We are 10!

Come 11 Nov 2011 (11.11.11), LC Ipoh Evergreen will turn ten! Wow, time flies and we are now a decade old.

I remember the many months of seeking, asking, and outright cajoling friends and relatives to sign up with Ipoh's latest service club. Then the watershed as friends brought many friends. Past President Dr Gurbachan Singh was among those diligently promoting the club to all our friends. Guiding the club was then DC-Extension Cecilia Loke, and Ee Poh Sam, then President of LC Ipoh City, our sponsoring club.

I also recall the many senior Lions who came to help out, through advice or training: PDG Oon Peng Lam, PCC Dr Mario Yoong (from Muar), PDG Han Thien Fong (all the way from Singapore), PDG [then VDG] Tan Team Chye and DG of the day See Beng Loo. From the sidelines, we have Dato Lau Bak Choon and YB Diamond Loke introducing friends. Also behind the scene then were former Lions like Tan Yap Pau (then President of LC Ipoh Host), Ong Hock Peng and Justin Koo.

Among the ten Past & former Presidents, we have PP Dr Gurbachan, PP Ashley Chan, PP Suchdev Singh, PP Chua Kang Ming, PP David Kwah and me still active in the club. PP Phuah Lai Hock has transferred to another Lions club while the former Presidents are Dr S Rajasingam, Dato' Dr Naran Singh and Mr Alan Low. We remember the leadership and contributions of these during their period of service that made Ipoh Evergreen what it is today.

Royalty and local dignitaries graced our functions over the years. These included HRH Sultan Azlan Shah, HRH Raja DiHilir Raja Jaafar (who is also our Royal Patron), HE the Chief Minister of Perak, the Mayors of Ipoh City, and many Perak State Executive Committee Members, Members of Parliament and State Assemblymen.

We are proud to have a twin in the Lions Club of Singapore Evergreen. Over the last five years, we have had much fun whenever we visited each other and carried out projects meaningful to both clubs, or meeting up at annual conventions. From strangers who adopted the common word 'Evergreen,' we have become friends in the world of service and fellowship, crossing borders and seas (or at least crossing a Causeway!).

And of the many, many charity activities and service projects that are the foundation and rationale for the existence of our club, I count no less than 300 events touching more than 10,000 people spanning this decade. In some years, there is an activity every week! If Ipoh Evergreen had not existed, these beneficiaries would have been the poorer from funds, assistance, contributions and knowledge.

And so, Happy 10th Birthyear to Ipoh Evergreen. As the theme says it, may the club continue the good works for a long, long time to come!

EVERGREEN FOREVER!