RI PRESIDENT DISTRICT GOVERNOR PRESIDENT HON. SECRETARY BULLETIN EDITOR RON D BURTON DINESHSINH THAKOR MITESH BHATT MRIDULA VARSHNEYA MANISHA M BHATT Contact Address: 19, Tirupatinagar , Near Utkarsh Vidyalaya , Gadapura , Vadodara-390015 , Gujarat, India M:9824097599 , O : 0265 2352802 , web : www.rotarybarodametro.org

Meeting Day: Thursday, from 8PM at Hotel Hampton Hilton, Alkapuri, Vadodara

Rotary Year: 2013-2014 Bulletin for the Month of December Vol. No: 12 Dear Rotarians, welcome to 2013’s last bulletin. 31st/December/2013

Felicitation of RIDN Dr. Manojbhai Desai

Post celebrations, specially the RBM clan does feel to be in the “cloud nine”!!!. And to share the same joy of celebrations, on the nomination of our respected and beloved Manojbhai, as Rotary International Director for the year 2015-2017, a felicitation ceremony was hosted by Rotary Baroda Metro along with 25 other clubs of the district 3060, at Vadodara. The celebrations saw more than 150 participants who volunteered their support by showing their presence, along with distinguished guests from various other districts of India. The silver linings to the celebrations were added by the charisma of important dignitaries: chief Guests: PRID Kalyan Banerjee and the Guests of Honors’ were PRID Ashok Mahajan and PRID Shekhar Mehta. The Felicitation was also celebrated by various dignitaries:

The celebrations commenced with a prayer dance “Jai Ganesha” performed by Nileshsir’s dance troupe and guided by Rtn. Sonal Desai. After recognizing the presences of Dignitaries, PDG’s from other RI Districts and CoG of our Districts, the Rotarians enjoyed “Maverick Manoj” a life journey of Dr. Manoj Desai, which is exceptionally prepared by Alokbhai & Rishiraj Mistry. Rtn. Sunil Vakil gave an insight on Manojbhai via his presentation on “Lesser Known Facets of RIDN Manoj”. This was followed by Rtn. Dr. Sharmishtha Desai who acknowledged her unconditional support, understanding and her appreciation for Manojbhai through her presentation “Living the Dreams Together”. Manojbhai was then felicitated by the DG of RID 3060 Dineshsinghji, PRID Kalyanda, PRID Ashok Mahajanji and PRID Shekhar Mehtaji. A plaque which is gifted to Manojbhai, was read out by Rtn. Sunil Vakil and than the RBM clan had gala celebration time on stage lead by President Mitesh with yet more gifts like a “Kukri” and silver ware to share our respect and pompous feelings for Manojbhai, his laurels and fame. What an historic run in rotary!!! This moment is cherished and treasured by the RBMites!!!

The program than shared some treasured moments of dignitaries during their journey with Manojbhai and to share and throw some more light on the gathered Rotarians PRID Shekar Metha spoke on “The Manoj I Know”, followed with PRID Ashok Mahajan’s “Dear Manoj”. PRID Kalyanda was as always inspirational; via his presentation he shared “Manoj- Promise and Potential”. Assuring in his presentation Manojbhai thanked the Rotarian friends present for cherishing this laurel with him and he agreed that, yes, there is “Miles to go before I sleep”. Towards the end event Chairman Rtn. Alokbhai acknowledged the valued zeal, team work and the support given by everyone’s presence.

No PRI Officers Dist City No PRI Officers Dist City 1 PRIP RTN KALYAN BENEERJI-CHIEF GUEST 3060 VAPI 15 RTN ASHISH DESAI 3051 AHMEDABAD 2 PRID RTN ASHOK MAHAJAN - GUEST OF HONOUR 16 DG.RTN GHYANESHWAR RAO 3051 BHUJ 3 PRID RTN SHEKHAR MEHTA - GUEST OF HONOUR 17 RTN BHARAT DHOLAKIA 3051 BHUJ 4 PDG RTN RAJIV PRADHAN 3132 SOLAPUR 18 RTN MOHANBHAI SHAH 3051 BHUJ 5 PDG. RTN PRATAP GOKUL DAS 3201 COIMBATORE 19 RPIC.RTN KAMAL SHANGHAVI 3250 DHANBAD 6 PDG RTN ULHAS KOLHAKAR 3140 MUMBAI 20 RTN PRATAP PURANIK 3170 KOLAPUR 7 PDG RTN K.V.CHARI 3230 CHENNI 21 RTN ABHAY GEED 3040 Indore 8 PDG RTN SOHANLAL PAREKH 3040 INDORE 22 RTN SANJEEV GUPTA 3040 Indore 9 PDG RTN MUKESH ARNEJA 3010 DELHI 23 RTN C.S.RAO 3040 10 PDG RTN RAMESH BHARGAVA 3080 SHIMLA 24 RTN SANJAY BENRAL 3040 11 PDG RTN MNJIT SAWHNEY 3010 DELHI 25 PDG. RTN MOHANBHAI 12 PDG RTN K.R.DEY 3240 TINSHUKLA,ASSAM 26 PDG.RTN BHUPESH THAKKAR 3050 13 DGE.RTN J.K.GAUR 3010 DELHI 27 PDG.RTN MANJIBHAI 14 IPDG.RTN RAMESH AGRAWAL 3010 DELHI 28 DG Dineshsinh Thakore 3060

The event was a grand success as appreciated by many as the “One of Its Kind”. This is truly felt by the many messages received by Manojbhai after the felicitation ceremony:“The exclamations that I have received from guests are mind boggling like great function, marvelous felicitation, unique and unbelievable felicitation, what an innovation! But the fact that I appreciate is everyone was glued to the seat and nobody left the hall inspite of delay!” # Chief Guest Kalyanda sent SMS from Vapi – “great, memorable, may God Bless you all, The entire audience had one thing for sure – Majo Avi Gayo.”

# PRID ASHOK MAHAJAN : Our very dear MANOJ and SHARMISHTHA, Greetings from ME and NAYANTARA, Indeed you are faster than me. THANK YOU, THANK YOU and THANK YOU very much for inviting me and making me the part of an important celebration in Vadodara. Millions of congratulations for this unique achievement which of course, you fully deserved. The Program was well designed, the venue and the environment was excellent, the weather was pleasant , the reception and hospitality was wonderful, the fellowship was unimaginable , the choice of my Aides was beyond doubt perfect and above all the FELICITATION was top of the world. My vocabulary fails me to describe the whole program in a simple way but would say that PAR EXCELLENT. Dear Manoj,even the worst critic of yours will find it difficult to pin point any short comings in this program AND I bet Manoj even you will find it difficult to match it if you are asked to re arrange a similar function .I wish Nayantara was with me to see all the happenings but as you know being a marriage season she had to represent the family at the wedding in close relation.Indeed she missed it but I am sure there will be many opportunities for her to see you in action.

Rtn. Sunil Vakil: Indeed the event MAJO AAVI GAYO would be remembered for a long time – it was one of the more sleek, perfectly hosted events of ROTARY in RID 3060 in recent times. Riveted presence of all the tuned in attendees till the last moment to savor time wise a bit stretched sequence of the items was evidentiary of the content-rich stuff of the event. Wholehearted participation and involvement of RGM clan was the hall mark of a deftly executed event under the leadership of President Mitesh. Collaborative approach and fulsome camaraderie during the run up and on the D-day enabled RBM pull off magnificently and withstand a few odds springing up here and there from some quarters! RIDN Manoj couldn’t have, I am sure, expected a more propitious start than this as he embarks upon TO TRAVEL FURTHER ALONG THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED IN ROTARY

Rtn. Pratap Puranik from Kolapur, RI District: 3170 My Dear Manoj and Sharmistha, Happy New Year and Merry Christmas.It was my pleasure to be with you and share the joy of happiness. You know the day when the news came about your nomination and the day when challenge date got over, We were so happy for you and could not wait for a second but to call you and congratulate you. The feelings were that my brother got it finally. Of course your hard work and dedication along with support of Sharmishtha are the keys! I am just a phone call away for any thing that you may require. After return from Varodra, I told Gayatri that the show that was put up was never seen in Rotary. Total creativity and unique. It has been your specialty over the years. Look forward to meet you soon leisurely!

DG DineshsinghJI : Indeed a fantastic show of solidarity and positive expression from RCBM which would be remembered forever. After having witnessed this extravaganza I have to really stretch my imagination to it's outer most limits to say that " The best is yet to come " With you & Manojbhai around I can tell that here is the classic case of MIDAS TOUCH ...

RIDN Manojbhai too shared his expression of feeling to the RBM clan: Thank you all for organizing unimaginable Majo Avi Gayo Felicitation! We will always cherish the Majo Avi Gayo ‘PAL’.

26th December: RIDN Dr. Manojbhai along with IPP Utkarsh Hathi and PE Dr. Nitin Bhate attended the felicitation program for RIPE Gary at Vapi. Manojbhai was felicitated too at the function.

DISTRICT CONFERENCE 3051

29th December: RIDN Dr. Manoj Desai was a speaker at the district conference “Impact” of RI District 3051 at Ahemdabad. The conference was also attended by President Mitesh Bhatt. Manojbhai was applauded and cheered for his presentation. He was felicitated for his laurels in Rotary.

INTER CLUB SPORTS MEET OF ROTARY 29th December: Baroda’s six club’s sports event played at MSU Pavellion on 29th/December , Chief Guest DG Dineshsinhji distributed prices.Baroda metro won as Runner Up in Badminton and in Carom

DISTRICT EVENTS TO FOLLOW

5th January 2014, 10:00 am onwards: INTERCITY MEET Including TALENT SEARCH for the Year 2013-14 within R I Dist 3060. Host Club: - Rotary Club of Vapi West. At: Mega Fortune Banquet Hall, 3rd Floor, Fortune Shopping Mall, Plot No. CM-66-67, VIA Road, Vapi.

DISTRICT GRANT PROJECT : TOILET BLOCK FOR SCHOOL GIRLS District Service Grant Project of Toilet Blocks for Girls Students (under MG # 79124) approved by ROTARY FOUNDATION , project carried out by Rotary Baroda Metro at Pandit Din Dayal School , Chhani and handed over to school. The beneficiaries are around 320 School girls.Handed over to school on 31st/Dec/2013

Club Events

5th January 2014 : ATMANIRBHAR CAMP at DASHRATH from 9.30am to 2.30PM 6th January 2014: BOD hosted by Hon. Sec. Rtn. Mridula Varshneya at her residence 13th January 2014 : Meeting at Hampton ,celebration for POLIO FREE nation

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!!! Rtn.Malvikdada : 3rd/Jan Rtn.Sunilbhai Vakil & Nandabhabhai : 16th/Jan Rtn.Dilip shah : 23rd/Jan Rtn.Rishiraj & Bijal Mistry : 25th/Jan Rtn. Rupal Trivedi : 30th/Jan Rtn.Akhileshbhai & Bhabhiji : 28th/Jan