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R I District 3190 Chartered on June 27, 1990 Charter # 27417

April 2015 Vol 1, Issue 10 Page 1

‘Stringing Musical Instruments for Melody’ by PP Rtn. John A. Decker, Jr.

Malaysia, Turkey, Africa, etc. Each of these custom-made guitar sells from US$ 3500 to 10,000. Learning by experiments and experiences, he says his strong background in physics had helped him greatly in making these high quality musical instruments. For more info visit www.guitarmasters.com

Rtn. IPP John Decker was introduced by his fellow President Rtn. IPP Sriram , Rotary Information on ‘Women in Rotary’ was provided by Pres. Elect Rtn. Ramdas and Rtn. PDG Srikanth expressed gratitude.

6.3.2015

Your Magazine :

Your Resource

on the

April 13, 2015 7 pm

at Rotary House of Friendship

This is Magazine month! Do recognise and promote

Rotary Magazines

An Aeronautical Engineer from MIT and PhD in Physics from Cambridge University, 80 year old Rtn. PP John Deckers, who was instrumental in bringing together ten Rotary Clubs in Hawaii for a Matching Grant to support the Dialysis project of DownTown, was on a family visit to India with Ann Linda and visited the DownTown Dialysis centre. Rotary Club of Hawaii-Wailuku has 22 members and is the highest giver to TRF in Dist. 5000, Hawaii

After a long a satisfying career with Boeing, Rtn. John Decker’s passion for sound engineering made him to become an entrepreneur, manufacturing high end guitars by using carbon composites (graphite). During his research, Rtn. PP John found out how to make top quality acoustic guitars from carbon composites and

now annually manufactures over 1000 customised guitars for top professionals and artists.

He also makes made-to-order special wooden classical guitars of exceptional quality. He dwelt in detail on the process of making wooden guitars with very interesting pictures. It takes about four months to make one such guitar and the special wood is sourced from far and wide like Russia, Brazil,

Ann Garuda & IPP Sriram presenting memento to Ann Linda

PP John Decker and Ann Linda visit Rotary Dialysis Centre

IPP Decker and Ann Linda spent the whole afternoon at the Rotary Bangalore DownTown ‘s Dialysis Centre at the PD Hinduja Sindhi Hospital interacting with Dr. Chandrasekhar , Director of the Hospital , understanding the best practice adopted by the hospital, the requirements etc. also with the staff and the patients. A patient who has been under going dialysis regularly for over 10 years shared his experience and was all appreciation of the Doctors, technicians and the facilities. Pres. Vivekanandan, IPP Sriram , PDG Srikanth,Chatrapathy and PDG Madhura Chatrapathay facilitated the visit.

April 2015 Vol. 1 Issue 10

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PASSION is the key March 13, 2015

‘PASSION is the key’, was thee unanimous opinion of DownTowners at the visioning exercise, passionately steered by Rtn. IPP Sriram in his inimitable, forthright and witty style. Passionate about being a Rotarian, passion for the projects we take up, passion for fellowship and passion to groom leadership within are the need of the hour and essential traits to take DownTown to still greater heights, felt DownTowners after the highly interactive session.

What it means to be a Rotarian, a DownTowner and as DownTowners what we want to do in the next five years, asked Rtn. Sriram bringing out the strength and weaknesses. There is a need to instill strongly the Committee system. It is through Committees that ideas germinate, fellowship and bonding improves, thorough planning happens and projects come through; a wonderful team gets built only when we work together and there is a shared vision, it was felt.

While very meaningful projects, which are highly beneficial to the community have been taken up by DownTown over the past 25 years, there is a need to plan and firm up our future vision, say, for the next five years, taking into consideration the talent bank, membership mix, our strengths and the community needs and carve out a niche for DownTown, observed Rtn. Sriram.

There is a need to mentor and hand-hold the new Rotarians at least for 1-2 years, the DownTown

culture gets instilled. Dedication, motivation, commitment and empowerment go a long way in making Rotarians stellar performers. There is a need to take up projects that have a lasting impact rather than sheer numbers or projects of tokenism.

Projects have to be taken up in an entrepreneurial way with a good business plan by knowing our resources, plans, purpose and the community needs. It should be social entrepreneurship and the passion should drive our projects. The much appreciated Dialysis Centre is a classic example wherein every DownTowner is involved, has contributed, has experienced it and is passionate about. And it will be passion – passion for Rotary, Passion for service, Passion for fellowship, Passion for DownTown, that will drive DownTown in the coming years, concluded Rtn. Sriram.

The first step towards a visioning transforming exercise our passion into cohesive action. IPP Sriram careered out the exercise like a pro. Kudos.

Your Health >Your Future

by Dr. Meenakshi Bharath at centre for empowering

at Maharani’s Science College for Women Bangalore

As always Principal Dr. Lalithamma (2nd from R) was there to encourage. Do not miss Annet Uttara & Ann Garuda Sriram .

Dr Meenakshi Bharath is a Gynecologist and Fertility specialist at Centre for Assisted Reproductive Techniques (CART) but she is also green campaigner, a strident voice for garbage segregation and recycling, and a relentless fighter for voiceless people.

Dr. Meenakshi in her lucid presentation on Your Health Your Future took the final year students through physiological, emotional and social processes that impinge on the young as they grow and

girls as they move to a different world of career, marriage etc. Her insightful talk was packed with critical information and pragmatic advice, with her special flair for humour and values she kept the young ones spell bound. Sprinklings of women faculty were present along with the Principal. It was ‘It is us girls’ day !

Pres. Vivekanandan, IPP Sriram and PDG Srikanth facilitated remaining outside, PDG Madhura with Dr. Hemalatha did the insiders job!

Girls thronged seeking clarification and advice the moment the meeting was adjourned.

International Women’s Day

March 9, 2015

April 2015 Vol.1, Issue 10

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APRIL – MAGAZINE MONTH

The Prime Movers of Rotary News

Stalwarts of Rotary Club of Bangalore

PDG D N “Debu” Hosali, of Rotary Bangalore, who was publishing Mysindia, a local society magazine, took on the responsibility of bringing out the Rotary J o u r n a l , w h e n R o t a r y International closed down its Middle Asia Office

in Bombay and The Eastern Rotary Wheel ceased publication. The Past District Governors felt a strong need for the same.

The Eastern Rotary Wheel, which was founded and edited by Rtn Alistair MacRae and published by A MacRae & Co., Bombay in the 1930s. The source of reports was Rtn Herbert Bryant, Secretary, R I Middle Asia Branch in Bombay. Rtn MacRae immigrated to South Africa in 1947 and the new Indian owners continue to publish the magazine.

The first issue of Rotary News came out on July 15, 1952, carried the legend: “Published under the auspices of the District Governors of Rotary International in the area comprising India, Burma, Ceylon, Pakistan and Afghanistan.”

The magazine continued to be a one man job. Edited by PDG Hosali, the magazine presented a panorama of Rotary activities in South Asia. The circulation was about 7,000 not much ads ,the magazine suffered heavy losses.

Ownership changes hand. Rotary International wanted Rotary News to be fashioned into a regional magazine.

The Rotary News Trust was formed in 1982, and the Trust took over the magazine from the Manipal Group who had bought it from PDG Hosali in 1973-74. Rtn PDG Hosali continued to edit Rotary News, while PDG Ramesh U Pai was the publisher.

A national executive committee was formed to manage the magazine and then PDG M K Panduranga Setty of Rotary Club of Bangalore was the Secretary of the Trust. The committee decided publish an identical edition in Hindi named Rotary Samachar.

At first Rotarian George Paul of Rotary Club of Bangalore served as the editor of the magazine. Subsequently, PDG M K Panduranga Setty took over the editorial and administrative responsibilities in 1983.

RI President Elect William B Skelton released the first issue on January 8th 1983 at the Asia Zone 2 Institute in Calcutta. The processes of transformation into a professionally made magazine began then. Along with PDG M K Panduranga Setty, PDG Madhura Chatrapathy, … then a non-Rotarian volunteer , now of Rotary .. Bangalore DownTown , as the Associate Editor .. contributed a great deal in its shaping and ………… PDG Srikanth Chatrapathy then a non-……………Rotarian , now of Rotary Bangalore DownTown contributed largely in logistics and co-ordination. Rotary News functioned out of their home office.

Initiated by the then RI Director Rajendra Saboo, Rotary International accorded recognition to Rotary News and Rotary Samachar (Hindi) as the Regional Official Magazines in July 1984. The two magazines enjoyed a combined circulation of 15,000.

Q Continuing the journey in 1988 PDG Jyotindra ………….. Vakil became the Secretary of Trust and the ………… publication moved to Bombay. Once again, the ………… printing and publishing shifted to Madras . .. when PDG Vishwanath Reddy of Chandamama Publication took charge. The first issue from Chennai ,came out with 32 pages in 1992-03. Both the number of pages and the colour pages increased. In the 90's the circulation rose to 47,000.

.. The emergent need bought PDG Krishnan

.. V Chari as the Secretary and Editor in October 1998. Finding most cost effective printing and - other with admin changes the publication stabilised. Since 2005, the responsibility of publication .. is being brought out professional editors.

The trustees under the Chairmanship of then DG Madhura Chatrapathy, resolved to revise the subscription. Thereafter, Rotary News and Rotary Samachar recorded a robust growth thereafter..

Rotary News Trust now has an entire floor of 6,600 sq ft well furnished office, at a prime location which was picked up in 2004 for Rs 1.5 crores. Pres. Debu Hosali and

Rtn. Pandu at a weekly meeting

The saga of Rotary News is incomplete without mentioning friends who stood by us. L-R out of the world illustrator Umapathy, PDG Madhura, Associate Editor, PRID Pandu, Editor, Ms. Bhargavi Nagaraja, a freelance journalist, Sri. Anantha-krishnan, top sub –editor of Indian Express also PDG Madhura’s journalism teacher, who formed the team that worked passionately to shape Rotary News, once the Rotary News Trust was founded and PDG Pandu took over as the Secretary and the Editor.

The team behind the Rotary News

Edited and published by PDG Rtn. Srikanth Chatrapathy for Rotary Bangalore DownTown Pratibha, 132, Level 4, 11th Main, 17th Cross, Malleswaram, Bangalore-560055. email: srikanthchatrapathy@gmail.com

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Up Dates - April 2015

April 2015

02 Ann Hema Suresh W/o Rtn. Suresh Kannan 03 Rtn. Prasad BV 03 Rtn. Sundareshwara G 12 Ann Prathika W/o Rtn. Naveen Cariappa 13 Annet Thanuja D/o Rtn. Pres. Vivekanandan E 13 Annet Shreshta D/o Rtn. PP Janardhan Reddy KC 13 Ann Sowmya W/o Rtn. PP Janardhan Reddy KC 14 Rtn. PP Devadasan Kizhapat 19 Rtn. Sumitra Iyengar 23 Annet Lakshmi D/ Rtn. PP Revathi Venkataraman 24 Rtn. Arun Bhasin 26 Annet Rajesh S/o Rtn. PP Mallikarjun R Kori 26 Annet Uttara D/o Rtn. IPP Sriram BS 28 PDG Madhura Chatrapathy 30 Annet Rahul S/o Rtn. PP Mahendra Raj

21 Rtn. Ajith Menon and Ann. Dr. Malini

03.04.’15: Business Meeting 13.04.’15: Joint Meeting with Rotary Bangalore Your Club Bulletin on The Grand Stand ‘The Prime Movers of Rotary News ‘ by PRID Dr. M K .Panduranga Setty

Blood Donation Camps with Genpact 13.04.’15: Genpact Surya Tech Park, Electronic City.

15.04.’15: Genpact Salarpuria Soft Zone, Marthahalli.

17.04.’15: Genpact Ecospace, Marthahalli.

24.04.’15: Family Meet

First Ladies’ Forum

Celebrates International Women’s Day

Celebrities Vani Ganapathy and Kamala Hampana , the First Gentleman DG Rtn. Manjunath Shetty and the architect of the event Ann. Shailaja .

skills. He also has received Navroji Memorial Award. A visiting faculty at the prestigious IIM-B and Chairman of Tata sport club, he also served Rotary Bangalore as its President with distinction.

Rtn. PP Bharada gave a fascinating account of the life, rule, philosophy and teachings of one of the great but least understood emperors, Cyrus, the Great. Having done extensive work in collating and compiling the life and times of the Great Cyrus, and his daughter Shereen have done a seminal study on this important historical figure. Here is a brief account of the detailed presentation -

King Cyrus has carved out a niche for himself by his great human nature, humility and administration as far back as 498 BC. Normally a conqueror treats the conquered badly, humiliates them, plunders their wealth, wipes out entire generations, but Cyrus believed in being humble in victory and defiant in defeat. He treated the conquered very respectfully so much so, all his vanquished enemies paid homage to him and his legacy.

Iran was then made up of small kingdoms and the Assyrians, a very powerful and ruthless clan destroyed, plundered and vanquished kingdom after kingdom. Cyrus brought these small kingdoms together against the Assyrians and thus was born, ‘Cyrus, the Great’. Disowned by his own grandfather at his birth and brought up by a woodsman, Cyrus later becomes the king as fate would have it. Unable to withstand and digest the cruelty of his grandfather, Cyrus jails him for the good of the people. With his affinity for people, humane values, respect for the losers and above all, a great quality to allow freedom of speech, security, good law and order and looking after the welfare of the conquered endeared him to people.

His empire spread far and wide encompassing Iran, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Palestine, Macedonia, Iraq, much of Central Asia, China, Russia, Pakistan and other areas

under him by 350 BC. To every Iranian, irrespective of the religion, Cyrus was a hero and attained cult status. He ruled over 44% of the world.

Cyrus was an enlightened monarch , he gave the world its first Human Rights Charter, He refused to make friends expendable. Leadership lessons of Cyrus the Great were, be self-reliant, always be on good terms with your supporters, be generous, be brief, speak shortly but decisively and to the point, be a force of good, be in control, do not discriminate, be loyal to your supports, be an example, be courteous, kind and be benevolent.

The burial place of Cyrus is still intact; Alexander the great renovated the tomb of Cyrus. Nearly 93% of the Parsi history is destroyed during their persecution and only 7% could survive when they fled Persia to save themselves.

Ann Freny Bharda’s presence made the difference .

The legend of ‘King Cyrus’

by Rtn. PP Phiroze Bharda Joining TOMCO, a Tata group company, as its first Management Trainee, the creator of Tata Finlay brand, Phiroze Bharada rose quickly due to his legendary marketing

March 27,2015