THE MONK TRAVELLED EAST

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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, Rotarys
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 SMSs 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
Sharmas 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
Sharmas site. The publicity generated for the
movement during this period was huge and it
facilitated our efforts for the fundraiser.  
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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 SMSs
to all their contacts in their mobiles. All
chambers of commerce, software companies,
doctors 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
SMSs 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
Teresas 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 Robins
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 Kothari On behalf of
all Tablers of Calcutta Park Street Round Table
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2 Such Half Page Ads
6 Such quarter page ads
Ten Such Hoardings
PUBLICITY FOR THE EVENT A GLIMPSE
Interview by FM 107.8 and Press Trust of India
Reviews in DNA, Hindu and Scottrade Other
reviews to be informed.
7 Days hype for event through quizzes
Post Event Coverage
Pre Event Coverage with Contact number for passes