PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

In challenging economic times, it is vitally important to use The Rotary Foundation’s resources to help meet growing humanitarian needs. Through the Every Rotarian, Every Year initiative, the contributions to the Foundation’s Annual Programs Fund can be lifesaving for people in desperate circumstances. Our RCPJ is reaching out to Make Dreams Real through the Foundation’s humanitarian and educational programs by giving at least US100 to the Annual Programs Fund every year. The RCPJ Rotarians are responding positively to this fund. I’m proud and thankful.

Malaysians are generally a generous lot. I read of a newspaper report that a beggar received RM1,800 in one week off the streets of K.L. A few weeks ago, an organization raised more than RM150,000 for the children of Lhasat. Our Interactors raised more than RM40,000 from the Charity Concert. We raised RM131,000 early this year in the Charity Dinner Show. I have been thanking our Rotarians, sponsors and well-wishers. I’ll always remember.

Life has never been fair to many people. This trend will always continue. There’re people who are well nourished, even to the extent of wastage. But there’re others who struggle to get a meager meal a day. Let us be generous to the ones who are so greatly deprived. I’m thankful that our Rotarians of our club always respond to the needs of others. There are Rotarians who will without much thought support charity dinners of organizations and other Rotary Clubs. A table may cost RM2,000, yet they’re willing to pay RM200 each for a ticket. This is indeed generosity. My presidential year has been marked by many charity dinners and I have responded in support of any organization. I’ve made dreams real for these people. Let us continue to respond generously to the less fortunate people. 

June is Rotary Fellowship Month. Fellowship is important in a club like ours. It brings about greater understanding. We understand about people; we allow people to understand us. As Paul Harris said, “Fellowship is wonderful; it illuminates life’s pathway, spreads good cheer, and is worth high price.”

In the RCPJ, we never lack fellowship. Our members have seized the opportunities to fellowship in every possible way. President Kevin has been the catalyst in encouraging members to meet outside meetings. Our trips abroad to our sister-clubs are truly opportunities to talk and understand our members. Doing projects and organizing activities together are also times to foster closer ties in friendship. The Sunday golf in KGNS, I must say, is a great time to know each other better. But I don’t accept that the luncheon meetings are times for fellowship. There’re too rushed. An hour is not ideal to talk seriously about matters beyond Rotary. Unfortunately, fellowship is only confined to a limited number of Rotarians. The majority are not involved. This is where family outings are encouraged. These short trips over the weekend usually get good response from members.

I’ve been closely involved in the CLE and SuperCamp for more than 10 years. I’ve developed close friendship with Kevin because of the SuperCamp. Kevin’s two grown-up daughters now were little children when we first started on this camp. And my involvement with the CLE has drawn me closer to PP Yap Swee Fatt and to Ann Girija. Serving as a director in the Club Service and editor under PP Teo Woon Hud’s presidency has developed our friendship. 

Underlying the organization of projects and activities, we must not forget that we’re also learning about people. We learn to be more compassionate towards the unintended weaknesses of our members. We learn to be more tolerant. We understand an individual. We allow others to understand us. 

So praise fellowship for all these. 

The incoming President took the chair soon after. He thanked all the Directors for accepting their positions and sought their assistance and co-operation for The Future of Rotary is in Your Hands. Under the new structure of the CLP, there will be six Directors and the Board. They are listed below:

The members look forward to the new projects in the pipeline and the year ahead.