Aug 2020 Issue 2
MELAWATI VIBES RC Melawati Official Monthly Newsletter
We Meet Every Wednesday | 8 PM | Rotary Melawati Community Centre Chartered on 14 June 2000
OUR COMMUNITY, OUR RESPONSIBILITY The President of Taman Melawati Residents Association shared the activities and updates, and invited NGOs to work together and do more for the community pg. 04-05
RIVER OF LIFE Learn how a river brought Rotary Club of Melawati, Society of Eco Greater Melawati (SeeGEM) and Friends of Sungei Klang Taman Melawati (FoSKTM) together for a good cause. pg. 06-07
CULTIVATING GREENER HABITS, STARTING WITH THE BEACHES PAG Shanti Jayaram, Vocational Service Chair
"We don’t just pick up trash but our foundation is based on a systematic protocol of segregating the trash collected to help relevant organizations and bodies to identify ways to eliminate the ocean trash in future. We intend to become a beacon of hope, leading and encouraging others to support in keeping our coastline and ocean clean. We hope that our effort will bring self-awareness to the public as they condition their mindset to 'don’t litter, pick up the trash'. Not only that, we hope that the act of cleaning up for others, fosters a better love for one another and for the earth." - Ms Geeva Samynathan
INTERNATIONAL CONNECTION The story of how a friendship built over 10 years ago opens opportunities for RCM to establish international connection today. pg. 08
Leadership paying subscriptions and donating to The Rotary Foundation. I simply love this group because of their tenacity. Despite seldom being recognised and sometimes rebuked for not attending meetings, they still stick with us! And then we have the “Diamonds” - very senior among us and sometimes they hardly hear us (literally!) but their hearts are purely for us and with us. They religiously attend most of our club meetings, projects, and fellowships; and promptly pay their subscriptions. They may not be able to play vital roles but they are vital to us. Close to our hearts too. And we love them very much.
A TRIBUTE TO MEMBERS AND MEMBERSHIP President Siva Kumar Raghavan August is Membership Month. In Rotary Club of Melawati our greatest strength is the bonding amongst members. We are a proud bunch of happy people who care for each other and take the trouble to know each other better. We are a Happy FAMILY with our Charter President Dr Navin as the loving “Daddy” figure to all of us. My 14 years with Rotary Club of Melawati had given me the opportunity to see many new faces joining the club as members. Many stayed on, some left but almost all remained as friends. In my observation, I notice interesting characters amongst our club members. Firstly, the Elite ones - I call them “The A Team”. Since the day I joined this wonderful club, The A Team has not failed the club. No matter who the President is or whoever brings an idea, they are willing to provide full support for the sake of the club. And fortunately, there are newer members who recently joined the club who portray this outstanding quality. These are the pillars of Rotary Club of Melawati. Amazingly and gracefully they let the Presidents of the Year bask in the limelight despite all their hard work. This group simply amazes me! Secondly, I must highlight the “Unsung Heroes”. For me the sustainability of a club is achieved because of these members. They seldom attend meetings except for fellowship dinners and projects. However, they make sure their subscriptions are up to-date. These members are aware of the work of Rotary and they are proud Rotarians. It is just that due to their work commitments and travels, they are unable to attend meetings. Some of them are counting their days leading to retirement for they want to play more active role in the club. Till then they are happy to support the club by
AUGUST
There are also those who had joined us for the wrong reasons yet stayed on for the right ones. These are the "Converts". They only realised the good deeds Rotary does when they participated directly in projects and then found that they want to do more to serve Humanity. Oh yes! There were few who left us along the way. It could be because their expectations were unmet. Some had personality conflicts and others left because of irreconcilable differences. If only they knew how instrumental they could be in affecting meaningful and positive change in others through their service in Rotary. As a Sales Consultant myself, I understand that the fundamental aspect of the survival of any business is to constantly bring in new business. In our case, we have to constantly strategise ways and means in bringing in new members to keep our club growing healthily. Some of our members think that we are already a healthy club with 41 members and why should we need to bring in more new members? We must understand that we are a healthy club today because there was a steady growth in membership for the past 10 years. Mind you, when I joined in 2006 we only had 20 members then. Never in our wildest dream would we have thought that 40 members in 10 years to come. Similarly if we were to talk about increasing our membership to 70 members, many would give the look of disbelief and with much reservation and skepticism. Do we realise that most of our senior members have children who are in their 30s and they are doing well professionally? We could easily get 10 more members if our senior Rotarians share the Rotary spirit with their children and convince them to join this wonderful organization. Rotary Club of Melawati needs more members. We need young blood to be leaders. Let our children get the best of the Rotary World through Service to Humanity! Let’s Engage and Enjoy Rotary! #RotaryOpensOpportunities. Yours in Rotary.
2020 | MEMBERSHIP AND NEW CLUB DEVELOPMENT MONTH
02
Leadership
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RY2020-21 President Siva Kumar Raghavan cikgusiva@gmail.com
08/2020
05 - Our Community, Our Responsibility 19 - My Clean Beach 31 - Merdeka Day
09/2020
Honorary Secretary Rtn Raja Yasmin Raja Yusof ryasminy@yahoo.com Honorary Treasurer PAG Sudhaharan Nair sudhaharannair@gmail.com
10/2020
Club Administration Rtn Mark Krisnan mark_krisnan@yahoo.com Community Service CP Dr. Navin Patel dr.navin.lablink@gmail.com Vocational Service PAG Shanti Jayaram shajay13@hotmail.com Youth Service Rtn Somphong Klop Col (R) phongevelyn@yahoo.com International Service Rtn Ooi Soo Kang oosk@cimalaysia.com.my The Rotary Foundation PAG Dr. Selva Kumar Sivapunniam selvakumar.sivapunniam@gmail.com Public Image Rtn Salina Hussein salinahussein@yahoo.co.uk
AUGUST
ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT 07 21 24 31
11/2020
12/2020
-
Asst. Governor's Visit District Governor's Visit World Polio Day (World Greatest Meal) Fireside
ROTARY FOUNDATION 14 18 21 TD
-
Deepavali Engineers Without Borders Global Grant Workshop Be the Magnet to Employers (TTC)
DISEASE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT TD - Medical Camp for B40 25 - Christmas
01/2021
VOCATIONAL SERVICE 01 - Happy New Year TD - Vocational Service Award 28 - Thaipusam
COMMITTEE CHAIRS Membership PP Surindran Ramasamy surind76@gmail.com
BASIC EDUCATION AND LITERACY 16 - Malaysia Day 19 - Mesra Hi-Tea with Community Leaders 23 - DASH by Dr Selva Kumar
President Elect Mahendran Jerry Daniel mahen@i-visionsb.com Immediate Past President Rajindran Irusan rajindran.irusan@gmail.com
MEMBERSHIP AND NEW CLUB DEVELOPMENT
02/2021
PEACE & CONFLICT PREVENTION/RESOLUTION
03/2021
WATER AND SANITATION
04/2021
MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH
05/2021
YOUTH SERVICE
06/2021
ROTARY FELLOWSHIPS
TD - Rotary Day 12 - Chinese New Year
08 - Women International Day 17 - Women in Business
08 - Wesak Day 21 - Life of Beauty Queens
01 09 13 16 19
15 14 20 TD TD
-
-
Labor's Day Mother's Day Hari Raya Aidilfitri Teacher's Day Career Wrestle from the Machines
World Environment Day Club Anniversary Father's Day Family Day Environment Day
WEEKEND CLUB ACTIVITIES
1st Sat 2nd Sun 3rd Sat/Sun
Gotong-royong Board meeting Projects
WEEKLY CLUB ACTIVITIES
1st Wed 2nd Wed 3rd Wed 4th Wed
Sharing/learning Business meeting Speakers Fellowship
2020 | MEMBERSHIP AND NEW CLUB DEVELOPMENT MONTH
03
Community
TAMAN MELAWATI OUR COMMUNITY, OUR RESPONSIBILITY CP Dr Navin Patel, Community Service Chair
Rapid development in Taman Melawati
Mention Melawati and what usually comes to mind is a rather quiet but upscale and exclusive housing area. Melawati was once dubbed Malaysia’s Hollywood because it is where the headquarters of the National Film Development Corporation (Perbadanan Kemajuan Filem Negara or Finas) is located and the housing area is home to many Malaysian celebrities and prima donnas. But drop by there and you will be surprised at the aggressive building and development activities, particularly in the northeast sector, nearest to the panoramic Klang Gates Quartz Ridge, which is also known as Bukit Tabur, making Melawati among the fastest growing suburbs of Kuala Lumpur. At RC
NGOs should be part of the decision-making machinery like in a Majlis or Local Authority Council...
Melawati weekly club meeting on 5 August 2020, we had En Azhari Abd Taharim, the President of Taman Melawati Residents Association (TMRA) sharing the goings-on in our neighborhood. From the issue of Bukit Tabur, internationally famous amongst hikers; to the Little House on the Hill (ideal for senior citizens or community hub) in which some authorities preferred it to be left in a dilapidated state rather than put it to good use; to outrageous traffic congestion what with THREE (3) Pasar Malams in a week not including the Pasar Tani;
AUGUST
2020 | MEMBERSHIP AND NEW CLUB DEVELOPMENT MONTH
04
Community
Illegal hiking at Bukit Tabur
to the irresponsible behaviours of road users even with a police 'balai' just around the corner; and to the fact that Melawati has NO medical centre for emergency cases!. Azhari pulled no punches when he talked about politicians and authorities who only cared about cutting ribbons at functions, rather than going to the ground and solving issues that affected the community. NGOs should be part of the decision-making machinery like in a Majlis or Local Authority. However, he also lauded the police for being responsive during emergencies like break-ins and others. RC Melawati weekly club meeting attracted about 30 Zoomers and 20 participants at the Rotary Melawati Community Centre. Information about the event was shared through Facebook by Taman Melawati Residents Association Kuala Lumpur, Society of Eco Greater Melawati, Komuniti Penduduk Taman Melawati, and Friends of Sungai Klang Taman Melawati River Three. En Azhari looked forward to establishing an effective working relationship with RC Melawati for the community. NGOs should come together, and initiate assertive moves in championing the interest of the community.
Old friends and neighbours
AUGUST
2020 | MEMBERSHIP AND NEW CLUB DEVELOPMENT MONTH
05
Environment
A MORNING BY THE RIVER 01 02 03
By Rtn Salina Hussein
Sungei Klang cutting through Melawati Volunteers at the Pollinator Garden The weekly gotong-royong attracting young volunteers
01 Not everyone is aware that Taman Melawati is home to Sungai Klang, where the river is closest to the source, originating from the Klang Gate Quartz Ridge. Each Saturday morning volunteers are welcome to come by
02 03
the river to help with a weekly activity GREduAction! Simply broken down this is: - Gotong Royong - Education; through - Action! The aim is to engage with the community of volunteers who clean the trails, participate with the 'Kebun-Kebun' (gardening) activities or help with maintenance of the cabin. Through the action of gotong royong, volunteers are also being educated about the river, the surrounding environment and how individual actions have an impact on our living environment. The rivers in Malaysia are Malaysia’s number one resource for water and it is imperative we do all that we can to keep our water resource in a healthy condition. Pollution is the number one factor in endangering our waters. This is why JPS launched the River of Life programme and soon after ROLPOP – River of Life People Outreach Programme. In 2012 the consultants for ROLPOP approached Melawati residents to be a part of this programme, with the aim of reaching out and engaging with the community to educate them on keeping our rivers clean and healthy. This resulted in members of Rotary Club of Melawati (RCM) taking on the programme with fellow AUGUST
2020 | MEMBERSHIP AND NEW CLUB DEVELOPMENT MONTH
06
Environment
Melawati residents. RCM gave a seed fund of RM5000 and in 2013 Society of Eco Greater Melawati (SeeGEM) was registered with ROS. From within the SeeGEM community, Friends of Sungei Klang Taman Melawati (FoSKTM) was created to support a River CPR (Conservation, Protection, Rehabilitation) programme called River Three, focusing on three major aspects to support the River: Building of the River Park and Trails Building Community Engagement – identifying local residents to support and care for, if not all, a part of the river closest to them. Building a Circular Economy in order for the cost of maintaining the river to be self-sustaining. In our Club’s last board meeting, President Siva called on RCM members to actively participate in the weekly GREduAction!
04
Announcing the 1st Saturday of each month to be a regular RCM GREduAction Saturday, he encouraged all members to come and participate with their family, friends or even solo! This is because by the river you will always find friends. And by doing so we fulfill Rotary’s Area of Focus for: Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Supporting the Environment Community and Economic Development Further, we are also supporting the UN Sustainable Development 17 Goals to transform the world under:
05
04 05 06
FoSK co-founder Haji Mansor Ghani planting a donated tree sapling Local resident and a regular volunteer, Madam How Regular volunteer Col. Wong
Saturday GREduAction! for Volunteers Time: 8.00 – 10.00am (every week!) Venue: River Care and Education Centre on Jalan Melawati 5 near SJK(Tamil) Taman Melawati RCM Members 1st Saturday of each month (but are welcome anytime of the month)
06 AUGUST
More information on Friends of Sungei Klang and the River Three Programme at: /facebook.com/fosktmr3/
2020 | MEMBERSHIP AND NEW CLUB DEVELOPMENT MONTH
07
Club Highlights
INTERNATIONAL CONNECTION Rtn Ooi Soo Kang, International
Service Chair
10 years ago in 2010 when Past Asst Governor Shanti was the President, an entourage consisting of 60 pax of family members and Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Nagercoil South visited the Rotary Club of Melawati. And they had never forgotten the warm hospitality and the love and care showered by our members. Recently, when Rotary Club of Melawati was invited to be part of an alliance with Clubs from 8 other countries, this relationship was renewed and reignited. In conjunction with the International Friendship Day, we strengthened our bond with our sisters and brothers in RC Nagercoil South. Under the guidance and amazing leadership of Past District Governor Sunil Zachariah from the Rotary Club of Kalamassery, he inspired a group of 10 Rotary Clubs from Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and the latest addition, Nepal and formed Synergy Alliance. Our first project was a resounding success with 10 PDGs, 2 DGNs, 2 DGEs and 1 DG with guests from all over the world attending the Zoom Session.
AUGUST
AUGUST 2020 DIARY
2020 | MEMBERSHIP AND NEW CLUB DEVELOPMENT MONTH
02
FRIENDSHIP BEYOND SEA With Nagercoil South, RID3212 India
05
OUR COMMUNITY, OUR RESPONSIBILITY President of Taman Melawati Residents Association
06
PREPARING YOUR GLOBAL GRANT: A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE Dr Shahul Hameed, Rotary Foundation Chair
07
DGN DR KRISHNA'S BIRTHDAY
09
BOARD MEETING #2 Rotary Melawati Community Centre
11
RTN OOI SOO KANG'S BIRTHDAY
12
LET'S CHAT WITH ROTARY INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT ELECT SHEKHAR MEHTA Weekly meeting cancelled
18
ENGAGING YOUNG PROFESSIONALS: THE ROTARY IN THE FUTURE PDG Chehab (Shab Elawar)
19
MY CLEAN BEACH Ms Geeva Samynathan, Ectaa Sdn Bhd
21
WEDDING ANNIVERSARY DGN DR KRISHNA & PAG PUSHPA
22
VIBRANT CLUB LEADERS TRAINING Summit KL City Centre
26
BUSINESS MEETING #1 WEDDING ANNIVERSARY PAG SHAN & VINODHINI
27
E-RYLA: FUTURE BEHOLDERS CREATING THE LEGACY Participation from Rotaract Club of Tech Terrain College
31
HAPPY NATIONAL DAY & HAPPY ONAM 08
Club Highlights
RY2018-19 GOVERNOR'S EXCELLENCE AWARDS 28 August 2020 @ Asst Governors RY2018-2019 Reunion
These Long Term Outstanding Projects were not submitted for consideration for district awards during my year. But I felt they deserve special recognitions. Past District Governor Dr Baskaran
"Past District Governor Dr Baskaran Gobala Krishnan presented the Governor's Excellence Awards for Long Term Outstanding Projects done by clubs who did not submit projects for consideration for district awards but for which the Governor felt they deserve special recognitions. The award presentation was done at a reunion dinner for Asst Governors (AGs) RY 2018-2019, attended by Past Asst. Governor Sudhaharan Nair of RC Melawati. RC Melawati received two (2) Governor's Excellence Awards for the projects: 1. Vision of Hope Project 2. River of Life Public Outreach Programme. In addition, Past District Governor Dr Baskaran also presented the Governor's Special Award to Past Asst. Governor Rema Paul in recognition of her leading the Rotary Friendship Exchange (RFE) team to District 3200 (Kerala). On a separate occasion, during District Action Group on Environmental Sustainability (DAGES) meeting on 29 August 2020, Past District Governor Dr Baskaran presented the Governor's Excellence Award to Past President Dr Dhileepan Nair in recognition for his outstanding leadership in the development of Rotary Peace Park. We are very proud of our members!
AUGUST
2020 | MEMBERSHIP AND NEW CLUB DEVELOPMENT MONTH
09
Club Highlights
PREPARING YOUR GLOBAL GRANT: A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE 06 August 2020 The Rotary Foundation helps to fund a lot of community projects throughout the globe in advancing world understanding and peace, through international humanitarian and educational projects, and also through cultural exchange programs. But many are still groping with the mechanism of preparing applications to secure the grant. Experienced Dr Shahul Hameed shared a solid walkthrough to Rotarians in District 3300.
VIBRANT LEADERS TRAINING SEMINAR 22 August 2020 President Siva Kumar Raghavan and Past President Surindran, our Membership Chair attended this one-day seminar power-packed with experience sharing, tips and ideas on matters relating to Public Image, The Rotary Foundation and Membership.
PROJECT ZOO We passed the 100 days mark of feeding the animals! Members continued diligently to fetch surplus produce from Village Grocers in Eko-Cheras, Melawati Mall, and M-City Ampang. On average, collection would range between 80 and 100 kg per trip comprising mostly leafy vegetables and fruits like apples, oranges and bananas.
BOOK DONATION 31 August 2020 Past President Nick handed over donated books to St Paul Church, on behalf of the Rotary Club of Melawati.
AUGUST
2020 | MEMBERSHIP AND NEW CLUB DEVELOPMENT MONTH
10
#MyRotaryStory
In Rotary we found leadership, friendship, teamwork, compassion, camaraderie and so much more. ROTARY IS A WAY OF LIFE.
(RE)IGNITING LOVE AND PASSION IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE - THROUGH SERVICE IN ROTARY By Past Asst Governor Pushpa Krishna I joined Rotary in 2003 as a charter member of the Rotary Club of Kuala Kangsar. Up to this point, I was a housewife doing my wifely and motherly duties and a little bit of social service with handicapped children in Sabah. My husband was a diligent worker as a Hospital Director, meticulous and efficient. As it turned out, this spoke well for him and he was soon made the Charter President of the Rotary Club of Kuala Kangsar. This prestige of course, made me the First Lady. It was a glamorous year and I felt so special – being invited to more social events than I had ever attended before, participating in various projects and activities and mingling with many people in high places (including Royalty). I always believed that as a couple we should find a common interest to keep the bond strong in our relationship. By this time, we had been married for 23 years, our children had left home to pursue their studies and we were now free to pursue our own interests. You would think that after 23 years of marriage, you would know your spouse well enough. In late 2004, my husband and I went to Cambodia on a humanitarian mission to provide stationary and other basic needs for a school there. We visited various parts of Cambodia and also took the opportunity to visit our ‘adopted son’ through ‘World Vision’ in his village. For the first time, I saw what POVERTY really was and as a group of
AUGUST
Rotarians we could change the lives of so many people. It didn’t burn a hole in our pockets but it took a big part of my heart and imprinted on it a whole different direction in my life. I realized that I had become a different person. Was THIS my Rotary moment…….actually NO! What impacted me even more was that for the first time I saw a side of my husband that I had never seen before. After 23 years, who would have guessed??? I saw him only as the bread-winner, a father, a husband and a meticulous and effective manager and for the first time I saw him as a person of COMPASSION AND CARING (not only to his wife and children) but to people he didn’t know at all, strangers, young and old. That spoke volumes to me. ENGAGING IN ROTARY changes Lives in more ways than you think. We moved around a lot (due to the nature of his work), and have been members of different clubs. This actually was advantageous because we learned how the same work can be done by groups using different approaches and perspectives. We became more involved in District activities and participated actively in events and programs of the district. Now 17 years down the line, our passion for Rotary has not wavered. We have found a new family that keeps us grounded, focused and excited about what we can do as a team to make the world a better place. We have learned about leadership, friendship, teamwork, compassion, camaraderie and so much more. We have learned that ROTARY IS A WAY OF LIFE.
2020 | MEMBERSHIP AND NEW CLUB DEVELOPMENT MONTH
11
Members Lounge
100% ATTENDANCE
RC MELAWATI FAMILY Siva Kumar | Dr Navin | Sudha | Mahen | Surin | Shanti | Som Phong | Ooi | Dr. Krishna | Raja Renno | Pushpa | Rema Paul | Shanmugam | Ramesh | Dr. Dhileepan | Nithiananthan | Shuseela | Sunthar Raj | Mark | Sreetharan | Suresh | Doris | Akshay | Anita | Dr. Premela | Kumanan | Lai | Ratnam | Rajes | Rajoo | Salina | Rajindran | Salmah | Dr Selva Kumar | Asha | Dr Indigo | Apsara | Zulkifli | Sreeganesh | Soundarajan | Yasmin |
DR INDIGO | DR KRISHNA KUMAR | MAHENDRAN J DANIEL | DR NAVIN PATEL | DR PREMELA NAIDU | PUSHPA KRISHNA | RAJA RENOO | SALMAH SODHY | SHANTI JAYARAM | SIVA KUMAR RAGHAVAN | SOMPHONG | SREEGANESH | SREETHARAN | SUDHAHARAN NAIR | SUNTHAR RAJ | SURESH UNNIKRISHNAN | SURINDRAN RAMSAMY | YASMIN YUSOF | ZULKIFLI SHEERAT
YOUR PARENTS TOLD YOU TO BE NICE TO PEOPLE. GUESS WHAT? THEY WERE RIGHT. HERE’S WHY. By Arnold R. Grahl Doing good doesn’t only benefit other people. It helps us, too. Studies show that helping others boosts serotonin, a neurotransmitter that makes us feel satisfied. Another benefit to feeling rewarded when we do good: It lowers our stress levels. Who couldn’t use that right now? Facing the COVID-19 pandemic, people everywhere are feeling anxious about their health, their families, their jobs, and their futures. “When we are all feeling lower than we are used to feeling, with some levels of situational depression, we all need a boost,” says psychologist Mary Berge, a member of the Rotary Club of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, USA, who has led discussions with many Rotary clubs about coping during the pandemic. “There has been a lot of research that when we are helping others, or when we are doing something for someone else, our reward centers light up in the brain and our stress levels go down as cortisol is released.”. Contributed by DGN Dr Krishna Kumar
Cartoons compiled by President Siva Kumar
Wise words compiled by PAG Sudhaharan Nair
AUGUST
2020 | MEMBERSHIP AND NEW CLUB DEVELOPMENT MONTH
12
Selamat Hari Merdeka MALAYSIA PRIHATIN
DISTRICT GOVERNOR NOMINEE DR KRISHNA KUMAR May all Malaysians embrace our Diversity and uphold high ethical standards so that we can have Peace, Goodwill and Harmony in our beloved country, Malaysia
PAST ASST. GOVERNOR SUDHAHARAN NAIR
RTN COL (RTD) SOMPHONG KLOP
My wish for the country in conjunction with Hari Merdeka is for all Malaysians, irrespective of race, religion, colour and creed, to live in peace and harmony and work towards the progress of our beloved country.
Cheers to those who have fought for our freedom directly or indirectly. HAPPY MERDEKA DAY!
How does one express his love for his country and nation? Does he march with his fellow men and wave the flag of his country? Does he sing or play out loud the national anthem of his country?
AUGUST
2020 | MEMBERSHIP AND NEW CLUB DEVELOPMENT MONTH
13
Rotary Malaysia
The A Student A Laptop project was officially launched by Governor Teoh Kwan Swee on Friday, 21, August 2020. Also present at the launch were strategic partners, Brickfields Asia College, Managing Director Mr Raja Singam and Lembah Pantai Constituency, MP YB Fahmi Fadzil. This project was also presented at the Vibrant Club Leadership Training seminar (KL Edition) on 22 August 2020. Phase 2 of our Covid-19 Emergency Relief initiative is to provide 2000 deserving Form 4 & 5 students an opportunity for education. Let's join forces with the District to realise the hope of the 2000 students.
CONGRATULATIONS AND WARMEST WELCOME
Members of Rotary Club of Melawati would like to extend our warmest welcome to the new additions: Rotary Club of Pandamaran and Rotary Club of Kepong. Starting new Rotary clubs increases our ability to improve lives in communities around the world. Kudos to the sponsoring clubs!
PEOPLE OF ACTION The People of Action Poster Competition is the initiative of Region 12 Public Image team for the Rotary year 2020-21. It is open to all Rotary clubs in Region 12 comprising of Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. The campaign brings the Rotary story to life in a way that narrows the gap between public awareness of Rotary and understanding what Rotary does.
AUGUST
2020 | MEMBERSHIP AND NEW CLUB DEVELOPMENT MONTH
14
Rotary Information
ABOUT ROTARY
THE ROTARY WHEEL A wheel has been the symbol of Rotary since our earliest days. The first design was made (1905) by Chicago Rotarian Montague Bear, an engraver who drew a simple wagon wheel, with a few lines to show dust and motion. The wheel was said to illustrate "Civilization, Movement and Service work in action." Most of the early clubs had some form of wagon wheel on their publications and letterheads. In 1922, it was decided that all Rotary clubs should adopt a single design as the exclusive emblem of Rotarians. So, the present gear wheel, with 24 teeth and six spokes was adopted by the "Rotary International Association." The gear teeth around the outside represent the fact that work is to be done. The six spokes represent the inner direction and path of our Vocational Service, through the representation of our membership via the classification system. Similarly, these same spokes represent an outward distribution path of Rotary's ideals of service and the Four Way Test… going out toward the community, vocations and businesses that our members represent. A group of engineers advised that the geared wheel was mechanically unsound and would not work without a "keyway" in the center of the gear to attach it to a power shaft. So, in 1923 the keyway was added to signify the wheel was a "worker and not an idler". The keyway in the center of the hub is of great significance, because it represents the individual Rotarian member, who is the key factor in every club. Quality members are the keys, needed for the hub to engage with the shaft and turn, putting the energy into motion and creating the power for the gears to do their work.
FIRST LADY PRESIDENT Jennifer E. Jones, a member of the Rotary Club of Windsor-Roseland, Ontario, Canada, has been nominated to become Rotary International’s president for 202223, a groundbreaking selection that will make her the first woman to hold that office in the organization’s 115-year history. As the first woman to be nominated to be president, Jones understands how important it is to follow through on Rotary’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Statement. “I believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion … begins at the top and for us to realize growth in female membership and members under the age of forty — these demographics need to see their own
AUGUST
2020 | MEMBERSHIP MONTH
reflection in leadership,” Jones said. “I will champion double-digit growth in both categories while never losing sight of our entire family.”
For more information: www.rotary.org www.rotary3300.org
15
CONTACT US
EDITORIAL BOARD Advisor
PRESIDENT SIVA KUMAR RAGHAVAN DISTRICT GOVERNOR NOMINEE DR KRISHNA KUMAR Contributors
CP DR NAVIN PATEL RTN SALINA HUSSEIN RTN OOI SOO KANG PAG SHANTI JAYARAM PAG SUDHAHARAN NAIR PAG PUSHPA KRISHNA Editor
RTN YASMIN YUSOF
Rotary Melawati Community Centre 311-A, Lorong Kedah, Melawati Square Taman Melawati 53100, Kuala Lumpur
PUBLIC IMAGE COMMITTEE Chair: Rtn Salina Hussein Members: President Siva Kumar Raghavan President Elect Mahendran J Daniel PAG Dr. Selva Kumar Sivapunniam Rtn Asha Sandhia Singaram Rtn Yasmin Yusof