Letter to the Rotary Club of Bangsar, on the occasion of the club changeover

Message from President Amritpal Singh

Rotary Club of Southbank, Melbourne Australia (District 9800) to our sister club, Rotary Club of Bangsar, Malaysia

19th August, 2018

Rotary Club of Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

District 3300

My heartiest congratulations on your club's installation of President Vinesh Thanabalasingam and his board of directors. I am delighted to be given the opportunity to pen a few words.

Many of your club members and even Rotarians throughout District 3300 in Malaysia know that I'm a second (2nd) generation Rotarian and my parents are Past District Governor (2008-09) Dr. Rajindar Singh and Past Assistant Governor Surendra Kaur from Rotary Club of Teluk Intan, Perak, Malaysia in District 3300, your turf!!!

When I was President-Elect last year in 2017-18, Rotary Club of Southbank decided to expand our sister club relationship as then we have Rotary Club of Bali Taman, Indonesia as we had done two (2) Global Grant projects with them (2014 Water Project & 2018 Women's Health Project). Rotarian Judy Parslow from my club who is your greatest supporter and ally for many years, put the idea up to then President Liam Jones (2017-18) and I and we didn't hesitate, so we got the sister club agreement forms arranged and formalised right away that all happened on 29th August 2017.  We are so proud and happy we have formed this relationship with your club and hope this continues for years to come.

To add that at my club's changeover/installation on 7th July 2018 this year, we also formed a sister club agreement with Rotary Club of Teluk Intan! It's an honour and blessing to have two (2) clubs from District 3300, Malaysia to have formed sister club relationship with our club.

Our clubs were chartered on the same month, with your club celebrating it's 35th Anniversary next year on 16th May 2019 and my club celebrating its 20th Anniversary next year on 26th May 2019. We are separated only by fifteen (15) years and ten (10) days! Both clubs have rich history and takes pride for its undertakings and achievements since founding years till today.

Though the case, we should/must consider change to how we portray ourselves as Rotarians and how we represent Rotary as in our communities. In the past few months at Rotary Club of Southbank, we have made necessary changes and we can see results, it's proven. Like any other corporations, industries and others, Rotary clubs needs to reinvent ourselves to be purposeful, meaningful, and beneficial so we have engaged members, interested people to be subscribed members and to have people volunteer with Rotary whenever possible.

On behalf of the members from Rotary Club of Southbank, I take this opportunity to congratulate Incoming President Vinesh and his board for the 2018-19 term and to Outgoing President Billy and his board for their services during the 2017-18 term. And many thanks for having us as your sister club all the way from Down Under, AUSTRALIA!!!

Yours in Service,