PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

January is indeed a busy month. Two great Rotary events were scheduled back to back. Our 49th Anniversary Banquet was held on Wednesday, 6th January and the 75th Rotary International District 3300 Conference from 8th to 10th January.

Our 49th Anniversary was attended by about 200 Rotarians and guests at the Royal Lake Club. The Guest-of-Honour was our District Governor, Leslie Salehuddin and 1st Lady Ziela was also in attendance. We had guests from our Sister-Club, RC Hong Kong Island West. President Edward Chow and Ann Winnie and Vice-President Norman Yeung and Ann Amy were our guests seated at the main table. President Monica Chong, the President of the Inner Wheel of Petaling Jaya was also present. Other guests included the AG of Group 11, Farouk Nurish and the Presidents of the Group 11 Rotary Clubs. Rotary leaders past, present and future also graced the occasion but they were the private guests of PDG Dato’ Dr Low Teong.

Our Club honoured Dr S. S. Gill, a nephrologist from the National Kidney Foundation as a Paul Harris Fellow. Dr Gill was instrumental in establishing the NKF many years ago. He was the first medical doctor to bring in the kidney dialysis machine to Malaysia, thus giving hope to renal patients. Please read the citation of our recipient of the PHF by our editor.

The anniversary was an evening to honour and acknowledge our Rotarians, friends and well-wishers. The people who had, have and are making a difference to humankind. It is a time to remember, to appreciate and to say thank you most warmly to all the wonderful people who are part of the family of the Rotary Club of Petaling Jaya. Without their kindness, compassion, support, love and effort, our Club would not have made an impact on our community for the last 49 years.

Indeed, I must thank the hardworking members of the Organizing Committee who have done a fantastic job in seeing to the fine details of this anniversary. More precisely, I must express my gratitude to PP Albert Yong for his leadership. And to PDG Dato’ Dr Low Teong who volunteered to accept many roles in the committee. And to PP Dr Tarcisius Chin who did the Souvenir Programme within a lean budget. And to PP Michael Toh for his great effort in sourcing the advertisements. I must also thank the Rotarians and Anns who have bought dinner tables as well as taken up pages of advertisements in the Souvenir Programme. Of course, I must not forget our advertisers who have constantly come forward to assist us.

It was a great evening of fellowship. Every one enjoyed it. Thank you once again one and all.

The 75th Rotary International District 3300 Conference was held over the weekend. Held at the Grand Dorsett Subang Hotel, it was well attended by 535 Rotarians and their Anns. Our RCPJ was well represented at the Conference. Our members comprise PDG David Ho, PDG Dato’ Dr Low Teong, PE Leong Yeng Kit and Ann Fiona, VP Jack Lim, PP Balram Menon, PP Yap Swee Fatt and Ann Susan, IPP Dato’ Kevin Yong, Rtn Margaret Soo, Rtn Shashi Dharan, PP Chris Ng, Rtn Rianne Chin, Rtn KO, PP Rosman Din, our Ambassadorial Scholar, Jason Soh and the President. 

Two of our projects were highlighted – the CLE and the Water & Sanitation Project. PDG David Ho was the moderator for Literacy and the President was one of the panellists for water harvesting. He did a presentation on a case study in harvesting ground level water at Kampung Chawang, Sungkai.

The 75th RI District Conference provided an experience for Rotarians to share on so many matters of Rotary. The Friendship Corner was THE place for such sharing and it was always packed till late in the evening. PDG Mark Wong was the RI President’s representative. He paid glowing tribute to our District who had organized this Conference extremely well.

It was also a time for the Rotarians of our Club to sit together to dine and fellowship. I am sure all of us enjoyed the Conference.

On Thursday, 14th January there will be a presentation of wheel chairs by LDS Charities and our RCPJ to the Beautiful Gate – a Foundation for the Disabled. It will be held at the SS2 Centre at 11.00 a.m. The Centre is opposite Dato’ Low Teong’s Clinic but you have to get access by the back way. Dr Richard Smith of LDS Charities and I will be present. Please come and support this worthy cause.

There will be a joint evening meeting between RC Shah Alam and our RCPJ on Friday, 22nd January. The number so far is very encouraging. There will be an interesting talk.

Our 3rd Club Assembly will be held on Tuesday, 26th January. Please make an attempt to be present to keep abreast of our projects.

Indeed, January is a hectic month. Thank you Rotarians for your support.

Rotary International defines Rotary as an organisation of business, professional and community leaders united worldwide who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world.

While this is how RI defines Rotary, most times Rotary clubs and Rotarians tend to focus on only one aspect of Rotary – that of providing humanitarian service. Generally we tend to neglect the aspects of encouraging high ethical standards in all vocations and helping to build goodwill and peace in the world. It is the combination of these three missions that sets Rotary apart from other service organisations. There are many NGO’s, both international and local, that provide humanitarian service, but only Rotary encourages the practice of high ethical standards, and helps in the promotion of goodwill and peace in the world in addition to the provision of humanitarian service.

Perhaps Rotary clubs and Rotarians focus on humanitarian service because it is easy to understand and much easier to achieve than the other two missions.

So, what does encourage high ethical standards entail? When we were inducted into Rotary we ought to have received The 4-Way Test, The Object of Rotary, and Declaration for Rotarians in Businesses and Professions. The latter - the Declaration For Rotarians in Businesses and Professions – is our guide to the practice of high ethical standards, which states:

As a Rotarian engaged in a business or a profession, I am expected to

1. Consider my vocation to be another opportunity to serve
2. Be faithful to the letter and spirit of the ethical codes of my vocation, to the laws of my country, and to the moral standards of my community
3. Do all in my power to dignify my vocation and to promote the highest ethical standards in my chosen vocation
4. Be fair to my employer, employees, associates, competitors, customers, the public and all those with whom I have a business or professional relationship
5. Recognise the honour and respect due to all occupations which are useful to society
6. Offer my vocational talents to provide opportunities for young people, to work for the relief of the special needs of others, and to improve the quality of life in my community
7. Adhere to honesty in my advertising and in all representations to the public concerning my business or profession
8. Neither seek from nor grant to a fellow Rotarian a privilege or advantage not normally accorded others in a business or professional relationship.

(To be continued in the next issue of the PeeJay Pos)

The club celebrated its 49th Anniversary at the Banquet Hall of the Royal Lake Club. A gathering of about 200 Rotarians and guests were present for the event. The Guest of Honour was District Governor Leslie Salehuddin and Ziela. Also present were DGE Lim Kok Beng, DGN Dr Raveendra Kumar and Ann Indra, DGN2 Mansoor Saat and Ann Emzita.

The highlight of the evening was the cutting of the Anniversary Cake by the 21 Past Presidents present and the presentation of the Paul Harris Fellow to Dr SS Gill by DG Leslie and President Dr Eric Wong.

Presentation of Paul Harris Fellow To Dr S S Gill

The presentation of the Paul Harris Fellow recognition is The Rotary Foundation’s way of expressing its appreciation for substantial contribution to its humanitarian programs. 

Dr SS Gill, you were selected to receive this recognition because the Rotary Club of Petaling Jaya believes that your life exemplifies the humanitarian objectives of The Rotary Foundation. We thank you for demonstrating in your life and vocation a commitment to help Malaysians with kidney disease in Malaysia.

Born in March 1933, making him 76 years of age, Dr Gill graduated with MBBS from the University Malaya in Singapore in 1956. In 1961 Dr Gill was awarded a Malaysian Government scholarship for postgraduate studies in the United Kingdom. He obtained his membership of the Royal College of Physician, Edinburgh in 1963. In 1965 became the first Malaysian doctor to be awarded the prestigious Lederle Medical Fellowship for higher studies at the School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle.

Dr Gill chose renal disease as his special field of study and worked under the world renowned Dr Scribner He then returned to Malaysia as the first Consultant Nephrologist in Malaysia working at the Assunta Hospital in Petaling Jaya.

In December 1966 the plight of Harry Kidd, a 25 year old teacher suffering from end stage kidney disease was highlighted in the press. The public responded by contributing RM30,000, a hefty sum in those days, and the first artificial dialysis machine was purchased in Malaysia. Dr SS Gill became the first doctor in Malaysia to provide dialysis treatment and Harry Kidd was the first lucky recipient. Unfortunately Harry died of a stroke and bleeding in the brain.

The event laid the foundation for what was later Dr Gill’s passion for going the distance to help poor dialysis patients as he felt everyone had the right to dialysis regardless of their economic status. Dr Gill was invited to address the Rotary Club of Petaling Jaya on 15 April 1969 and the idea of the National Kidney Foundation was mooted. The National Kidney Foundation was registered on 2 December 1969 and launched by the Rotary Club of Petaling Jaya at this very venue, the Lake Club on 16 January 1970.

In 1992 only 10% of patients with end stage kidney disease received treatment. These were mainly government servants and pensioners. There were very few private centers and it was expensive, costing around RM3000.00 per month. The National Kidney Foundation Board then took a policy decision to become a non profit charity to provide kidney dialysis to poor patients. The patients only pay a minimal amount and the National Kidney Foundation raised funds to finance the treatment. The first center was open in Jalan Hang Lekiu in mid 1992 charging only a nominal amount.

Today the National Kidney Foundation is the largest NGO provider of dialysis in this country with 25 dialysis centers and 1176 patients. Today 90% of patients with end stage kidney disease receive treatment. As the founder of the National Kidney Foundation of Malaysia, Dr SS Gill paved the way for the Foundation to provide quality dialysis care to poor patients who otherwise would have died.

Dr SS Gill served as the Chairman of the Board of Managers of the National Kidney Foundation from 2002 and only retired in 2009. Over the last 40 years he has been a part of the fabric of NKF. Dr Gill still remains a Board Member and continues to offer valuable input and advice to the Board. The National Kidney Foundation is a very successful NGO today because of the transparent and prudent policies of its founder, Dr SS Gill.

By the way Dr SS Gill is also a founder Member and a former Vice President of the Anti-Aging Society. Find out more from him yourself.

Ladies and Gentlemen, and my fellow Rotarians, it gives me great pleasure to invite our District Governor Leslie Salehuddin accompanied by President Dr Eric Wong to present to Dr SS Gill the three emblems of a Paul Harris Fellow: the certificate, a lapel pin and medallion.

Joint Meeting with RC Shah Alam

Date: 22, January 2010, Friday
Venue: Kelab Shah Alam Selangor
Time: 7.30 pm
Speaker: PP Chin Mee Poon
Topic: My Longest Train Journey
A slide presentation on his 3.5 months train journey to Europe, Russia and Asia
Cost: RM30.00 per pax
Editor’s Remark: You will enjoy the presentation. You will enjoy it even more if you like travelling. So bring your spouse along. We had a very successful joint meeting with RC Shah Alam on Tuesday 29 December 2009 at the Grand Dorsett. The members of RC Shah Alam led by President Jani Wahab came in large numbers. Let’s reciprocate by attending their meeting on 22 January in large numbers too. 

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards 

Date: 4-8 March 2010
RYLA's Purpose: to challenge the ideals of young people from the age of 14 to 28 years. Selected by the local Rotary Club in their Districts to receive the award, young people are entitled to attend the seminar aimed at developing further their personal and leadership skills. 
Who Is Eligible: Young people, male and female, between the ages of 14 and 28 years are eligible to be nominated for RYLA. It is preferable that these young adults already have exhibited strong personal or leadership qualities or at least the potential to become leaders in clubs, community activities or in a career situation. 
How to Apply: The selection process is conducted by your local Rotary Club and involves submitting an application form (available directly from the club or from your District's RYLA committee) and attending an interview. 
Organising Chairman: PP Tesse Martin(RC Port Dickson) H/P:0129285259 or email:tessie_martin@hotmail.com
Venue: Eagle Ranch Port Dickson

Rotary Walks To End Polio by President Robin Tay

It is indeed nice to be home after 17 days of Rotary Walks to end Polio. All the 5 walkers, President Bhupinder, President Tiffany, Ms. Yew Pei Joon, Mr. John Yew and yours truly reached the Hockey Stadium safely in one piece at exactly 9.30 a.m. One of our teammates, Mr. Henry got a twisted and swollen ankle on the 3rd day of walk (due to jogging) and he left for home earlier from Taiping.

Anyway, it is a very good experience for me as I have learned a lot from all my teammates. To all the kind and generous Rotarians who have come forth to donate, contribute, render your blessing, encouragement, your invaluable help and kind assistance and the list goes on and on. 

On behalf of my teammates, Thank You so much for your kindness and care throughout this Rotary Walks To End Polio. Without all you beautiful people, I don’t think this walk would ever have taken place.