Speakers – February 8, 2022
Rotarians Bill Gray and Bill Egnatoff
International Service Projects:
CKRotary at Home Around the World
Jim Rymerson introduced our speaker Bill Gray who became a Rotarian in 1994, is a Past President of the club, a Past District Governor, and Past District Officer. Bill’s extensive travels have had a great impact on our international projects. Bill Egnatoff is well known to all, as an active participant in club activities and service.
This morning we welcomed these two Rotarians who gave us an update on International Service using an interview format. With the presentation in interview style, Bill Egnatoff drew out the facts with some thoughtful questions. It was an engaging and interesting update. Together, the two Bills talked about the process involved in an international project, one specific project, and the relationships that led to it.
We learned about what attracted Bill Gray to Rotary, and how his former vocation gave him specific tools that helped in building Rotary relationships. It started long before that, however, when Bill attended university, and went to Liberia to work on a project through an organization called Operation Crossroads. In his Rotary journey, Bill has met many interesting people, and made many friends. One member of the Rotary Club of Madras Central, is Soundararajan Krishnaswami. Known as Krish, he and Bill have developed a lasting friendship.
Bill walked us through the development of a Bone Bank in Madras, what it does, how it works and how it was funded. Krish’s club, The Rotary Club of Madras Central initiated this project, and our club is the international partner. Rotary relationships played an important role in obtaining additional financial support for this from other Rotary Clubs.
You may see and hear this engaging interview using the link in this week's Courier.
John Farrow thanked the two Bills, saying that he got to know Bill Gray in the year he was President and Bill was his President Elect. It was Bill who encouraged him to attend Rotary International conventions, which he has done, and found to be a fabulous experience. Bill has done a lot, as a Rotarian who is able to travel and make connections.
Bill added a postscript to his presentation;
I ought to have included a picture of Tusu in my PowerPoint. Like Krish, Tusu is a PDG. Among other roles, Tusu served on the strategic planning committee of Rotary International and was part of the team working to bring Rotary into the modern world. Here is a picture of Tusu, in the blue shirt, surrounded by Rotarians. Taken at the Sam Owori Rotary Vijana Poa Village project near Kampala, March 2019.
