President Harry welcomed everyone including guests, Dr Hari Haran (Guest speaker) and Liz Clarsen.
Announcements
PP Jenny asked for donations of $20 to buy plates of food for the Art Show supper to be given by next Tuesday 8th.  A volunteer for the door of the Art Show on Friday 11th August was also requested to assist Treasurer Tania. John Palmer and later James Shevlin volunteered.
Pres Harry reminded all Board members that there is a Board Meeting at the Golf Club on Thursday 10th.
PP John Palmer attended the Stronger Communities meeting and reported that Walk Around the World (WATW) proposal had been favourably received. Also two proposals from Phil Wade – Hallam Ave Tennis Club and Lane Cove Bowling Club were well received.
Pres Harry explained that Martin had suggested extending WATW to the aged population to increase their activity. This helps to prevent dementia and cardiovascular problems. Probus clubs would be a good entry place to the aged.
PP Martin reported that a new website is being developed for WATW. Carol Sinclair has links to health and wellness groups in this type of area.
Sgt John P fined many members for a variety of misdemeanours including not knowing the words of the Swiss National Anthem on Swiss National Day in honour of our Youth Exchange Student, Ken, from Switzerland. 
Guest Speaker – Dr Hari Haran
Pres Harry introduced Dr Hari Haran, a Rotarian and Past President from Pondicherry (a former French Colony) in India. Dr Haran has spoken to 576 Rotary Clubs mainly in USA and Australia about his work in Indian Music Therapy. They ranged in attendees from 3 to 1500 and one in Perth he spoke to recently had no female members.
Dr Haran has about 8000 clients in the USA and visits twice a year. All proceeds of his CD sales go to his Rotary Club of Aurocity in Pondicherry.
Music in India is Minute Understanding of Sound In Creation. It is used to attain and maintain health and wellbeing. It is an established health service similar to occupational therapy and physiotherapy and there are music therapy departments in universities in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra. It is a holistic treatment approach and Dr Haran treats the whole body with music. It helps with many different conditions such as Anxiety and Depression, Chemical Dependency, Alzheimer’s/Dementia, Chronic and Acute Pain, Labour and Delivery and Neurological Disorders.
Indian Music has 66 microtones as opposed to World Music which has 7 notes, 12 placed tones and 16 quarter tones. Dr Haran played several different pieces of music and chants during his talk.
 He then went on to show us photos of a person’s chakras taken with a red camera filter (seven centres of spiritual power in the human body) before and after music therapy showing how the chakras had opened and the person’s stress had been relieved.
We all practised our chanting too!
A map of the temples around Pondicherry showed how they were built on planetary positions 3000 years ago. Many health and domestic problems were explained by astrology also e.g. Mars affects blood or liver problems and divorces and the Moon affects mental problems through the brain and nerves.
He went on to say that if we listened to a particular chant (Navagraha-sun) for 6 months we wouldn’t need to wear glasses any more. He is 66 and doesn’t need glasses as he chants this chant every day. When listening to the chants it is important to be lying or sitting and not doing anything else at the time.
It was suggested that politicians need music therapy.
Questions
PP Dick Dawes - How long do you need to listen each day? Twenty minutes for 6 – 8 weeks
Roger W – Has music therapy been submitted to scientific study institutions? Yes Hari’s PhD was on this at a US university. There are many music therapists in the world.
Liz Clarsen – Is there a common factor between Indian and Western music therapy? Indian participates and Western just listens.
PP Roger Wescombe thanked Dr Haran for having travelled thousands of kms to speak to us.  Roger also mentioned that Greenwich Hospital uses music therapy quite a bit especially for people with dementia with good results. We all want good health.
Further information can be seen on Dr Haran’s website http://indianmusictherapy.org.in/
Bunnings voucher won by John Palmer.
Rtn James reported there were 9 Rotarians and 2 guests with 3 apologies.
Next week’s meeting:The Christian churches seem to be losing their congregations in the Western world. Sunday is not what it used to be. And while active church participation is diminishing, so is participation in a whole range of social institutions, Rotary among them. What the hell is going on? And how are the churches responding to the situation? Our own Karen Paull is part of one innovative response.
 
President Harry introducing our guest speaker DR. Hari Haran
 
 
Dr. Hari Haran discussing Indian Music Therapy.