President’s Message - rotaryclubrafflescity.org · important of all we were honored by a really...

RY 2015-16 BULLETIN ISSUE NO.03

President’s Message Fellow Rotarians, Next week, we will unveil our plan of action for this year during our inaugural club assembly. As I have mentioned to you during the handover, our Board of Directors and Officers are all assiduously working to have a meaningful and fun-filled line-up of service projects, not to mention a good roster of speakers for our lunch meetings who will discuss timely and relevant issues, as well as fellowship events throughout the year! I hope that you are able to join us on Tuesday, the 28th of July at 12:45 pm. I have also shown below a photo taken during the Rotaract Club of Ngee Ann Polytechnic's 22nd Installation Ceremony on the 23rd of July, where our New Generation Service Director Brian Tan and I were among their special guests. It was a simple and brief celebration yet a wonderful reminder of all the good and hope in this world. I commend our young Rotaractors for all of their heart and grit to continue to take on the challenge of service! We are all very proud of you.

It is less than 30 days before our 35th Anniversary Weekend Celebration. I am extremely grateful to all of you who have come forward and responded to our financial plea, and those who have reached out to help in whatever capacity. We still welcome additional financial support. Please contact PP Wee Koon San, if you wish to place an advertisement, purchase a table, or make a cash donation. Let us Be a Gift to the World!

– Sigrid G. Zialcita

Rotary Club of Raffles City

Singapore – District 3310 Chartered 13 August 1980

www.rotaryclubrafflescity.org

Week of 19 July 2015

Rotary International Calendar: July – New Rotary Officers Begin Their Year of Service

of 8 Weekly Meeting: The Singapore Cricket Club, Tuesday 12.45pm


To revive economies after the financial crisis, governments globally have pursued loose monetary policies by lowering their benchmark interest rates. One aspect of low interest rates is its positive effect on asset prices. Given the paltry returns, the public is stuck with more money balances than it wants to hold at the bank. And people, in response, will use these excess balances to increase their purchases of goods and services, including real or financial assets like houses or equities. Increased demand for these assets, all else equal, raises their price, which is a double-edged sword. Leverage by itself is not a dirty word until it becomes excessive. While higher asset prices increase the wealth of households, boost spending and lower the cost of financing for businesses, the flipside is that it encourages borrowing and risk-taking. Property and equity markets have enjoyed a six-year bull run as a result, tracking the advent of near zero interest rates closely, as massive monetary stimulus programs employed by the US Fed, known as quantitative easing (QE), kept interest rates low for an extended period of time. Although the degree of correlation does vary across economies due to government policies such as cooling measures, property cycles as well as each country’s unique socio-economic and political climate, this is largely echoed across the region. Singapore’s and Hong Kong’s property market, for example, have been more responsive to rock-bottom interest rates due to its open economies as well as the nature of its monetary policy regime, which to a large extent allows the market to set interest rate levels. In contrast, China’s property market has a lower correlation, but still positive nonetheless, due to demand-side measures such as the crackdown on corruption and property curbs as well as capital controls. However, with QE wrapped up, the next step is the inevitable but also crucially, gradual normalization of interest rates. "Only when the tide goes out do you discover who's been swimming naked." As higher borrowing costs effectively curbs speculative demand, the fundamentals of real demand and supply will dictate performance once this occurs. For instance, with record supply expected in the next three years, coupled with the clampdown on foreign labour, how will Singapore’s condominium market fare with higher interest rates?

Excerpts from Noel Neo’s Presentation

Rotary Club of Raffles City www.rotaryclubrafflescity.org

Lunch Meeting | 21st of July 2015

CM Lim Hua Min articulating his firm’s (Phillip Securities Pte Ltd) views on the property markets. He stressed that real estate investors need to have a long-term horizon rather than 1-2 years, and should not be alarmed by the impending interest rate normalization.

A big “Thank You” goes to Noel Neo, M.Sc., CFA



After spending a glorious week on the River Thames attending the Henley Royal Regatta and feeling rather guilty about being unable to attend Pres. Sigrid's handover, I was delighted to be invited last week to the Presidents’ handover ceremony at the Rotary Club of Redbridge in London. It is normally a very simple affair but this year the meeting was graced with the attendance of several very distinguished guests. Pres. Steve Seager was handing over to the incoming Pres. Martin Gudde, who is a former District Governor. The meeting was attended by some 70 Rotarians and partners. Included in the number was Eve Conway Ghazi, the incoming RIBI National Chairperson, and Jonathan Majiyagbe the past Rotary International Chairman (2003-4) along with his wife Ayo. Most important of all we were honored by a really special guest, Bella Field who was just 10 years old. A former Redbridge Rotary Young Citizen winner Bella was crowned Rotary Great Britain and Ireland’s (RIBI) Young Citizen earlier this year after raising more than £80,000 in honor of her older sister Molly, who died from a brain tumor when she was just eight. Rotary International President Gary Huang had been so impressed with the youngster that he invited her to speak at the International Rotary conference in Sao Paolo, Brazil, in June. But 10-year-old Bella Field took it in her stride when she gave a speech. She received a standing ovation from the 17,000-strong crowd after addressing them last month and encouraged Rotarians to buy the book, which Molly – who died in 2010 – wanted to be read across the world. Please follow this link to listen to her speech. The evening ended with some wonderful singing by Jackie Marks, a West End artist who previously starred in lead roles in Les Miserables and Phantom of the Opera.

By Rotarian Geoff Hogg


Special Roving Report from Europe

(Above) The extended Hogg family including in-laws at Henley. (Below) Geoff and Kathy with Jackie Marks at the center.

ROTARY’S GUIDING PRINCIPLES

The Four Way Test

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?

Object of Rotary 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.


http://www.churchfieldsjunior.com/bella-field-ribi-young-citizen-award-recipient-speech-in-sao-paulo/


CALLING ALL ROTARIANS AND SPOUSES TO SUPPORT THIS EVENT

JOHOR BAHRU TOUR – 15TH OF AUGUST PP Dr. Chin Koy Nam is organizing a Saturday morning trip to Johor Bahru (JB) on the 15th of August for the visiting Rotarians from our sister club, Makati North. The coach will depart from Plaza Hotel on Beach Road at 7: 30 am and proceed to Iskandar for a tour. There will be a coffee break at Puteri Harbour before continuing to Regency Specialist Hospital. The visit will also include a hearty lunch at JB before returning to Singapore at 2:30 pm. The costs to host the guests will be shared by the group. For those RCRC members who would like to join and entertain our Rotarians from Makati North, please contact PP Dr. Chin at 9138 8786.

Month Date Event Duties Bulletin Desk

July 25th Visit to Jamiyah Home for the

Aged (2:30 – 4:30 pm)

28th Induction of Yoshihisa Endo and Club Assembly PE Nidhi Swarup RTN Dirk Lenz

August

4th Speaker – Ambassador Ong Keng Yong PP Jeff Chan PP Percy

Jeyapal

11th Speaker - TBD PP Ron Pereira PP David Ong

18th Speaker – Jorine Sim AG Low Cze Hong PP Alfred Shee

25th Speaker – Wong Yoon Yen RTN Geoff Hogg PP Frankie Tan


Upcoming Events, Bulletin & Desk Duty

J O I N T C O M M U N I T Y S E R V I C E A N D Y O U T H S E R V I C E P R O J E C T -

2 5 t h o f J U L Y 2 0 1 5 RCRC’s first annual community service project for RY2015-2016 will take place on Saturday, 25th of July 2015 with a visit to Jamiyah Home for the Aged. This will be RCRC’s 14th Annual Visit to the Home, which currently has 174 Elderly Residents who require care. The Rotaract Clubs of Raffles City & Ngee Ann Polytechnic will be there to provide entertainment and President Sigrid and RCRC Members will be there to distribute Zakats and Oranges to All the Residents; something they look forward to every year during the Hari Raya Puasa Celebration period. Jamiyah Home for the Aged is located at the junction of Tampines Avenues 3 & 4. Please google for directions or contact PP Ron Pereira. We would like the presence of RCRC Members at 2.30 pm; the visit will end at 4.30pm.



Our sister club, Rotary Club of Kuala Lumpur Diraja, has graciously invited us to their 88th Installation Banquet on the 28th of August. There will be a Welcome Cocktail Party @ Cedar on 15 on the 27th of August, followed by Golf and a delightful half day tour of KL the next day. They have further suggested to either stay at Shangri-La Hotel where the Installation of 2015-2016 President Hardeep Singh will be held or the Concorde Hotel which is located opposite the Shangri-La hotel. President Sigrid Zialcita will lead the RCRC delegation. Please contact RCRC Country Specialist Rotarian Alfred Ong at 9387 9975 or PP Jimmy Daruwalla at 9626 0001 if you would like to attend or need additional information.

BIRTHDAYS

July 19 PP Eugene Lim July 21 CP Low Siew Joon


Other Upcoming Events (Cont.)

Birthdays, Wedding Anniversaries

R C O F K L D I R A J A I N S T A L L A T I O N 2 7 - 2 9 T H O F A U G U S T 2 0 1 5




The Week in Pictures

First Joint Presidents’ Fellowship for Group 8 District 3310 on the 21st of July at the Tanglin Club. Left to Right: Dennis Carroll (Changi), Jag Arora (Sentosa), Leo Tan (Bukit Timah), Judy Loh (Pandan Valley), AG Dr. Low Cze Hong, and Sigrid Zialcita (Raffles City).

RCRC members enjoying fellowship during lunch meeting on the 21st of July at the SCC.

Rotaract Club of Ngee Ann Polytechnic's 22nd Installation Ceremony on 23rd of July. Front Row (left to right): Humaira Rashid (IPP), RCRC President Sigrid Zialcita, Lim Evelyn (President), Phua Jerin (Vice-President), Crystal Chan (International Service), Lee Ying (Community Service), Hoe Qian (International Service). Second Row (left to right): RCRC New Generations Service Director Brian Tan, Yang Wen (Secretary), PP Li Guang (District Rotaract Chair), Myra Alnawaz, Wong Zi (Treasurer), Chua Jin (Community Service), Tan Yong (Professional Development), Nicole Loo (Club Service), and Ivan Lin (Club Service).



We in Rotary aspire to great deeds. We admire those who gave great gifts to humanity: Abraham Lincoln, who gave the gift of human dignity to the downtrodden; Mother Teresa, who gave the gift of compassion to the forgotten; Mahatma Gandhi, who gave the gift of peaceful change to the oppressed. Their very lives became gifts to the world. We can be inspired by their example. We can be inspired to ask, how can I, in the life that I live – without neglecting the responsibilities that are so dear to me – how can I, too, become a gift to the world? As I considered my theme, I thought of the lessons I have learned through my Hindu faith. I thought especially of the story of Sudama. Sudama was a poor child and a bosom friend of Krishna, who was born in a royal lineage as an avatar – an incarnation of the divine. As the two boys grow up, they drift apart, and while Krishna becomes a military leader and king of great repute, Sudama remains a humble villager. The years go by and Sudama's poverty deepens. Finally, he lacks even food to feed his children. His wife reminds him of his childhood friendship with Krishna: Perhaps it is time to go to the mighty ruler for help. Reluctantly, Sudama agrees, but resolves that he will not go empty-handed. He gathers together a few handfuls of rice – all the food his family has left – and wraps them in a piece of cloth as a gift for his friend. When Sudama enters the palace, he is overwhelmed by the grandeur and by Krishna's gracious welcome. His meager gift, so carefully prepared, seems a humiliating reminder of his poverty. Krishna embraces Sudama, who hides the hand holding the rice behind his back. Krishna asks what he is holding. Far from being disdainful, Krishna accepts the rice with gratitude and consumes it with joy as the two sit and talk together. Hours pass, during which the pleasures of their rekindled friendship push all thoughts of his desperate plight from Sudama's mind. When evening falls, Sudama sets out for home – and only then realizes that he has neglected his task. He is returning with nothing, and Krishna has eaten his family's last grains of rice. Sudama steels himself to return to his hungry children. But standing before his gate, as dawn begins to break, he sees that the hut he left yesterday has become a stately home, and waiting to greet him is his own family: well-dressed, and well-fed by the baskets of food that appeared in their kitchen as Krishna ate each grain of Sudama's rice. Krishna understood what Sudama had brought him: everything he had to give. In return, Krishna gave him everything he needed. It is never the material value of a gift that matters – it is the love that comes with it. Just as Sudama's gift to Krishna became a gift to Sudama, what we give through Rotary becomes a gift to us. And we all have a choice: whether to keep our gifts to ourselves or give them to others, and Be a Gift to the World. We have only one chance at our lives. And we will have only one chance at this new Rotary year. This is our time. Let us grasp it. Let us Be a Gift to the World.

- K.R. “Ravi” Ravindran


Rotary International Presidential Message



CALLING ALL ROTARIANS AND SPOUSES TO SUPPORT THIS EVENT

14TH OF AUGUST 09:30 am – 17:00 pm

12:15 pm 19:30 pm

Non-Golfers’ Program Golf Fellowship Welcome Dinner at the Tanglin Club

15th of AUGUST 18:30 pm 35th Anniversary Dinner VENUE: Singapore Island Country Club, Thomson Road THEME: Glamour and Glitz DRESS CODE: Formal attire, black tie/suits for men and long gown for ladies

16th -17th of AUGUST Malacca Trip YOUR HELP IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS WILL BE APPRECIATED

RCRC CONTACT

Buy a table at $1,500 and invite your friends to this event

PP Wee Koon San

Participate in the Weekend Program

Golf – PP Eugene Lim Non-Golfers – Rotarian Judy Tan Anniversary Dinner – Pres. Sigrid Zialcita Johor Bahru Trip – PP Dr. Chin Koy Nam Malacca Trip – PP Dr. Chin Koy Nam

Volunteer to help with the goodie bags for friends from Sister Clubs Rotarian Gina Teo


35th Anniversary Celebration | 14th to 17th of August 2015


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