The document discusses Rotary membership development and its importance. It begins by noting that Rotary would not exist without members. The founders realized early on that the circle needed to be widened to attract more people through fellowship and networking. Another leader, Arch Klumph, felt Rotary also needed a meaningful purpose of serving those in need. Membership in Pakistan began in 1927 and has since grown to two districts with a total of 1,500 members across 79 clubs. However, given Pakistan's population of 200 million people and needs, more members and clubs are still needed. Last year's membership efforts under IPDG Saleem Rao expanded Rotary, but continued growth is important under the new district governor, Ovais Ahmed Kohari

1. VOL. 02-2017/18 AUGUST 2017
ServiceiswhatRotariansdo.
We change the lives of others
in need. Your membership
in Rotary gives you the
opportunity, structure,
knowhow and
resources to
provide
service
to others.
The benefit
a Rotarian
receives by
helping someone
else is extraordinary
and life affecting.
Membership &
New Club Development
Growthbenefits
of being
a rotarian
Diversity
Fellowship
Leadership
Opportunity
Service
MORE THAN MEMBERSHIP - ROTARY IS PARTNERSHIP

2. Barry Rassin, of the Rotary Club
of East Nassau,New Providence,
Bahamas, is the selection of the
Nominating Committee for
President of Rotary International
for 2018-19.He will be declared
the president-elect on 1
September if no challenging
candidates have been
suggested.
As president, Rassin aims to strengthen our public image
and our use of digital tools to maximize Rotary’s reach.
“Those who know what good Rotary clubs do will want to
be a part of it, and we must find new models for
membership that allow all interested in our mission to
participate,”he says.“With Rotary more in the public eye,
we will attract more individuals who want to be part of
and support a membership organization that accomplishes
so much good around the world.”
Rassin earned an MBA in health and hospital administration
from the University of Florida and is the first fellow of the
American College of Healthcare Executives in the Bahamas.
He recently retired after 37 years as president of Doctors
Hospital Health System,where he continues to serve as an
adviser.He is a lifetime member of the American Hospital
Association and has served on several boards, including
the Quality Council of the Bahamas, Health Education
Council,and Employer’s Confederation.
A Rotarian since 1980,Rassin has served Rotary as director
and is vice chair ofThe Rotary Foundation Board ofTrustees.
He was an RI training leader and the aide to 2015-16 RI
President K.R.Ravindran.
Rassin received Rotary's highest honor,the Service Above
Self Award, as well as other humanitarian awards for his
work leading Rotary’s relief efforts in Haiti after the 2010
earthquake there.He and his wife,Esther,are Major Donors
and Benefactors of The Rotary Foundation.
Rassin’s nomination follows Sam F. Owori’s death in July,
just two weeks into his term as Rotary International
president-elect.
Mark Daniel Maloney, of the
Rotary Club of Decatur,Alabama,
USA, is the selection of the
Nominating Committee for
President of Rotary International
for 2019-20.He will be declared
the president-nominee on 1
October if no challenging
candidates have been
suggested.
“The clubs are where Rotary
happens,” says Maloney, an
attorney. He aims to support and strengthen clubs at the
community level, preserve Rotary’s culture as a service-
oriented membership organization,and test new regional
approaches for growth.
“With the eradication of polio,recognition for Rotary will be
great and the opportunities will be many,”he says.“We have the
potential to become the global powerhouse for doing good.”
Maloney is a principal in the law firm of Blackburn,Maloney,
andSchuppertLLC,withafocusontaxation,estateplanning,
and agricultural law.He represents large farming operations
in the Southeastern and Midwestern United States, and
has chaired the American Bar Association’s Committee on
Agriculture in the section of taxation. He is a member of
the American Bar Association, Alabama State Bar
Association,and the Alabama Law Institute.
He has been active in Decatur’s religious community,
chairing his church’s finance council and a local Catholic
school board. He has also served as president of the
Community Foundation of Greater Decatur,chair of Morgan
County Meals on Wheels, and director of the United Way
of Morgan County and the Decatur-Morgan County
Chamber of Commerce.
A Rotarian since 1980,Maloney has served as an RI director;
Foundation trustee and vice chair; and aide to 2003-04
RI President Jonathan Majiyagbe.He also has participated
in the Council on Legislation as chair, vice chair,
parliamentarian,and trainer.He was an adviser to the 2004
Osaka Convention Committee and chaired the 2014 Sydney
Convention Committee. Prior to serving as a district
governor,Maloney led a Group Study Exchange to Nigeria.
He also served as Future Vision Committee vice chair;
regional Rotary Foundation coordinator; Foundation
training institute moderator;Foundation permanent fund
national adviser;member of the Peace Centers Committee;
and adviser to the Foundation’s Water, Sanitation, and
Hygiene in Schools Target Challenge Committee.
Maloney’s wife,Gay,is an attorney in the same law firm,and
a member and past president of the Rotary Club of Decatur
Daybreak,Alabama,USA.Both Mark and Gay are Paul Harris
Fellows,Major Donors,and Bequest Society members.
Barry Rassin selected to be
2018-19 Rotary President
MarkDanielMaloneyselected
tobe2019-20RotaryPresident

3. |
Governor’s Monthly Letter | August 2017
District Governor’s Message
Dear Rotarians,
August is Membership Development month. Membership
will be our priority.Not only increasing clubs but increasing
the membership in the clubs.Let us organize ourselves and
our clubs and reach out to our friends, families and our
colleagues, and invite them to this great organization we
belong to. Invite the leaders, philanthropists and people
who truly want to serve humanity to join our mission of
Rotary:Making a Difference
Please remember,the job of membership is not done when
we bring in a new member.It’s not done until that member
is engaged in Rotary, is inspired by Rotary, and uses the
power of Rotary service to change lives and is making a
difference.
The challenge for us is making sure that every Rotarian can
have that experience of Rotary service, that moment of
realizing what Rotary is,what doors it opens,and the power
it has for making a difference.
For this we have to make sure that Rotarians are engaged
and that each one of us is doing the most we can.If we really
want to make Rotary vibrant and effective in our district,
then we must make sure that every single Rotarian has a
meaningful role to play, that they are all making a
contribution,and that their contributions are valued.
This is our Membership Challenge, so let us work together
to achieve it.
A note: MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT SEMINAR will be held
on August 30,at Hotel Marriott Karachi.
With warm regards,
Your teammate in Service,
Ovais Ahmed Kohari
District Governor
Rotary International
President &
District Governor
Ian H. S. Riseley
RI President 2017-18
Ovais Ahmed Kohari
District Governor 2017-18
Rotarians are men with hands extended in service,
willing to reach out to enrich the lives of others. ~ PRIP Clem Renouf

4. Impact starts with our
members - people like
you who want to be part
of making the world a
better place. At club
meetingsincommunities
across the globe, our
members come together
to strengthen their
connections to friends
and neighbors and their
commitment to
improving lives.
Who can join?
We’re looking for people who
want to give back to their
communities.
Rotary clubs also welcome
Rotaractors,Rotary Peace
Fellows,and other members of
thefamilyofRotarywhoqualify
for membership.
The good you do comes back
to you.
Rotary and Rotaract members
are all about forging
friendships,making business
contacts,building skills,and
serving the community.
Editorial
August is Membership
Development and Extension
Month,a time when we can all
do a little more to keep the
Rotary wheel turning. Let’s
each of us think of someone
we feel will be a committed
member. Then let’s tell that
person about Rotary and invite
him to our club meetings.With
every person we bring into our
club,the good that Rotary can
accomplish increases
manifold.
Let us grow by getting many
more willing hands to serve.
We must invite people who are
worthy and have a genuine
desire to serve.With the entry
of worthy and willing people
Rotary will grow inwardly in
values and high ethical
standards.
Kishwar Tariq Allawala
Editor
Editor
KISHWAR T.ALLAWALA
Associate Editor
SADIA ZAIDI
Layout Concept & Design
ABBAS LAVINGIA
Please submit articles to: Editor: Kishwar Tariq
Allawala;Penthouse 1,143-M/2,PECHS,Karachi 75400;
ce l l u l a r : + 9 2 3 3 3 2 2 9 1 7 0 8 ; e M a i l :
gml.d3271@gmail.com
AssociateEditor:SadiaZaidi;eMail:Zaidi.Sadia@gmail.com
District ChairPublication:AbbasLavingia,503Alamode
Apartments, Block 8, Clifton, Karachi 75600, Pakistan;
line:+92 21 32635257;cellular 0300/0321/345 8239019;
eMail:abbas@lavingia.net
District Secretary:Ali Hafeez Azmat;4-C,Mohammad
Ali Housing Society, Saeed Hai Road, Karachi 75350;
line: +92 21 35214418; cellular: +92 333 2298098;
eMail:ali.h.azmat@gmail.com
District Governor:Ovais Ahmed Kohari;17 M.A.Jinnah
Road,opp.KGA Ground,Karachi;line:+92 21 32250703,
32257213; cellular: +92 331 2713271; eMail:
ovais.kohari@hotmail.com
NewsMediaCoordinator:JawaidBabar;cellular:+923003313252
Send stories,queries,tips and photographs by mail or
e-mail (high resolution digital images prefered).We
assume no responsibility for unsolicited materials.
Published monthly by District Governor 3271,Pakistan.
Circulation restricted to rotarians only.
Concept, layout and printing by: Capricorn Printers;
eMail:abbas@lavingia.net
Drop Mail
You are welcome to make contributions to the GML
however, the editorial board reserves the right
to edit or reject the material for reasons of
suitability, accuracy or space. Please send your
articles, club activity and attendance report to:
RotarySecretariat3271@gmail.com
If you have old file photographs of any memorable
events related to Rotary at district or international
level, you are welcome to share with the GML team.
www.rotary3271.org
ON THE COVER
Celebrate Membership Month
August is Membership Month,which means
it’s time to celebrate your Rotary club, your
members, and the good you do in your
community and around the world.
There are many ways to join in the
celebration, but here are a few activities to
get you started:
Say it loud, say it proud!, Watch and share,
Exchange ideas, We Are Rotary, it’s Now or
Never, Making a difference, What does Rotary
mean to you? and many more ways ...
G O V E R N O R ’ S M O N T H LY L E T T E R
VOL.02-2017/18 AUGUST 2017
Thegreatestresourcewhichanationcan
have is the resource of peace; it counts
for more than arable lands, more than
mines of untold riches. ~ Paul Harris
all you need to know about
MEMBERSHIP

5. |
Governor’s Monthly Letter | August 2017
In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in all things, charity. ~ PRIP Leslie Pidgeon
About Polio ...
A Rotary delegation comprising of PRIP Kalyan Banerjee,DG Ovais Kohari
(RI District 3271), DG Faiza Qamar (RI District 3272) and National Polio
Chair PDG Aziz Memon, called on the President of Pakistan Mamnoon
Hussain at Aiwan e Sadr,Islamabad,on 17th August.
PRIP Kalyan Banerjee made a special trip to Pakistan to meet with the
President of Pakistan to discuss and endorse the polio eradication
campaign in Pakistan.Thanking the President for sparing his time, PRIP
Kalyan said that Pakistan has come a long way in the eradication of polio.
This would not have been possible without the ownership and
commitment of the Federal and Provincial Governments and the
President’s personal involvement.
National Polio Chair PDG Aziz Memon pointed out that the main concern
today is that the polio program should not be derailed as it had been in
the last election.Dr Rana Safdar,Coordinator NEOC,assured that the polio
program will continue and will receive full support of all political parties.
The polio chair also mentioned that Quetta Block needs special attention
and there will need to be strong vigilance with the transient population
crossing the Pak-Afghan border. Additionally, Karachi is a very volatile
city, and though there has not been a case since the last two years, it
cannot be lost sight of, nor can the guard be let down. A sprawling
metropolis of approximately 23 million people with an ethnic fusion of
communities from across the country, Karachi needs continuous
monitoring.
PRIP Kalyan Banerjee praised Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq for her
commendable speech at the Rotary International Convention at Atlanta.
DG Ovais Kohari and DG Faiza Qamar also spoke about Rotary’s
commitment and their full support for polio eradication in their respective
districts.
Dr Rana Safdar praised Rotary for its role and unflinching support for
polio eradication.He lauded Rotary International for funding polio partners
for their work in Pakistan and providing social mobilization advocacy
material for polio teams.He also praised PDG Aziz Memon for his efforts
in the polio eradication initiative,saying that the government is thankful
to him and to RI for their deep rooted commitment, the result of which
is that Pakistan has made such commendable progress.
The President of Pakistan reaffirmed his full support and assured all that
polio eradication is a national agenda of the government and all political
parties, and progress will continue till the target of zero is reached.
At the end, PRIP Kalyan Banerjee presented “Bas Relief” replica of the
PolioPlus statue,an executive glass paperweight with the PolioPlus logo
and two books “Rotary and the Gift of a Polio Free World - Making the
Promise”,Volume 1 & 2,to the President of Pakistan.
PDG Aziz Memon
National Polio Chair
A Rotary delegation comprising
PRIP Kalyan M. Banerjee,
NPPC Chair Aziz Memon,
DG Ovais Ahmed Kohari and
DG Faiza Qamar
called on President of Pakistan
H. E. Mamnoon Hussain
at Aiwan e Sadr, Islamabad
on 17th of August, 2017.
President of Pakistan with Rotarians & Dr. Safdar
PRIP presenting a 'Bas Relief' replica to the President of
Pakistan

6. Membership
Development
The obvious maxim:There would be
“No Rotary without Rotarians”
The founding fathers,four wise men in Chicago
1905 - Paul Harris and his three friends,realised
this basic fact not very long after they started
meeting in their offices.
The circle had to be widened to make it
attractive - and ever more so - enjoyable! After
all,the fundamental premise was fellowship
leading to perhaps friendship and better still
“Networking!” This simple concept caught on
fast - small groups expanding into clubs started
coming up in the US.In quick succession
Rotary became International with the first
Club in Canada.
Another wise man - Arch Klumph felt that
fellowship and networking was fine -but for
the young movement to flourish had to have
a deeper and more meaningful purpose -
“Doing good in the world!”
This added object of“Serving Mankind in
Need”caught the imagination of men and
women of goodwill not only in the Americas
but Europe and Asia as well.
Rotary came to Pakistan in 1927 in Lahore
followed by Karachi and Hyderabad - the rest
is history!
Today we have two Districts 3271 and 3272
with a total of 1500 members in 79 clubs.
However,in a population of 200 million is this
sufficient considering the needs of the
community mired in poverty,disease,illiteracy,
lack of clean drinking water etc?
This stark reality,my fellow Rotarians,is the
challenge.We need many more Hands,many
more Rotarians for Rotary to make a Difference!
So how do we go about attracting service
minded men and women in Rotary?
Last year good progress was made under the
leadership of IPDG Saleem Rao and his team.
They worked very hard indeed resulting in
more Rotarians and more new clubs.Thats
great - full marks to Saleem and his team! A
new Rotary year has started and with it a new
leader,DG Ovais Ahmed Kohari.He has
appointed me as membership chair with the
task of not only maintaining the momentum
built up last year but also to carry it further.To
meet this challenge together with co-chair
Farooq Dadi we are trying different strategies.
To date,we have formed seven informal groups
each led by an Assistant Governor with the
President and Membership Chair.The feedback
from both the AGs and club leaders of the
seven meetings held so far has been positive
and encouraging.
If you have the love of your fellow men in your hearts,
my friends, you are a potential Rotarian. ~ Paul Harris
|
Governor’s Monthly Letter | August 2017

7. In addition co-chair is organizing joint
meetings of 4-5 clubs with a well known
personality as a guest speaker.Smaller clubs
have especially welcomed this new initiative
but more needs to be done.I do believe that
Promotion of Public Image of Rotary is vitally
important.Better knowledge and awareness
go hand in hand with attracting new members.
We plan to work in tandem with Public
Promotion Chair and his team to achieve better
results.
Knowledge of newer concept of Satellite and
eClubs needs to be improved to help sponsor
new small clubs .We also plan to tap a potential
pool of former Rotarians,Rotary Alumni and
Rotaractors.
The challenge is there - however,I firmly believe
that with the active support of the District
Leadership,clubs and each and every Rotarian,
we can set the pace for attracting service
minded men and women looking for a suitable
platform to lend a hand and serve humanity
and make a difference in the lives of the less
fortunate in our community.
Nothing is impossible.With total commitment
and dedication together we will Inshallah meet
the challenge.
PDG Akhtar K Alavi
District Chair
Membership Attraction
& Engagement
The Benefits of being a Rotarian
Join Rotary and a world of possibilities opens up
for you.
The enormous sense of achievement you'll experience
in helping your local community and other
communities around the world will be matched only
by the fun you'll have doing it.
As a large and diverse organisation,Rotary provides
individuals with the power to help those in need.There
are countless opportunities to make a difference to
those less fortunate than ourselves.
Friendship
In an increasingly complex world,Rotary maintains a
simple philosophy - make friends in your own
community and throughout the world.
Giving back to the community
Through Rotary,service to local and overseas
communities is well organised and rewarding.If you
like helping others,here is your chance to do
something worthwhile and make a real difference.
Business development
Networking opportunities are endless.Rotary consists
of a cross-section from every business community and
its members come from all walks of life.Rotarians help
each other and collectively help others.
Personal growth and development
Membership of Rotary develops leadership,public
speaking,social,business,personal and vocational
skills as well as improving cultural awareness.
Continued learning
Clubs organise programmes and weekly meetings to
keep members informed about what is going on in
the community,the country,and the world.Each
meeting provides an opportunity to listen to different
speakers on a variety of current topics.
Travel opportunities
Every Rotarian is welcome - even encouraged - to
attend any of the 33,000 clubs in more than 200
countries and geographical regions.This bond creates
an instant friendship wherever you are in the world.
Many a Rotarian in need of a local doctor,lawyer,hotel,
dentist,or other expertise while travelling has found
assistance through Rotary.
It is well that there is nothing in Rotary so sacred
that it cannot be set aside in favor of things better. ~ Paul Harris
|
Governor’s Monthly Letter | August 2017

8. Reminiscences of the Rotary Club of Karachi - 1970 - 1979
I have just completed 55 years as a Rotarian; and have nothing but happy
memories of my few years as a member of the Rotary Club of Karachi.They were
also very fruitful and satisfying from the point of view of the service projects we
were able to implement and complete.
Apart from being the oldest and second largest Club in the Province of Sind,
its membership reflected the elite of the business and professional community
of the city.
I joined the Club in early 1970.The Club’s membership then stood at about 120;
and I was honored and privileged to have been warmly and affectionately
received by such stalwarts as PDG Kassim Dada, PDG M. Amin, and Rotarians
Ahmed Jaffer,Zain Alavi,Razzaq Kohari (grandfather of DG Ovais Kohari),Yusuf
Mandviwalla,Fakhruddin Millwala,R.S.Rustomji,Hashim Sayeed,Dr.M.A.Shah
and Anver Tapal.
Having just served as President of the Rotary Club of Rangoon, in Burma, the
Karachi Club’s senior leadership quickly got me involved in various capacities,
more specially in the International and Community Service committees.Here I
was again privileged to get to know,and develop a very close relationship with
many of the service oriented Rotarians such as Byram Avari,Nariman Irani,Abdul
Haiy Khan (who later served as DG), D. M. Dehradunwala, and Mohammed
Hussain Dhalla.
I am particularly happy and proud that with the active participation and support
and guidance of the above mentioned Rotarians,the Club was able to do some
very worthwhile community service. To mention just two, we completed a
massive polio immunization project in a low-income working class community
in the northern suburbs of Karachi ten years before Rotary International started
its PolioPlus program. Another massive project, initiated by PDG Kassim Dada
and executed by us was the distribution of thousands of books to libraries of
schools.These books were brought free of charge from California, by the U.S.
Navy.And the numerous crates of books were airlifted from the Naval vessel by
helicopter, and received in a public ceremony by the Mayor of the City and
community leaders.This gave the Club a good deal of publicity and exposure
in the local newspapers and was a PR coup.
I was also honored to be selected and appointed the GSE Team Leader by then
DG Ahmed Shafi; and led a very fine team of young Pakistani business and
professional men to then Rotary District 638 in Northern Michigan and Southern
Canada in mid 1978.The DG of that multi-national District told me at the end
of our tour of the very good impression of Pakistan that my team members had
left with them.This made DG Ahmed Shafi very proud and happy.
The Rotary Annes of the Club were also quite active then; and most of them
were members of the Inner-Wheel Club.These ladies befriended my wife,Tin
Tin Nu Raschid (Tin Lay to her close friends), who became the first woman
DG in Northern Virginia in 1996-97.This made her life, in a city where we had
no friends or relatives, a most happy one. She later served as President of the
Inner-Wheel Club, and helped me in forming the first ever Rotaract Club in
Pakistan, where Kishwar Dada and Tariq Allawala were the backbone, among
others.This gave them the skills to later become leaders in then Rotary District
3270,with Tariq becoming a District Governor.
I am happy that the Club has continued its great tradition of service to the
community,and I wish it well.
Bilal M.Raschid
Greetings from
Overseas
PP Bilal Raschid with Rotarians - PDG Haiy Khan and
Edda Khan, DM Dehradunwala, Behram Avari, Frainy
& Nariman Irani
Bilal Raschid with his parents, Anne & M.A. Raschid
and PDG Haiy Khan
Bilal M. Raschid
Recipient of RI’s Service Above Self Award (1997)
|
Governor’s Monthly Letter | August 2017
Each Rotarian is a connecting link between the idealism of Rotary and his trade or profession. ~ Paul Harris

9. |
Governor’s Monthly Letter | August 2017
Rotary must make haste even to keep up; but we must do more, we must lead. ~ Paul Harris
Congratulations to District Governor
Ovais Ahmed Kohari
Bilal and I have known Ovais for three generations, as his Dada was our Kohari
Cha Cha, at the Rotary Club of Karachi.When his father, Anis Kohari, became a
member of the Karachi East Club, we became very close friends with him
and Fauzia.
Bilal and I could not have formed the Rotaract Club (the first one ever in Pakistan),
if Ovais, Sikander Dada, Tariq and Kishwar Allawalla and Murtaza Mandiwalla
had not become Charter members. Kishwar’s parents, PDG Kassim Dada and
Hanifa Bhabhi opened their house to us.PDG Haiy Khan and Edda are very close
friends of ours,along with Byram and Feroza Avari,Nariman and Dolly Irani,DM
and Shireen Dehradunwalla,and Yousuf and Zainab Mandviwalla.
My grateful thanks are due to the InnerWheel club members.When we migrated
to Pakistan in 1969,they welcomed me very warmly,and I immediately became
a member; while Bilal was waiting to join Rotary as his classification was not
open!These friends elected me to be their President in 1973 (I became President
of the Inner Wheel club of Karachi). I took part in many District Conferences,
starting with a minor role of presenting “Why I am pleased my husband is a
Rotarian”, to taking care of the ladies’ programs.The fashion show Hiam Nana
and I organized and staged, got a lot of compliments. When I became the
Executive Director of the Pakistan American Cultural Center (the first Pakistani
and first woman to hold this position),and toured my centers all over Pakistan,
I spoke about the Inner Wheel Club in various towns.Hence, I was able to form
the Inner Wheel Clubs of Mirpurkhas,Hyderabad and Lahore.At that time there
was only the Karachi club in the whole of Pakistan.
The friendship and assistance we have received from Rotarians are enormous,
and we will forever cherish,appreciate and remember them.
The jobs that Bilal and I got were through the kindnesses of Rotarians. One
Rotarian asked me to be the Master of Ceremonies at the ladies night every
time. Another Rotarian noticed it, and I got the connection to PACC; and the
third and fourth Rotarians appointed me to the position of Executive Director
of PACC! They all came and supported me whenever I had fundraisers for Inner
Wheel and the Rotaract club,with dance performance by Naheed Siddiqui,etc.,
or I had my handmade miniature flower exhibition and sales.
When Bilal and I went back on a visit to Karachi in 1999, after 20 years in the
U.S., the Rotary Clubs had a joint Dinner to honor us.We had so many friends
who wanted to invite us that we had to request them to give us combined
parties. Now our visit to Karachi is long overdue, and we will visit again after
another 20 years in 2019,if we are still alive and kicking,Insha Allah!
Finally, I would like to request Ovais to enjoy his year as the District Governor.
It is such a unique experience which you will never get again. I was so focused
on my goals that I did not enjoy my year as District Governor as much as I should
have,and deeply regret it.
A huge “Shukriya” to all our dear friends. Please keep in touch with me at
tintinraschid@gmail.com.
Khuda Hafiz
Tin Tin Nu Raschid
District Governor 1996-97
At Rotary Meetings in Karachi
With Rotary friends - Jusbanis, Dadas and Anis Kohari
Tin Tin Nu Raschid with PRIP John Germ

10. |
Governor’s Monthly Letter | August 2017
There has never been a strike - breaker to compare with service - service by the employer, service by the employee.
~ Paul Harris
Archives
Service to
Humaity
PDG Mohamed Akbar
(Address to RCK Karachi on 8th October,2005)
Service to humanity has not received
sufficient importance in the lives of most
of us. Let us make service to humanity as
the main mission of the rest of our lives!
In fact, a critical study of the Holy Quran
carried out by me during the past 24 years,
has convinced me that the real purpose
of man’s life is selfless service to his
fellow men.
In support of my conviction,let me quote
three Quranic verses:
{Al-Anaam 6:158} “…On the (judgment)
day when thy God’s portents do appear,
believing (in the existence of God) will be
of no avail to any human being who did
not believe before,or who,while believing,
did no good work…”
US is a record that speaks the truth (about
what men do and can do): and none shall
be wronged.
2 A.H. {2:148}“For every community faces
a direction of its own, of which He is the
focal point.Vie,therefore,with one another
in doing good deeds.”
2 A.H. {2:62} “Verily, those who have
attained faith (in the Quran) as well as those
who follow the Jewish faith, and the
Christians and Sabians – all who believe in
God and Last Day,and do righteous deeds
– shall have their reward from God; and
no fear need they have, and neither shall
they grieve.”
6 A.H. {24:55}“God has promised those of
you who have attained faith and do
righteous deeds,that of a certainty.He will
cause them to accede to power on earth,
even as He caused (some of) those who
lived before them to accede to it …”
10 A.H. {15:48} “… unto each one of you
have We appointed a (different) law and
wayoflife.AndifHehadsowilledHewould
surely have made you all one single
community:but (He willed it otherwise) in
order to test you by means of what He has
vouchsafed unto you. Vie, then, with one
another in doing good deeds…”
Let me now turn for a moment to our
Rotary motto of “Service Above Self.”We
cannot render any kind of service unless
we control our Self Greed which makes us
turn a blind eye to the misery around us.
Unfortunately,we let our Self to subjugate
our humanitarian feelings.
God says in Surah Al-Takathur (102) “You
are obsessed by greed for more and more
until you go down to your graves…and on
the Judgment Day,you will most surely be
called to account for what you did with
the boon of life with which God had
blessed you.”
I wind up this expose with the following
words of a mere mortal like you and me:
“I expect to pass through this world but
once.Any good thing,therefore,that I can
do,or any kindness that I can show to any
fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me
not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass
this way again.”
{Hud 11:117}“For never would God destroy
a community for wrong (beliefs alone) so
long as its people behave righteously
(towards one another)”
{Al-Qasas 28:59} “Yet, withal, God would
never destroy a community without having
raised in its midst an apostle who would
convey unto them God’s messages; and
never would God destroy a community
unless its people are wont to do wrong to
one another.”
On this point, a Hadith (saying of Prophet
Muhammad) will not be out of place.“The
Almighty may forgive a man for his
carelessness in the performance of HIS
RIGHTS but the RIGHTS OF MAN violated
by any individual will not be forgiven
by Him.”
There are well over 45 verses in the Quran
which emphasize and re-emphasize in no
uncertain manner,that the real purpose of
man’s life on earth is doing good deeds
unto others. Let me quote a few of them
in chronological order of their revelation:
10 B.H. {103:1-3} “Consider the flight of
time! Verily, man is bound to lose himself
unless he be of those who attain faith and
do good works, and enjoin upon one
another the keeping to truth,and to enjoin
upon one another patience in adversity.”
6 B.H. {19:96-97} Verily those who attain
faith and do righteous deeds the MOST
GRACIOUS will endow them with love;and
only to this end haveWe made this (Quran)
easy to understand in thine own tongue…”
1 B.H. {18:46}“Wealth and children are an
adornment of this world’s life: but good
deeds the fruit whereof endures forever,
are of far greater merit in thy God’s sight,
and a far better source of hope…”
0 B.H. {98:7} “(and) verily those who have
attained faith and do righteous deeds,it is
they who are the best of all creatures.”
0 B.H. {23:61-62} “(Verily, only those who
stand in reverent awe of their God), it is
they who vie with one another in doing
good deeds, and it is they who outrun all
others in attaining them! And (withal) God
does not burden any human being with
more than he is well able to bear:for with

11. |
Governor’s Monthly Letter | August 2017
District Governor’s Message
Dear Rotarians,
August is Membership Development month. Membership
will be our priority.Not only increasing Clubs but increasing
the membership in the clubs.Let us organize ourselves and
our clubs and reach out to our friends, families and our
colleagues, and invite them to this great organization we
belong.Invite the leaders,philanthropists and people who
truly want to serve humanity to join our mission of Rotary:
Making a Difference
Please remember,the job of membership is not done when
we bring in a new member.It’s not done until that member
is engaged in Rotary, is inspired by Rotary, and uses the
power of Rotary service to change lives and is making a
difference.
The challenge for us is making sure that every Rotarian can
have that experience of Rotary service, that moment of
realizing what Rotary is,what doors it opens,and the power
it has for making a difference.
For this we have to make sure that Rotarians are engaged
and that each one of us is doing the most we can.If we really
want to make Rotary vibrant and effective in our district,
then we must make sure that every single Rotarian has a
meaningful role to play, that they are all making a
contribution,and that their contributions are valued.
This is our Membership Challenge, so let us work together
to achieve it.
A note: MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT SEMINAR will be held
on August 30,at Hotel Marriott Karachi.
With warm regards,
Your teammate in Service,
Ovais Ahmed Kohari
District Governor
Rotarians are men with hands extended in service,
willing to reach out to enrich the lives of others. ~ PRIP Clem Renouf
District Vocational
Training Initiative
by Sohail P Ahmed
Chair, District Vocational
Summary:
meeting of Club Presidents
It was decided that:
- Each attendee will brief their
clubs
- Each club will select employer(s)
requiring trained skilled workers
- Clubs will sponsor trainees
- Rtn Sohail Ahmed and district
team will liaise with training
institutions and oversee the
initiative
- Target: to commence with
training 50-100 men/women at
least
- Training institutes are available
in Karachi, Hyderabad and
Sukkur
Looking forward to keen
participation by all clubs
Dr.Aftab Imam
District Rotary Coordinator
August 14 - Rotarians celebrated
Pakistan Independence Day