District Governor, Antaram ‘Ram’ Gawande, Visits Gallipolis
President Bonnie McFarland opened the July 21, 2009 regular meeting of the Gallipolis Rotary Club. We had a full house today due to the visit by the District Governor, Antaram ‘Ram’ Gawande and his wife, Sushila. Sergeant-in-Arms Kurt Dailey gave the invocation.
President Bonnie asked the club to go around and introduce ourselves to our guests. She also reported that 2 coin boxes were turned in by Kevin Petrie and Bob Hood. Great job, guys!
Announcements – Denise Shockley reminded the club that this Saturday, 7/25/09, the Gallia County Livestock Princess judging will take place at the Gallia County Junior Fairgrounds. Judging will begin at 1 PM, with the crowning at 5 PM.
Bonnie also thanked Resty Alonzo for mentioning the needs of the Senior Resource Center at the July Board meeting. Shirley Doss is gathering information on how the Rotary Club can help the Senior Center with their needs.
Split the Pot – Jim Morrison collected split the pot today. There was $9 in the small pot and $110 in the large pot. Resty Alonzo won the small pot today. He also donated the funds back into the Foundation. Thanks Resty! Resty’s fine for the day was directed at anyone who DID attend the District Governor’s dinner the previous night.
Fellowship – Emily Dailey provided the fellowship for today’s meeting by informing us of celebrity birthdays: Cat Stevens turned 61 and Robin Williams turned 58. She also reminded us that this day, 40 years ago, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the moon. Emily also said, that on this day, the 1st major battle of the Civil War took place.
Matt Willis welcomed our guests District Governor, Ram Gawande, and his wife, Sushila. Matt provided a brief bio of Mr. Gawande. Ram Gawande has won the Rotarian Service Award in the years 1995-1999, 2005, & 2006. He was born in rural India, has 2 children, a private practice in Urology in Athens, Ohio. However, now he is retired and devoting his time to Rotary.
DG Gawande commended the club on our various service projects including our reading project, nutrition, Rotary Mile, and our international service, particularly Mel Simon. However, he said that he encouraged to do more in the nutrition/fitness area.
Mr. Gawande was born in a village called Uti, however, he and his wife met in New York after they moved to the United States, even though both are natives of India. He commented that he moved from New York City, “The city that never sleeps”, to Athens, Ohio, “The city that never woke up”!
When he was young, his mother was very sick so he went to the medicine man, who taught him how to diagnose the difference between a physical and mental disease. He diagnosed his mother, telling her that she had a physical disease (Malaria), and the next day she died. He told the group that he got over the pain of his mother’s death by helping others and being a “Good Boy”.
DG Ram joined Rotary to try and alleviate poverty in India as his major focus. In 1991, as Chair for International Service, he went to India. During this year, India had a major draught and water was scarce. Therefore, a water project was born with the help of a nearby Rotary club. Within 3 months, the project was produced and approved. Ram commented that when he went back to India, they dry lands had turned into green pastures, thanks to the water project. He mentioned, that when you do a deed similar to this that touches your heart, that is when you become a true Rotarian.
Our District Governor has worked on various other projects including those helping deaf & blind children in India. He feels that he has completed his life’s circle by his membership in Rotary through service to India.
He encouraged our club to make our projects stronger and more relevant and to do projects that are close to our hearts. He asked us to focus on certain key areas including Service & Membership. He asked that we include more women & ethnic members into our club, and to attend the Membership and Foundation seminars to gain new ideas.
Mel Simon presented Mr. Gawande with the Gallipolis Rotary club banner, and explained the history behind the Bandstand insignia. Chuck Clark presented Ram with a donation certificate that we made in his honor to the Rotary Foundation for Polio Plus. In addition, Matt Willis honored the District Governor by presenting him with a donation certificate that the club made in his honor to a local school library.
President Bonnie McFarland thanked the club for all of their support and Matt Willis reminded the club that there will be a tour of the Holzer Center for Cancer Care immediately after the meeting. Bonnie adjourned the meeting.