Ravindran is choice for 2015-16 RI president
By Arnold R. Grahl
Rotary News -- 6 August 2013
K.R.
"Ravi" Ravindran is the selection of the Nominating
Committee for President of Rotary International in
2015-16.
K.R. “Ravi” Ravindran, a member of the Rotary Club of Colombo,
Western Province, Sri Lanka, has been selected by the Nominating
Committee for President of RI in 2015-16.
Ravindran said his top priority for Rotary will be to increase
membership, which he called the bedrock of any organization.
“The emphasis on membership has to continue with focus on the
younger generation,” Ravindran said. “Additionally, we must seek
to attract the just retired and experienced people into Rotary.”
Creating regional membership plans and realizing that “one size
does not fit all” has been a move in the right direction, he
said.
“Albert Einstein defined insanity as ‘doing the same thing over
and over again and expecting different results.’ In many ways
this has been the story of Rotary’s poor membership advance,” he
said. “Thankfully, our approach this time has been studied and
altered. We have created 22 different membership regions so that
each region would develop and execute a plan that would suit
that particular region.”
Ravindran said it’s important for Rotarians to share their
stories, especially through social media, so others can see the
impact Rotary has had in their lives. He said it’s also
important for the organization to speak with a consistent voice.
“Our identity must remain simple and be based on our core
values. It must be clear and straightforward to both our
internal and external audience.”
Ravindran holds a degree in commerce and is founder and CEO of
Printcare PLC, a publicly listed company and global leader in
the tea packaging industry. He also serves on the board of
several other companies and charitable trusts. He is the
founding president of the Sri Lanka Anti Narcotics Association,
the largest antinarcotics organization in Sri Lanka.
As his country’s PolioPlus chair, Ravindran headed a task force
with members from the government, UNICEF, and Rotary and worked
closely with UNICEF to negotiate a cease-fire with northern
militants during National Immunization Days.
A Rotarian since 1974, Ravindran has served Rotary as a director
and treasurer of RI and as a trustee of The Rotary Foundation.
He has also served as an International Assembly group discussion
leader, district governor, Council on Legislation
representative, and zone institute chair. He chaired the Schools
Reawakening project, sponsored by Rotary clubs and districts in
Sri Lanka, which rebuilt 25 tsunami-devastated schools,
benefiting 15,000 children.
Ravindran has been awarded The Rotary Foundation’s Citation for
Meritorious Service and Distinguished Service Award and the
Service Award for a Polio-Free World.
He and his wife, Vanathy, have two children, and are level 4
Major Donors to the Foundation.
The Nominating Committee members are Eric E. Lacoste Adamson,
USA (chair); John T. Blount, USA; Robert K. Crabtree, New
Zealand; Gerson Gonçalves, Brazil; Frederick W. Hahn
Jr., USA; Lynn A. Hammond, USA; Teruo
Inoue, Japan; Paul Knyff, The Netherlands;
Peter Krön, Austria; Jorma Lampén, Finland; Kyu-Hang Lee, Korea;
Masahiro Kuroda, Japan; Michael D. McCullough,
USA; Donald L. Mebus, USA; David D. Morgan, Wales; Catherine
Noyer-Riveau, France; and M.K. Panduranga Setty, India. (RGHF
Members)
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