PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Over the years, I have perceived that these Interactors, taking them as representatives of our city youths, are self-driven and they have minds of their own. They propose projects and activities that reflect their times – getting to know boys and girls of their age group and taking pride in dressing up appropriately for meetings and installations. But they are innovative as could be seen from the Interact Club installations.

I have learned to understand them. I try not to talk down on them. With listening ears, we are able to share their proposals and challenges. And I find this a great pleasure.

I have often mentioned that after one year of leadership within the Interact Clubs, these Interactors are more self-confident. It is indeed a marked change in their personality.

Our projects in the New Generations have been very successful in training our youths. The SuperCamp and the Charity Concert among them have made an impact in leadership training. And the Interact Conference has given the Interactors an opportunity to fellowship with Interactors from the other clubs across the nation.

With all these positive aspects in building our youths, I am still concerned that opportunities for training have not reached out to the greater population of youths in schools. The Interactors represent a select group of young people who do not represent the majority of the student population. There are lots of other students who need these training. Perhaps Rotary could re-strategise and meet the needs of these other young people in schools.

The President also remarked that we should not be bogged down by little squabbles. He said that we need to look at the greater picture and agenda. These are words of wisdom. Rotarians of our Club should pitch in now and not allow such insignificant matters interfere with the main focus. On membership development, it sounds promising as 2 more names were mentioned, another lady and a gentleman. We need to develop our membership. We’re so short of resources. This is an item we should address in the next few years. The membership chairman has requested that all Directors speak to the members of their committees about inviting new members.

On the 48th Anniversary Charity Dinner & Show, the Club Service Director appealed to the Rotarians to be prepared for a great fund-raising event. The marketing kit will be ready soon and it will be presented to the Club at one of the luncheon meetings.

Good. Things are moving. But we cannot move fast enough without your support. Please support our Club. 

Our speaker of the week Mr Jerome Fernandez, a coordinator from the Aceh Project office of ITUC-GUFs, presented at length the period of reconstruction in Bandar Aceh. His talk focused on rebuilding the schools that had been completely devastated by the ferocity of the tsunami. With international funding, some schools have been rebuilt. Pictures of these schools show that there are made of two levels in block-like structures. They look modern with facilities for teachers such as the common staff room. What is really sad to know is that the number of children is not apparent. Their lives had been prematurely taken away. However, Jerome and his dedicated staff have to plan for the future. They have to move ahead.

The RCPJ took the opportunity to discuss how the SuperMum project could reach out to the single mothers in Bandar Aceh. Now there is some direction as to how the baking equipment could be channelled to and appointing people to be custodians of these equipment.

Thank you Jerome for the insights into this disaster. The RCPJ would like to acknowledge the good work that you and your staff are doing for the people of Aceh. 

1. Attendance

Article 11 Section 4 (a)(1) provides that a member must attend or make up at least 50 percent of club regular meetings in each half of the year.

(a)(2) provides that a member must attend at least 30 percent of own club’s regular meeting in each half of the year.

If a member fails to attend as required under section 4(a)(1) or (2) the member’s membership shall be subject to termination unless the Board consents to such non-attendance for good cause.

Article 11 Section 4(b) provides as follows:

Unless otherwise excused by the Board for good and sufficient reason or pursuant to Article 8 Sections 3 or 4 each member who fails to attend or make up 4 consecutive regular meetings shall be informed by the Board that the member’s non-attendance may be considered a request to terminate membership in this club. Thereafter the Board, by a majority vote, may terminate the member’s membership.

2. Make-ups

Article 8 Section 1 provides rules for make-ups. Make-ups are only valid if the make-up is done within 14 days BEFORE or 14 days AFTER a member has missed his club’s scheduled regular meeting. It is the member’s responsibility to give notice in writing of his make-ups to the attendance Chairman.

The following, among others, are considered valid make-ups

(1) Attending at least 60 percent of the regular meeting of another Rotary Club or a provisional Rotary Club
(2) Attending a regular meeting of Rotaract or Interact Club as Rotarian Adviser
(3) Attending RI convention, Rotary District Conference/Assembly or Intercity Meeting.
(4) Attending a club service project authorized by the Board as make-up.
(5) Attending a service committee meeting to which a member has been assigned or a Board meeting.
(6) Presenting yourself at the regular meeting of another Rotary Club but such meeting has been cancelled or postponed without your knowledge
(7) Participate through a eclub web site in an interactive activity requiring an average of 30 minutes of participation.

3. PROOF of make-ups:

If the make-up is at another Rotary Club it is usual to produce the make-up card issued by that Rotary Club as evidence. 

The make-up card or notice of make-up should be given to the Attendance Chairman for his record.

In other types of make-ups as enumerated above it will be sufficient to give in writing details as to where or what event the make-up was done together with the date. Such details can be entered into the Club’s Attendance Register in the appropriate column where the make-up is required.

As attendance is a very important aspect of a Rotarian’s involvement as a member, it will be appreciated that due attention be given to the above so as to ensure that each Rotarian does not commit a breach of the Rules on Attendance. As pointed out above a breach can entail very serious consequences concerning a Rotarian’s continued membership in the Club.

Approved by the Board on 28 Aug 08

Certified by Secretary.

Thank you for reporting my talk on the "Malaysian Oil Industry" in the PeeJay Pos. Two corrections please; the oil/gas (oil equivalent) export revenue for Petronas is US$28 billion a year at US$120/bbl, or US$33 billion a year if it is sold at US$140/bbl.

I retired from BP as its Executive Director-Marketing/Commercial, not CEO.

Regards,
goh seng chuan

Last night my wife and I were sitting in the living room talking about the many things of life... in-between... we talked about the idea of living or dying.

I said to her: ' Dear, I've signed the AMD, never let me live in a vegetative state, totally dependent on machines and liquids from a bottle. If you see me in that state I want you to disconnect all the contraptions that are keeping me alive, I'd much rather die'.

Then she got up from the sofa with this real look of admiration towards me....and proceeded to disconnect the TV, the Cable, the DVD, the Computer, the Cell Phone, the Ipod, and the Xbox, and then went to the fridge and threw away all my beer!!
.....I ALMOST DIED!!!