Renewing relationships

Samanvaya, the District Conference of RID 3170, brought together 1,500 Rotarians, along with their families, Rotaractors and Interactors to network and bond with each other and share best practices, over three days of a variety of programmes. The event was hosted in Hubli by Rotary Clubs of Hubli, Bagalkot and Vijayapur. “Samanvaya means to harmonise and there was ample opportunity for the Rotary family to deepen acquaintances and further relationships,” said DG Girish Masurkar. Ten visiting Russian Rotarians too attended
the event.

Following the welcome address by Conference Chair S K Yadahalli, PDG Nitin Dafria of RID 3040, the RI President’s Representative, spoke about Rotary’s accomplishments globally in 114 years and Rotary India’s 100-year milestone journey. He was accompanied by wife Divya.

Against a backdrop of such remarkable heritage we should be proud to be Rotarians and take care to preserve the goodwill and trust the organisation has built over the years.

Masurkar spoke about RI’s rich legacy and its role in the formation of the United Nations. Going into history, he said that Rotary holds a privileged consultative status offered by the UN’s Economic and Social Council, and RI representatives serve as observers in various meetings. RI and the UN have a productive partnership in polio eradication, literacy, water and sanitation projects, cultural exchanges and promotion of peace conferences around the world. In 1945, PRIP T A Warren titled a week in October as ‘United Nations Week’, which in 1953 was changed to ‘Rotary UN Day’ by the UN General Assembly. “Against a backdrop of such remarkable heritage we should be proud to be Rotarians and take care to preserve the goodwill and trust the organisation has built over the years,” he said.

Several delegates participated in a 10-km cyclothon organised as part of the conference to promote Rotary’s projects in the six focus areas.

Kiran Kumar, former chairman of ISRO, captivated the audience with an account of the Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan missions. Prabhu Rajiv Lochan Das of ISKCON talked about leading a meaningful life. Ashok ­Dalwai, Additional Secretary, ­Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, elaborated on GoI’s missions — Doubling of farmers’ income and Jal Shakti ­Abhiyan. “We were so impressed by his talk that we arranged impromptu a session for farmers the next day; 200 farmers attended it,” said Vasuki Sanji, Conference Secretary.

RIPR Dafria, RRFC Avinash Potdar and DRFC Pranesh ­Jahagirdar spoke about TRF, district and global grants and the various ways of contributing to the Foundation.

IPDG Ravikiran Kulkarni presented the awards to Rotarians for their outstanding performance last year.