Nine
THE ROTARY STORY
CONTINUES (1992/3-1998)
(cont'd - 5)
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Equally important to the members of the Vocational Service of RCPJ during this period was the need to tap the brains and creativity of Malaysian youths through the organisation of seminars and workshops. One such 'creativity' workshop, initiated by the Club in collaboration with the Malaysian Invention and Design Society [MINDS] for secondary schoolchildren, was first conducted in March 1994. Meant to draw out the talent and ingenuity of future inventors, the workshop proved so popular that similar programmes on an extended scale were held by the Club in the following years. The change of name, from that of a mere 'creativity' workshop to that of the 'Young Inventors/Innovators' Seminar in 1995 reflects the enhanced importance of this special event of PJ Club. Coordinated by Rotarian H.B. Lim and held at the Bukit Cherakah Agricultural Park in Shah Alam, Selangor, in December of that year, the 'Inventors' Seminar was officiated by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Environment, Datuk V. Danabalan. In the words of the then Vocational Service Director, Dr. J.D. John, the event was a "runaway (roaring) success, for never have the interactors been exposed to such an environment to stimulate their minds to invent" (Annual Report 1995/96). It can be seen that the popularity of 'Innovative' seminars has spurred subsequent committees to maintain this type of programme highlights on a continuing basis; at least once biannually if not annually, as seen in February 1998 when Jack Chan helped to organise an 'Innovative' seminar for PJ students at the Bukit Kiara Club.
Like the Community Service Committee which considers the School Assistance Scheme a 'core ' activity of the Club, the Vocational Service Committee, in the same vein, regards the Student Loan Scheme/Scholarships' Programme as one of its pet projects. A Scholarship scheme that extended beyond local boundaries of Malaysia commenced in 1993 when RCPJ, in collaboration with Beaufort College of Perth, Australia, decided to grant full and partial tuition fees to selected PJ students thus enabling them to enrol for matriculation studies at that College. In the meantime, the other main project, i.e. the Student Loan Scheme, established by the Club to assist needy final year students of a local college or university complete their studies, is still ongoing under the able administration of the Vocational Service Committee. In addition to these two projects created for the financial benefit of students, the Club continues to donate annual grants for the disbursement of examination fees and the purchase of books to the tune of RM200.00 to each deserving SPM student of a PJ school under its Endowment Scholarship Fund and Charity Foundation Fund.
It must be stated that although the Vocational Service Committee spends a great deal of time planning activities for youths in general, it nevertheless does not forget its own Rotarians in its overall scheme of things. A case in point is the annual Vocational Camp or excursion where Rotarians and their families can let their hair down whilst engaging simultaneously in discussions of serious issues or topical subjects such as "Safety and Health - A Vocational Issue" at a resort or retreat. Because of the informality and 'holiday-like' atmosphere created at such Camps which have included Port Dickson, Pulau Besar and the Gunung Ledang Resort in Tangkak, Johor, these outings have been well received not only by RCPJ members but also by Rotarians of other clubs who have had the opportunity to join such Camps. In line with the success of its peer groups earlier on, the members of the Vocational Service Committee of 1997/8 followed time-honoured tradition in May 1998 when they led a group of PJ Rotarians to the Tekam Leadership and Training Camp in Pahang for a weekend of fun and leadership training.
To reminisce further, at the Pulau Besar Camp held in December 1995 for instance, PJ members had the pleasure of their Bahau counterparts for company. Furthermore, some facilitators from the Malaysian Institute of Management (MIM) assisted Sunder Singh, the coordinator, to add a professional touch to the running of the Camp in the arrangement of team games, survival exercises and management talks for the Rotary Campers that included Anns and children. For the superb effort in organising the Camp, RCPJ attained the District 3300's Significant Achievement Award at its Annual Assembly in 1996.
Another memorable 'outdoor' experience for Rotarians and their families was participation in a joint Vocational Camp held at the Gunung Ledang Resort by RCPJ and the Rotary Clubs of Johor Bahru and Pasir Gudang in January 1997. Planned with the objectives "[to develop] acquaintance as an opportunity for service" and "the fostering of high ethical standards in business and the professions, etc." the Camp received good response from participants all round. For while Rotarians were kept busy in the seminar room discussing their different professions and the ways they upheld the "Four-Way Test", the Anns and children were taught the rudiments of abseiling and trekking in the jungle. However everyone had the opportunity to gaze at rare mountain flora and fauna and dip in the cool spring water of the resort which is fabled to bestow beauty and youth on its bathers. So convinced was one Rotary Ann of the efficacy of the rejuvenation qualities of the water that she decided to collect as many bottles of it as possible for future use in a vain bid to regain her lost youth! For evening entertainment, the whole group was treated to a 'Talentime' contest featuring the Rotarians' very own Michael Jackson, Whitney Huston and Arthur Fiedler-a-la- Michael Teh!
Apart from inserting the 'Four Way' Test: (1) Is it the Truth? (2) Is it Fair to all concerned? (3) Will it build Goodwill and better Friendship? (4) Will it be Beneficial to all concerned? in the Annual Club Directory to remind members of their obligations in a world-wide service-based fraternity, the Vocational Service Committee, as one of its duties, has to devise other ways to constantly impart this message to Rotarians. Whilst gimmicky plastic serviette holders were used by Pancha Abdullah's committee of 1994 to convey the idea, other committees since then have made use of measurement rulers and drinking mugs to serve their purpose. Besides advertising for the Club, these objects can also be sold to Rotarians and well wishers so that the money collected can go into the coffers of PJ Club.
