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The 90th Annual Convention
of
Rotary International
was held in Singapore
in the
Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre (SICEC)
June 13 to16: 1999.
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Left to right, Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Ian Gordon, (Ghurka Contingent) Deputy Commander- Training Command Zuraidah Bte Abdullah, Mr Ken neth Chen Koon Lap - MP for Hong Kah GRC, and yours truly, and Commissioner for Police - Khoo Boon Hui
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As in past years, your Police/Law Enforcement Professionals Fellowship of Rotarians had set up an Information Booth adjacent to the Hall of Friendship which hosted an attractive static display by the Singapore Police Force and a contingent of Singapore Regular and Reserve Officers. The Police/Law Enforcement Professionals Fellowship was indebted to Singapore Police Force Commissioner Khoo Boon Hui, and Director of Public Alfairs, Superintendent Chia Fook Leong for their kind permission and support with their static display and manpower during the four days of the Singapore Convention. |
| In concert with the Police/Law Enforcement Professionals Fellowship, I had arranged for the ROTARY PEACE CITY PROJECT to have a small presentation on the booth. To this end, in conjunction with then 9700 District Governor Peter Walsh, with a small booty of over sixty Rotary Peace City Project Symbol lapel pins of the distinctive dove hovering over the world globe, and our friends from Rotary Down Under (who had kindly published a three page article in the May edition of RDU on the Rotary Peace City Project) we were quite successful in promoting the Rotary Peace City Project over the four days of the Convention. |
Colleagues from Singapore Police - with Past President Niels Colov, Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya, Thailand, and Rotarian Len Cusack, Rotary Club of the Lower Blue Mountains Australia, representing Nepean Blue - managers and designers of Rotarnet.
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| The colourtul and very spectacular opening, closing, and other plenary sessions, the ROTI cocktail party, the Recreational and Vocational Fellowships Annual General Metting, the Paul Harris Luncheon and Asian Breakfast in the Westin Stamford Hotel, and some last minute social flinctions, just added to the personal joy I derived from attending this years World Rotary Convention. Next year in Buenos Airies. |
Singapore Police colleague, with outgoing
President James Lacy, and incoming RI
President, Carlo Ravizza
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| This was my fourth visit to Singapore and over the years and I had made a few friends who happy to say, were still alive and kicking, especially those from Beach Road Central Police Station.
The Fellowship was particularly indebted to Rotarian and Reserve Police Inspector Joseph Chia from the Rotary Club of Singapore whom I had initially met on ROTI.
Joe had smoothed the way for the Fellowship and my accommodation in the Senior Officer's Mess of the Singapore Police Force in Mount Pleasant Road, just up the road from the Singapore Polo Club.
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Pictured with Rotarian Reserve Police Inspector Joe Chia - Rotary club of Singapore (on my immediate left), and far right, Rotarian Deputy Sheriff Bill O'Brien - Assistant Governor at large, Rotary Club of Moorhead City, and erstwhile unknown handsome Rotary colleague!
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Pictured with Jeffrey Reiss presenting a Peace Poleto Rotary International Presidental Nominee Frank J. Devlin of the Rotary Club of Mexico City
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Besides lending a hand to our Polepfor Information Booth, my Rotarian Pal Reserve Police Inspector Joe Chia was one very busy and dedicated Rotarian who was coordinating and manning at least two Fundraising booths for his club that I knew of. We were to spend some wondertul times with his family and friends at the Singapore Cricket Club.
The evening of my last night in Singapore this time around was as a guest of Incoming Rotary Club of Singapore President Phillip Leong at his sumptuous Installation in the Mandarin Ballroom of the Mandarin Singapore Hotel. Phillip is the 65th President of the Rotary Club of Singapore which was chartered way back in 1930, to be interrupted temporarily when the Second World War intervened.
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Singapore's Training Command lies in spectacular surroundings and a lovely suburb, and a few morning jogs in the warm and balmy Singapore weather around the neighbourhood just added to the enjoyment of Singapore this time around.
In terms of my vocational pursuits, I attended a Graduation Ceremony at Training Command of National Service Cadets where I met Commissioner Khoo Boon Hui, and Member of Parliament Mr. Kenneth Chen Koon Lap, MP for Hong Kah GRC. |
Training Manual used by Singapore Police -
for more information visit web site
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Pictured with Rotarian Harman Singh
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In concert with my friends at Beach Road Police Station, I also met senior officers of Training Command in the persons of Deputy Superintendent Zuraidah Bte Abdullah, Deputy Superintendent Lee Chee Chiew and Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ian Gordon, an Englishman commanding the Singapore Police Force Ghurka Contingent stationed at Mount Vernon.
In company with Past President Niels Colov from the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya we had a pleasant afternoon with Mr. Ian Gordon at Mount Vernon where we discussed far ranging topics including matters relating to the training of Police Officers seconded for United Nations Peacekeeping duties.
It might be noted PP Niels Colov RC Pattaya, has gone on to become the Civilian Coordinator for Pattaya's Volunteer Police Service
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| You will be reading more about this down the track. In my discussions with Ian Gordon, I was most interested to learn of the extensive use of the 'Fifth Disciplines Fieldbook' (written by Dr. Peter Senge) as a training tool within the Singapore Police Force. This manual complements two other sister publications 'The Arts and Practice of The Learning Organisation' and 'The Dance of Change' |
You can find out more about Rotarian Harmon at: http:/Iwww.harmonsingh.com.sg |
| One interesting character I met at the Convention is former celebrated Detective Police Officer and even more celebrated Private Investigator Harmon Singh who has authored the book 'Licence to Peep'. Rotarian Harmon is a legend in Singapore and he kindly presented one of his books to me with a nice inscription which is 'recommended reading' about one who can justifiably claim a celebrated Police career in turbulent times in Singapore with an equally more celebrated career as a Private Investigator these past twenty years. |
Whilst there is so much more to 'write home about', I had happy meetings with our current and Past Rotary World Presidents where I presented them all with ROTARY PEACE CITY PROJECT PEACE SYMBOL LAPEL PINS, and my consultations with Incoming Rotary International President Frank Devlyn, Director Louis Piconi, Rotary International Representative to the United Nations, Past District Governor Donald W.Trelmann (1995-996) and Rotarian Carlos Victor Poplavsky, Rotary Club of Maron, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, who is president of District 4900's Committee on Road Safety for 1999/200, augers well for future exciting adventures in Rotary service. |
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RD(9700)PCP Special Ambassador Jeffrey Reiss showing off his creative www.peacecities.org world - wide windcheater which can be bought on request from www.peacecities.org or this web site
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