2011, was a networking year for me, exploring many business networks to learn what is beyond the four walls of my business.
I was invited to the Rotary Club of Petaling Jaya luncheon meeting in late 2011 by Olivia Lim. The minute I walked into the room, I told myself that this would be the first and last time I would attend. I saw many senior gentlemen and only two ladies Olivia Lim and Rianne Chin.
After a few conversations and 2 more meetings, I drop all other business networks that I was attending and joined Rotary Club of Petaling Jaya. My decision was because I realised that I was not looking for business connection but for a purpose. The motto Service above Self was an attraction to me. And the bonus was that I get to serve the community with inspiring individuals that made this club a premier club in the district.
I was inducted on 8 May 2012. I love the conversations we have with our wise senior Rotarians and the energy of the Club. I was so elated when I was put in the Youth Committee. I get to be a Rotarian Advisor to the Interact Club of Bukit Bintang Boys School. The thought of being able to encourage our youths to make a difference was something truly awesome to me. It was humbling to see them today serving as Rotaractors. Relationships have been built.
IN RY 12/13, I was asked to perform in a musical for RCPJ 52nd Anniversary called Love in Shanghai. Me, acting? I don’t even know what is Swan Song and they are asking me to act? Well, act I did and it was so fun! I discovered something I did not know I could do, act!
In RY 13/14, the then President, President Shashi Dharan asked me to be the Master of Ceremony for Rotary Club of Petaling Jaya 53rd Anniversary. I was thinking what risk is this President taking by insisting me to be the MC when I have not done it before. He said he believed I can do it. Well, from that day onward my confidence in public speaking soar and I even receive invitations to be the MC for beauty pageants and also for events held by other Rotary clubs. So, Rotary brought out the best in me!
In RY 15/16 I was nominated to be the President ELECT and as you have guessed what my thoughts are, yes, me? A newbie? The task and responsibility of helming the club as a President? I took the challenge so I could be out of my comfort zone to sharpen myself. I was so privileged to learn under President Rianne Chin, who was the President of RCPJ RY 15/16. This was the year I began to know Rotary deeper. The projects, the works of it, the District and of course all the abbreviations which were so confusing at the start like PP, IPP, PAG, AG DGN, TRF, IDGN, DGE, etc etc. Every new Rotarian goes thru this. It was a year that I became so active and so involved.
RY 17/18 arrived faster than I could imagine. Oh noooooo, I am now taking on a big task as the 57th President! I remember my mentor mentioned this to me, “You sharpen your management skills when you are able to manage a group of volunteers. How do you move the hearts and minds of people to go the extra mile without monetary rewards? It requires your heart and soul. It will make you a powerful influencer if you are successful.
One of the most awesome thing in my journey as a President of the club is that I got to honour the unsung heroes in my President Award on our 57th Anniversary. Heroes who had made a great difference in many lives and they are no celebrity. It was a great moment to bring them to the limelight. My President Award list went to Gillian Choong, who works tirelessly with the abused youth in Agape, Siti Rahayu, who birth the Buku Jalanan, an NGO that provides education to the street children on the pavement of Chow Kit and also Mahi Ramakrishnan, from Beyond Border, a which protects the rights of refugees.
It is also in this 57th Anniversary that we have Harith Iskandar to help us raise fund thru the anniversary dinner for the sustainability projects by Pertubuhan Komuniti ELITE. Today, the rotaractors from Rotaract Club of Petaling Jaya are building upon the foundation that RCPJ has laid in the projects of woodwork vocational school, chicken and goat farming. RCPJ gave me a beautiful gift before the end of my term as a President. I was tasked to sign a Twin Club Agreement with RC of Riga Ridzene in Latvia. Getting to Latvia was an adventure with missed flight and after 34 hours and many transits, I arrived to sign a memorable Twin Club Agreement. Today, we are doing the Student Exchange program to bring the clubs closer together.
With the support of the club, RCPJ was awarded five Awards, two Recognitions, Annual Fund Top 3 Giving Club, for RY 17/18. Among the awards are Outstanding President Award, President Citation Award, Outstanding Project Facebook Page Award, Best Project Public Image, Best Service Project – Clean PJ, Best Project Rotaract Club – Golden Child and Outstanding Young Rotarian Award – Rtn Victor.
To sum it all, Rotary Club of Petaling Jaya, has given me a space to discover the talents that I have. This is because the members of the club always esteem each other highly and with full of respect and support for one another. In RCPJ, we are truly a family. We serve the community with our spouses and children. It brought us closer. And like in any family, we may have our differences but to the world out there, we are solidly united as one and fiercely guarding the unity of the club. I love my club. I love Rotary Club of Petaling Jaya. I love the many interesting personalities that make the club such a VIBRANT club!
Yours truly,
Alice Imm
Past President 2017/18
