
We Sprout, We Grow, We Shine!
Rotaract Club of ATC together with Rotaract Club of Port Klang Centennial and Rotaract Club of Subang Jaya co-organised the District Rotaract Conference on 18th-20th December 2009 at Perak Riverside Resort, Kuala Kangsar. The joint efforts of the three Rotaract Clubs in District 3300 was paid off as there were good participation from various Rotaract Clubs in the District. This is a big mile stone as this is the first time Rotaract Club of ATC accepting this challenging task and co-organizing a District event.
Two buses departed from KL Sentral on the morning of 18th December and we reached the resort around noon. Lunch was provided. Soon after lunch, the activities for the Conference started. With a heart of curiousity, Rotaractors of District 3300 departed to the first planned destination, the Mariwasa Plant where the Royal medals and badges are made. This is a specialised and exclusive industry and it was indeed an eye opener to all. Next, it was time to visit the Istana Iskandariah. We were given the privilege to enter into the palace where the current Sultan will reside when His Royal Highness is in Kuala Kangsar.
The Second District Board Meeting was also held on the first night, chaired by Acting District Rotaract Representative Sanjeev Kumar to discuss the affairs of the District. Following that was some ice breaking games. The games lasted till the midnight and the night ended with the Rotaractors dancing to the beat of Lagu Poco-poco. Rotaractors are good dancers! Yes they are!
Being responsible Rotaractors, everyone woke up in time for breakfast and prepare themselves for a talk by Chen Chow, a prominent speaker and the topic was “Youth Empowerment”. Up next was the First Plenary Session where District Accounts were presented coupled up with some reports from the District Exco. In the afternoon of the second day, it was time for site visits again. We visited Masjid Ubadiah, Istana Kuning, Sultan Azlan Shah’s Gallery where belongings of the current Sultan of Perak are kept, and Rotaractors were given the chance to experience the making of Labu Sayung. After the site visits, games were played in the Resort itself. It was a team based sports seeing each team striving hard to gain some points for their own respective team. At night, we were treated with BBQ styled dinner and time for fellowship among the Rotaractors was next.
First on the agenda on the last day was the Second Plenary Session which seeks to exchange views and discuss on the Conference theme “We Sprout, We Grow, We Shine”. Together with Acting DRR Sanjeev and President Daniel, we are proud to have DGE Lim Kok Beng, New Generations Chair, PP Donny, DRC Arthur Yeong and President Patrick of Rotary Club of Kuala Kangsar as the panelist for that session. It was really heartwarming to see representative of each Rotaract Club exchanging their views and strengths of their own clubs. The desire to change the image of Rotaract was so strong and this is a big step towards bringing all Clubs together.
Every good thing must come to an end; it was time for us to depart from Kuala Kangsar. The Guest of Honour for the closing ceremony is our beloved and dedicated District Governor Leslie Salehuddin. After lunch and the closing ceremony, with a heavy heart and a heart to see change in Rotaract as a whole, Rotaractors departed from the resort.
What this Conference has achieved is to help the Rotaract in District 3300 as a whole in finding a better sense of direction – that is in order for Rotaract to stay relevant, there is a need for a change, in terms of culture and attitude. Rotaract, to move forward must exist not as fragmented clubs, but as ONE united District. There is no doubt that the Rotaract District is undergoing a tremendous positive change now. Let us hope, and endeavor to achieve what we have set forth to do in this Conference.
Rtr Jessica Yong
Secretary, Rotaract Club of ATC
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