The document summarizes a Rotary Club of Singapore meeting on January 11, 2012. It discusses the following key points: - The speaker, Dr. Peter Goh, spoke about type 2 diabetes, its causes and complications, as well as obesity and drug/surgical treatments. - Two club members, Rtn. Willi Hess and Rtn. Bharat Mandloi, received Paul Harris Fellow recognition for their contributions to The Rotary Foundation. The club president also became a major donor. - An article asks "Who matters most?" in Rotary and argues that ordinary club members who volunteer their time to implement projects and keep the organization running are most important.

1. 16th Jan. 2012
CROSSROADS
Rotary Club of Singapore Vol. 48 / 26
“Can Type II Diabetes Melitus be cured?”
SPEAKER: Dr. Peter Goh, Advance Surgical Group Pte. Ltd.
Lunch meeting of the 11th January 2012
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Singapore”
Joke of the week
“Politician : One who shakes your hand before the election, and your
confidence after.”
From the book of Humour compiled by Rewa Mirpuri
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http://www.rotary.org.sg/bookofhumour.html
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2. Introductory remarks Banner Exchange
President Tapan called upon visiting Rotarians to
President Tapan Rao warmly welcomed members
present and exchange the clubs’ banners.
to the meeting and added that since January was
celebrated as “Rotary Awareness Month” by
Rotarians worldwide, a selection of short videos
on “Rotary Ads” were presented to members for
their viewing.
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3. Welcome of visiting Speaker of the week PHF recognition
Rotarians and guests
Rtn. Laveen Daryani welcomed
President Tapan called upon Rtn.
our guests and visiting rotarians President Tapan called upon Vice
Gerald Abeyawardena to President Brigitte
introduce the Speaker, Dr. Peter
- Guests : Holtschneider, Chair of The
Goh who is a President Scholar
Speaker, Dr. Peter Goh, Ms. Rotary Foundation (TRF) who
and the top medical student
Natalia Tan & Ms. Cherylyn Yip presented PHF recognitions to
from the University of Singapore
(Club’s guests) Rtn. Willi Hess, who received a
in 1980. He currently runs a
Dr. Norman Hing four-stone sapphire PHF pin, and
private practice at Paragon
Mr. Matei Iurascu Rtn. Bharat Mandloi received his
Medical Centre and Gleneagles
Mr. Antero Makinen PHF certificate and pin.
Hospital. VP Brigitte was also pleased to
Dr. Goh spoke of the prevalence
Visiting Rotarians : hand over to President Tapan
of diabetes in the world and the
Anthony Cowell & Mark Harris – who became a TRF Major
expected increase of sufferers
Cayman Islands Donor, with a crystal plaque and a
from this disease. He described
Alfred Gremli – Kusnacht-Zurich diamond pin as an expression of
the two types of diabetes
George Hartung – University appreciation from the
mellitus and their causes and
District Seattle Foundation. VP Brigitte advised
complications. He highlighted
Alik Hertel – Hannover that the crystal recognition was
certain aspects of diabetes and
engraved with doves – the
obesity and gave further symbols of peace.
Toast information on Asian BMI President Tapan thanked
criteria as well as various drug
Toastmaster, Rtn. Louis Lim members for their continued
treatments and surgical
informed members that the support of the Foundation and
procedures. (A copy of Dr. Goh’s
Rotary Club of Hannover has 130 reminded them that the
presentation is available from
members, 14 of whom were contributions to TRF enabled it to
the Secretariat.)
female members. He added that carry out an array of programs
Rtn. Dr. Kevin Chua warmly
there were six Rotary Clubs in around the world such as:
thanked Dr. Goh for his
Hannover, with the Rotary Club of Improve living conditions for
informative talk, which he
Hannover being one of the oldest needy families locally and
added, would motivate
clubs in Germany. Rtn. Louis globally;
members to lose some weight,
invited Rtn. Alik Hertel to address -Increase food production and
particularly in view of the festive clean water programs;
the Club. Rtn. Alik advised that season!
he knew Rtn. Louis from their -Provide classrooms and
previous Rotaract activities and educational materials for schools
that he was in Singapore on a -Allay the suffering of the sick and
family visit as his wife is a disabled by providing
Singaporean. immunization, medical treatment
and rehabilitation, and;
-Provide new channels for
international understanding, and
brighter hopes for peace.
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4. They are the ones who keep the Rotary wheel turning. The
ARTICLE OF THE MONTH answer to the question I posed right at the beginning
becomes more apparent, easier to pin-point. I was once
(1962-1970) a member of another voluntary organisation
WHO MATTERS MOST?
similar to Rotary-called The International YsMen’s
By: PP Raymon Huang
Association. Its members, called “YsMen” or Men of the
YMCA”, implemented programs and projects similar to
What kind of Question is that, you may ask?
those of Rotary. I was the President of one of its Singapore
Especially when you are talking Rotary! Maybe so.
Clubs – the “Beta Chapter”, and became its Director for the
But it is nevertheless a question that is often asked,
South-east Asia region, a post similar to Rotary’s District
together with “sister” questions like “What is more
Governor, with a much bigger region to oversee. So when I
important?” and “Which is more important?” True? It
joined Rotary, the transition was pretty smooth. The
is. While it is not a “must” question, it is often a
reason I mention this is: the Motto of the “YsMen”
“need” question. Yes, even in Rotary. Like in our
movement “To Acknowledge The Duty That Accompanies
everyday, ordinary life, we are prone to saying, for
Every Right.” In meaning, in implication, in thrust, it is as
example “Oh, leave it to the government to get it
good as Rotary’s “Service Above Self”.
done; or the Town Council, or the Committee
In my Rotary life, I have always tried to combine the two
Members. We elected them – it is their job”. In the
mottos. Our right to be Rotarians entails an
same vein, many of us “ordinary” Rotarians are also
acknowledgement of the duty that accompanies that right.
prone to saying, “Leave it to the President and his
An acknowledgement of anything is always a good starting
Board to get it whatever this may be – done.”
point from which, often, many good things can proceed and
There are many exceptions, of course. Some
produce results. It is a process, a good process.
outstanding exceptions, in fact. Just as there are
In any group of people, there are always the leaders and
many so civic-minded citizens out there, we also have
the followers. Of course, there are the “in-betweens” too.
a handful of really great and committed Rotarians
Among its members, there are those who walk the talk;
who not only practice “Service Above Self” chapter
there are those who just walk; and there are those who just
and verse, but who would go way beyond that extra
talk too.
mile, often beyond the call of duty. Why then do we
As ordinary Rotarians we have to ask ourselves which
need to ask, “Who matters most?” Correctly, it is
“those” do we belong to. Do we walk the Rotary talk, and
natural to accord the Club President, the Board
chip in and be actively involved in the many good and
Members, the District Governors, and others similarly
beneficial programs? In this high-pressure world we live in
elected to these high offices in the movement, the
today, do we make and take time to really acknowledge the
‘VIP’ status they deserve. Correctly too, we should
duty that accompanies the right to be Rotarians? That is, in
feel they are our leaders and therefore expect them
a large measure, the crux, the nub, and the essence of this
to lead by example to get things done for us, for the
issue.
Club, and for Rotary. But, incorrectly, we sometimes
It was Benjamin Disraeli who said, “Action may not always
feel that they are the principal ones who should get
bring happiness but without action there is no happiness.”
whatever is to be done, done, and therefore tend to
And we know, of course, that most of Rotary’s actions bring
leave things to them.
about happiness. Which is why Rotarians must always act;
But, lest we forget – for example, the Club President
must never be “in-betweens”. And one of our Rotary
without the active support and shoulders of his or her
International Presidents said a while ago, that “… to be a
Club members would be “nothing”. Similarly, the
Rotarian is a privilege and that we should exercise that
District Governor, without the active participation of
privilege as Rotarians should…”. In other
his Clubs in the District to implement his programs
words, acknowledging the accompanying duties and
and projects, would be “nothing”. Indeed, it is the
obligations irrespective of position, status or standing. In
“ordinary” Rotarians on the shopfloor who ultimately
that respect, all Rotarians are equal. So, “Who Matters
matter most. They are the lifeblood of the
Most?” In our context, it is a “no–question”.
organization. They are the hands and feet of Rotary –
its engine.
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5. The Guide to Daily Living
MARK YOUR DIARY Before doing the things we COMING ROTARY EVENTS
There are no Birthday want to do, consider first, the
celebrants this week! precept of the guide. Ask January
ourselves these 4 questions Rotary Awareness Month
Anniversary Celebrants and act upon them:
First: Have I spent some time January 19th
RC sends best wishes to
in self-examination?
Wedding Anniversary Club Assembly
Second: Have I spent quality
celebrants: time with my family? January 25th
January 18 – Ghani & Mona Third: Have I given my best to Meeting cancelled in view of
Mahtani my work? the Chinese New Year
January 20 – Florian & Severine Fourth: Have I given some festivities
Edelmann time to someone near and
far?
This week February
The Guide, in
January 18th 2012 fact, encompasses the 4 parts World Understanding Month
of the Object of Rotary.
February 23rd
Reception Desk duty: Haider World Understanding and
Nawaz, Dinesh Sharma Next week Peace Day
Sunshine Box duty: T K Chew, January 25th 2012
Jean-Philippe Lionnet March
Meeting cancelled in view of
Speaker: Our very own the Chinese New Year March 22nd – 25th
member, Rtn. Rewa Mirpuri festivities. District Assembly and PETS
Topic: “Humour is Happiness” at Grand Paragon Hotel,
Johor Bahru
The Four-Way Test
Committee Meetings Of the Things we think, say
or do:
* Is it the truth?
There are no Committee Meetings in view of the
* Is it fair to all concerned?
Club Assembly which will be held on * Will it build goodwill and
Thursday, January 19th 2012 at 6.00pm at Holiday better friendship?
* Will it be beneficial to all
Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre
concerned?
Queries, comments and
articles request can be
sent to
Jean-Philippe Lionnet
bulletin@rotary.org.sg
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