THE MONK  TRAVELLED EAST  After a lot of persuasion and negotiation by Tr. Brijesh, Robin consented to come to India and speak at two events the same day at the cost of one . The brainstorming sessions in the table was an enriching experience. We earnestly wanted to do the event but not at the cost of depleting our Project account or taxing our tablers. Our square leg Bharat Hari Gupta put in a proposal to do the event in partnership with Rotary Club of Calcutta Chowrenghee. Tablers were convinced that with greater number of working hands, Rotary’s reach to corporates and with our team who has past organizational experience we would be able to pull off the event. The partnership was sealed on 19th December, 2008. Responsiblities were allocated with one member each of the two organizations, a joint bank account was opened and a search for a sponsor for the afternoon event was started.  Oue venue Convenor Tr. Rajesh froze the venue as ITC Pala which was the largest banquet available in Kolkata. Our fundraising convenor Tr. Narayan worked diligently in getting brochures, registration forms, flexes, standees and other ad materials always ready and in time. He also divided the table including square legs and HTs into groups namely Tornadoes, Tempests, Twisters, Blizzards and Hurricanes. Each group was under a group leader. We requested ‘The Telegraph’ to be our media partner.We got 6 quarter page ads and 2 half page ads in the leading newspaper of Eastern India alongwith pre and post event coverage. They also agreed to hype the event for 7 days through quizzes for readers. Our table secretary Tr. Rohit took the responsibility of getting the ads designed and mailed on time to The Telegraph and we got our first ad on 31st January 2009, Saraswati Puja day, which solicited sponsors for the event. Each ad carried contact numbers of both a Tabler and a Rotarian. Our first ad got us the Co sponsors, which was sealed through efforts of Vice Chairman Tr. Manish. We also got the afternoon event buyer through efforts of Rotarians. Outdoor media partner, exchange partner, radio partner, SMS partner, print partner and multiplex partner fell into place one by one. We had 10 hoardings placed at strategic locations, our radio partners made announcements for 8 times a day for 16 days, our multiplex partners INOX allowed us to place a standee in their multiplex and after each movie and during intervals showed the event details on screen, our SMS partner sent SMS’s to a base of around 1,00,000 persons. Consistent followup by Fund raising convenor Tr. Narayan resulted in Airtel sending SMS free of cost to most of its subscribers based in Kolkata. Standees were placed at multiplexes, District conference of Rotary – reaching 2000 high profile Rotarians, NHSM Conclave and at the Jaico book stall in Kolkata book fair which reached more than 1,00,000 persons. Our event was put on Robin Sharma’s site and was the first event scheduled during this visit in Asia and Africa. Several calls were received by Tr. Manish from people all across India and abroad who visited Robin Sharma’s site. The publicity generated for the movement during this period was huge and it facilitated our efforts for the fundraiser.  

However, publicity was not the only way we planned for selling the event. All tablers, HTs, square legs and Rotarians were requested to email soft copies of the event, registration details, sponsorship options to their databases. We had sent around 20,000 e.mails through different databases. They were also requested to send SMS’s to all their contacts in their mobiles. All chambers of commerce, software companies, doctor’s associations, chartered accountants associations etc were requested to participate in this event. Phone calls as follow ups and personal visits to many corporates such as Bengal Ambuja, CESC, Airtel, Vodafone, Aircel, ICICI, HSBC, HDFC, Reliance groups, ITC, Shree Cements etc. was done. We conveyed to each of them the cause behind the fundraiser ie. Freedom Through Education. From 18th January onwards we had two meetings scheduled every week within the table and one meeting with Rotary. Each point was discussed threadbare within the table. Communication within the table and Rotary was smooth. We made a separate e.mail group – Robinsharmacommittee – for proper communication during the event preparation. A 8 member committee from the table and similarly from the Rotary communicated on a daily basis for venue, travel, sponsorship, corporate marketing, ticket sales, bank account operations, AV presentation and table – rotary coordination.  We also introduced an intertable fundraising scheme for all tables.Tr Samrendra attended the meetings of almost all tables in Kolkata . We introduced a package for all outside Kolkata interested in this event. There were 12 participants including tablers who came all the way from Cochin, Bangalore, Delhi, Pune, Mumbai to attend the event. The event reached its breakeven point on 13th February, 2009. That day was a day of celebration. However Tablers and Rotarians were requested to renew their efforts and sell harder. Tr. Narayan through his motivational mails and SMS’s pushed the group leaders and its members to give their best. On final counts we had sold over 550 individual general seating passes, 14 Corporate Tables seating 5 each, 38 Preference seating (2 each )  including complimentary passes. This was over 700 heads including us ! Robin finally arrived alongwith his CEO Jason on 23rd February. We received him at the airport and briefed him with the activities scheduled for the days ahead. 24th we took him to Mother Teresa’s Home. He was interviewed back at ITC Sonar by the Press Trust of India and our Radio Partner FM 107.8. He appreciated the efforts of Round Table in bringing him to Kolkata. He gave a short talk at Crosswords – a leading bookstore in Kolkata – which was attended by around 150 heads. We had a stall for pass sales there too. As Chairman RT 34, Crosswords presented a memento to me.  On 24th evening we had a tete a tete over dinner with Robin Sharma exclusively for Tablers, Circlers and Rotarians. This was also attended by Area Chairman Tr. Zishan. It was a very close and personal interactive session wherein the leadership Guru spoke inspirationally. The big day finally arrived.Robin gave his presentation for two hours in the afternoon to 30 high profile CEOs and MDs specially invited by Magma. The evening event was also planned minute by minute and responsibilities allocated. There was a huge crowd waiting for the gates to open at 5.30 pm. The event started on time thanks to the meticulous planning done by Trs Vinay and Samrendra and overseen by Tr. Rajesh A . Round Table India film was played, Robin spoke for an hour and half which was followed by a Q & A session and book signing. Square Leg Sanjeev and HT Pankaj  presented Robin with the Louis Marchesi Fellow medallion. Six months of hard work finally ended and we bade Robin goodbye on 26th February, 2009. There was pre and post editorial coverage of the event in The Telegraph mentioning the involvement of Calcutta Park Street Round Table 34 in bringing Robin to Kolkata. Further coverage by Press Trust is also being received and will be informed. As I am penning down this I still await the final figures from our Fundraising convenors - Narayan and Brijesh but that does not matter anymore as the essence of a fundraiser is that we work collectively towards a goal to bond stronger within the table. This event not only did that it also made us associate with another organization, know more about them and spread through them what Round Table India is and specially what Calcutta Park Street Round Table 34 stands for.We now have enquiries of individuals who want to become members of the table. This fundraiser has assisted in covering almost all facets of tabling – fellowship during informal meetings, extension efforts, publicity, HRD, corporate alliances and international relations through Robin’s website. It was a very satisfying and learning experience. We did make a difference as we spiced Area IV up and made everyone smile !!  Thank you all . Manmohan KothariOn behalf of all Tablers ofCalcutta Park Street Round Table 34

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PUBLICITY FOR THE EVENT A GLIMPSE

Interview by FM 107.8 andPress Trust of India Reviews in DNA, Hindu and ScottradeOther reviews to be informed.