About Rotary Club Visakhapatnam
Rotary Club of Vizagapatam is first club in Andhra Pradesh and also first in Rotary District 3020 sponsored by Rotary Club of Madras. Club was organised on 08-03-1942 with 21 charter members and club was chartered on 28-05-1942. first club in District 3020. Many personalities have addressed our club. Dr. Radhakrishnan, Sri KC Ready (Union minister), Sri Jag jeevan Ram, many Governors of Andhra Pradesh and many Chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh, to name a few. Our club undertook many community service activities and Projects which are published in ‘The Rotarian’ magazine of Rotary International.
The Rotary Club of Visakhapatnam was formed on 8th March 1942. Dr. C.R. Reddy was the first President and there were 21 Charter Members. Our club was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Madras. It is the first club in Andhra Pradesh and the 24th in India. The Club was granted admission by Rotary International on 28th May 1942. Our Club overcome all the setbacks suffered due to air raids in 1942 and was resurrected on 8th August 1942. Since inception, Rotary Clubs of Kakinada (1943), Anakapalli (1955) Vizianagaram (1957) Waltair (1972) R.C. Couples (2003), R.C. Cosmo, Visakhapatnam (2006) and others were sponsored by our Club.
Many eminent and distinuished personalities have graced the meetings of our club since the last 72 Years. To mention a few Sir C.V. Raman, Sri S.Radhakrishnan, Swami Chinmayananda, Chief Justice P.V.Rajmannar, Sri Tenneti Viswanadham, Dr. N.T. Rama Rao, Mrs. Kiran Bedi and Adml. Sureesh Mehta, Chief of Naval Staff. The most significant of all is the visit of ruling R.I.President Jim Bomar Jr. in 1979 to our club.
Rotary Club of Visakhapatnam has many first credits in this city of destiny namely Free rice distribution in 1943-44, Rural relief medical centre in the 1950s. Traffic signal lights in 1967-68, GSE Team in 1970-71 and Rotary Save the Children fund during 1979-80. Many social service activities like eye camps, water projects in slum areas, buildings for the destitute and handicapped, 3 wheelers for the crippled, bus shelters, child welfare projects, adult education centres and the Jaipur foot limb project are only a few that have been mentioned which bear testimony to the significant achievements of this International Service Club.
Since inception, Rotary Club of Visakhapatnam has rendered yeoman service to the society on a continuous basis, maintained high standards with impressive track record of service oriented activities. The Rotarian’ – R.I. Publication has published our Club’s activities several times.
The Rotary Club of Visakhapatnam also has the honour and Privilege of contributing Six District Governors – PDG K.S. Dutt (twice), PDG C.Hanumantha Rao, PDG G.S.K. Arya, PDG Dr. Goli Bhaskara Rao, PDG K. Ramabrahmam and PDG.
D.V. Raju. With other clubs functioning in this town, our Club is still growing in strength and continues to be the leading light of service for this city of destiny.
In the recent past our club has taken up a matching grants for various important activities such as education, health & sanitation areas with parents from Brazil, USA, Halland and Great Britain over a bedget of 220 Laks, which is a rate honour for our club in our Rotary District.
Also our club has a unique distinction of having 3 generation presidents namely.
Rtn. K. Ramabrahmam – Charter Member 1942 his son Rtn. K.S.Dutt -President 1952 – 53 and District Governor Twice and his grand son Rtn. K. Ramabrahmam – President 1998 -85 and District Governor 1994-95
Rtn. K.V. Ratnam during 1956 – 57 his son Rtn. K. Jagannadha Rao during 1965 – 66 and his grand son Rtn. K. V. Ratnam during 2017 – 18
Rotary Club Visakhapatnam has Celebrated Platinum Jubilee Celebrations during the year 2017 – 18 under the Leadership of Rtn. K.V. Ratnam