Bulletin 48 26

CROSSROADSRotary Club of Singapore Vol. 48 / 26

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16th

Jan.

201

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Joke of the week“Politician : One who shakes your hand before the election, and your confidence after.”From the book of Humour compiled by Rewa MirpuriHAVE MANY LAUGHS AND HELP THE NEEDYhttp://www.rotary.org.sg/bookofhumour.html

“Can Type II Diabetes Melitus be cured?”SPEAKER: Dr. Peter Goh, Advance Surgical Group Pte. Ltd.Lunch meeting of the 11th January 2012

Find your bulletin on the facebook page of “Rotary Club of Singapore”

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Introductory remarks

President Tapan Rao warmly welcomed members to the meeting and added that since January was celebrated as “Rotary Awareness Month” by Rotarians worldwide, a selection of short videos on “Rotary Ads” were presented to members for their viewing.

Banner Exchange

President Tapan called upon visiting Rotarians to present and exchange the clubs’ banners.

Welcome of visiting Rotarians and guestsRtn. Laveen Daryani welcomed our guests and visiting rotarians

- Guests :Speaker, Dr. Peter Goh, Ms. Natalia Tan & Ms. Cherylyn Yip (Club’s guests)Dr. Norman HingMr. Matei IurascuMr. Antero Makinen

Visiting Rotarians :Anthony Cowell & Mark Harris – Cayman IslandsAlfred Gremli – Kusnacht-ZurichGeorge Hartung – University District SeattleAlik Hertel – Hannover

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ToastToastmaster, Rtn. Louis Lim informed members that the Rotary Club of Hannover has 130 members, 14 of whom were female members. He added that there were six Rotary Clubs in Hannover, with the Rotary Club of Hannover being one of the oldest clubs in Germany. Rtn. Louis invited Rtn. Alik Hertel to address the Club. Rtn. Alik advised that he knew Rtn. Louis from their previous Rotaract activities and that he was in Singapore on a family visit as his wife is a Singaporean.

Speaker of the week

President Tapan called upon Rtn. Gerald Abeyawardena to introduce the Speaker, Dr. Peter Goh who is a President Scholar and the top medical student from the University of Singapore in 1980. He currently runs a private practice at Paragon Medical Centre and Gleneagles Hospital. Dr. Goh spoke of the prevalence of diabetes in the world and the expected increase of sufferers from this disease. He described the two types of diabetes mellitus and their causes and complications. He highlighted certain aspects of diabetes and obesity and gave further information on Asian BMI criteria as well as various drug treatments and surgical procedures. (A copy of Dr. Goh’s presentation is available from the Secretariat.) Rtn. Dr. Kevin Chua warmly thanked Dr. Goh for his informative talk, which he added, would motivate members to lose some weight, particularly in view of the festive season!

PHF recognition

President Tapan called upon Vice President Brigitte Holtschneider, Chair of The Rotary Foundation (TRF) who presented PHF recognitions to Rtn. Willi Hess, who received a four-stone sapphire PHF pin, and Rtn. Bharat Mandloi received his PHF certificate and pin. VP Brigitte was also pleased to hand over to President Tapan who became a TRF Major Donor, with a crystal plaque and a diamond pin as an expression of appreciation from the Foundation. VP Brigitte advised that the crystal recognition was engraved with doves – the symbols of peace. President Tapan thanked members for their continued support of the Foundation and reminded them that the contributions to TRF enabled it to carry out an array of programs around the world such as:Improve living conditions for needy families locally and globally;-Increase food production and clean water programs;-Provide classrooms and educational materials for schools-Allay the suffering of the sick and disabled by providing immunization, medical treatment and rehabilitation, and;-Provide new channels for international understanding, and brighter hopes for peace.

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ARTICLE OF THE MONTH

WHO MATTERS MOST?By: PP Raymon Huang What kind of Question is that, you may ask? Especially when you are talking Rotary! Maybe so. But it is nevertheless a question that is often asked, together with “sister” questions like “What is more important?” and “Which is more important?” True? It is. While it is not a “must” question, it is often a “need” question. Yes, even in Rotary. Like in our everyday, ordinary life, we are prone to saying, for example “Oh, leave it to the government to get it done; or the Town Council, or the Committee Members. We elected them – it is their job”. In the same vein, many of us “ordinary” Rotarians are also prone to saying, “Leave it to the President and his Board to get it whatever this may be – done.” There are many exceptions, of course. Some outstanding exceptions, in fact. Just as there are many so civic-minded citizens out there, we also have a handful of really great and committed Rotarians who not only practice “Service Above Self” chapter and verse, but who would go way beyond that extra mile, often beyond the call of duty. Why then do we need to ask, “Who matters most?” Correctly, it is natural to accord the Club President, the Board Members, the District Governors, and others similarly elected to these high offices in the movement, the ‘VIP’ status they deserve. Correctly too, we should feel they are our leaders and therefore expect them to lead by example to get things done for us, for the Club, and for Rotary. But, incorrectly, we sometimes feel that they are the principal ones who should get whatever is to be done, done, and therefore tend to leave things to them.But, lest we forget – for example, the Club President without the active support and shoulders of his or her Club members would be “nothing”. Similarly, the District Governor, without the active participation of his Clubs in the District to implement his programs and projects, would be “nothing”. Indeed, it is the “ordinary” Rotarians on the shopfloor who ultimately matter most. They are the lifeblood of the organization. They are the hands and feet of Rotary – its engine.

They are the ones who keep the Rotary wheel turning. The answer to the question I posed right at the beginning becomes more apparent, easier to pin-point. I was once (1962-1970) a member of another voluntary organisation similar to Rotary-called The International YsMen’s Association. Its members, called “YsMen” or Men of the YMCA”, implemented programs and projects similar to those of Rotary. I was the President of one of its Singapore Clubs – the “Beta Chapter”, and became its Director for the South-east Asia region, a post similar to Rotary’s District Governor, with a much bigger region to oversee. So when I joined Rotary, the transition was pretty smooth. The reason I mention this is: the Motto of the “YsMen” movement “To Acknowledge The Duty That Accompanies Every Right.” In meaning, in implication, in thrust, it is as good as Rotary’s “Service Above Self”.In my Rotary life, I have always tried to combine the two mottos. Our right to be Rotarians entails an acknowledgement of the duty that accompanies that right. An acknowledgement of anything is always a good starting point from which, often, many good things can proceed and produce results. It is a process, a good process.In any group of people, there are always the leaders and the followers. Of course, there are the “in-betweens” too. Among its members, there are those who walk the talk; there are those who just walk; and there are those who just talk too. As ordinary Rotarians we have to ask ourselves which “those” do we belong to. Do we walk the Rotary talk, and chip in and be actively involved in the many good and beneficial programs? In this high-pressure world we live in today, do we make and take time to really acknowledge the duty that accompanies the right to be Rotarians? That is, in a large measure, the crux, the nub, and the essence of this issue.It was Benjamin Disraeli who said, “Action may not always bring happiness but without action there is no happiness.” And we know, of course, that most of Rotary’s actions bring about happiness. Which is why Rotarians must always act; must never be “in-betweens”. And one of our Rotary International Presidents said a while ago, that “… to be a Rotarian is a privilege and that we should exercise that privilege as Rotarians should…”. In other words, acknowledging the accompanying duties and obligations irrespective of position, status or standing. In that respect, all Rotarians are equal. So, “Who Matters Most?” In our context, it is a “no–question”.

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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 DIARYThere are no Birthday celebrants this week!

Anniversary CelebrantsRC sends best wishes to Wedding Anniversary celebrants: January 18 – Ghani & Mona MahtaniJanuary 20 – Florian & Severine Edelmann

This weekJanuary 18th 2012

Reception Desk duty: Haider Nawaz, Dinesh SharmaSunshine Box duty: T K Chew, Jean-Philippe Lionnet

Speaker: Our very own member, Rtn. Rewa MirpuriTopic: “Humour is Happiness”

Next week January 25th 2012

Meeting cancelled in view of the Chinese New Year festivities.

COMING ROTARY EVENTS JanuaryRotary Awareness Month

January 19thClub AssemblyJanuary 25thMeeting cancelled in view of the Chinese New Year festivities

FebruaryWorld Understanding Month

February 23rd World Understanding and Peace Day

March

March 22nd – 25thDistrict Assembly and PETS at Grand Paragon Hotel, Johor Bahru

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

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?

Committee Meetings

There are no Committee Meetings in view of the Club Assembly which will be held on Thursday,

January 19th 2012 at 6.00pm at Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre