The Gardensí Grapevine 0797

The Gardens' Grapevine

The Monthly Newsletter of Lions Club of Singapore Serangoon Gardens

April 1997 Issue

(For Internal Circulation Only)

We congratulate Lion Dr Winston Koh and Lion Han Thien Fong for being elected District Governor and Vice District Governor, respectively, of MD 308A for 1997/98.

We also congratulate PDG Lion Shiv Banerjee for his election as Council Chairman of Multiple District 308.

Inside...

Page

2 Coming events --- Golf fellowship; and more.

3, 4 Happenings in April --- 35^th MD 308 Convention; twinning with LC-AíFamosa Malacca;;

and more.

5 Short Notes --- Lions Family Day; Annual Award Presentation; Leo Club.

The Gardensí Grapevine - April 1997 Page 2

Coming Events

8 May 7.00p.m. BOD Meeting and General Members'

Meeting. Wuthelam Club, Liang Court.

All members are welcome.

16 May 7.30a.m. Golf Fellowship for Zone 9 Clubs.

Sebana Cove. Meet at Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal. Donít be late - gate closes at 7.45a.m. sharp. S$105 per person.

Organised by ZC Gilbert Tan for members of Katong, Bedok, Emerald, Tanglin, and Serangoon Gardens. All members welcome.

22 May 7.00p.m. Monthly Members' General Meeting.

Hotel Plaza, Beach Road. All members please attend. A new member will be inducted.

26 May 6.30p.m. Talk on President-Elect - How Do You

Plan Your Year?

By Lion Han Thien Fong.

ACE Daikin Auditorium. Pay $6 at the door.

Other Events Coming Your Way

1 June Lions Family & Sports Day

St Gabrielís Sec Sch. at Serangoon Avenue 1. See Page 5 for more information.

10 July 7.30p.m. Award Presentation & Fellowship Night

Fame Room, Hotel Plaza, Beach Road. This is THE BIG Highlight of our Club's Lionistic year. So, members, please do make it a point to attend.

_________________________________________

The Gardensí Grapevine - April 1997 Page 3

Happenings in April

35^th MD 308 Convention in Malacca

Redistricting Resolutions passed; New DG and VDG Elected

Delegates to the 35th MD 308 Convention in Malacca unanimously voted on 19 April in favour of recommending to the International Board of Directors to divide Sub-District 308A into two Sub-Districts, and Sub-District 308B into another two Sub-Districts.

If approved by the International Board, the four new Sub-Districts will be known as 308A1, 308A2, 308B1 and 308B2.

308A1 will comprise all the 53 clubs in Singapore, with about 1500 members, while all the East Malaysian and Bruneian clubs which are currently in 308A will form 308A2. There are 54 clubs and about 1500 members in 308A2. Our twin club, Kuching North, will thus be in District 308A2.

All the clubs in Peninsular Malaysia will be split into 308B1 (consisting of 52 clubs in Johore, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, KL, Pahang, Trengganu and Kelantan) and 308B2 (46 clubs in Selangor, Perak, Kedah, Perlis, Penang, and Cameron Highlands).

The reason for making the split was ìto improve capacity for supervisionî, said MD Council Chairman Dr Chin Yoon Hiap. The number of clubs in each of the two existing Sub-Districts as well as the large geographical spread of the Sub-Districts make the task of each DG especially difficult. With the doubling of sub-districts and therefore the doubling of the number of DGís and VDGís, the quality of time each DG spends with the clubs should improve.

The redistricting takes effect at the close of the International Convention following the approval by the International Board of Directors. Therefore, we should expect the new Sub-Districts to be operative July 1998.

Twinning with AíFamosa Malacca

Ah! Famous Pardna in Melaka

At a simple ceremony on 18^th April 1997, our Club signed an Agreement of Alliance with Lions Club of AíFamosa Malacca.

Signing on behalf of our Club was Club President Chey Chor Khoon. Representing our new twin-club was Lion President Lim Siew Wan, a highly energetic and personable businesswoman.

The Official Witnesses, DG for 308A Lion S.G.Chin, and DG for 308B Lion Leong A. Sam, gave their blessings to the twinning. Observing the entire proceedings were DG Eddie from Indonesia, VDG Lion Dr Winston Koh, Convention Organising Chairman Johnson Tay, members of our other twin-club Kuching North, and members of both our Clubs.

Lion President Lim presented our Club with a lovely pewter lion, while our Club President gave AíFamosa a Chinese painting of a pair of love-birds amidst a cluster of grapes. The Official Witnesses also presented each club with momentos to mark the special occasion.

That members of AíFamosa found time out from the bustle of helping to organise the main Convention was testimony to their efficiency and dedication to getting a job done.

For our Club to twin with another Club that won TEN awards at the recent 35^th MD 308 Convention, is our great fortune. Since last meeting with them in mid-January this year, AíFamosa has grown from 38 to 49 members. The club has also acquired a new clubhouse of their own. Their projects include monthly visits to three old folks homes, giving away free school uniforms and shoes to needy children, providing free medical health services and SightFirst programmes.

AíFamosa is ably led by a 17-member Board of Directors. A State Executive Councillor is an Honorary Lion. The IPP, Lion Lim Bee Lay, is a bundle of high energy still actively involved in Club work. The President-Elect, 1^st VP Janet Low is a teacher and exudes calm and poise that command confidence.

We look forward to working together with our ìFamosî sister-club on joint projects in the near future.

The Gardensí Grapevine - April 1997 Page 4

35^th MD 308 Convention in Malacca

Memorable Malacca Meet A Success

Lion Han Thien Fong finally made it. Lion Shiv Banerjee at last got it. Our Club did it. The best part was that everything was harmonious and without bitterness. Even the three-cornered fight for the VDGís post for 308B did not quite stir up a storm. Malacca certainly worked its charm on everyone.

Excellent Venue

The four-day Convention at the Hotel Century Mahkota, a sprawling five-star resort on land reclaimed from the Straits, was the venue where a record 1501 Lions gathered to decide the future of the Lions movement in Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei. Banners, posters, and flags were everywhere, exhorting delegates to vote for their respective candidates for VDG for Sub-District 308B. The only posters which were really useful were the directional ones lining all the major roads to lead motorists to the Convention hotel.

Our Club was well-represented by nine members, some of whom brought their spouses. They were Chee Keong and wife Sally, Henry and wife Lena, Robert and wife Lucy, Augustine and wife Kwan, Michael and his whole family, Cheng Peow, Joi Pun, Tony, and president Chey.

Convention Begins

The Convention kicked off with a golf game early Thursday, 17^th April, which many skipped because it was too early. This was followed in the afternoon by Cabinet meetings and, in the night, by Council meeting.

Our Club members arrived the next morning, and after a quick lunch, plunged straight into the twinning ceremony so ably organised by our sister-club, AíFamosa Malacca. We did it.

Then a long hot walk the same afternoon took us around old Malacca. It got us into the record books as being the first parade in Malacca with 35 lion-dance troupes, 35 Malay traditional groups, 35 Indian traditional groups, 35 Convention flags and 50 trishaws.

In the evening, while most Lions patronised the food court for a fellowship dinner, our members elected to have our own fellowship at a Chinese restaurant.

Next morning, 19^th April, Districts 308A and 308B held their respective Conventions. It was here that Lion Han Thien Fong finally made it as VDG for 308A, with no contest. In his acceptance speech, he called on Lions to be more compassionate, loving and caring not just to the less fortunate, but also to our own fellow Lions. The DGís post was of course already in the bag for Lion Dr Winston Koh (who, incidentally, arrived in Malacca in a Rolls Royce, no less). Congratulations to both!

The afternoon was all pageantry at Pay Fong School Hall, where all of MD 308 gathered to show their colours in the Opening Ceremony of the Convention ceremonially opened by the Chief Minister of Malacca. Our President-Elect, Tony Tan, did us proud with a smart turn-out on our Clubís behalf.

After a brief recess, the Plenary Session opened. Delegates voted unanimously in favour of the resolutions to redistrict MD 308.

Highlight

In the evening, a delectable Chinese banquet at the same school hall was held to honour delegates. The Guest-of-Honour, International Director Paul Fan from Hong Kong, spoke about how to get money out from the Lions Foundation. Entertainment was provided by, among others, Jan Chiao Ling, James and Betty Wong, James Lim and Elaine Yang, and Ai Hoa. The gentlemen in their top hats and coat-tails, and the ladies in frilly gowns proved that lions could be surprisingly graceful and demure.

The highlight of the evening must surely be the presentation of awards by the DGís to the clubs. While clubs in 308A won Excellent and Outstanding Club Awards, the 308B clubs received awards for individual Lions as well. Our Club managed to win an Outstanding Club Award. At the end of the Banquet, MD 308 Council Chairman announced that Lion Shiv Banerjee would be the next MD 308 Council Chairman. At last, he got it.

On the final day of the Convention, the 20^th April. 308B held their election for the post of VDG. The rest of us made full use of the free time for shopping, golf, or an early getaway back to Singapore.

On the whole, the Convention was very well-organised with few problems. Congratulations to COC Lion Johnson Tay and his four Malacca clubs for the months of intense preparation and putting up a great and memorable show.

The Gardensí Grapevine - April 1997 Page 5

SHORT NOTES

Lions Family & Sports Day

Fun & Fellowship for the whole family

Annual Award Presentation

Give your full support to Club’s highlight of year

This year’s Family Day will be held Sunday 1^st June between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. at St Gabriel’s Sec. School along Serangoon Avenue 1.

The Organising Committee Chairman, RC Dr Anthony Chung has promised that "this year’s function will be a little different from past year’s…". Badminton and table tennis will be added to the exciting track and family games.

A carnival atmosphere will be created with a multitude of food and games stalls. There will also be the annual children’s art competition, outdoor family games, and track events. The badminton games will see Zone competing against Zone. In table tennis, PDG Ng Thin Wah is said to be playing China’s National Coach in an exhibition match. This we got to see.

Food will be good and plentiful. There will also be prizes for the best decorated stall and the stall with the highest sales.

Talking about prizes, the organisers promise more than a hundred prizes and trophies to be given away.

Each club is asked to commit a minimum of $10 of coupons per member. Excess funds will be donated to the Lions Home For the Elders.

Cheques and unsold coupons must be returned to the organiser by the closing date, 28 May.

Leo Club

Robert and Frank appointed Leo Advisors

Lions Robert Liew (Treasurer) and Frank Goh (Past President) have been appointed as Leo Advisors with the responsibility to form a Leo Club. They will start by finding out more about the roles and responsibilities of Leos and Leo Advisors and report on their findings at the next General Meeting.

The biggest event for our Club every year is the Annual Award Presentation and Fellowship Night.

This year, this gala Event will be held 10^th July at Hotel Plaza’s Fame Room. The new District Governor, Dr Winston Koh, has kindly consented to be the Guest of Honour. The cost is pegged at a very reasonable S$40 per head. Great food is assured. There will even be great entertainment, believe it or not!

Traditionally, we hold this Event in place of the usual Anniversary Dinners, and use it as the occasion for the outgoing President to recognise and reward club-members who have helped him in carrying out his responsibilities during his term of office, or who have done outstanding work on behalf of the Club. At the same time, it is also the chance for the incoming President to introduce his new Board of Directors to the rest of the members.

A Commemorative Magazine will be published to mark the occasion. It will contain the Stewardship Report of the outgoing President. Net profits from the Dinner and advertisements in the Magazine will be used as our Club’s fund-raising effort for the year. Advertisements cost from S$388 for an ROP to $898 for the outside back cover in colour.

It is therefore of great importance that members support this project, not only by their presence at the Dinner, but also by helping to secure advertisements in the Commemorative Magazine.

Your Club President will be writing to you soon to appeal for support. Do try your best to help. Your effort, no matter how small, will be greatly appreciated.