President s Message Fellow Rotarians, Rotary Club of Raffles City. Rotary International Calendar: June Rotary Fellowships Month

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1 President s Message Fellow Rotarians, Rotary Club of Raffles City Singapore District 3310 Chartered 13 August 1980 Rotary International Calendar: June Rotary Fellowships Month Week of 5 th of June 2016 What a terrific lunch meeting last week great turnout plus an outstanding speaker. Mr. Song Seng Wun is a prolific and prominent Economist, and everyone was enthralled by his talk. My sincere thanks to PP Frankie Tan for coordinating this (and previous ones) for the club. We are very fortunate to have had superb speakers throughout the year, and my heartfelt thanks to Rotarian (RTN) Judy Tan, PP Jeffrey Chan, Hon. Secretary Florian Weidinger and RTN Pany, who all have regularly helped to secure speakers for our weekly lunch programs. As the Rotary Year draws to a close, I feel very grateful for very fond memories and the many things I have learned and people I have meet along the way. It has been quite a hectic journey since I took this on last year, but I would never have it any other way. I relished all the planning for our numerous events, running the weekly lunch and board meetings, participating in our community service projects, even practicing for our dance performance, among others as these all show that we are a dynamic club working hard to make a difference. I am truly very appreciative of this opportunity to serve, and at the same time, to make friendships and share special moments and laughs with so many of you. It has been a meaningful and incredible experience all the way! I will be circulating a State of the Club report over the next couple of weeks to provide you a recap of Rotary Year I will also show some videos during the handover so please make sure to attend the last meeting for the year! Sigrid G. Zialcita Page 1 of 8

2 RCRC Lunch Meeting 7 th of June By PP Jeffrey Chan This week we welcomed our guest speaker, Song Seng Wun, 3 visiting Rotarians - Marcus Hill, Gregg Curtis and Joan Daly, of the Rotary Club of Cairns, Australia, and one long-lost member. The long lost member was none other than PP Alfred Shee, whom President Sigrid noted was making his first appearance this Rotary Year. All were warmly welcomed. For his long period of AWOL, PP Alfred was assigned to lead the toast to Rotary International. Banners were exchanged with the Rotary Club of Cairns whom we now know was established in 1930, the same year the first Rotary Club was established in Singapore. On a sad note, RTN Kesavapany announced the passing of our former member Nitin Doshi. A minute s silence was observed in his memory. He was among other things the Consul for Tanzania and the Comoros Island and through him our club was connected with numerous members of the Diplomatic Corps in Singapore. Some were invited as guest speakers at our meetings. Nitin will long be remembered for the gentleman that he was and his contributions to our club. On a more happy note, profoundest congratulations were conveyed to Eugene and Lana for joining the grandparents ranks in our club. President Sigrid made it no secret that she was counting down her term with great relish. There are now only two major event before the curtain falls - the June visit to R C Peninsula, Kowloon for their Ruby Anniversary; and the Fellowship and Great to see you, PP Alfred Shee! AG Dr. Low Cze Hong enthusiastically welcoming RCRC Visiting Rotarians and Guests. Sgt. at Arms Chris Mertz diligently performing his duties to collect for the Sunshine Box. Page 2 of 8

3 RCRC Lunch Meeting 7 th of June (Cont.) By PP Jeffrey Chan Handover Ceremony at the Tanglin Club on 28 June at 7 p.m. which is preceded by a Joint Board meeting. President-elect Nidhi Swarup, on the other hand, is obviously gearing up towards taking the reins. She reminded us all that 13 th August is our Installation Night. This will be a fundraising dinner for the Crohn & Colitis Society which she was instrumental in establishing. Needless to say, pockets are being targeted. Announcements were also made of the coming Hari Raya Fellowship on 16 July at Mamanda Restaurant and the visit to the Jamiyah Home for the Aged on that same afternoon. World and Regional Economic Trends: PP Vincent Chen introduced our guest speaker who is the Regional Economist for CIMB Bank. His talk was simply engaging. Speaking without notes or amplification, Seng Wun, who is a well-known personality in the financial world, scanned for us the current world and regional financial landscape. Commencing from the world financial crisis in 2008, he observed that unlike previous recessions, there has been no V-shaped recovery. Growth worldwide is humming along but at subpar. Cost of borrowings have fallen, with US interest rates hovering at record lows. Yet this has not spurred consumption. Partly because or maybe as a result of this, we have not seen any life-changing new products. In the US, job creation has been very uneven. So the Fed is in no hurry to raise rates. PP Vincent Chen introducing RCRC lunch speaker, Mr. Song Seng Wun, a prominent Economist. The present global economy is beset by uncertainties. Growth is uneven. China is a problem given its huge debt which is 250% of its GDP. But China as a partially planned economy possess macro-economic tools which other countries do not have. So they may be able to manage this. We need Seng Wun delivered a very engaging and animated China to be stable if the world economy is presentation on the global outlook. to be stable. Another issue is the possible Brexit. There are huge economic implications if Britain leaves the EU. Sterling will rise if the Page 3 of 8

4 RCRC Lunch Meeting 7 th of June (Cont.) By PP Jeffrey Chan British decide to stay. But if they decide to leave, sterling will collapse. Brexit adds to present uncertainties and we here certainly won t like it. The other major issue is: Donald Trump. If he becomes US President, no one knows what he will actually do. This adds to the present uncertainties. With so much uncertainty, business and consumer confidence is seriously affected. So there is little President Sigrid presenting a small token of appreciation to Mr. Song Seng Wun for his insightful talk. investment or consumption and thus little growth. The one bright area is travel. This continues to increase. So in Singapore, exports and sales of goods are subdued. But hospitality is doing fine. Seng Wun concludes that interest rates will continue to be low for some time but risks will remain. As for Singapore, he dampened hopes that the property anti-speculation measures will be lifted soon. Property prices have not really come down to the level the government would like. But developers, having made huge amounts during the run-up, are still holding on. So this looks like a long haul. Given all these, SGX will continue to be range bound for some time yet. PP Frankie Tan delivered the Vote of Thanks to our most informative and engaging speaker. ROTARY S GUIDING PRINCIPLES The Four Way Test Object of Rotary In 1932, Rotarian Herbert J. Taylor created The Four-Way Test. The test, which has been translated into more than 100 languages, asks the following questions: Of the things we think, say or do 1. Is it the TRUTH? 2. Is it FAIR to all concerned? 3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? 4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned? The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster: FIRST: The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service; SECOND: High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying of each Rotarian s occupation as an opportunity to serve society; THIRD: The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian s personal, business, and community life; FOURTH: The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service. Page 4 of 8

5 Rotary International Presidential Message Ravi Ravindran British writer and Royal Air Force pilot Roald Dahl was also an avid photographer who carried his beloved Zeiss camera on his many adventures. At a time when each photograph had to be laboriously developed by hand, on film or glass plate negatives, he amassed a collection of hundreds of images. In later years, these photographs served as a visual record of his travels, a way to document his experiences and share them with others. Yet he always spoke of his memories as being far more vivid than the photographs could ever reflect. So many events and experiences, he said, were simply impossible to capture; they could not be adequately conveyed in images or words. Language may fail, and photographs fade; minds are fallible, and details are lost. But some experiences, as Dahl said, never dim; they stand out in our memories, even after decades, as a wall of flame. They rear up forever over the landscape of our past, dividing our lives into what came before and what came after. That metaphor has stayed with me throughout the past year as I have traveled the world for Rotary. For indeed, this entire year has stood, and will always stand, as a wall of flame in my mind, dividing my life into before and after. When I think back over these 12 months, I see a bright kaleidoscope of images cascading before my eyes, day after day, week after week. The anxious parents in Chandigarh, India, hovering at the bedside of the child recovering from lifesaving heart surgery. The bright flags of Nepal fluttering over an entire village that had been rebuilt after the devastating earthquake. The feeling of awe in St. Peter s Square at the Jubilee of Rotarians celebrated by Pope Francis. Joyful gatherings around the world, in so many countries, in so many languages with friends I had never before met, my brothers and sisters in Rotary. To serve as president of Rotary International is a colossal undertaking, one that cannot be truly conveyed in images or words. It is a wall of flame that will burn forever in my memory, dancing with light, shifting in shadow. A thousand images jostle together in my mind, a thousand recollections, a thousand emotions. Together, they form a great mosaic; together, they show the bright and glorious work of your hands. As this Rotary year draws to a close, I am prouder than ever to be part of this great organization: one that makes the world not poorer, but richer; replaces despair with hope; raises up those whom fate has brought low; and is a gift to so many, while allowing each of us to Be a Gift to the World. Page 5 of 8

6 Upcoming Events Month Date Time Event 14 12:45 Speaker Desmond Moey, Social Impact of SG Musicals June Visit to Rotary Club of Peninsula Hong Kong 21 12:45 Vivian Liew, Philanthropy Works 28 19:00 RCRC Handover/Installation Ceremony SAVE THE DATE: RC of Hong Kong Peninsula Ruby Gala Dinner 18 th of June 2016 JW Marriott Pacific Place, Hong Kong Contact: RTN Stanley Yap RCRC Handover/Installation Ceremony 28 th of June 2016, 19:00 Contact: PP Dr. T.C. Phua RCRC Annual Visit to Jamiyah Home for the Aged 16 th of July 2016, 14:00 Contact: RTN Tengku Indra RCRC Hari Raya Fellowship Dinner 16 th of July 2016, 19:00 Contact: RTN Geoff Hogg Rotary Club of Makati North Installation 16 th or 23 rd of July 2016 Location: TBD Contact: PP David Ong RCRC Charity Gala Dinner 13 th of August 2016 Marina Mandarin Contact: PE Nidhi Swarup Birthdays, Wedding Anniversaries BIRTHDAY June 11 June 14 RTN Mark Chng PP Midani Sami WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES June 9 RTN Tengku Sri Indra Page 6 of 8

7 The Week of 5 th of June in Pictures Photos Taken During the Lunch Meeting on the 7 th of June President Sigrid exchanging banners with President Marcus Hill of Rotary Club of Cairns Australia. He was joined by a fellow Rotarian of his club, Ms. Joan Daly, and Mr. Greg Curtis. PP Frankie Ong and RTN Mark Chng enjoying the sumptuous lunch spread at the SCC. Daniel, RCRC longtime friend at the SCC! PP Dr. Chin Koy Nam exchanging stories with PP Alfred Shee. Sgt.at Arms PP Wee Koon San assisting Sgt. at Arms Chris Mertz to collect funds for the Sunshine Box. Page 7 of 8

8 BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS (Left to Right) Judy Tan (Public Relations), Mohan Pillay (Sgt. at Arms), Aaron Tan (Vice-President), Florian Weidinger (Hon. Secretary), Kaka Singh (Hon. Treasurer), T.C. Phua (Club Service), Brian Tan (Youth Service), Jeffrey Chan (Asst. Secretary), Jochen Krauss (Community Service), Sigrid Zialcita (President), Ron Pereira (Projects Director), Corina Lai (IPP), Nidhi Swarup (President-Elect), Johnson Tan (International Service), Wee Koon San (Sgt. at Arms), Tengku Sri Indra (Vocational Service), Chris Mertz (Sgt. at Arms), David Ong Choon (Membership), Eugene Lim. (Family of Rotary/Sports Convenor). (Not in Picture) Vincent Chen (Rotary Foundation) BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS RCRC Past Presidents 1980 to 2015 (Left to right) Charter President Low Siew Joon, Charter Member Chris Mertz, PDG Philbert Chin, Charter Member PP David Lee Fong Lit Page 8 of 8