Agrochemicals manufacturer
RC Pataliputra, RID 3250
TRF-giving top priority
Finding that only 18 per cent of members have been contributing to TRF, Bipin Chachan studied the giving pattern in his district and ensured that every Rotarian gave at least $25 to TRF. This led to the district ranking number one globally for TRF’s Every Rotarian Every Year (EREY) giving. Of the district’s 4,062 members, a remarkable 88 per cent have contributed, including 3,093 EREY donors and 1,392 first-time contributors, pushing the total TRF contributions to $350,000 surpassing the previous year’s $200,000 target.
“I love TRF. It is the only organisation where money invested comes back to the district and goes straight to those in need. No middlemen, just meaningful impact,” he says.
It is important to understand that Rotarians are individuals who “have fulfilled their financial goals in life. The only thing we are looking for is purpose. If club presidents help them fall in love with Rotary projects, they will give to TRF not for recognition, but for impact. What we give is what we leave behind.”
He urges clubs to embrace women members wholeheartedly. “Don’t treat a woman Rotarian who is also a spouse as just that. Value her for her skills. Women can multitask and lead in remarkable ways.”
He has added six new clubs, eight Rotaract clubs and 20 new Interact clubs.
————————————————————————————————–
Management
RC Hyderabad Deccan, RID 3150
Focused on impact
Sharath Choudary was introduced to Rotary early, born just a week after his father’s club was chartered in 1963. He began as an Interactor (1977–81) and joined RC Hyderabad Deccan in 1993 at 29.
He led his club (1997–98) to became “one of the world’s first 100 per cent PHF clubs,” with an average membership age of 26. During his tenure as Annual Giving Chair (2001), TRF contributions crossed $100,000 for the first time. That figure has since grown to over $1 million.
His membership mantra is “meet often, build bonds, have fun, and create impact. We encourage clubs to develop a cadre of membership-focused Rotarians (Harry Ruggles Fellows) who pledge to bring in at least one new member each year and mentor them for three years.” To improve retention, he introduced Just One, a programme that tracks engagement and recognises member sponsors.
After a major flood, the district supported 6,000 affected families and renovated six schools. CSR projects have been implemented through TRF and directly. These include an epilepsy care centre, paediatric heart surgery theatres, an oncological histopathology lab, spinal endoscopy setups and diagnostic labs for government and charitable institutions.
Having crossed $1 million this year in TRF-giving, “we aim to cross another million in contributions and commitments,” he says.
————————————————————————————————–
Educationist
RC Gwalior Laurels
RID 3053
Quality membership
Membership is not just about increasing numbers. It is about building a strong, committed community. Each club is different, and a one-size-fits-all strategy doesn’t work. Every club should adopt its own approach to recruit new members,” says DG Rahul Shrivastava.
Clubs should form dedicated teams to “carefully evaluate membership profiles and induct only those who truly align with Rotary’s values.”
The district is working towards “being more diverse and inclusive. We have already welcomed differently-abled members, though adding transgender members may take a little longer. There are 330 Rotaractors in the district, but it is not easy to increase that number because of the new RI dues.”
He proudly highlights the five all-women clubs in the district that are “doing amazing projects.” Under their Project Kindness Chain they are distributing food, clothes, sewing machines, and more to communities in need.
The district is also implementing a CSR initiative worth ₹83,000 to renovate government schools. “We have already collected₹$130,000 of our $200,000 TRF goal,” he smiles.
Fellowship is what kept him in Rotary. “It is not just about coming together. It is about coming together with people who believe in making a difference. You are dining, sharing and working alongside the best people in the world,” he says.
————————————————————————————————–
Educational institution management
RC Kazhakuttom
RID 3211
Balancing experience with youthful energy
For DG Sudhi Jabbar, member orientation is “non-negotiable. Before we invite, it is important that prospective members understand Rotary’s legacy, the impact of our local, national and global service projects, and most importantly, the significance of TRF,” he says.
Jabbar, a second-generation Rotarian, joined his father’s club at 25. “As a young Rotarian, I was fortunate to be mentored by very senior members. But times have changed. Today, we need the josh of young minds to be paired with the wisdom of our senior Rotarians. It is important to maintain a balanced age ratio within clubs.”
His district recently welcomed its first transgender Rotarian. Jabbar believes that by providing the right platform and positive experiences, more members from the transgender community will be encouraged to join.
While the district boasts a healthy 85 per cent retention rate, meeting TRF targets remains a challenge. “Many of our clubs operate in semi-urban and rural areas, but this year, we have urged every member to contribute at least $50 to TRF.”
A newly launched upskilling programme is providing sewing, computer skills and beautician courses for women, transgender individuals, the differently-abled, and students from underprivileged backgrounds. Nearly 80 clubs are offering lessons in heavy vehicle driving, and over 500 women have already completed sewing courses.
Cervical cancer vaccination drives are being conducted by 160 clubs.