3 in 1?

Today, I have a major download from Narash our Captain about the direction of BB CARES 2012. Yes, Yes, it is part of Community Service Stage 3 but somehow it has since escalate to something so significant, so massive yet promising. I don't know how much my 3 FAAs manage to absorb from my Captain, but i know it is going to be so meaningful and potentially something that really marks what 99th Company can do, and definitely something the current leadership (Sec 3s) can be really proud of at the end of the day.

So, what is so great about the main plan?

Basically, we got to start from the beginning...
In the beginning, besides knowing that we need to do BB CARES along with Community Services, we happened to know a old Boy whom recently diagnose with cancer. Besides visiting him and understanding a bit of the pain he has to endure through, it triggers the concept of really doing this BB CARES project with a VWO that is dealing cancer patients, in particular, those children recovering or fighting against cancer. After some finding, in the middle of June 2012, we manage to get in touch with Arc Children Centre, a VWO that is providing day-care services for children undergoing cancer and chemo treatment and everything else is snow-balled which is recorded in the 3 other individual Blogs by my FAAs.

So, thats how it all started. But we know what we are capable of. Certainty, we do have talents from generations of Boys we have been blessed with. From Ahmad Danial (ex CSM) song he composed with help from Razy (ex Squad Leader) in a short 3 days worth of LDC 2010, to current Marcus (ASM) whom is also a FAA that pretty musically inclined. From the Hong Kong Trip to STAB Camp 2 where we manage to train Boys to know how to take proper video, photos and using IPAD to produce short videos. From 2010 where the Company rallied the School into a fund raising campaign to stick hearts to "combat" cancer cells; These are all signs that the Company can do much more.

Hence, since there are 3 FAAs, with the basic concept of using digital media and spirit of Ubuntu (I am who We Are), coupled with the Company philosophy of every one (Boy and Children of Arc Centre) can contribute, we decided to go on and create 3 Event which really is 1 BB CARES project.

The 1st Event revolves around rallying the School to produce paper cranes and heart shaped origami. Paper Cranes has long being a symbol of well wishes for speed recovery. When the School population does that for Arc Children Centre, you can imagine the support that is going to drive the kids. But that is not the end, bringing these artwork, we can frame them up in a way that we can put up on the wall of the Arc Centre during our first Event. Over at the event, we can also teach the kids how to go about doing certain shape of origami, which they could put up with their masterpiece up on this Get-Well-Soon-Frame.

Then following next Event 2, we will go down to teach the Kids how to make their own T-shirt. Having the experience from STAB 2 Camp, many have worn shirts but the satisfaction taken from doing their own shirt will definitely make everything worth the effort.

The Final Event 3 is set to end of the BB CARES project whereby a song will be taught to them so that every kid present can join in even as we shot the last portion of the MTV. The end product is a song with MTV from our own Boys partnering and supporting the Arc Children Centre Kids, how powerful is it?

I dun know about you, but i am pretty excited about it...

Can i post a video to get the concept into you? Please note that the video is only an concept...

What do you think? Hope you are excited about it! =)

Old Ford Factory

21st July, I went to Old Ford Factory with my company. Well, its is suppose to be one of those "hardly-anything-for-the-officers-to-do" day. I recall the only most busy portion is the last 45 mins when the Boys need to answer a form online to submit as reflections for the trip.

Well for those that does know me well enough will know that I am only a PR and not a citizen. But to be honest, I do know more history about Singapore than Malaysia. So I got a bit worried that my Boys did not detect an typo error in the year of which British surrender Singapore to Japan, 1942. Thankfully, some did manage to answer the quiz correctly.

One thing I learn from the Old Ford Factory visit was the power of persuasion. General Yamashita basically know that if British choose not to surrender, his troops will probably not able to make it. Because his troops have been battling all the way from the then Malaya to Singapore. Both food and ammunition is low on both sides. Yet in just 20 minutes, the case is closed, British surrender Singapore over to be occupied by Japanese for 3 years and 8 months, the darkest days of Singapore History.

Today as I reflect, do we defend what we hold dear?

It could be a idea, a plan that you have in mind that you really want it to work. If people just drop a few questions to these plans or ideas that you have, will you change or defend them?

Choosing to change these plans or ideas means that the questions raise by these people are valid. You did not think so in depth or so complete. Hence, to make perfect your plan or idea, you choose to accommodate it. Indeed, if this is the case, then humbly accept the advise and triggers to improve on it. Also,  next time it will be wiser to think deeper before your conceive a plan.

Choosing to defend these ideas and plans sometime got to do with how confident you are with the plan, how much thoughts you have given into them and how convince you are that these plans will work. Put it simply, in the past, British treated Singapore as a colony, something good to have but not important to have. Percival view surrendering as an easier option comparing with retaking the water and electric supplies option. Both of them do have a strong reason to defend Singapore, unless you accept pride as an answer. So really, who has a better reason to defend Singapore than Singaporeans.

But putting history asides, really, in everything that we do, we better have a strong reason to do it and be ready to defend it. I like the readiness as written in 1 Peter 3:15-17.
So as you are doing your BB CARES event planning, or any other planning, be ready to think in depth and ready to defend it, very much like any strategy tower defence games.

Dun flippantly changes your resolve just because someone says this or another say that! Its part of being a warrior to stand firm in what you believe in.

A Reflection about parade on 14th July

Last parade was a pretty challenging parade for me. One part of it is because I din sleep enough, one part of it is because I was asked to bring a Boy to parade. Since this is a Blog, I shall not reveal the identity of this Boy.

The story goes like this. This Boy did not want to come for parade, because he finds it boring, but its willing to attend the punishment, which is 3 sessions of school detention. What he does not know is that the he is considered repeat offenders, which will means that his punishment will doubled in severity. His reputation in the school is already not very promising so he already sort of have that kind of give-up, suck-thumb kind of attitude. So he was ready to miss the parade and get the punishment.

I went over to his house and to find no one at the door. Waited for a good 10 minutes only to receive a angry note (as i have been pressing the bell and knocking at the door) from his dad that he is this Boy is not at home. Obviously, he was siding the Boy but as he close the door, I mention that this Boy will be punished for missing the parade. After smsing this Boy and standing at the door for another 10 minutes, I was ready to give up and move on to the next house to grab another Boy that is playing the rules. 

I was thinking a lot then, why does this Boy want to give up himself. As i was bring the 2nd Boy back to Parade, the first Boy called up and i was pleasantly surprised. This Boy called and said that he will be coming. I thought, "wow, he started to think properly and wanted to make up for it." So I say quickly come and i will wait at the road junction just outside school. It was drizzling then but i choose to wait at the traffic junction.

I thought in order for him to redeem himself, I cannot go to his house again. He have to come to us. If not, the whole episode will just be another adult-force-children kind of episode. He needs to learn that not doing wrong is better than accepting the punishment. 

To cut the wrong story short, he manage to come for parade, even though it is consider late and will receive the punishment for being late and not the punishment for persistent skipping of official school events. 

I was actually very happy for the Boy, because he choose not to commit the wrong of missing the parade instead of the original intent to skip the parade and accepting the punishment. Being late and missing parade is both wrong. But he choose to stop at being late is remarkable. Even though he needs lots of improvement and more mentoring, i thought that this shows that at least, this Boy still have hope. In fact, if he divert more attention to do right, I believe with all my heart that be a good and able leader of the Company. 

Somehow, I am very thankful that this episode took place. It literally shows me a glimpse on how God feels with one lost son returns to the Father ( Luke 15:11-32 ). So dear Officers or Leaders, lets not give up on any Boy that cross our paths. They are precious gems ready to be polished and uncovered.

Signing off! 

Audio Reflection 1

I just say sorry guys... my webcam needs improvement. So this version is the audio reflection, one of the type of reflection you can take. Acts 20:35

Enjoy and post your questions =)

Kick Starting Things

It is never easy kicking start something, be it a actual company or just a hobby.
For me, even though I have been in BB for quite long now, i always avoided BB CARES or somehow, some one else will get to do it for the Company.
DaDang! This year, somehow, its finally my turn to touch this uncharted grounds and the responsibility entrusted to me is a bit huge. Of course i am not exactly worried because behind me, there are always a bunch of people supporting me, UBUNTU!!!

Haha, Sorry for the randomness.

Anyway, this year, the challenge for our Company in terms of BB CARES involvement is the fact that 3 willing soul decided to take on the Founders Award Challenge. In my Company, if you want,only if you desire and is up to the challenge, will the Officers fight for the Awards, with the Boys. So genuinely, i can say that it is because the Boys wanted the JM Fraser for the Company, hence we worked together to achieve it. So far, we manage to break the trend of receiving consecutive Bronze award and in the past 2 award years, we have been able to obtain Silver award. The current Boys and team of leaders (adult and the post-sec) are working very hard to secure Gold for this coming year Assessment which i am ever so thankful about.

Ya, why did i deviate? Anyway,so the responsibility to make sure that this BB CARES not only fulfil the Brigade requirement, but also the Founders Award requirement is a bit challenging.

Some may ask, why then should i maintain this blog? Should i not focus on the planing aspect and pour in more effort to it then just make a blog which not many would see? Well, that brings me to the point on what does this Blog serve.

This Blog served to record reflections. To the FAAs, they are required to maintain a blog so that to consolidate their learning as part of the Community Service Stage 3 requirement. What better way to do it them? Just that i will position myself as a mere facilitator while they are the guys doing the hard work.

Anyway, when you reflect, you can adopt different styles. But the most fool proof styles is the following keep using the 5 W and 1 H.
WHAT
WHY
WHO
WHEN
WHERE
HOW

WHAT - give the reader and the author a time to reflect what actually happen
WHY - offer a reason behind the thoughts and feeling of the person
WHO - who did what? It becomes blur over time
WHEN - gives a time tag to the reflections
WHERE - gives a place tag to the feelings
HOW - (Do i really need to explain it?)

So, WHAT do you need to do to have a Blog that collects all your reflections?
Firstly, discipline. Discipline to maintain at least 1 entry per week. Starting this week.
Secondly, internet access. (obviously)
Thirdly, motivation. This one I will rally many to support you guys. So do maintain your blog!

I will try my best to post some entries along the way in case you guys are stuck. But just like what is the title of this entry "Kick Starting Things". Do kick start your Journey to Founders! Colossians 3:23

Courtesy of Dennis, whom i did not ask permission. Hope he dun mind =)