Rotary Grandeur - Volume 6

ROTARY GRANDEUR MONTHLY BULLETIN OF ROTARY ALLAHABAD GRAND, District: 3120 VOLUME NO. 6 Secretary: Rtn. Shikhar Mandhyan Treasurer: Rtn Rohit Agrawal Dec - 2020 / Jan - 2021

ROTARY ALLAHABAD GRAND R I PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE As I look back on 2020, I one of the women, Rosa, prepare a Nigeria reect on how our lives presentation in English for an online These stories have changed. The international conference. While our should give us global COVID-19 pandemic engagement with the Costa Rican all reasons to brought pain and loss to many of women still requires some hands-on be optimistic us. And for almost all of us, our activity, the most transformative about Rotary daily lives, family time, and work impacts haven't had to be in person. in the year ahead. We are not just also changed this year. But we've — Liza Larson, Rotary E-Club surviving; we are gaining made it to the end of this difcult Engage and Rotary Club of Plano strength. We are discovering year, not on our own but by East, Texas how resilient our organization reaching out to one another, as truly is. We are seeing for we always do in Rotary. With I was president of my club when ourselves how Rotary Opens each passing year, I become COVID-19 hit, and many members Opportunities — even during prouder of our organization. didn't yet have Zoom. Only 10 of our pandemics — to grow, connect, I will choose to remember 2020 as 53 members participated in the rst and engage our members and the a year of great change and Zoom meeting during the pandemic. I communities we serve. strength for us; Rotary didn't thought that reaching out and getting guest speakers from around the world stop, despite the pandemic. We to engage our members would help. From our home in Ratzeburg to Many Rotary leaders, a Rotary Peace yours, Susanne and I would like removed obstacles, found new Fellow, and even RI President Holger to bid you and your family the ways to connect, and embraced Knaack visited virtually and spoke to warmest of season's greetings. new approaches to service, such our club. Meeting attendance We can't wait to see the good as online projects and virtual improved, while we reduced running things that 2021 will bring. fundraising. I have invited two costs by cutting out meals. Some Rotarians to share their stories members who worked outside our city Holger Knaack about how Rotary grew stronger and had missed our meetings even Rotary International President this year. rejoined us. Registering our online 2020-21 When the pandemic shut everything meetings on My Rotary enhanced down, our emerging e-club was contacts with clubs across the world, already providing digital service, a n d t h e j o i n t m e e t i n g including internationally. Fourteen addressed by Holger U.S. women and I, members of attracted more than multiple Rotary clubs, were using 300 visitors. We also WhatsApp to mentor women raised more funds as entrepreneurs in rural Costa Rica, members and visitors helping them to grow their contributed to our ecotourism business, RETUS Tours projects. To continue [the subject of the magazine's May being exible for all, cover story, \"Nature & Nurture\"]. we are now offering The project has grown, with 30 hybrid meetings. For Rotarians now providing consulting me, 2020 has been the and help with the RETUS website best year in Rotary as and social media. Most importantly, I've made many new we continue building relationships f r i e n d s . and empowering these women to — Blessing Michael, transform their own lives, and we Rotary Club of Port are doing it online. I've even helped H a r c o u r t N o r t h ,

ROTARY ALLAHABAD GRAND R I PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE January is nally here. with your club, asking, “What are attractive. As we look forward to our initiatives and priorities for the O n c e y o u r 2021, our thinking n e x t t w o t o t h r e e y e a r s ? ” club makes a doesn't have to stop at the end of Document your answers using strategic plan, these 365 days. Are you thinking action-oriented language that is it's time to take ahead about what you will be specic, concrete, and measurable a c t i o n a n d doing in 2022, 2023, and beyond? about the goals you want to carry out the necessary changes. We cannot foresee the future, but achieve. When we do that — as we engage we can steer ourselves where we N e x t , n a r r o w d o w n y o u r members in vibrant and active want to go. I think it is important initiatives to a core set of three to clubs that not only have fun but that every Rotary club hold a ve priorities. Your club will then also serve their communities strategic meeting at least once a develop specic objectives for each with projects that have real and year. Past RI Director Greg Yank, initiative, outlining who will be lasting impact — our clubs grow who has a lot of experience involved, key milestones of stronger. And when we discover working with clubs on their achievement, how progress will be what makes our own clubs tracked, and a timeline for unique and build upon those plans, shares his viewpoint. A famous aphorism states, “By completion. Keep your plan short core values in all our efforts, failing to prepare, you are and simple. Rotary Opens Opportunities to preparing to fail.” Planning is Then go out and do it. Review the enrich the lives of everyone. essential to achieving success in p r o g r e s s y o u m a k e t o w a r d Past RI Director Greg Yank died all areas of life, including Rotary, accomplishing the initiatives, and on 5 January, 2021, shortly after and we're getting better at it revise as needed at least once a the publication of this letter. A year. Rotary has a solid template to member of Rotary Club of every year. Strategic planning for Rotary assist clubs in their planning, O'Fallon, Illinois, Yank served on clubs works. I have helped many w h i c h y o u c a n  n d a t the RI Board of Directors from clubs nd that pathway by my.rotary.org/en/document/str 2017-2019 and was a recipient of working with them to build what ategic-planning-guide. the Service above Self Award in I call a blueprint, a multiyear We want to enrich and enliven our 2 0 1 4 . R I P r e s i d e n t H o l g e r p l a n t h a t a n s w e r s t h e clubs with new discussions and Knaack would like to express his fundamental question: “What is ideas. But how do we attract the profound sympathy to Yank's our vision for our club?” The best d i v e r s e p r o f e s s i o n a l s , f r o m family and friends. plans I have seen are those that different backgrounds, ages, and Holger Knaack a r e f o c u s e d , w h e n a c l u b experiences, who are all driven by Rotary International President concentrates its resources on the as strong a sense of integrity as we 2020-21 best opportunities it has. Your are? Rotary club cannot be all things Through strategic planning, we to its members and to the explore this question to dene the community it serves; it has very nature of our club and the limited human, nancial, and value it offers to its members and time resources. A successful plan to the community. Each club is factors in assets and limitations different, and each club's value to chart the desired pathway for w i l l b e u n i q u e . D u r i n g t h e planning process, clubs may also your members. Begin building a multiyear nd that some of the activities they strategic plan by brainstorming used to do are no longer relevant or

TRUSTEE CHAIR'S NOTE On a foggy Christmas Eve in transformation from hardened recluse to Our Foundation serves simultaneously Victorian London, the old miser generous humanitarian. To me, it offers as charity and performer in the field; sits at his desk. valuable lessons for all, regardless of belief Rotarians are on the ground, or time of year. volunteering their skills and business Bitter and disillusioned with the world, expertise in support of grants that are Ebenezer Scrooge has only one interest: In one of my favorite passages, a spirit funded by you. In this way, we carry out his bottom line. He declines his nephew's magically transports Scrooge to the some of Rotary's most important work, invitation to Christmas dinner, refuses to Cratchit household. There, he sees his such as protecting mothers and their support the poor and deprived, and clerk from a new vantage point, observing babies and helping communities recover reluctantly grants his underpaid clerk, a humble but heartfelt holiday gathering. from the shocks of COVID-19. Bob Cratchit, time off for Christmas Day. Scrooge then understands that gifts like friendship, family, and gratitude can't be Please remember The Rotary After he arrives home, strange things recorded into any ledger. By the end of the Foundation during this season of begin to happen. Jacob Marley, his story, Scrooge has learned the most generosity. Remember that your gifts to deceased business partner, appears as a important lesson of all: that as long as we the Foundation amplify our work in all ghost tethered to a chain, telling Scrooge are still alive, it's not too late to devote areas of focus. They are perpetuated, not to change his self-centered ways, lest he ourselves to serving humankind. just today but long after we are gone.And meet the same fate. the Foundation will continue to work its The year-end holidays are upon us. It is a miracles in service to others tomorrow as That is the premise of A Christmas Carol, time of giving and sharing, but it is not long as we keep supporting it today. On Charles Dickens' classic tale of a man's limited to our loved ones. It is also for the behalf of The Rotary Foundation people we have never met and will never Trustees, I thank you for sending your see, for those who are not so fortunate as generous contribution before 31 we and could use a helping hand. The December. miracle of giving that Scrooge discovered on Christmas Eve is exactly what The Rotary Foundation does 365 days a year. PRESIDENT’S NOTE Let's keep the momentum going Think about combining efforts, and in 2021! doing something with our club or others in any way. This might help spark Thank you for all you are doing as interest, and you could learn from other Rotarians in your communities and Rotarians about how to identify new around the world. members. As we say good-bye to 2020, I would Service to humanity has been the capacity, the network and the like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all cornerstone of Rotary since its earliest knowledge to change the world: the of you for making the rst part of my days and has been its main purpose ever only limits are the ones we place on Presidential year such a success. The since. I don't think there is a better path ourselves. time has been difcult but your energy to meaningful service today than Rotary and enthusiasm is evident. membership. - Rtn Dr. Astitva Agrawal (PHF) President 2020-21 As Rotarians, you are giving back by We bring together committed, capable taking on local service projects in professionals in a wide variety of elds addition to supporting and stepping in and enable them to achieve ambitious when there is a need to help others. goals. Through Rotary, we have the ROTARY ALLAHABAD GRAND

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2021: HISTORY, IMPORTANCE & WHY DO WE CELEBRATE NEW YEAR'S ON JANUARY 1? New Year's Day or January 1 marks this day in the United Kingdom and the Year followed by both solar and lunar the beginning of a new calendar United States. calendar system. Hindu calendar, which is year. It is the first day of the year based on the movement of the moon, has the according to the modern Gregorian maximum number of new year's while the calendar and the Julian calendar. other religious new years are like Islamic New Year's Day was celebrated on January New Year! 1 for the first time in 45 BC under the Julian Every region has a unique culture and calendar. Later, Pope Gregory traditions of celebrating the New Year. acknowledged January 1 as the beginning Majorly New Year is celebrated at the time of the new year as per his reform of the of harvesting of crops. The major New Year Catholic Liturgical Calendar. celebrations from different parts of the London's New Year's Day Parade country are as follows: 1. Baisakhi - Punjab Baisakhi is the biggest harvest festival Pasadena's Tournament of Roses Parade celebrated across entire North India. Baisakhi holds a special place in the land of Five rivers, Punjab. Commemorating the first day of the Vaisakh month, the Sikh community of Punjab also celebrates this day as the formation of the Sikh Khalsa. It is celebrated mainly at the birthplace of the In pre-Christian Rome, the day was Khalsa and the Golden Temple inAmritsar. dedicated to Janus, the God of gateways and 2. Jude Sheetal - Bihar, Jharkhand beginnings. The month of January is also named after this god. Liturgically, it also signified the Feast of the Naming and Circumcision of Jesus, which continues to be observed in the Anglican and Lutheran Philadelphia's Mummers Parade Church. The Roman Catholic Church, on the other hand, celebrates the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, on this day. Many of you may have also come across a People across the world celebrate this day traditional editorial cartoon–an incarnation with fireworks at the stroke of midnight, of Father Time wearing a sash with the grand feasts, and other fun activities. previous year printed on it, passing on the People also exchange greeting cards to duties to the Baby New Year, also wearing a mark the occasion. Among other traditions sash with the new year printed on it. Babies born on this day are generally called New is making New Year's resolutions. Parades Year babies. Some hospitals in the US also Also known as Maithili New Year, it is are held in some countries including give out prizes to the first baby born in the celebrated by the Maithilis in Bihar, London's New Year's Day Parade, new year. Jharkhand and even Nepal. Maithili New Pasadena's Tournament of Roses Parade, Year is usually celebrated on the 14th of and Philadelphia's Mummers Parade. Thanks to the cultural diversity of India, the April according to the Gregorian calendar. Prominent sporting events are also held on masses of the country celebrate the New ROTARY ALLAHABAD GRAND

3. Bohag Bihu - North Eastern States Ugadi or Yugadi is the New Year 8. PohelaBoishakh - West Bengal celebration of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka. It is observed in these regions on the first day of the Hindu lunisolar calendar month of Chaitra. Traditional sweets and 'Pachadi' (sweet syrup) – made with raw mangoes and neem leaves – are served with the Ugadi meal. Ugadi is the festival of new beginnings, so people buy new clothes and eat lots of good food with friends and family. Also known as Rangali Bihu, Bohag Bihu also falls on the day of Baisakhi and 6. JamshediNavroz Puthandu in Assam. Celebrating the new harvest with lots of sweets, shared among the family and friends with the exchange Another state that celebrates a different of more gifts. Bohag Bihu is celebrated for New Year is West Bengal. The Poila or three days straight with many different PohelaBoishakh is the first day of the traditions. Bihu dance is a form of Vaisakh, which is the Bengali New Year. celebration for the people You will witness cultural celebrations all over the state, with Bengalis going on a 4. GudiPadwa - Maharashtra crazy shopping spree and musical shows. Santiniketan is well known for its Noboborsho (New Year) festivals. 9. Islamic New Year Novruz is the Iranian New Year, celebrated by many ethnolinguistic groups all over the world. In India, on the next day of Pateti, Parsis celebrate Navroz. GudiPadwa is the first day of Chaitra 7. Vishu - Kerala month and marked as the New year in Maharashtra. A 'Gudi', a beautiful arrangement of silk saree or cloth tied to stick with a 'Lota' on the top and then decorated with sweets and garlands made The Islamic New Year starts on the first of neem and mango. The day symbolises day of Muharram, which is the first month the victory of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj of the lunar Hijri calendar that is followed over his enemies and Shalivahan's victory by Islam. The day also marks the over the Sakas. migration of Prophet Muhammad from 5. Ugadi - Karnataka, Telangana and Mecca to Medina in 622 AD, and the Andhra Pradesh journey was called Hijrah or Hijri, and Vishu festival marks the beginning of hence the name 'Hijri calendar'. The New harvest in the bountiful land of Kerala. It is Year is celebrated with sharing meals and a festival full of lights and fireworks. The prayers with the family. day starts with an arranging harvest's fruits, vegetables and seasonal flowers in front of a mirror. This arrangement is called the VishuKani. On this day, devotees also visit Sabarimala Ayyappan Temple and Guruvayur Krishna temple for - Rtn Rohit Agarwal prayers. Treasurer 2020 - 2021 ROTARY ALLAHABAD GRAND

H a p p y Va c c i n e Ye a r ! One thing I am certain of that every time or maybe taking a sip of your drink from the read a lot more; be a better cook; be a lot you pick up a news paper or open any of the same glass. But the virus taught me more kind to the less fortunate around me; online blogs this month, each one will have otherwise. Not sure if I really want to shake make myself a priority over others; spend a unique way of looking at the year that's anyone's hand anymore. Namaste would be more time with family and closer, smaller just rolling out. It's a traditional thing to do. the preferred greeting. group of friends; try and spend more time The common idea across these pieces is to My earlier self kept a memo on his phone of closer to nature and outdoors; expand my talk about their hopes and ambitions; others all the endless parties he had to attend. Not spectrum of experiences by exploring new may address their fears and apprehensions; to mention, that it was often a waste of time, horizons beyond my comfort zone. I am bidding goodbye to the previous year and money and energy. Even the books I now determined to improve myself and learn speculating what the New Year is likely to read, the films and the online content I new skills. be. w a t c h i s m o r e e n t e r t a i n i n g a n d The first month of the new year brought I am, however, determined to strike a enlightening. This may sound a little with it new hope for India in its fight against contrarian note. unsocial but the person, who loved to step Covid-19. With our country starting the A lot of people are hoping to get their lives out of the house in the evening, has now largest mass vaccination drive in the world, back. In fact most people are aching for it. started to realize that staying at home isn't I wish to enter 2021 with the same zeal; On the other hand, I am not so sure of it. such a bad idea after all. despite the gloomy times, I am determined Don't get me wrong, I do want the situation The truth is that I am accustomed to this to come out a better, upgraded (may also be to get better but I have parted so long with new life. In fact there are a few lockdown vaccinated) version of me the next year. my old self that I am doubtful I would want habits that I would want to preserve. Why This year gave an entire to get back together. That being said, I loved meet for petty things when you can get it new perspective to “New my old self, it is just that I am a new person done on Zoom? Why step out of the house to year, new me” and I wish and the gap between the two of us is just too buy something when you can get it online? everyone benefits from this large. That is my staring point. Very honestly, after months of personally New Year as I did. My old self was, as per tradition, naturally wanting to go back to the old life, I would inclined to shake hands with everyone. Not want to embrace 2021 not without the only that, he wouldn't mind hugging people previous year's lessons. I would want to -Rtn Shikhar Mandhyan Secretary 2020-2021 INTERCLUB MATCH RotatyAllahabd Grand participated in a friendly match on 24/01/2021. It was a friendly match played between Rotary Allahabad Grand and Rotary Midtown. The match was met with zealous support from the enitre club which eventually promoted the club through public image and fellowship. ROTARY ALLAHABAD GRAND

BLANKET DISTRIBUTION PROJECT As per the community service project members of Rotary Allahabad Grand distributed blankets throughout the city. The members took it upon themselves to provide blankets to the disadvantaged population and were able to successfully distribute 120 blankets across town. The distribution was conducted successfully within a span of 3 days. ROTARY ALLAHABAD GRAND

ROTARY ALLAHABAD GRAND Arjun 988 989 2299 ADA Approved Villa 0532 - 240 2400 UP-RERA REGISTRATION NO. UPRERAPRJ650910 5 BHK LUXURY VILLA ARCHITECT: Ar. Manish Gujral (B. Arch, F I V) Ar. Tarana Naseer (B.Arch, M.Plan) NEW MEMBERS DEC. UPCOMING ANNIVERSARY UPCOMING BIRTHDAY’S Yash Talwar Ayush Agrawal 4th Dec : Rtn Ujjwal Tandon 1st Dec : Rtn Tariq Hassan 9th Dec : Rtn Madhur Malhotra 13th Dec : Rtn Nitin Sharma UPCOMING MEETING 25th Dec : Rtn Tariq and Rtn Anam Hassan 13th Dec : Rtn Rishi Raj Mishra 10th Jan : Rtn Astitva Agrawal 11 December 2020 25th Jan : Rtn Pranjal Shukla 03 January 2021 24 January 2021 THE OBJECT OF ROTARY The Object Of Rotary Is To Encourage And Foster The Ideal Of Service As A Basis Of Worthy Enterprise And, In Particular, To Encourage And Foster: 1. The Development of Acquaintance as an Opportunity for Service; 2. High Ethical Standards in Business and Professions; the Recognition of the Worthiness of all Useful Occupations; and the Dignifying of Each Rotarian's Occupation as an Opportunity to Serve Society; 3. The Application of the Ideal of Service in Each Rotarian's Personal, Business, and Community Life; 4. The Advancement of International Understanding, Goodwill, and Peace Through a World Fellowship of Business and Professional Persons United in the Ideal of Service. President : Rtn. Dr. Astitva Agrawal - # 7838225253 e-mail : [email protected] e-mail : [email protected] Secretary : Rtn. Shikhar Mandhyan - # 9559895868 e-mail : [email protected] e-mail : [email protected] Editor : Rtn. Anam Hassan - # 6392919850 Joint Editor : Rtn. Shreya Agrawal - # 7704999179