Officer Voon

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Johor NTS Coach Clinic @ Kluang

I've never been to Johor before.. or at least in my recent memory (I did go there in 1994, but I was just 10). That made setting foot in Kluang was something I looked forward.. it was just like going into another country! And finally I get to drive through Ayer Keroh instead of turning off into Melaka.

The purpose of my visit to Kluang was not for a holiday though (not entirely), but to conduct Johor State's first ever NCO Training School Coach Clinic. In BBM, it is mandatory for all Officers intending to coach in the Basic and Advance Levels of NCO Training School to have this clinic. Johor has not had an ANTS before, making this Coaches Clinic particularly important. This would also be the fourth clinic conducted by me this year. After completing this one, BBM has for the first time successfully trained all State's which this Clinic (Melaka joined in as well).

I've put up a night, reaching on Friday.. a day before the clinic. On Saturday I had an early start. Even paid the famous Kluang Rail Coffee a visit.

We first dropped by Herald Presbyterian Church, the Sponsoring Authority of 2nd Kluang Company which was located right smack in the middle of town. There we caught a glimpse of it's programmes with a sizable Juniors Section. Yen and I decided to observe Mr James Soo, it's new Captain and the recently appointed State Commissioner, who was in action teaching the members some Safety lessons. James is only 23 this year, making him one very young, but truly capable State Commissioner.

2nd Kluang Captain and Johor State Commissioner, James Soo, leading Safety class

After a short 30 minute stay, we were lead to the school platoon of 1st Kluang. Mr Charlie Ang, the Honorary Captain and one of the veterans of the Company, lead us to SMK Jalan Mengkibol (which they affectionately call SJM). The boys and girls were running their drill programme. Mr Charlie took some time to introduce me and invited me to give a speech. That caught me a little off guard. Hope I managed to inspire them though..

1st Kluang being briefed by Mr Charlie Ang

We headed back to Herald in time for the clinic which started at 10.30am. Turnout was fantastic with Officers and Instructors from 1st Kluang, 2nd Kluang, 1st Muar, 1st Kulai, 1st Johor Bahru, 4th Johor Bahru and 2nd Melaka.. totalling up to approximately 25 attendees, of which half came from 1st JB.

The clinic was smooth. I personally felt I was out of form.. But I am thankful for the participation and willingness of all that was present to take on this (relatively easy) task. It is the start to something great!

Participants of the Clinic listening attentively

This is also my last Coach Clinic in my official capacity at the BBM Training and Extension Executive. However, it will probably not be the last Clinic I am required to conduct =)

Friday, June 3, 2011

My First Head Coaching Experience

Just a four weeks prior I was around to conduct a NTS Coach Clinic for a hopeful group of 20 plus Officers and Instructors.. soon I found myself back in the humble town of Ayer Tawar, Perak to conduct my first ANTS as the Head Coach. To be honest, it wasn't something I looked forward to. Who in the world looks forward to doing something for the first time which they aren't sure of? Oh well..

There is still a job to do. An odd group of 40 Boys and girls from all 1st Manjung, 2nd Manjung, 3rd Manjung, 1st Ipoh, 1st Teluk Intan and 1st Kulai were present, representing most of the Companies from The Perak State Council. On the same dates (28-30th May 2011) the Basic NCO Training School was also running in the same compound. Most of the same Companies were present, along with an addition of 6th Ipoh, 7th Ipoh and 4th Kampar. I'm deeply troubled that 2nd Kampar wasn't among us.. hope the Company is doing okay.

ANTS Participants waiting for.. something =)

Due to the confidential nature of the ANTS, I cannot disclose the process of what happens.. aka.. no tips for those who haven't attended. But I can comment on what I felt about this batch.

The experience handling and observing this group was quite different from the ones I've seen in KL. These individuals seem more independent in thought and action. Perhaps a result of being in smaller towns, means greater street smartness.. especially if they were required to work part-time which is a more common experience for teenagers out here. In KL, they on start working part time when they are in college at best.. or during the school holidays. However, all groups displayed one thing in common - laziness. Perhaps this is something we need to work on when we "change their mindset" right at the beginning.

I didn't perform as well as I like. Really need to toughen myself up and be more fierce.. and not smile too much. What a challenge. Another ANTS coming in Johor.. hopefully I'll be able to do better in that one. But to be honest, I was disappointed with myself that I couldn't perform as well as Mr Loh Pau Joo.. but I'll try to do better next time.

Squad Hebrews lead by Mr. Wong Chee Khoon (1st Ipoh) having one of it's modules

"Hurry! Time is running out!!!"

I am very glad and proud of the team that I was with. Madam Nga, the State Training Chairperson and the Captain of 3rd Manjung Company did extremely well in putting this NCO Training School together. It is Perak's first State organised ANTS as well as the first combined course. Hopefully this will be carried on consistently for years to come. The helps and coaches we had for this course performed extremely well and I am owe my thanks to each one of them for their hard work put in. In terms of organisation, this NTS is on par with Penang, KL and Sarawak.. which is a great sign. Praise God for his faithfulness.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Perak State Coach Clinic and Pengkalan Hulu Enrolment Service

It was quite a weekend away, driving my dad's fat van up north right to the border, literally. Leaving KL at 6.30am in order to make the 2 hour drive to Ayer Tawar. The driving wasn't the problem.. it was the sleep. Anyway, all part of the fun (and part of the job of course).

A group of about 30 Officers and Instructors from all over Perak came to listen to me yap for a good 5-6 hours. They are preparing for a camp just 3 weeks after this course finished. BBM has made it mandatory to attend this course, dubbed the NCO Training School Coach Clinic, otherwise, one cannot be allowed to coach in BNTS nor in ANTS. This also needs to be done yearly. Quite a inconvinience, but some what a necessary one.

It was my second time running such a clinic, the first being one two months prior for hte Kuala Lumpur State Council. My second attempt proved to be much better... to me anyway. Gaining experience does count. Was more confidene and sure of my stuff.. perhaps more bored already doing it the second time. But all that proved key towards a good presentation and bringing the message accross. I hope the Perak guys benefitted from what I taught though... most of them were Chinese ed.. so.. some might not have understood a single thing I said. Oh well.

I really thank Madam Nga, Captain of 3rd Manjung and the State's Training Chairman for hosting and fixing up this event. Also a special thanks to Madam Lau from 2nd Manjung for handling the administration as well.

Foo Chow food was fantastic. We were treated to a mountainous meal after the clinic. Awesomely tasty! I was quite amazed the ladies can stomach so much but yet remain relatively thin. Their intake of food should qualified them for obesity. Must be something to it..

After dinner Yen Mun and I continued our journey Northwards in the van using the smaller roads which was apparently more direct. I thought it would be a better call to head their right away rather than put a night in Ayer Tawar - if I did that I'd probably not go at all cause I won't ever wake up. It proved to be a trecherous ride.. mainly cause I was already so tied. The roads weren't well lit either and at one point I almost drove off road. Had to let Yen take the wheel once we hit the highway cause I just couldn't keep my eyes open. After a quick power nap I was back on it all the way to PH.

The place itself was not as "ulu" as one might perceive. I was given the impression that it was an isolated place and pretty much still in the past.. with non-tarred roads, wild boars running around and wooden houses. It was quite the opposite - quite developed and nice. Even the hotel I stayed in was pretty good (and cheap too!).

We were to attend the 1st Enrollment Service of the 1st Pengkalan Hulu Company, the first Orang Asli (Natives) Company in Peninsula Malaysia. The Company is attaced to the Lutheran Church of Malaysia and Singapore (LCMS), so unsurprisingly it's planting was done by 1st Kajang which is also under the same denomination. It was a long road for this Company which actually began it's trials two years back. The only barrier to them not getting registered was not having completed the mandatory Elementary Officers Training Course. This was finally done at the end of January when Chee Khoon (1st Ipoh) and myself went up there.

There on the 8th May 2011 on a noisy Sunday, we saw the official installment of the Company (though there was actually some paperwork not done.. but oh well), all nicely in uniform and was even able to treat us to a drill display. Well done to it's Officers! Special thanks to 1st Kajang Company which planted the Company as well as Mr Andrew Lim for much guidance to it's Pastor.

Back on the road towards KL - a long 5-6 hour drive

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Statement of My Resignation

First off, no - not a resignation from BBMHQ (at least not yet).. referring to the other BB entity I'm deeply associated with.

I felt that I own an explanation to all my fellow 3rd KL Officers and Boys for the "sudden" (well, not quite either) announcement of my resignation from the Company. Over the recent few months, work at BBM Headquarters has been at it's hardest. With one colleague leaving, another going on maternity for a couple of months and generally a excessively understaffed office.. my work at headquarters has increased three fold.

On top of that, I am finding myself missing more often due to regular National activities as well as those unplanned for. I remember a time when I was still in my blues after having earned my first stripes.. that I would get really annoyed with Officers who do not show up for parade.. affecting badgework, programs, etc. I also got annoyed with Officers who didn't seem to know much about what is going on in the Squad he is assigned to. What was the point becoming an Officer? Well - lately I know I've been become that same Officer.. regardless whether or not my reasons are legitimate or not.

Therefore, the need to avoid hypocrisy is my main reason for resignation. I know Officers must be committed to the task and should relinquish it if one is not able to perform.

However, I have decided NOT to resign from the Company, but instead only wish to be released from all all positions held, especially asthe Senior Section Chairman, Squad Officer and from Badgework. I will keep my membership alive in 3rd KL until a time when I feel it is truly time to let go. I know some of my bosses will not like the fact that I am attached to 3rd KL (or any Company) for good reasons. But our Founder, Sir William Smith was also and always has been attached to his home Company of 1st Glasgow until he died. So - just following footsteps =)

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

3rd KL Company Year End Camp 2010

The day didn’t start as well as planned. Was to head to the LCCT to fetch Lawrence who’s fresh back from a trip in Medan. Got a shattered windscreen from a rogue rock kicked up from a white Estima in front of me. Had to send the car in. But we were soon on our way again as I picked up my dad’s van.

The Boys were in Gua Tempurung for a caving excursion while Lawrence and I were en route to Ipoh, allowing me to save the trip there for another time. I received good feedback on the place. We both reached Wesley Methodist Church Ipoh within 2 hours and the Boys were just settling in. There wasn’t much to do for the rest of the day, so we spent our time at night at Ipoh Parade, catching a movie – Tron Legacy. Pretty gay show, but interesting concept. An odd 49 of us packed out the cinema, probably the most number of people I’ve ever been to cinema with.

The next day we attend the main church service at 8.15am. We were given a warm welcome by the church and it’s pastor, Timothy. Our Boys gave a song presentation led by Mr Lawrence.

I took the opportunity after church to hand out with the 1st Ipoh Officers and Primers at a nearby coffee shop before heading off again at 11.15am towards Sitiawan. Lunch was sponsoured by a friend of Mr Lawrence who once lived in Sitiawan. It was a unique Foo Chow lunch at the Ah Hing Restaurant. We immediately checked into the Sitiawan Wesley and got a good rest before moving out yet again to Chin Hock Chinese Methodist Church to have fellowship with the 2nd Manjung Company. I managed to finally meet Madam Lau Wai Hong who I’ve been dealing with via BB Shop for a long time. At Chin Hock both Companies played sports, singspiration, ad a wonderful dinner and play games. Fellowship was great and hopefully these new friendships made will go a long way among our Boys/members. I wasn’t that socialable that night, going off earlier as I was pretty drained out from all the driving. The Boys came back to Sitiawan Wesley at 10.30pm. I had to wake up from my evening “nap” to lead in the vesper before out somewhere nearby for supper.

The next day I skipped breakfast, deciding to opt for a seemingly more worthwhile extra hour of sleep. During morning devotion, Lawrence preached after the singspiration led by Sean Au. Next up, we headed direct for Lumut to take a ferry over to Pangkor. We checked into Seagull Resort just in time for lunch, rested for a hour before heading out again for the beach. The resort manager, Mr Tan, promised us a private beach. I was imagine the truly private and serene beach I went to once in 1997. This one was anything but private. It seems like the OBS were based there, the place was dirty and the water more salty than usual (I suspect the fishing trawlers dumped fish blood into nearby waters). However, all that did not curb our lust for a swim. We were joined by our Captain Mr Tan Chee Keong, Terence Tay and – a big surprise – Huey Ding who just came back from the United States. Towards the night we headed to a Chinese restaurant in Pangkor town. After dinner a dozen of us went for an hour of good fun in the cybercafé playing CounterStrike (there was nothing at all to do in Pangkor at night). Great fun.

Headed back to resort and had a good Ramly and ikan goring supper with Ding, Terence and Han Sheng. The next morning I shared the devotion talking once again about fellowship, spreading the spirit of friendship as well as the importance of working together as according to 1 Corinthians 12. Right after devotion me and Ding said our goodbyes and left the Company for the ferry, reaching KL at 4.30 having left at 11am.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

KL State Fundraising Band Concert

11th December 2010 - For weeks, the Kuala Lumpur State Companies have been working hard together to come up with a worthy performance together with PJ Philharmonic Orchestra.

The occasion - to raise funds to employ KL State's Full Time Officer. Although the most densely populated place in the whole country, Kuala Lumpur only has 6 active Companies.. FAR too little than it should have (KL should have like 20-30 Companies to me). The primary goal of the FTO is to strengthen Companies as well as establishing new ones. Let's hope and pray that this will take off!

It was great being able to play the clarinet in a band again. Would probably do it again. A special thanks to the Stedfast Association of Kuala Lumpur for planning this event as well as the Kuala Lumpur State Council, each single member for the great experience.