Rotarians urged to help wipe out polio by 2018
Published on: Friday, June 26, 2015
Kota Kinabalu: Polio eradication is the biggest humanitarian project that Rotary has ever undertaken some 30 years ago, said incoming Rotary International (RI) District 3310 Governor, Philip Chong.Speaking at the 33rd Installation of the Rotary Club of Likas Bay (RCLB), Wednesday, he said : "Do contribute generously because we still need more money to completely wipe out the deadly disease Polio from the surface of the earth in the three remaining affected countries – Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria."We must help to finish the race by 2018 and maintain Rotary's good image."
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In this regard, Chong looked forward to attaining the 300 mark for the number of Rotarians in Kota Kinabalu with the emergence of new clubs such as the all-ladies Rotary Club of Kota Kinabalu Pearl led by Datuk Adeline Leong and KK Rotary Mandarin-Speaking Club headed by George Lim. Both clubs were sponsored by the Rotary Club of Kota Kinabalu led by Tan Yew Lim. Chong will grace the Charter Night of the Rotary Club of Kota Kinabalu Pearl on September 22."With more Rotarians, we can increase our service in performing good deeds for underprivileged communities. However, with more service, we need more funding, so I will work with you all on the contribution to the Rotary Foundation," the incoming District Governor told the Rotarians.He was optimistic about it in that a few new Paul Harris Fellows and major donors are forthcoming from RCLB.
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Chong expressed his appreciation to all Likas Bayers for having unanimously endorsed his candidacy for RI District 3310 Governor three years ago. "To achieve our goals, I want to work with you all to be a gift to the world in the next 366 days from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016. Rotary will always be relevant. Rotarians will always be needed," he said.Acknowledging the proactive role of outgoing District 3310 Assistant Governor, KP Lu, he said the latter's inclusive style of leadership was an inspiration to many aspiring Rotarians. He is succeeded by Iskandar Ahmad who also acts as the District Governor's Representative for the Rotary Club of KK Pearl.
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Chong witnessed the installation of prominent property developer, Dato' Ir. John Chee Shi Tong as the 33rd President of the RCLB by his predecessor Gwendolen Vu. Also present were past District 3310 Governors, Edward Sung Burongoh, Datuk George Ginibun and Datuk Hj Zainie Aucasa, District Governor Nominee Datuk Lee Chuen Wan.Chong was impressed with RCLB's achievements under the able leadership of Vu, coupled with the dynamism of the outgoing Board of Directors."Congratulations for a very successful year of Rotary service (July 1, 2014-June 30, 2015). The fact that RCLB has earned so 14 District and RI awards speaks volumes of the club's vibrancy in providing humanitarian services to local communities as well as internationally in Cambodia," he said.RI Awards : RI Club Builder Award (Immediate Past President (IPP) Woo Soo Poo) and RI Presidential Citation (Outgoing President Gwendolen Vu).District 3310 Awards : Best Family of Rotary Project; Best Rotary Fellowship and Recreation Project; Best International Service Project (Honourable Mention); Best Local Community Service Project (Honourable Mention); Best Vocational Service Project (Honourable Mention); Best Class Assistant Governor in District 3310 (KP Lu); District Most Outstanding Young Rotarian below 40 (Youth Service Director Kevin Chong); District Outstanding Rotarian Award goes to incoming District Governor Chong, IPP Woo, Vice-Chairman of Vocational Training Team, Darren Jee and creative Bulletin Editor Wesley Chua. Vu, who also received District 3310 Best Class President Award, gave credit to her team who helped "Light Up Rotary" during her term. Among them were Woo, who as International Service Director, was instrumental in getting the club to clinch the Best Rotary Friendship Gold Award, Aldrin Wong, whose efforts contributed to the club's achieving the Gold Award for Best Family of Rotary project, and Community Service Director Wong Chu Lai who assisted in implementing the successful Avoidable Blindness Outreach (ABO) project in Sipitang, Vocational Service Director Raphael Chin for his help in the Youth Leadership cum Vocational Camp, and Speaker Coordinator Michael Tong who enlisted 30 speakers for club meetings in the outgoing Rotary term.Deserving mention was the Service Projects Committee Chairman, Charlie Tan, who worked behind the scenes, especially in coordinating the delivery of Disaster Relief Boxes for fire victims in Kudat and the Donggongon flood victims in eight villages, in literacy projects at the Hope Centre in Penampang and Kg Timbua Hostel in Ranau, as well as in the local cleft lip surgery project.Vu also acknowledged the contribution of outgoing Vice-President Maureen Lind (now President-Elect) in organising the club's Charity Golf Tournament which raised more than RM40,000.Outlining the club's proposed community service projects, Chee, a professional engineer, said the focus is in line with the RI theme – Be a gift to the world. These include the Avoidable Blindness Outreach (ABO) in Ranau, its signature project "Operation Smile (Cleft Lip Operation) in Kampot, Cambodia in January next year, charity golf and Marathon Rum."The prerequisite of being a gift to the world is to have love. Without love, we can do nothing. To be a gift, there ought to be a price, a bit of sacrifice, be it time or monetary."We shall also embark on a new project with our sister club – Rotary Club of Lu Chou, Taiwan – in looking at the cleft lip operation in Myanmar," he added.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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