How quickly the first six months of the current Rotary Year have whizzed by!

“Everyday may not be good but there is something good in everyday”

We have had excellent speakers during November - Ms Kia Scherr and Mr D Sivanandan and the Club has recorded improved attendance at weekly meetings and at project sites. Fellowship was at its best with full house during all events. We started off with a Diwali Party at ITC Grand, an excellent fireside meeting at the residence of PE Rtn Sanjiv Mehta and ended with all of us going for the move “Talaash”. This led to bonhomie and increased bonding amongst the senior and new members.

The month also witnessed participation in polio plus drive and our Club winning two cricket matches against RC of Nariman Point and RC of Bombay Bayview and finally winning the

SOBO Cup against RC of Bombay Central. History was created !!! Congratulations to our team for their spirit , perseverance and team work. The Vocational Avenue of Service has taken off with our Club sponsoring two vocational training courses for the underprivileged at Seva Sadan.

Under the Global Grant Project Kohinoor Vocational Training we have initiated the process by signing an MOU between Kohinoor, our Club, TRF and the International Partner Club. Course material for the three courses namely Certificate Courses in AC & Refrigeration Engineering Services, Electrical Engineering Services and Electronics Engineering Services have been finalized along with certificates and other documents. Currently, the interview process is going on at the various centres of Kohinoor Technical Institute. This project is expected to commence by mid December.

“Strong people stand up for themselves, but the strongest people stand up for others”

An earnest appeal to all our members to help raise funds for our marquee project - Rotary Sanskardham School. Just last month we have inaugurated the vocational training centre and senior college. Funds are also needed for Shraddha Rehabilitation Centre wherein more than 360 mentally destitute off the streets are being assisted and treated at the Karjat Centre.

In December, we will be distributing uniforms to the mentally challenged children of A K Munshi Yojana, organizing a civic awareness program at our Interact St Paul's High School, a couple of medical checkup camps, co-hosting the District TRF Seminar , and hold our Annual General Meeting to introduce the new team for RY 2013-14 , before ending the year with a Beer Night on Christmas Eve.

I am satisfied and enthused with our Club's progress on all fronts and look forward to your continued support in the balance months of the Rotary Year. The team has embarked on the journey of making a difference to the community. I'm sure each of you want to be a part of this great experience so hop on to the bandwagon and lets join hands to make this year a resounding success !!

With warm regards

Radhika MehtaPresident (2012-13)

NOVEMBER 2012NOVEMBER 2012

dDear Frien s,

PROGRAMS

On Saturday, 3rd November we celebrated Diwali - the Festival of Lights at the ITC Parel with Bollywood Melodies, Cocktails and Dinner and more Bollywood Melodies. We had almost a full house with all members and spouses enjoying the fast and slow numbers being sung by famous radio and stage artiste Vinod Seshadri and his troupe. The evening witnessed almost the whole club on the dance floor when hit songs of Shammi Kapoor in Kishore Kumar style were sung.

In continuing with the tradition we had the Raffle Draw. More than 20 Raffle gifts valued from Rs 5,000/- and above were sponsored by the members of the Club. These included gift hampers,

jewellery sets, hotel stay vouchers, food vouchers, branded glares, wine bottles, paintings by renowned artists and many more gift items. We collected an amount of approximately Rs 75,000/- from the sale of coupons for the Raffle Draw.

We also hosted a small Diwali Bazaar, wherein the R/Anns showcased gift articles which included stunning jewellery sets, handicrafts, clothes etc. 25% of the sale proceeds was earmarked as donation for the projects of the Club.

Beautiful works of art - divas, bags etc. made by the students of our partner NGOs Rotary Sankardham Vidyalaya, A K Munshi Yojna, Seva Sadan were also displayed.

The food was extraordinaire and everybody had a super time.

Hiten, Mona, Shilpa, Nisha a big thank you to all of you for your stupendous efforts in making this event extremely successful. Special thanks also goes to Hiten, Rajesh Mehta, Indrajeet Vaghani, Hardik, Rupal, Monisha, Satish, Saurin, Ashok,

Chandubhai and Sunil for the raffle gifts.

3rdNov

DIWALI DHAMAKA AN EVENING OF BOLLYWOOD SANGEET, COCKTAILS AND DINNER

Kia Scherr is the wife and mother of Alan and Naomi Scherr, who were killed in the 26/11 terrorist attack at the Oberoi Hotel. Master Charles Cannon, founder and spiritual director of the Synchronicity Foundation for Modern Spirituality, was leading a meditation retreat in Mumbai with a group of friends and community members from all over the world. Kia's husband and daughter, Alan and Naomi, were in the hotel restaurant along with a several Synchronicity community members on the tour when two gunmen stormed in. They were shot and killed and three others from the group were wounded. Master Charles Cannon was barricaded in a smoke-filled hotel room twelve floors above them while the terrorists roamed the hotel setting fire to each floor and shooting people.

Her response to this act of terror is love and compassion. She stunned the world when she forgave the terrorists who killed Alan and Naomi in Mumbai on November 26, 2008.

Kia has been championing an international non-profit organization she co-founded, One Life Alliance, to counter-balance terrorism with a message to honor the life we all share by living with love and compassion. From the poorest and most remote villages of developing countries to the busy highways in our cities, they share a common intention to honor the sacredness of life in ourselves and in each other regardless of race, religion, gender or age.

12thNOV

Ms Kia Scherr"One Life Alliance - A Global Peace Initiative"

One Life Alliance creates partnerships with education, business and government to strengthen the group dynamics of communities with greater collaboration that leads to improved economics and peace.

The key message is that life is sacred because it is life itself that we all share. It is the simple truth that far too many people today are influenced by a prevailing negative regard for human life, including their own. When we honor the

sacredness of life, we are living with love, compassion and forgiveness.

Kia is creating an awe-inspiring mission to reach youth, business, and government with the message of honoring life as sacred, believing that, even those whose acts are based on violence and fear are worth saving. She has been a major influence in inspiring the creation of a global movement to take a stand for the opposite of terrorism - to honor the life we all share.

Kia is fearless and has traveled to directly to the site of the 26/11 terrorist attack in Mumbai, India to share her story and life experience with all who want to know how to live in a more cooperative and peaceful way. Living in the moment

In the face of all of this, Mr Cannon said his meditation practice kicked in. "We were all long-term meditators, so that's how we spent our time. We remained as focused and as balanced and as calm as we could, not knowing if the hotel would explode all around us and we would all die. We were living moment by

Having hidden in his room for the duration of the attacks, Mr Cannon and his companions were eventually rescued by commandos, but he faced the grim task of identifying the two members of his retreat who lost their lives.

"The hotel was like a war zone, you couldn't recognize it, it was so bloody. We walked through, stepping over bodies and debris. Two members of our group, Naomi and Alan Scherr, were in the table in the farthest back part of the restaurant.”

Naomi, 13, was the youngest of the group. She had come with her father, Alan. That evening they were dining with a group which included Helen Connolly.

"When the gunfire erupted in the lobby, Alan shouted for us all to get under the table, where I remained while the gunmen swept through the restaurant with their gunfire," says Ms Connolly.

"We dived under the table, along with another Indian couple who were dining at a small table nearby. Alan, Naomi and the couple were all killed, I received only a superficial injury," she says.

"We are not condoning terrorist activity. But it's really compassion, compassion for those human beings that you encounter who are so full of hatred that they have to be violent and act out their hatred."

Kia has been a meditation teacher for over thirty years. Originally starting with Transcendental Meditation, she rose to the position of national executive council member for the organization, directing hundreds of people through intensive retreat protocols. For over a decade, she has taught the Synchronicity High Tech meditation program taking on the leading role as the retreat coordinator and presenter at the Synchronicity Foundation. She has been a meditation facilitator, coaching a worldwide audience in High Tech Meditation, as well as a key participant in the mentoring program.

Kia spends 6 months of the year in India and 6 months traveling to the United States and Mexico. She has created a peace-building tool designed to increase harmony by improving the art of interaction. This program is being used in schools in India and the United States.

She is a compelling, passionate and inspirational speaker.

She wrote a very moving and emotional letter to Kasab : Rehabilitate Kasab, don't kill him: US 26/11 survivors

I would respect and trust whatever the system of India would decide is appropriate. Personally, I believe in education and rehabilitation in the context of prison of course. I have never believed in the death penalty. I don't believe more violence solves anything. Forgiveness makes a person very strong. The terrorists do not know what they have done. And it was not very easy for me to forget that I had lost my daughter and husband. But I want to spread the message of forgiveness.

Kasab could be rehabilitated and "awakened" to see what his choice has created, may be, he could change his way and be a voice for the youth of the world from where he came to tell them not to emulate him.

I do not favour death penalty because, I it does not accomplish anything but breeds more hatred and violence. I am always in favour of education which can bring transformation. Conflicts can only be resolved in a peaceful manner. We have to communicate with and honour each other.

PROGRAMS

On Monday, 26th November 2012, Mr D Sivanandan, (Retd. Maharashtra Director General of Police, Ex-Commissioner of Police, Mumbai) and one of India's most well-reputed IPS officers and Chairman of Securus First addressed the Club on "National Security & Cyber Crime" at the Bombay Gymkhana. His talk was very interesting peppered with humour on a serious topic such as security and terrorism.

Current national security threats being faced by India.Terrorism, Organized Crime, Naxalism, Cyber Crime, Cyber Terrorism and Corruption

TERRORISM Terrorism is the intentional use of or threat to use violence by any means against civilians to cause fear, harm and killing of people who are not connected to the cause in order to attain their goals.

Effects of Terrorism117 bomb blasts804 people dead3142 people injured455 people arrested

Transport Sector targeted by terroriststhHighjack of Indian Airlines flight IC814 24 December 1999

thBomb Blast in a BEST bus near Ghatkopar Railway Station 29 June 2003thMumbai train bombings 11 July 2006

thSamjhauta Express bombings 19 February 2007thChhatrapati Shivaji Terminus bomb blasts 26 November 2008

Religious Places targeted by terroriststhAkshardham Temple Attack 24 September 2002

thAttacked Ramlalla temple in Ayodhya 5 July 2005thBomb Blast in Sanskat Mochan Hanuman temple in Varanasi 7 March 2006

thAjmer Dargah Bomb Blast 11 October 2007thNariman House Jewish Centre Blasts 26 November 2008

Public Places targeted by terroriststhBombay Stock Exchange Blasts 9 March 1993

thSarojini Nagar Bomb Blasts, Delhi -29 October 2005thAhmedabad Bomb Blasts 26 July 2008

thHyderabad bombings 25 August 2007thMalegaon Bomb Blasts 8 September 2006

Leopold Café, Cama Hospital, Taj Mahal Palace & Towers & Oberoi Trident Bombay Blasts th26 November 2008

National Places targeted by terroristsBSE blasts in 1993Parliament attack in 2001J & K Assembly in 2001

Modern Terrorism is increasingly becoming tech-savvyThe terrorists in 2008 Mumbai bomb blasts used Google Earth for satellite mapping, trade craft, GPS devices to reach Mumbai via the sea, terrorist command and control center, communication devices such as cellular phones, satellite phones, Voice-Over-Internet Protocol providers in USA to call Pakistan, established social networking sites, 3-D printers used to print the lower receiver of an AR-15 semi automatic rifle.

Imaginary Control Room The terrorists on the ground were strategically controlled from a central control centre in Pakistan. The centre monitored the news media to understand their effectiveness. Social networks were used to identify the victims.

ORGANIZED CRIME MAFIAIt includes smuggling, drugs, bootlegging, gambling, cricket betting, horse racing, pornography, bank frauds, robberies, etcThe current types of organized crimes are kidnapping for ransom, monopoly in contracts, property grabbing, gambling, extortion, hired killing, etc.The future types of organized crimes will be kidnapping, narcotics, money laundering, financial frauds, political killing, smuggling of arms and ammunition, fake currency, cyber crimes, etc.

PROGRAMS

MR D SIVANANDAN“NATIONAL SECURITY and CYBER CRIME”

26thNOV

TargetsPolitical Leaders who were assassinated by terrorists

thMahatma Gandhi on 30 January 1948stIndira Gandhi on 31 October 1984

stRajiv Gandhi on 21 May 1991stBeant Singh on 31 August 1995

PROGRAMS

Pakistan Active Gangs and GangstersGangster Dawood Ibrahim, Gangster Chhota Shakeel, Gangster Chhota Rajan, Gangster Subhash Singh Thakur, Gangster Ashwin Naik, Arun Gawli Gang.

Active Members of Thakur GangGabriel Baba Hans Moben and Shyam Kishore Garikapatti Sharma

NAXALISMNaxalism is one of the biggest national security challenge. Approximately 40% of India is occupied by communists Andhra Pradesh parts of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Orissa, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand. They want to take governance and weapons from the police. Police is the biggest enemy of the communists.

TYPES OF SCAMSSatyam scam, Bofor scam, Fodder scam, Hawala, Adarsh Housing scam, 2G spectrum scam,, Commonwealth games scam, IPL scam, In an information economy, the future of crime is economic and electronic oriented.

CYBER CRIME & TERRORISMElectronic Cyber Crime is a growing reality. Today, employees have more access to electronic information and data. The unscrupulous investigating firms use modern technology to steal data. Some of the cyber crimes include fake ATM and fake bank websites. Cyber attacks are directed towards economic and financial institutions and can result in collapse of our economic structures. The key drivers are mostly males, tech-savvy first degree graduates between the age group of 30 to 40 years and who have joined the organization in the first five years. Information technology has exposed the user to a huge data bank of information regarding anything and everything. Terrorists are also equipped to utilize cyber space to carry out terrorist attacks. Terrorism related to cyber is known as cyber terrorism.

CORRUPTIONCorruption is a major issue and adversely affects our economy. A 2008 study conducted by Transparency International in India found that more than 40% of Indians had first-hand experience of paying bribes or influence peddling to get jobs done in public offices successfully.

Some of the largest sources of corruption in India are entitlement programs and social spending schemes enacted by the Indian government. Other daily sources of corruption include India's trucking industry which is forced to pay billions in bribes annually to numerous regulatory and police stops on its interstate highways. Indian media has widely published allegations of corrupt Indian citizens stashing trillions of dollars in Swiss banks. The causes of corruption in India include excessive regulations, complicated taxes and licensing systems, numerous government departments each with opaque bureaucracy and discretionary poHHH, monopoly by government controlled institutions on certain goods and services delivery, and the lack of transparent laws and processes. There are significant variations in level of corruption as well as in state government efforts to reduce corruption across India.

In conclusion, Mr Sivanandan said that science is being misused by the terrorists and we are not using it to protect ourselves. We should not stall the adoption of modern technology because of risks. Hackers are always three steps ahead of current best practices. Government is spending money on national security but it also becomes our duty and responsibility to keep our valuables in a safe place. Mr Sivanandan is one of the most highly regarded IPS officers in the country, with an illustrious career spanning several postings during his 35 years of service. He has dedicated his life to the eradication of corruption and organized crime and is renowned for his use of strategy & intelligence to uphold the rule of law.

Some of his achievements include:Served as Commissioner of Police, Mumbai after the 26/11 attacks and retired as the Director General of Police, Maharashtra.6 years in the Mumbai Crime Branch as Additional Commissioner of Police.Crime and Joint Commissioner of Police Crime (1993-1995 and 1998-2001). He is credited with having broken the back of the underworld that was at its peak.Joint Director of the CBI, West Zone, for 3 years (2001 2004).DIG of Nagpur range, focused on anti-Naxal operations from 1995-98.DCP (SB-2) & FRRO, Immigration Control.Deputy Director of the Intelligence Bureau from 1987-1993.Served as Commissioner of Police of Nagpur city and Thane city.Appointed as the State Commissioner for Intelligence.DCP, Pune & Superintendent of Police, Satara and Sindudurgh.

Most recently, he was a member of the special task force in the National Security Council Secretariat (Prime Minister's Office) for revamping India's internal and external national security measures.

Securus First India Pvt. Ltd. was formed in 2011 to provide risk management and threat realization consulting to organizations that are serious about protecting both their physical and virtual assets.

PROJECTS

On Sunday, 4th November from 9.30 am to 5 pm our Club participated in the Polio Plus Drive at Nana Chowk Health Post Nana Chowk Municipal Dispensary, JSS Municipal School, Ground floor, Near Nana Chowk Fire Brigade. Approximately 80 children were immunized against polio.

One more lot of 400 cycles was received at Tasgaon. Total 1200 cycles received at Tasgaon for assembly. The logo of Rotary Dist 3140 is riveted both on the mudguard as well as basket.

A visit to Tasgaon will be scheduled towards the end of the month.

During November, our Club had sponsored two Vocational Training Courses for underprivileged students at Seva Sadan. The Hair Cutting & Styling Course was completed successfully by 10 students and Basic Beauty Course by 3 students. Certificates of Accomplishments will be awarded to all the students.

POLIO PLUS DRIVE4th

NOV

UPDATE ON PROJECT RE-CYCLE

VOCATIONAL TRAINING COURSES : SEVA SADAN SOCIETY

* 21 players registered to participate* Meted out a drubbing to RC Nariman Point in the first match of the tournament* Post scoring 144 runs wiped the opposition out in 95 runs* Captain Pranabh took 3 wickets in 4 balls* Opening Batsman Samir scored 35 runs in 22 balls and became Man of the Match* Neeraj with 34 runs was not out and Amit hit a fiery 30 runs* Brilliant bowling by Kalpesh Sanghavi, Vimesh and new additions Vinay and Vishal which kept the opponent wickets tumbling.* All round great bowling by the team to restrict the team to about 100.* Three cheers to all 21 team members* This is the new beginning.....MAN OF THE MATCH

RTN SAMIR HAJI

FIRST CRICKET MATCH AGAINST RC OF NARIMAN POINT10thNOV

PROJECTS

Some actions like Winning are habit forming.Your club cricket team has definitely turned a new leaf.On 24th November we beat the groups strongest team: RC of BayView in a nail biting finish winning with 3 balls to spareDaring move by Capt Pranabh to win the toss and field.Still further dared to start second over with spinner Rohan, who hit gold by taking 2 wickets in his first two overs.Kalpesh Sanghavi, Vinay, Vishal (from RC of Mulund) and Vimesh keep the opposition tied down to 48 runs in 10 overs and 122 in 20 oversSamir, Neeraj and Sanjiv chipped in with useful scores and kept the run rate under control.However the star of the game and the Man of the Match Vishal hit a magnificent 35 and retiredKalpesh Sanghavi , Kalpesh shah and Vimesh played important cameos and ensured a wrap up

Cheers and congratulations to all !!Let the good times keep rolling

MAN OF THE MATCH RTN VISHAL

(RC OF MULUND)

SECOND CRICKET MATCH AGAINST RC OF BOMBAY BAYVIEW24thNOV

President Elect Rtn Sanjiv Mehta had organized a wonderful Fireside Meeting at his residence on 23rd November wherein he had invited a few Charter Members, Rotarians who are with the Club since last ten, five and two years as well as the new Rotarians. It resulted in increased bonding and bonhomie amongst the senior and new members.

FIRESIDE MEETING23rdNOV

KOHINOOR VOCATIONAL TRAINING A GLOBAL GRANT PROJECT26thNOV

Our Club has been awarded a Global Grant of US$ 30,000 for Vocational Training of the underprivileged youth at Kohinoor Technical Institute.

The Kohinoor Technical Institute was born out of Dr. Manohar Joshi's vision to do something for the further education of the average and below-average high-school pass-outs who had few opportunities in the main-stream education institutions.

The Institute has provided vocational education to over 10,000 students below the poverty line through various government schemes aimed at equipping them with necessary skills to start their own businesses and become economically independent.

We have already executed an MOU with Kohinoor and the following six month courses are expected to commence by 15th December 2012. The course fees are Rs 21,000/- per course, of which our Club is subsidizing Rs 16,000/-.

Sr. No. Program Duration Fees

1. Certificate course in A.C. & Refrigeration Engineering Services 6 months 21,000

2. Certificate Course in Electrical Engineering Services 6 months 21,000

3. Certificate Course in Electronics Engineering Services 6 months 21,000

Recommendations are being invited from members who may be aware of needy students who are 18 years and Std X pass and who are desirous of doing the course. On completion of the course, 100% placement will be given to candidates in leading industrial organizations.

PROJECTS

We had excellent fellowship during spouses' night for the movie “Talaash” starring Amir Khan, Kareena Kapoor and Rani Mukherjee on Friday, 30th November and the whole Inox theatre except the first three rows was booked by our Club for 10 pm show. Requests of all members and their guests were accommodated.

FELLOWSHIP AT ITS BEST DURING THE MOVIE “TALAASH”30thNOV

APPEAL FOR DONATIONS - SHRADDHA REHABILITATION CENTRE

Our Club has been working with Shraddha Rehabilitation since April 2007 wherein approximately 360 mentally destitute off the streets have been assisted and treated at the Karjat Centre.

We have also constructed a small building for them a few years back. From time to time our Club has been contributing to Shraddha Foundation for their working expenses.

We have received a request from Dr Bharat Watwani, Trustee of Shraddha Foundation for a donation of Rs 6 lakhs for a year.

Commitments for donations of Rs 4 lakhs have been received from Rtn Ajay Parekh, Rtn Bhavin Kothari, Rtn Pankaj Sheth, Rtn Gaurav Patel, Rtn Vinesh Davda, Rtn Uday Merchant, Rtn Rajesh Damani, Rtn Amit Dalal, Rtn Rajesh Desai, Rtn Sonali Shah and Rtn Rajesh Mehta. Request members to contribute generously towards this very deserving project.

Kindly draw your cheques in favour of "Rotary Club of Bombay Queen's Necklace Charitable Trust".

We will shortly be planning a visit to the Shraddha Rehabilitation Centre.

BEFORE AFTER

On 27th October we inaugurated the Vocational Training Centre as well as the Senior College at Rotary Sanskardham School. The Club needs to raise Rs 50 lakhs for Sanskardham. Generous contributions from Rtn Sunil Mehta Rs 5 lakhs, Rtn Manish Mody Rs 1 lakh, Rtn Umesh Shah Rs 2 lakhs have already been received.

We have First Floor to be named for Rs. 15 lakhs, 3 classrooms for 5 lakhs each, hall for Rs 10 lakhs and lift for Rs. 10 lakhs.An appeal is being made to all Rotarians to contribute generously towards this marquee project of our Club.

APPEAL FOR DONATIONS - ROTARY SANSKARDHAM SCHOOL

Mr. Kalayanasundaram worked as a Librarian for 30 years. Every month in his 30 year experience(service), he donated his entire salary to help the needy. He worked as a server in a hotel to meet his needs. He donated even his pension amount of about Rs 10 lakh to the needy.

He is the first person in the world to spend the entire earnings for a social cause. In recognition to his service, the American government honoured him with the 'Man of the Millennium' award. He received a sum of Rs 30 crores as part of this award which he distributed entirely for the needy as usual.

Moved by his passion to help others, Super Star Rajinikanth adopted him as his father. He still stays as a bachelor and dedicated his entire life for serving the society.

We Indians are extremely proud of you and proudly say "THIS HAPPENS ONLY IN INDIA”

MAN OF THE MILLENNIUM.....