“One of the most impressive examples I know of international cooperation is in those gardens where we find plants, shrubs, and trees flourishing side by side in perfect harmony and beauty….There is much wisdom to be learned in a garden, and the very beginning is a realization of the fact that all final results depend upon proper preparation of the soil….So it is with Rotary. The crop we envisage is world peace and stability, a world in which we all live together as friends and neighbors.
The seed to be sown - fellowship, friendship, understanding. The soil - the minds of individual Rotarians.
Friends these words were spoken by a Rtn Harold T. Thomas of Rotary Club of Auckland, New Zealand at the International Convention in Miami Beach Miami ,Florida in the year 1960. How true! Even after fifty years Rotarians across the world work for peace and harmony through the various humanitarian projects ,and may be these sentiments expressed by Harold and many like him has prompted our International President Elect Sakuji Tanaka to announce” Peace through service “ as his theme for the year 2012 -13.
As we observe February as world understanding month , let us all once again re- discover ourselves and make our Organization more relevant for the present times and prove time and again that this is the only service organization which sticks to its time tested principles and core values.
My dear brothers and sisters ,by the time you read this ,we would have finished with our conference and I am confident we all will be in state of hangover from the sweet and wonderful moments we had with some of our old and new friends alike, and now that you all left me in a state of “Santhosham”, let us all focus on the other two areas i.e. the Bangkok Convention and your contributions to The Rotary Foundation. My dear colleagues in service by your active participation in these you will take D3020 to the next level of “SANTHOSHAM”.
Before I conclude please note that “ Rotary is without reality until men translate into their lives and lives of others”. In short , you and I are Rotary.
Go on , enjoy the first GML of D3020 in a polio free India !
Spread the smile....