Although he’s from India, new 2011-2012 Rotary International President Kalyan Banerjee is no stranger to Dowagiac or the local club.

Banerjee, who starts each day with yoga, fittingly chose “Reach Within to Embrace Humanity” as his theme beyond “Service Above Self,” saying, “Each one of us lives with our hopes and aspirations, our failings and our problems, our joys and our sorrows. When we recognize this, we understand more fully the importance of the work we do. To embrace the world, to reach out to every human being as to a brother or a sister, we must first reach within — to embrace the humanity of us all. Recognize your humanity and share it with the humanity that is common to us all.”

Dowagiac President Barbara Groner received the gavel from departing President Donald Woodhouse, who ended his second turn as president.

He led the club in 2003-2004 after finishing the term of Kim Richardson, who was transferred during her reign.

Groner is beginning her second go-around as president, also leading the club during 2008-2009.

President-elect for 2012-2013 is County Commissioner Robert Wagel.

“I’m looking forward to serving our club as president for the coming Rotary year,” Groner said during the weekly luncheon Thursday noon at Elks Lodge 889. “We have an excellent group of officers and directors on our leadership team. We encourage each and every one of you to be involved on that team through club activities and projects. Your involvement is what will lead us to ultimate success in each endeavor. I pledge to do my best for our club. We have a proud tradition of service in this community. Let’s be ready to further that tradition this coming year. Rotary’s never-changing motto is Service Above Self, and service is what Rotary is all about.”

“President Banerjee and his wife are personal friends to this club,” Groner said, “having served as the president’s representative at our district conference the year we served as the conference committee for then-District Gov. Dave Groner. Kalyan Banerjee extended an invitation to Dave and I to bring Rotarians to India to help immunize children against polio.

“I have immunized about 16 times now,” she said. “Rotary, the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and UNICEF are a leadership team, partners, in this endeavor of stopping polio.

“The first team of 13 District 6360 Rotarians developed into 14 more team trips planned,” Groner said. “Totally, more than 750 Rotarians and Rotary friends participated on teams going to India and African countries through work from this club in that endeavor. The Banerjees are exceptional people who live what they believe.”

Groner reminded Rotarians that the Dowagiac club serves the local community and the international world, which has included two shipments of medical supplies and equipment to Nigeria.

“I’m in the process of getting the third one started for a fourth state in Nigeria,” she said. “We are involved with the youth of our community,” including a new Union High School Interact club, thanks to new members Superintendent Dr. Mark Daniel, DUHS Principal Paul Hartsig and Phil Esarey of the Cass County Sheriff’s Office.

Lauren Krueger, who participated in RYLA, the Rotary Youth Leadership Award along with Emily Smith, is its first president.

“I thank them for getting that going,” Groner said, “and I know our club will be eager to help them with getting the accouterments they need for a good start. Each Interact club is self-governing. We’re sponsoring the club, but they will govern themselves. We will provide support and guidance. Each year Interacters will complete at least two community service projects, one of which will further international understanding and good will. They will develop leadership skills and personal integrity, demonstrating helpfulness and respect for others. In other words, they’re going to be a chip off the old block. Our club strives to have excellent programming. President-elect Bob Wagel will be giving leadership in this area. Thanks to you, our members, I know we can count on learning something new at every meeting. Our weekly meetings also provide a time for fellowship and networking. It would be great if each of you brought a new member into our club this year. Our senior members are getting older. Yes, with age comes wisdom, but also achy joints. We value the energy and new ideas of our newer members.”

Woodhouse’s year added seven new members, offset by the deaths of Judge Herb Phillipson and Robert Mullen and the departure from Dowagiac of Joe Mallow.

“Be inspired,” Groner goaded. “Read your Rotarian magazine. It’s an inspiring publication filled with amazing things,” including a profile of Banerjee in the current issue.

“Pledge to yourself that this year you’re going to get to a Rotary convention or a Rotary conference or a Rotary seminar. The first one could be this one coming up July 12 an hour away. Lastly, I suggest that you be a visiting Rotarian at one of our neighboring clubs” in Niles, Berrien Springs, Lakeshore, St. Joseph, Benton Harbor, Marcellus and Watervliet.

“It’s very enlightening to see how things operate in other areas as close as 15 minutes away,” Groner said. “Together, let’s make this a Rotary year of being all that we can be, a year of enhancing humanity.”

Woodhouse recapped his year, starting with the Aug. 17 blood drive chaired by Joy Strand of Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital.

Ron Gunn chaired a cross country meet and February’s Snowed-Out Shootout basketball tournament.

Sept. 6 the club met at Cass County Council on Aging for a tour led by Executive Director and Rotarian Bob Cochrane.

Groner, Cochrane and Soni Smith oversaw the third annual Family and Friends Night April 14, which included Paul Harris Fellow recognition for Mark Dobberstein.

Cochrane put together a 300-ticket cash raffle fundraiser which ended June 30.

With 247, or 82.3 percent, tickets sold, first prize of $1,235 went to Charlie Gratz; second, $824, to Joan Forburger of Lewis Cass Intermediate School District; and third, City Clerk Jim Snow, $412.

Snow is working on a project to chronicle the history of the Red Rose for the Living, an international award which originated with the Dowagiac club.

Woodhouse acknowledged his slate of officers, which included: Groner; Secretary Jennifer Ray, Cass District Library director; three-year Treasurer Mike Franks; Past President Cathy Merrill of Dowagiac Area Federal Credit Union; Wagel, a retired guidance counselor; and Directors Cochrane and John Kasper, pastor of First United Methodist Church.

Retired Superintendent of Schools Larry Crandall served as membership chairman. Banker Doug Stickney is in charge of RYLA.

“The RYLA program is under review this year,” Stickney reported. “It is anticipated that the camp will begin again next summer. At this point, everything is being evaluated and re-evaluated by the committee to make a program that dovetails. Do we have to have the advanced? Do we have to have the college mentoring program? The committee will make a final recommendation on that to the district.”

Installed along with Groner were President-elect Wagel, Secretary Ray, new Treasurer Patti Badner of Kemner-Iott Agency of Cass County in Cassopolis, and Directors Kasper, Merrill and Prosecutor Victor Fitz.

Dick Judd continues as chairman for the Rotary Foundation,

Crandall will be club administration chairman and funeral director Brad Yazel continues as public relations chairman.

Retired social worker Marilu Franks serves in a districtwide youth capacity.