Thanks for voting

Fellow Members of CCI who voted

Some of you visit our club regularly and have made your own selections as to who to vote for. Others who are members but not regular club goers and have been guided who to vote for by well wishers of our club, being members who visit our club regularly. What is important is that all of you made the time to come and vote and that is what is most important. My gratitude is to all of you who voted.

As long as organizational development takes place on a long term basis our club will continue to be a winner. As far as the constitution of the board goes, it must constantly evolve with best interests of our club at heart and an adoption of best management practices. CCI must always be for Cricket first, as best possible, but other sports too must evolve in parallel or given the momentum of the times, even outperform in their roles to contribute to sports development as the main focus of our club. It is a sports club after all.

If this happens, personally, I will always be a winner, even if it means loosing an election. I will have no regrets. Time will tell as the future unfolds.

All the very best to those elected as trustees of the members. May God bless the entire management team with strength and ability to take our club forward so as ......

“To be a premier choice for members & their families to avail of sports and recreation facilities; encouraging participation, camaraderie, sportsmanship, networking, heritage, culture and appreciation of  cuisine and the sensible development of necessary facilities and services for the same, all at reasonable costs.” {Vision Statement}

yours truly,


Rajiv Bhatia

Online feedback: http://bit.ly/rdb_feedback

Eve of elections - Governance at CCI closest to my heart

My dear fellow members of CCI

The last two weeks have been a great learning experience for me. The learning first commenced in 2007 December when I was allowed to read out a vision statement drafted by me at the AGM. It reads, as finally circulated to members through the President's letter in 2009, as for our club:

“To be a premier choice for members & their families to avail of sports and recreation facilities; encouraging participation, camaraderie, sportsmanship, networking, heritage, culture and appreciation of  cuisine and the sensible development of necessary facilities and services for the same, all at reasonable costs.”

In 2010 at the Cathedral School 150th celebration dinner, two ex-Cathedralites, also our club members, approx 10 years my junior approached me and suggested that I should stand for EC elections at our club. But the recommendation by them to me was that I should not be politically aligned with any group or persons.

I stood for elections last year 2011, proposed by 2 class mates of mine, both gents of international stature and far away from club politics. I filed my nomination rather late. However my KYC address to fellow members was well received and is at http://bit.ly/rdb_kyc I lost the election but the club and its members won themselves the first time ever Organizational Development Committee, a committee to help the club professionalize. What it may do in the years ahead is explained at http://bit.ly/odc_explained.

This year my candidature has been proposed by the  two ex-Cathedralites, also our club members, approx 10 years my junior and I have once again stood independently

1. To give the ODC's role a greater impetus as explained at http://bit.ly/rdb_kyc_2012 and http://bit.ly/rdb_kyc_2012_2

2. To encourage the process of developing candidates who will be willing to contest elections as independents in future, replacing politics with professionalism.

Another ex-Cathedralite, 10 years my senior and the Chairman of a group of the largest Charities in Mumbai, where I am a Trustee as well, expressed his concern to me that `independent candidates never win'.

Today, on the eve before the elections,  I do believe that he may be right. In my case I may not win. Not because some members do not know me, or do not appreciate my role for the benefit of our club, but because they do not trust my categorically declared independence of candidature.

If I WILL NOT COMPROMISE my stated position (ie. one of independence), today, for the benefit of getting more votes in my favour, how reasonable are the chances that I will not do so while representing member's interests on the EC, if elected and during my working tenure?

My dear fellow members. As I have mentioned in my KYC, `the good news is that choice is yours'. As long as our club wins, I am fully satisfied. For in any event, I am a winner!

Thank you for your love and affection, which I heartily reciprocate!

Face Book discussions, confirm my role on EC at the CCI, if elected

As a candidate for the Executive Committee Elections I need to refrain from commenting or posting on the various FB groups. However I am pleased to see that members do have views which they like to share and wish to see implementation results on. This confirms my recommendation (point no. 3 http://bit.ly/rdb_kyc_2012) that we need regular and professionally conducted Member Surveys, open house discussions, pro-active online and off-line member relationship systems, to ensure members participation in decision making. As I mentioned in my KYC last year http://bit.ly/rdb_kyc lack of transparency and information sharing with members often makes for idle gossip. Strong administrative & IT systems and personnel adequacy would ensure delivery of results to members satisfaction. So I do hope that members will support me.

May Ganpati Bapa bless our CCI! Best wishes to all candidates!

Ganpati Bapa Moria! - A prayer to Lord Ganesh to bless our CCI's next Executive Committee with strength to take it forward with high levels of professionalism, sports, friendship and harmony. I look forward to working with all members on the Executive Committee, if elected! Best wishes to all candidates!

My fellow members, get set to make Organizational Development at CCI a mass agenda! All for one! One for all! United we stand, divided we fall! 

Good Governance - Key to Club Management Success

Fellow Members of the Cricket Club of India

Mandating an entry into a board room to the nicest of people, by itself, is not enough. While managing assets and operations for:

• A Membership strength of 9000 (+ families) and growing rapidly
• Staff strength of 350-500 (own and outsourced)
• Numerous Committees and Sub-Committees requiring cohesive working
• Numerous vendors, supplying products & services to the club
• Financial Assets of 390 cr +
• Properties of CCI and their maintenance & development
• Sports Activities, sought to be made more meaningful
• Entertainment & F&B related activities and events

the CCI needs good Governance, deeply embodied into the management of our club, processes, systems, HR & IT for sound decision making and eventual member satisfaction.

With the Organizational Development Committee set up last year in November 2011, with me as its Hon. Secretary, in 9 months we have had 14 meetings and numerous hours of legwork dedicated to our Organization. I thank the Executive Committee collectively, for heeding to my request and its indulgence towards professionalizing our club. I thank the President and Vice President for their regular participation. I thank my Committee members for their sustained involvement. I thank the staff & vendors for their co-operation. The Office of The Secretary is appreciated as the pillar & center of Organizational Development at the club.

I now appeal to my fellow members for their support to this effort at the forthcoming Executive Committee Elections on September 21st (4.30pm to 8pm) and 22nd (8am to 6pm), where I am standing for the post of Executive Committee member.

My Know Your Candidate address to our fellow members is at this link and you may feel free to write to me using the online form at http://bit.ly/rdb_feedback which page has other informative links on the subject.

Know Your Candidate at the Cricket Club of India 2012 Executive Committee Elections

(I do not have any group affiliations and as such am standing independently, to work for our club. Hence expression of support for my candidature by any person or persons would be appreciated as such an independent candidate. I thank all supporters for the same.)

Fellow Members of CCI

Last year my case to you was that of `detrimental politics' versus `sound Governance and Professional Administration'. Shortly thereafter in November 2011, the Organizational Development Committee or ODC was born. This has comprised of professionals from among our club's membership.  In 9 months we have had 14 meetings and numerous hours of legwork dedicated to our Organization. I thank the Executive Committee collectively, for heeding to my request and its indulgence towards professionalizing our club. I thank the President and Vice President for their regular participation.  I thank my Committee members for their sustained involvement. I thank the staff & vendors for their co-operation. The Office of The Secretary is appreciated as the pillar & center of Organizational Development at the club.

There is no dearth of young professionals within the club's membership who can and will contribute to our club's organizational development, forever. To accelerate professionalism and deeply embody it into the management of our club, we will need to keep adding them in to the Executive Committee, as they may make themselves available to serve the club.

Some principles of and approach intended for sound organizational development at our club, over the next 3 years:

1. Transparency, Good Governance & Administration as the hallmarks of our management.
2. Sports as a primary focus so that our club produces an ever increasing number of champions.
3. Member Surveys, open house discussions, pro-active online and off-line member relationship systems, to ensure members participation in decision making.
4. Professionally conducted departmental audits to assist our Committees particularly Housekeeping and Food & Beverages.
5. Purchase Management Systems & Audits to ensure best practices.
6. Human Resource Development – we have 350-500 people working for us at our club. HR Audits, improvement programs and training will ensure quality services for members in parallel with staff comfort. This will be commenced in early October 2012.
7. IT based Systems. Adoption of standard operating practices. This will increase administrative and management efficiency and improve member experiences. Our once challenged IT infrastructure is constantly being streamlined. Members & Room Guests will start enjoying Wi-Fi Internet connectivity next week. This is only the beginning of an automated environment at our club.
8. Future leaders and management do not happen automatically. Through leadership programs there must be a conscious effort on our part to ensure the organized development of future leaders and management from among the members of our Club.

Who or what I am matters little. Please focus on what I have said & stand for. For your information my name is Rajiv Bhatia. And the good news is that the choice is yours! In any event please do stay in touch! Thank you for your kind attention.

thanks & regards

Rajiv Bhatia

mandaterajiv@gmail.com 
http://bit.ly/rdb_feedback

Cricket Club of India Executive Committee Elections 2012

I have filed my nomination for the Cricket Club of India Executive Committee Elections this year. Scheduled with the AGM on September 21st & additional voting day on September 22nd, 2012

Thanks for proposing me - Rishi Aggarwal (fellow ODC member) and seconding me - Gautam Jagtiani - both ex - Cathedralites & members of the club who understand my role in Organizational Development work at the club over the next 3 years, if elected. 

See the ODC Explained  http://bit.ly/odc_explained

Send your feedback through the online form at  http://bit.ly/odc_fb

My profile from last year is at http://bit.ly/rdb_prof

Know Your Candidate Address from last year is at http://bit.ly/rdb_kyc

My views remain unchanged, only supported by work over the past year on the ODC, well assisted by its members. 

CCI Voting members, please do come and vote and excercise your right to make the club what you want it to be.

thanks & regards

Rajiv