In a new role in Rotary

Rotaract is a Rotary-sponsored service club for young men and women ages 18 to 30. Rotaract clubs are either community or university based, and they’re sponsored by a local Rotary club. This makes them true "partners in service" and key members of the family of Rotary. As one of Rotary’s most significant and fastest-growing service programs, with more than 7,000 clubs in about 163 countries and geographical areas, Rotaract has become a worldwide phenomenon. Our Rotary District 3150 [comprising 78 Rotary Clubs in Andhra Pradesh, India] has 32 sponsored Rotaract Clubs with 722 Members. The sponsored Rotary Clubs guide and support the Rotaract Clubs while the District designate few Rotary Members to compliment their efforts. I am happy to inform that I have been designated as Rotaract District Trainer for the year 2009-10 Rotary year with a responsibility to guide and oversee necessary training requirments for the young Members of all the 32 Rotaract Clubs. To start with, I am required to associate with the Rotaract District Assembly that has been scheduled to be held in Hyderabad on 7th June, 2009 to equip and energize the Rotaract Leaders to take-off with the new vigor for ensuing Rotaract year commencing from July 1.

Feb 23, For Devotion & Celebration

Shivaratri or Mahashivratri is festival on February 23, wherein Hindu devotees around the world observe Shivratri Vrat or Upvaas or fast. The fasting involves refraining from eating any food and not sleeping through out the night. Shivratri is the day when rituals and worship are given more importance. Sivaratri literally means ‘the night of Lord Shiva’ and unlike other festivals associated with Hinduism there is no fun and merrymaking on the day. How to celebrate Mahasivratri?

• The Mahashivratri fasting begins on the morning of Shivratri and ends next day morning or the Amavasya morning. Since it is a long Upvaas or Vrat, many people consume a special meal known as ‘phalar.’
• Devotees wake up before sunrise and take bath and wear clean clothes.
• Applying of sacred ash, or vibhuthi, is an important aspect on the day. People also wear a Rudraksha Mala.
• The idols of Ganesh, Shiva and Parvati are cleaned and a lamp is lit.
• Most people then visit a nearby Shiva temple. In most places, Shivratri is largely observed in temples.
• Some people observing fast consume a mid-day meal consisting of non-cereal food such as boiled potatoes which is made into a curry without onion, garlic, adarak or haldi. Another food eaten on the day is pakori or Kutt Singahri ki puri.
• Most devotees go for a fruit diet and drink lots of water.
• No meal is eaten after sunset.
• Next meal is taken on the morning of Amavasi after doing puja and giving alms.
• The entire night is spend in a nearby Shiva temple or by chanting Mantras or listening to stories related to Shiva.
• Some of the important mantras that are chanted on the day include:Shiva Panchakshari Mantra – Om Namah Shivaya or chanting the sacred names of Lord Shiva.
• People who have a Shivling at home can bathe the Shivling with water intermittently throughout the night.

All the rituals on the night of Shivratri are an opportunity to cleanse the ignorance and open the door to bliss. The fasting, rituals and chanting are meant to kill desire, greed, illusion, arrogance, jealousy, and anger. This will make a better person and prepare to face the challenges. Resources: http://www.mahashivratri.org/shivaratri-fast.html [website of Society for the Confluence of Festivals in India ] http://www.123greetings.com/events/maha_shivaratri/

Rotary International’s 104th Anniversary Rotary is one of the largest and most influential international humanitarian service organizations in the world. Founded on February 23, 1905, in Chicago, today Rotary has over 1.2 million members who belong to more than 33,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas. As volunteers, Rotary members serve the needs of their communities worldwide. Our Rotary Club of Secunderabad West, joins Rotary clubs around the world to recognize the day, also known as Rotary’s “World Understanding and Peace Day,” by addressing a variety of community concerns. Rotary members conduct projects to address today’s humanitarian challenges, including illiteracy, disease, hunger, poverty, lack of clean water, and environmental concerns while encouraging high standards in all vocations. Rotary members strive to build goodwill and peace, and provide humanitarian service in their communities and throughout the world. Rotary’s top philanthropic goal is to eradicate polio worldwide. To date, Rotary has contributed nearly US$800 million and countless volunteer hours to the protection of more than two billion children in 122 countries. Rotary is currently working to raise an additional $200 million toward a $355 million challenge grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. These efforts are providing much needed operational support, medical personnel, laboratory equipment and educational materials for health workers and parents. I am proud to be associated with this fantastic organization as Rotarian.
Resources:
http://www.rotary.org
http://www.rotaryclubofsecunderabadwest.org

A Guest From Arkansas-USA

Group Study Exchange (GSE) is a program sponsored by the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International that enables young people in the early stages of their careers to participate in a month-long cultural and vocational exchange. Since 1965, more than 57,000 individuals (almost 12,000 teams) from 100 countries have participated. For each exchange, the Rotary Foundation matches two Rotary districts from different parts of the world. Team members learn about the host country's culture and institutions, observe how their vocations are practiced abroad, and establish personal and professional friendships. Team members are hosted by Rotarians and live with host families. Teams make a number of presentations in the Rotary events, participate in vocational visits and enrich with guided tours to places of interest.
In January 2009, the Rotary International District 3150, Andhra Pradesh, India [ I belong to Rotary Club of Secunderabad West in this Rotary District] has received a GSE reciprocal team from Rotary District 6150, Arkansas State, USA. Our Club has hosted on 23-25 January, 2009 this GSE team consisting of three women [non-rotarians] and a Rotarian team leader. I have hosted Mrs.Karen Pallone, a veterinary surgeon belonging to Rose Bud [ 200 families live in this town ] near Little Rock city, the capital of Arkansas State in USA.
I have arranged a guided tour for Mrs Karen to the college of Vetenarary sciences in Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University in Rajendra Nagar, Hyderabad. I accompanied her during the 3 hour guided tour in this massive Institution wherein Mrs.Karen interacted with students, teaching faculty and visited the University exhibition. We have also visited the Charminar [ the prestigeous symbol of Hyderabad as seen in the photo in this blog ] followed by a shopping at Lepakshi -the state owned handicrafts shoppe.
My family has got an excellent opportunity to know more about Arkansas in USA and their culture. As Arkansas is a picturesque place, it is called The Natural State. Bill Clinton the former President of America [who visited Hyderabad in 2002] hails from Arkansas. The world's only diamond park open to the public where one can prospect for and keep any stones found in this park. Mrs. Karen presented us a book "Picture Arkansas" + the country Flag + a pen set with insignia of their State Governor's signature + Lapel pins of the State etc., During the farewell party to the GSE team by our Rotary District Governor Rtn. Dr. Sarat Babu, the impressions and experiences of team members as written in our Club's Guest Book include the words of Mrs. Karen...
"SURYA has been an amazing host & seen that all my dreams & mission in India have been completed before I leave. It has been an amazing journey, I will not forget. Thank you all."
I must thank Rtn Raghava Rao & Rtn Harikrishna -our Rotary District chairs for GSE teams for providing us a wonderful opportunity to host GSE team member from Arkansas-USA.