20 the Lighthouse 17 Nov 2020
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Issue 20 • NOVEMBER 17, 2020 Rotary designated month NOVEMBER 2020 Rotary Foundation Month THE LIGHTHOUSE • NOVEMBER 17, 2020 2 EDITORIAL THE BIO-LAB DEBATE BIRTHDAYS Greetings my dear Rotarians. Last week’s meeting provided so much food for thought that 24th Nov – Rtn. Jayshree Raveendran it was quite a banquet. Pardon the bad pun, even though it fits right into the topic of conversation - how is the planet 25th Nov – Rtn. Subbiah Viswanathan going to manage producing bio-products, like, for example, food and medicinal products for the burgeoning billions of 26th Nov – Rtn. Dr. Anisha Ashok human beings in the future, without destroying the planet and ourselves in the process. Mr. Ajikumar Parayil, CEO 29th Nov – Rtn. Shoukath Sherif and co-founder of Manus Bio walked us through their philosophy of understanding food at the lab level and 29th Nov – Rtn. G.M. Udayanarayan providing solutions without destroying our planet and all other life on it. 25th Nov – Ann. Dr. Khushali (Rtn. Pranay H. Gambhir) This week’s Lighthouse features a review of this talk plus a host of other interesting stories - a message from our RIP 26th Nov – Ann. Savithri (Rtn. M.S. Nagarajan) Holger Knaack, how Rotary’s Global Grants bridges the financial gap for community projects, a report from the 29th Nov – Ann. Uma (Rtn. PP Dr. Arulmozhi Community Service team, as well as the Rotaract clubs and Varman) more. Cyclone Nivar will be upon us by the time this issue reaches your mailboxes. So let’s catch up at our Nov. 24th 29th Nov – K.K. Arun Krishnan (Rtn. PP Nandita meeting with a hot cuppa chai and crisp samosa for our Krishnan) special session of My Job Talk. 29th Nov – Ann. Somna (Rtn. Vipin Sachdev) - Rtn. Shri Shakthi Girish 29th Nov – Ann. Sangeeta (Rtn. Vivek Harinarain) 30th Nov – Ann. Kamala (Rtn. M. Sesha Sai) ANNIVERSARIES 26th Nov – Rtn. Sanjay V. Parikh & Ann. Rupal 26th Nov – Rtn. Vikram Chesetty & Ann. Supriya 27th Nov – Rtn. PP K. Gopal Ratnam & Ann. S.L. Ratnam 28th Nov – Rtn. A. Gooch Kumar & Ann. Sangeetha 28th Nov – Rtn. Rohit Toshniwal & Ann. Ruchika 29th Nov – Rtn. Sanjay Tulsyan & Ann. Priya 29th Nov – Rtn. Ravi Bhatkal & Ann. Priya 30th Nov – Rtn. Suniel U. Lulla & Ann. Brinda 30th Nov – Rtn. J. Kishor Dandeker & Ann. Meghana Rtn. Dr. Anisha Ashok - Rs. 2000 GLIMPSES FROM OUR MEETING OF NOVEMBER 17, 2020 MINUTES MINUTES OF THE MEETING TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2020 Sgt-at-Arms Rtn. Sanjay Chaganti Rao indicated proposer Rtn. Abhay Mehta to introduce Ms. members that the meeting was about to start. Sabina Narayan. The proposers spoke about their After collaring, President Rtn. Kapil Chitale called candidates’ credentials in detail. President then the 20th meeting of RCM to order. inducted them into the Club by pinning the RCM The RCM theme song was played. lapel pin, after due process and advisory, with the President sought the confirmation of the 6th Nov. required Rotary orientation already having been meeting from members. done by the Rotary Information committee. All members greeted them with a round of applause. This time the 4-Way Test was done by Rtn. Dr. Sharon Krishna Rau, who spoke about the history Secretary Rtn. PB Prasad wished members and of the evolution of the 4-Way Test in Rotary, right spouses who celebrate their birthdays and wedding from 1932. The Test guides us all and is much- anniversaries that week. Secy. announced that the needed in today’s fast-paced times, she said. In next weekly zoom meeting would be on the 24th this “Whatsapp” era, moral integrity is to be Nov. ’20, with My Job Talks by green Rotarians. followed in all activities and this test is simple but with powerful results, which makes our life more Rtn. Vivek Parachur introduced the guest speaker meaningful in every way. Ajikumar Parayil, Founder & CEO, Manus Biosynthesis, who shared his journey and how he President welcomed guest speaker Ajikumar ended in the era of new technology. Speaker spoke Parayil, founder & CEO of Manus Biosynthesis, a about the pressing environmental problems and company making natural ingredients with new, the alternatives to traditional production of bio- scientific methods, including innovative products products by using the revolutionary technology, for improved crop production. which will ensure abundance with sustainable, President also welcomed Probus Club members, Ms. planet-friendly processes. An interactive session Shobha Gupta IWC and the new members to be followed after his talk. inducted into RCM - Ms. Kamala Ramakrishnan and Ms. Sabina Narayan. Rtn. Suresh Amirapu thanked speaker for his informative talk and wished him the best. President invited the proposer Rtn. Alok Bhargava to introduce Ms. Kamala Ramakrishnan and The meeting was then adjourned. A hearty welcome from all of us at RCM to our new A HEARTY WELCOME! members - Ms. Kamala Ramakrishnan (Senior Journalist) and Ms. Sabina Narayan (Environment Consultant). We look forward to a dynamic Rotary future, working together, bonding in fellowship and bringing light to lives through unified community service. Welcome to the world of RCM! RI WORLD and attracts everyone using the power of empathy. When we feel with others as if they were ourselves, RTN. HOLGER KNAACK we cannot hold prejudice in our hearts. When every RIP - 2020-21 child reminds you of your own child, when every woman or man reminds you of your mother or brother, you start seeing the world differently. We can apply The Four-Way Test through the lens We all know Rotary's tremendous power to of empathy. Are we building goodwill and transform our communities and ourselves. friendship with everyone in our area, including However, in every community, people have been women? Are things fair and beneficial to people of left out, and we have not made a strong enough all ages? Who has to make choices that you don't effort to reach them. have to make? The RI Board of Directors is taking action to make Rotary more welcoming and diverse. We formed a I made a heartbreaking choice between Rotary and task force to promote diversity, equity, and my religion when a Rotary convention was held inclusion to help clubs attract new members during Ramadan. I wondered: When we ask if this regardless of gender, race, religion, age, or other is fair and beneficial to all concerned, did that not factors. This will help us speed up the change we include me as a Muslim? Would the convention all want and need. The selection of Jennifer E. ever be held over Easter? Only by asking difficult Jones as Rotary president for 2022-23 — the first questions can we begin the work of creating a woman to lead our organization — is another step more inclusive and diverse Rotary. in this direction. We already connect so many people across the world. Imagine the possibilities when we bring At the grassroots level, clubs drive inclusion and even more people along for the ride. That's the diversity. Alia Ali — who serves on the board of future of Rotary I want to see: one where we are directors at the Big West Rotaract Multidistrict unstoppable in our service, relentless in our Information Organization and is a Rotary Youth kindness, and intentional in the change we want to Leadership Awards alumna and past president of see. the Rotaract Club of Surrey-Newton, British Columbia — offers her perspective. Rotary has a big enough heart. If we open our door I still remember the relief I felt as a RYLA wider, we might find a lot of interesting people participant four years ago. I had finally found my with new voices and new perspectives. We already people: people who cared as much as I did. All over have a variety of clubs offering different styles, the world, Rotary has the same heart. We serve our cultures, and opportunities — and those who do communities and take action where others feel not feel welcome in any particular club might be paralyzed by the size and scope of a problem. great candidates for new clubs created on different Let's continue that spirit, especially when the models. It's important that we make sure every conversation is difficult. Racism, prejudice, and new Rotary member is a good fit for their club. discrimination take on different forms but exist in Rotary Opens Opportunities through diversity. every country, in every city, and in every person. How do we root it out? You can read the Presidential note on: As a diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant, I https://my.rotary.org/en/news-media/office- help organizations create a culture that empowers president/presidential-message SPOTLIGHT THE FUTURE OF SUSTAINABLE BIO SOLUTIONS A conversation with Ajikumar Parayil, CEO and Co-Founder of Manus Bio The debate of production of bio-products, especially food and food products in a lab, vs. using traditional methods, is an ongoing vociferous one. But the fact remains that the human population is growing at an alarming rate and the human footprint on the planet is both destructive as well as self-destructive, and food forms just one part of it. Everything from clothing to cosmetics to our medicines and food is produced by environmentally unstable and potentially dangerous means, despite such fantastic advances in industrial and scientific growth in the past few decades. This is where Manus Bio steps in, says its CEO- Founder and our speaker of November 17, Mr. Ajikumar Parayil. Reading through his company’s bio and his passion Ajikumar Parayil with Gregory Stephanopoulos for creating foundation-level innovation that will help us humans create a more harmonious world, & CTO Christine Santos one can see why more and more entrepreneurs and future-thinking visionaries of the world are going sustainable bio-manufacturing platform, particularly into new methods for a new world.