What Are We In Power For?
By
Dennis Valdes

Last week, the RCMA Board of Directors met for our Regular Monthly Board Meeting. One of the things we focused on was to check on how many new members we have actually gotten this year. We verified this information with the official records at R.I. and came up with 22 new members, including Balikbayans like Yoo-Hoo Villanueva and Joey de Venecia, who were not officially listed as of July 1, 2000.

We started the year with 45 RCMA’ers and the math wizards in the group will no doubt raise a "gotcha" finger at me, noting that 45 + 22 = 67, one more than officially listed in Pagkakaisa. Those same math wizards should now take that finger and use it to take their golf caps off, as we remember that we also lost our Rtn. Andy Buendia this year.

Today we are having another Induction Ceremony – and if all 5 possible members make it, then we shall break the 70 barrier and get to 71 RCMA’ers. I find it amazing that we continue to attract such excellent new members. I make special mention of PE Paul Chuatico, who is godfather to another 4 of the 5 today. We actually don’t have any more space on his nametag for the Stars we give out for each new member.

Last week, I promised more fellowships for the club. Tonight I put my money where my mouth is. I am hosting a New Member Cocktail at my house, 17 Farol St. Urdaneta Village and every RCMA member is invited and especially all the Baby Rotarians. Our aim is to get to know each other better in a non-breakfast meeting situation. See you all around 7 PM!

Congratulations to PP Arsenic Laurel. He won a trip to HKG courtesy of Gov. Guiller Tumangan. The Governor gave every Rotarian in the District a raffle ticket for each new member that the Rotarian got inducted. In PP Arsenic’s case, those were JP Reyes and Raffy Ocampo. Those two raffle tickets beat out every Rotarian in the district and took home the top prize. Congrats! Once again, proof positive that in Rotary, the more you give, the more you get back in return.

Why do we keep recruiting? A very good reason is that due to unforeseen and unwanted circumstances, we do lose valued RCMA’ers. This past Saturday, we all attended the despedida party for Rtn. Robert Otto and his Ann Nelleke. It seems Robert has been promoted by ING Life to a sinecure in Head Office back home in the Netherlands. Just kidding Robert. Clearly, Robert is a man heading to the stratosphere of the ING corporate ladder and we wish him all the best.

Robert plans to hook up with former RCMA member Hans Komeester and form a new Rotary Club in the area – so in future, we may well have a daughter club in Europe. Robert also recruited a new man from ING, Rens, who will be inducted today. Thus, we ensure that Robert goes back to the Netherlands with a Star on his nametag. Congratulations again, Robert.

I don’t want to make this too long, but I do want everyone to glance at the Calendar of Events that is in this Pagkakaisa and will be here for the remaining days of my term. This is just to make sure that everyone keeps all the events in mind. Enjoy your breakfasts.