Rtn Tim Johnson is visiting

Rtn. Tim Johnson of the Rotary Club of Medford in Oregon is visiting us right now. Tim has been working with us on various projects including providing support to the Tsunami affected and other projects including vocation training to school dropouts, providing computers to schools and more. We hope Tim has a good time while he with us and takes back good memories.

Happy 2008

The DGs visit has been postponed and the Club now has more time to prepare for the visit which will now be in March. Incoming President Jose introduced his team at the Club Assembly, his Secretary is Revathi. At the Assembly many projects were discussed including our step into Micro Credit and also the 3rd phase of Helping hands.

Water treatment plant at Kovalam village

Rtn Ron Mazur sent me an email that the funds are on their way and this means obviously that in the next few weeks the water treatment plant will be on its way to us.

The village headman at Kovalam is enthusiastic about the opportunity to provide his people with clean potable water. He has cleaned the area close to the well from which the water will be drawn and has built a wall around the site for security.

We need to make a visit soon so we can get the job of building a shed for the plant. Rtn Mani Iyer an architect has agreed to look into this and prepare the drawings.

Lots of work to get done by the time the plant arrives.

Regular meeting on 23rd November

The regular meeting of the Club on 23rd of November was different and at the same time outstanding. I had arranged for a preview of a play which is to be staged in January in connection with the Centennary festival of kerala's renowned author VAIKOM.

The theatre group PERCH (Performers Chennai) did a great job, they made us all laugh and also left beiind a nagging thought about the plight of women who are subject to dowry.

All in all the meeting was a great success and the festival in january is something no one should miss.

Bedding kits for sanitary workers

Come Sunday the 16th September members of the Rotary Club of Chennai Kilpauk will give away bedding kits to about 120 sanitary workers attached to the Corporation of Chennai. These workers keep the city clean by doing dirty work, they sweep the roads, clear the garbage, clean out sewage lines and yet what they earn for this work does not give them enough to be able to afford their children a reasonable education, clothing or in my opinion lead a life whree all needs are met.

The kit that will be given to them will consist of a pillow, a sheet to cover themselves to protect them not only from the winter chill (20 degrees celsius) but also from the mosquitos and another sheet to lie on.

I hope we are able to bring a little cheer into their lives on Sunday.