Past Prez Todd introduced  Sanil

🤝 Summary of Sanil Sharma's Talk: Rotary Means Business

Sanil Sharma, a dedicated Rotarian with extensive involvement at the club and district level, including multiple past presidencies of the Rotary Club of Brampton South, spoke about the Rotary Means Business (RMB) Fellowship. He emphasized that this initiative is close to his heart and is a powerful way to foster connection and growth within Rotary.

Sharma began by tracing Rotary's origins back to 1905 and highlighted his personal 20+ year journey in the organization, including his role in significantly growing his club's membership. He introduced the concept of Rotary Fellowships, which are independent groups formed around a common interest, requiring at least five members from different countries to be officially recognized.

The main purpose of the RMB Fellowship is to encourage Rotarians to support one another's professional success by doing business together and forming long-lasting friendships. Sharma provided an example of needing a service and realizing the benefit of prioritizing a fellow Rotarian for that business. This aligns with Rotary’s Four-Way Test and code of ethics.

RMB was founded in San Francisco in 2004 and has grown globally to include about 267 chapters and over 2,000 members across 60+ countries, with a goal of having a chapter in every city or district. Sharma was instrumental in establishing the official RMB chapter for District 7080 after being inspired at a Rotary International Convention.

Key benefits of joining include:

• Networking with Rotarians from various clubs, states, and countries.

• Exploring new markets for products and services.

• Professional development and mentorship.

Membership is open to Rotarians, Rotaractors, and even non-Rotarian business professionals (who may be encouraged to eventually join Rotary). Joining the local chapter, attending events, and utilizing the global RMB portal (rotarymeansbusiness.org) connects members to a worldwide network of trusted contacts. Sharma stressed that RMB is about building trust, creating value, and living Rotary values every day, not just transactional business. Membership is available for a one-time lifetime fee of $100 USD or an annual fee of $25 USD.