PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

The RCPJ AGM signals almost the completion of the first half of the Rotary Year. It is a reminder to all Directors and Rotarians to deliver to our community what they have pledged. There are hiccups along the way but we need to accept them as challenges. We’ve only 6 more months to go. Back to the AGM. I must thank the membership for attending the AGM. We had more than sufficient quorum – 70% in attendance. This clearly indicates that our members love their RCPJ. They show concern about the accounts for the last Rotary Year. I must thank Rtn Koh Kia Heong for presenting the accounts and consistently looking after our accounts for a number of years. I must say this is not an easy job. It involves systematic entries of funds and the disbursement of money for our projects. I must also thank PDG Dato’ Dr Low Teong for the guidance in conducting the AGM. It was a little confusing at the beginning as a few of us thought that the AGM is separate from the luncheon meeting. We know now that the AGM is part of the luncheon meeting. We’re still learning. IPP Dato’ Kevin Yong had a great year in putting our Rotary funds in a healthy position. The fund-raising charity dinner held in his year as President raised more than RM130,000. Then the NUYOU, through the good office of Rtn Loo Kit Choong raised more than RM20,000. This Rotary Year, under the capable leadership of PP Teo Woon Hud, we managed to raise more than RM70,000 from the Dama Musical Show. Indeed, all these fund-raising projects have put our Club back again into a healthy financial state.

As a senior Rotarian remarked at the AGM, the mood was lively with intermittent jokes as questions and answers were traded in a friendly manner. This is the style and tradition of our RCPJ. We do things in a light-hearted manner but we don’t shirk our responsibility. 

We get our work done. We’re different from the AGMs at the corporate level. We’re Rotarians who come together to serve our community by sacrificing our time and resources without any remuneration. If Rotarians are picked on at the slightest irregularity, it would be difficult to encourage Rotarians to come forward to serve. So we need to be more generous and forgiving. And be complimentary as well. But we still follow the rules of our Club.

A few senior Rotarians have met up. We expressed concern that the goodwill and harmony could be threatened because of a couple of incidents. The Rotarians have been delegated to talk to the parties concerned. We hope that they could accept the recommendations from the meeting and put the unfortunate incidents to rest and move on for the sake of goodwill within the Club. Another matter raised at the meeting was the use of the rcpj group. According to our moderator of the group website, PDG David Ho, it has always been used to disseminate information to our members. It should not be used to indiscriminately convey matters that might upset members who are not at all involved. Perhaps a phone call or an email only directed to a particular member should be the practice. There’s no means to censor any grievance. So I appeal to you to think first before using the group platform to air your opinions or frustration that may upset other members. I think it’s a fair request.

Our Club has been featured in last month’s Rotarian. Allow me to quote: “The Rotary clubs of Pasig North, Philippines, and Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, recently completed a two-year CLE program …” (p.40). Our Club is the only Club in the District that has committed to the Concentrated Language Encounter for a number of years. We have travelled to various parts of the country to impart this technique to our English teachers, particularly those from the primary schools. Indeed, we’re proud to be able to contribute towards education in our country. I must thank Ann Girija and PP Yap Swee Fatt for making this possible. This is selfless service to the community at large.

Rotarians and Anns, let us work together to complete the Rotary Year with a bang.

“I read with interest your article about the Four Way Test, but here is why it is wrong and should not be promoted by Rotary: 

1. Is it the TRUTH? The truth is variable. It used to be the “truth” that the world was flat. And if you didn’t accept that truth, you were burned at the stake. Then for many years it was taught that the world was round. Now they say it’s elliptical because of the pull of gravity. Which is true?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned? This seldom works. Is it fair to the villagers in Afghanistan when we have to bomb out a house where terrorists are hiding? The fact is that in life, you can’t always be fair to all concerned, and you have to try to make good decisions about what is best for the majority of people – or, perhaps your group
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIP? Lawyers know that this is not the way the world works. When there is a dispute, to settle it in an amicable way, one has to reduce the level of unfairness that each party feels, and get the parties to agree to something they don’t feel is fair but will accept to avoid further stress and conflict. Arbitrators often say that a good settlement is one where both sides feel cheated. It doesn’t build goodwill, and it certainly doesn’t lead to better friendships, but it does decrease stress and conflict in society. The back-slapping, salesmen type who is always trying to be liked and create goodwill is a thing of the past, if that sort ever existed.
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned? This is certainly not the way the world works. Almost invariably what is good for one person is negative for another. There may be some “win-win” situations in life, but it’s important for mature people to realize that not every action can be beneficial or even fair to all parties concerned, and that for life to move forward smoothly, some people have to sacrifice.”

At the recent Manila Rotary Institute, Past RI President Bhichai Rattakul in his Keynote Address on “The Future of Rotary is Vocational Service” touched on the application of the Four Way Test. In his speech, which won him the ONLY standing ovation of over 3 minutes in the Institute, he advised Rotarians to be guided by the Four Way Test and not use it to challenge others to apply it to themselves. Some thought he was wrong with that comment. Others agreed fully with him. 

There are many articles written on the Four Way Test. All of them have in common the following paragraph “Rotarian Herbert J Taylor created the 4-Way Test in 1932 when he was asked to take charge of a company that was facing bankruptcy. The 24 word test of ethics was for his employees to follow in their business and professional lives and the guide for sales, production, advertising and all relations with dealer and customer.”

Today the 4 Way Test is promoted to Rotarians by Rotary Clubs so that we can check our thoughts, our words and deeds against the 4 Way Test and hopefully do the right thing.

The following were elected to serve the Board of Directors or the Rotary Club of Petaling Jaya and the Management Committee of the Petaling Jaya Charity Foundation.

Rotary quote of the day presented by PDG Dato Dr Low Teong: 

“I am a Rotarian because I enjoy helping others and putting my time to good use. I am a Rotarian because it represents a lifestyle that I have embraced both spiritually and voluntarily. I am a Rotarian because it symbolizes a mental attitude that motivates me to serve. I am a Rotarian because Rotary teaches me the same ethical principles that were taught to me by my parents: Show goodness towards everyone at all times.”
Past RI Director Miguel A F Artola, 1982-84

ATTENDANCE: 28/40 = 70.00%

My fellow Rotarians,

The idea of the family of Rotary is a simple one, and one that we celebrate every December during Family Month. Every Rotarian is part of the Rotary family - but our family is much larger than just our 1.2 million members. The family of Rotary includes every one of the men, women, and children who are involved in our work: the spouses and children of our members, our Rotary Foundation program participants and alumni, and all of those who are part of our programs, in the tens of thousands of Rotary communities around the world.

The youngest generation of the Rotary family is composed of our Rotaract clubs and Interact clubs, the participants in our Rotary Youth Leadership Awards program, our Ambassadorial Scholars, and our more than 8,000 Rotary Youth Exchange students every year. As in any family, our youths are our brightest promise for the future. Of course, it is my sincere wish that many of these young people go on to become Rotarians in good time. But Rotary is a part of them even today - and they are a part of us.

My wife, June, and I have been married for over 40 years, and I have been a Rotarian for nearly as long. Although women were not eligible for Rotary club membership at that time, June has been a part of the Rotary family from the day I first entered the Rotary Club of Grangemouth. There is no question that my Rotary service has demanded a great deal of both of us since then - but there can be no question that we have both reaped more than we have sown. 

I believe that Rotary club membership can and should enhance our home lives and family interactions. As we work to attract more and younger qualified members, we would do well to remember that today's young professionals are often balancing work and family responsibilities. Adding in a commitment to Rotary service should complement, never compete with, those responsibilities. By scheduling meetings outside of the workday, planning activities that involve family members, and welcoming family members whenever possible, we help to ensure that every Rotary family will feel a true part of the greater Rotary family.

Every club should strive to achieve a balanced interaction between Rotarians and their families - and the family of Rotary. Only by working together, as a family, can we ensure that the Rotary of today grows into an even stronger Rotary of tomorrow.

District Public Relations Campaign

Dear All,

As many of you may be aware, our District’s proposal for the PR Grant 2009/10 has been approved by Rotary International. The PR Grant is a competitive grant, and Districts compete for selection. The Rotary Club of Central Damansara (RCCD) was involved in assisting the District in submitting the proposal to Rotary International. Governor Leslie Salehuddin & District PR Committee Chair PP Peter Pek has appointed the Rotary Club of Central Damansara as the District PR Campaign Task Force Committee. 

The launch of the campaign will be held on 9th January 2010 at the District Conference in Kuala Lumpur and the campaign will run for 3 months from January to March 2010. The campaign will involve various media channels including Radio, Newspapers, Magazines, Outdoor Billboards, Ambient, TV Screens on Busses, Bus shelter and Internet TV. We will be using the various Rotary International Public Service announcements “Humanity in Motion” materials for this campaign. However, these materials are being “localised” for local consumption. (voice over, rescoring, relaying of local Voice over, photography of local talents).

As part of this campaign, media owners have graciously come forward to provide either free or heavily discounted media rates. We expect this entire campaign to have a media value of RM450,000.00 with a approximate eye ball reach of 18.5 million viewers.

All these materials are being produced now and should be ready by end December 2009. I understand that many clubs are also considering to run their similar campaign at their localised areas. We strongly urge Rotary Clubs to consider using these materials as part of their club PR campaign. All these materials are being localised for “Malaysian consumption” with the call for action being www.rotary3300.org.my and www.rotaryyourclubname.com.my.

To help further this District PR Campaign, we request clubs around the district to talk to your local councils and local media owners to help support this campaign by providing free media space and production. There are many Rotary Clubs who has/have their own billboards/bus shelters in their locality. The committee could assist by providing the required materials for use in your locality. Media Space could be in the form of Bus back panels, bus shelters, bus wraps, billboard, street signage’s, free standing posters, street ambient posters, LED screens, TV screens at malls or any other possible media.

As time is of the essence, we request that you revert to us in the next 1 week if your club would be able to assist make this District PR campaign a truly nationwide effort. Hope to hear from you soonest.

Regards,

Rtn Samantha Samson
District 3300 PR Campaign Task Force
Rotary Club of Central Damansara