Here we go again

Well, tough times means even the "old" fellas need to become section leaders. In this case, an almost complete reboot of the clarinet section. 

When I first joined BB in 1997, 3rd KL so happened to start the clarinet section and I was one of its first members (after dropping out of bugle section.. could only barely play to the fifth note). I took it upon myself to go for clarinet classes and made it Grade 3, during a time when 3rd KL could not give a rats arse about reading notes and relied on memory.

So back to playing my good old Buescher (originally owned by my dad when he was studying in England). First things first, maintenance of all the clarinets which are in pretty bad shape... 

KL State Drill Competition 2016

Well, not quite the fairy tale ending we were hoping for. But I'm still very proud of our drill team, 7 of whom just joined us this year, 5 others only in their second year in BB, and it's the first time for our commander in drill competition. Apart from Cpl. Zhexun, most of the team was 14 years old and below (one 15 year old). For that, I'm very VERY proud of how far you've gone in such a short time.

Defeat can be painful. Truthfully, I am also quite sad. But everything has a purpose and reason. I did say in my prayer before we competed, "let the team who put in the most effort win". The simple fact was our team didn't place cause we simply didn't work as hard as the other three companies. But we did have our fair share of overnight stays already from previous competitions, so I understand if we've been overworked. This is the first time the ones competing were up against other BB companies. I guess we found out the hard way that BB drill quality really is the best out there and is nothing like competing with other uniform groups. We were caught off guard.

We lost many marks on uniform. Really a lot. Enough to make 3rd place. So we really must start today to have a better uniform standard and culture. It was also the accumulation of other things...mainly inexperience from lack of practice. But everyone has to start somewhere. We also need to be honest to ourselves - we got cocky. Our past successes have made us complacent, causing us to be blind to doing.. Well, things we should have prepared for in competitions (study the competition, rehearse the full sequence, review past competitions, understand how other companies in Pesta did better than us, etc). Under normal circumstances, the main team should comprise of older Boys. But many went AWOL. So this is WAKE UP call to the older Boys. They shouldn't be throwing responsibilities to the younger ones. I hope they will start taking the lead more next time, as they should.

I left early today from the competition as I had to go for a close friends wedding. On the way out, I had a nasty fall and badly injured my hand. Though it hurts really badly, I had to pick myself up and.. just carry on loh. We too, as a company, need to pick ourselves up and move on. It's okay to fall once in awhile. A fall is sometimes needed to be great again

Final touches to the uniform maintenance

Joint parade before the competition

Still proud of our team! We'll do better next time!

Junior Drill Team

Senior Drill Team

Farewell Mr. Khoo Ka Shing!

One way to tell if an officer is a good one or not is to see how he or she is appreciated towards the end of their stay in BB. I believe the extent of Mr. Khoo Ka Shing's farewell is testament to the person he's been to the Company, fellow officers, and the Boys. 

Ka Shing joined BB when he was Form 4, having moved from the school's Police Cadets. He was able to become an effective Lance Corporal before he was discharged and appointed a Staff Sergeant. He then served in the Junior Section (as it is Company policy to serve in Junior Section for at least a year) where he has been instrumental to its weekly activities. 

Mr. Khoo departs for Portsmouth, United Kingdom for further studies. We will miss him and hope he visits us when he gets back!

Ka Shing's last parade on 27th August 2016

Farewell dinner at Padi House, Sri Petaling

Send off at KLIA

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.