Our first meet held on 31st May 2003, was indeed a successful beginning to form an Alumni registry. The bonding was instant and wonderful indeed! We had 40 registrations, which included GSE Alumni, University Teachers and Rotary Volunteers.
Thank you for your presence. It was a great opportunity to begin to know one another. We could all finally attach faces to the names and voices. However there were so many alumni members who could not make it or who could not be contacted because of relocation.
This is only the beginning. We need to meet regularly to reach some meaningful goals and be a significant body with a distinct identity.
Those of who have contacts of your fellow alumni kindly forward their details to me. Let me also thank each of you for filling up the alumni survey form that will form a very useful database for our future correspondence.
We would like to acknowledge Alumni PP Rtn. Deepak Chawla's special contribution towards the compilation of the alumni survey form
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For the next meeting we would like to receive your feedback as to the agenda, venue and degree of formality. This valuable input will go a long way in making our meeting enjoyable and meaningful. We need to take this movement forward in a more concrete fashion like a compiled book form of TRF Alumni.
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Following are the minutes of the May 31, 2003 meeting :
Ø Welcome by convenor and hosting president of Rotary Club of Bombay Chembur West, Dr. Indumati.
Ø RF chairman 02-03 PDG Rajkumar Bagadia gave an insight into the Rotary foundation Alumni and the nature of its composition.
Ø DG 2002-03 Gulam Vahanvaty who spoke of the significance of the initiation of the RF Alumni.
Ø Amongst the other RF Alumni were Rotary luminaries the then IPDG Suresh Rathod and the then DGN Nitin Mangaldas
Ø The discussion was thrown open to the house and the following points emerged
Ø The RF Alumni present briefly introduced themselves
Ø The RF Alumni should meet more frequently and renew contacts with team members
Ø RF Alumni should try and join Rotary if feasible
Ø Reasons for RF Alumni not joining Rotary were solicited.
Ø Alumni who have not joined a Rotary Club had a common reason of time constraint.
Ø Dr. Gurudatt Kamat (A GSE member) complained of non-supportive Rotary Club because of which he did not join Rotary.
Ø RF Alumni to participate in Rotary Projects without joining Rotary
Ø The RF Alumni were requested by the then DG Gulam Vahanvaty to use contacts to mobilize funds for Rotary Projects/Foundation.
Ø Involvement of ex-GSE members in selection of future GSE teams and their orientation
Ø Sharing Presentation material of past GSE teams with the new GSE teams so that the new GSE teams have readily available resources.
Ø Offer to host incoming GSE team members from Rotarians and Non-Rotarians in the Alumni was solicited
Ø Some of the Alumni expressed disappointment at the lack of interest shown by Rotary clubs on their return from the GSE program to invite them to share their experiences. It was decided to re-vitalize practice of GSE members sharing their experiences with various Rotary Clubs.
Ø Creation of a think tank of Foundation Alumni who can assist the District in effective implementation of TRF programs
Ø Publish experiences of Foundation Alumni in newsletters, club bulletins and District Bulletin
Ø Ready to offer ones own self for Rotary Projects, but expect direction from the District
Ø Those alumni present were requested to get in touch with team members who could not make it for the Meeting and get information from them for the alumni registry.
Ø The meeting ended with a vote of thanks by convenor Dr. Indumati Gopinathan, followed by cocktails and dinner
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On 20th June,2004, an annual meet of TRF Alumni was convened by Chairman TRF Alumni, Rtn IPP Dr Indumati Gopinathan. The event was held at "The Acres Lifestyle Club, Chembur.
26 Alumni from various TRF programs including GSE, Rotary Volunteers, Graduate scholars and University teachers were represented. The event was graced by chief guest DG Nitin Mangaldas himself an GSE Alum), Dist.Secy. Rtn Yogesh Zaveri and Asst. Governor Rohington Surti.
As each alum went down memory lane recalling their experiences, everyone present experienced nostalgia.
It was an event to celebrate for various seasons:
1.Our Districts first ever Alumni Association(RFAA-3140) had been officially formed with acknowledgement from the RF Alumni resources section and the Asian co-ordinator PDG Rtn Marcelina Aurelio.
2.The first ever directory of TRF Alumni covering a period of 30 odd years compiled by Chairman Rtn Dr Indumati,was released by Dg Nitin Mangaldas.
3.The website of RFAA 3140() was also inaugurated by Dg Nitin.
4.The first ever e-newsletter of The Alumni Association"A LUMINous Bond" also was released.
Views were expressed by the Alums about wanting to increase fellowship and also doing community service projects for Rotary.The alums expressed their availability for helping out in the selection procedures of various candidates for GSE, AS etc. The RFAA:3140 looks all poised to forge ahead and add to the glory of district 3140. The bonhomie filled event was followed by a sumptuos lunch.
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26.4.04
The following members attended the RF Alumni core committee meeting held on 25th April, 2004 at the Acres Lifestyle Club, Chembur, Mumbai
Ø Rtn. Dr. Indumati Gopinathan, GSE Alumnus turned Rtn.
Ø Rtn. Dr. Jayant Kulkarni, Rotary Volunteer
Ø Rtn. Deepak Chawla, GSE Team Leader
Ø Rtn. Dr. Haresh Asnani, GSE Alumnus turned Rtn.
Ø Mr. Derick Pinto, GSE Alumnus, Non-Rotarian
Ø Mrs. Neela A Dabir, University Teacher's Grant recipient
Ø Mr. Jayant Khandeparkar, GSE Alumnus, Non-Rotarian
Ø Mr. Kiran D Rao, GSE Alumnus, Non-Rotarian
Ø Special invitee: PP Rtn Suhas Naik Satam.(RC of Bombay Chembur West)
Rtns. IPDG Gulam, PDG Suresh Rathod, PP Ajit Kamlani, Manju Phadke, Deepa Mhatre, Neeraj Manchanda and Dr. D. M. Das expressed their inability to attend the meeting due to prior commitments with an assurance of their enthusiasm and cooperation as part of the core committee.
Minutes:
Ø The minutes of the previous meeting were read and passed.
Ø The logistics of having a functional RFA was discussed. Dr Asnani felt that a non-structured loose organization with such a large number of Non-Rotarians would be an administrative and logistic hassle.
Ø After considerable brain storming it was decided that the Alumni would be a body independent of the district but would essentially function in liaison with the District FA chairman as the vital interphase between Rotary and the Alumni. Dr Chawla felt that the Rotary district link was essential and Dr. Kulkarni said that there could be an ex-officio of the Alumni and that need not necessarily be for a year and could be continue for tenure of three years independent of the District.
Ø The various possible functions of the Alumni were discussed. Dr Jayant Kulkarni said that various donations, matching grants that have come as positive developments (he cited his own experience as example) following the GSE/scholarship programs should be highlighted at various Rotary clubs.
Ø Forming of pure Alumni composed Rotary clubs were cited by Rtns Indumati & Deepak. The geographical largeness and diverse locations of the members seemed a practical deterrent.
Ø Mr Kiran Rao said alumni members could be given some RCs for them to liaise with to equip the clubs with RF information on GSE, UTG, AS etc and help them with selecting suitable candidates and also giving them lectures, the contents of which could be a combination of their area of expertise as well as their experience as RFA. This kind of association could begin well before the GSE program begins in June every year. The Alumni member would have to work with the Area/Zonal coordinator of the area concerned.
Ø University teachers Grant recipient, Mrs. Neela Dabbir felt that the Alumni should also take it upon themselves to inform the colleges about the UG scholarships for teachers that are available year after year about which she said, awareness was very poor.
Ø It was decided to have an annual, independent, visible, concrete project solely by the alumni every year in the District 3140 thrust area of that year. Accordingly it was decided to start this year's program by having a medical check up for youth (The thrust area) at a college in a village and also have a vocational guidance workshop concomitantly for them. The medical Alumni could look after the check up part and the others could organize the vocational guidance.
Ø Dr Jayant Kulkarni volunteered to get in touch with the authorities at a college at Dahanu/Palghar.
Ø The viability of bringing out a newsletter for the Alumni of Dist 3140 was discussed. Since printing would involve cost, to begin with an electronic quarterly newsletter was decided upon. Rtns Deepak, Indumati & Derick volunteered to be on the editorial board. Members present were asked to think of a name and get back via email to each other within the next 5 days. The newsletter could be sent by e-mail to the International service Directors and Presidents of all the clubs in the district, who could take print-outs, to be circulated amongst their members.
Ø The bringing out of a printed database booklet of the RFA of 3140 was discussed. Dr Indumati had compiled a database which was circulated and it was decided that whatever blanks were to be filled up would have to be done so collectively and the available compilation would be send via email to all present. A costing of such a book with basic requirements being fulfilled was to be worked out, the proposal (both cost and content) would have to be approved by DG Nitin Mangaldas, Dr Indumati said, before one went ahead.
Ø It was decided that the next meeting would be on the 20th of June as a brunch meeting at the same venue, Acres lifestyle club, including all the alumni contactable. At this meeting the first alumni newsletter (print out format) and the proposed, district approved database booklet would be released if ready.
Ø Dr Chawla felt that some contribution should be made by the alumni towards running expenses of the organization and to begin with a contribution of 100/- was made towards the expenses of the breakfast meeting. Each Alumni member it was decided should try and contribute USD 100 every year towards the RF.
Ø At various important district events like the DA / Dist conference, Dr Asnani felt posters highlighting the activities of the previous years GSE team should be put up for public viewing. This was decided upon because usually all attention was focussed on the incoming team and time slot for GSE at any conference was always a tussle. It has been observed that the team that comes back usually has no platform to showcase their GSE efforts and activities.
Ø The meeting ended with a sumptuous contributory breakfast.
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