Use the power of money to serve and to Make Dreams Come Alive, urges new President Ashish Vaid

Just three little steps - and they're through. Ashish Vaid fixes the Immediate Past President's pin on Dr. Rumi Jehangir's lapel; he then presents him with a silver salver; Rumi reciprocates by affixing the President's pin on Ashish's lapel' And, lo! and behold! Ashish Vaid addresses his first meeting as President of the Rotary Club of Bombay

"Why is Rotary so exciting for all of us? It's because we are able to do more through Rotary than we can do alone; we can do more as a Club than we can do as individuals; we can do more as a District than we can do as a Club; and when we look at Rotary all over the world, we can really dream big dreams.

"The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up. This year, let.s all wake up to our responsibility as Rotarians and come together to Make Dreams Real.

"Our goal should not be only money but rather the power of money in order to serve. True giving is the barometer of our love. I appeal to each one of you to make this measure of love soar this Rotary year".

With these words, Ashish Vaid assumed office as President of the Rotary Club of Bombay at a glittering event held on the evening of Tuesday, July 1, 2008, in the presence of a galaxy of District dignitaries, including Governor Bansi Dhurandhar.

This is something special for you. At his last meeting as President (held on June 24), Dr. Rumi Jehangir presented a silver salver to Honorary member Ms Rajashree Birla in recognition of her contribution of US $1 million to help Rotary in the battle to eradicate polio

The filled-to-capacity Regal Room of the Trident bore testimony to Ashish's popularity as a congenial Rotarian who was enjoying his work as President and who had no compunctions about picking up the mike to belt out a popular number and even to take to the floor and shake a leg.

The formal part of the programme was conducted ever so smoothly by doyenne Sabira Merchant who was ably assisted by the peerless Paul George.

Their deft touch was evident all through as the evening featured the formal change of guard; the introduction of a new team of Committee Chairpersons; a visibly relaxed (new) President's acceptance speech; and a stirring address by District Governor Bansi Dhurandhar.

Of course, it was left to Sabira to provide the high point of the evening, which she did when she pointed out, wonderment writ large on her face, that she had had the unique distinction of having changed the President's diapers!

(She recalled her old association with Ashish.s father Girdharilal, who was affectionately called "Bhai"; she had known the Vaids since the time Ashish was six months old.)

In his first speech as President, Ashish thanked his fellow Rotarians for giving him the honour of leading the Club. He hoped that he would be able to fulfil the responsibility to the best of his abilities and with the love, support and guidance of every member.

Being a second-generation Rotarian, he had always looked at Rotary as an extended family. He was just 13 when his father became a Rotarian. And now, as the Club approached its 80th birthday on March 19, 2009, it would be a very special year and he was "greatly honoured and privileged to be a part of this legacy".

President Ashish lists five new 'dream'
projects, seeks members. help to complete them

Miles to go and smiles to share. District Governor Bansi Dhurandhar and First Lady Dr. Surekha flank the Club's First Couple, Gopi and Ashish Vaid (first picture). In the second photograph, PP Harry Singh Arora is flanked by Biba and Sabira Merchant. And finally, Gopi thanks Rev. Father Alvan Demello, who was Ashish's Principal at Campion School for ten years, for coming and for being there

Ashish said that the Rotary movement, in its 104 years of service, had grown from strength to strength and thanks to its "Service Above Self" spirit, had garnered recognition and donations from all over the world.

New R.I. President Dong Kurn Lee's Theme was Make Dreams Real. "I am sure that with our benevolent and hard-working Rotarians, we will make all the dreams of our Club come alive," he said.

Ashish spelt out the areas in which the Club would strive for excellence in the new Rotary year. To focus on legacy, he said, the excellent work done by various Committees would continue with vigour and enthusiasm.

This year, the Hasanali Tobaccowala Eye Centre at Talwada, which could be called a Kohinoor project, would turn 30. The Centre was providing the light in the lives of over 20,000 people every year.

"What better gift can a person give than the gift of sight? And for this we have our very own PP Dr. Rahim Muljiani, the pioneer and motivator, to thank; as also IPP Dr. Rumi Jehangir who has continuously worked for 25 years at the Centre; besides Dr. Mitul Patel, who has been regularly visiting the Centre and helping out for the last 15 years".

Similarly, the Ajit Deshpande Medical Centre had grown from strength to strength and apart from dental services and work for TB eradication, was also doing pathological tests, giving paediatric treatment and conducting a general OPD.

Turning to The Rotary Foundation, Ashish said the Club was pledging to raise $50,000 and would make efforts to achieve an even higher target.

At this stage, he announced that PP Arvind Jolly had just performed a hat-trick by pledging US $25,000 for the third consecutive year towards the Endowment Fund. This announcement was greeted with loud applause.

Ashish said the Club had started the year with a membership of 332; he hoped that it would cross the 351- mark when it ended.

The Vocational Training Centres, which had been training the youth in various vocations to help them earn their livelihood, had been very successful. The Club would give a greater thrust to them.

He then turned to "the five new dream projects for which I need the support of each and every Rotarian in every possible way to Make Dreams Real".

The first was a Welfare Centre. Ashish announced that the Club had been allotted an independent area admeasuring 4,000 square feet in Goregaon (West) where it was proposed to conduct balwadis, medical check-ups, Vocational Training and Night Study Centres.

Next came Old Age Homes. It was planned to support the construction of a Home for Assisted Living and to be associated with it as it provided family support to the elderly.

The third dream project was the Talwada Education for Arts and Culture. The Club had been allotted a plot in Talwada for the construction of a college. It was proposed to get this educational centre off the ground by commencing work on the structure; later, it would be expanded to meet the needs and requirements of the area.

Greater Rotary Visibility was the fourth project. Ashish said he and others had met with the Municipal Commissioner and approached the Corporation for allotment of a suitable site in South Bombay to set up a landmark of Rotary which would give the movement greater visibility.

"Rotary monuments exist in every international city and these make us proud to be Rotarians. In this initiative we plan to adopt parks and beautify open spaces".

Ashish said the fifth project involved supporting the physically and mentally challenged. The Club would support NGOs working for the physically and mentally challenged, especially those that helped the handicapped to support themselves.

As for the District Thrust Areas, the Governor had identified these as .Child Welfare and Asmita. which stood for the conservation of art, culture, heritage and environment. The Club had set up five new Committees to achieve these goals.

President Ashish noted with pride that nine members of the Club had been invited by the District Governor to join his team and to help meet the goals set out for the Rotary year.

He praised the abilities of the Club's District Officers: PP Rajnikant Reshamwala, PP Kalpana Munshi, PP Gul Kripalani, IPP Dr. Rumi Jehangir, Mahendra Mehta, Deepak Kapadia, Shyamniwas Somani, Dr. Anand Somaya and Paul George.

And then it was time for the introduction of Ashish.s .team. for the year 2008-09. He called them "our pillars of strength and the ones who will take our Club forward".

Sabira and Paul called on the Committee Chairpersons and Joint Chairpersons to rise at their respective places as their names were announced. They received a comprehensive round of applause as the programme proceeded.

Following the introduction of the "team", the First Family of the Club was introduced and photographed. President Ashish was joined by his spouse Gopi, sons Avi and Arnav and father Girdharilal Vaid.

In his concluding remarks, Ashish dwelt on "the paradox of our time in history":

"We have taller buildings but shorter tempers; wider freeways but narrower viewpoints; we spend more but have less; we have bigger houses but smaller families; we have more knowledge but less wisdom; more experts yet more problems; more medicine but less wellness.

"We have learnt how to make a living, but not a life; we have been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbour; we build more computers to hold more information, but we communicate less and less.

"Spend some time with your loved ones because they are not going to be around forever. Say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person will soon grow up and leave your side. Give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give your heart and it does not cost anything. Give time to love, give time to speak and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind" give your time for Rotary service".

Ashish recalled that Paul Harris believed that Rotary was the means of coming together and of working together through fellowship for the good of society.

Attendance at the regular meetings was the key to the success of any Club. Although everyone was busy, sparing two hours on a Tuesday afternoon would help divert attention from business and make one at peace with one.s self as one served society to help Make Dreams Real.