PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

The 3rd Club Assembly, scheduled on 26th January, was a platform for members to express their views with regard to matters related to our Club. There were three items on the agenda: the directors’ reports, a sinking fund for our Golden Jubilee and any other business. Of course, the much-anticipated discussion on item two of the agenda did not turn out to be full of fireworks. There was only one dissenting view. The rest of our members were of the opinion that some form of ‘levy’ has to be imposed in view of the anticipated number of Rotarians from our nine sister clubs who will visit us on 6th January 2011 for our 50th Anniversary Celebrations. I appreciate the members who have expressed themselves in a rather rational and reasonable manner. One thing is for sure: We need to reciprocate to the members of our sister clubs. The great hospitality they had bestowed upon us when we visited them was unmatchable. We cannot run away from this social obligation when it is our turn or opportunity to do it. It does not reflect well of Rotarians.

As one member remarked, the 50th Anniversary is a great event. Many of our members won’t be around for the next 50th Anniversary. It’s absolutely true. Let us now do something big so that the public would have an opportunity to recognize the RCPJ as a premier NGO. It’s all about the question of expenditure. The principle behind the levy is that we need to collect the funds from our members’ pockets. We cannot use public funds to do so. We cannot raise the money from any fund-raising campaign. So the only way is encourage our members to make payments over a staggered period until 2011. This sounds reasonable. Of course, we’ll find some way to help members who may face difficulty in paying.

I’m also glad to observe the solidarity of our members in the 3rd Club Assembly. We’ve something urgent to accomplish and our members are behind it. This is oneness. We discuss, agree and then do things together. And this indeed augurs well for our Club. The Board meeting on the 27th January passed a resolution on the proposed levy and this was based on the views expressed at the Club Assembly. A business meeting will be convened soon to give a mandate for our Club to collect the levy and perhaps decide on the mechanism of payment.

I must thank our members for rising to the occasion when the Club needs you.

The International Nite on 23rd February jointly organized by our Club and the Dutch Embassy is an event that needs your support again. Our International Nite has always been well received and successful. Remember the Mexican Nite? So let this one be just as successful. We need to push the tables. It costs RM1050 per table. Get your business associates to join in that evening of fun and Dutch cuisine. So please help, Rotarians and Anns.

Thank you Rotarians and Anns for your consistent support of our Club.

The Budget presented was based on a meeting of the Organising Committee held at the Kelab Golf Negara Subang on the evening of Sunday 24 January 2010. At the Sunday meeting members of the OC submitted their estimated expenditures and program to enable the Treasurer PP Battchoo Ratilal to come out with a Proposed Budget.

The Club Assembly was a rather tame session with only one member speaking strongly against the collection of the levy. Other made various suggestions. The overwhelming majority who are in favour of the levy need not speak out as the consensus was very clear. Some of the newer members of the club expressed their wish to see the event being a grand black tie affair. Interestingly the newer members were very much in favour of the levy and a grand scale event. It was contrary to earlier speculations and rumours that these members are against the levy.

Now that the “obstacle” of the levy has been put aside (We have absolutely no doubt that the resolutions will be carried) it is time to start the ground work of getting the organization of the event going. As so many had said, most probably none of the existing members will be around when the club celebrates its next 50 years or centennial anniversary, let’s make this the best possible.

We have so often claimed ourselves to be a Premier Club in the district. I am not so sure how many clubs in the district accord us that status. Now is the time to show the district we can be a premier club by organizing a premier Golden anniversary that befits a premier club. In a club of 50 members there will always be varying views on the way the event is to be organized, the programs, the hospitality extended, the souvenir gifts etc., etc. However what is most important is that the decisions of the majority in the club must prevail. This is the most democratic approach to adopt to ensure that our energies and resources are devoted to organising the event rather than debating our differences. Those whose views form the minority opinion must be gentleman enough to accept the majority decisions.

The enthusiasm of members of the Organising Committee, both new and old members alike, are very high at the moment. Let us capitalise on the enthusiasm and work towards the event. There will be many occasions where there are differing opinions at the main Organising Committee level. Here again the decision of the majority must prevail. No one, the Organising Chairman included, should be allowed to impose his personal views over the majority. I have used the word main Organising Committee because I feel that for a significant event like the Golden Anniversary celebrations ALL members of the club must be given a chance to be involved. However if the members concerned decline that is also fine. Let’s all work hand in hand till 6th January 2011 to make the 50th Anniversary Celebration a resounding success. Let’s make it an event that is so successful that we can rightfully call ourselves a Premier Club. 

Report of the Organising Chairman PP Goh Seng Chuan to the Club Assembly on 26 Jan 2010

RCPJ 50th Anniversary Celebration 6th January 2011

The Rotary Club of Petaling Jaya was chartered on 6th January 1961. Come 6th January next year, our club will be 50 years old. The much talked about 50th Anniversary will be celebrated in a grand scale. We have already started planning for this major event. Action will soon begin to pave the way for our Patron, the Sultan of Selangor, to be invited as the VVIP for the celebration. His Highness will head a long list of dignitaries to be invited. The Menteri Besar of Selangor is first on the list after the Patron, followed by PJ OCPD, PJ MPs, PJ Councillors and State Assembly Reps. In the Rotary District 3300, our very own district, we will invite the Governor, the Governor Elect, the 2 Governor nominees and all the Past Governors together with their spouses; the AG for our club and the 38 club presidents and their Anns of Klang Valley Clubs. All the 8 Sister Clubs will be invited and we estimate 120 pax will grace the occasion. Additionally, the invitation will include the school principals, teacher advisors, presidents of the Rotaract and Interact Clubs. Finally, we will extend invitation to our widows and past members and benefactors.

We envisage overseas guests to arrive on the 5th January 2011. A welcome dinner will be staged. The next morning, 6th January, a fellowship golf will be played while the non-golfers will go for sight-seeing tour. In the evening, it’s the much awaited Anniversary dinner. Guests will view the list of significant projects undertaken by PJ Rotarians since the 60s. There will be exchange of gifts with the Presidents of the Sister Clubs, cake cutting ceremony, long service award, and good entertainment while you enjoy the 8 course Chinese dinner with the Patron. The next day, Friday, 7th January, there will be sight seeing cum shopping tour with farewell lunch and probably farewell dinner as well. Many will be departing KL.

By 8th January, most of the overseas guests will have left. The remaining few will probably have their own arrangement. But we will standby in case they need help.

The Income and Expenditure Statement and the Notes to the Account are attached to this issue of the PeeJay Pos for record and for the information of members.

As no vote can be taken at a Club Assembly the appropriate Resolutions will be prepared by the Meeting of the Board of Directors meeting on Wednesday 27 January 2010 for adoption at a Business Meeting of the club to be called by the Honorary Secretary. The resolutions will cover: 
1. The collection of a levy of RM1000 from every member of the club
2. Money collected and not spent will be refunded to members
3. Every member is responsible for advertisement of at least RM500.00 

District Karaoke Contest

The Karaoke Fellowship Finals on Saturday night was something many of us would remember for a long time. The district is certainly not short of good singers and for Group 11, which comprises RC Pantai Valley, RC Petaling Jaya, RC Port Klang, RC Sungei Way and RC Kelana Jaya (i.e. the club where I come from) we did well too. 

Represented by Rtn Susan Yap (RC Pantai Valley), she ignited the “fireworks” amongst the other singers who were mostly guys. Our group 11 AG Farouk also provided some “Susan, Susan” – “promotional signages”, that also was another means of support for this fantastic young lady, who came out 2nd runner up. The winner is PP Tony Nuris, from RC Bernam Valley and 1st runner up from up north Penang Rtn David Gan. Congratulations!

Most meaningful of it all is that all the Rotarians that took part were good sports and I, personally, believe they were all winners! Everyone sang well, including Rotary Ann Chai Chin (IPP Foo’s spouse) who truly put up a very good performance. Everyone came away knowing that their participation meant they have all contributed to the cause of the fundraising - so, fellow Rotarians, well done!

2010-2011 R I Theme: 'Building Communities -- Bridging Continents'

RI President-elect Ray Klinginsmith addresses district governors-elect at the 2010 International Assembly. After taking the stage to the tune of “California, Here I Come,” RI President-elect Ray Klinginsmith announced the 2010-11 RI theme, Building Communities -- Bridging Continents, during the opening plenary session of the 2010 International Assembly. 

Klinginsmith said he arrived at the theme after reviewing RI themes of years past. He noticed that only a few spoke to non-Rotarians.

“As a result, I decided to search for a briefly stated theme that would fulfill two objectives: the first to explain Rotary to non-Rotarians, and the second to validate our work for Rotarians,” he said. “The words I have selected to describe Rotary's current mission and to highlight our achievements are what we do best: Building Communities – Bridging Continents.”

The president-elect described how his 50 years of Rotary experience have contributed to his focus on communities at home and abroad. For example, as a Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholar, he studied for a year in South Africa, becoming the first student from his small town of Unionville, Missouri, USA, to study abroad. 

The timing of the theme announcement, which took place in the evening, was a break in tradition from past assemblies and a reflection of Klinginsmith's willingness to embrace change. He encouraged district governors-elect to reexamine traditional procedures that were no longer best practices and to begin new traditions where appropriate.