Rotary Club of Phoenix: 2008-2009

>> ROTARY INTERNATIONAL

Rotary is a worldwide organization of more than 1.2 million business, professional, and community leaders. Members of Rotary clubs, known as Rotarians, provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. There are over 32,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas. Clubs are nonpolitical, nonreligious, and open to all cultures, races, and creeds. As signified by the motto Service Above Self, Rotary’s main objective is service — in the community, in the workplace, and throughout the world.

>> THE ROTARY FOUNDATION

The mission of The Rotary Foundation is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty. The Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotarians and friends of the Foundation who share its vision of a better world.

Tonight, we are all stars the most important of whom is our guest of honour her Excellency Cathy Johnstone who represent a country considered as the new continent and l'étoile du Sud . Thank you for accepting our invitation tonight. We hope that you consider yourself as a long life friend of our Club. The other important star, you guessed rightly is our District Governor Jean-Claude Hoareau who kept his promise to be among us tonight. The third important star is of course our outgoing President Ghislaine whose devotion to the club has been exemplary. Thank you Ghislaine for putting the club on a path that dedicated professionals would tread enabling them to offer there services above self to the community. Thank you also Ghislaine to be fairy who has ensured that we have plenty of funds to make dreams real and enable us to realize projects early in the year.

It is a great honour that you have conferred upon me tonight inducting me as the President of Rotary Club Phoenix. I am grateful to you fellow Rotarians for the trust you have shown me. I am confident that your faith in me will guide me to maximize the performance of our club for the current year.

Fellow Rotarian you have put your trust in me and I in return have to request a favour from you that is your cooperation and unflinching support without which we will not be the fairies who will waive the magic wand to make dreams real. On my part, you can rest assured of my best ability and attention towards shouldering my responsibilities. I would urge you to view the current year with hope to achieve our service to the community above self while enjoying our fellowship. Tightening the links that bind us together in our Rotary family. Thomas Gray said : I quote "What is this life if full of care We have no time to stand and staire"

The other stars unknown outhere in the world. I am glad that this year, the President of the Rotary international has led emphasis on Rotary Actions on children, most particularly to make their dreams real. Upliftment of children is of vital importance to us, our society, our nation and our civilization. Children are vulnerable and require attention and care. There is no doubt that the outcome of growth without care is twofold. Neglected and exploited children be as shooting stars and could grow in them the determination to rise and shine. (We have example of such cases in Mauritius). Others like the majority of stars in the firmament remain anonymous. Deprived children develop antagonism against settled system of the world and would seek to demolish every good order. They would grow up to become anti-social elements or criminals whose only target in life could be to wreck the face of civilization. Here I would like to remind that causes for deprivation are many and involve lack of parental responsibilities as well as economic situation, wars and conflicts which give rise to poverty. Our action this year therefore will be aimed at alleviating poverty at all levels be it in health, education, environment, care, parental support, peace and conflict resolutions.

This intention will not be fulfilled without the support, involvement and leadership of all Rotarians of our Club in particular members of the Board.

Ayant fait abstraction de toutes ses étoiles, il me reste à citer quelques unes qui vont jouer un rôle prépondérant durant ma présidence. Vous l'avez deviné c'est mon cher Vishnu qui aura encore une fois la responsabilité de me soutenir et d'être indulgent à l'égard de mes sorties nocturnes au nom du Rotary club de Phoenix . Je ne terminerai sans remercier ma fille Sonia et son époux Vasili qui partent pour l'Australie bientôt, ma soeur, mes neveux et nièces et mes amis qui m'ont fait l'honneur d'être presents ce soir. Les chers amis et invites non Rotarians vous avez eu un aperçu des valeurs que partagent les Rotariens. Je vous encouragerai à vous joindre à nous pour parfaire notre mission car chaque enfant que nous aidons à lire, chaque adulte que nous aidons à apprendre un métier, chaque jardin d'enfant que nous construisons est un pas pour unir le monde.

Je vous remercie encore une fois Long live Rotary International Long live Rotary Club Phoenix

SHAKUNTALA DEVI JUGMOHUN, President