As the Rotary year 2019-20 comes to an end, I will soon bid adieu to my term as your District Governor. Thank you for the honour and privilege of having served as your 2019-20 District 3310 Governor. I want to express my deep appreciation to the District Leaders for having entrusted this position to me. I am humble by this position and shall forever treasure the fond memories of this experience.
I am sure all of you are as excited as me to handover the baton to my able successor, Rajamohan Munisamy as he takes over the reins as District 3310 Governor accompanied by his lovely First Lady Nica. Let us join hands to congratulate him on his new appointment and rendered him the same full support you had given me during my term and we wish him a successful and fulfilling Rotary year ahead.
The Rotary theme for June 2020 is Felllowships. Let us continue to maintain the close rapport of our district and beyond in upholding the warm friendship amongst Rotarians.
My DG travel plans had been abruptly halted in March 2020 due to the unforeseen global COVIC-19 pandemic. I was fortunate to complete my official visits to the clubs in our district prior to the lockdown. However, Rotary remained steadfast and D-lead team lead by PDG Andre Suharto successfully completed DISTAS training through webinar. Zoom webinar meetings had abounded with numerous club weekly meetings and installations held virtually. Indeed Rotary Connects the World despite this challenging turn of events. We have the opportunity to attend a virtual Rotary International convention despite a cancellation of the physical event in Honolulu. Rotary opens opportunities for so many Rotarians around the world to attend the first ever virtual RI Convention at our finger tips. Rotary Connects the World literally!
As we move out of lockdown restrictions and move towards the “New Normal”, I am every grateful that our District rise to the challenge that had been forced upon us.
Rotary District 3310 Covid-19 Response Strategy Task Force was set up on 27th March 2020 headed by PP Ng Yaw Hua from RC Kuching central with 10 designated coordinators in each regions from our district’s four geographical zones with a 3 pronged program:-
With the closure of RC Serangoon and RC Labuan FT and the charter of a new Mandarin speaking club, RC Pasir Gudang Mandarin, our District 3310 currently has a total 72 clubs.
THANK YOU for being for being engaged and supportive to my call to strengthen and grow your club. District membership chair PP Robert Saravanan had worked tirelessly to bring our membership number up against all odds despite these challenging times. I must acknowledged District Rotary Foundation Chair, PDG Michael Yee and Polio Plus Fundraising Chair, DGND Joanne Kam for a job well done in organizing a highly successful fund-raising event in Singapore hosted by Rotary club of Garden City. Words could not express my appreciation to the kind-hearted and generous PP Datuk Tan Hian Tsin from RC Garden City for his impromptu dollar to dollar match of contributions pledged at the Rotary Foundation Fund Raising Dinner. The final figures are being tabulated in the days to come and shall be announced next month. I wish to accord my sincere appreciation for your generous donations to our Rotary Foundation.
THANK YOU Past District Governors, Board of Directors, District Chairs and Rotarians for your unfailing support rendered to me during my term.
A personal note of appreciation to all my Assistant Governors, Club Presidents and their lovely First Ladies and Rotarians in ensuring both my wife and I were well taken care of during our visits to your clubs. We are truly appreciative of your warmth hospitality.
Last but not the least, my wife, Betty and I take this opportunity to thank each one of you from the bottoms of our hearts for the fond memories and warm friendship which we will forever treasure and cherish. We feel incredibly blessed to have had the opportunity to visit many meaningful community projects sites and meet new friends as we visited your clubs and we were made to feel most welcome.
Stay safe and Best wishes for Rotary year 2020-21.
Jeff Yong
District Governor D3310 RY2019-20