Strengthening friendship on a virtual platform
Dear friends,
The countless stories of humanity by volunteers distributing meals, essential medical supplies to the needy are awe-inspiring. During this crisis words like I or Me have become We and Us. And we have understood the power of togetherness.
– Aashta Behl (Punjab)
A new era has set in during this corona pandemic, which requires us to be more conscious of gender equity, share home and family responsibilities, break mental barriers and find opportunities for women in education, skill development, etc. This crisis gives us an opportunity for self and national development and be game-changers, taking up diverse projects similar to Project Dignity (skilling of women/widows and children of widows).
We Rotarians can never be laidback and should steadily try and regain our position in the world. Thanks to numerous technological avenues, virtual meetings have become the new normal and are being organised. Training and fellowship are also resuming virtually, and in this transformation, Rotarians are getting a substantial learning experience, breaking barriers and adapting to changes.
Fellowship is one of the core values of Rotary. June is Rotary Fellowship Month. It is the time groups of Rotarians, their spouses and Rotaractors come together for recreational activities, using this opportunity for vocational development and bigger and better service. The virtual medium gives us great opportunities to find innovative methods to explore the fruits of fellowship and friendship.
I encourage each member to rekindle old friendships and make new ones, and enjoy Rotary’s worldwide fellowship as you connect the world.
I commend the governors-elect for swiftly and efficiently adapting to change and conducting all training and fellowship meetings on virtual platforms. I have seen so many innovative fellowship meets — antakshari, tambola, music and dance competitions and meeting with civic personalities. It surely has been a fruitful exercise of reinventing the wheel.
I also challenge the district governors to continue and complete their OCVs virtually and close their year of service with 100 per cent membership retention. Use the virtual platform to reach out to all your members, inspire and ignite the passion of service in them in a world that needs our compassion.
Remember: Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much. We have to come together to become stronger and do our part in solidarity, the new word for unity and strength.
“One colour doesn’t make a rainbow; one tree doesn’t make a forest, and one leader doesn’t make a change. In these trying times it is innovation and collaboration that result in any and every triumph; solidity is the key to success.”
Kamal Sanghvi,
RI Director, 2019-21
