Fun, frolic & bonding at RID 3132

A two-day Rotaract ­district conference on Jan 4–5 brought together 86 Rotaractors of RID 3132 at Shivam Resort, a scenic locale at Udgir which is 50km west of Latur, Maharashtra. “Udgir is a small picturesque hamlet dotted with serene landscape and a few industrial units. We stayed at a 30-acre private resort which is being developed to attract domestic tourists from all over the country,” recalls Aaditya Lature, secretary, RAC Latur Mid Town (2024–25), which hosted the discon titled Rotaverse with a tagline ‘Galaxy of RID 3132’.

Delivering his inaugural address, the then DGE Sudhir Lature (2025–26), father of Aaditya, said “Rotaract will provide a strong foundation for future Rotarians.” After witnessing a treasure hunt game for Rotaractors, he said, “organising such fun games will help them to climb the learning curve for hosting mega events in the future. Even Rotarians can learn a few lessons from the way the discon is being hosted by the district Rotaractors.”

DGE Lature urged the youth brigade of Rotary to adopt ‘Serve above Self’ as their life motto for an “enriching and rewarding experience.” He advised the Rotaract clubs to set ambitious goals for the upcoming year.

Fun games, excitement

It was a medley of fun games and interactive sessions such as tug-of-war, Cultural Night, stock market seminar, and a “lively panel discussion on how to improve the performance of Rotaract clubs in our district,” says Aaditya Lature. Also, to add zing to the conclave, a poolside party, box cricket and a Rotaract quiz to test how well-acquainted are Rotaractors on some fundamentals of Rotary and its basic tenets gave a one-of-its-kind experience to the participants.

In his valedictory address, IPDG Suresh Saboo pointed out Rotaract empowers the youth to “create real change within themselves and in their communities.” He asked the district team to aim for over 150 registrations for the next Rotaract discon and “try to charter at least 50 new clubs in the new year.”

Addressing the delegates, DRR Rohit Chavan said, “college students have an opportunity to organise social events, host career development sessions and club bonding activities at Rotaract.” He said all the project goals and performance metrics have been achieved, thanks to the “collective efforts of Rotaractors across RID 3132.”

Four teams contested at the Rotaract Premier League, RPL-3, a seven overs a side cricket tournament for club members, held at the Grandslam Turf, Latur. Each team with seven players, including two women, fought in a competitive spirit that enabled club members to bond among themselves. “The winners, Victory Vipers were given a trophy and medals, while the runners up, Infinity Warriors got individual medals. The cricket match held in the night made us to network and bond among themselves,” says Raman Tiwari, club president (2024–25).

One of the flagship events, ­Ganpati chi karyashala is being conducted over the last three years to promote eco-friendly Ganpati idols by avoiding harmful plaster of paris (PoP) and other chemicals. “Around 250 students from 80 government and private schools across Latur took part in the one-day workshop which is usually held on September first week each year,” he says. The club levies a registration fee of ₹250 per head for the idol making workshop, and “this year Jadhav Raman and his four assistants tutored the students on the making process of clay Ganesh idols.” In the last three years, around 800 school students would have benefitted from the Ganpati idol workshop, he says.

Looking back at his presidential term, Tiwari says, “one of my objectives was to bring together our scattered members who rarely met and interacted. Now we meet regularly and there is good bonding and personal rapport among us, and I am satisfied with what we have achieved.” He has added 15 new members “after each one of them attended a club meeting and took part in a Rotaract project following the induction protocol,” he says. A Rotaractor for three years, he says, “my father Dhiraj Tiwari, a member of our parent, RC Latur Mid Town, is my role model, and I will join my father’s club after I turn 30.” At present, he is taking care of his family-owned restaurant and also wholesale business of Exide batteries.

Aaditya Lature will join Rotary after five years, “as I am 25 now. Only through Rotaract events and projects, I became a confident person. Earlier, being an introvert and shy person, I hardly mingled with others.” Like his colleague, he had an eventful three-year Rotaract journey, “learning many aspects of leadership in the course of time.” Lature is into his family’s construction business.

The 31-year-old Rotaract club has 48 members, most of them into their family-owned enterprises or trade in Latur, a town in the Marathwada region famous for religious and historical sites.