Can you imagine a Rotary club being born with 415 members on the day of its charter? That’s exactly what happened this July in Tiruchirapalli, when the Rotary Club of Tiruchirapalli Success, RID 3000, made history with an unprecedented start. The club’s impressive roster includes a cross-section of society — 105 women Rotarians, 25 doctors, 70 engineers, 40 government school teachers and 35 government employees.
Talking about how the feat was achieved, DG J Karthik traces the story to Vijayalayan, a past president of RC Tiruchirapalli Phoenix. “He was inspired when RC Chennai Icons (RID 3233) was chartered with 225 members and decided to break that record by starting a new club with even more.” He urged each of his 10 Rotarian friends to identify 30 prospective members, and circulated short videos showcasing Rotary’s impact in communities. The response was overwhelming. “Soon, several people wanted to be part of Rotary. The rest, as they say, is history,” smiles Karthik.
In July, the new club was officially chartered with 415 members, with Vijayalayan as the charter president. He, along with 15 members from his former club, stepped out to launch the new club. “We are also chartering a Rotaract club next week with 555 members. It is called the Rotaract Club of Vikas College of Arts and Science,” says Vijayalayan.
RC Tiruchirapalli Success hit the ground running. Every Monday, the club conducts mock examinations for civil service and bank job aspirants. “We also organise coaching sessions for students aiming for IAS, IFS, railways and banking jobs. These weekly tests help remove exam fear and improve their writing speed,” he explains.
The club has also adopted the Narikurava community living in Devarayaneri near Trichy. Traditionally bead sellers, the community has struggled with poverty and lack of education. “We provide them monthly groceries and nutritional supplements, and motivate parents to send their children to school by assuring support for their educational needs,” he says. Thanks to this initiative, 15 Narikurava children now attend school, proudly wearing new uniforms and shoes provided by the club. The Rotarians are also sponsoring college education for six girls and a boy from the village.
To sustain the interest of the large membership base, the president is organising orientation seminars led by past district governors. “We identify our members’ interests and align them with club activities. Doctors lead medical camps, teachers assist in education projects, and women Rotarians take the lead in community welfare programmes. Everyone feels involved and valued,” says Vijayalayan.
At the club’s installation on July 20, RI director M Muruganandam lauded the district leadership and charter members for their trendsetting effort. He urged them to actively participate in service projects and to use Rotary as a platform for personal growth and leadership development.