1. 16th April 2012
CROSSROADS
Rotary Club of Singapore Vol. 48 / 37
“Kampung Culture = Sustainable Future = Happier Life”
SPEAKER: Mr. Tay Lai Hock, Founder and President of Ground
Lunch meeting of the 11th April 2012
Find your bulletin on the Facebook page of “Rotary Club of Singapore”
Joke of the week !
“At Church : come early if you want a back seat.”
From the book of Humour compiled by Rewa Mirpuri
HAVE MANY LAUGHS AND HELP THE NEEDY
http://www.rotary.org.sg/bookofhumour.html
1

2. Introductory remarks Toast
President Tapan Rao called the meeting to order Toastmaster, Rtn. Jamshid Medora was pleased to
and noting that April was designated by Rotary call upon Rtn. Ulrike Hauser-Hirth from the Rotary
International (RI) as “Magazine Month”, and the Club of Stuttgart International. Rtn. Jamshid
Club has an award-winning bulletin, that this was advised that Rtn. Ulrike is married to our former
enough reason to celebrate Magazine month. member, Rtn. Dr. Sascha Hirth, whom members
would remember for his quirky sense of humour.
Rtn Ulrike stated that she was very pleased to be
Happy Birthday ! at the meeting and for the warm welcome. She
recalled how she enjoyed the warmth and
President Tapan invited Rtn. Paul Phua to cut the fellowship when attending the Club’s evening
birthday cake on behalf of the other birthday meetings with Rtn. Sascha. Rtn. Ulrike advised
celebrants who were not present at the meeting. that there were many international companies in
Stuttgart and there was a need for the foreigners
to join a Rotary Club which conducts the meetings
in English, thus her club was formed a year ago.
She added that there were 34 members, half of
whom were foreigners. Rtn. Ulrike advised that
she would be most happy to receive members to
her club should they be visiting Stuttgart. 2

3. Welcome of visiting Speaker of the week Mr. Tay spoke of the Kampung
Spirit which powered a diversity
Rotarians and guests of activities — organic farming,
appropriate technologies, arts
Rtn. Ronald Wong welcomed our President Tapan called upon Rtn. and culture, social and
guests and visiting Rotarians Joseph Chia to introduce the humanitarian projects. Through
Guest Speaker, Mr. Tay Lai Hock. it, Mr. Tay added, GUI fostered
- Guests : Mr. Tay shared how a Singapore beautiful connections among
Mr. Tay Lai Hock model of 21st Century Kampung members, volunteers and the
Ms. Tan Chia Chia Culture was creating connected many other people it touches,
Mr. Tai Xu Hong (GUI) communities and nurturing from children to CEOs. Perhaps
Mrs. Lillie Wong grounded leaders to tackle some more importantly, Mr. Tay
of the biggest global advised, it was nurturing
Visiting Rotarians : challenges. He was pleased to social entrepreneurship by
CP Albert Wong – Tanjong Pagar advise that the story of Ground- transforming a small but growing
Ulrike Hauser-Hirth – Stuttgart Up Initiative (G.U.I.) has community that was learning to
International, Germany travelled afar and made many sit care more deeply about humanity
Peter Clements – Melbourne, up to reconsider their current and the Earth.
Australia approach to a sustainable Mr. Tay graciously answered
future. He gave a summary of questions posed by members and
the volunteer-driven non-profit invited members to participate in
Visit community beliefs in the visit to the Kampung which
a sustainable future which must was being organized by Rtn.
Rtn. Joseph reminded members of include a Kampung Culture Joseph. (For more information
the visit to the Heritage Kampung honed for the 21st Century. He on the Heritage Kampung,
at the Bottle Tree Park, Yishun on spoke of GUI redefining the members are invited to view their
Sunday, April 22nd at 11.30am, relevance of Kampung Culture website
followed by lunch at 12.30pm. as it shapes its Sustainable www.heritagekampung.com)
Living Kampung (SL Kampung) in President Tapan invited Director
Bottle Tree Park, Yishun, which Rtn. Peter-Paul Nijsten to extend
has physically grown more the Club’s vote of thanks to Mr.
than 12 times since it started in Tay.
April 2009. Mr. Tay elaborated
on GUI’s expansion of
programmes aimed at tackling
modern challenges in our fast
changing world through a
hands-on approach,
teamwork and active leadership.
He added that this developed
creative problem solving,
personal responsibility and
social accountability.
3

4. Exchange of banners Club announcements Major Project
President Tapan exchanged Sergeant-at-Arms, Rtn. Gerald President called upon Major
banners with Rtn. Ulrike. He Abeyawardena reminded Project Chairman, Rtn. Joseph
presented the Club’s banners to members of the final Club Chia to brief members on the
Charter President (CP) Albert Assembly which would be held Club’s major project
Wong from the District’s newly on Thursday, 12th April at the for the Rotary Year. Rtn. Joseph
formed Rotary Club of Tanjong Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard advised that the beneficiary was
Pagar, and to Rtn. Peter City Centre. Boys’ Town, which the Club has
Clements, from Rotary Club of He further reminded members supported for many years
Melbourne. Rtn. Peter took the of the coming Rotary through the Patrick Hernon
opportunity to remind members International Convention which Trust Fund. He advised that the
to contact him should they be would be held in Bangkok from Club has negotiated for the
interested in his club’s projects in 6th to 9th May 2012. President funding of a gym, amounting to
East Timor. Tapan added that about 40 approximately S$100,000 which
members would be attending would give it naming rights. He
this RI Convention and would be called on members to donate
staying at the Grand Mercure towards the Major Project and
Fortune Hotel. Should members advised that the Club would
be interested to participate, welcome partners as well.
please contact PE Jimmy Ooi, President Tapan advised that the
however registration for the Board has accepted the Boys’
Convention should be made Town as the Club’s Major Project
directly with RI. for the members’ approval. He
advised that there were already
pledges for the Major Project
and was calling
members to make their
donations. He added that there
were two partners for the Major
Project – the Patrickv Hernon
Trust and Allianz SE Reinsurance.
4

5. 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 April
celebrants this week: ourselves these 4 questions Magazine Month
April 17 – Shalini Sharma and act upon them:
April 18 – Robert Craiu First: Have I spent some time
in self-examination? April 19th
April 19 – Dr. Kevin Chua
April 21 – Dr. Melvin Tan & Matei Second: Have I spent quality NGS Briefing Session at
Iurascu time with my family? 7.15pm at The Tanglin Club
Third: Have I given my best to
Anniversary Celebrants my work? May
RC sends best wishes to Fourth: Have I given some
Community Service Month
Wedding Anniversary time to someone near and
far?
celebrants this week May 6th – 9th
The Guide, in fact,
April 20– Vijai & Kala Parwani
encompasses the 4 parts of Rotary International
April 21 – PP Dr. Winston & Julia
the Object of Rotary. Convention in Bangkok
Oh
This week Next week June
April 18th 2012 April 25th 2012 Rotary Fellowships Month
Reception Desk duty: Joseph Reception Desk duty: Haider June 30th
Chia, Dr. Thomas Perkmann Nawaz, Perlita Tiro Installation Dinner
Sunshine Box duty: Noshir Sunshine Box duty: Kavita The Four-Way Test
Mistri, Suresh Hathiramani Of the Things we think, say
Singh, Zahidi Abd Rahman or do:
* Is it the truth?
Speaker: Ms. So-Young Kang, Speaker: Mr. Simon Kahn * Is it fair to all concerned?
Catalyst/CEO from Awaken CMO of Marketing, Asia * Will it build goodwill and
Group Pacific, Google better friendship?
Topic: ‘How to design Topic: ‘Transition from * Will it be beneficial to all
innovative solutions?’ concerned?
traditional to digital
marketing” Queries, comments and
articles request can be
Committee Meetings sent to
Jean-Philippe Lionnet
There are no Committee Meetings for the month of April bulletin@rotary.org.sg
in view of the final Club Assembly held on April 12th 2012
5