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 =)

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.

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.

Communication Basic 2010

Hi guys,

Here are all the notes. Study them well (and smartly)!

Communication Introduction and Media

Phonetic Alphabet

Tele-Communication

Handphone

A Good Presentation

Internet and Email

The exam details are as follows:

Date: 1st January 2011

Time: 12.00pm

Venue: YMCA, Lounge Area

Also, PRESENTATIONS ARE CANCELLED. No time to do everything. Just focus on exams will do.

Thank you and happy new year (hope I didn't spoil it)

Company Year End Camp Rekkie

Over the weekend of 23-24th October, a few of us went to Perak, namely the towns of Ipoh, Sitiawan and Pulau Pangkor to make arrangements for 3rd KL's Year End Camp.

It looks like it's going to be a good one.

Pangkor - quite a few water based activities lined up as well as an expedition course

Checking out Gua Tempurung - Caving cum River trekking

Seniors thinking of missing it, think again - you will miss the fun

3rd KL on the Tele and Newspaper

3rd KL's been getting alot of media attention lately (as if the ones we got for Milk Day weren't enough).. really praise God for that. It's not that I wanna make BB look like we're attention seeking, but as non-profit organisations it is important to highlight ourselves to that the funds come in. Still the focus isn't on fame - the news highlights to me were always just a bonus.

The recent on with our Junior, Dominic, being featured on Project Sunshine, NT7. The segment really increased my perspective for single disabled parents (Dominic's mom is blind) who are still able to find jobs and be as independent as they can. Dominic has not been a burden to the mom, in fact has been helping her alot. Good job Dominic!

Click this link to watch the video which can be found on NTV7.

A snapshot from Project Sunshine 2, Episode 3

The other highlight was that 3rd KL's SMK Taman Desa drill team, which was .. not so recently.. crowned drill champions in school.. was featured on the Sin Chiew Daily (KL Metro section). It's drill commander Charn Chuen was given a lot of publicity. Good thing he's a modest guy.. otherwise his head will be somewhere in the sky now.

Good on you guys! This may be the only moments of fame you'll ever have. Savour it.

KULSEL Basic and Advance NCO Training School 2010

On the 4-6th September 2010, the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor State Councils had a combined NCO Training Course. The committee composing Officers from both State's contributed to the running of this course. In total 248 trainees excluding observers and Officers converged to the National Service campsite in Bidor, Perak. This camp featured both Basic and Advance NCO Training.

I really don't know what to talk about the course. My job was simple - observe the ANTS Head Coach and prepare to fill his shoes in the coming ANTS. So I pretty much had nothing to do but watch and learn. I felt kinda guilty actually, so much so till I decided to pay my own camp fee and not treat this as a working event.

I've gotta say that this bunch was a little different from the two batches I seen before. There were more ... self-centered. Hopefully the participating Companies (who I thank for sending observers - now you know why) can look into developing these areas and make them more caring or to at least give-a-damn and not let their fellow brother fall while saying "it's not my problem".

I believe this pretty much was a result of the lack of bonding. If they technically aren't friends, they won't bother looking out for a stranger (though they still should). I think several factors attributed to this - the fact that English and Mandarin speaking members were not separated and the fact the squads were too big (15 members per squad). Perhaps this is something we can be more firm on in the future..

Mr. Lim Chong Ho, Captain of 1st Teluk Intan Company and the Deputy Perak State Commissioner for the closing ceremony

Mr Cheong Sing Yuen, KL State Commissioner as the Guest of Honour for Opening Ceremony

Well, apart from that I'm glad to see more Officers take part for this important annual event - but certainly could do with even more (apparent there are 200 Officers in KL-Selangor). It was a different perspective walking around to see the various Coaches teach with different styles. I think I'm ready to be head coach now.. (fingers crossed). The next ones will be in Perak in November with another one being planned in March in Johor. This makes a total of FIVE ANTS courses running during the month of March 2011. Busy times ahead.

NCO Training is one of two of my main jobs. This year's one is the second successive ANTS held by KL State Council while the first for Selangor (this first BNTS Selangor co-organised for awhile). My hope is that in the future, both State Councils will be able to organise their own ANTS and BNTS independently. The number of participants in this camp was pretty overwhelming.. so much so that it greatly affected bonding and regrettably the level learning as well. The fact that the high number of participants affected learning also means that we need to limit numbers of participants in the following years. But I'd hate to see people loose out.. so the only solution is if all State Councils will have their own ANTS and BNTS in the future. God willing, this will all take place within a year.