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C rossroads Rotary

e-bulletin published by Rotary Club of Singapore Proud of our Heritage, Committed to our Future

Chartered 6thJune 1930 Lifetime Achievement Award Winner for Best Bulletin in District 3310

Volume 51 Issue No. 26

12 January 2015

12 MARK YOUR DIARY

What’s ahead? Don’t miss

the forthcoming events and

Birthday / Anniversary

celebrants and more…

7 LAST WEEK

Report on our Wednesday,

7 January

1 IN FOCUS

“Light Up Rotary” –

That He Does!

President Perlita & Board of Directors wish all members

“A Bright & Wonderful 2015”

1 | C r o s s r o a d s

An e-bulletin published by Rotary Club of Singapore – Proud of our Heritage, Committed to our Future email: [email protected] Website: www.rotary.org.sg Save our Forests! Save Paper - Print only if absolutely necessary.

In Focus

“LIGHT UP ROTARY” – THAT HE DOES!

By: PP Raymon Huang

This is from one HUANG to another HUANG – with the latter the illustrious one – written born of admiration. The other? Rotary International President Gary C K Huang, who visited us recently, accompanied by his First Lady, Corinna.

A gala Inter-City Christmas Party was held in his honour on 22nd December 2014, organised by President Elsie Chua of the Rotary Club of Pandan Valley and her Committee, at the Grand Copthorne Hotel. District Governor Andre Suharto was there, as did representatives from 39 Rotary Clubs in District 3310, totalling over 360 Rotarians and spouses. A Rotarian from a club in far away New Zealand was there too. Our Club was represented by 24 members and spouses. (President Perlita was away in the United States, but managed to catch the Rotary Day gala celebration cum fund raising event with the Platters - Live, at the City National Grove of

Anaheim with President Gary as Special Guest.) PDG Fong Hoe Beng was Aide to RI President Gary. The meeting was, in a manner of speaking,

awashed with PDGs, PPs, IPPs and Club Presidents from the District, reflecting the popularity of RI President Gary. Rotaractors and Interactors were also present. MC PP Stan Low was masterly – in total control of the evening’s proceedings. The evening’s theme was basically “fun, fellowship, and fund” (raising). The fund-raising was for The Rotary Foundation. The Meeting went off to a fine start with DG Andre’s speech, which was well received. A little background on RI President Gary – mainly for those among us who do not know him. His meteoric rise in Rotary and the many Rotary milestones he has chalked up are both an example and an inspiration to aspiring Rotarians. His record speaks for itself – the several “first” to his credit:

- he became Taiwan’s youngest District Governor; - the country’s first Rotary International President; - his country’s first Rotary Foundation Trustee; - and the very first Chinese Rotary International President.

What an achievement – so many feathers in his cap! Yet so humble, so down to earth.

MC PP Stan Low

Seated (l to r): Mrs LaxmiKripalani, Mrs Maureen Thevathasan, Mrs Irene Hennedige, Mrs Geeta Mirpuri, MrsKawita Vaswani. Standing (l to r): Rewa Mikrpuri, PP Dr Oliver Hennedige, UttamKripalani, Deepu Joseph, Mohan Vaswani, PDG Dr Ivor Thevathasan

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Rotary-Club-of-Singapore/97500804758

http://www.rotary.org.sg/



His parents fled China in 1947 to escape the civil war and communism, reaching Taiwan when he was one year old. As a young man he was told he was too young to become a Rotarian. But his persistence paid off – he became a member of the Rotary Club of Taipei at 30. Five years later he was elected its President. He did not look back. A firm and fervent believer that Rotary is “family”, his dear wife, Corinna, and three children are all Rotarians. He also believes that younger persons should be admitted into Rotary – “they are our future.” In all this, he walks the talk. He attended the University of Michigan, staying with an American family who gave him the name “Gary” – after the great actor-cowboy “High Noon” hero Gary Cooper. R I President Gary’s constant drive is to light the world with Rotarians who are always on hand to lend a helping hand. And membership-recruitment is a passion. As President of the Taipei Club, he increased its membership from 102 to 143. As District Governor he was instrumental in adding 19 clubs in his District (Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau), and hopes to form 10 clubs in China during his RI Presidency, beginning with the chartering of the Rotary Club of Chengdu. A sportsman, he used to love basketball. Now he golfs. But his favourite team is “Team Rotary”, and moving the Rotary ball ever forward is his continuing commitment. In his address to the gathering that evening, he expressed appreciation to Organising Chairman President Elsie Phua and her Committee and all others involved in the efficient organization of the meeting. He had been away from home, he said, for some three months – “mostly in the air”, travelling and visiting so many clubs. He was happy to be going home, and led all present in doing the Rotary “Happy Clap”, and singing the Rotary song in Mandarin, the first time we heard it done! Giving District 3310 a big pat on the back, he described the District as “the best among the best” in East Asia. A feather in DG Andre’s cap too. He said the evening’s proceedings reminded him of his daughter’s wedding when he sang the old-time favourite “I Went To Your Wedding” – he sang that too at the meeting, in Hokkien and English, joined by many in the gathering. Citing Confucius several times, he told us his Presidential theme of “LIGHT UP ROTARY” was inspired by the great philosopher’s remark that “lighting a candle is better than cursing the darkness”. He also quoted the Chinese proverb, “any generation reaps what the previous generation sows.” On Rotary’s continuing efforts to light up the lives of the disadvantaged, he quoted the great teacher Confucius again – “the man who moves a mountain began by carrying small stones.” All of which paints the Rotary landscape in its truest form. And in this Christmas and New Year season, lighting up candles of hope and peace is even more reflective of the need.

VP Joseph Chia (left) and Rtn Mohan Vaswani (2nd from right) with Rtn Rewa Mirpuri presents the Books of Humour to RI President Gary Huang

In Focus





RI President Gary reminded us that Rotary has helped over 1.2 million less fortunate children to make their lives “more liveable”, with Rotary’s motto of “Service Above Self” and “he profits most who serves best” as our guiding star, showing Rotarians the way onward to light up this troubled world in our mission “to do good”. All of which started with the lighting of one candle. All in all an inspiring speech. The best aspect is that RI President Gary practises what he preaches, setting an example to close to 1.3 million Rotarians worldwide. The culmination of the evening’s programme was the happy announcement that RI President Gary had just been conferred, by his alma mater the University of Michigan, the Honorary Degree of Doctorate of Philosophy. So it is now Rotary International President Dr Gary C K Huang. Our sincere congratulations! RI President Dr Gary followed the happy event with his presentation of Certificates of Appreciation to President Elsie Chua and President Jona Pang of the Rotary Club of Tanjong Pagar. He also thanked Aide PDG Hoe Beng and MC PP Stan. VP Joseph Chia deputised for President Perlita and presented to RI President Dr Gary a set of our Books of Humour, as well as a presentation copy of our “Guide To Daily Living”. A sum of over S$50,000 was raised for The Rotary Foundation. So thank you, RI President Dr Gary and First Lady Corinna for spending time with us. We wish you and your family all the very best this Yuletide and New Year season. May the second half of your RI Presidency in 2015 shine even brighter as you “LIGHT UP ROTARY”.

In Focus

Members and spouses posing with RI President Gary Huang





President Perlita makes up at District 5320 Meeting at Anaheim with RI President… Pres Perlita managed to catch up with RI President Gary Huang to celebrate Rotary Day at the City National Grove of Anaheim, California, on 28th December 2014. Organised by RI District 5320, the fund-raising gala event, featuring The Platters-Live, was attended by RI Directors, PDGs and Presidents in the district, as well as newly inducted Rotarians who are members of Congress.

RI President (RIP) Gary Huang and Spouse Corinna were pleased to meet with Pres Perlita all the way from Singapore. RIP Gary acknowledged so in his speech.

Pres Perlita with RIP Gary's daughter Linda.

RIP belting out "I went to your wedding" after performance of Platters.

Pres Perlita with RI 3830 PDG from RC Makati East Jun Perez and spouse Vivian, RI 5320 DG Jim Paddock &

Founder Charter Pres E-Club Global Kalinga Ernie Delfin





Rotary Inter District Mega Medical Camp By PP Jimmy Ooi

Urgent Announcement

15-22 March 2015 Rotary Medical Mission to Nepal

The Rotary Club of Singapore has been sending medical team to Nepal since 2002. It has since been a biannual event

organised jointly by RC Singapore and RC Patan West (Nepal). This year, the mission will be back with an Inter

District Rotary Mega Medical Camp in the medieval mountain town of Bandipur, 5 hours away from Kathmandu.

The 3-day camp at Bandipur will involve 7 Rotary Clubs from Kathmandu graced by DG Rabindra Piya. DG Andre

Suharto shall grace the mission on behalf of D3310. This medical mission shall be led by President Perlita Tiro and

co- led by President Felix of RC Suntec City.

This year, the medical services shall include cancer screening, cardiology-ECHO, pulmonary, gynaecology, general,

dental and orthopaedic.

We are seeking pledges of at least USD3500 from members for purchase of medicine and medical test kits for this

mission. For more details of this mission including participation, please contact PP Jimmy Ooi

[email protected] or Rtn Jasbir Koh [email protected]. Deadline 05 Feb 2015.

PP Jimmy Ooi & Rtn Jas Koh (Convenors)



mailto:[email protected]




PE Alan & Rtn Haider helping to pack the bags of rice

CSC Dir Dr Irina with the goodie bags

From right: PP Dr Yap Lip Kee, Rtns Mark, Vicki Chan with family and friends

From left: Rtn Mark Wang, PE Alan Tan & Rtn Haider Nawaz posing with the bags of donated rice

From left: Rtns Mark, Irina &Haider

Gift of Love Home Visit - 21st December 2014 At the weekly meeting of 7th January, Community Service Committee Director Rtn Dr Irina Francken reported briefly on the 3rd event which was jointly organised with the Youth Service Committee and the Interactors and Rotaractors for the enjoyable event at the Gift of Love Home Christmas Party held on 21st December 2014. She added that 1,000 Kg of rice was donated by the Committee and members came together to pack the goodie bags for the participants at the party. Following are some of the photographs taken at this successful event:





INTRODUCTORY REMARKS Vice President Joseph Chia warmly wished all present a Happy New Year at the first meeting of 2015. VP Joseph advised that President Perlita was still in America for her family reunion, thus he was chairing the weekly meeting. As the Guest Speaker, Mr Linus Wong who was to speak on “Lasting Power of Attorney and Estate Planning” was late in arriving for the meeting, VP Joseph took the opportunity to highlight two interesting cases which were in the news which showed the importance of having a Lasting Power of Attorney in our lives.

WELCOME OF GUESTS AND VISITING ROTARIANS The welcome of guests of members and visiting Rotarians was performed by Rtn Dr Rudi Ackermann: Guests: Ms Deepti Lalchandani Dr Claus Dusemund Visiting Rotarians: PDG Ben Chng – Sentosa IPP Vaswati Pattanaik – Calcutta Outram, India TOAST AND PRESENTATION OF BANNERS

Last Week Last Week – Report on the Wednesday Meeting – 7th January 2014

VP & PND (2017/18) called on members to raise a toast to Rotary Club of Calcutta Outram represented

at the meeting by IPP VaswatiPattanaik, whose family has relocated to Singapore

Rtn Dr Rudi Ackermann

Rtn Jan Rosemeyer was pleased to present our Club banner when he

attended the Rotary Club of Tokyo’s meeting on 24th December

VP Joseph Chia

VP Joseph Chia





Last Week

APPEAL FOR FUNDS FOR MALAYSIAN FLOOD VICTIMS

VP Joseph called upon International Service Committee Director Rtn Keith Harrison who appealed to members to donate generously towards the District’s relief efforts for the Malaysian flood victims. He advised that donations and pledges have been received and hoped to garner a total of $7,000. Rtn Keith called on members to send in their donations and to indicate their pledges in the forms provided, if they have not already done so. He advised that the total amount of donations/pledges received would be sent shortly from the Club’s Disaster Fund to the Rotary Club of Kuching Central, which was coordinating the District’s relief efforts. (Subsequently, after the weekly meeting the Club’s total contribution of S$10,770 was remitted towards the Malaysian Flood Victims. An appeal for donations in kind was also circulated and Rtn Hoon Sing Keow assisted in the sorting out of such donations. A warm thanks to our generous donors.) CALENDAR OF EVENTS VP Joseph called on PE Alan Tan to make the following announcements:

Online registration is ready as follows:

http://www.rotarydistrict3310.com/25distas/ http://www.rotarydistrict3310.com/24discon/ (Early Bird registration ends on 31/12/2014)

Guest of Honour:Prof Kishore Mahbubani

(Dean, Professor in the Practice of Public

Policy, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public

Policy National University of Singapore)

Date: 25th February 2015 (Wed)

Venue: Pan Pacific Ocean Room 2 to 5

Price: $128nett

Time: 7pm (Cocktail starts at 6:30pm)

Please book your seat and a table

through the Rotary Secretariat.



http://www.rotarydistrict3310.com/25distas/

http://www.rotarydistrict3310.com/24discon/



Last Week

INDUCTION OF NEW MEMBER

VP Joseph invited VP and President Nominee Designate (2017/2018) Ashi Sarwal to introduce his candidate, Rtn Stacy McCarthy. In his introduction, VP & PND Ashi noted that Rtn Stacy was a veteran Rotarian as a member of the 4th oldest and largest Rotary Club in the world, Seattle 4, USA. VP Joseph formally inducted Rtn Stacy to the Club and recommended that she joined the Community and Vocational Service Committees. Her classification is “Aerospace”. Upon her induction, Rtn Stacy stated that she was pleased to be a member of the Club and looked forward to serving Rotary. Rtn Stacy’s personal particulars will be circulated shortly.

RI DISTRICT 3310 ROTARACT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT VP Joseph called on Youth Service Committee Director Jeff Rajeck who informed members the Club received a request from RI District 3310 Rotaract, for Rotarians who are experts in their field of work to join them and share their experiences in various workshops for the Rotaractors and students at the coming Rotaract D3310 Career Seminar 2015 which would be held as follows: Date: 24th January 2015 (Saturday) Time: 9 am – 4 pm (tentative) Venue: Singapore Management University Rtn Jeff added that this professional development project aims to equip tertiary students and young adults with the necessary skills and experiences shared by many successful professionals in various industries. For more information and if you are able to participate at the Seminar, please contact Rtn Jeff Rajeck at [email protected]

From right: Rtn Stacy, VPs Joseph & Ashi

YSC Dir Jeff Rajeck






Mr. Wong received the Club’s gifts from Rtn Robert Craiu

Speaker, Mr Linus Wong

VP Joseph called upon Rtn Jeff Rajeck to introduce the Speaker, Mr Linus Wong who entered the financial services industry immediately after graduating with a Bachelor of Laws from the National University of Singapore. Mr. Wong rose through the ranks to head a team of over 20 specialist advisors who assist their clients with the numerous intricacies of estate planning, structuring simple creation and distribution structures to complex trust-based models for corporates and HNWIs. Due to time constraints, Mr. Wong briefed members on the legal document, Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) which would allow a person who is at least 21 years of age ('donor'), to voluntarily appoint one or more persons ('donee(s)'), to make decisions and act on his behalf as his proxy decision maker if he should lose mental capacity one day. A donee(s) can be appointed to act in two broad areas: personal welfare as well as property and affairs matters.

Mr Wong cited the recent case featured in the news of the wealthy widow with assets worth more than 40 million who had given LPA to a tour guide whom she met in China and assisted in setting up a business in Singapore and whose family subsequently lived with her. He noted that subsequently the LPA in this case was revoked. Nonetheless, Mr Wong noted that the LPA would allow persons to protect their interests by indicating their personal choice of proxy decision maker – someone reliable, competent and capable - to make decisions and act on their behalf should they become vulnerable and lose their mental capacity.

In his vote of thanks to Mr. Wong, Rtn. Robert Craiu also reminded members of the importance of having a will and added that if assets were in other countries, to have a will in place in each country.

Speaker: Mr Linus Wong, Director, Bequest Pte Ltd Topic: “Lasting Power of Attorney and Estate Planning”

Last Week





PDG Dr Hari N Harilela GBM, GBS, OBE, JP

Another example of Ambassadorial Rotarian continuing to support our club and honouring Rotary's motto of "Service Above Self"

By: PP Stan Low

The three of us (Mark, Roland, Stan) met in Hong Kong on Wednesday 7th January 2015 and discussed the China Guizhou ISC/VSC project to help the minority Miao tribe to learn to read blueprints so that they can retain, retrain and re-integrate Miao traditional building design for future generations. An initial visit to Guizhou is planned for mid-March to prepare for a larger group of Rotarians to visit in mid-May when the weather is more benign.

With sadness, we bid farewell to a Friend of the Club

Sadly we advise of the passing away of PDG Dr. Hari N Harilela, GBM, GBS, OBE, JP who was a staunch supporter of the Club’s Book of Humour project. Members would recall that PDG Dr Hari Harilela sponsored the new reprint of the Book of Humour. PDG Dr. Hari Harilela was not only a very prominent citizen of Hong Kong, but was also a distinguished Rotarian who served the Rotary movement in various capacities, including President of his club, Rotary Club of Kowloon in 1956/57 and as Personal Representatives to many Rotary International Presidents as well as other portfolios.





Queries, comments and articles request can be sent to [email protected]

Mark Your Diary

RC sends Birthday greetings to celebrants this week:

12

th January – Florian Edelmann

13

th January – Vivek Chhabra

19

th January – Deepu Joseph

21st January 2015

Reception Desk duty: PP Paliath Mohandas, Atul Merchant Sunshine Box duty: Hena Hoda, PP Dr Yap Lip Kee Speaker: Mr Shiv Khera, Founder of Qualified Learning Systems USA Topic: “Winners don’t do different things, they do things differently”

January Rotary Awareness Month 22

ndJanuary

Club Assembly at TheTanglin Club at 6.30pm

February World Understanding Month 25

th February

Inter-city dinner in celebration of World Understanding & Peace Day at Pan Pacific Hotel

March Literacy Month 26

th – 29

th March

25th

RI Dist 3310 Presidents Elect Training Seminar & District Training Assembly (PETS & DISTAS) at KSL Hotel & Resort, Johor Bahru

Coming Rotary Events

International Service Committee

Meeting on:

Date: Thursday, 15th January

Time: 7.30pm

Venue: Ruby Room, Singapore

Island Country Club (Thomson

Location), Upper Thomson Road.

Hosts: VP Joseph Chia, Rtns Jasbir

Koh, Bharat Mandloi, Dr Albert

Wee and Jan Rosemeyer

International Service

Meeting

RC sends best wishes to Wedding Anniversary celebrants this week:

13

th January – Willi & Hannelore

Hess 16

th January – Hon. Member PP Koh

Choon Hui & Anne 18

th January – Ghani & Mona

Mahtani

Anniversary Celebrants

Birthday Celebrants

This Week

Next Week

14th

January 2015

Reception Desk duty: PP Dr Yap Lip Kee, Dir. Reinhard Klemmer Sunshine Box duty: S Malaiappan, PP Paliath Mohandas Speaker: Mr Clifford Lee, Co-Founder of Epic Cyclist Topic: “Epic Ride 1000Km in 4 days on Bicycle”





Board of Directors 2014/15

President Perlita Tiro

Immediate Past President (CRFC) Dr Shahul Hameed

President Elect Alan Tan Gim Guan

Vice President (Programmes) Joseph Chia

Vice President (Membership) Ashwani Sarwal

Hon Secretary (Administration) Louis Lim

Hon Treasurer (Finance) Jayant Gadgil

Directors

Chair, Community Service Irina Francken

Chair, Vocational Service Reinhard Klemmer

Chair, International Service Keith Harrison

Chairman – Youth Jeffrey Rajeck

Director (PR, Web, EYA) Suresh Keerthi

The Guide to Daily Living

Before doing the things we want to do, consider first, the precepts

of the guide. Ask ourselves these 4 questions and act upon them:

First: Have I spent some time in self-examination?

Second: Have I spent quality time with my family?

Third: Have I given my best to my work?

Fourth: Have I given some time to someone near and far?

The Guide, in fact, encompasses the 4 parts of the Object of Rotary.

The Four-Way Test

Of the things we think, say or do:

Is it the truth?

Is it fair to all concerned?

Will it build goodwill and better friendship?

Will it be beneficial to all concerned?



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