District Governor
Devang Thakore
2010-11

I feel immensely privileged to write to you as the District Governor of RI District 3060, as we embark upon the year 2010-11, when we shall continue Building communities and Bridging Continents!

Victor Hugo once said and I quote

“There is one thing that is stronger than the armies in the world … and that is an idea , whose time has come!

Yes, my friends, our dynamic and innovative RI President Ray Klinginsmith has thought much ahead of his times .He beckons us all for a change, a change for Rotary to carry on the torch of service in its second century of service by making clubs…

BIGGER – BETTER – BOLDER.

Bigger in diversified membership, Better by making ‘Service’ a product we have pride in and Bolder by becoming action oriented with significant sustainable projects.

As Rotarians, we are fantastic managers and excel in delivery mechanism of things we take up .So, why restrict our thinking for no good reason .Let us always look outside the ‘box’ for the most innovative solutions to our concerns.

As Rotarians, we are fantastic managers and excel in delivery mechanism of things we take up .So, why restrict our thinking for no good reason .Let us always look outside the ‘box’ for the most innovative solutions to our concerns.

In 10-11 we shall have Target – Thalassemia , as our dream project. Providing around 150 classrooms in Municipal and rural schools , with benches , table and chair for the teacher and black boards will be our District service project. Providing free of cost operations to children with congenital heart disease shall be our other initiative under Project ‘Heart to Heart’. We all understand the hygienic value of clean drinking water and hence I request every club to come up with RO plant projects under the matching grant .Sanitation is yet another area that will need to be paid attention to in a big way. Clubs must consider such options to construct them on a govt. provided land with a pay and use facility.

How can we forget the underprivileged women , whose economic well -being must be our concern. We plan to provide chemically treated mosquito nets to young mothers and children in the slums and the rural areas at a very discounted rate under District Simplified Grant.

My fellow members of ‘FORCE TEN’, you shall appreciate the clearly pin pointed Monthly Service projects devised to address various areas of concerns and that what smaller clubs too can do and accomplish.

Education being my field it would be unnatural if I were not thinking of a District project regarding it.

We are aware that a very large number of our primary school students study in municipal and rural schools .They have been found to lack the reading and counting skills appropriate with their class.Hence we have devised a project “Vancho- Vanchavo” , where the participating Rotary club has to adopt a class of 50-60 students in one such school and take up this activity for 3-4 hours a week. I intend to go slowly on this project with only 10-12 clubs to join so as to chart out a success story. The reason behind this is that the project being a continuous process with a long term involvement of the family of Rotary the impetus has to be maintained to achieve some concrete and measurable results.

‘Pratham‘, an institution working in the field of education has agreed to cooperate and keep on accessing our progress in this project.

Talent search programs at the club and the zonal levels will ensure a wonderful talent evening on the second day of our District conference, just like it enlivens the audience at the International Assembly.

Talking about projects and Fellowship, Membership is the one that is the common denominating factor. I appeal to you, my FORCE TEN to grow in quantity but with quality to achieve our minimum 10% growth target. New clubs add life to our movement of Service above Self, helping us to widen our scope of work.

When established in 1917, with a small sum of 26.5 USD, we never envisaged how the Rotary Foundation one day would become the life line of Rotary. We are all aware how our generous donations to TRF have created wonders, worldwide , through diverse and meaningful projects.TRF has given us the capacity to think big and deliver institutions that would go a long way to meet the varied needs of our communities. It is my fervent appeal to support the TRF by GIVING from your hearts. I also request you to participate, whole-heartedly , in Educational and Cultural programmes like Group Study Exchange and various scholarship and peace studies.

In 10-11 we shall have two friendship exchanges from district 7780 USA and 4520 Brazil. Apart from long and short term youth exchange students we shall be proud to have New Generation Exchanges too.

Last but not the least is “ANANYA “ , the 41st District Conference of Matchless possibilities…On the 7th ,8th and 9th January ,Rotary club of Bharuch, Ankleshwar and Bharuch Narmadanagari are eager to offer you a conference that will create a different foot print in the minds of one and all, with vibrant and scintillating entertainment, outstanding speeches ,knowledge of galaxy of Rotary dignitaries ,all executed to a T!

My friends, as James Allen has put it rightly;

“The vision that you glorify in your mind, the ideas that you enthrone in your Heart … that is what will build your life! This is what you will become! A man is literally what he thinks, his character being the complete sum of all his thoughts.”

So my leaders of ‘FORCE TEN’, no one can predict to what heights you can soar …Even you will not realize it… until you spread your wings!

So get ready to fly and let glory be yours!

I wish you all the best and God speed…

DG Devang Thakore
RI District 3060
2010-11.