of our secular country and the articles given in the Constitution of India.
The verses from the Bhagwat Geeta, Koran and the Bible, by Ann. GeethaGurunath, Ann. TasneemJiruwala and Rtn. Dr. GetrudeD’souza, set the tone for an auspicious start for the installation of the office bearers of the Rotary year 2019-20.
As the President, Rtn. Dr Elizabeth Cherian Paramesh had already been installed as the 85th President of the Rotary Club of Bangalore, 2019-20, the Secretary Rtn. Vineetha Chinappa honoured the President with the collar.
The District Governor Rtn. Dr. Sameer Hariani handed over the bell and gong to the President, who called to order the 1st Rotary Meeting of 2019-2020. The President welcomed the dignitaries and PRID Rtn. K PandurangaSetty, the only RI Director from our District. She also welcomed the Guest of Honour, Lion Dr. S Chandrashekar Shetty; the Chief Guest Justice N Santosh Hegde, former Judge of the Supreme Court of India and the Lokayukta in Karnataka.
The traditional lamp was lit by the dignitaries to the lilting music of AsothomaSadgamaya “O God lead me from darkness to light” by Ann. LalithaShivaprasad. The Immediate Past President, Rtn. VivekPrabhu, in his address reflected on tasks accomplished and thanked all for a wonderful Rotary year 2018-19.
In her Presidential address Rtn. Dr. Elizabeth Cherian Paramesh thanked the Rotary Club of Bangalore and all the Rotarians who helped her from being a back-bencher to the President.
She gave her vision for this 85th year of RCB, and spoke about several projects envisioned for the year 2019-20, based on the focus areas of Rotary International. She laid special emphasis on education, specially upgrading Rotary Bangalore Vidyalaya, building new Greenfield schools, supporting elderly care, scholarships for teachers to pursue B.Ed programs and for physically challenged students, support for animal care, as well as rescue homes and health and sanitation initiatives. She also extended support for the ongoing projects of Rotary Bangalore, TTK Blood Bank, Rotary MuthappaAttavar hospital, and Rotary ICICI Prudential Dialysis Centre. She said that plans were being formulated for the Rotary Club to hold speaker and cultural events.
The District Governor, Rtn Samir Hariani and the First Lady of the District, RtnRoopaHariani inducted the office bearers of the Rotary Club of Bangalore 2019 – 20.
Lion Dr. S. Chandrashekar Shetty, an accomplished Ophthalmologist and the Vice Chancellor of Adichunchanagiri University, Karnataka, spoke on the 4 Cs and stressed on the role of service organizations like the Rotary in the betterment of society
The project brochure was released by the Chief Guest, Justice N Santosh Hegde and in his address, he lauded the Club for its yeomen service through education and medical initiatives. He also recounted several instances during his term as the Karnataka LokAyukta of how maladministration caused hardship to the weaker sections of society and the need to eradicate this malaise. He had a few stories on how greed was driving corruption in our country. Thus his advice was to install moral values in our children, as they were the ones who would make a difference to society.
The Roster for 2019-20 was released by the Zone Governor, Rtn. Madhavan, Rtn. Rosa Paramel and Rtn Sohil Shah. The Inaugural issue of the Rotator was released by the Asst. Governor, Rtn. Savita Suresh.
A record number of eleven Rotarians were inducted into the Club by PRD Rtn. PandurangaSetty and DC Rtn. Samir Hariani. The Poster of the fund raiser for the year “Toccata Gimme some Lovin” was released by the Guest of Honour. DrChandrashekar Shetty and Rtn. DrMustaliVagh gave a brief description of the fund raiser and extolled one and all to watch this beautiful musical.
The President signed the agreement for the Greenfield schools with OSAAT. She thanked Mr. Vaadiraj Bhat and Rtn. Sridhar Chari for the initiative. She also thanked our Rotarians and partner members for all their generous donations towards the service activities of our club.
The District Governor addressed the gathering with an impassioned speech on his vision for District 3190, the Kotinati project – “Plant a Tree”; to induct new members to the Club; and to give “Five More” to the Rotary Foundation.
The Secretary gave the Vote of Thanks and mementoes were presented by the President to the dignitaries. The evening then closed to the strains of the mellifluous voice of LataMangeshkar singing the National Anthem.
A sumptuous dinner was served, making this an evening to remember of grace, compassion, happiness and sharing.
Rtn Rosa Paramel and Rtn. Meera Shankar