PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

The induction of Rtn Olivia Lim as the 45th Rotarian of our Club signified the ready acceptance of ladies into our fraternity that had been a male bastion for more than 40 years. There is a good feeling that women are in our midst and whatever we say at meetings should take into account their sensitivity. We should not feel stifled by their presence. Instead we should accommodate their ideas in reaching out to humanity. Rotary, as I have remarked, does not belong to any individual or gender. We now have 3 lady Rotarians and expect a couple more in the months ahead.

Welcome to our Club, Rotarian Olivia!

After a month of lull, the Water & Sanitation Project is on track again. We have received a quote from the contractor in Sungkai. The quote is more than RM30,000 that includes the pump, the tank and the pipes connected to the 12 homes in Kampung Chawang. A meeting was held on Wednesday to discuss the feasibility of the pump in drawing up water that is 100 metres deep down. Those present were concerned that the pump may not be compatible in terms of the power to do the work. The lack of power may cause constant breakdown. The material for the tank was also discussed. We’re thinking of sourcing the material that is non-rust. Another meeting will be held next Wednesday to identify the materials and the job specifications. We need Rotarians with expertise in pump installation and structural engineering to volunteer their services. Please call me.

The Redeeming Human Dignity Project will resume its training on the 12th of November. Because of the Hari Raya and Deepavali holidays and the staff problem in the restaurant, the training was put on hold for a month. There will now be 6 trainees undergoing the cooking sessions. The next phase is to source the coffee shops around their homes and set up their stalls. We hope that this project will be launched some time in December.

The Rea-da-book Project has taken a different strategy. This time we need Interactors from their schools to set up a corner to encourage the reading habit. This idea was proposed to Sri Aman and the Interactors have taken to it positively. We need to approach the ICC to sell this idea.

This weekend promises a great time for our Rotarians and Anns. It is our first family outing up on Cameron Highlands. We’re going to compete in the PJ Close and have plenty of fellowship. A great number of Rotarians and Anns have responded to this trip. I would like to thank PP Albert Yong for organizing it.

Rotarians, 2009 is drawing close to an end. We need to launch and publicize our new projects. Let us work harder and put on our running shoes. Thank you.

The induction ceremony was carried out with dignity and formally by President Dr Eric Wong. After pinning on the lapel pin to signify her admission into our club she was presented with the Four Way Test, Object of Rotary and the Declaration of Rotarians in Business and Profession that was framed. She is the first Rotarian to receive framed copies of the three certificates. Why frame it? This will ensure these three certificates will be displayed in her office or home and not filed somewhere.

The Induction was witnessed by PDG Dr Paul Lee who was the speaker for the day and AG Farouk Nurish and over 30 Rotarians and guests. It was truly a happy afternoon for both Olivia and the club. PDG Dr Paul who was speaking on the Future Vision Plan of The Rotary Foundation congratulated the club on the tremendous improvement in the atmosphere of the club compared to it a year ago. Rtn Olivia who has been assigned to the Service Projects and Club Public Relations Committee was welcomed into the two committees by Director Kia Heong and PP Michael Chua respectively.

Rotary International and the District Membership Development and Retention Committee had always placed very strong emphasis on a proper and formal induction ceremony when admitting new members. I can safely say we are setting a good example for other clubs in the district to follow in our recruitment process This is requiring the prospective members to attend three to six meetings as the guest of the club, approval by the Membership Committee and the Board, circulation of the name to the membership, informative fireside and a meaningful and dignified induction.

Once the member has been admitted the all important process of mentoring and integrating him or her starts. I always say that all new members are good Rotarians on the day they are inducted. What happens to them after that is in the hands of the existing members of the club. We can either make the new member a good Rotarian like most of us or into a RINO (Rotarian In Name Only) who will eventually leave the club. The Membership Committee under the Club Leadership Plan provides all the necessary administrative opportunities for us to make every new member a good Rotarian. We must never miss the opportunity. Only time will tell whether we are successful or not. Personally I am confident we are on the right path towards successful membership retention.

Tuesday also witnessed Rtn Rianne Chin as the first lady finemaster (President Dr Eric feels the word finemistress) is not appropriate. Even though it is her first fining session she conducted it like a professional and netted RM 163.00 for the club kitty. Well done, Rianne. It’s a pity it took our club so long to decide to admit lady members. Just imagine how much our club had lost out over the many years we kept ladies out. And I must say Rianne has not only done a great job with the fining session. She is also very actively involved in many of the club’s other activities and projects. I may be smashed up if I do not mention the achievement of our other lady member - Rtn Margaret Soo. She is our Club Secretary and every member knows it is a position that requires plenty of hard work and time. Congratulations, Margaret. 

November is Rotary Foundation Month. The Chairman of the District Rotary Foundation Committee PDG Dr Paul Lee addressed the club on the Future Vision Plan of the Rotary Foundation which was initiated in April 2005.

Amongst the objective of the plan is to build on the strength of the organisation, realise more sustainable outcomes, and remain relevant. There will be only 2 types of grants under the plan: district grants and global grants. District Grants are similar to our current District Simplifies Grants except the district can use 50% of the available DDF. The Global Grants are like the current Matching Grants but requires strategic partners.

The Global grant is for six areas of focus and the minimal award is USD15,000. One hundred district worldwide are currently involved in a pilot program of the Vision Plan, It will be effective for all districts by 2013-2014.

Rotary quote of the day presented by Rtn Krishna Moorthy:

“To strengthen our belief that only with an open mind, an open heart, open eyes and open hands we will reach the highest quality of life, we need to be accompanied by like minded friends in an atmosphere of good humour, serenity and spontaneous, practical day to day humanity.”
Past RI President Robert Barth, President Rotary International 1995-96

ATTENDANCE: 27/39 = 69.23%

At the Central Committee Meeting of the Malaysian Chinese Association held on Tuesday 3 November 2009, our Rtn Dato Donald Lim Siang Chai was appointed to the Central Committee.

Congratulations Dato Donald Lim from all of us at the Rotary Club of Petaling Jaya.

Rtn Olivia Lim admitted as 45th member of RCPJ

Rtn Olivia Lim was inducted in a formal ceremony conducted by President Dr Eric Wong as a member of the Rotary Club of Petaling Jaya. The event was witnessed by PDG Dr Paul Lee, AG Farouk Nurish and over 30 Rotarians and guests. She is the third lady Rotarian to join our club.

Rtn Olivia who holds the classification of Healthcare-Business Development is the Director of Business Development & Investor Relations, Hoa Lam Shangrila Healthcare Company Co Ltd of Vietnam.

Rtn Olivia was proposed by PE Leong Yeng Kit and her hobbies are reading, sports and travelling.

Rtn Olivia's 25 points about herself will be published in the next issue of the PeeJay Pos.

Message from the Chairman, Board of Trustees of The Rotary Foundation

Make an impact with a gift to the Foundation

My wife, Mary, and I have three children and eight grandchildren. Looking back on many happy years of raising a family, I recall most clearly the days that stood out in some way from the others. I remember the day my son had his tonsils out -- and ate a cheeseburger the same night! I remember the weddings, the graduations, and the births of each child.

But when I talk to my children about what they remember of their own childhoods, the answers are so surprising. They remember events that Mary and I have long forgotten -- the simple moments that happened as part of normal life yet still created profound memories. These are the moments that define who we are. What we see, what we hear, and what we experience as we grow older shape the person we become. Everything we do as parents has an impact, whether we realize it at the time or not.

As Rotarians, we have a similar responsibility to consider the consequences of our every action. We cannot predict how significant our words and decisions will be. But we do know that everything we say and do has an impact. Our responsibility is to ensure that the cumulative effect is a positive one.

When we give to our Rotary Foundation, we know that the result will be positive. When I served as RI president, I saw the truth of this in so many ways. The poorest parts of the world are the places where the local clubs have the fewest resources. By giving to our Foundation, we bring help to the places where Rotary is needed the most -- and fulfill the Foundation's mission of Doing Good in the World.

Glenn E. Estess Sr. 
Foundation Trustee Chair 

RI President's November 09 Message

My fellow Rotarians: 

The playwright George Bernard Shaw once wrote, "Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire; you will what you imagine; and at last you create what you will."

There is no shortage in this world of people able to imagine a better future. But in Rotary, we do not just imagine that future -- we will it, and we work to create it. This we do through our two great strengths: our Rotary clubs and our Rotary Foundation.

Over the years, I have been privileged to witness firsthand the fruits of the outstanding work carried out by Rotarians all over the world, supported by the programs of our Foundation. One thing that impresses me is how these programs focus not on short-term satisfaction or reward for the giver. The best Rotary programs and projects focus on building for the future – and making lives better for generations.

Two decades ago, we Rotarians made a promise: to make life better for the entire world, forever, by eliminating polio. It has always been an ambitious goal, but it has always been a realistic one. And now, thanks to our Rotary Foundation, we are closer than ever to reaching it.

It is my hope that with the help of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Rotary's US$200 Million Challenge, there will soon come a time when we will be able to say that we have made polio a thing of the past. For if we fail now, we will fail all those who have gone before us, and every child to whom we made a promise. If we fail, we risk our own good name, and the good name of all the Rotarians who came before us.

We will not fail. We can and we must succeed.

I know that each one of you recognizes that The Future of Rotary Is in Your Hands - and that the future of our Foundation is as well. 

John Kenny 
President, Rotary International