Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Thank You
I wish to take this moment to say Thanks to the following team members for their efforts in making the anniversary celebration a pleasing success.
- Betsi Peter
- David Leong
- Dr Koh
- Michelle Thong
- Tony Wong
- Chow Boi
- Foong Luen
- Fu Tee
- Jaime Tan
- Su May
- Eugene Goh
- Huei Weun
- Committee members
- Volunteers
It has been fun and a joy working with you. Maybe for our next fund raiser I can still see you around? Bring some friends on board please.
Identity Management
Changing from PBS to PBSNS requires a transformation exercise although the work carries on as usual. The first identity change came when we became a legal body under the laws of Malaysia. We are no longer under the church although affiliated. This legal identity requires us to make several changes as we prepare to start PBSNS in a few months time.
- Our logo has been changed.
- Our website has been changed.
- This blog has reflected PBSNS identity.
- We have to change the signboards outside the centre. All Pusat signs will be changed to Persatuan's signs.
- Letterheads, delivery notes, purchase orders, invoices, receipts, rubber stamps are likewise to be changed.
- A new banking account for PBSNS will be effected.
PBS will morph into PBSNS in the coming months. By the end of the year PBS will become history but a very important history to all of us who begin work in PBSNS.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Looking Forward
After the anniversary celebration we need to look seriously forward to bringing PBSNS to its rightful role in society. Certainly we cannot remain where we are now or else there is no reason to move out of the church to be a society.
I have several thoughts to take PBSNS to a better position:
1. We need our own base. Presently we are renting space from the church. I believe it is understandable for us to buy over the building so that we can expand upward and recruit more trainees. This will require another fund raising drive.
2. We wish to become a centre that help train others to run their own centres. After being under Malaysian Care's guidance we need to wean off that dependence and move beyond to be a trainer ourselves.
3. We need to bring quality training through jobs that give our trainees fair income. One such new work for consideration in future when space allows is a laundry service.
4. We have to develop a corporate sponsorship base to help us secure sustainable financial contributions to pay our expenses.
5. We need to project an image that invoke trust and confidence in our work. That will require a strong leadership and executive teams to translate plans into actions.
We welcome suggestions and offers to help PBSNS to realise its greater work in the coming years.
I have several thoughts to take PBSNS to a better position:
1. We need our own base. Presently we are renting space from the church. I believe it is understandable for us to buy over the building so that we can expand upward and recruit more trainees. This will require another fund raising drive.
2. We wish to become a centre that help train others to run their own centres. After being under Malaysian Care's guidance we need to wean off that dependence and move beyond to be a trainer ourselves.
3. We need to bring quality training through jobs that give our trainees fair income. One such new work for consideration in future when space allows is a laundry service.
4. We have to develop a corporate sponsorship base to help us secure sustainable financial contributions to pay our expenses.
5. We need to project an image that invoke trust and confidence in our work. That will require a strong leadership and executive teams to translate plans into actions.
We welcome suggestions and offers to help PBSNS to realise its greater work in the coming years.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
To God be the Glory!
Last night's 10th anniversary thanksgiving and fund raising dinner for Pusat Berdikari Seremban was the successful culmination of a fantastic teamwork from my staff, volunteers, church members and supporters who believed that charity towards the disabled is vital to one's own well-being, knowingly or otherwise. God blessed all of us with a memorable time that stretched from 7-11pm at the Restoran Min Kok, Seremban. What can I say? It was a one-in-a-kind dinner that Seremban had not seen before. I jokingly said that for RM50 it is nearly impossible to enjoy a good sit-down Chinese dinner PLUS over one hour solid entertainment from a seasoned and crowd-pleasing singer like Francissca Peter, who made a grand entrance and mingled with the crowd as she sang her opening songs.
Fran cajoled and teased the guests to donate to the cause of PBS, danced with a guest and gave us a good selection of Chinese, English and Malay songs with keyboardist Leonard backing her. We raised over RM4000 at the song bidding session in addition to what we raised from the dinner and souvenir magazine. Guests increased that by bidding another RM600 for two cakes baked by the PBS trainees.
The near full PBS trainees team gave us a rousing dance led by some students from the International Medical University here in Seremban which got the crowd standing and clapping as they swayed to the techno beat of the music. It was hilarious and fun. Then Yoga, another trainee sat down at his Yamaha Electone organ and skillfully played out two pieces of music that wowed us into silent attention. We wondered if he was really disabled? Yet, this is precisely the mindet we ought to discard. That a learning disabled person is NOT disabled in every faculty. He or she have skills we must discover to make him or her excel in life.
The biggest surprise of the evening came when the human capital senior manager of Giant Supermarket chain, Mr. Nesan, came on stage to announce that 7 of 25 PBS trainees have been accepted to join the supermarket chain which includes the Guardian Pharmacy. What a joy!
I said to Mr. Nesan that what Giant did for the successful trainees is like breaking down a wall to let them leave the centre to join the job market outside. These trainees were exuberant. It showed on their faces. We were excited and thankful. This announcement has helped us realized the vision of job training our trainees and send them out to work. Those who could not continue to find employment within PBS's own Sheltered Workshop. And the vacancies created allow us to bring in many more learning disabled people who need to be trained to find employment.
I wish I had taken pictures from my camera that was left forgotten inside my laptop bag. But I will photoblog on this topic again as soon as I get back the photoCD from the professional photographer in a week's time.
I had a good sleep last night, went for communion service this morning, napped 4 hours this afternoon and blog this to tell you and the world how great our God is. Hallelujah!
Fran cajoled and teased the guests to donate to the cause of PBS, danced with a guest and gave us a good selection of Chinese, English and Malay songs with keyboardist Leonard backing her. We raised over RM4000 at the song bidding session in addition to what we raised from the dinner and souvenir magazine. Guests increased that by bidding another RM600 for two cakes baked by the PBS trainees.
The near full PBS trainees team gave us a rousing dance led by some students from the International Medical University here in Seremban which got the crowd standing and clapping as they swayed to the techno beat of the music. It was hilarious and fun. Then Yoga, another trainee sat down at his Yamaha Electone organ and skillfully played out two pieces of music that wowed us into silent attention. We wondered if he was really disabled? Yet, this is precisely the mindet we ought to discard. That a learning disabled person is NOT disabled in every faculty. He or she have skills we must discover to make him or her excel in life.
The biggest surprise of the evening came when the human capital senior manager of Giant Supermarket chain, Mr. Nesan, came on stage to announce that 7 of 25 PBS trainees have been accepted to join the supermarket chain which includes the Guardian Pharmacy. What a joy!
I said to Mr. Nesan that what Giant did for the successful trainees is like breaking down a wall to let them leave the centre to join the job market outside. These trainees were exuberant. It showed on their faces. We were excited and thankful. This announcement has helped us realized the vision of job training our trainees and send them out to work. Those who could not continue to find employment within PBS's own Sheltered Workshop. And the vacancies created allow us to bring in many more learning disabled people who need to be trained to find employment.
I wish I had taken pictures from my camera that was left forgotten inside my laptop bag. But I will photoblog on this topic again as soon as I get back the photoCD from the professional photographer in a week's time.
I had a good sleep last night, went for communion service this morning, napped 4 hours this afternoon and blog this to tell you and the world how great our God is. Hallelujah!
Sunday, June 29, 2008
What Are You Doing Sunday, Baby?
No, you are not at the wrong blog, and I am not reliving the popular hit song by Tony Orlando and Dawn which I sang at my father-in-law's 90th birthday party last weekend. I am referring to this Sunday, today, which is PBS Sunday. This is a long awaited event which we started planning since last October when we 'booked' the date and the speaker, Rev. Ong Hwai Teik, our Trinity Annual Conference President. The specialness of today is that it is our anniversary Sunday and it is also the LAST Pusat Berdikari Seremban's Sunday. Next year it will be recognized by the church as Persatuan Berdikari Seremban's Sunday. Please remember the difference although the work are the same.
Rev. Ong preached on the topic 'A Church Worthy of the Gospel' from Acts 2:37-47. The church need to grow up, grow together, grow out and grow more. We in the church do not serve as volunteers but as servants. It is a timely reminder on this PBS Sunday to we who give of our time at the centre that we do not volunteer per se but willingly give of what we are good at for the good of the trainees. Even as he ended by saying that a church must not only be good but look good so that outsiders like what we are doing, he reminded us to be members who are united, informed of our calling, spiritual in our thinking and witnessing the Gospel to the world in need of salvation. When this is applied to PBS it bear a parallel call for us to do the same as we do as a church.
The PBS Sunday ended with a breakfast and the cutting of the 10th anniversary cake donated by a bakery. Here are some pictures of the celebration.
PBS Sunday Praise & Worship
Peter Yew as Liturgist
Listening to PBS Update Presentation
Enjoying the Anniversary Breakfast
Cutting the 10th Anniversary Cake
Guys Posing, Ladies Working
Group Pix of the 'Yellow Squad' with TRAC President
Rev. Ong preached on the topic 'A Church Worthy of the Gospel' from Acts 2:37-47. The church need to grow up, grow together, grow out and grow more. We in the church do not serve as volunteers but as servants. It is a timely reminder on this PBS Sunday to we who give of our time at the centre that we do not volunteer per se but willingly give of what we are good at for the good of the trainees. Even as he ended by saying that a church must not only be good but look good so that outsiders like what we are doing, he reminded us to be members who are united, informed of our calling, spiritual in our thinking and witnessing the Gospel to the world in need of salvation. When this is applied to PBS it bear a parallel call for us to do the same as we do as a church.
The PBS Sunday ended with a breakfast and the cutting of the 10th anniversary cake donated by a bakery. Here are some pictures of the celebration.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Min Kok and Music Power Consulted
Tony and I were shocked to see the whole Restoran Min Kok FILLED to the brim with 170 tables for a grand dinner function tonight. It is a record of sorts for the restaurant which is anxious how to manage the food service with many temp waiters employed. It makes me glad that our size is a lot more manageable.
We confirmed the number of tables with Min Kok so that they can go ahead to order the food. Michael Chow of Music Power Sound Team whom we engaged to set up the sound and lighting systems met us to finalize the positioning of the speakers and LCD screens. And a timely reminder to William Khoo, the videographer, to show up to record the evening's event.
It was also a pleasant surprise to see a budget hotel a stone throw from Min Kok. The Golden Inn has day rooms that we can use to allow Francissca a proper place to have her make-up done as well as rest a bit after rehearsal. It looks like we are all set. I am pleased with the smoothness of the planning and have to thank all the helpers for their unique roles. And God of course!
We confirmed the number of tables with Min Kok so that they can go ahead to order the food. Michael Chow of Music Power Sound Team whom we engaged to set up the sound and lighting systems met us to finalize the positioning of the speakers and LCD screens. And a timely reminder to William Khoo, the videographer, to show up to record the evening's event.
It was also a pleasant surprise to see a budget hotel a stone throw from Min Kok. The Golden Inn has day rooms that we can use to allow Francissca a proper place to have her make-up done as well as rest a bit after rehearsal. It looks like we are all set. I am pleased with the smoothness of the planning and have to thank all the helpers for their unique roles. And God of course!
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