“The great thing in the world is not so much as where we stand, as in what direction we are moving” – Oliver Wendell Holmes

Before joining Inner Wheel, I used to dream of make the world a better place. A little better than I found it. As time flew by, I thought I was alone in my mission, till I joined Inner Wheel! It’s truly amazing to see the selfless dedication that this great organization represents. The service projects undertaken prove the importance and credibility of this great organization.

In my travels through Inner Wheel, I have seen vividly, the kind of projects undertaken by our members, working in harmony towards a common goal. Let us strive hard to promote a more flattering image of our Organization and make our ‘Inner Wheel’ brand popular in the community, like Rotary, Lions etc… Then, we can spread our wings and soar high with a deep sense of satisfaction. So, I ask you to work to make Inner Wheel known and admired by policymakers, peer groups and by all in our respective communities. Let us work hard to be known locally, nationally and globally. Friends, ‘Without hard work, nothing grows but, weeds…’

Our IIW President, Carole Young from New Zealand, has given us a very simple, but a very touching Presidential Theme for 2012 – 2013 – Be A Friend. If sounds simple, but it is very meaningful and powerful. Please allow me to narrate a story that illustrates the theme well.

‘A dry leaf fell off a tree and lay near a lump of clay. The leaf and the lump became good friends. The leaf told the lump that it was afraid of being carried by a storm into the river flowing nearby. Once there were signs of a severe storm. The lump of clay moved slightly and sat on the leaf and saved it from being carried away by the storm. The weather became calm and their friendship continued. One day, they heard the sound of rain. The lump of clay was afraid getting washed away in the water. The leaf saved the lump by covering it like an umbrella. The rain stopped and they were happy. Their loving friendship continued till their end”.

I therefore urge you to –

• Be a FRIEND to those who seek you,
• Be a FRIEND to those who need you,
• Be a FRIEND to those who love you,
• Be a FRIEND to this Marvelous Earth
• Involve…Inspire…Illuminate…Inner Wheel!!
• Your Friend, Always…,

“I still find each day too short for all my dreams, all the thoughts I want to think , all the walks I want to walk, all the books I want to read, all that’s in nature I want to admire and all the beautiful things I want to do. The longer I live the more my mind dwells upon the beauty and wonder of the world…..”

Sarita Lunani is the 37th President of the Association of InnerWheel Clubs in India. Sarita joined Inner Wheel Club of Eluru, Andhra Pradesh, in 1996.A chance attendance at a local Rotary Club meeting prompted her to explore how she can make new friends and better serve her community. Her exploration led her to join the local Inner Wheel club. The Inner Wheel motto of "Friendship and Service" matched her needs .Little did she know then ,that her commitment and her service would expand, escalate and lead to opportunities to do more ,do better and serve at a national level .Her ability to relate to people and her common-sense approach to deal with issues and problems has served her well both in the life and also with the organizations that she has been associated with. She strongly believes in the magic of Inner Wheel.

Her enthusiasm and passion for friendship & for service found new meaning through the activities and the projects of Inner Wheel. She got immersed in all clubs activities and soon she was elected Club Secretary the very next year. Since then, Sarita has progressed in the Inner Wheel hierarchy taking on new responsibilities and resolving significant organizational challenges. She has served the Association as its Secretary in2009- 2010.Prior to this she served as the District level and as President of Inner Wheel Club of Eluru.

Sarita’s effort did not go unnoticed in her club nor in her district. The awards she received include: Best President ,Best Secretary. ISCO and Program Coordinator . She attended the IIW Conventions, as a voting delegate in Malaysia & Istanbul and five Triennial Conferences in Coimbatore, Chennai, Pune , Mumbai and Varanasi to futher expand her circle of friends and to better serve the Inner Wheel motto of service. She also participated in the South Asia Rally in Cochin, Silver Jubilee Celebrations held in Mumbai and Golden Jubilee celebrations in Kolkata.

During her tenure as the District Chairman, Sarita helped increased membership in her District by more than a hundred new members. She also added three new IW Clubs. Futher , through a Joint District Project-"Service to Cancer Patients"-she successfully led the campaign to collect Rupees3.5 lakhs and donate these funds to a regional Cancer Hospital. She brought laurels to District 302 by being elected as the first Association Secretary. Vice President / Deputy National Representative and now President/ National Representative. Sarita both enjoys and also takes pride in serving in the Inner Wheel movement. Yet, she also finds time to serve as a member of the prestigious ‘Lok Adalat’. A wing of the A.P State Legal Services, as a member of the Academic College for women, a visiting member of Juvenile Home and as Secretary of the Ladies Club in Eluru .As Secretary of the Ladies Club, she helped construct a new building a dais, 3 toilets, bore-well and a new compound wall.

Sarita was born in Kolkata .Later, her family moved to cuttack, Orissa , when she was very young. She credits her success in life to her parents, to St. Joseph’s High School and to Ravenshaw College, from where she graduated with B.A (Honors) and Distinction in Economics and Child Psychology. Both in school and later in college she was an all-rounder-a bright student, a good basketball player, a voracious reader.

She also took active part in debates and dramas. Sarita singles her mother as her role model and as her inspiration to do well in life, She believes that we need to, "Learn from yesterday,live for today and hope for tomorrow". Sarita , a Paul Harris Fellow, is married to Rtn.PHF Siva Sankar Lunani, Members of her family are prominent businesspersons in her hometown. Her husband is the Director of a Jute Mill which manufactures and exports jute products. Her father-in-law and mother-in-law are both Past Presidents’ of Rotary and IWC of Eluru respectively. Her son works in Dubai and her daughter attends college in Singapore. Sarita enjoys swimming and taking long walks. An ardent Admirer of nature, her interests include traveling creativity and making friends.