PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

I must thank the Rotarians who have volunteered to help, especially in hosting the families. I must also thank PDG David Ho for planning the itinerary with immaculate finesse. The exchange students are staying with the following Rotarians:

1. Noah Park......Host family: Rtn Loo Kit Choong and Ann Kim
2. Haruka Nakajima.....Host family: President Kevin Yong and Ann Penny
3. Yunta Sato.....Host family: PP Teo Woon Hud and Ann Karen Teo
4. Rie Hurukata.....Host family: Mr Wong Heng Khong
5. Chiharu Tsuyuzaki.....Host family: PP Dr J.D. John and Ann Rohini

The students have seen parts of K.L. by taking the local transport with our Interactors. They have visited Putrajaya, thanks to Ann Penny, Mei Ling and Mei Fong.

The welcome dinner held at PP Teo Woon Hud and Ann Karen’s residence on Monday was an evening of great fellowship. Seldom have I seen the array of food mustered through the culinary hands of our Anns in pot-luck.

The students were invited to join the Rotarians for the weekly luncheon meeting at the Sheraton. The Rotarians were in their usual casual and jovial mood. Each of the students was requested to say a few things before the audience. What seemed to impress them were the multicultural observations of K.L. Haruka is very much intrigued by the mosques and she has decided to do a study on them.

On Thursday evening, they will be treated to a steamboat fare at Damansara village and on Friday, a bowling competition with our Interactors and Rotarians at the Cosmo Bowl in Mega Mall. The highlight of their visit will be the Cherry Fish Farm in Rawang on Saturday. A farewell dinner will be hosted by my family and I in the evening on Saturday at my residence.

I must say how glad we are to meet and host our young exchange students and let them see that we are people who have the care and love for youths.

We need members to volunteer their services. Each of us is blessed with the skills in different ways. Together we can achieve the things we set our minds to. President Kevin is doing wonders in his two months of office. He leads well. He compliments very generously. He is always there in the midst of action. We thank the Past Presidents for coming forward to hold key positions in the Club. Your presence has made a difference. Things are moving fast. I hope this momentum will continue.

I always believe that if everyone does his or her bit, we can realize those dreams in reality as the RI President has said. Please step forward to help. You may not know but your little assistance is a contribution to the success of our projects.

All of them expressed their gratitude to the Rotarians. They like K.L. But they have seen the rest of the city yet. One was particularly interested in the mosques around the city. But there was no mention of Malaysian food. I’m not too sure whether they liked the chili tau foo served at the luncheon.

What impressed me most was their politeness and gentleness in their behavior in comparison with our Interactors. I think our Interactors (the boys) are brash and arrogant (some of them). These Interactors could take a lesson from our Ichihara students on respect and politeness.

There’s a week’s programme planned for them. And I’m sure they’re going to take home their experiences of their homestay in Malaysia.

Eric Wong’s comment on decorum at service avenue meetings

I totally agree with the views expressed and hope members take them in the right spirit and help to make our meetings more productive and professional. Some will say don’t be too serious about it. But I think there is a time and place for everything. Meetings are definitely not occasions for letting our hair down. We have to respect each other as expressed by Eric. Members must give due respect to the Chair, even they do not respect the person sitting in it. The Chairman must also learn to respect the members by taking their views seriously and disagreeing agreeably if need be.

One of the drills of Interact training is punctuality. 

Shouldn’t it also be ours, too? If one can’t avoid being late for a meeting, it is only courteous to apologise to the meeting and not just straddle in and sit down like the time is flexible. 

If we agree to encourage more people to join Rotary or stay on longer after joining, one of the ways is to project a positive image by out conduct at meetings and practise common courtesies like:

1. Punctuality,

2. Respond to invitations as early as possible

3. To inform the host as early as possible if we have to withdraw from an invitation or event after giving an affirmative response.

Duty Roster 

PP Rupert Goldman’s reminder at the luncheon meeting on the 12th inst. for all Rotarians to take note of their duties and get substitutes if they are unable to perform on that particular meeting may sound frivolous to some. It is not, let me assure all members. To call 5 members to remind them of their duties and get substitutes took my sec at my old co. half a day until she could not take it any more. One day she asked why this was necessary when every member should know their duties by referring to the directory. It would be a big step forward for our Club if all of us could just change this culture and take the trouble to refer to the duty roster every week a couple of days before the meeting and look for our own replacements if necessary. 

The alternative of looking for members to perform duties on the spot is definitely shabby and should be avoided as far as possible.

Jack Lim

The newsletter is for every member of the Club. Express your views and share them with our members. All comments and suggestions are meant to improve matters related to the Club. Thanks Jack for your remarks. Ed.

Ah Beng went to take night courses for the reason in future can get promotion or better job. During work, Ah Beng likes to show off to Ah Seng about his knowledge.

Ah Beng: Ah Seng ah... I've been taking night courses for 3 months already, next week is the exam.
Ah Seng: Oh... Good luck ah. 

Then Ah Beng started show off...

Ah Beng: Ok, I test you, who is Graham Bell?
Ah Seng: Don't know 
Ah Beng: He is the inventor of phone la... in 1876, see... if you take night courses, you would know this.!
Ah Seng: ....................... *speechless*

The next day, Ah Beng shows off again...

Ah Beng: Ah Seng ah... let me ask you, who is Jean Jacques Rousseau?
Ah Seng: Wash your toilet one ah?
Ah Beng: No! He's the author of "Confessions", nah nah nah... told you already, if you take night courses, you would know this.
Ah Seng: ........................ *speechless + frustrated*

The next day, once again...

Ah Beng: Do you know who is Alexander Dumas? 
Ah Seng: Your gay partner?
Ah Beng: Choiii!!! If you don't know don't simply answer la. He's the author of "The 3 Musketeers" , if you take night courses, you would know this.
Ah Seng: ...................... *speechless + frustrated + irritated*

This time Ah Seng cannot tahan (stand) anymore and ask Ah Beng...

Ah Seng: Eh... Do you know who is Ah Kaw? 
Ah Beng: Errrr... No!
Ah Seng: He's the guy sleeping with your wife!! If you stop night
courses, you would know this!!
Ah Beng: ....................... *fainted*