David Scott was installed as the 21st president of the Rotary Club of Marina City at a lunch time meeting on June 30, 2005. Centennial District Governor Dr. Ivor Tevathasan was the Guest of Honor and incoming DG Tay Kim Ann and Pet were in attendance. The night before, David and Sheila hosted a fellowship dinner for club members, PP Chary Misa from RC Paraiso QC, our Sister Club in the Philippines, and 6 members from RC Pontian, our Sister Club in Johor Bahru.

The first fellowship event of the year was a walk and brunch at the Lower Pierce Reservoir park . The club members were joined by a group of Rotoractors, including two from a club in Malacca. David and Sheila created a set of questions to be answered during the walk with prizes awarded at the end. We were also joined by our honorary member, Netherlands Ambassador Henrik van Pesch. It was with sadness that we learned that he was retiring and returning to Europe. The Board of Directors selected PDG Philbert Chin as our new honorary member.

In November, CP Hector Charles led a team of Interactors, Rotoractors, and four teachers to the Philippines for a week of fellowship and service projects . Seven Rotarians and guests joined for the first three days, including joint meetings with our sister club RC Paraiso QC and RC Loyola Heights QC as well as helping to paint houses in the Brookside Community.

In December, six members ran 10km as part of the Singapore marathon, raising funds for the Rotary Family Service Center . We also had our traditional Christmas Party for disadvantaged children. Our Club Anniversary and Christmas party was held as a joint meeting with our daughter RC Serangoon Gardens.

The major project was Romanceville, a Valentine’s Day dinner at the Conrad . More than 110 people attended at the Conrad. A number of fundraising events were held including auctions, a raffle draw, song requests and a wandering magician. Including direct donations, a total of $10,000 was raised for the Rotary Family Service Center.

Internationally, we sponsored school scholarships with our sister club RC Dusit in Bangkok and purchased a house in Cambodia through the Tabitha Project. At the end of the year, we will support the Dunman Secondary School vocational seminar .

Our club joined the cyber generation with the creation of our website and www.rotaryclubmarinacity.org. My thanks go to Chris Albuquerque and Manfred Korger for setting up and administering it. I would also like to thank June Jonet for taking over the New Generations portfolio at midyear and providing support to the Rotoract Club of Marina City and our two Interact clubs at St Andrews and Dunman .

The club was honored to extend our unbroken streak of being awarded the Presidential Citation for this year.

Our  programme chairman, PP Leong Cheng Chit, assisted by other members, managed to secure interesting speakers, who included specialist doctors, our own members and a belly dancer, at our meetings. We also had a meeting at the Singapore Management University, where we had a talk on the university and visited the premises.

I have accepted a job transfer and Sheila and I will be relocating to Portland Oregon next month. I wish all the best to RC Marina City and all of the friends we have made here. I am sure I will be able to make up occasionally in the future.

David Scott
President, 2005-2006
Rotary Club of Marina City