Dr. Babu ChackoDistrict Governor

December is Family of Rotary Month. It is a time to focus on ourfamilies, to involve them in our Rotary service, and to challengeourselves to do even more for those in need. Because there are somany families and so many children waiting for our help, we, asRotarians, cannot look away. We cannot and will not rest until allchildren, everywhere, have the chance for a long and healthy life.We will not rest until every family is strengthened and become thecore unit of the society.

My dear Rotarians, our District Conference is fast approaching. TheConference Committee has made very elaborate arrangements andthe faculties are of very high caliber. The entertainment programmeis going to be scintillating with Rimi Tomy and her orchestra leadingthe show, in addition there will be cinematic dance, Russian bellydance, fashion show and mega fireworks. Array of attractive luckydip prizes await those who are inside the Conference Hall. Thisincludes Motor cycle, Fridge, Washing Machine, TV Set, Diamondring, Tickets for Dubai, etc. Fellowship on the banks of the AstamudiLake will be a lifetime experience. The food is going to be sumptuouswith elabrate menu. So please do register in advance and enjoy thebeautiful ambience of the fivestar Hotel Raviz Kollam.

I take this opportunity wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy &Prosperous New Year.

Rtn. Dr. Babu ChackoDistrict Governor

MessageKalyan Banerjee

RI President

My dear brothers and sisters in Rotary,

In late August, Binota and I were in Ghana, where Rotary Foundation Trustee Vice Chair

Sam Okudzeto and enthusiastic local Rotarians took us to the ribbon-cutting for a water

project in a little village, Abutia Teti, about 60 miles from Accra. We arrived at about 11

a.m., and the whole village seemed to be there. Everyone had been waiting since early

morning to welcome us. In the past, the women had to walk over 3 miles to carry pails of

water from a river. Now they had a supply of safe, clean water from tube wells in the

village itself. It was a simple but effective project in which Rotary and USAID had worked

together. But what struck us most that day was family: The men, the women, the children

were all there together, dancing, singing, and welcoming us. It made me think about how

everywhere around the world, people come together in families, and families join together

as communities.

And this made me happy that the first of our emphases in this Rotary year is the family,

because the family is where everything begins. It is where life begins, it is where our day

begins, and it is where our Rotary service must begin. Because it is the family, and not

the individual, that is the building block of the community – and of Rotary.

It is one of my great priorities to encourage the involvement of families in Rotary service.

I feel incredibly strongly that Rotary should never, ever come between the Rotarian and

the family. Rotary service should be something that brings the family closer together. For

myself, if I cannot bring Binota with me to a Rotary event, it’s simple – I don’t go! Rotary

is not just for me; it is for both of us. This is why I encourage districts to welcome families

at district conferences, to involve spouses and children in service projects, and to plan

meeting times with families in mind. The more that families are involved in Rotary, the

more Rotary will thrive – today and tomorrow.

What is Rotary about? It’s about so many things, but at its core, Rotary is about these

words: Love your neighbor as yourself. Rotary is about love, and that love has to start

with us – and with those closest to us.

Kalyan Banerjee

President, Rotary International

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The message of X’mas is peace. This message is more relevant now than everbefore. According to Bible, Jesus Christ propagated PEACE through variousparables. He said that those who make peace are blessed as they will inheritheaven (eternal peace). According to Christ, peace can happen only if you shareyour wealth or talents for betterment of less fortunate ones. He used parables ofGood Samaritan, the small donation of the poor old lady; the rich man getting intoheaven is more difficult than a camel passing through the eye of the needle, etc tobuttress this point.

X’ Mas and New Year Message

PDG George Mathew

PEACE has been maintained in the world, for thousands of years more by disruption than preservationby people. Though in the olden day’s disruption of peace happened due to wars fought betweencountries for conquering each other in, the modern days, the disruption of PEACE happens due tointernal agitation within the country due to widening gap between the rich and poor. In the futuristicworld, everlasting peace will depend upon how fast this gap is reduced.

What Jesus Christ tried to propagate about 2000 years back, Carl Max also tried to propagate, but ina different form about 100 years back. He said the political system should be founded on the principlethat “from each according to the ability and to each according to the need”. But after over half acentury experiments n various countries, this system proved a failure since it lacked individual incentiveto work affecting progress. Then the thinking was Capitalism followed in USA was the answer. Butthat also failed due to excessive greed of individuals to amass wealth which increased the gap betweenthe rich and the poor. In the developing countries like India, China etc., the gap started widening as thepoor in the rural areas who form the majority had to be satisfied with trickling down effect in the overall development of the country. They are too impatient to wait for this.

The result of the failure of various political systems in various countries have resulted in PROTESTSand AGITATIONS in the various countries across the world ,such as Tunisia, Cairo , Libya, USA (OwnWall Street), India (India Against Corruption) Moscow etc. There is increased thinking among thepeople about the futility of bequeathing wealth to the next generation, since they can not enjoy theirwealth in a world devoid of PEACE.

Under these circumstances people wonder what should be the route map for future.

Paul Harris about 100 years back , following what Christ said 2000 years back, founded Rotary andpropagated philanthropy of VOLUNTARY SHARING. Rotarians further improved this system by formingRotary Foundation to make SHARING more effective and propagating 4 way test for prioritizing ETHICSin business making ROTARY more relevant than ever before any where in the world.

PDG George Mathew

PDG Sandeep Narang of District3250 has been appointed by RIPresident Kalyan Banerjee as hisRepresentative for our DistrictConference. PDG Sandeep is fromRotary Club of Dhanbad inJharkhand. He wil l beaccompanied by his wife Anu.

Hearty welcome to RIPR PDG Sandeep Narang

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Exchange Rate for

January 2012

1 US $ = Rs. 52

+

RC Club of Erumely donating anAmbulance van

Childrens’ Park equipped &maintained by RC TVM North

RC Vaikom Town: VocationalExcellence Award to Dr. Sr. Mary

Margaret of Palliative Care Centre

Cancer detection Camp by Dr. V. P.Gangadharan organized by RC

Kottayam East

DGS MG Sukumaran Nair inductingProf.Leelamma Babu at RC Punalur

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Prize Distribution of Inter ZoneCricket Match

Medical Camp Organized byRC Kuravilangad

DG lighting the Lamp Seminar Chairman - Dr. K.K. Kuruvilla

Polio Plus Workshop and Orientation Meet was held on 4th December, 2011 atHotel Aida, Kottayam. Presidents, AGs and many designated health officers fromGovernment side participated in the Workshop.

PDG K. P. Kamaluddin - Member Polio PlusCommitteee addressing the gathering

Dr. Asha Raghavan, SMO - Kerala,NPSP - WHO

Dr. Thankamma addressing at theWorkshop Rtn. Ramnath - RC Kottayam Southern

PDG R. Reghunath PDG George Mathew IPDG Scaria Jose Rtn. Baby Thomas

Polio Plus Workshop

DGE P. G.Muraleedharan

Rtn.M.G.SukumaranNair

RC Chathannoor - Financialaid being given to a Cancer Patient

Our District Governor Dr. BabuChacko was in Colombo fromDecember 19 to 21, 2011,evaluating a 3-H Grant project toprovide treatment for children andadults affected with Thalassemiaand Hemophilia.

This is the 7th 3-H Grant Project thatour DG is evaluating for the RotaryFoundation.

ROTARY FOUNDATION ASSIGNMENT

DG Dr. Babu Chacko at Colombo withChildren affected by Thalassemia

RC Vadaserikara - Food DistributionPrize Distribution of Shuttle

Tournament Organized by RCThiruvalla East

RC Erattupetta - Financial help beingprovided

House for a poor familyDonated by RC Kayamkulam

Multi District Family of RotarySeminar - Kayal Sangamam

Entertainment Programme on 14th January 7.00 pm onwards

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Revenue District Zonal Seminar onKnow our Rotary

Rtn. K. S. SASIKUMAR - Our District Governor for 2014 - 15

Sasi graduated in Civil Engineering from the T.K.M.College of Engineering, Kollam in 1984 andobtained the MBA Degree from the same College in 1997.

He is presently working as Executive .Engineer of the Programme Implementation Unit, JillaPanchayat,.Kollam, under Kerala Local Self Government Department.He is currently the GeneralSecretary of Kerala Local Self Government Engineers' Association.

Sasi was the General Secretary of Kerala Municipal Graduate Engineers' Association for eightyears and is now the Vice President of Kerala Engineers' Federation, which is a Confederation ofEngineers' Association of various Departments of Kerala. He was a member of the ExecutiveCommittee of the Quilon Management Association as well. He is closely associated with manycultural, professional, and sports organisations of Kollam. He was the Chairman of TKMEngineering College ALUMINI during the year 2009-2010 and was Kollam NSS Taluk UnionCommittee member.

Sasi joined the Rotary Club of Quilon West in the year 1995. Since then, he has lived andbreathed Rotary, holding important positions in the Club and in the District. He was the 33rdPresident of the Rotary Club of Quilon West, bringing many laurels to the Club during his tenureas President.

Sasi has won the Commendable President Award in the District during the year 2003-04. Duringhis Presidentship, the Club did innumerable, innovative projects which reached out to the needyand spread the ideals of service. He served the District in such various capacities as Asst.Governor,District Chairman of different Avenues of Service, etc. He was the Chairman of PETS during2007-08. As District Chairman of Membership Development in 2008-09, he achieved more than15% increase in membership growth.He is a Freemason.He has been unanimously elected asDistrict Governor for the year 2014-2015.

Rtn.Renu Sasikumar is Sasi's better half. Renu is a past President of the Inner Wheel Club ofQuilon West. Sasi and Renu are blessed with two daughters - Renjana. S. Nair (Ammu), a FirstYear MBBS Student; and Parvathy. S. Nair (Paru), studying in IX Standard.

K.S. Sasikumar popularly known as 'Sasi' is a familiar name to allin the erstwhile District 3210 and the new District 3211. He is asecond generation Rotarian. His father, the late Sri.K.SadasivanNair, a noted businessman of Kollam, was a former member of theRotary Club of Quilon West.

Rtn. K.S. SasikumarDG - 2014 - 15

KNOW YOUR DISTRICT GOVERNORFOR THE YEAR 2014-15

Our New DGNRtn. K. S. Sasikumar of RC Quilon West has been elected

unopposed as the District Governor for the period 2014 - 15.

Our hearty congratulations to DGN Sasikumar

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For Private Circulation only. Published by : Rtn. Dr. Babu Chacko, Dist. Governor RI District 3211Edited by : Rtn. Devarajan Potti, GML Editor. Printed by Third Eye, Aswathy Tower, Thekkumgopuram, Kottayam - 1