Rotary - then and now
Change is the only constant thing in the world and Rotary changes with times.
Rotary came to Pune in 1935-36 with the launching of the first Rotary Club in Pune (then city name was Poona) i e Rotary Club of Poona which is still very active and growing. But it took nearly three decades to start another Rotary club in Pune when Rotary club Poona West was started. R.C. Poona Mid Town, R.C. Poona North, and R.C. Poona south as well as Pimpri came in succession @ 1970-71 or so. This is mainly because at that time, rules were a bit strict to induct Rotarians and complete formalities for starting clubs. Classification principle was strictly followed and only those legible after long scrutiny were inducted. In R C Poona, many members were of high position in their industry, business at top ranks.
I joined Rotary in 1980 and was inducted in R C Poona Mid Town which was started in 1971. We had few members and I was inducted after attending many meetings, my C V was scrutinized and so on. When I was DG in 1991-92, we had only 21 clubs in Pune-Pimpri area( Now Pune ,Pimpri and plus have nearly 90 clubs.) and area covered by the then district was of 13 revenue districts of Maharashtra and total clubs in that district then were @ 110. Later the district was bifurcated and districts 3131 and 3132 were formed.
Those days, attendance rules for clubs were very strict and those who remained absent for more than four consecutive meetings were removed from the club. Even industrialist Shri Shantanurav Kirloskar opted out of such attendance rules. And now, there are many concessions in attendance and in general attendance in clubs is dwindling. Those who remain absent in the clubs were asked to make up meetings by attending meetings in other clubs. They were well received there, given attendance cards and recognised in meetings. Now we see that visiting Rotarians are very few or nil in many clubs. Putting Rotary pin on coat or shirt was strictly observed and sergeant at arms was authorised to lay down a penalty on “defaulters”. Now it is not much observed.
Giving a donation to The Rotary Foundation was voluntary and even if one gives Rs 100, it was to be a big amount although Dollar to Rupee rate was not much. For the money given to TRF, donor Rotarians will get points and so also clubs. When my year started as DG, Dollar was around Rs 21 and by year end it went up to abut Rs. 29-30 or so. It was a big jump and affected donations. Now even becoming PHF is not considered much and we are getting donors in thousands and lakhs of Rupees and becoming AKFS or TRFCF. PHF is not considered a big thing.
There used to be district forums on various aspects of Rotary. Now main attention is on TRF contribution and membership development. Formation of new clubs is done very quickly. Attendance in clubs is dwindling and many clubs meet fortnightly or away from their meeting place.
During those days, D G normally will spend one full day with the club, with a visit to project site, meeting with president secretary, with board of directors and regular Even 2 or 3 clubs are now visited in a day and asst. Governor does work of data collection and feeding DG. District team is quite big now. I spent nearly 110 days out off Pune travelling in the then district.
Women were admitted to Rotary to start with in 1986-87, and regularly after 1989 R I convention. Before that they used to take part in clubs as Annes. Now nearly 18% of members worldwide are women and this percentage is going up , two have already become presidents of R I, many directors, still many Governors and unaccounted for club presidents. It must be admitted that in the last 4-5 decades, women have taken major roles as entrepreneurs, executives and/ or other top positions, so becoming a Rosarian is easy for them .
The district team also is big and D G has more pressure for clubs’ expansion and collecting donations for foundation, but due to CSR funding which can be used for projects thru Rotary, volume of money spent on projects has increased. When I was D G, the matching grant scheme of TRF was just started. Now more ways are there to get funds thru Foundation.
At the same time, Rotary has become stagnant for the last many years. It is growing in India and a few other S E Asian countries but not in the west and Europe so also in Japan, Australia, and New Zealand etc. It may be due to the cost of becoming a Rotarian, time availability, many other attractions or work pressures or time demanded by family. Rotary will have to think seriously deep and not superficially. Some solutions may be found in years to come.
These are some of the differences in Rotary then and now. With the passing of time, decision makers get more ideas for better working, as happens in our life also. Due to ease of communications thru internet, mobiles, and others, with better availability of travel facilities, there is much relief compared to old days. Every generation tries to do best in available resources and facilities as was done by us. Luckily for us, from that old phase, we are now enjoying new facilities available. But remembering old days is also interesting and joyous. Such exchange of old and new days things does happen when counterparts of each generation meet and their observations are like what is narrated above. One good thing is Rotary is changing with times and is thus adjusting to new situations .
So, let us enjoy whatever best is available and do something good through Rotary.
PDG Dr Sudhir Rashingkar
RY 1991-92,RID 3131
