CROSSROADSRotary Club of Singapore Vol. 48 / 34

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26th

Mar

. 201

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“Sok Sabay, helping to shape the future of Cambodia”SPEAKER: Ms. Joyce Billington

Lunch meeting of the 21st March 2012

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Joke of the week – about maids !“ Mistress : Alice, did you clean the refrigerator today ?Alice : yes, Ma’am, and everything was delicious.” From the book of Humour compiled by Rewa MirpuriHAVE MANY LAUGHS AND HELP THE NEEDYhttp://www.rotary.org.sg/bookofhumour.html

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Introductory remarks

President Tapan Rao warmly welcomed members, our Speaker, Ms. Joyce Billington and the visiting Rotarians from our two sister clubs from Japan – Rotary Clubs of Osaka Semba and Kobe East.

Toast

Prior to extending the toast to Rotary Club of Osaka Semba and to Rotary International, PP Stan Low made a presentation of the Club’s last visit to Rotary Club of Osaka Semba as well as to the members’ visit to the disaster-stricken areas of Fukushima/Sendai. His presentation showed members’ participation in unloading donated furniture to families as well as the clearing of a children’s playground to ensure a safe environment for the children.

Eschange of banners

President Tapan presented a club banner and a Singapore Rotary pin to President Akimatsu Koyama. Banner exchanges were also made with Rtns. Frederick Wong (Rotary Club of City North West, Hong Kong) and Rtn. Shingo Muramoto from sister club Kobe East.

Happy Birthday

President Tapan was pleased to extend birthday greetings to Rtn. K. K. Tan, who was requested to cut the birthday cake on behalf of the other birthday celebrants.

Welcome of visiting Rotarians and guests

PP Paliath Mohandas welcomed our guests and visiting Rotarians

- Guests :Ms. Jasbir KohMs. Neang Aun SvongMs. Sabine WenterMr. Antero MakinenMr. ShankarMr. Sanjay BanerjeeMr. Dennis Lee

Visiting Rotarians :PDG Kenneth Chew, Rtn. Mohan – Pandan ValleyPresident & Mrs. Akimatsu Koyama, VP Kiyokazu Shimizu, Rtn. & Mrs. Hideo Fujino, Rtn. & Mrs. Kazuo Higuchi, Rtn. & Mrs. Tsuneo Kojima, Rtn. & Mrs. Hironobu Matsutani, Rtn. & Mrs. Noboru Negoro, Rtn. Akio Shiojiri, Rtn. Teruo Shinkawa, Rtn. Kiyokazu Ito, Rtn. Hori – Osaka SembaRtn. Shingo Muramoto – Kobe East, JapanRtn. Frederick Wong – City North West, Hong Kong

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Speaker of the week

PP Dr. Oliver Hennedige introduced the speaker, Ms. Joyce Billington who is the Senior Consultant of NoLimits Pte. Ltd. However, Ms. Billington was addressing the Club in her capacity as a volunteer of Sok Sabay, a children’s refuge in Cambodia. PP Oliver advised that the Club had supported Sok Sabay, many years ago, adding that he had taken a group of 25 to 30 students for community work there.Ms. Billington gave an overview of the work undertaken by Sok Sabay, which was founded 15 years ago by a nurse, Ms. Marie Cammal, She advised that Sok Sabay’s objective was to save lives and focussed on healthcare and education in order for the children to give back to the Cambodian society. She added that currently Sok Sabay saw to the needs of 66 children. Ms. Billington spoke of her involvement with Sok Sabay, first, as a godparent and sponsor to the children, and later, her role as a mentor. She informed members of Sok Sabay’s fund raising events so that more could be done pastorally and morally for the children.

In her speech, Ms. Billington stated that through the programmes at Sok Sabah, the children have gained much confidence in their dealings with the world and with other people. Present with Ms. Billington, was her god-daughter, Ms. Neang Aun Svong, who briefly informed members of her life at Sok Sabay and of her aspirations. President Tapan called upon Rtn. Keizo Fujitake to translate Ms. Billington’s and Ms. Neang’s talk for the benefit of our visitors from Japan. PP Oliver also came forward to appeal on behalf of Ms. Marie Cammal for the Club and sister clubs’ support for this worthy cause.Rtn. Colin Miles extended the Club’s vote of thanks to Ms. Billington for telling members about Sok Sabay. He added that he had visited Ms. Marie Cammal who was already struggling even then to provide for the Sok Sabay’s children.

Sunshine Box Collection

President Tapan announced that our sister club, Rotary Club of Osaka Semba had generously donated 60,000 yen to the Sunshine Box. Subsequent to the meeting, visiting Rtn. Shingo Muramoto from sister club, Rotary Club of Kobe East, gave a handsome donation of S$100 to the Sunshine Box as well.

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SPEECH BY PRESIDENT AKIMATSU KOYAMA

Following is the speech made by President Akimatsu Koyama from our sister club, Rotary Club of Osaka Semba, at the weekly meeting of Wednesday, 21st March 2012 (kindly translated by Rtn. Roland Jossi):My name is Akimatsu Koyama and I am the president of the Rotary Club of Semba in Osaka, in Rotary District 2660.

A long time has passed since our club’s last official visit to your club, which was during the Annual Convention of Rotary International hosted by you, in 1999. Including our family members, we are 17 people to visit you this time.

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to your club members who came to Japan in October last year for their volunteer activities to assist the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake. Please accept our apologies for not being able to support you more at that time. The reconstruction will still take a long time, but thanks to the overwhelming support from overseas, including your club, together with the strong spirit of the Japanese people, the reconstruction is advancing steadily.

Our Rotary Club was established in May 1988, and in 1995 we concluded a sister club agreement with your club thanks to the initiative of your Rotarian Shoichi Ishizaki. Exactly 15 years ago, in March 1997, we came here on our first official visit. We all still remember the gracious welcome you extended to us, as if it was yesterday.On May 19, 2008, we held our Rotary Club’s 20th anniversary ceremony, and we were honoured by the attendance of your president at that time, Peter Tan and his wife. I would like to thank PP Peter Tan for his warm congratulations on that occasion. Our Rotary Club is located in the “Semba” District, the commercial center of Osaka. We support activities such as the revitalisation of the local economy which is really in a very depressed state, the development of the youth and a dental care project in the Republic of Vanuatu among many others. We would also like to use this visit as an opportunity to ask for a closer cooperation, such as some joint international service projects with your club in the future. I have also heard that your club is planning another visit to Japan some time later this year. I would like to invite you to visit our club at that occasion. We look forward to welcoming you from the bottom of our hearts. Thank you very much for your warm hospitality during this visit.

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The Guide to Daily LivingBefore doing the things we want to do, consider first, the precept 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.

MARK YOUR DIARYBirthday celebrantsRC wishes Happy Birthday to celebrant this week:March 30 – VP Ashi SarwalAnniversary CelebrantsRC sends best wishes to Wedding Anniversary celebrants: March 27 – Dr. Sanjay & Harmin Nalachandran March 31 – PP Bhagwan & Laj MelwaniApril 1 – Michael & Gilberte King

This weekMarch 28th 2012

Reception Desk duty: PP Dr. Yap Lip Kee, Wilson WidjajaSunshine Box duty: VP Ashi Sarwal, Noshir MistriSpeaker: Mr. James Quek, Executive Director of World Vision SingaporeTopic: “The hole in the brain”

New Generations Service Date: Thursday, 29th MarchTime: 7.30pmVenue: Pool Terrace, The Pines, 30 Stevens Road S257840Hosts: Rtn. Paul Phua

Next week April 4th 2012

Reception Desk duty: Dr. Ekkehard Wiek, N “Subbu” SubramanianSunshine Box duty: PP Tan Chin Ngiap, Kavita SinghSpeaker: Ms. Cathryn Berger Kaye, Educational consultant on Service Learning and Keynote Speaker for MOE-NIE Conference 2011. Topic: “In Youth We Trust”

Community Service Date: To be advisedVenue: To be advised

COMING ROTARY EVENTS AprilMagazine Month

MayCommunity Service Month

May 6th – 9th Rotary International Convention in Bangkok

JuneRotary Fellowships Month

June 30th Installation Dinner

Queries, comments and articles request can be sent to Jean-Philippe Lionnetbulletin@rotary.org.sg

The Four-Way TestOf 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?