Newly chartered club with 27 members contributes US$61,000 to The RotaryFoundation; identifies Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) as its priority for the first two years
The RotaryClub of One Hyderabad (RC1H), a new Rotary club formally launched at its Charter Presentation Ceremony held at The Leela, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad this weekend.
This is no ordinary Rotary Club chartering. The newly formed Rotary Club of One Hyderabad (RC1H) has achieved a distinctive global milestone by becoming the world’s second 100% Paul Harris Society (PHS) Rotary Club on its Charter Day. Significantly, it follows its sponsor club, the Rotary Club of Lake District (RCLD)—also based in Hyderabad—which achieved this distinction earlier.
With Rotary International having approximately 36,500 clubs worldwide, including around 4,800 in India, RC1H’s achievement stands out as a remarkable accomplishment. What makes this milestone even more special is that both the world’s first and second 100% PHS Rotary Clubs are from Hyderabad, bringing immense pride to the city and its Rotary community.
Established just five years ago, the Rotary Club of Lake District has already set an inspiring example of commitment to The Rotary Foundation. The emergence of RC1H as the second such club on its Charter Day further reinforces Hyderabad’s growing legacy of philanthropic commitment and impactful Rotary service.
*What is 100% PHS Rotary Club? *
A 100% Paul Harris Society Club is one in which every eligible member commits to contributing at least US$1,000 annually to The Rotary Foundation. The distinction reflects a collective commitment to humanitarian service and initiatives that improve lives through healthcare, education, disease prevention, access to clean water and sanitation, and peace building.
A major highlight of the evening was the presentation of three cheques of US$10,000, US$25,000 and US$26,000, totalling US$61,000, to The Rotary Foundation. This significant contribution reaffirmed the founding members’ collective commitment to advancing Rotary’s humanitarian initiatives and making a meaningful difference in communities worldwide.
Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Lake District, Moinabad (RCLD), under Rotary International District 3150, the newly formed club has 27 members.
Addressing the gathering, District Governor Uday Pilani highlighted how Rotary inspires individuals to carry the spirit of service forward, harness the collective strength of its members and engage meaningfully with communities. He also emphasised the lasting bonds of fellowship that enable Rotarians to support one another and achieve a greater collective impact.
“I have become an envy of District Governors as we produced two Paul Harris Society (PHS) Clubs—the first and the second in the world. It is an extraordinary achievement and a matter of immense pride for Rotary,” he remarked.
The newly installed President of the RotaryClub of One Hyderabad, Neeraj Goenka, outlined three key value propositions he aims to bring to members: emotional connection, intellectual enrichment and a deeper sense of purpose in life.
“Through these initiatives, I aim to foster stronger bonds among members, encourage continuous learning, and create more meaningful opportunities to serve society,” he said.
Highlighting the club’s commitment to inclusivity and diversity, he noted that 11 of its 27 members are women, reflecting its intent to encourage wider participation and bring diverse perspectives into Rotary’s service initiatives.
Speaking on the occasion, Ramesh Patel, President of the Rotary Club of Lake District, said, “It is not just about building a club, but about building a legacy. The success of a club does not depend on the number of meetings it holds, but on the number of smiles it creates.”
Rajashekhar Vodela, Advisor to the new club, explained that the formation of RC1H was part of a broader effort to expand Rotary’s reach through the extension of new clubs.
“The Rotary Club of One Hyderabad is the fourth club extended by our team. We want to expand the scope of Rotary and, more importantly, the scope of its impact,” he said.
He emphasised that the success of Rotarydepends not only on the performance of individual clubs but also on the ability to create more high-performing clubs that can mobilise greater resources, leadership and community participation for service.
District Governor Uday Pilani administered the oaths of membership and office to the new members and office-bearers. He presented the insignia of office to the President and Secretary and formally handed over the charter to the newly established club.
Identifying Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) as its principal focus for the first two years, the Rotary Club of One Hyderabad aims to contribute to improved public health and community well-being.
The club recognises that access to safe water, adequate sanitation and good hygiene practices can prevent diseases, protect lives and improve quality of life. By prioritising sanitation as a public health intervention, RC1H intends to support initiatives that create healthier living environments and promote sustainable community development.
The Charter Presentation Ceremony was followed by a panel discussion titled “Sanitation: A Super Vaccine”, which brought together senior government officials, development-sector representatives and industry leaders.
Through its philanthropic commitment, collaborative leadership and focused WASH agenda, the Rotary Club of One Hyderabad aims to build meaningful partnerships and encourage collective action towards healthier, cleaner and more sustainable communities.
The office-bearers of the Rotary Club of One Hyderabad are Neeraj Goenka as President, Vishal Tibrewala as President-Elect, Shruti Mallpani as Vice President, Rahul Mitra as Secretary, and Nitin Ganeriwal as Treasurer.
The other office-bearers include Ayush Tulsyan as Joint Secretary, Niharika Nath as Membership Chair, Sushil Agarwal as Fellowship Chair, Pradeep Agarwal as Service Chair, Abhishek Nath as International Relations Chair, Shalini Modani as Vocational Chair, Madhvi Chandra as Education Chair, Ravi Reddy as Foundation Chair, Rigu Mittal as Sergeant-at-Arms, and Pooja Mitra as Image Director.
