President’s Message for December 2023 – January 2024

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How time flies. We have just celebrated Christmas, bid 2023 farewell, and rung in the New Year, 2024.

I would like to wish all fellow Rotarians, and especially our very own Club members, all the very best, and ever greater achievements in the New Year.

We have crossed the halfway mark for the Rotary Year 2023/24. The 2nd half will be even more exciting and fun as Singapore will be hosting the Rotary International Convention 2024 from 25 to 29 May 2024.

Register for the Convention if you have not already done so. Be part of this international gathering of Rotarians from around the world – make new friends and renew friendships through fellowship and learn from each other’s flagship projects, ongoing and new Rotary Programmes. Be inspired, be thrilled and know that you are among Rotarians, people of action, committed to bring Hope to the World and making the communities we live in a better place for everyone!

How did we end the year 2023?

We inducted three new Club members – Rtn Foo Lai Chan, Rtn Oh Hock Chong and Rtn Poh Cheng Boon. This brings the total number of active Club members from 23 to 26. Our target is to grow our Club membership to 30 active members, if not more, by 30 June 2024, the end of Rotary Year 2023/24. I am sure we can do this together to grow our Club from strength to strength. On 15 December 2023, our Club had a fellowship dinner at Yum Cha Restaurant in Chinatown to celebrate Christmas. This replaced our regular monthly physical Club meeting at the Foundation of Rotary Clubs of Singapore (FRCS) in Peninsular Plaza. Nine Club members (Unfortunately I had to miss it due to Covid!) who were at this fellowship dinner had a gala time, enjoying good food, and even better company. AG Angela Chin also had joined in later.

To bring Christmas Cheers to patients and their caregivers, our Club’s on-going “Rotary My Wish” Project hosted a Christmas lunch on 21 December at the Oasis@Outram Day Hospice located within the Outram Community Hospital. Our very own Vice-President (VP 2 ) PP Vicky Soo led in coordinating with HCA Hospice (HCA), Singapore’s largest hospice care provider and a registered Charity; and Dignity Kitchen, a social enterprise for people with disabilities, to organise this collaborative event. Owing to safety concerns for the patients, HCA limited the number of Rotarians who could participate.

The “My Wish Fund” sponsored S4,800.00 for the lunch prepared by Dignity Kitchen’s Executive Chef Roy Chan and his team. PP Vicky and Rotarian Lai Chan also bought presents and cookies for the patients. PP Ong Chee Wee vowed the crowd with his rendition of evergreen favourites in local dialects, English and Mandarin. Another 7 members – Charter President Chew Ban Seng, Community Services Director Cindy Yen, VP1 Shirin Ghadiali, Treasurer PP Eddie Ho, Rtn Dr Doris Ang, Rtn Gracy Yap and I – mingled with the patients and their caregivers .

Our Club’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held after the monthly Club Meeting on 11 January 2024. All members are strongly encouraged to step up to take on various roles on the Club’s Board as well as the Chair for the Membership Committee. Apart from the President’s and Immediate Past President’s positions, which will be assumed by current President Elect (PE) Rtn Stephanie Song and myself respectively, all other positions – 2 Vice Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, Community Services Director, Youth Services Director, Vocational Services Director, International Services Director, Public Relations Director, Club Services Director, Foundation Services Director, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Director, Seargent At Arms – are open.

I look forward to more engagement through active fellowship and participation in Club activities and meetings by all members to make our Club even more vibrant! Bring your family members and friends to share in your Rotary journey to bring Hope and act to make a difference to the lives of others in our community.

Here’s wishing everyone Happy New Year!!!

President Tan May Yan
Rotary E-club of 3310