A Message from Your Newsletter Editor, Gomathy T. Manickam
Dear RAGCED Members and Friends,
Welcome to the March 2025 edition of our newsletter! This month, I’m thrilled to share stories of impact that showcase the heart of our mission in community economic development. Dive into our feature story, “A Gift of Sight: RAGCED’s Nigeria Eye Project Shines Bright,” where we restored vision for 68 individuals in Nigeria and 28 in Ghana—96 lives transformed through your support. From cataracts to squints, these surgeries are a testament to what we can achieve together. Read on to feel the joy of this work and see the smiles in our accompanying images and videos!
Our President, Carl, also shares his reflections this month, spotlighting RAGCED’s role in Rotary International’s 2024 milestone of over 1,000 projects (check out the full RI article here). His message ties our recent successes to a bold vision for 2025—don’t miss it!
Looking ahead, we’ve got exciting events on the horizon:
RAGTime: Join us on June 19, 2025, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM MDT at the Hilton Garden Inn, Calgary Downtown, for a lively Rotary Action Group gathering featuring hors d’oeuvres, music, and networking with leaders from all 25 groups. Register now!
Building the Better World at RICON 2025: Mark your calendars for June 20, 2025, from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM MDT, for a hands-on workshop co-hosted with ESRAG, featuring David Miller (former Toronto Mayor and C40 leader), expert panels, and project design sessions. Registration is open to all!
These events are your chance to turn inspiration into action—read about Nigeria and Ghana, then help us build a better world ahead. I’d love to hear your thoughts on these stories and what you’re excited about next—drop me a line at editor@ragced.org.
Warm regards,
Gomathy T. Manickam
Newsletter Editor, RAGCED
President's Message
PDG Carl W. Treleaven
The Power of Limited Resources – The Three Cs for Sustainable Change
When Less is More
No matter the challenges we face, there never seem to be enough resources – time, money, or people – to solve them. Ironically, even in rare cases where resources are abundant, we often fail to use them effectively.
A famous example of this was the race to create the first powered aircraft in the early 1900s.
The odds-on favorite was Samuel P. Langley, head of the Smithsonian Institution, backed by the US government. Langley’s team had the pedigree, funds, and brainpower. In competition with them were two brothers from Dayton, Ohio, USA, who ran a bicycle shop – Orville and Wilbur Wright. If betting had been popular then, all the “smart money” would have been on the Smithsonian team.
Join RAGCED at the Rotary International Convention in Calgary, Canada, from June 21-25.
Mark your calendars for an exciting week with RAGCED at the Rotary International Convention in Calgary, Canada, from June 21–25, 2025. We’re bringing our passion for community economic development to this global gathering—don’t miss out!
RAGCED Rendezvous
When: Monday, June 23, 2025, 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Where: Room 224, BMO Stampede Centre
What:
Meet RAGCED leaders and discover our ambitious plans for the coming year.
Hear presentations on successful economic development projects that are transforming communities worldwide.
RAGCED Booth at the House of Friendship
When: Throughout the convention, June 21–25, 2025
What:
Connect with fellow RAGCED members and network with Rotarians from around the globe.
Showcase RAGCED’s impactful work to the broader Rotary community.
Volunteer Opportunity
We’d love your help at the RAGCED booth! If you can spare a few hours during June 21–25, please contact Mary Coward at marycoward@gmail.com. Your support will make a big difference.
Join us in Calgary for a convention packed with inspiration, collaboration, and action—see you there!
It is with immense joy and gratitude that we share the latest chapter of RAGCED’s mission to transform lives through community economic development—this time, with a focus on restoring sight.
This project was led by Rtn. Gomathy T M, RAGCED – Secretary & Chair – Rotary Action Groups RID 3192 (RY 2024-25), under the RAGCED South Asia Chapter, in partnership with RAGCED, Rotary International District 3192, RAG4BP (Rotary Action Group for Blindness Prevention), and individual Rotarians and Rotary Clubs who believe in service that transforms.
Statement of purpose: An IT Professionals Forum Rotary Fellowship is a group of Rotarians, Rotarian spouses, and Rotaractors who share a common interest in information technology and related fields. The purpose of having such a fellowship is to:
The Sahel region, like much of sub-Saharan Africa, faces significant development challenges, particularly in sanitation. Open defecation and urination remain rampant, contributing to public health concerns and a lack of dignity in daily life.
