| |
When I stood before you exactly one year ago today, or on June 28, 2001, during my
inaugural address at the Makati Sports Club, I spoke about the lost luster of the
Golden West, and the need to revitalize the club by accomplishing doable tasks through
sustained service and cooperation from each and every club member. I spoke of the
need for the Club to wake up from its long hibernation and to rise up and become
the fierce and dedicated achiever it once was. I exhorted everyone to rally
onwards to another Golden Era! My fellow Golden Westerners, exactly just one (1) from
whence I spoke, I am proud to report to you that the RC Marikina West has today
regained its lost glory, and prides itself to be counted once more as one of the
top Rotary Clubs, not only in the Marikina Zone, but likewise in the entire
District 3800.
Allow me to just quickly breeze through some of the the more important
accomplishments of the Club for the RY 2001-2002:
As regards our Club's participation in District affairs, I am proud to note that
RCMW had sent some of the biggest delegations to major district events such as the
District Assembly, the Mid-Year Review and the District Conference. We sent or
sponsored delegates to the RYLA, the Rotary Foundation Forum, the Rotaract Forum,
the Conference on Membership Development and Retention. We actively participated in
District Sports Events such as the tenpin and duckpin bowling tournaments, the
various golf legs, and even co-sponsored Gov. Edison U. Ang Cup, one of the most
well-attended golf tournament in the district. We also partied with our fellow
Rotarians in Dist. 3800 during the Christmas Party.
In the avenue of Club Service, it is indeed my great pleasure to highlight the
most important accomplishment of the Club this year that is, achieving the
R.I. "Global Quest" by recruiting 12 new members. In addition to increasing the
club members from 19 to the present 31, the club engaged in numerous projects
that strengthened fellowship not only among members, but also with the spouses
and families. We had all looked forward with excitement to the Monthly Anns'
Night. We had fun and fond memories of the weird and crazy Halloween Party held
right here at Kapitan Moy, the sentimentality of the Pasko sa Nayon at the Marikina
Youth Camp, the fun-filled Christmas Family Day at the Valencia Gardens, the
romantic Valentine's Party at the Seven Suites Hotel in Antipolo, the Ballroom
Dancing at Club Filipino and the games and videoke contest at the residence of
PP Obet last July 2001. We held at least 8 Club Assembly Meetings in various
venues, 2 Fireside meetings at the residences of CP Nanding and Rtn. Boni, all to
discuss membership recruitment and development, Rotary Information, and plan
out projects and objectives. A Baby Rotarian, Fuji Fujiwara shared his precious
time to his fellow Golden Westerners by giving them golf lessons. Early in the Rotary
Year, or on July 16, 2001, the general membership passed a landmark resolution of
allowing women members to be invited into membership in RC Marikina West. Tonight,
another Baby Rotarian, Radian Fantone, spearheads the launching of the RCMW Website;
it will make known the Golden West in the interactive world.
In area of Community Service, the Club launched in August 2001 the highly successful
and well-received Enhancement Training Seminar to more than 140 members of the
Lupon Tagapamayapa of all 14 barangays of Marikina City. It held and Information
Campaign against Dengue and other Preventable Diseases during the month of
October 2001 among the residents of 3 barangays within its territorial jurisdiction.
It planted more than 50 bamboo saplings along the banks of the Marikina River in line
with its continuing commitment to its internationall-acclaimed Bamboo Tree Planting
Project. In addition, it donated 50 more bamboo saplings to the Park Development
Office of Marikina City as its contribution to the City's beautification and greening
project.
In the avenue of Vocational Service, RCMW gave free lessons on basic techniques in
haircutting and hairstyling to poor but deserving Marikina residents, in the
project dubbed as "Isang Gunting, Isang Suklay," in celebration of the Vocational
Month last October. RCMW members and their spouses gave classification talks to
3rd and 4th Year High School students of Taρong High School in March this year to
help these youth choose a college course, a profession or a vocation. Much more,
the new Rotarians also gave classification talks in their respective areas of
profession or vocation to spice up the weekly meetings in October.
Finally, in the area of International Service, the RCMW contributed a total of
US$ 1,300 to the Rotary Foundation, with your President contributing a thousand
dollars to become the newest addition to the growing roster of Paul Harris Fellows
from the Golden West. Your Charter President, his daughter, your President and
President-Elect and their spouses traveled to Taipei last April to attend the
20th Anniversary Celebration of its sister-club from Taipei-Tienmou where they
received a pledge of at least US$ 6,000 for a WCS Project that RCMW may propose.
As a result of these activities and achievements, the district leadership of District
3800 had seen it fit to bestow some very important
major awards to the Golden
West and its leaders during the District Awards at the Metro Club, Makati last
June 1, 2002. It is one of the three (3) Clubs in the strong Marikina Zone that
was conferred an Outstanding Club Award, the two (2) others being Marikina East
and Marikina Hilltop (please note also that the Marikina mother club has been
chosen as Most Outstanding Club). Overall, the Golden West is now ranked 18th out
of a total number of 69 contending clubs in the district. For having achieved the
most important thrust of Rotary International for RY 2001-2002, regarding
membership recruitment and development, and as one of the only 9 clubs in the
district that were able to do so, the club was given the Global Quest Award. As an
added bonus, your President was awarded the coveted Outstanding Club President
for Rotary Year 2001-2002. In addition to these 3 major awards, the district
also gave a Plaque of Appreciation to the Club for hosting the well-attended
Gov. Edison U. Ang Golf Cup, and another Plaque of Appreciation to IP Frix Africa
for his role as Chair thereof.
Indeed, I can say with confidence that the Rotary Club of Marikina West is once
more treading the right path towards another Golden Era. The year that is just
one building block in erecting the sturdy edifice that is the Golden West. From
hereon, it would require more steadfast resolve, dedication and hard work among
the members of the Club to ensure that RCMW remains to be a key player in
fellowship and service not only in Marikina City, the District 3800, but the
entire Rotary World!
We are all aware that, at this time, there is a seeming need to reorganize the
Club and to fine tune its focus to make it more responsive and relevant not only
to the community but likewise to its members. Let us entrust these tasks to
the competent hands of Loving President Frix Africa and his Loving Team. In so
doing, let us give them our whole-hearted and all-out support, in the same way
that you have supported my team and me during the past Rotary Year!
But goodbyes will not be complete without the warm expressions of thanks and
gratitude. Thus, I would like to thank you all for having worked so hard for
the Club for the past one year. I thank you all for your unfailing support
and understanding. More importantly, I thank you all for the trust and
confidence you have reposed in me as your President. Spouse Vicky and I will
forever cherish the warm memories and genuine friendships built and enhanced
during my one-year term. For the bottom of our hearts, we thank you all!
Goodnight.
Date Posted: August 13, 2002
|
|
