“I’m ready to volunteer anytime except Monday-Friday and can’t do weekends……”

We held the first ever meeting of our advisory board yesterday. Dixit Joshi, who heads the advisory board, opened proceedings with the comment: “I’m really up for volunteering at anytime but can’t do weekdays as I’m working, I’m knackered in the evenings and I’m busy with the kids and family at the weekend.” Even though he delivered his comment with a wry smile, Dixit was making an important point. Despite all good intentions, our generation just doesn’t seem to have enough time in the day to fit in philanthropic pursuits. Most of us find it much easier to just hand over the cash (which is good too, don’t get me wrong) and tick it off our to-do list. Our hope is that National Sewa Day (NSD) will encourage us to, at least, give a little time on 21 November 2010. Certainly, if the buzz we’re witnessing at various launch events and on-line translates into footfall on NSD, then we’re very confident that 21 November 2010 is going to have an irreversible, positive impact on the level of volunteering in the UK.
The NSD advisory board has been set up to, well, advise us! The board is made up of high achievers from various industries, communities and walks of life (banking, retail, accountancy, law, arts, IT). Members include:
• Dixit Joshi (soon to be Head of European Equities, Deutsche Bank);
• Bikash Mathur (European CEO, Polaris Software),
• Girish Sanger (Proprietor, Washington Mayfair Hotel, the Courthouse Kempinski & Bentley Hotels),
• Nina Amin (Partner, KPMG),
• Sir Trevor Chinn (prominent British businessman and philanthropist)
• Laura Marks (Chair, Mitzvah Day),
• Ramona Mehta (Partner, Mishcon de Reya),
• Nandita Chaudhuri (celebrated artist),
• Pinky Lilani (Founder/ Chair, Asian Women of Achievement Awards, motivational speaker and Indian cookery diva!),
• Hitesh Nathwani (CEO, VB & Sons),
• Sangita Kanoria (Director, Aermid Healthcare),
• Alpesh Patel (Principal, Praefinium Partners)
• Rohini Lalvani (Vitabiotics, UK),

Our ability to tap into the board member’s networks and business building know-how will undoubtedly further enhance NSD success. We thank the board members for volunteering their skills and for fitting NSD into their already busy schedules.
Every generation has a moment, an opportunity to take destiny into their own hands. The globe is at an inflexion point. Now’s our time to give time….
Arup Ganguly

Chairman - National Sewa Day