Friday Music III

Never say this to your wife or girlfriend if they ask you if they have put on weight (speaking from experience!!)

Tell us 10 things that make you happy - CHECKED:

Angeline of 'A Slice of My Life' ( http://angelinej.blogspot.com ) had a list of 10 things that make me happy!! So here goes;

1. Not having to wake up at 5:40am to send the kids to school. We need that Star Trek thing to teleport them 1 minute before the start of school.
2. Spurs winning the league, FA Cup and European Cup or beating Arsenal every year.
3. My hair miraculously regenerates to the old days (my wedding picture below).
   
   
4. Not having to pay for any loans, bills etc.
5. Cinda has been kind to me by making me wash the dishes once in a while. Thanks Cin!
6. Having 10 kids!! (works well with 1 & 4 but Cin will not be too happy with this one)
7. Having the kids and wife around me (for the first 25 seconds before we get irritated with each other!)
8. Travelling with the family
9. To look 20 but am still 42?!
10. When people actually read my blog!!!

Apologies if I skip or missed a few steps Cinda will sort me out!!

Cheers

The Turd That Almost Didn't Get Away!

The end of 2004 Cinda, myself and the kids visited her family for Christmas holidays. One of her untie gave us the opportunity to stay with her at a friends holiday home in Kings Cliff which is just after Byron Bay and is a short drive to Surfers Paradise from there. The only catch was the drive from Bangor (suburbs south of Sydney) to Kings Cliffs, is a 857 Km drive. We were fortunate that one of Cinda's uncle offered us his Mazda 6 and the petrol card (emm car and petrol). The tricky bit was we were going back to Malaysia in 4 days. That meant one day of driving, one day at Surfers Paradise, one day of driving, one day of packing then off back to Malaysia on a 7 hr flight to Kota Kinabalu (we miss those direct flights!!).

View Larger Map

Jus the bro-in-law drove all the way and took us about 12 hrs including the breaks for food and toilet.

On the trip back I drove about half of the way and had some crocodile pie at Kempsey. My 21 month old boy was in a bit of distress with a bit of constipation with too much seating in the car. We had to make a couple of stops. But no luck, no "brownies". Being a father, I of course took pictures and film it for future references. Here you can see the distressed boy with his mother. Cinda look worried as well.

We did take Tristan to the doctors the next day and he finally pooped with some difficulty when we had Yam Cha (dim sum) with Cinda's godparents. So nothing like good dim sum to make you go!!!

In Memory of Emil

Recently while on facebook, a friend tag me in a photo with a boarding mate of mine, Emil Goh from 1981-4 at St. Patricks House in Singapore. If you wondering which is Emil and who is Donald (since I had a lot more hair then), I am on the right and Emil in white on the left.

Another boarding mate of mine, Edward had commented "In memory of Emil Goh!!!" So I ask what had happened to him. I found out he had a cardiac arrest and passed away in September 2009 in Seoul, Korea. He was one year my senior. I have not met him since boarding school years but what I could remember he was a good kind friend and senior. Not the type to bully or intimidate anyone so a lot of the younger boarders befriended him.

So I did some googling to find out more about the Emil I missed out on and I found out the following from http://www.art-it.asia/u/admin_news/DRaM1yG9teSrl5gq6snI?lang=en

Chinese Malaysian artist Emil Goh died suddenly on 7 September at his apartment in Seoul. He was 43. Media sources are reporting the cause as a heart attack. As an artist, Goh was known mainly for his photo and video works documenting everyday life from a unique perspective. He was also for his activities as a designer, curator, and writer.

He also has a blog http://emilgoh.blogspot.com/ in memory of him and where I got most of my info on him including his biography.

He worked as an artist and dealt with photography, fine arts and video and had numerous exhibitions that span from Australia, Malaysia, Korea, London and Europe. This is the part of his life I didn't know about.

But the traits that I knew were evident in the writings from friends and colleagues alike. One person even wrote a song in memory of him (in his blog commemorating him).

Well Emil, all I got to say is thanks for your friendship and kindness and God Bless. It's strange missing someone only after twenty odd years. ...But I do.

EMIL' s BIO

Emil Goh was born in Johor Bahru in 1966 and spent his childhood growing up in various cities around Malaysia, including three years studying in Singapore. He moved to Australia in 1985 where he studied Photography & Sculpture at Sydney College of the Arts. Later he obtained his Masters from Goldsmiths College, London. Goh has been artist-in-residence at agnes b. London; the Hayward Gallery, London; Hong Kong University and SSamziepsace, Seoul. He has exhibited widely in Australia and internationally including: Busan Biennale, Busan, 2004; Slow Rushes, Contemporary Art Centre, Vilnius, 2004; Mix-Ed, Sherman Galleries, 2004; Location Location, Australian Centre for Photography, Sydney, 2003, Fruits, Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, 2003; Housewarming, Parasite Artspace, Hong Kong, 2003; REMAP, Laforet Museum, Kokura, Japan, 2002; Buddha: Past, Present, Future , Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 2002; Emil Goh 1996-2002 , Contemporary Art Centre of South Australia, Adelaide, 2002; New Releases , Gallery 4A, Sydney, 2001; Sydney!Vienna! Akadamie fur Bildenden Kunst, Vienna, 2000) and Arus/Flow National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, 2000.

What Not to Do As A Father! - Fathers Day

This happened during Fathers Day. Cinda woke up to get the two older kids ready for school while I slept in. Cinda put Jacob then about 6 months next to me and told me specifically to look after him. I dozed off, woke up and needed to go to the toilet. While sitting on my "throne" I heard a "thud!" and Jacob of course falling off the bed started crying (actually more like screaming). Cinda was not too pleased with me.

Luckily no permanent damage accept he was a bit crossed eyed for a bit!!!

2005 JCI WP Speech at the World Congress President Ball

Kevin Cullinane was the 2005 JCI President who has inspired me with his calm but passionate (two words you don't usual associate calm & passionate but he pulled it off) style when I happened to be the JCI Malaysia President. His outgoing speech at the Vienna JCI World Congress was one of those speeches that touched me and made me realise why I am so passionate about this organisation. I actually searched for the speech and kept it for future reference (the other was Pope John Paul II homily in Israel when I fell asleep and have been a guilty catholic ever since!)

SPEECH AT JCI PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION

President Elect, National Presidents, Chief Delegates, Board Colleagues, Secretary General, Congress Director, Chapter Presidents, Past, Present and Future International, National and Local Officers, Senators, Members, International Advisors, Support Team, Distinguished Guests, Friends and Family, Ladies and Gentlemen

This Irish Presidency sought to restore an executive leadership role for our elected officers and world headquarters staff. I hope I established a culture where innovation and initiative was encouraged this year.

Once in office I discovered the challenges more extensive, the choices more difficult, and the scrutiny more inevitable than I had anticipated. By accepting the criticisms and the congratulations with equal measure, I have learned from my mistakes, and built the kind of Irish Presidency I dreamt about – dedicated, decisive, determined and Member focused.

I thought it imperative from the outset that our Members knew what anyone standing for the Presidency thought about the organization he was hoping to lead. I hoped, that in addition to openly discussing our organization’s strengths as well as weaknesses, the external opportunities and threats, I could establish a forum for dealing with the key issues of Membership growth and decline, Marketing excellence and limitation, Media knowledge and ignorance.

I think I have successfully put those three M’s – Membership, Marketing, and Media firmly in your consciousness this year! But you know, you have to be careful with this Media thing – you never know when there might be a camera lurking in the background.

(CUE SHAKING THAT ASS VIDEO)

During the past year you have witnessed this Irish Presidency at work. Our needs and hopes were eloquently stated in the 2005 JCI Business Plan and the initiatives and follow through has been shared with the very fabric of our organization – our Members and our Chapters.

Perhaps historians in the future will regard this Presidency as necessarily one of those frequent periods of consolidation, a time to draw breath, recoup our natural energy and focus on what was urgent and important. I leave office in December with absolutely no regrets.

You demanded a vigorous proponent of the JCI interest, and I hope you got it. A President who was capable and competent acting as the organization’s Chief Executive Officer. A leader who rose above national or self interest to formulate strategy and gave clear direction on policy and programming, not a casual bystander of progress.

This administration has faced up to the big issues – there has been a lot done but there’s much more to do. The President’s responsibilities however cannot be delegated. This office is the single channel through which there flows the torrential pressures and needs of every national organization, every chapter, every Member.

I deliberately placed myself at the forefront of the organization and I trust you know by now that I care passionately for this organization. If I did not, the rigors and at times, excessive demands on me would not have been worth the personal and professional sacrifices that were necessary to make a difference. Leading JCI has been the greatest self actualizing experience of my young life todate. I would not have traded this opportunity for anything. It was a once in a lifetime experience.

The President is often alone, at the top, the loneliest job there is in JCI. You need a great team of supporters, confidents, friends who can keep you grounded and family who are always there for you. I have shared every step this year with a remarkable personal support team – they are known to many of you and they are all here with me again tonight. I want to thank an outstanding 2005 JCI Board of Directors and Executive Committee; our composite professional JCI Headquarters Staff and Secretary General; the 120 National organizations I have been honored to work with and their National Presidents, Officers and Chapter Presidents – the true leaders of JCI;

I want to thank JCI Austria; the Vienna Congress Organizing Committee under Wolfgang and Rainer and their respective teams for ensuring this JCI World Congress has been the success we all know it has been; I thank JCI Cobh and JCI Ireland under Presidents Darragh and James for their faith and belief in my talents; I applaud my personal team of Jeremy, Seamus, Maggie, Graham, Lynne, Suzanne, Eugene, John and Mariella; On my own behalf and yours, I thank them and applaud them for their selfless service for the benefit of JCI this year.

I can assure you it is much easier to make the speeches than it is to finally make the judgments because sometimes the advice you receive from all quarters is divided. If you take the wrong course, and on occasion I have, the President bears the burden of responsibility quite rightly. However, the advice I have received throughout this year has always had the best interests of JCI at heart. To all those who have advised me throughout the year, including you Colvin, I trust you found a listening ear, an open heart and a wise and considered mind.

As Winston Churchill said on taking office many years ago: if we open a quarrel between the present and the past, we shall be in danger of losing the future.

Tonight our concern must be with that future. For the world is changing. The old era is ending and the old ways will not do.

It is time for a new generation of young leaders and entrepreneurs to create better leaders, to create better societies!
But I believe the times demand new invention, innovation, imagination, decision. I am asking each of you to be pioneers on that New Frontier.

My call is to the young and the young at heart, regardless of age to be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be dismayed. Continue to be living examples of the organization’s philosophy and beliefs.

For courage--not complacency--is our need today--leadership--not showmanship. And the only valid test of leadership is the ability to lead, and lead vigorously.

Are we up to the task--are we equal to the challenge? Are we willing to match the sacrifice of the present for the future or must we sacrifice our future in order to enjoy the present?

In 2005, all of JCI waited upon this Irish styled leadership. A whole world looked to see what we would do. We did not fail their trust; we did not fail to try.

It has been a long road from that first autumn day in Fukuoka to this crowded congress hall to night. Now begins another long journey, taking me back into the town I love so well and back to my family and friends.

JCI Members you gave me your help, your hand, your voice, and your support. But above all else you extended the hand of friendship.

In the words of the traditional Irish blessing:

May the road rise to meet to you,

May the wind be at your back

May the sun shine warm upon your face

May the rain fall softly on your fields

And until we meet again

May you keep safe in the gentle loving arms of God.

What Not to Do As A Father! - Seagulls

Being a father of three kids I have had my fair share of mishaps and pure silliness in bringing up my children. This is why I have Cinda to mend or correct my screw ups along the way. I would like to share my experience with all the dads out there!!

We were enjoying our holiday in Sydney and were doing the city tour - Taronga Zoo, Opera House and general walk about. We decided to get some pies and enjoy the great weather at a park near central station.

Before we knew it, we were surrounded by hungry seagulls. I got my then 6 year old daughter Ashe to pose next to a flock of them (emm Flock of Seagulls what ever happened to the band?!) for a picture. I started to feed the birds chips and a lot of them were starting to band together behind Ashe and were becoming a wee bit aggressive. She eventually realize my plan and totally freaked out!! The picture above of the event after the trauma with the guilty looking father.

What I did not realize was I had unleashed a bird phobia (birdophobia?! Ornithophobia!!!). Since then the littlest of birds has freaked her into a frenzy and we have been to a few bird aviary which she either has refused to join us or attached to me like a Siamese twin.

Emmm maybe its time to let her watch "The Birds" by Alfred Hitchcock?!

Mine, mine,mine

If my wife can do so can I

A couple of days ago the wife was not too well and I had to do the cooking. So I said wait a minute if Cin can do a blog about cooking so can I!!! So I decided to create the crispy noodle with deer meat. First boil some egg noddles then let it drip dry. Then stick into hot oil and fry the noodles golden brown.

For the sauce fry some deer meet, shallots, soya sos, the good all MSG (main reason I am loosing my hair!!), paper(Cin pointed out the mistake, well you can use paper if one needs fiber, so pepper it is), salt, and pour in chicken stock. Then mix it with some corn start with warm water to thicken sauce. Then ta-daaaaaaa!!!!

Ok ok I didn't do it. I went out and ta-pau (take away) from Makanan Sedap (literally means delicious food in Malay) Restaurant for RM15 (US$5). Hope I did impress someone out there for a little while.

My Eternal Addiction is feeling better

After the disaster with Portsmouth, Spurs have won some important games against Ars*nal and Chelsea. I have had my fix and life is good for at least another week!!! It is best put by a TOPSPURS Columnist - "The Kings of London". Now Manchester United another roller coaster ride!!

All the Cars I Loved Before......

I have always been fascinated by cars, but unfortunately I don't remember the above picture of a cool volvo (it looks like the Volvo 1800 driven by Roger Moore in "The Saint" TV series). My memory would have improved if Olive the Great Dane had bitten me or the car ran over my feet. Pain works well with my memory (refer to "My Old Man"). I believe the guy who owned the car was trying to impress one of my sister. The first thing I realized about cars is that the owner tries to impress girls and boys alike. Its a pretty bisexual thing just like the hair dressers! Here I will be listing all the cars I have owned over the past 20 odd years. All of them had special memories of time, place, people and events.

My first car I ever owned was a 1978 Volkswagen Rabbit (the model evolved into the Golf model in the 80's onwards) while I was studying in the US in 1997-1990. I bought it for US$800 before I got my drivers license. Three driving test later I finally got my license (I am after all a Malaysia driver being tested in the US without any prior training). The car was the most defective car I ever own and had this inability to work at the most inconvenient time. I had an AAA Card which gave me free towing and start ups during the cold winters. It got towed so many times AAA started charging me for it. There was a silver lining however, I got to know my mechanic very well and I learnt many ways why cars don't work!!! The mechanic sold me a red '76 Honda Accord for US$600 and I traded in the Volkswagen after about a year.

The Red Accord even though well rusted, was very reliable (being Japanese) and could go up to 90 MPH, decent on highways. I did do my first body work on a car with the Accord. It was badly rusted right above the two front tyres and mud would reach the windscreen. Later the driver door could not shut I replaced it with metallic blue one. It was the car I finished my Uni education with. I drove it to the airport car park, took the tape deck out left the signed registration card and car keys in it and flew home for the last time.

Got home in April 1990 and started work in Sandakan. My brother John, paid the deposit for me to purchase the two tone Izuzu Trooper (thanks John!!), my first 4WD. A fuel guzzler of a vehicle it stayed with me until the mid-ninties. Drove the Trooper beetween Sandakan and Kota Kinabalu quite a bit and took it to Tenom, Tawau, Lahad Datu and Danum Valley - most of Sabah actually. The Trooper got me acquainted with manual driving again since it was my first manual.

Got back to KK and got a 1995 Toyota Surf Limited edition. Loved this car and enjoyed driving it. Met my wife and got married, had our first kid during this time. When I sold it I had a tear in my eye when it was driven a way. I decided that would be the last time I would be attached to a vehicle. Had incredible memories with the car.

Then the Proton Wira..... the working car had good road handling. Drove from KK to Tenom in less than 120 minutes. It was reliable as a Proton can be, which isn't saying much.

The 1990 Land Cruiser BJ60. A man's car, black and testosterone driven. A intimidating car. Changed the seats, very comfortable seats. It's weakness, it lack speed but had torque. Sold it to get the 2007 Toyota Avanza for practical reason i.e. the family (something both the wife and me could drive) The era of the "mummy van".....

The Avanza I must say is a joy to drive, it can fit 6 reasonable large persons, luggage space to spare...and a very practical car. This is the point where the both of us decided from now we will only get black or white cars to end all disagreement on colors. Is white / Black really a color anywhere?!

The 21 year old 2 door Land Cruiser II (all the numbers)was added was from my sister (thanks!!!). The suspension has been modified and the vehicle is over 6 feet tall (just enough to squeeze thru the multi story or underground car parks). Future plans are to change the cab (body has a bit of a rust problem), anti roll bars and matte black paint job (maybe a more powerful engine and transmission..emm). Then join the KK Four Wheel Drive Club for some outdoor activities.

My dream car?! The Toyota FJ Cruiser which is a spin off of the old HJ40/BJ40 series Land Cruiser. Emm this thing for Toyotas and Land Cruisers!!!

Friday Music 1

Being a teenager from the 80's, a lot of the music I listen to are from the time. Japan, a band I started listening to in the 80's is the type of music you either like em or hate em, but it will grow on you. The above song "I second that emotion" is a cover of Smokie Robinson's which was done in their early years. This song is dedicated to all the professional and amateur Parliamentarians and JCI GLC's (General Legal Counsel).

"Ghost" is another one of my favorites. The band was active until 1991, the lead singer David Sylvian went solo and I do have a couple of his albums as well.

My Old Man

I decided I wanted to write something about my father Ben Stephens who passed away on 4th September 2003. He was born in Kudat on 3rd July 1926 (seems like a long time ago).

My clearest early recollection (a painful one) of him was when he was Resident in Sandakan, in the early 70's. I must of been 3 or 5 years old at that time. He was taking my brothers John and Mike (5 & 7 years older respectively) hunting wild boar and I was excluded being too young. I showed my displeasure by jumping up and down when I realized the Land Rover dad was driving started reversing back into the garage. He got out, said a few expletive I will not repeat and took off his crocodile skin belt (a tool of choice for disciplining in our household) in the same motion and started chasing me. In the past all I had to do was run to mum (being the youngest) to be spared, but mum wasn't home. If anything it taught me a few things;

• Never again to make a fuss as I must now admit I was a bit of brat
• Martial Arts blocking technique - the belt came in all direction it was up to us to cover the vital parts
• take cover behind a suitcase
• Run faster then dad (John did a good job, Mike wasn't as quick so he got more than his fair share)
• the reason my siblings hid dad's favorite crocodile skin belt

After he decided I got the message, he drove off with the boys. Personally I think John and Mike must of enjoyed it because I used to get away with everything and I finally got nailed for once.

The Sandakan period had one of the best memories for me. Sunday mass without fail then Sunday brunch. The best Dim Sum ever and best food Sandakan can offer. The parties that mum and dad used to throw outdoors with the color lights, and the glamor of it, we of cause were locked inside the house. John always managed to get our sugar fix with the aerated drinks. I was too young to appreciate the political going ons at the time but Sabah was in turmoil with my uncle Tun Fuad Stephens (Uncle Don to me) being a main player. But that is another story.

Dad never liked caged birds. He tried tellings us why but got too emotional rendering it, and I never understood so I just accepted it. Later I found out it had something to do with his dad advice, who was executed during World War II in Petagas as part of the Kinabalu Guerrilla.

As we became adults especially in his later years he became more of a good friend then a father. He enjoyed sharing his twisted and most times very tasteless humour with the family which I may have inherited.

He taught me a great deal being a father, you don't have to be perfect but we were always loved and he passed down the faith (we were very Catholic). He was a good listener, it only got confusing when he tried advising me!! One of his favorite pass time was to clean his dentures at the dinning table. One of the best advice he gave me was when I was going to the US for my tertiary education and did not know what to major. I ask him what I should do as I was in a state of panic and he replied "don't worry it will come to you." We then went out for some crabs!

The funny thing is even the frightening experiences with dad has become a very pleasant and happy memory of him,  so God Bless Dad!!!

The Turd That got Away! (Part 2 The Jacuzzi Incident)

The incident occurred in 1999 in Kuala Lumpur while my parent-in-law was based in KL. We decided to have a break and stay at the Shangri-La KL for a couple of days. We did the usual shopping and utilization of the great facilities of the hotel including the pool and Jacuzzi.

My eldest daughter Ashe then 1+ old joined us at the jacuzzi which could fit about eight people. We had three generation of family in there. After about half an hour we noticed brown bits floating about and we thought "emmmm herbal therapy jacuzzi". Ashe now in distress and not knowing what to do tried to get out while holding back the rest of the "brown bits". On realizing the the situation all three generation got out pretty quickly!!

We checked the jacuzzi the next day and the "herbal therapy" treatment was still there!! Hope no one used it. Err.. after 11 years on behalf of the family I would like to take full responsibility for the incident.

Thinking back at least Ashe had a very high fibre diet....all the bits floated!!!

(Note: No child was mentally harm in retelling this story as permission was granted)

My Addiction

I have a confession to make.... I have had a addiction since May of 1981.

Why did I watch the replay? Long suffering, I must now confess.

This addiction has made me depressed, elated (once every ten years if I am lucky), excited and wanting more........

My addiction is football of the Tottenham Hotspurs nature. I cannot support another team especially God forbid the other North London club, so I am stuck with it.

(Footnote: Spurs lost to Portsmouth last night in the FA CUP semi-final. Portsmouth, a team that has been relegated, is bankrupt and under administration with long list of injuries. However Spurs manage 20+ shots at goal and 20+ corners, dominated the game, and ...lost 2-0 after extra time!!!)

The Turd That got Away! (Part 1)

PART 1

Jacob (15 month son) was having his usual hot shower in the tub. Cinda's way of relaxing him before his nap time. She popped out of the bathroom to speak to me. Suddenly we heard a huge shriek from Jacob. Fearing the worse, hurting himself again (which includes running into a wall while chasing a cat) or another centipede incident in the tub (with Cinda) we rushed to the bathroom.

Jacob was still screaming out of fear and trying to climb out of the tub. Cinda picked him up and we notice a brown banana like shaped in the tub. On closer inspection Jacob had pooped and not realizing it was a product of his own making, freaked out. Like all real dads out there, the first thing I did was to catch the moment!!! Ahhhh Jacob a Kodak moment!!

My final message as a National President on 31st December 2005 which Francis Wong noted was my longest e-mail ever!!

My Dear fellow Board members, Lom Presidents, appointed directors and fellow Jaycees - greetings and well wishes from your National President!

Wow, one year has gone by with a blink of an eye. I have traveled to 15 installations, the Sabah / Sarawak / Peninsular Area Convention, the National Convention, ASPAC, World Congress, National and Lom projects and visits. I estimated it took 104 Jaycee working days (don’t inform my shareholders!) and at least 66 flights (more than one flight a week) that was as near as in KK and as far as Vienna, Austria.

In this journey the 2005 team and I have brought you Mission Glad, a message of Growth, Learning, being Active and Developing our Resources. So what have we achieved?

GROWTH

Our target was 10% growth, we achieved 7%. We recruited more than 200 new members in 2005, giving them an opportunity to enjoy all that JCI has to offer. A Membership Kit has been introduced to all members and delivered to Loms at the 2005 JCI Malaysia National Convention. This allows members to establish their expectation of themselves and the organization. Our target is 2000 members in 7 years (2012) and 2500 in 10 years. I truly believe we can achieve ahead of schedule if we organize ourselves better because we have an excellent product in JCI. Below is a table showing our growth since 1994 (data from JCI);

Year	2006	2005	2004	2003	2002	2001	2000
Membership	1130	1061	1122	1395	1377	1397	1393
Loms	35	34	32	40	38	38	38

Year	1999	1998	1997	1996	1995	1994
Membership	1357	1495	1559	1443	1361	1294
Loms	38	38	37	36	35	35

We have an estimated population of 5 million between the ages of 18 to 40. We therefore have 0.02% of this population as our members, and doubling our membership will give us 0.04%. Therefore the potential for growth is tremendous.

Currently we have new provisional Loms in Mines (KL), Johor Bharu Entrepreneur and Batu Kawan (Penang) which are able to be affiliated in 2006. The re-introduction of Seremban and Kudat are also in the pipe line. I truly believe we can break the barrier of 1300 members and 40 Loms in 2006.

LEARN

I believe the work done by NTD JCI Sen. Ooi Hooi Kiang has created a foundation and structure that JCI Malaysia members will benefit many years to come.

JCI training programmes – JCI Prime (hosted by JCI Taiping and JCI Tanjung Aru. Thank You!!) and JCI Achieve has been introduced. Numerous training at Area and National Convention, the Area Sabah Training Marathon and Loms participated in training programmes.

This year the introduction of the JCIM Training Commission whose vision is to be resource centre in establishing professional standards, assuring top-quality training and providing effective services to develop and support the JCIM leaders and trainers. The commission will plan the short, medium and long term strategies and allow the NTD to implement for the current years programme.

I believe we will have one of the best training structure for our members in JCI in not the too distant future.

ACTIVATE

Participation of members overall is satisfactory. Attendance at Area Convention are as follows; Peninsular – 90, Sarawak – 79 and Sabah – 65.

The National Convention had approximately 250 members attended and about 20-25% were a new/first timer which is excellent. 65 members attended JCI ASPAC in Macau and 4 attended JCI World Congress in Vienna.

My observation is that chapters that have senior, current and new members that work well together seem to be successful in running projects, recruitment and training. This mixture is also excellent when attending convention, conferences and congresses.

DEVELOP RESOURCES

The collection of statistics by National Growth and Extension Director and the NVP’s has given us valuable data to analyze JCIM current membership standing. This allows us to plan for the future and advice chapters.

The secretariat has been renovated. And for the first time in more than a decade we had our NBOD meetings there (twice this year). We now have a JCIM HQ that can been a wonderful resource for service to members.

Majlis Belia Malaysia has granted JCIM full affiliation. This will give further opportunities for members to get involve and promotion of JCIM in MBM. Special thanks to the MBM Director Ralph.

We also have become a community partner to the Cradle Investment Programme with Malaysia Venture Capital Management Bhd (MAVCAP).

I happy to announce that ROS has approved all our application for changes in the Constitution and By-laws including our corporate identity.

CONCLUSION

It has been a great honor being the National President of JCIM for one year. The position is a lonely one but was alleviated by all of you.

This year’s success is due to everyone's contribution – NBOD, appointed Directors & LOM Presidents and its members.

I especially would like to thank;

· The NBOD, Alice, “Cool” Alex, “Any Other Business” George, Megane, Joe, Daniel, Kho, Sabrina, Francis, “Datuk” OTB, William, Joseph, Veronica, NP 2006 Ah Tat.

· NPSA’s – Kenny and Joe.

· The appointed directors – Hooi Kiang, Li Yuen, Cynthia, Bon, Suzzane, Angeline, Shirlenne, and Ralph.

· The National OC’s – Norbert (KK), Steven (Tanjung Aru), Kenny (Taiping), KL Mandarin, Miri, Penang, Tanjung Bungah, E-Metro, Penampang and Tawau.

· All Lom Presidents

· Past National President & Senate Chairman “the Professor”

· KKJC Past Presidents and members

· Members all over Malaysia.

(if I have forgotten anyone in this list, please forgive me)

Winston Churchill once said on taking office many years ago: “if we open a quarrel between the present and the past, we shall be in danger of losing the future.” Our duty now is to give our full support to 2006 team to ensure the continued success of JCIM.

My hope is that going through the year we have learnt our strength and weaknesses and have improve because of it.

Thank you for making this one of the most memorable part of my life and God Bless. May you have a meaningful and Joyous Christmas and New Year.

CHEERS!!!