Captaincy

On July 3rd, 2016, I was appointed as the captain of the company. For a long time, I never saw myself as the captain of 3^rd KL, though I have aspired to captain a new company someday. 3^rd KL, being 60 years old in 2017, has a strong legacy. That comes with great expectations from everyone, while starting a new company is a fresh slate, making every and any achievement a new one. Now, there is additional pressure to perform. Not an easy task considering company’s condition the past few years.

However, I told myself to be humble and answer to God’s calling for His plans are bigger than my limited idealistic understanding. My predecessor, Mr. Terence Tay, for his own reasons felt that it was time to let go (though two years ahead of time).

I really liked the underdog – not being the person with the most responsibility. Not so long ago, anything I did would impress. Now, not so much. If you do something, even if it’s done well, it’s just “supposed to be” because everyone expect that level of performance. Even age is no longer on my side, while in the past, people use to give face to those younger. But I guess everyone has to grow up. 

Now that I’m captain, I want to do my best to ensure the Boys under me are given the opportunities to live up to their full potential and learn to live life as good men during their adult lives (and have fun at the same time). It’s an uphill task at the moment – the company is not in the best of shape. Membership is down, morale is fluctuating, and times have changed. Tuition classes and other distractions are making the operations of BB more difficult than ever before. Still, we need to carry out what God has called us to do, and try to do it well.

Since I’ve just started the red rosette, there are a few things I’d like to pen down just in case I forget. This is based on my own observations and critical assessments of captains before me and from other companies.

Be fair to everyone. Don’t pick favourites and train/work with everyone equally. Accept weaknesses. Be forgiving. Be patient. Be bold. Always remember to uphold righteousness and not do what is convenient if it goes against what is right. Never be blinded by success and be too comfortable with success for victory will eventually defeat us. “The skipper always knows what to do”. Always be the leader people need you to be. Be the person people turn to for strength – that’s the meaning of empowerment. Don’t stay in this position for too long. All too often we’ve seen people eventually becoming the very devil they’ve set out to slay. When it’s time for me to go, I’ll step down. I urge anyone to give me that reminder when the time comes, just in case I forget. Always be reliant on God for everything and realise that it is never a human being that led to success, but it’s always been the Almighty from whom all things are from. Remember the Great Commission, the reason why we’re still in this, and the ultimate aim is not the richest of this earth, but what’s beyond.

Haven't wrote an event entry for 3rd KL for sometime. But why hear it from me when there is a report about it right here (also written by me, but in a more formal tone).

This trip was a challenging one for the planners due to its low turn up rate. But I've learned something at the same time - that we make do with whatever we have. I believe it was a still a meaningful and enjoyable trip for those who went.

Senior Section Attendance as at 20th March 2016

Not a bad start after CNY compared to previously. But still could be much better. 

Onwards.

Recruitment Drive at Tamil Methodist Church Brickfields

On one fine Sunday, 17th January 2016, a handful of us conducted a Recruitment Drive at the Tamil Methodist Church, in Brickfields. Yes, it is that time of the year again when we go aggressively recruiting members. Just the day before, 23 Senior Section recruits and 8 Junior Section recruits came to the YMCA. It was a good start, but there was certainly need to push harder to spread the goodness of the BB to the community. 

Getting ready to give out brochures after service

It was certainly quite an experience being in a Tamil service, a beautiful language, especially when sung. In terms of understanding, I guess there was no difference compared to times when I'm in a Chinese service (I can't understand church-Chinese. It's too advanced). During worship, I'd try to sing along to anyway following the "translations" or pronunciation of Tamil words spelled in alphabet. 

Mr. Ng taking time off to message GF

So why do recruitment in this particular church?

I've passed by this church for YEARS and have countless times thought about how great it would be to start a BB company here (yes, I strangely think about this kinda things as a teenager.. no surprise why I eventually ended up in full-time). Even in 3rd KL, there have been countless talks about asking for an opportunity to do recruitment here, but it was mainly lip service.

LCpl. Justin Lum manning the BB booth

Opportunity presented itself when new YMCA Director, Rev. Victor Vethamani, who is also 3rd KL's new Chaplain, who served and worships in the church, introduced us to Rev. Justin, the church's pastor and district superintendent, who allowed us to speak to the church. 

The first phase is to recruit Boys as 3rd KL members. Once a stable membership exist, officers can then be trained from the church and perhaps one day, we will see a revival of the BB in the Tamil Methodist Church. In the past, there were two companies up north which existed in the TAC (Tamil Annual Conference), 1st Sungai Petani and 4th Penang Company. Both had since went defunct. 

I was given the opportunity to speak at both main services to introduce the BB. Fortunately, the 2nd service was in English, which enabled me to participate more wholesomely in the worship. At the end of service, brochures will be given out and we got the opportunity to engage with several parents. at the end of the day, we had 10 sign ups, which to me is a very good start!

I also got a chance to meet several ex-BB members from 1st Klang, 1st Ipoh, 1st Kuantan, 1st Sungai Petani, and of course, 3rd KL itself. Which such a BB presence already existing, perhaps starting a BB here in the future is not a far fetched idea at all, God willing.

Special thanks to those who helped out today and sacrificing some sleep; LCpl. Rishi (who attends the church), LCpl. Justin Lum, SSgt. Chan Kai Mun, Mr. Jarod Kok, Mr. Ng Jiehan, and Ms. Ruth Boh. 

Recruits 2016

A new year. A new start. A new batch of Boys. 

Same Objective. 

3rd KL Year End Camp at Port Dickson

Haven't had a BB entry for while. It's been a rather discouraging past few months. But that's a tale for another time.

From the 5-8th December 2015, the Senior Section of the 3rd Kuala Lumpur Company held it's annual year end camp at Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan. It was once the favourite destination for the Company, which frequented Methodist Centre, but it has since went up drastically in price to be able to afford going back there. Fortunately, we were able to find a new alternative - Golden Sand's Baptist Assembly. It's an old campsite which is slightly run-down, but it had a beautiful beach front. 

This camp was initially meant to be a Pre-Pesta Camp. To a small extent, that was carried out.. but it pretty much focused on fellowship amongst the Boys. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to be at the campsite throughout as I had another event at the same time at the Methodist Centre, just 5 minutes drive away as I was representing as TRAC's BB Rep. So it was back and forth for me, but at least I was kinda able to have the best of both worlds. 

The activities were mainly focused on team building, coordinated by Mr Wong Kin Phan who recently came back to help as an instructor. The games ran throughout the entire camp based on a "shop" cum points system where points were awarded and "power ups" can be purchased to give your group an advantage during other games. The Boys also paid a visit to a lighthouse, about 45 minutes walk from the campsite. Thank God, Mr Lawrence decided to pay the Boys a visit from Seremban and one of 3rd KL's former officers, Mr Sim Guan Jiann so happened to be passing by from Muar to the airport - giving us just about enough cars to ferry the Boys. 

They also watched two movies the first two nights, Ah Boys to Men 1 & 2 (it was my first time watching.. pretty good), and almost watched the 3rd instalment, but sadly there was no Redbull available to keep us awake. On the last night, the three groups ingenuously came up with sketches which caused some of us to literally ROFL (rolling on the floor laughing). 

Overall, it was a simple camp programme but one which was quite enjoyable. Well done to the camp committee led by SSgt. Chan Kai Mun who put everything together. 

And of course, we carried out the tradition of causing some form of harm to "baptised" Jiehan

Mr. Wong Kin Phan (most right in red) organised all the enjoyable game programmes

Group photo outside the Teluk Kemang lighthouse

3rd KL's Senior Section Attendance, October 2014 - July 2015