All Things Rotary and More!

Guess it's a good idea to lump some Rotary events together to do a post. The busyness of days past just didn't allow me to take stock of the photos though much clicking was done, event after another. My camera was always willing!

A proud and memorable moment for newest  member, Deepak Mahadevan after his induction as our member. He is flanked by President Ai Lin and Immediate Past President, Mohamad Abdullah.
It is always a day we look forward to when new members increase our family in Rotary. Together, we enjoy Rotary fellowship and  do Rotary work.
In fact, Deepak carried out his first 'assignment' with aplomb  just about half  an hour after the meeting ended. A member of our club suddenly fell ill. Without hesitation, Deepak  scooped her in his arms and placed her in the back seat of a waiting car to drive her to hospital. What an evening to remember!

The Intercity meeting hosted by  Rotary Club of Bukit Kiara Sunrise. Here Sergeant at Arms, Steve Robinson  was thanking CEO of the Radio Business Station, BFM, Malek Ali  who was our guest speaker There was a huge turn-out of Rotarians and guests. 

President Elects of G8  group with In-coming  Assistant Governor, Suki. We were in Kuantan on 8 -10 November  for a 3 day training for our term 2014/15. Had a good time getting to know so many  fellow Rotarians from District 3300 comprising 72 clubs. Training was conducted by the District leaders. So much to learn about being a President at Pre- President Elect Training Seminar 1 and Rotary  - well - infused, I must say!
Here's looking at PEs of the Rotary clubs that comprise G8 - (left) Tim (Damansara), Nigel (Sunway), Hussein (Damansara West), Keats (Pantai Valley), Michael ( Kelana  Jaya). 

Had good company of other lady PEs - ( left) Daisy ( Pudu),Cecilia( Sunrise) and a spouse of a Rotarian at the dinner for District Governor Elect, Kirenjit Kaur . Yes, there was also a special programe for accompanying spouses. 
Kirenjit's nomination creates history in Rotary International District 3300 by being the first woman in Rotary 's 80 years in Malaysia to be the District Governor - a wife,  a mother, a lawyer, a friend, a Rotarian.. 

I attended  the joint meeting of Rotary Clubs of Gombak and Ampang. at the Royal Lake Club. Both clubs had their awardees for the Rotary month of October Vocational Services Award. President  Khatijah Sulieman ,Selangor Cheshire Home for the disabled ( where I volunteer) received her award from President James of Gombak. Rotary Club of Ampang awarded DatoWong Pui Lam, previously a senior officer of the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP). 
Come December, it will be Rotary Family month.

During our regular meeting on the 18 November, we had 2 young entrepreneurs as our guest speakers. They own an online travel agency, CatchThatBus. Viren and Ashwin 's presentation attracted much interest and many questions were answered. 

It's the 20th event  for the disabled in the Klang Valley. This year, under the leadership of our DG, Datuk Dr Mohinder Singh, District 3300 joined hands with the Selangor Spastics Assoc to create awareness for the disabled.at Padang Merbok, Kuala Lumpur.  

A musical treat during a recent meeting, occupying a speaker's slot. 15 singers of the Klang Valley Harmony under Brendi Chenery gave us a taste of  Barbershop music. It was delightful as she educated us with some notes and visuals  to explain  the distinctive characteristics of this genre. as the singers sang.

What makes it Barbershop? 1. is arranged for voices rather than instrument 2. utiliizes four-part chords where every melody note has three harmony notes 3. includes songs from any genre that uses major and minor scales 4. is performed a capella  ( notes from Brendi Chenery)

A bustling few hours in my car porch as some friends teamed up with Rotarians of Pantai Valley to sort and pack clothes for the Haiyan Typhoon victims. There was a request to the Rotary Club of Ampang for used clothes for a specific area, Palompon, Leyte. Our club also chipped in besides sending cash.

The team who reduced the mini mountain of clothes , sorted and packed them .Thanks to all. We did not have to throw away items that couldn't be used except for the odd ones. So, our reminders of 'good' stuff was heeded..That made our work lighter. 

30 boxes of clothes, all packed and ready to load on a lorry the next day to a collection point to be shipped to the sad victims.

Diwali with Rellies

Diwali is full of colours. Even the sweet jasmine worn of the hair or offered in prayers is colourfully white! I noticed there were plenty of decorative kolams with favourites, peacocks and,lotuses  adorning them in the shopping malls and private clubs. I have made small ones before,and I know the intricacies involved in the making. Admirers of this festive art do get carried away and  to discourage any 'itchy' fingers or any untoward accidents, they are protected by a barrier of some sort.

After the morning puja at the temple in Brickfields, we settled for the usual breakfast cooked by my sister - in -law. We had a lovely meal of uppuma, onion sambal, dhall, vadai, idiapum, kesari and banana on banana leaves, lit by the glow of the Diwali lights. Just coincidental, the house was down with no electricity. So, shine on us, Diwali diyas!

Later, there was plenty to eat at our house where I served lunch for 8 of us . The table was quite full and I clean forgot about the samosas I made! Well, it'll be snacks for another day. To top it all, we drank Sula, an Indian wine we brought home during our holiday in Kerala.

The evening was long and yummy - cheese, crackers and dips, ham and  quince, olives with great bubblies and red wine, For this, we hopped back to our breakfast host's house.As we ate and chatted, some loud firecrackers exploded in the neighbourhood. Past midnight, our Diwali celebration came to an end. Somehow I missed the crowd that comes when there is an open house. But this year, quiet is also nice! A really good day indeed.