CROSSROADSRotary Club of Singapore Vol. 48 / 35

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2nd A

pril

2012

“The Hole In The Brain”SPEAKER: Mr. James Quek, Executive Director of World Vision

Lunch meeting of the 28th March 2012

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Joke of the week !“Hard work never killed anybody. But why take the risk.” From the book of Humour compiled by Rewa MirpuriHAVE MANY LAUGHS AND HELP THE NEEDYhttp://www.rotary.org.sg/bookofhumour.html

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Introductory remarks

President Tapan Rao opened the meeting with a warm welcome to members and guests to the last meeting for the month of March, celebrated in our Club as “New Generations” Month. He added a special welcome to the Guest Speaker, Mr. James Quek who is the Executive Director of World Vision.

Toast

President Tapan called upon Toastmaster, Rtn. Marco Bardelli to propose a toast to the Rotary Club of Stonehouse, England and to Rotary International. Present at the meeting was PP Peter Davis who informed members that Stonehouse, was located in southeast England, not far from Bristol. PP Peter recounted his meeting with English royalty, Princess Anne, whom he found to be very nice and down to earth.PDG Dr. Robert Loh’s Memoirs

President Tapan announced that our Honorary Member, PDG Dr. Bob Loh had written a book on his memoirs entitled “An Eye On Life”. Please advise the Secretariat, should you wish to have a copy of this book.

Exchange of club bannersPresident Tapan presented the Club’s banners to the visiting Rotarians from the Rotary Clubs of Stonehouse, Shanghai and Washington DC.

Welcome of visiting Rotarians and guests

PN Dr. Shahul Hameed welcomed our guests and visiting Rotarians

- Guests :Ms. Amelia Chia (World Vision)Ms. Delphine BernardMs. Sher-Yen WeeMr. Roger GohMr. Jit NagpalMr. Sanjeen Shah

Visiting Rotarians :AG Erich Schneider – QueenstownPP Peter Davis – Stonehouse, EnglandMichelle Li – Shanghai, ChinaAkiko Murai – Washington DC, USA

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Speaker of the week

President Tapan called upon Rtn. Jeremy Han to introduce the Guest Speaker, Mr. James Quek. Mr. Quek has more than two decades of experience in communications, public relations, branding and marketing in Singapore. Previously, he was a senior journalist at The Business Times and had served in the business-schools of National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University.

Mr. Quek advised that World Vision was a 60-year old Christian relief, development and advocacy organisation dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. He explained the title of his talk “The Hole In The Brain” was to highlight how malnutrition affected the brain development of children, which literally left a hole in the brain. He added that malnutrition caused permanent loss of opportunity and capacity for children development.

Mr. Quek showed videos of World Vision’s programmes, which improved children’s well-being in families and communities. He summarized how their integrated programming models worked to improve and uplift the community to pursue life. Mr. Quek graciously answered queries from members regarding the work and funding of World Vision.

The Club’s vote of thanks was extended by PP Tan Chin Ngiap who warmly thanked Mr. Quek for a very inspirational talk.

Congratulations

AG Erich extended his congratulations to the Club for the achievements made for the Rotary Year which were recognized at the recently concluded District Assembly. He commented, tongue-in-cheek, that President Tapan must have lost weight from having to walk so many times to the stage to receive the Club’s Awards from District Governor Zainie!

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District awards

President Tapan reported that 13 members and 4 family members attended the District Assembly held at Grand Paragon Hotel, Johor Bahru from 23rd to 25th March. He added that this was one of the Club’s best attendance at the District Assembly – thanks to the efforts of PP Paliath Mohandas and Director Koh Juay Meng. President Tapan announced that the Club received the following District Awards:-Best District Award for International Service for the Mega Eye Camp – Silver Award-Best District Award for Public Relations for the Entrepreneur of the Year Award (EYA) – Silver Award-Best District Award for Vocational Service for the Rotary Youth Social Entrepreneurship Challenge (RYSEC) project – Silver Award-Best District Award for Interact Club project for Raffles Institution – Silver Award-Best District Award for Bulletin/Newsletter – Gold Award

Happy Birthday !

President Tapan together with members sent best wishes to birthday celebrant, Rtn. Sean Twomey, for his coming birthday on 3rd April.

District directory

President Tapan announced that copies of the District Directory and Handbook were available for each member and reminded them to collect them at the Reception Desk to lighten the load from the Secretariat.

New member

President Tapan had the pleasant task of inducting a new member. He invited PE Jimmy Ooi to introduce his candidate, Rtn. Jasbir Koh. PE Jimmy advised that he has known Rtn. Jasbir for many years, adding that she was always graceful and lovely. He further added that Rtn. Jasbir has 3 sons and is married to Mr. Koh Kok Keong. PE Jimmy also noted that Rtn. Jasbir was an Interactor and therefore not new to Rotary. Rtn. Jasbir’s classification is “Education: Teacher Mentor”. Upon her induction, President Tapan invited Rtn. Jasbir to address the Club, and she took the opportunity to thank members for the honour to join the Rotary family. Rtn. Jasbir added that she did consider joining Rotary earlier, however with the career demands and her “many boyfriends”, she did not have time for Rotary then! However, Rtn. Jasbir advised that she was the Teacher Advisor to the Raffles Institution Interact Club, before deciding to follow her passion and assisted in the school’s choir instead. Rtn. Jasbir stated that she was getting to know members and was made to feel very welcomed.

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The Guide to Daily LivingBefore doing the things we want to do, consider first, the precept of the guide. Ask ourselves these 4 questions and act upon them:First: Have I spent some time in self-examination?Second: Have I spent quality time with my family?Third: Have I given my best to my work?Fourth: Have I given some time to someone near and far?The Guide, in fact, encompasses the 4 parts of the Object of Rotary.

MARK YOUR DIARYBirthday celebrantsRC wishes Happy Birthday to celebrants this week:April 3 – Sean TwomeyApril 4 – Irina FranckenApril 5 – Nicholas De BoursacApril 7 – PP Paliath Mohandas & Dr Sanjay Nalachandran

Anniversary CelebrantsRC sends best wishes to Wedding Anniversary celebrants: April 3 – Raj & Anita RamiahApril 3 – Hena Hoda & Gautam HazarikaApril 6 – PP Dr. Oliver & Irene HennedigeThis weekApril 4th 2012

Reception Desk duty: Wilson Widjaja, N “Subbu” SubramanianSunshine Box duty: PP Tan Chin Ngiap, Kavita SinghSpeaker: Ms. Cathryn Berger Kaye, Educational consultant on Service Learning and Keynote Speaker for MOE-NIE Conference 2011. Topic: “In Youth We Trust”

Next week April 11th 2012

Reception Desk duty: Dr. Thomas Perkmann, Marcel SchobingerSunshine Box duty: IPP P Balachandran, Michael BoegliSpeaker: Mr Tay Lai Hock,Ground-Up Initiative (GUI) Founder and President Topic: To be advised.

COMING ROTARY EVENTS AprilMagazine Month

April 12th Final Club Assembly for Rotary Year 2011/12

MayCommunity Service Month

May 6th – 9th Rotary International Convention in Bangkok

JuneRotary Fellowships Month

June 30th Installation Dinner

Queries, comments and articles request can be sent to Jean-Philippe Lionnetbulletin@rotary.org.sg

The Four-Way TestOf the Things we think, say or do:* Is it the truth?* Is it fair to all concerned?* Will it build goodwill and better friendship?* Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

Committee Meetings

There are no Committee Meetings for the month of April in view of the Club Assembly which will be held on Thursday, April 12th at 6.00pm at the at Holiday Inn

Singapore Orchard City Centre