Events

Balaji also founded Golden Square Offices, an organization which helps eliminate the hassles which small teams face when having an office. Moreover, he started BNI Bangalore, where many of the 3000+ members generate 100% of their business through referrals, making client acquisition a pleasure. BNI honored him with the title of Director Emeritus.

Balaji has a B.Tech from IIT Madras, as well as an MBA from IIM Bangalore.

Balaji’s wife, Arathi, is his partner in both business and life. They enjoy watching comedy shows and movies together. Their son, Abhiram, specializes in brand identity creation and development, while their daughter, Aditi, is a multifaceted poet and programmer. In his leisure time, Balaji enjoys playing chess.

November 15 will be our yearly raffle drawing to win a Rolex watch. Many donations and contributions have gone into this event, beyond the mere sale of raffle tickets. But all of these monies have been contributed to one entity which has been an integral part of our Rotary Club for decades.

Our Club's foundation, known as the Rotary Club of Memorial Spring Branch Charities, Inc.,(or Charities, Inc. in Club-speak) funds many charitable acts in which our Club particiaptes. But how does this foundation work? Who contributes to it and what are tangible results of such contributions? Ashok Garg and Bill Haglund will asnwer such questions, and indicate the importance of what Charities, Inc. does.

After the presentation, our meeting will conclude with the raffle drawing to see who will win the Rolex watch.

Employment attorney Ted Meyer will speak to us regarding the best leadership practices in baseball, and how they can apply to life outside the sport.

In addition to representing numerous clients on matters relating to leadership and organizational excellent, Ted is also a self-taught baseball historian. He has pursued both interests for over 30 years, ultimately inspring him to write the book "Championing the Cause of Leadership: A Look at the Baseball Dynasties".

In the world today, there are many stories about crime and repeat criminal behavior. In these stories, many offenders have been through the prison system, many times repeatedly. This Friday, the Club gets to hear of examples and programs where this is NOT the case.

Al Massey is the Executive Relations Manager with Prison Entrepreneurship Program (PEP) in Houston. He is responsible for coordinating monthly events at the Oliver J. Bell Unit in Cleveland, TX, and recruiting prospective volunteers and supporters through meetings and public speaking engagements. Al graduated from the University of Houston and worked over 35 years Management Experience in the Transportation Industry. 

Al went to prison at age of 55 for Intoxication Manslaughter and served 5 years and 4 months on a six-year sentence. In 2008, he went to work with PEP after his release. He has worked as an In-prison Manager, Re-entry Manager and Executive Relations Manager. He is also a Graduate of the PEP program.

Presently, he has started 3 new businesses while working for PEP (Chemical Bioteck Solutions, Bio Clean USA, and Permian Chemical Solutions). He is also in the process of opening a restaurant in Katy, TX named Lettuce Eat.

Please come this Friday to see and be reminded that despite the negative things in the world that tend to bring us down, there are positive rays and moments of hope that are still around.