5 Monday, 02 August 2021

The following new members are being inducted into our Club today :

02 AUGUST 2021

TODAY’S PROGRAMME

INDUCTION OF NEW MEMBERS

Sr Name Proposed by Classification Details

1 Mr. Ramgopal Rao President Rtn Col Bharat Haladi

Placement Con-sultant

Past President of RC Poona North,

Major Donor TRF, Rotarian for past 28

years. Highly educated, Experience of 45

years as Consultant & in Placement services. Interested in Social work.

2 Mr. Milan Darda PDG Vivek Aranha Journalist General Manager of Lokmat. Has been instrumental in several new initi-

atives, and also setting new

records for Lokmat. He has penchant for

PR & Literature. 3 Mr. Jaideep Parekh PDG Vivek Aranha Financial Con-

sultant PP of RCP Smart City & RCP

Kothrud, PHF member. Spouse also was a

Rotarian. 4 Mr. Jeevan Dalvi Rtn Aarti Thacker Software

Engineer Credit Suisse Co.

He is interested in singing, reading and so-

cial work. Spouse retired from Indian Rail-

ways, is a Marathi stage & film actor.

5 Ms. Mandakini Tata Rtn Aarti Thacker Retired Banker Member of IWC & ex member of RCP

Downtown. Is a PHF. Well read,

well-travelled person, well-connected. Is

active in Social work. 6 Mr. Qureish Shamsher Rtn Aarti Thacker Financial Controller Worked in UAE as a Financial Controller of

a leading Export Mfg Co, and in Muscat in

a similar capacity for about 20 years.

Mr Ramgopal Rao

Ramgopal Rao is an Entrepreneur with 45 years of Business experience.

In 1992 he started working as an Executive Search Consultant and in the last 29

years he has placed around 1200 Executives across various Business Sectors

including Automotive, General Engineering, Med Tech, FMCG & Renewable

Energy.

He is the Founder Promoter of a Niche Recruitment Company called Special

Recruitment Groups Pvt Ltd (www.izzat.co.in) which helps connect Defence

Veterans with Corporates in India for suitable re-employment opportunities.

He is the Chairman of the British Business Group, Pune Chapter which is an UK-

India Bilateral Trade Platform and also the Pune Chapter Head of the Federation of

Indo-Israeli Chambers of Commerce.

He has been the Past President of the 60-year-old Rotary Club of Poona North.

His Spouse Rtn Dr Esther Talang-Rao is a PhD in Linguistics and is a University

Professor and a member of the Rotary Club of Poona North.

Their Son Rishan Talang Rao is active in the family business.

Mr Milan Darda

Milan Darda has been instrumental in establishing and consolidating the leading

position of brand ‘Lokmat’ in the cultural capital of Maharashtra, Pune. He has

seamlessly woven the fabric of a media brand with the thread of content and

commerce in proportionate measure. Being at the helm of flagship initiatives of

Lokmat as in Sakhi Manch, Bal Vikas Manch and Yuva Nxt for the past decade, he

has been the vision behind several path breaking initiatives that have impacted the

lives of women, children and young adults across and around the landscape of Pune.

Milan strongly believes in the virtues of connection and companionship. Unique

enterprises such as ‘Lokmat Sakhi Privilege Club’ that symbolize a movement

comprising of change-maker women of Pune who have set new standards of quality

and fortitude. An innovator to the core, brand Lokmat has been able to set new

records, quite literally, with the Guinness Book of World Records officially

recognizing Lokmat’s initiatives under his leadership twice.

His penchant for PR and literature is rather unique and the ‘Icons of Cities’ series

with coffee table books published under his stewardship such as ‘Icons of Pune’,

‘Icons of Education- Maharashtra’, ‘Professional Icons of Pune’ have been has been

emulated across several quarters. His brainchild, Lokmat Women Summit has been the harbinger of new wave of change

in the field of women empowerment so much so that international organizations such as UNICEF and UN-Women have

associated themselves with it. His unique ability of connecting local issues with a global cause is an example of

exclusivity, with the movement ‘Ti cha Ganpati’ in which all the rites and rituals related with the Ganesh Festival are

performed by women only, gaining new momentum under his stewardship on a global level. In 2017, it was also a part

of UNSDG goals with the UN officially sanctioning it. As the vertical head of ‘Lokmat Exchange’ , the barter vertical of

Lokmat in Maharashtra, he has been the force behind increase in Lokmat revenue generation by leaps and bounds.

Family

Wife: Kalyani Sambhus Darda - Founder -‘Be Kind Be Human’ Foundation

Father: Nirmal Kumar Darda (Retd - Former Director at Lokmat Media Pvt Ltd)

Mother: Shobha Devi Darda (Homemaker)

Mr Jeevan Dalvi

Sr Director in Credit Suisse (IT). Originally from Mumbai, was in Singapore, now

settled in Pune. Wife - Archana Dalvi is a member of the IWC Downtown, currently

their ISO. Both of them are keen to help society in whichever way possible. They have

two children - son is working in Canada and daughter is with them.

MR JAIDEEP PAREKH

‘DETERMINED TO BE DIFFERENT’

Jaideep Parekh is a ‘Financial Intermediary’ by profession.

This is how he describes himself :

A man of integrity with excellent organizational and leadership abilities.

Vast experience in strategic planning, business development, administrative

and operational functions of business.

Highly meticulous and runs reliable Financial and Investment intermediary

firms with an outstanding track record.

Strong understanding and knowledge of the financial market. Expertise in

equity and debt market.

Expertise in equity and debt market.

Ability to inspire confidence and help clients build a powerful mindset to

succeed.

Some highlights of his career :

Been invited by ET NOW (Financial new channel) as a financial advisor expert.

Been invited by Times of India to write on Mutual Funds.

Been invited by local Radio channels to speaking on Mutual Funds.

Been invited by Hindustan Times to write on Mutual Funds.

Successfully managing Broking and Mutual Distribution firm since 2003.

Ability to understand and advice on financially stressed individuals and companies.

Has successfully conducted more than 30 Investor Awareness Programs (IAP).

Has lived and worked in Muscat for 18 years in medical field before venturing into own business in Dubai.

His hobbies :

Avid Reader.

Follows Cricket. Passing interest in Soccer, Tennis and Badminton.

Spouse Parul is a Homemaker. They have two children - Daughter Nikita is married and

lives in Pune ; Son Utsav has joined the family business, and is yet to be married.

Ms Mandakini Tata

Mandakini Tata is a very well traveled person. She was a banker by profession; was a

branch manager of Walkeshwar branch of Bank of India way back in 1963. At that time

there were hardly any women in senior positions in India.

Very intelligent and sharp. An avid reader. She was a member of Rotary Club of Poona

Downtown, resigned 2 years ago. She is a member of Inner Wheel Club of Poona

Downtown.

Mr Qureish Shamsher Qualification : B Com ( Hons) FCA Chartered Accountant.

Was working in UAE as a Financial Controller of a leading Export Mfg Co and in

Muscat in a similar capacity for a period of about 20 years. Now retired, but

involved in the Family business in Mumbai.

His wife Tasneem had last worked with the Taj Group of Hotels Mumbai. Son is in

USA and is working with a Health Care Co. as Director of Software Engineering.

Daughter is in UAE as a Senior Global Property Consultant.

Virtual Installation Of Three Interact Schools - 31 July 2021

The interact office bearers installation

of three schools Don Bosco Junior

college, YMCA and Guru Nanak Public

Schools was held virtually on 31

July .This ceremony was hosted by

Interact Chairman Rtn Amarjeet Singh

Raizada. The chief guest of this

program was President Rtn Col Bharat

Haladi, Guest of Honour was District

Interact Chairman Rtn Asha Amonkar,

and was graced by the Director of

Youth Services Rtn PP Sanjay Kher.

This program was attended by 52

viewers, mostly the student of these

three schools and their faculty. Rtn PP

Sanjay Kher shared the information

about Interact clubs - and how they

work. Children really enjoyed the

programme. Rtn Asha Amonkar was

very precise about how Rotary brought

change in this world and she talked

about the competition which the district

will float very soon. Our children are

very enthusiastic in participating in

these competitions. Finally, the Guest of

Honour, our President Rtn Col Bharat

Haladi spoke about the hardship we have

to put in and why Interact is important

for the society. Rtn Amarjeet Raizada

installed the office bearers and made the

children take the pledge of Interact.

The teachers Mrs Saloni Datta of Guru

Nanak Public School, Mr Bernard

Anthony of YMCA School, and Ms.

Pearl Fernandes of Don Bosco Junior college gave their valuable inputs and appreciated to be part of Rotary Club of Poona.

Ann Turan Desai, Rtn Niamat Virji, Ann Shashi Perti and Ann Archana Saran too played a big role of introducing the guests and

giving the vote of thanks. Rtn Sanjay Ghodke was the host for the Zoom meeting, and he made the PPT for this program. Ann Daljeet

Raizada was the convener and the MOC of this ceremony.

We are looking forward to work in a constructive manner with these schools in this Rotary Year.

The office bearers of the three schools:-

Guru Nanak Public School -

President - Miss Jasmine Kaur Gorowada, Vice President - Master Raghav Yerrapallam, Secretary - Miss Akshata Singh,

Treasurer - Master Ujjwal Singh Lohia

YMCA School

President - Miss Shifnaaz Shaikh, Vice President - Miss Neha Jalla, Secretary - Master Umesh Loha,

Treasurer - Master Piyush Garg

Don Bosco Junior College

President - Miss Joyce Joseph, Vice President - Master Ethan Pinto, Secretary - Malissa Fernandes, Treasurer - Master

Kartik Prabhu Desai.

Thank you,

Ann Daljeet Raizada

The Three Interact Presidents

Club Assembly – 26 July 2021

Kargil Vijay Diwas – 26th July 2021

The Club acknowledged the heroic contributions made by our soldiers for securing victory in the icy heights of

Kargil in July 1999.

Club Budget

Rtn Col K Viswanathan, Hony Treasurer, presented the Club Budget for RY 21-22.

He, very systematically, went through the entire figures regarding all aspects of Club activities - giving

members the comfortable satisfaction that the Club finances are healthy and are being managed by strong and

capable hands. An indication of this state of happiness was that there was not even one question or clarification

from any member!

Club Website

President Rtn Col Bharat Haladi, took this opportunity to brief all members on the Club website,

https://tinyurl.com/RCPoona-Online, which he has developed since 2018, and has been continuously updating

and improving the same. However, not many members are conversant with it. He very patiently explained

various details available on this website and also how to manoeuvre through the site to extract information

desired by any member. This website can be accessed from any online platform. He urged all members to visit

this site regularly and keep themselves updated on multiple aspects of the Club and also Rotary International.

All members profusely congratulated President Bharat for the immense dedicated work done by him for the

benefit of our Club and all members.

Attendance Report

26 Jul 21

Rtns 38

Anns 14

Spouse 01

Guests 00

TOTAL 53

Birthdays and Wedding Anniversaries

Sacred Space ‘Drag your thoughts away from your

troubles - by the ears, by the heels or

any other way, so you manage it;

it’s the healthiest thing a body can

do; dwelling on troubles is deadly -

and that’s the softest name there is

for it. You must keep your mind

amused - you must indeed!’

Mark Twain

03 Aug Spouse Chandrashekar Manakawad

04 Aug Rtn PP Dhananjay (Bhai) Pandit

08 Aug Rtn Sanjay D Ghodke

08 Aug R/Ann Meera Viswanathan

Upcoming Programs

09 August - Talk by Mr Narendra Patwardhan on

‘Pune and the Independence Movement’

16 August - Bank Holiday (Parsee New Year)