In more ways than one zone institute 2023, titled RISE, was an elaborately planned and meticulously executed event of the year. While convenor and RI director Raju Subramanian was the visible face of the three-day event organised in ­Bengaluru, and secretary PDG Sameer Hariani was often seen on the stage as the compere, the chairman of the institute PDG K P Nagesh, who had headed the entire team and provided direction and exemplary leadership in ensuring the smooth conduct of the varying sessions, kept a low-key profile and remained mostly behind the scenes.

At a grand and elegantly executed sit-down dinner, with personalised menu cards on every table for every guest, held on the eve of the Bengaluru zone institute, senior Rotary leaders led by RI President Gordon McInally, RI directors Raju Subramanian and Anirudha Roychowdhury, TRF vice-chair Bharat Pandya and several other RI leaders and senior leaders from Rotary India, toasted The Rotary Foundation.