THE ROTATOR - Issue 01

Happy reading!
Your Rotator Team 2025–26

DISTRICT GOVERNOR’S MESSAGE

Dear President,

July 1st 2025 is around the corner — and with it comes the promise of fresh beginnings, renewed purpose, and boundless opportunity.

As you take the helm of your clubs, know you are not alone. You are part of a larger family — a united force of more leaders across District 3192 and the world who stand by you, every step of the way.
Our message this year, “Unite for Good,” is more than just a call to action. It is a call to come together — to lead with empathy, act with courage, and serve with unwavering integrity. You have been entrusted with a unique responsibility, and you have also been equipped with a powerful support system — your district leadership team.

Please remember: We are with you — to guide, assist, and stand beside you at every step. No question is too small, no challenge too big — reach out anytime. This is your year to shine, and we are here to help you light the way.
As you lead your members toward impactful service, stronger fellowship, and Rotary growth, focus on bringing in new members, starting new clubs, and creating meaningful, community-driven projects. Let the Four-Way Test and Rotary’s values shape every decision you make.
You are the spark that ignites your club’s spirit — and when we all move forward together, we become unstoppable.
Here’s to a remarkable year ahead. Let us lead with the heart, serve with humility and give with joy.

Remember, every one of us are leaders. Let us make Rotary visible through our actions, kind words and humble ways. Let us script a new chapter in the story of our clubs and the District 3192.

Wishing you the very best as you step into your new roles. Yours in Rotary Service

Rtn. Prof. Elizabeth Cherian District  Governor RID 3192

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Dear RCBians, As we look forward, let’s take strength from our history and legacy to propel us into a great new future. Let’s make it special, memorable and unique. I’ve put my thoughts in two sonnets which I would like to share with you.

The first honors our beginnings, extols our strengths, celebrates what each of you has contributed to RCB’s success, and includes my heartfelt thoughts about the beautiful you.

91 years ago was born our RCB,
To become the best RC, you will agree.
From the first member in 1934,
To the now, terrific 330 and more
Our RCB is unique, stands tall,
Cos’ you answered society’s every call.
Each of you always give your heart,
In every sphere that makes you stand apart.
Rotary International which began in 1905,
Hath given us a strong foundation to thrive.
Our RCB is on the way for a stellar century,
Let’s reach it with service beyond exemplary.
We are filled with dedicated members like you,
And a committed board who is thorough and true.
I thank thee for this opportunity,
For I shall work faithfully to make things beautifully
For me personally it’s a humbling experience,
And I commit to make RCB even more glorious.
The second poem is about sensitising and opening our mind and heart to work in unison to preserve our planet and to make our lives more meaningful.
Let’s be kind,
Our Earth’s hard to find.
We have a beautiful mind,
Have we made our planet intertwined.
Many things are well aligned,
And many things have also declined.
We love things well designed,
But look what we are leaving behind.
We say we are smart and well refined,
Yet nature’s resources we brutally grind.
Now is the time for all of us to bind,
Use our mind and do justice to mankind.
So let’s be together, bond together
Give thy best to make our world better forever.
Dear RCBians, you are special and RCB is a superb forum where we can join together to create the best Rotary Club ever and to make a meaningful and
sustained beneficial impact to our Mother Earth.
Here’s to a lifetime of friendship.
Rtn. Sukhen Padmanabha

RI PRESIDENT’S PROFILE

RI President Rtn. Francesco Arezzo is an orthodontist in private practice. He is active internationally as a member of the Italian, European, and American orthodontics associations. He is vice president of the National Association of Italian Dentists for the province of Ragusa and was the founder and head for seven years of the delegation for Ragusa of the National Trust for Italy. He is a Knight of Honor and Devotion in Obedience within the Sovereign Order of Malta.

A Rotary member for more than 30 years, Arezzo has served as vice chair of the Joint Strategic Planning Committee and as RI director, learning facilitator, and as district conference presidential representative.

Arezzo is a Major Donor and Benefactor of The Rotary Foundation. He is married to Anna Maria Criscione, an entrepreneur in the tourism field. They have two children.

Rtn. Francesco Arezzo

EDITOR’S MESSAGE

Dear Fellow Rotarians,

It’s an honour as the Jt Secretary to bring you our weekly newsletter. As I step into this role, I do so with deep respect for the legacy of service, fellowship, and storytelling that this publication represents.

My goal is simple: to reflect the heart of our club—its people, projects, and purpose. Each week, I hope to bring you stories that inspire, inform, and remind us why we are Rotarians.

I warmly welcome your ideas, feedback, and contributions. After all, this magazine belongs to all of us. Together, let’s continue to celebrate the work we do and the difference we make—one story at a time.

I look forward to growing and serving alongside each of you.

-Rtn. Usha Subramanian

Joint Secretary

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2025-26

Standing from left to Right :

Vocational Service Director Rtn. Kamalacharan, Youth Service Director Rtn. Dr. Anil Agadi, Sergeant at Arms – Rtn. Chellamani, Joint Secretary – Rtn. Usha Subramanian, President Elect Rtn. Vineetha Chinnappa,

Vice President Rtn. M.C. Dinesh, Treasurer Rtn. Sanjay Asher, Community Service Director Rtn. Srinivas Velidanda,
International Service Director Rtn. Sandeep Ohri, Additional Director Rtn. R. Girish

Sitting from Left to Right :

Secretary Rtn. Kavita Muthappa, Assistant Governor Rtn. Fazal Ur Rahaman, District Governor Rtn. Prof. Elizabeth Cherian, President Rtn. Sukhen Padmanabha, Chief Guest Shri. Harshavardhan Umre, Former Commissioner of Customs & GST, (IRS), GOI, Immediate Past President Rtn. Gowri S. Oza, Immediate Past Secretary Rtn. Sohil D. Shah

INSTALLATION CEREMONY OF PRESIDENT SUKHEN PADMANABHA & THE 2025–26 BOARD

The installation ceremony of President Rtn. Sukhen Padmanabha and the new Board of Directors for 2025–26 was a memorable and inspiring event, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the club. The program commenced with the formal installation of President Rtn. Sukhen Padmanabha by District Governor Rtn. Dr. Elizabeth Cherian. President Rtn. Sukhen Padmanabha requested District Governor Rtn.

Dr. Elizabeth Cherian to unveil the theme for the year — “Unite for Good” — setting a collaborative and service-driven tone for the year ahead. This was followed by the induction of the incoming board members and service directors, officiated by Secretary Rtn. Kavita Muthapa.

Rtn. Sundeep Gupta introduced the President Rtn. Sukhen Padmanabha highlighting his calm and approachable demeanor, balanced by a firm resolve and a results-oriented mindset — qualities that promise a dynamic and purposeful term. In the President’s acceptance address, President Rtn. Sukhen Padmanabha emphasied that the new initiatives will unfold in the committee meetings for which he requested each member to Involve, Ideate and Innovate.

The single binding factor is Environment and Sustainability. He requested to do everything keeping mother earth and nature in mind. That is the basis of the logo. Where we can see the earth and the leaves which symbolises our desire to make the world a better place.

Rtn. Sunil Kumar introduced the Chief Guest, Mr. Harshavardhan Umre, Former Commissioner, IRS. In his keynote address, Mr. Umre spoke passionately about the urgent need for environmental preservation. He emphasized the devastating impact of deforestation and climate change, urging everyone to adopt sustainable practices, including a strict no-plastic policy. He also spoke on the importance of instilling strong moral values in today’s youth, encouraging them to become responsible citizens of the future.

The evening saw the induction of new members by Past Presidents Rtn. Vivek Prabhu, Rtn. Ramkumarr Seshu and DG Rtn. Dr. Elizabeth Cherian. The inaugural issue of the Rotator for the year 2025-26 was released by Asst. Gov Rtn. Fazal Ur Rahaman. The father son duo PDG Rtn. Ramdas and Rtn. Kamalacharan released the Roster for the year 2025-26.

Rtn. Vineetha Chinappa introduced DG Rtn. Dr. Elizabeth Cherian, who congratulated the newly installed Board. In her address, she stressed the importance of mentorship and encouraged Rotary Club of Bangalore to guide and support other clubs while continuing to showcase impactful service projects.

The event concluded with a warm vote of thanks delivered by Secretary Rtn. Kavita Muthappa who expressed her gratitude to all the dignitaries, members and guests for their presence.

From GST to Grace: Shri HARSHAVARDHAN UMRE’S VISION FOR A KINDER, GREENER INDIA

In a reflective and thought-provoking address delivered during the installation ceremony of the Rotary Club of Bangalore’s 91st year, former Commissioner of Customs and GST, Shri Harshavardhan Umre, called upon Rotarians to rise to the moral and environmental challenges of our times. Coinciding with the 90th birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama—a global symbol of compassion—Umre’s speech was a timely reminder of the values Rotary stands for and the role it can play in shaping a more conscientious and sustainable society.

As the world grapples with an escalating climate crisis marked by rising temperatures, resource depletion, and relentless deforestation, Umre warned that time is running out. “Despite numerous warnings, the world has failed to change course. The rate of deforestation continues unabated,” he said, urging Rotary to leverage its vast network, reach, and influence to champion environmental stewardship.

He offered simple yet impactful suggestions to begin this journey—abandoning single-use plastics, replacing plastic ball pens with fountain pens, and opting for bamboo toothbrushes. He emphasised the importance of behavioural shifts in everyday life.

Umre also turned his attention to what he termed a growing “moral vacuum” in society. He cautioned that the current trajectory of education, as laid out in the National Education Policy (NEP), while focused on creating economically productive citizens, must also prioritise moral and ethical development. “Creating economic animals is fine,” he remarked, “but we must not lose sight of values that define our humanity.”

Highlighting India’s paradox—of being a global hub of intellectual brilliance and cultural richness, yet lacking in social capital—he lamented the deterioration of civic sense. “For all our talent, we struggle with basic public behaviour—littering, queue-jumping, loud and inconsiderate communication, and disrespect for traffic rules. These are not trivial flaws; they erode the social fabric.”

Social capital is what makes a nation. Not just GDP, but grace. Not just knowledge, but kindness. Not just talent, but togetherness,” he said.. Shri Harshavardhan Umre’s words offered clarity and challenge. For Rotary, and for India, the path forward may well be defined by the courage to care—and the will to act.

Gift Distribution to Pourakarmikas

The first project of the new committee for 2025-26 under the leadership of RCB President Rtn. Sukhen Padmanabha and Community Service Director Rtn. Srinivas Velidanda was held on July 1st 2025 at Vasanth Nagar Park. Over 80 Pourakarmikas were invited for a special gift distribution in recognition of their selfless commitment to keeping our city hygienic and clean.
Rtns. Vineetha Chinappa, Ashok Kalyanashetty, Anand Bindagi & Satej Alur were present. Rtn. Meera Shankar mesmerized the group with her wit and panache.

ShieldHer at Christ University, Hosur Road, Bengaluru

Cervical Cancer remains the second most common cancer among Indian women, yet it is both preventable and treatable. To raise awareness, Rotary Club of Bangalore (RCB), in partnership with AGOI-KSC, launched ShieldHer in November 2023. The 40th session, held at Christ University on July 1, 2025, engaged 60 participants through an impactful talk by Dr. Shobha K, Head, Dept. of Gynecology & Oncology, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology. RCB continues advancing WHO’s 2030 goal to eliminate cervical cancer.

About 120 students from the department of Community Sociology of Christ University Masters program participated in the event along with the Head of the Department and other faculty. Rtn. Srinivas Velidanda also spoke about other flagship projects of RCB. It was agreed that Christ University will assemble larger groups of students for the future events.

President Rtn. Sukhen Padmanabha, Rtn. Srinivas Velidanda, Rtn. Gertrude D’souza participated. Special thanks to project coordinator Rtn. Dr. Nita Roy.

-Rtn. Dr. Sowmya P R

Medical Camp at Rotary Muthappa Attavar Hospital

A Medical camp at Rotary Muthappa Attavar Memorial Hospital was conducted on July 3rd.

DG Rtn. Dr. Elizabeth Cherian inaugurated the camp. President Rtn. Sukhen Padmanabha, Community Service Director Rtn. Srinivas Velidanda, Rtn. Ashok Kalyanashetty and Rtn. Gertrude D’souza were at the camp.

DG Rtn. Dr. Elizabeth and President Rtn. Sukhen Padmanabha commended the doctors for volunteering at the camp and thanked the trustees of the hospital.

No. of patients seen were 153. Summary of the different cases is in the pic.

Rtn. Ashok Kalyanashetty sponsored the medicines which were given to the patients accordingly. Doctors from Rajarajeshwari Medical College Hospital conducted the Camp.

The camp was successfully concluded at 3.30 pm.

-Rtn. Dr. Gertrude D’souza