PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

The 3rd meeting of our Club, on 23rd July, was a joint one with the RC Kelana Jaya, our daughter club. The evening was graced by at least 40 Rotarians including our DGE Lim Kok Beng and AG Farouk Nurush. From our Club, 3 PDGs were in attendance: Dr Ganesan, David Ho and Dato’ Dr Low Teong. It was a casual evening with warm fellowship. The talk was on Child Sexual Abuse presented by Mrs Noreen Perusser from the Protect & Save the Children Association. It created a lot of awareness on the rights of children. Unfortunately, not much has been done in our country to address this matter.

Over the weekend, our team of CLE experts conducted the first stage of the Lighthouse Project for the English teachers in the Ampang District. Jointly organized by the RC Ampang and the RCPJ, this technique in English language teaching and learning made 18 teachers committed to the weekend. This may be the last of the training sessions for the teachers from all over the country.

On Thursday, 23rd July, Anns and Rotarians made a second recce to Kampung Chawang in Sungkai. It is the Water & Sanitation Project that is associated with our RI President’s desire to look into water, sanitation, poverty and literacy. We went in 3 four-wheel drives. The team included PP Teo Woon Hud and Ann Karen, PDG Dato’ Dr Low Teong and Ann Jackie, Rtn Koh Kia Heong, PP Michael Toh, President Eric and Ann Irene, Dr Juli, Dr Richard Smith, and PDG David Ho and Ann Elsie and their two grandchildren. We stopped in Tanjung Malim to present 100 Chinese-English dictionaries to the students of Chung Sin School. We were warmly received. This project was first initiated by IPP Dato’ Kevin and PP Yung Seng Fook. PP Yung Seng Fook and PP Chris Ng were with us in Tanjung Malim.

The Water Project is on track. The well bored to a couple hundred meters has been completed. The next stage is to provide a pump to draw the water from the well and stored in a tank raised to 20 feet. The final stage is to connect pipes from the tank to the homes. We also intend to provide sanitation to the people by constructing toilets with water. We hope that all these will be completed by the end of August.

The Dialogue Session between the Principals of Schools and the Rotarian Advisers was scheduled on 22nd July. It was a successful meet-the-principal strategy. A lot of matters with regard to the Interactors were discussed. The New Generations Director, Dato’ Kevin, was impressed with the support and assistance from the Principals.

Two meetings were held last week and they are The Rotary Foundation meeting and the meeting on the same evening for the website of the Peejay Pos. We have the intention to revamp our website to make it more friendly and accessible. Following this, a meeting for the Dama Musical Show was scheduled at the residence of PP Teo Woon Hud. This charity project is on and we hope to raise RM30,000 for our Club Service Account.

It has been a very busy week but things are moving fast. Thank you, Rotarians for your support and assistance. We will work together for the future of our Club is in our hands.

“Of the things we think, say or do

1. Is it the truth?
2. Is it fair to all concerned?
3. Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?”

Penned by Herbert J. Taylor in 1932, the Four-Way Test has become the guiding light for Rotarians. It reflects the Golden Rule of Life which simply states that we should “treat others as we would like to be treated.” It is found in the scriptures of the major faiths, maybe in different words but with the same Divine message. It is the fundamental standard for all human behaviour. Islam tells us that “no one of you is a believer, until you desire for your neighbour that which you desire for yourself.” Christianity states that “whatever you wish that others do to you, do so to them.” Buddhism teaches us to “treat all creatures as you would like to be treated.” Hinduism claims that “this is the essence of morality: do not do to others which if done to you would cause you pain.” Even Confucianism preaches “what you do not wish done to yourself, do not do to others.” 

The Four-Way Test is therefore a most universal KPA of the success of Rotarians and its KPI is measured not so much by the amount of donations we contribute or projects we undertake as by the emotional and spiritual intelligence we display in our dealings with Rotarians and others. Unless we behave properly towards others, what we do is secondary. That is the basic law of human relations; all the rest is commentary.

When I first joined RCPJ nearly 40 years ago, there was much evidence of the need to promote the Four-Way Test. It got printed onto rulers, pamphlets, mugs, book markers, etc. for distribution to schools and the public. We had vocational camps which endeavour to examine how we as Rotarians practise the Four-Way Test. We held competitions on the theme. Indeed we devoted lots of time and energy to focus on the practice of the Four-Way Test, in one form or another.

Alas, while the Four-Way Test is still valid and perhaps more urgently needed today, there is over the recent years very little attention given to this Rotary’s principal code of conduct. Why is this so? Have we become less conscious of the need to promote the Four-Way Test as we get caught in the hurly-burly of delivering projects that are more subject to measurement? Or have we somehow forgotten the raison d’etre of our existence? In the words of the ROTARIAN article, “anyone who checks his thoughts, his words and deeds against the Four-Way Test is almost certain to do the right thing.” Is this not a worthy pursuit for the Rotary Club of Petaling Jaya? Should we not consider how we can, once again, promote the Four-Way Test?

A study conducted by the association found the incidence of all child sexual abuse was 41% and for serious sexual abuse to be 25%. Of the children population of about 10 million it means that 2.5 million children were sexually abused each year. The police statistics is 2500 cases.

There are 4 phases in child sexual abuse awareness, namely prevention, intervention, treatment and advocacy. Prevention by education of the child and adult is important.

The Association was formed in Jan 2002 and has 7 full time staff. They are looking forward towards partnership with NGOs like Rotary to expand and widen the work of the Association.

Rotary quote of the day contributed by Rtn Tony Ong:

“I joined Rotary because I wanted to be in the company of men of unblemished reputation; men of impeccable moral principles; men dedicated to community service. At the same time I thought that such fellowship could result in deep and lasting friendships.’
Mario del Oliveira Antonino, RI Director 1985-87 

ATTENDANCE: 12/37 = 32.43%

The 1st Board of Directors Meeting was held on Wednesday 22 July 2009 at the Lake View Club. The entire board with the Past Presidents were in attendance. Some of the decisions taken at the meeting are as follows:

Membership and Attendance

1. RI attendance rules will apply, with the added proviso that all members are required to also attend at least one regular weekly meeting of the Rotary Club of Petaling Jaya every month. 
2. A new 100% Attendance Award will be introduced. The criterion is that the member achieves 100% attendance based on regular weekly attendance, make-ups at other Rotary clubs, District Assemblies and Conferences and Institute and RI Conventions. Make-ups from committee meetings, designated club projects and e-make-ups will only qualify for attendance (including 100% attendance) requirements, but will not qualify for the Award.
3. A revised Club Attendance Competition will also be introduced. The competition will be among four teams of Rotarians with each team comprising Rotarians with higher attendance as well as lower attendance records. It is proposed that while the winning team wins the Attendance Trophy, the two last ranked losing teams will also treat the two top ranked teams to dinner. 

NOTICE is hereby given that the implementation of the above rules for attendance, attendance award and attendance competition will be effective for the period 1 August 2009 - 30 June 2010. 

Dress Code for Club Regular Meetings

It was agreed that all members must be dressed in long sleeve shirt and tie or shirt with jacket. Members without a tie or jacket will loan a tie from the SAA for RM5.00.