1. 5th Dec. 2011
CROSSROADS
Rotary Club of Singapore Vol. 48 / 21
“Beyond the Quake”
SPEAKER: His Excellency (H.E.) Mr. Yoichi Suzuki, Japanese
Ambassador to Singapore
Lunch meeting of the 30th November 2011
Find Your bulletin on facebook – and you can download it
Joke of the week
“children in backseats cause accidents
Accidents in backseats cause children”
From the book of Humour compiled by Rewa Mirpuri
HAVE MANY LAUGHS AND HELP THE NEEDY
http://www.rotary.org.sg/bookofhumour.html
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2. Introductory remarks Trees of the world Light-up
President Tapan Rao welcomed members to the Rtn. Jeff Rajeck briefly informed members that the
21st meeting of the Rotary Year, and extended a Club would participate in the “Trees of the World”
warm welcome to the Club’s Honorary light-up at the Singapore Botanic Garden. He added
Member, His Excellency (H.E.) Mr. Yoichi that members were invited to help decorate the
Suzuki, the Japanese Ambassador to Singapore Club’s tree on Friday, 3rd December 2011 at 4.00pm.
and Mrs. Suzuki.
Fukushima / Sendai mission
PP Stan Low made a presentation of the
International Service Committee Project of Rotary
Volunteers to disaster-stricken areas of
Fukushima/Sendai which was made by members
from October 2nd to 8th 2011. Highlights of the
presentation to be found further in the bulletin.
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3. Welcome of visiting Beyond the Quake H.E. Mr. Suzuki spoke of the strong
impact on the psyche of the
Rotarians and guests Japanese people following the
triple disaster of an earthquake
Rtn. Robert Craiu welcomed our
Rtn. Keizo Fujitake was given the that triggered a tsunami that also
guests and visiting rotarians.
honour of introducing H.E. knocked out a nuclear power
Ambassador Suzuki, who is a plant. He added that many
- Guests :
Honorary Member of the Club. Japanese people were not so
Mrs. Kimie Ishizaki
H.E. Mr. Suzuki became the connected to the world, but since
Ms. Saadia Awan
Japanese Ambassador to the disaster, assistance and
Ms. Bushraafzal
Singapore since October 2010. support came from around the
Mr. Joseph Cheng
Before that, he was the Director- world which changed how the
Mr. Julian Chu
General, Economic Affairs Japanese perspective of the
Mr. Matei Iurascu
Bureau, Ministry of Foreign international community. He
Col. (Retd.) Lim Theam Poh (Red
Affairs, Japan, and Japan’s G8 added the country has had to
Cross)
Foreign Affairs Sous Sherpa from relook at its energy sources with
Dr. Sanjay
January 2009. Previously, he the people wanting to be less
Mr. Yashiki-san
served as Consul General of dependent on nuclear. He noted
Visitors : Japan in Boston (2005- that the decontaminated from the
Ron Carroll – Geelong 2008), Deputy Director nuclear accident would take a long
East, Australia General, Economic Affairs time and the people affected
Bureau, Ministry of Foreign would not be able to go to their
Toast Affairs (2002-2005), and Deputy homes for decades. Many
Permanent Representative of people, H.E. Mr. Suzuki
Japan to the WTO in Geneva commented, have adopted a
Rtn. Dr. Thomas Perkmann called (1997-2002). He has long different lifestyle to save energy.
upon visiting Rtn. Ron Carrol to experience in international trade H.E. Mr. Suzuki highlighted the
address the Club. Rtn. Ron negotiations with his challenges facing Japan. He added
advised that the town of Geelong appointments as Director of the that there was a need to adapt to
was about 60 miles from APEC, EU and WTO Divisions of the ageing society without adding
Melbourne and popular for its the Japanese Foreign Ministry. stresses to the younger
surfing and beach life. He added He received a law generation. He noted that the
that he was in Singapore to degree, LL.B, from Hitotsubashi country could not live somewhat
purchase rubber for his footwear University, Tokyo and also is a detached from the outside world
company. Members joined Rtn. graduate from the Ecole and would have to open up to be
Thomas in raising a toast to the Nationale d’Administration of more aligned with the global
Rotary Club of Gelong East France (MA in Public system. He also spoke of the
coupled with the toast to Rotary Administration). He has taught country’s energy issues and
International. Club banners were briefly at the Institut National solutions. H.E. Mr. Suzuki noted
exchanged with the Rotary Club des Langues et Civilizations that perhaps in the process of
of Geelong East as well. Orientales, Paris. rebuilding the communities, Japan
could be set as a model for other
Asian countries, a new lifestyle for
the future.
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4. PP Dr. Yap Lip Kee expressed the
Club’s thanks to H.E. Mr. Suzuki
New member
for his talk. He also took the
President Tapan was given the
opportunity to advise on the
pleasant task of inducting
assistance rendered with the
another member to the Club.
Club’s contributions and the
PDG Dr. Philbert Chin
SMS Donation drive initiated by
introduced his candidate, Rtn.
Rtn. Colin Miles, which collected
Louis Lim, who was also a good
about S$750,000 on behalf of
friend of PE Jimmy Ooi. Rtn.
the Singapore Red Cross Society.
Louis’s classification is “Law : 2011 Rotarian photo contest
He added that more than S$34
Litigation”.
million was collected for the Red
Upon becoming a member, Rtn. The Rotarian 's 2011 photo
Cross Japan Disaster Relief Fund
Louis was invited to say a few contest is now underway. Enter
gave a listing of the items
words. Rtn. Louis noted that the up to three photos that illustrate
contributed towards and
last time he addressed the Club the spirit of Rotary. The best
amounts sent as follows:
was in 1988 when he was an photos will appear in the June
Interactor. He added that 2011 issue of the magazine.
Relief Items sent to Japanese
because of his involvement in Each entrant may submit up to
Government and Japan Red
the Interact Clubs, he wished to three digital photos to The
Cross – S$2.16 million
continue with community Rotarian photo contest. Please
2 cars for Yamada
work, and he called on the fill out a separate form for each
Otsuchi, Kamaishi, Tona and
Rotary Secretariat where he was entry. The deadline for
Ofunato Cities – S$0.21 million
advised to join the Rotaract submissions is 29 February
Taro Support Centre in
Club, which he did! Upon 2012.
Miyako, Iwate Prefecture –
reaching 30 years, he retired
S$1.1 million
from the Rotaract Note: The photographer must
Multi-purpose hall at
movement, and Rtn. Louis be a Rotarian, honorary
Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture
added that PE Jimmy had been Rotarian, or a participant or
– S$11.0 million
communicating with him to join alumnus of an official RI or
Shichigahama Toyama Nursery
the Club. Rtn. Louis stated that Rotary Foundation program.
School in Miyagi Prefecture –
he felt that being a Rotarian Photographers also can be the
S$5.5 million
meant that one had reached a spouses or children of Rotarians.
Project at Fukushima Prefecture
certain status and held a Photographer must be 14 or
– S$5.5 million
position in society and he felt older. Photographers ages 14-17
Projects with Japan Red Cross –
that he was still a “work in must include the parent or legal
S$8.9 million
progress”. However, PDG guardian's name and contact
Philbert was more forceful in information in the submission
persuading him to join the Club! form below. A higher-resolution
image may be requested if the
photo is chosen to appear in the
magazine.
http://www.rotary.org/en/Medi
aAndNews/TheRotarian/Pages/T
ermsandConditions.aspx
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5. FUKUSHIMA / SENDAI
The photographs show the team
unloading donated
furniture, making children’s
playground safe and playable
again. There were also visits to
our Sister Club from Osaka –
Rotary Club of Osaka-Semba as
well as joint meetings of RC
Sendai, RC Osaka-Semba, and
RC Singapore. In attendance
was Rotary Int’l District 2520
2011-2012 District Governor
Kazuhiro Sugawara.
Ending the visit on a Happy Note
- Onsen, Kaiseki, Kirin, Sake, and
Cigars Rotary Volunteers to
Fukushima/Sendai
President Tapan Rao led a
team of 17 Rotarians and
Anns, • Mission was
organised by Rtn Kawasumi
Masamitsu in Tokyo and Rtn
Keizo Fujitake in Singapore.
• Chef-de-Mission:- Rtn
Shoichi Ishizaki
• Rotary Anns:-
Prabha, Rachael, Gwen & Kimie
• Rotarians: Gary Goh, PP Dr
Yap Lip Kee, Goh Bock Seng, K K
Tan, Hadi Kakalim, Roland
Jossi, Haider Nawaz, Yap Shi
Wen, PP Stan Low
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6. The Guide to Daily Living
MARK YOUR DIARY Before doing the things we COMING ROTARY EVENTS
Birthday celebrants want to do, consider first, the
RC wishes Happy Birthday to precept of the guide. Ask December
celebrants: ourselves these 4 questions Family Month
December 7 – PP Tan Chin Ngiap and act upon them:
December 11 – PP Murli Chanrai First: Have I spent some time
in self-examination? December 9th
Anniversary Celebrants Second: Have I spent quality Visit to Boys’ Town at 3.00pm
time with my family?
RC sends best wishes to
Third: Have I given my best to December 15th
Wedding Anniversary my work?
celebrants: Christmas Fellowship Dinner
Fourth: Have I given some
December 8 – Dr. Albert & Anne time to someone near and
Wee, Gary Goh & Lim Lee far? January
December 11 – Robert & Jenny The Guide, in Rotary Awareness Month
Chien fact, encompasses the 4 parts
December 12 – Rewa & Geeta of the Object of Rotary. January 19th
Mirpuri
Club Assembly
This week Next week
December 7th 2011 December 14th 2011 February
World Understanding Month
Reception Desk duty: PP Reception Desk duty: Dr.
Peter Tan, Jim Pollock Albert Wee, Wilson Widjaja February 23rd
Sunshine Box duty: Jean- Sunshine Box duty: Noshir World Understanding and
Philippe Lionnet, C H Tan Mistri, Roland Jossi Peace Day
The Four-Way Test
Speaker: Ms. Jean Elizabeth Speaker: Ms. Jutta Of the Things we think, say
Odenwaelder or do:
Lee, writer and film director
* Is it the truth?
Topic: Gathering Support for Topic: Emotional Intelligence
* Is it fair to all concerned?
a wonderful short and Creativity Training in * Will it build goodwill and
film, "Cahaya" Modern Life better friendship?
* Will it be beneficial to all
concerned?
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Meetings of the Community, Vocational, International Queries, comments and
& New Generations Service Committees will be held on articles request can be
Thursday, 15 December 2011, at 41 Chee Hoon sent to
Avenue, S299762 at 6.00 p.m. sharp, after Jean-Philippe Lionnet
which, members will adjourn for the Annual Christmas bulletin@rotary.org.sg
Fellowship dinner.
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