Dr Murthy Pillay is the new president for the Rotary Club of Victoria (District 9220) for the year beginning July 2020 and the theme chosen for his presidency is ‘Rotary Opens Opportunities’The installation night for the new president and board took place recently at the Eden Bleu Hotel while respecting the norms advised by the Public Health Authority. About 50 members and spouses attended this evening for a table of four people, thereby maintaining social distancing. On this occasion, the handover of responsibilities to the new team took place. The president 2019/2020 Dr Sarka Viktorova made a very nice speech by recalling some of the actions done during the year for social causes and these include: the club raising US $16,000 in the fight to eradicate polio worldwide; twice organising blood drives at the Blood Transfusion Centre, Seychelles Hospital and managing to achieve the participation of a hundred plus blood donors; helping 17 families in Praslin who had been affected by fire as well as four families in Mahe; bringing food aid for needy families at Corgat Estate and orphanages around Mahe; sponsoring the building of the platform for an open Gym at the Roche Caïman fitness trail which will benefit the community at large; and organising the annual Xmas lottery under the leadership of president-elect Dr Murthy Pillay.The club wishes to thank the sponsors and through this lottery it was able to collect around R150,000 to be used in the club’s community projects.The members of Rotary Club Victoria are all volunteers who participate financially and give their time and energy to help the Seychellois population and also support social causes in Seychelles and in the whole world. The goal is “to help others”. The theme for the year 2019/2020 was ‘Rotary Connects the world’.
Thank you to outgoing president Dr Sarka Viktorova and her board members – PDG Suketu Patel, PDG Vijay Patel and IPDG Raja Somasundaram who was a great district governor. Unfortunately, because of the COVID-19 pandemic the club could not receive their Rotarian friends from District 9220 comprising many Indian Ocean islands to Seychelles for the district conference which was supposed to be held here in June 2020.Then, new Rotary Club of Victoria (District 9220) president, Dr Murthy Pillay, who will lead under the theme ‘Rotary Opens Opportunities’ introduced his new board: Angel Low Sauzier (club secretary), Jalan Nathan (treasurer), Foram Varsani (community service director), Ranjan Orphée (club service director), IPDG Raja Somasundaram (foundation), Olivier Levi (public image), Pamela Madeleine (membership and young generation), and Bernard Elizabeth (sergeant at arms).Dr Murthy thanked outgoing president Dr Sarka for her tireless work during her presidency along with her board members and ADG Nandu and PN Angele for their support. He also honoured two past district governors – PDG Suketu Patel and PDG Vijay Patel – in appreciation of their invaluable contributions for fostering club diversity and resilience for over 50 years. They each received a certificate and a shield.Likewise, IPDG Raja was also honoured by the new president for his invaluable contribution as district governor 2019-20. The Rotary Club of Victoria wishes that COVID-19 will be soon eradicated in Seychelles and around the world so that life will get back to normal. The club will continue with its weekly meetings and will also take part in activities linked to social issues in Seychelles and around the world.To achieve its objective the club needs the support of all Seychellois.
