Unite to Ignite. One phrase. 3 words. A thousand implications and a million memories.
The Rotaract year 2016/17 to me was characterized by those 3 words. Now with the year concluded, I wish to blog my thoughts, as a throwback to what’s been one of the most rewarding and innovative years, in the club’s short, yet eventful history.
The creativity that we sparked within us, saw the beginning of several new initiatives including a battle at Rotaract’s biggest talent show – “Friends in Action”, introducing a project planning and club administration intranet – Blackboard, a widely lauded “Sherwood Shootout” – planned and executed entirely by the new members themselves, the toughest yet most entertaining edition of Conquer Colombo in its decorated history and investing the Club’s surplus funds that gave us not just monetary returns but also financial acumen.
The thing I’d take most heart from, in each of these, is not in the success and popularity of the initiatives themselves, but the learnings we derived from the challenges. For I know, I speak on behalf of several when I say this, “We are BETTER, stronger and closer, for all things we learnt, and all the challenges we overcame, TOGETHER!”
There were some pretty great things that happened that we’re quite proud of.
The club organized its first joint project with the Rotary Mid Town family, Colombo Blind Walk, which turned out to be so great that we ended up organizing two more projects together! In addition, frequent family meetings were held, establishing a strong relationship within the family.
The Club also made major inroads in an area that has always remained at the heart of the club – Professional Development. Blackboard, our Club’s intranet was a useful tool in getting our projects organized and getting our members accustomed to working like a company would. ‘The Launch’ – A project to introduce Blackboard and other major initiatives during the year, had our shyest members taking up the mic and presenting – Much to the surprise of all of us. The focus on professional development also led to several workshops covering Excel, Linked In, Approaching sponsors and Finance. President of the month – gave a taste of the leadership role and responsibility to several members chosen monthly. The club initiated quarterly updates – a newsletter covering all projects and financials to members. Meeting invites were shared via calendar invites for better planning. We also implemented the practice of drafting legal agreements (e.g. LoEs, Contracts etc.) with our strategic partners.
Innovation has always been a hallmark of RCALBS. And we’re proud to have kept on that tradition, with innovations to two of our biggest projects, Conquer Colombo and Friends in Action. This year witnessed Conquer Colombo’s biggest edition, with so many innovative challenges – tough like they were promised to be, still spoken about for its pure entertainment. We also managed to increase the pace and adrenaline of the challenges by phasing them into routes, and applying a time window. You either did it quick, or you didn’t do it at all. The plan was to make it challenging for the participants. But it was a much bigger challenge for us to map and put together. But it’s a challenge we’re glad we undertook.
A challenge that couldn’t be explained as easily, was Friends in Action for we had a winning formula in every Friends in Action of the past. It always drew a full house, had great performances and won an award for every previous version of it. It had a set frame work that was easy to replicate. So doing it this year, should’ve been another tick in the box, but when I spoke to the chairpeople, they told me they weren’t content with a tick in the box. That they knew this club was capable of more. It’s this attitude to thrive, and not just survive, that gives me the greatest joy. So this year, we introduced a completely new concept, with the introduction of a battle for the first time. And to top it, the competition was moved to a 360 arena, for a more engaging experience for the audience and contestants alike. The solo singers were given weeks of training by the mentors culminating in a mesmerizing show at the finals. In all, the project achieved plenty. But the greatest success of the project lies in the foundation its laid for the project to evolve into one that inspires all talent competitions.
Yet, the biggest turn in direction, was the steps taken in community service. Apart from the usual community service projects such as spend-the-days at orphanages, donations to charity, and small green life projects, this year we wanted to do sustainable projects with long term benefits to its’ stakeholders. We sponsored the education of Thanusiya & Arun from Jaffna and plan to do so in the long term. Project Life — our biggest community service project, aims to tackle Chronic Kidney disease, by installing rain water harvesting systems to the area’s most in need. An initiative that runs close to a million, but is worth every cent spent, knowing fully well the lives it will save. We’ve always managed to put a smile on those we served, but it’s heartening to know, that this year perhaps we have truly changed their lives.
The achievements have been great. But it’s the little things that made us smile, that we’ll cherish forever…
To say our Club loves food, is like to say mice love cheese. In the case of several members, it is the very purpose of their existence. And the easiest way to the hearts of our members, is through their stomach (Hint: #HamdhanforDRR). It’s perhaps why we had so many projects that centered around this. We made birthday treats almost mandatory, and made it seem like we had a genuine interest in the day they arrived in this world. Hamdhan (Who else could it be?) hosted us to a delicious dinner AND an iftar with 12 different items on the menu (yes, I counted!) So good were his meals that the members often missed the two preceding meals to prepare their stomach for the onslaught that was to come. Aaqeel & I hosted what is hands down the best President’s dinner EVER, which was made complete by dessert baked by the IPP and yours truly. Given the importance placed on food, in hindsight, what better reason to unite, than for food?
The other thing that the Club did as well as food, was bad music. Even a new-born could testify as to how bad the singing of most members were, but that didn’t stop them from screaming their hearts out, often sounding like a dying penguin with a spanner down it’s throat. We sang, when our members entertained the club at the dinner waking up the neighborhood and also when we formed a band and jammed with the judges during FIA, until we got kicked out! It’s perhaps the biggest irony in Rotaract, that the organizers of FIA would struggle so bad, were we to take part in it!
Our sports team often resembled the general hospital accident ward – with Shahid’s leg strapped up like it was forbidden for another girl to see it and Aaqeel’s wrist delicate, like it’d break if hit with a flower. To add to that we carry two pro football players in Ashvin and Kisal with torn ACLs (Cue – Your legs don’t work like they used to before). Despite those, we dragged members who barely run, to form the team and managed to secure first place for Men’s futsal and 2nd place for women’s basketball at RCL, with the men’s basketball team going on to win IRBT. It is this spirit and unity, in which every member played, fell, bled and cheered, that carried the team through, not just in sports but throughout the Rotaract year.
All the memories made, and the smiles shared could never be summarized in a single blog. But they’re memories I’ll always hold dear to me, to look back at with a smile.
When we started our year, we made a promise. To stand, fight and overcome all challenges, united, as a team. And to Ignite the passion within. Ignite the projects, with a spark of magic. Ignite the lives of people we touch. Ignite friendships & the spirit of Rotaract. Ignite everything we do. Ignite the spark that will one day create a fire.
In our year long journey to keep that promise, we stumbled, slipped and even fell. But we picked ourselves back up each time, and we did, Unite to Ignite.
Rtr. Maneesha Abeyarathne
Editor
RACALBS