Honing leadership skills of Rotaractors
Unity, love and affection towards all people was the central theme of a two-day RYLA, titled HUG: Change the perspective, hosted by RAC Ambattur, RID 3232, with support from their parent RC Ambattur.
“We want to cultivate a sense of oneness among the participants. Around 75 Rotaractors from Chennai, Salem, Coimbatore, Tirupur and Visakhapatnam took part in the third edition of this leadership grooming event which instilled a number of skills among them,” says Sundar Shanmugam, club president. The venue, S A College of Arts and Science, Avadi, a suburb in Chennai, was buzzing with interactive sessions, fun and entertainment, and stage shows as the RYLA covered a wide range of topics including time management, discipline, personality development, teamwork, communication skills, project implementation, conflict resolution and social responsibility on all two days.
RAC Ambattur is gearing up for its signature event, Nakshatra, a one-day cultural jamboree for Rotaractors and college students, in February.
Speaking at the inaugural as chief guest, flight lieutenant L Ramesh, president, RC Ambattur, recalled the way his stint in Rotaract had disciplined his life that enabled him to join the Indian Air Force. A passionate follower of time management, he advised the Rotaractors to make the best possible use of time to achieve their life dreams. “We focused on nurturing leadership qualities among Rotaractors by instilling some basic skills related to entrepreneurship and holding motivational, interactive sessions,” says Shanmugam. Expressing his gratitude to the parent RC Ambattur, he says, “the Rotarians guide us through the year with valuable support including financial help as seed money for doing projects and community initiatives.
With a membership of 78 Rotaractors, this more than three decades old, community-based club is gearing up for its signature event, Nakshatra, a one-day cultural jamboree for Rotaractors and college students. The 19th edition of this flagship event is expected to draw at least 2,500 Rotaractors and college goers from across Tamil Nadu. “We are planning to hold the cultural show in February, and the programmes are on the drawing board right now. The event will be funded by public donors, philanthropists and a few corporates,” he explains.
His six-year-old Rotaract journey has enabled him to hone his public speaking skills. “Before joining Rotaract, I had stage fear and used to shun large gatherings. But now I am adept at anchoring programmes, as I have got communication skills,” smiles Shanmugam, a senior executive at a medical transcription firm. Apart from developing human relations (HR) skills, “I am good at time management which is critical for success in any field.” Also, his network of friends has widened over the years, thanks to Rotaract.
Looking ahead, Shanmugam (26) wants to join RC Ambattur by 30 as “I want to use my Rotaract skills for the betterment of communities through Rotary work. Also, as a Rotarian, my efforts will have better reach and impact through a collective effort involving many stakeholders,” he adds.
