November 4, 2024 • 19 mins
Join us on a heartwarming journey as we spotlight incredible community heroes like Biren Shukla and Tina Runter. Hear firsthand from Biren, a past president of the City of Corona Rotary Club, and Tina, the pioneering first lady president of the Rotary Club of Mumbai Royals, as they share the moving story of their global grant project in Mumbai. Discover how their collaboration led to the donation of critical orthopedic equipment, transforming a local government hospital's ability to perform over 100 surgeries in just 20 days. Tina’s poignant recollections of witnessing the life-saving impacts of this equipment serve as a testament to the enduring spirit of service that drives Rotary's mission.
Celebrate the essence of Rotary's global family with us as we explore the profound impact of servant leadership cultivated from a young age. Through engaging anecdotes from projects like adult literacy centers in India to tales of youthful kindness initiatives within Interact clubs, we underscore the importance of continuity and collaboration among club leaders. Feel the joy and anticipation as we toast to the incredible achievements of Rotary members worldwide and look forward to future endeavors that continue to foster hope and transformation in communities around the globe. Cheers to the unwavering commitment of Rotarians like Tina and Biren, and to all our listeners who join us in championing a world of positive change!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the Rotary Heroes of Hope podcast.
I'm your host, judy Zolfakar,proudly serving as the current
District Governor for RotaryDistrict 5330.
Co-hosting with me is JamieZinn, our esteemed immediate
past District Governor.
Heroes of Hope brings to lightthe remarkable stories of impact
from Rotarians within ourdistrict.
Our episodes shine a spotlighton transformative community
(00:23):
projects taking root in ourregion and extend their reach to
initiatives making waves on aglobal scale.
Each story is a testament tothe profound influence Rotarians
exert on the lives ofindividuals and communities we
are committed to serving.
Join us in this inspiringjourney.
Dive deeper into the world ofRotary with us and witness
firsthand the extraordinary waysin which Rotary touches lives
(00:46):
and reshapes our world.
Welcome to the Rotary Heroes ofHope podcast, where hope takes
center stage and the heroes arethe Rotarians among us, turning
vision into action.
Today, we are joined by awonderful group of individuals
and we're going to talk a littlebit about a global grant in
Mumbai.
One of the best things I think,jamie, about this podcast is we
(01:11):
literally get to talk withpeople around the world.
So I would like to welcome ourguests and first start off with
a few words from you, jamie.
How are you doing today?
Speaker 2 (01:16):
I am doing great.
It's Friday and I am reallyexcited about our lineup we have
today and to start the day offwith Biren and Tina.
I am looking forward to hearingabout this and, as you said,
the things that we do around theworld as Rotarians is fantastic
.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
Absolutely so, biren.
What we're going to do is we'regoing to start off by having
you introduce yourself.
Tell us a little bit about yourclub and why you chose this
project, and then we'll have youintroduce Tina.
How's that?
Speaker 3 (01:43):
Absolutely Sounds fantastic, Judy.
Good morning everybody.
My name is Biren Shukla, pastpresident of the City of Corona
Rotary Club, a 100-year-old club, and in my term we were about
110 members.
It was one of the largest clubsin Inland Empire, District 5330
(02:03):
.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Yeah, I was just teasing Biren, because I said
our Rotary Club of Temecula hassurpassed Corona, so the
challenge is on.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
I was going to say it goes back and forth between the
two of you, you know, but youbetter watch it because the
E-Club of World Peace issneaking up on both of you.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
They're chomping on our heels, no doubt.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
Yeah, so no, we are very excited about this podcast
today because there are a coupleof unique things that happened
during my term A.
We had the sister clubpartnership, the first sister
club that our club has ever had,and then we embarked upon this
wonderful project, which I'msure Tina is dying to share with
(02:43):
all of us.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
Tina, if you can introduce yourself, tell us
where you're coming from and alittle bit about this project.
Speaker 4 (02:49):
Hi, I'm Tina Runter, the first lady president of my
club, congratulations.
And my club is Rotary Club ofMumbai Royals.
We've done project worth $1million.
During my tenure we completed$1 million worth of projects and
the project that me and Bireendid together was something which
(03:12):
was the need of the hour forthe needy people.
It's not only touching livesbut it's saving lives, time
management, efficiency for thedoctors as well as the patients.
It is a BMC hospital.
That is a government localhospital that required CM
(03:32):
machines.
That's an orthopedic equipmentwhich we've procured from
Siemens directly.
We've actually negotiated avery good price with them and we
donated two machines, withBahrain being our global partner
.
Bahrain's club was our globalpartner to attend to the
(04:05):
orthopedic patients without themachine and in a day they almost
have 200 footfalls for generalorthopedic you know, general
orthopedic encounters with thepatients, for their checkups and
all and in a day they do almostseven to eight surgeries.
Wow, the state was such thatthey were just, you know,
(04:26):
repairing their old machines andgetting it done and they were
not getting help from anywhere.
So they just appealed to us andwe went and we visited the
hospital.
We saw their equipments, we sawthe state they were in and we
said we should do it becausethey don't charge you much for
it and they also fight withtheir seniors.
(04:46):
If there's a needy patient onthe road, they pick that patient
, also without charging.
They do the surgery for thatpatient also if it's required.
So, yes, we just inauguratedthe project last week and before
that I had visited the hospitalfrom the time we donated the
machine and within a span of 20days they had done 100 plus
(05:08):
surgeries.
So you can imagine the impactover a period of time that it is
going to make for the patientsas well as the hospital.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
Throughout this process, have you had an
opportunity to engage with anyof the patients who have been a
recipient of this?
I have been.
Speaker 4 (05:23):
Actually, I went when I went to see the hospital, how
they are conducting thesurgeries and how they're
keeping the machinery and theequipments that we have provided
.
I had the fortune to enter theOT and watch a live surgery, how
they were operating, how theywere doing the closure ceremony
(05:45):
of the operation, and it was.
It was a very humblingexperience to see the patient
and the patient's parents.
You know patient's peoplestaying out, you know the
relatives and they were like youknow.
It's so satisfying that nowwhat we were thinking, that it
was going to shut down, we'llhave to go somewhere else.
Luckily we don't have to travelmuch.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
So that's really bringing a very strong need into
the community there and beingable to continue to sustain it.
Have you and Biran chatted anybit about what the next phase of
this project might be, and canyou tell us how the help of
Biran's Club really inspired youto continue on with this
project?
Speaker 4 (06:27):
So we were planning to do a global grant and we were
looking for a global partnerand Berain had just visited me
in June last year.
We are family friends and hiswife is my bestie, so, yeah,
they had come down for a visitand we just came to know that,
(06:49):
okay, we are going to beco-presidents during this year.
So why not form a sister cluband go ahead?
You know, and we can do certainprojects together, which is the
need of the hour.
So when I just came up withthis project, I asked Biren if
he could help out.
And he has given three and ahalf thousand DDF directly to
our club to support this project.
(07:09):
And, yes, the journey startedfrom there.
And then the approval and thepaperwork and everything we did,
and we've intimated Biren aboutall the paperwork.
We've asked the hospital also togive us a quarterly report of
how many surgeries are beingdone in a day in those three
(07:31):
months.
It's a quarterly report.
We are going to keep a check onthem to see how they're using
it, are they maintaining it andare they doing what is needed by
the guidelines?
Are they following it?
Because when I visited they hadthese sterile sheets, you know,
wrapped around the CM focusmachine so that no blood can be
(07:53):
splashed, it cannot be harmed,and they keep on changing the
sterile sheets every patientwhen he or she enters the OT and
also they're trying to keepeverything neat and clean and
follow the guidelines properly,maintain it and serve to their
utmost proficiency.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
It sounds like an amazing program and I think I
want to back up just a littlebit, because we have a lot of
visitors and listeners thatmaybe aren't Rotarians and I
want to kind of clarify some ofthe concepts that we just talked
about.
So Tina's from Mumbai, biren ishere in the United States, in
Corona, and the sister clubconcept is where a club in one
(08:34):
country has a relationship witha club in another country and
then they work together onprojects, like you have done
here.
One of the other things I'dlike to clarify we talk a lot
about DDF.
So those aredistrict-designated funds, those
are dollars that are in eachand every one of our districts
available to our clubs, andthose are dollars that Rotarians
have donated to the RotaryFoundation three years prior and
(08:57):
then they come back forRotarians to put to work in
different projects.
Sometimes those projects areright here on our own community
and sometimes those projects arein global projects like yours
that are making an impact aroundthe world, and I think that is,
you know, the biggest power ofRotary is the impact, tina, you
talked a lot about.
(09:18):
Even within the first few weeks,your impact was over 100
patients.
Imagine what that impact isgoing to be over time.
So I just wanted to make surethat our listeners understand
sort of those different conceptsthat we're talking about.
The other thing and I think toJamie's point is over time.
(09:41):
One of the things that Rotaryis really good about and why we
have such a high rating as anorganization in grants is that
we do the reporting and makingsure that there's a group of
people called the cadre thatcome around on each one of these
global grant projects and makesure that, like you said, that
(10:03):
the funds are being used exactlyas intended and that we are
doing a report at the end of thegrant to make sure that all the
funds are being used as they'resupposed to, and then it can be
something that's sustainablegoing forward.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
You know and Judy, one of the additional things
that can come out of thisproject is that we can do a
reverse global grant where theMumbai Club can be the host or
the international and Biren'sClub can be the host club.
So I'd like to throw out toBiren.
Have you thought about that ofdoing another joint project
(10:43):
reverse, and what might that be?
Speaker 3 (10:55):
Absolutely, and thank you for giving me that
opportunity, because this year Ivolunteered as international
chair for under Mark during theMark's term and Tina's club is
more than gracious and willingto become.
An international project is toidentify the need in our
community, either aroundequipment, identifying what our
needs are, which might be quitedifferent, but I feel that our
(11:16):
club, and this region in general, is primed and ready to do a
global grant.
I think you just need a personto take that initiative and run
with it.
So that's why I actually choseto be the international chair,
because that's my passion.
I want to do big things and ourclub has not done a global
grant in a long long time.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
Well, there's definitely a lot available for
you this year.
It's a very special year to beable to do a global grant.
There are a lot of fundsavailable for you to work with,
as well, as you've got analready built in wonderful
international partner, which isgood.
Speaker 3 (11:51):
Yep, exactly Yep, and I think our district is
wonderful.
What we are doing here is great.
I mean, the kind of projectsTina did in her term, you know,
is it's really spectacular tosee the number of things.
This is just a very tinyproject.
Like she said, she did onemillion projects, dollars worth
(12:13):
of projects.
Speaker 4 (12:14):
It has accumulated over the eight years.
Speaker 3 (12:17):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (12:18):
So in my year I've done 250,000 USD worth of.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
Still do not underestimate.
That is a staggering number.
Let's just put it inperspective.
Our club maybe did about$20,000 worth of international
projects.
Speaker 4 (12:31):
So yeah, 20,000 plus.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
Yeah, excellent, that's incredible.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
Yeah, 20,000 plus, yeah, excellent, that's
incredible.
So, Viren, maybe you could talka little bit about the Rotary
Club, your club.
We have a lot of listeners outhere who are probably not
Rotarians, and I have a realpassion for doing these types of
projects, whether it beinternationally or domestically.
So I wanted to tell them aboutyour club, how they can get in
(12:58):
contact if they'd like toparticipate on these projects
and come to a club meeting, seewhat you're about.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
Absolutely, jamie.
Coronarotaryorg is a100-year-old club right here in
the city of Corona.
We have two clubs and I inviteanybody listening to this
podcast to check out a RotaryClub wherever you are located.
Maternal health to education,to, these days, mental health
(13:23):
and so many, so many importantthings that we need to do our
(13:44):
part in the community.
Just yesterday, my son comes upto me and he has a project in
school to do five acts ofkindness.
And he didn't even have to thinkabout that.
Because our family, our world,revolves around Rotary topics
and discussions like oh yeah, Ican talk about this, can I talk
about that as part of acts ofkindness?
(14:05):
I'm like, yeah, you can.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
That's lovely and we love that.
Rotary is embedded into thefamilies, right, and they're
already thinking that, andservant leaders from that young
age, absolutely.
Speaker 3 (14:17):
My daughter is an interactor in her high school
and again, we are drumming upall these projects for her.
You know you could do this.
There's the human traffickingproject.
She wants to do with the humantrafficking club, you know, and
get that trailer over on thecampus of JFK.
So, like I said, I think Rotaryis a wonderful organization.
(14:41):
Anybody who wants to dosomething meaningful with their
time or money should more mostcertainly check out a local club
, visit them, because we do somany things.
Our biggest fundraiser isLobster Fest, which is a big
outdoor party for over athousand people in the lawns of
(15:04):
city of Corona, and Jamie, jamie, you, you might have visited,
and Judy, you were there Right.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
So you, you know nothing better than lobster and
steak.
I can tell you that yeah, Ican't complain about that.
So, and Tina, why don't youtell us a little bit about how
we can connect with your club?
We do have people that listenthroughout the world and would
love to hear how they canconnect with you and your club.
Speaker 4 (15:26):
So my club is Rotary Royals.
You can go on Instagram andFacebook.
I can share the handle with youand you can follow our club and
we are doing very worthwhileprojects.
You and you can follow our cluband we are doing very
worthwhile projects.
So during my tenure I startedadult literacy centers 114 adult
literacy centers for in Indiaitself, in Rajasthan, just a
particular and adopted a village.
(15:51):
The beautification again I havedone.
Over there, as with Bahrain, Ihave done one project I've done
for another government hospital,we've given an IABP machine.
So it's like this year not myyear, but last year my president
, myself and my incomingpresident we had decided we are
(16:11):
going to carry on the legacytogether, like if one person
starts the projects, we aregoing to take it forward for the
next year too.
We are not going to hunt outfor different projects, but
we'll keep on carrying theprojects.
So that was the original ideabehind it and we all three
presidents were in sync with it.
So when my president used to gofor any project or a site visit
(16:35):
, I used to tag along and thenext year's president used to
tag along, and the next year'spresident used to tag along, the
same I did with my year, I havetagged my incoming president
and we are just carrying on thatlegacy.
As yet, we are working hand inhand and we are trying to see
that we leave a name somewherefor Rotary as well as our club.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
Very good.
That consistency and continuitythat we're finding throughout
the Rotary organization isreally benefiting everyone.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Absolutely so.
We thank you so much forsharing with us today about this
wonderful collaboration thatyou both did Do.
Either of you have anythingelse you'd like to share with
our listeners as parting words?
Speaker 3 (17:18):
Absolutely.
I would like to say that Tinahas been dubbed the iron lady in
her club because she was atrailblazer and I've seen her
work tirelessly.
And if I'm talking about we areRotary family, they are 10x and
if I'm talking about we areRotary family, they are 10x.
(17:39):
Her and her husband, ParitoShtarungtas, as people fondly
know them, have been extremelybig givers and pour their heart
and soul and time and their kidsin attending every
international function and doall kinds of good in the
community.
So I mean, I invite people toreally, if you're visiting India
(18:00):
, reach out to them.
They're great hosts, They'llshow you around.
We are a family, we are aglobal family and that's what
this is all about.
We meet, we have our corevalues, which is do the right
thing, you know, makefriendships and I think it just
resonates thing.
You know, make friendships andI think it just resonates it's
(18:21):
timeless values that can appealto every generation that wants
to do good.
Speaker 4 (18:25):
Just a note about my club.
During my tenure we did twoglobal grants and three CSR
grants, and fourth one I justdid it on the last day of 30th
June as a president, get it inthere before the deadline, oh
yeah, Before the deadline, yes,so yeah, we are supplying three
more dialysis machines to ahospital and it's been approved
(18:52):
by the Rotary Foundation and,yeah, the funds are on the way
and we are just going to providethem with three dialysis
machines more.
Well, you are both very muchinspiring Rotary Foundation and,
yeah, the funds are on the wayand we are just going to provide
them with three dialysismachines more.
Speaker 1 (18:59):
Well, you are both very much inspiring Rotary
heroes.
Thank you both for joining ustoday.
We love to hear about thisprogram and we hope that you
come back with the next one thatyou're doing together.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
Absolutely.
Thank you so much for giving usa stage, yes, yeah, to express
you, to express our achievements.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
Absolutely.
We love celebrating that and wereally love celebrating the
global family of Rotary.
Speaker 3 (19:25):
Thank, you so?
Speaker 1 (19:25):
much.
Speaker 4 (19:25):
Cheers to Rotary.
Thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (19:28):
Cheers.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
So that wraps up this episode of Heroes of Hope.
We are so happy that we have anaudience out there listening.
We want you to subscribe, shareand tell your friends about the
Rotary Community Heroes of Hope, because that's how we get the
word out about the impact we'rehaving in this world.
Welcome to the Rotary Heroes of Hope podcast.
I'm your host, judy Zolfakar,proudly serving as the current
District Governor for RotaryDistrict 5330.
Co-hosting with me is JamieZinn, our esteemed immediate
past District Governor.
Heroes of Hope brings to lightthe remarkable stories of impact
from Rotarians within ourdistrict.
Our episodes shine a spotlighton transformative community
(00:23):
projects taking root in ourregion and extend their reach to
initiatives making waves on aglobal scale.
Each story is a testament tothe profound influence Rotarians
exert on the lives ofindividuals and communities we
are committed to serving.
Join us in this inspiringjourney.
Dive deeper into the world ofRotary with us and witness
firsthand the extraordinary waysin which Rotary touches lives
(00:46):
and reshapes our world.
Welcome to the Rotary Heroes ofHope podcast, where hope takes
center stage and the heroes arethe Rotarians among us, turning
vision into action.
Today, we are joined by awonderful group of individuals
and we're going to talk a littlebit about a global grant in
Mumbai.
One of the best things I think,jamie, about this podcast is we
(01:11):
literally get to talk withpeople around the world.
So I would like to welcome ourguests and first start off with
a few words from you, jamie.
How are you doing today?
Speaker 2 (01:16):
I am doing great.
It's Friday and I am reallyexcited about our lineup we have
today and to start the day offwith Biren and Tina.
I am looking forward to hearingabout this and, as you said,
the things that we do around theworld as Rotarians is fantastic
.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
Absolutely so, biren.
What we're going to do is we'regoing to start off by having
you introduce yourself.
Tell us a little bit about yourclub and why you chose this
project, and then we'll have youintroduce Tina.
How's that?
Speaker 3 (01:43):
Absolutely Sounds fantastic, Judy.
Good morning everybody.
My name is Biren Shukla, pastpresident of the City of Corona
Rotary Club, a 100-year-old club, and in my term we were about
110 members.
It was one of the largest clubsin Inland Empire, District 5330
(02:03):
.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Yeah, I was just teasing Biren, because I said
our Rotary Club of Temecula hassurpassed Corona, so the
challenge is on.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
I was going to say it goes back and forth between the
two of you, you know, but youbetter watch it because the
E-Club of World Peace issneaking up on both of you.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
They're chomping on our heels, no doubt.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
Yeah, so no, we are very excited about this podcast
today because there are a coupleof unique things that happened
during my term A.
We had the sister clubpartnership, the first sister
club that our club has ever had,and then we embarked upon this
wonderful project, which I'msure Tina is dying to share with
(02:43):
all of us.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
Tina, if you can introduce yourself, tell us
where you're coming from and alittle bit about this project.
Speaker 4 (02:49):
Hi, I'm Tina Runter, the first lady president of my
club, congratulations.
And my club is Rotary Club ofMumbai Royals.
We've done project worth $1million.
During my tenure we completed$1 million worth of projects and
the project that me and Bireendid together was something which
(03:12):
was the need of the hour forthe needy people.
It's not only touching livesbut it's saving lives, time
management, efficiency for thedoctors as well as the patients.
It is a BMC hospital.
That is a government localhospital that required CM
(03:32):
machines.
That's an orthopedic equipmentwhich we've procured from
Siemens directly.
We've actually negotiated avery good price with them and we
donated two machines, withBahrain being our global partner
.
Bahrain's club was our globalpartner to attend to the
(04:05):
orthopedic patients without themachine and in a day they almost
have 200 footfalls for generalorthopedic you know, general
orthopedic encounters with thepatients, for their checkups and
all and in a day they do almostseven to eight surgeries.
Wow, the state was such thatthey were just, you know,
(04:26):
repairing their old machines andgetting it done and they were
not getting help from anywhere.
So they just appealed to us andwe went and we visited the
hospital.
We saw their equipments, we sawthe state they were in and we
said we should do it becausethey don't charge you much for
it and they also fight withtheir seniors.
(04:46):
If there's a needy patient onthe road, they pick that patient
, also without charging.
They do the surgery for thatpatient also if it's required.
So, yes, we just inauguratedthe project last week and before
that I had visited the hospitalfrom the time we donated the
machine and within a span of 20days they had done 100 plus
(05:08):
surgeries.
So you can imagine the impactover a period of time that it is
going to make for the patientsas well as the hospital.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
Throughout this process, have you had an
opportunity to engage with anyof the patients who have been a
recipient of this?
I have been.
Speaker 4 (05:23):
Actually, I went when I went to see the hospital, how
they are conducting thesurgeries and how they're
keeping the machinery and theequipments that we have provided
.
I had the fortune to enter theOT and watch a live surgery, how
they were operating, how theywere doing the closure ceremony
(05:45):
of the operation, and it was.
It was a very humblingexperience to see the patient
and the patient's parents.
You know patient's peoplestaying out, you know the
relatives and they were like youknow.
It's so satisfying that nowwhat we were thinking, that it
was going to shut down, we'llhave to go somewhere else.
Luckily we don't have to travelmuch.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
So that's really bringing a very strong need into
the community there and beingable to continue to sustain it.
Have you and Biran chatted anybit about what the next phase of
this project might be, and canyou tell us how the help of
Biran's Club really inspired youto continue on with this
project?
Speaker 4 (06:27):
So we were planning to do a global grant and we were
looking for a global partnerand Berain had just visited me
in June last year.
We are family friends and hiswife is my bestie, so, yeah,
they had come down for a visitand we just came to know that,
(06:49):
okay, we are going to beco-presidents during this year.
So why not form a sister cluband go ahead?
You know, and we can do certainprojects together, which is the
need of the hour.
So when I just came up withthis project, I asked Biren if
he could help out.
And he has given three and ahalf thousand DDF directly to
our club to support this project.
(07:09):
And, yes, the journey startedfrom there.
And then the approval and thepaperwork and everything we did,
and we've intimated Biren aboutall the paperwork.
We've asked the hospital also togive us a quarterly report of
how many surgeries are beingdone in a day in those three
(07:31):
months.
It's a quarterly report.
We are going to keep a check onthem to see how they're using
it, are they maintaining it andare they doing what is needed by
the guidelines?
Are they following it?
Because when I visited they hadthese sterile sheets, you know,
wrapped around the CM focusmachine so that no blood can be
(07:53):
splashed, it cannot be harmed,and they keep on changing the
sterile sheets every patientwhen he or she enters the OT and
also they're trying to keepeverything neat and clean and
follow the guidelines properly,maintain it and serve to their
utmost proficiency.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
It sounds like an amazing program and I think I
want to back up just a littlebit, because we have a lot of
visitors and listeners thatmaybe aren't Rotarians and I
want to kind of clarify some ofthe concepts that we just talked
about.
So Tina's from Mumbai, biren ishere in the United States, in
Corona, and the sister clubconcept is where a club in one
(08:34):
country has a relationship witha club in another country and
then they work together onprojects, like you have done
here.
One of the other things I'dlike to clarify we talk a lot
about DDF.
So those aredistrict-designated funds, those
are dollars that are in eachand every one of our districts
available to our clubs, andthose are dollars that Rotarians
have donated to the RotaryFoundation three years prior and
(08:57):
then they come back forRotarians to put to work in
different projects.
Sometimes those projects areright here on our own community
and sometimes those projects arein global projects like yours
that are making an impact aroundthe world, and I think that is,
you know, the biggest power ofRotary is the impact, tina, you
talked a lot about.
(09:18):
Even within the first few weeks,your impact was over 100
patients.
Imagine what that impact isgoing to be over time.
So I just wanted to make surethat our listeners understand
sort of those different conceptsthat we're talking about.
The other thing and I think toJamie's point is over time.
(09:41):
One of the things that Rotaryis really good about and why we
have such a high rating as anorganization in grants is that
we do the reporting and makingsure that there's a group of
people called the cadre thatcome around on each one of these
global grant projects and makesure that, like you said, that
(10:03):
the funds are being used exactlyas intended and that we are
doing a report at the end of thegrant to make sure that all the
funds are being used as they'resupposed to, and then it can be
something that's sustainablegoing forward.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
You know and Judy, one of the additional things
that can come out of thisproject is that we can do a
reverse global grant where theMumbai Club can be the host or
the international and Biren'sClub can be the host club.
So I'd like to throw out toBiren.
Have you thought about that ofdoing another joint project
(10:43):
reverse, and what might that be?
Speaker 3 (10:55):
Absolutely, and thank you for giving me that
opportunity, because this year Ivolunteered as international
chair for under Mark during theMark's term and Tina's club is
more than gracious and willingto become.
An international project is toidentify the need in our
community, either aroundequipment, identifying what our
needs are, which might be quitedifferent, but I feel that our
(11:16):
club, and this region in general, is primed and ready to do a
global grant.
I think you just need a personto take that initiative and run
with it.
So that's why I actually choseto be the international chair,
because that's my passion.
I want to do big things and ourclub has not done a global
grant in a long long time.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
Well, there's definitely a lot available for
you this year.
It's a very special year to beable to do a global grant.
There are a lot of fundsavailable for you to work with,
as well, as you've got analready built in wonderful
international partner, which isgood.
Speaker 3 (11:51):
Yep, exactly Yep, and I think our district is
wonderful.
What we are doing here is great.
I mean, the kind of projectsTina did in her term, you know,
is it's really spectacular tosee the number of things.
This is just a very tinyproject.
Like she said, she did onemillion projects, dollars worth
(12:13):
of projects.
Speaker 4 (12:14):
It has accumulated over the eight years.
Speaker 3 (12:17):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (12:18):
So in my year I've done 250,000 USD worth of.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
Still do not underestimate.
That is a staggering number.
Let's just put it inperspective.
Our club maybe did about$20,000 worth of international
projects.
Speaker 4 (12:31):
So yeah, 20,000 plus.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
Yeah, excellent, that's incredible.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
Yeah, 20,000 plus, yeah, excellent, that's
incredible.
So, Viren, maybe you could talka little bit about the Rotary
Club, your club.
We have a lot of listeners outhere who are probably not
Rotarians, and I have a realpassion for doing these types of
projects, whether it beinternationally or domestically.
So I wanted to tell them aboutyour club, how they can get in
(12:58):
contact if they'd like toparticipate on these projects
and come to a club meeting, seewhat you're about.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
Absolutely, jamie.
Coronarotaryorg is a100-year-old club right here in
the city of Corona.
We have two clubs and I inviteanybody listening to this
podcast to check out a RotaryClub wherever you are located.
Maternal health to education,to, these days, mental health
(13:23):
and so many, so many importantthings that we need to do our
(13:44):
part in the community.
Just yesterday, my son comes upto me and he has a project in
school to do five acts ofkindness.
And he didn't even have to thinkabout that.
Because our family, our world,revolves around Rotary topics
and discussions like oh yeah, Ican talk about this, can I talk
about that as part of acts ofkindness?
(14:05):
I'm like, yeah, you can.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
That's lovely and we love that.
Rotary is embedded into thefamilies, right, and they're
already thinking that, andservant leaders from that young
age, absolutely.
Speaker 3 (14:17):
My daughter is an interactor in her high school
and again, we are drumming upall these projects for her.
You know you could do this.
There's the human traffickingproject.
She wants to do with the humantrafficking club, you know, and
get that trailer over on thecampus of JFK.
So, like I said, I think Rotaryis a wonderful organization.
(14:41):
Anybody who wants to dosomething meaningful with their
time or money should more mostcertainly check out a local club
, visit them, because we do somany things.
Our biggest fundraiser isLobster Fest, which is a big
outdoor party for over athousand people in the lawns of
(15:04):
city of Corona, and Jamie, jamie, you, you might have visited,
and Judy, you were there Right.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
So you, you know nothing better than lobster and
steak.
I can tell you that yeah, Ican't complain about that.
So, and Tina, why don't youtell us a little bit about how
we can connect with your club?
We do have people that listenthroughout the world and would
love to hear how they canconnect with you and your club.
Speaker 4 (15:26):
So my club is Rotary Royals.
You can go on Instagram andFacebook.
I can share the handle with youand you can follow our club and
we are doing very worthwhileprojects.
You and you can follow our cluband we are doing very
worthwhile projects.
So during my tenure I startedadult literacy centers 114 adult
literacy centers for in Indiaitself, in Rajasthan, just a
particular and adopted a village.
(15:51):
The beautification again I havedone.
Over there, as with Bahrain, Ihave done one project I've done
for another government hospital,we've given an IABP machine.
So it's like this year not myyear, but last year my president
, myself and my incomingpresident we had decided we are
(16:11):
going to carry on the legacytogether, like if one person
starts the projects, we aregoing to take it forward for the
next year too.
We are not going to hunt outfor different projects, but
we'll keep on carrying theprojects.
So that was the original ideabehind it and we all three
presidents were in sync with it.
So when my president used to gofor any project or a site visit
(16:35):
, I used to tag along and thenext year's president used to
tag along, and the next year'spresident used to tag along, the
same I did with my year, I havetagged my incoming president
and we are just carrying on thatlegacy.
As yet, we are working hand inhand and we are trying to see
that we leave a name somewherefor Rotary as well as our club.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
Very good.
That consistency and continuitythat we're finding throughout
the Rotary organization isreally benefiting everyone.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Absolutely so.
We thank you so much forsharing with us today about this
wonderful collaboration thatyou both did Do.
Either of you have anythingelse you'd like to share with
our listeners as parting words?
Speaker 3 (17:18):
Absolutely.
I would like to say that Tinahas been dubbed the iron lady in
her club because she was atrailblazer and I've seen her
work tirelessly.
And if I'm talking about we areRotary family, they are 10x and
if I'm talking about we areRotary family, they are 10x.
(17:39):
Her and her husband, ParitoShtarungtas, as people fondly
know them, have been extremelybig givers and pour their heart
and soul and time and their kidsin attending every
international function and doall kinds of good in the
community.
So I mean, I invite people toreally, if you're visiting India
(18:00):
, reach out to them.
They're great hosts, They'llshow you around.
We are a family, we are aglobal family and that's what
this is all about.
We meet, we have our corevalues, which is do the right
thing, you know, makefriendships and I think it just
resonates thing.
You know, make friendships andI think it just resonates it's
(18:21):
timeless values that can appealto every generation that wants
to do good.
Speaker 4 (18:25):
Just a note about my club.
During my tenure we did twoglobal grants and three CSR
grants, and fourth one I justdid it on the last day of 30th
June as a president, get it inthere before the deadline, oh
yeah, Before the deadline, yes,so yeah, we are supplying three
more dialysis machines to ahospital and it's been approved
(18:52):
by the Rotary Foundation and,yeah, the funds are on the way
and we are just going to providethem with three dialysis
machines more.
Well, you are both very muchinspiring Rotary Foundation and,
yeah, the funds are on the wayand we are just going to provide
them with three dialysismachines more.
Speaker 1 (18:59):
Well, you are both very much inspiring Rotary
heroes.
Thank you both for joining ustoday.
We love to hear about thisprogram and we hope that you
come back with the next one thatyou're doing together.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
Absolutely.
Thank you so much for giving usa stage, yes, yeah, to express
you, to express our achievements.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
Absolutely.
We love celebrating that and wereally love celebrating the
global family of Rotary.
Speaker 3 (19:25):
Thank, you so?
Speaker 1 (19:25):
much.
Speaker 4 (19:25):
Cheers to Rotary.
Thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (19:28):
Cheers.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
So that wraps up this episode of Heroes of Hope.
We are so happy that we have anaudience out there listening.
We want you to subscribe, shareand tell your friends about the
Rotary Community Heroes of Hope, because that's how we get the
word out about the impact we'rehaving in this world.
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