YCM

YCM Panellist Training 2009

2009-03-23T01:36:00.004+08:00

The recruitment drive for panellists (2009 -2010) has ended in January 2009, followed by 4-day selection interview done in February.

A warm welcome to all newbie panellists joining the YCM Family. ^_^

They are currently undergoing a 4-day training programme planned by the HR Taskgroup Force, YCM. To be held on 20 & 21, 27 & 28 March 2009. Two Fridays and two Saturdays.

The newbie youth panellists will be taught essential knowledge such as the YCM grant workflow, grant assessment and online voting and commentary on the project applications uploaded onto YCM Forums.

All YCM alumnus and current panellists are invited to come mingle and network with the newbies on Friday 27 March 2009 @ National Youth Council (Somerset).

Happy Lunar New Year!~

2009-01-21T20:27:00.006+08:00

Yeah! The Year of Ox is just round the corner. Mooooo moooo!!!

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!!

新年快乐！

身体健康！

学业进步！

What's up at YCM?

2008-12-06T03:29:00.004+08:00

Combined Panel Christmas Party
To be held on Saturday 20 December 2008! All YCM alumnus, current senior and junior panellists are invited to this once-a-year gathering.

Recruitment - New Panellists wanted!!

YCM is currently recruiting new panellists. YCM strives to invite people across various demographics and groups to come onboard the YCM Youth Panel.

For more information about YCM Youth Panel, do logon our YCM website - http://www.changemakers.youth.sg

For enquiries about joining YCM Youth Panel, you may email contact our Secretariat -> ycm@nyc.gov.sg

Calendar of Events

Below is the tentative calendar of events for next year 2009!!!

Jan 09 - Panel Meetings, Volunteer bash (for Youth Ventures); Closing date for YCM Panel Applications
Feb 09 - Panel Meetings, Appreciation to Outgoing Seniors, Selection process for YCM Panelists (2 weekends in Feb)
Mar 09 - Singapore Youth Volunteer Conference 2009, YCM training camp
Apr 09 - Panel Meetings
May 09 - Panel Meetings
Jun 09 - Panel Meetings, Possible Training Session, 3-month progress report on Panelists
Jul 09 - Panel Meetings, SHINE
Aug 09 - Panel Meetings
Sep 09 - Panel Meetings, Possible Training Session
Oct 09 - Panel Meetings, YCM Retreat, 6-month progress report/step-downs
Nov 09 - Panel Meetings,
Dec 09 - Panel Meetings, Christmas Bash 2009

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Newbies onboard!!~

2008-05-02T22:24:00.004+08:00

YCM Youth Panel has new strength!!! Hurray!!~

YCM welcomes the current batch of newbie panellists for Term 08/09!

They are....

Gan Zhang Quan
Yeong Kai Jun Geraldine
Lim Wei Qun Eddie
Kok Jia An Alwyn
Kumaran Kephren Ayanari
Lim Yu Xuan Kristin
Lee Tang Yin Krystal
Teo Wei Ling
Lee Ming An Benjamin
Chin Kin Seng David
Low Yim Tong
Alison Anne Joseph
Ong Han Ying
Kwan Yue Hua
Tan Hui Ling
Leow Wen Pin
Muhd Rasyid Bin Abdullah
Lee Carmen
Teh Chin Yin Grace
Chan Chiang Joo Nicholas
Leonard Benjamin Louis
Hoirull Amri Bin Tahiran
Goh En Qi Daniel
Ong Chu Xian
Liang Zhen
Lee Jun Rong Terence
Heng Jin Joshua
Benjamin Joshua Ong
Liew Yee Lin Elene
Heng Shu Hui
Deng Bo Wei
Tan Yan Pei Alyssa Rae
Chen Tian En Malcolm
Lee Heng Bin Gabriel
Shafiyahtun Najak
Ma Jun Da
Chee Ka Mung
Chen Yuan Feng
Mohammad Hazril B Rosle
Teo Shu Li
Ang Wilson
Sim Poh Leng Pauline
Islina Bte Ismail
Ng Chew Yee
Cheong Li Anne
Lim Ri Hao
Choo Pei Ling
Muhd Nabil Bin Noor Mohamed
Loh Yi Bing
Ma Anyi

Welcome to YCM Family!
They will be sitting on Panel 7 - 10, reviewing YCM youth project applications, together with some seniors.
An informal gathering will be held soon to allow the seniors and the alumnus to know the newbies.

Young Singaporeans out there, do you have a youth-initiated community project which needs funding? Come to us!

Check us out at our YCM website.

Happy New Year!!!

2008-01-01T19:46:00.000+08:00

Happy New Year everyone!!!!! Woohooo!!!

It is 2008!!

Let's hope that it would be a good year ahead for all of us. ^_^

Upcoming Event!!!

The Youth Ventures - one of the sections @ National Youth Council (NYC), is organising a S.Y.N Appreciation and Networking Party for youth volunteers who have participated in the SHINE, Young ChangeMakers and National Youth Forum (S.Y.N) programmes in 2007.

It is also a platform to introduce/ induct new youth volunteers to NYC's volunteer community; maintain working relationship or explore new avenues of collaboration with existing and potential event and corporate partners; and maintain/ re-establish links with youth volunteers, who participated in NYC programmes.

The details for the party are as listed below:

Date: 3 January 2008 (Thursday)
Time: 6.30pm
Venue: DXO @ Esplanade Theatres By The Bay (8 Raffles Avenue)
Guest Of Honour: Mr Teo Ser Luck, Parliamentary Secretary for Community Development,Youth and Sports and Chairman for NYC

Singapore bidding to host Youth Olympics 2010

2007-10-23T23:14:00.000+08:00

Singapore is bidding for her right to host the inaugural Youth Olympics 2010!

Why should Singapore be considered the ideal city to host the event?

Fellow Singaporeans, what are you waiting for?
Logon to www.singapore2010.sg to cast your support for Singapore NOW!!

Singaporeans to strive ahead!!!

2007-08-08T22:42:00.000+08:00

In his televised National Day message to the nation tonight, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has called on all Singaporeans to work together to transform the island-state country and make it a special home for everyone.

He said in 10 years' time, it would be a new Singapore with its own unique identity and a can-do and never-say-die spirit of the Lion City.

PM Lee also brought good news about the economy in his televised message.

Economic growth in the first half of 2007 was 7.6%, higher than expected, and for the whole year, growth forecast has been raised to between 7 - 8%.

Singapore is celebrating National Day in a happy mood with four good years of growth, said PM Lee. Many things to cheer about – Singapore's athletes are winning medals, students are excelling in international events and the country is gearing up for new and exciting projects like the Formula One Grand Prix and the integrated resorts.

On the economic side, 111,000 jobs have been added in the first half of the year and unemployment is very low at 2.4%.

PM Lee said: "Singapore is growing not just because of more investments or more workers. Our people are adapting and working smarter. We are organising ourselves more efficiently and making better use of our resources. In short, we have increased our productivity. Our efforts to transform the economy are paying off."

Looking ahead, PM Lee said Singapore is poised to take off, with many projects already underway. Among them are the integrated resorts and the banking and financial centre.

While Singaporeans come together to help build the nation, PM Lee said there is a major challenge which could affect the country's social harmony and national cohesion, and that is the widening of income gaps here and all over the world.

He said while Singapore cannot stop or reverse this global trend, it can do a lot to help Singaporeans cope with it. He said one reason for the widening income gap here is the ageing population, so the government is making changes to help Singaporeans work longer, earn more and build up their retirement savings. It will enhance the value of HDB homes and improve the CPF system so they can enjoy a steady income and peace of mind in their golden years.

PM Lee said: "The government cannot solve all these problems alone. Everyone must play a part. We each must take responsibility for ourselves, make the effort to do well, and provide for our families and our old age. "At the same time, the more successful Singaporeans must pitch in to help the weaker ones. The more you have gained from society, the greater your obligation to give back something to your fellow citizens."

PM Lee said the government would tackle these issues one by one and Singaporeans have every reason to be confident about their future.

He said, "The global backdrop is favourable. The winds and tides are with us. Our spirit is high, and our ship is ready."

PM Lee's call to all Singaporeans is to seize the moment to sail ahead into the bright and exciting future.

We Will Get There - Stefanie Sun

My Island Home (Chinese version) - Kaira Gong

Will You - Sebastian Tan, Jadani Sridhar, Asha Edmund, Emma Yong, Lily Ann Rahmat, JaiWahab, Shabir Mohammed, Gani Karim

HAPPY 42ND BIRTHDAY SINGAPORE!!!

The fire of passion among YCM panellists will burn continously, seeking all out to influence youths positively, to create opportunities for young Singaporeans to make a meaningful difference to the lives of communities around them!

5th Ministerial Meetings on Youths @ Singapore (24 - 29 April)/ YCM Updates

2007-04-16T08:17:00.000+08:00

Singapore is hosting the 5th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Youth (AMMY V) this month, from 24 to 27 April 2007.

In conjunction with the AMMY V, PAYM (People's Association Youth Movement) and NYC (National Youth Council) are organising the Youth Caucus with a theme similar to AMMY V, "Youth: Creating Our Future Together".

The Youth Caucus provides an excellent opportunity for ASEAN youth delegate teams to gain wider exposure and develop a better understanding and camaraderie with their counterparts from the ASEAN region.

As part of the Youth Caucus, there will be a Plenary Session with eminent speakers on Monday, 23 April 2007 where these speakers will be sharing their knowledge and insights on various topics.

PAYM and NYC are inviting YCM panellists to attend Youth Caucus Plenary Sessions.

For more information on AMMY V, check out its website at http://www.ammy.youth.sg/

--------------------------

From April 2007, panellists who have served for 2 consecutive terms are inducted into the YCM Alumni.

YCM Secretariat had arranged a YCM Alumni Luncheon held at NYC lobby Saturday 31 March 2007 , from 11 am to 2pm.

YCM Alumnites had collected their Alumni windbreaker and dri-fit tee before the lunch.

An informal alumni meeting was held till around 2pm+ to discuss, share opinions and brainstorm for ideas to run the YCM Alumni for the upcoming one year.

Meanwhile, YCM welcomes these newbie panellists onboard for term 07/08:

Cheong May Anne

Alice Tjahaja

Terence Lee

Fung Ai Wei

Sarah Soh

Mervyn Sek

Ye Meishan

Christina Leong

Goh Huili

Lester Leong

Nurul Shahida Sharafudin

Lydia Pan

Lee Shimin

Wu Biqi

Nathalie Chen

Tang Kay-Fen Ursula

David Chan

Tang Wey Lin

Jerry Seah

Cherine Liu

Natalie Yu-Lin Morris

Christine Huang

Stephanie Sim

Tan Kwan Hong

Hamzah Zulkifli

Eugene Ho

Tham Shee Yee

Nurulasyiqah Mohammad Taha

Shaun Tay

Yeo Sue Jan

Samuel Lim

Kenneth Cheong

Denise He

Sundraeswari D/O Haridas

Rachel Ng

Justine Chan

Ang Ying Zhen

Tay Yi Hang

Loh Rong Shun

Shepherson Charlene Clare

Dennis Phua

Oliveiro Jeremy

Shue Jie Yi

Jared Tham

Aw Hui Min

Daniel Ong

David Lu

Welcome to the YCM Family! =)

Are you self-centred? 你是不是一个很自我的人？

2007-04-09T14:23:00.000+08:00

这是在Channel U 新闻主播，董素华的播客(blog)看到的。觉得蛮有意思，跟大家分享一下。

美国圣地亚哥大学从16,000份survey调查中得出一个结论：今天眼下的年轻世代，自我意识(awareness level of self-centredness)比过去同龄层来得更高。当中，现在的大学生是20年来同龄美国年轻人中最自我的。

调查研究人员认为，1980年代的美国社会推行加强年轻人自信心的运动（self-confidence campaign)，结果建设自信过火，造成今天的局面。太过自我的结果就是缺乏同理心和不利人际关系。

香港城市大学也做了一项类似的调查，结果显示，香港人的人际关系也欠佳。愿意和别人修补关系的香港人是越来越少，只有32%的受访者会这么做，比去年的同类调查低了12％。而生活压力大是主要原因。

不难发现，现代都市人的生活方式是把人际关系推向孤独的一大主要因素。

Computer、internet、MSN Messenger、I-pod，甚至blog，这些可以一个人自我娱乐、自我陶醉的现代科技，不都鼓励了大家自己做自己的，就算和别人互动也不需要面对面吗？

在今天物质丰足的社会里，自我意识通常只有越变越高，不会越变越低，除非你遇到重挫、受到了极大教训。

Me-generation这个字眼，是几年前“日本当代社会问题”时首次接出现的。有些人把那些到了适婚年龄可是还没有结婚的女性称为“Me-generation”。不过当然，日本女性迟婚，这个问题和日本社会各种特质有关，不能单以“自我”就能解释清楚的。

这个字眼，一般来说是指那些西方社会标榜自我个性的年轻人。

凡事都以自己为中心、一切事物都从自己的观点出发，这样的人生自然会缺少很多东西。

这又让人想到，自称“不自我”的人们，他们又为纠正亲人、朋友、社会大众“过于自我”的现象做了些什么？

人际关系(interpersonal relations)是双向的、甚至是多向交流的。没有人是一座孤岛（no person is an isolated island)。

你今天的行为，决定了将来某一天要面对的一个后果，就像chaos theory的butterfly effect一样。

对别人多赞美、多设身处地为他人着想、多表露一点关怀其实并不难做到，可是偏偏很多人就是“批评别人很容易，赞赏别人就有限”。

是生活压力太沉重、太大了吗？可是多忙，你总要吃饭睡觉吧？忙碌的同时，人们就不能够抽出一点点时间来多关心一下身边周围的人吗？

远的不讲，我们就来说说那些离家在外的子女，他们多久没有打电话回家问候爸爸妈妈了？工作的人，有多久没有认真打量过一下身旁的同事，真心问候他们一声？

如果我们身边周围都是充满快乐的人，相信很多人应该会是宁可面对人而不是电脑。

所以呢，有空时请你把目光暂时移开电脑，看看一下你周围的人吧。＝）

Alan

A farewell to National Stadium

2007-03-11T20:06:00.000+08:00

Calling all SINGAPOREANS!!!

《我们的歌大家唱》We Sing Our Songs

Date: 24 March 2007 Saturday
Time: 7pm - 10pm
Venue: National Stadium, Kallang (North Entrance)
Standard - S$17

Please add to above $1 Booking Fee (for tickets below $20), which means it is $18 in total.

《我们的歌大家唱》
2007年，陪伴我们度过30多年的国家体育场即将离去。在这里，有过我们的青春，我们的回忆，更有过我们欢乐或伤感的歌声。实践剧场和弹唱人主办一场激动人心告别会――"我们的歌大家唱"。届时将集合5,000新加坡人，一起高歌属于我们新加坡人的歌（包括新谣、电视主题曲、NDP爱国歌曲等等），来送别国家体育场。

We Sing Our Songs

2007 is the year we say goodbye to the 30 year-old National Stadium! This is the place where we had our NDPs, SYFs, SAF Days..and also not forgetting those days which we had Malaysian Cup matches. The Theatre Practice and TCR Music Station is going to bid a fond farewell to that wellspring of laughter, song and memories with We Sing Our Songs - a mega sing-along of 5,000 Singaporean voices that will rock the stadium with our favourite Singapore songs such as xinyao, television favourites, NDP songs and many more! Belt your hearts out with us at this farewell party! Let's do that Kallang Roar at the National Stadium one more last time!!!

Duration - 3 hours
Language - Mandarin And Other Languages

http://www.sistic.com.sg/
www.ttp.org.sg

询问热线 For enquiries: 63372525 (The Theatre Practice)

This is angie's school life

2007-01-14T18:41:00.000+08:00

Heh...

this is what goes on in my class practicals. Well, not most of the time...
but just to let you have an insight of a scientist-student's life. It's much more fun being a student, than to be an employed scientist..
You'd end up talking to your zebrafishes if you get employed. heh heh!

Proteomics Lab Part 2

There was a part 1 for this, but it's 10minutes and utterly boring.
Watch out when allison screams. it's deafening. I do apologise that it's rather blur, my friend's mobile phone is horribly scarred with scratches.

----

Drug Development Practicals "Awards Ceremony"
Where dr guo decides to let us grade our own concoctions of Lotion, Ointments, Creams, emulsions and cough syrups. My group scored A's all the way! everyone did.
Dr Guo got abit high giving out marks. heh. she's such a funny teacher.
Anyway.. the cream looks disgusting, i know. Where got cream ORANGE colour one!?

2007-01-03T09:48:00.000+08:00

How to be a good YCM Mentor?
1. Build a Relationship - Establish a positive, personal relationship with your mentee
* Establish mutual trust and respect
* Maintain regular interaction and consistent support
* Remember that relationships take time. Don't expect immediate results.
* Make your time spent your mentee enjoyable or fun

2. Develop Life Skills - Help your mentee to develop or begin to develop life skills
* Work with your mentee to accomplish specific goals
* Instill the framework for developing broader life-management skills (i.e. decision making skills, goal setting skills, money management, etc.) in improvising the supported YCM community project

3. Provide Resources - Assist your mentee on obtaining additional resources
* Provide awareness of resources provided by National Youth Council (Singapore) and how to get them
* Act as a guide or coach, giving clarifications when questions are raised
* Conduct your role of mentor as a friend rather than a counsellor

How to make youths talk more to you?
1. Give your undivided attention.
Show with your body language that you want to listen to that one person. Maintain appropriate eye contact. Occasionally during the conversation call the youth by his or her name.

2. Concentrate fully on what he or she is saying.
Because you can listen faster than the other person can speak, you will sometimes be tempted to think about something else or to interrupt.

3. Please do not talk.
You cannot listen if you are talking.

4. Be honest with him or her.
Speak the truth in gentleness and love. Sometimes you will be in a situation in which a youth wants to talk to you, but you do not have enough time. Be honest and arrange another time to get together.

5. Acknowledge his or her feelings.
Sometimes a youth will specifically state his or her feelings such as "I'm so mad!" or "This is exciting!" or "I feel so discouraged." If so, repeat back or paraphrase the feeling words used in order to communicate that you heard the feeling. Often, a feeling is not put into words but is communicated through vocal communication (such as loudness, pitch, speed, or emphasis) or body language (such as facial expressions, gestures, moving toward or away from you, or touching). Let the youth know ythat ou have observed his or her feelings but let the youth correct you if you are wrong.

6. Avoid giving too much advice and doing alot of problem solving.
A youth may say, "I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do now" or "I really need your help" or "I have a problem here." Your immediate thought is that the youth is asking for advice or a solution to the problem. However, that may not be what was said. More likely, sometimes he or she just want to talk to someone about the situation/problem.

7. Have lots of patience!
Allow time. Do not expect all issues to be settled immediately. Having said that, do not lose faith in your ability to help the youth solve his or her problems if they can or need to be solved. Do not make quick decisions for the youth in order to speed up the process.

8. Silence is okay.
It gives the youth time to reflect on what has already been said. Sometimes he or she is using the period of silence to decide whether to share with you at a deeper level.

9. Invite him or her to talk more.
Ask open-ended specific information questions rather than yes-no kind. Such questions lead to a dead end or only satisfy your curiosity. Questions based on what has already been expressed allow you to follow the direction the youth wants to take.

10. Say your life story?
Hearing the youth's story may somehow remind you of an incident or event in your life. Resist the temptation to tell your story if the result will be shifting the attention to yourself. When you feel it is appropriate to tell your story, make it short and brief then. The purpose of sharing your personal experiences should be to give the youth permission to continue his or her story.

When you are able to listen better, youths will tend to open up, talk more and share with you on a deeper interpersonal level. So always try practising improving your ability to listen.

To everyone in Singapore, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

2006-12-24T17:46:00.000+08:00

Hello everyone!

Time flies isn't it?

It's time for Christmas, a time for us YCM panellists to come together to do some catching up.

We just had our December Panel Meet aka Christmas Gathering at National Youth Centre yesterday.

Some updates!

The recruitment drive for a new batch of YCM panellists has begun in October. These potential YCM panellist-wannabees will be notified of their upcoming interviews in January or February 2007.

As for inaugural panellists, some of us will automatically be graduated and inducted into the YCM Alumni, in the new YCM structure.

Wanna know more? Here's what we would expect in the new YCM structure:

Junior Panellist
As freshmen in YCM, Junior Panellists would act as observers and learners of the grantmaking process. They would be taught how to review grants, facilitate panel meetings, interview applicants, etc. This is also a stage where correct YCM values are passed down from Alumni mentors and Senior Panellists.

Senior Panellist
Having been YCM panellists for a year, Senior Panellists would play an active role in running the YCM programme. They would be facilitating the grantmaking process, from meeting applicants to the actual facilitation of panel meetings. Senior Panellists are also more involved in the planning of various YCM activities.

YCM Alumni
The Alumni Members will act as mentors and resource persons to the current panel. They could contribute in any, if not all, of the following additional roles: Mentors, Trainers, Special Projects, Web Moderators.

The *SCAPE Annex Building is coming up before 2007 ends. It will be situated somewhere next to Orchard Cineleisure.

The fire of passion continues burning.

Yeah ya!!! To all of you people out there...have a jolly fun time!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Cheers!
(p/s: More information has been put up at our YCM website, especially the forums. To find out more, please go --> www.changemakers.youth.sg)

harlow? harlow?

2006-07-10T12:38:00.000+08:00

hello one and all!!

now let's see... no one's really blogging besides alan and i, so COME ON!!! just blog already!
if you need the login name and password, feel free to call alan or i or ask shawn or kenghwee or june (if she's still around when you finally read this!).

ANYWAY, i'm in panel 2, and some of you are in panel 3.. it's tough for 2 panels to KIT with each other, but we're trying here, yeah? we're trying! =) to bring both panels out on outings, get-togethers, and all that...

of which, i'd like to propose to both panels to make a day in 3rd week of JULY or 3rd week of August free, so that we can all meet up and go for a movie! Quite honestly, i'm not sure if it'll be still screening by August slot or not...

Anyway, 4 days for all of you to choose from, for July:
17th July (monday); Evening
18th July (tuesday); Evening
21st July (friday); Evening
23rd July (sunday); afternoon/evening?

QUESTIONS!!
Why are we doing a rushed July meet-up movie outing?
simple answer: Coz dearest JUNE here, is LEAVING for melborne.
you see lah, she's abandoning us! sob sob. mwahhaha.. no lah, June's leaving on the 25th this month, to fly off to melborne to start a new life there with her newly-wedded hubby (you should see her, she's all rosy and blushing the moment you start teasing her about it).

And what of the August outing?
answer: it's just for those who missed July's outing. honestly, we should all turn up for July's outing.. we could have a great big farewell dinner for June... yeah?
but if you really can't make it, then in August we shall have another movie outing.. =)

The few of us from the Welfare committee (um, aka the whiskyns) have decided for all of us to watch "Pirates of the Carribean 2" only because it's got really good looking guys acting in it. ;)

no seriously, we wanted to watch the sequel and find out what happens to ditzy captain jack. =P

now, can all of you (YES, I MEAN ALL) please proceed to looking at your various calenders, organizers, PDA appointment software, laptop lotus notes, ms outlook (whatever it is you use to store your appts and meetings), and tell our dearest secretariats june and shawn, when you're free.

we'll pick the day where a majority of us are free.. if you have to miss it, i suppose we could catch up with lunch or dinner another day! haha..

date line to RSVP is by the end of July..

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE rsvp, okay?
I can't do anything unless you help me out here with some dates and stuff like that...

Other welfare matters...

1. September retreat
okaaay, edmund and i are in the midst of planning for the retreat. Essentially, it's YCM's workplan forum, but unofficially, it's play time after the discussions and refresher classes. ;)
Generally, that's what's going on with the plans at the moment.

2. SCRAPS book
alright, we need help. honestly, yes, i'm begging all of you...
please come up with some comments, bombard ling over the phone, on the internet, during meetings, flood her with your comments of what you think of YCM currently (your work in progress thoughts and all) so that we can put it down into our little scrapbook!

RCs need change too?

2006-06-28T22:40:00.000+08:00

This is an article emailed to me by a friend today.

It is written by a guy called Joseph Tay, who is a grassroots activist, with a consulting firm called The Creative Edge.

"The recent furore between grassroots organisations and the Community Development Councils (CDC) over competing activities in the heartlands would not have made the headlines ,if not for Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng's public intervention to settle their roles.

It mattered less than it should to most residents. The truth is, few Singaporeans even know their residents' committees (RCs), much less take part in their activities. (which I think is very true.)

RC activities have become almost mundane (I must agree..it's boring) routines.The same old dumpling, lantern festivals, cultural shows, and innumerable rounds of dinners are pervasive RC activities.

People are bored, I suspect (must be lah). Routinely, RC members have had to round up the same old supporters to attend these functions.

Celebrations during festivities are not the problem. The issue here is the programme. It looks as if someone pulled up last year's programme, dusted it off, and updated the date and presto! It becomes an instant festival.

Grassroots organisations historically serve an important role in fostering racial harmony. Today, that role is even more critical given present-day societal pressures and extremism. To remain relevant, grassroots organisations need an urgent update on how to reach out to their residents and get greater participation.

Grassroot activities are often run by volunteers who are already contributing significantly in efforts, time, and in some cases, money. Official budgets allocated to RCs are invariably small and never enough to do more. Yet it seems wasteful for all that efforts and resources not to be able to reach deeper into the heartlands.

Some housewives and retirees are regular participants of grassroots activities. Most youth and working adults remain disengaged. Some even consider RC activities, such as karaoke, a nuisance! (Yeah, ya..many of us youths do think that way.)

The People's Association (PA) coordinates the activities of all grassroots organisations. It sets guidelines on the types of activities RCs should organise throughout the year.

RCs are then awarded stars for organising them, if you are not aware. Altough not intended, RCs often end up doing the obvious and the easy, to comply with the PA guidelines and earn themselves the required stars.

It is interesting that the PA itself is undergoing a transformation. Credit must be given to its leadership for realising the need to change and taking steps to do so. However, the same ought to be done for grassroots organisations.

It is easier said than done, of course. As the recent competitive tension between the grassroots and the CDCs indicates, sensitivities can be easily upset and good intentions may backfire.

Grassroots leadership is invaluable, not something that the PA would want to undermine. Moreover, volunteers are in short supply. There is no queue of volunteers waiting to contribute.
However, the PA, with greater resources and expertise at its disposal, could churn out a menu of new programmes targeted at the various segments of the population. Ownership should remain with the RCs, which will be free to select programmes appropriate to their needs and will remain responsible for effective implementation.

Although this may seem like a small and almost mundane change, it also requires a change in mindset on the part of all the organisations on the ground.

Roles have to be re-configured and aligned toward the goal of fostering racial harmony through greater participation of all races. The slew of new targeted programmes will also attract more people to join grassroots organisations.

In this respect, the leadership of the MP (Member of Parliament) is critical in balancing the well-intentioned but sometimes conflicting efforts of the many organisations on the ground.

There is no better time than now to re-think how grassroots organisations can do a more effective job of reaching out to the population. It is time to ponder why and what else can be done besides the plethora of the usual cultural events and dinners.

The energy of volunteerism is being consumed by the busy work of ineffective activities. Fresh innovative efforts are needed to energise volunteers and engage the masses.

The MP should start the ball rolling by refusing to grace the same old dinners?"

My views:

Indeed. We definitely need changes in the RC activities. As I've observed, It is always the same group of people organising the same old activities. Very dull and boring! Where is that innovation and creativity? When it comes to organising community activities, I think RCs have failed to note that people are more receptive to taking part in events which are considered "refreshing".

Perhaps our uncles and aunties have run out of new ideas?? I think this is where new younger RC members or volunteers come into the picture. It is now the 21st Century. Speaking about that, I think it is also important for the RCs to be open-minded and being bold enough to accept a fresh influx of suggestions and ideas from the young volunteers.

In addition, due to the fact that very often the RCs are organising the same old actvities meant for the same group of people (abit like the Community clubs), it cannot shed off its boring image. That somehow explains why young people like students and young working adults are turned off whenever they hear the word "RC". In comparison to the outside exposure they have gained these days, they would of course decide that they won't bother or express their interest in taking part in RC activities, let alone volunteering to help out at RC activities.

Why?

Simply because RC activities are perceived as "not cool".
Agree people?

We need to change that man!!! Kekekeke!!!

Alan aka Humourboi

Young Change Makers Launch!!!!

2006-03-15T00:10:00.000+08:00

Hi everyone,

I hope all of you do enjoy the launch on Saturday.

It was a hectic morning isn't it? Thank goodness, everything went on smoothly without any major hiccup. We all deserved a pat on our shoulders ya? *clap clap clap!!!!!*

For all those new panellists who join us for the next 1 year, I hope that it would be a rewarding experience for you. At least for me, it is. In terms of personal development.

Anyway, you will understand even better about the YCM funding process, when you complete the grantmaker training session coming up in mid-April.

In meantime, do share with us all the photos here, if you have taken snapshots during the launch last Saturday. One of our new panellists, Tan Huiyi would upload some photos here on Friday. =)

MCYS Youth Division online portal Youth.sg wants me to contribute an article on the YCM Launch. You see, I am one of the article contributors. Hehehe. Hopefully I can write out a good one for them.

Cheers,
Alan aka Humourboi

=)

2006-03-12T15:27:00.000+08:00

the 2nd panel is coming up soon!!!

Officially, they're called as the "first panel"...
but really, to us it's the 2nd panel, innit?

in any case, yes i'm updating, i'm updating!
hold your horses for a bit yeah...? =)

the side margin stuff may look empty now, but i promise to update as and when while we go along!

*edit*

taken off alan's nice blog...
here's a picture of minister dr vivian balakrishnan and parl. secretary dr maliki..
at our launch press conference.. =)

and the big bang..

raarrrr!
okay, well if there're other great stuff to blog about our lovely panel, i'm sure we'll all do our best to put it up here right? ;)

BYE BYE 2005, HELLO 2006!

2005-12-30T15:55:00.000+08:00

Hi all,

it's that time of the year again for us all to do our own self-reflections and plan ahead for the coming year. What was the greatest gain you have for year 2005? What new year resolutions you have for 2006?

Cool...everyone made it. December Panel Meeting went on smoothly!! Let's keep it that way! *Applause! Applause!*

There would be more things coming our way. Browsing through the January applications...doing online votings.....meeting up the applicants whom we vote "Let's Meet!" ...and then January panel meet. Of course, not forgetting fellow panelists who are involved in the YCM Official Launch in March 2006, putting in new new ideas and preparing for our respective roles...amid our work or studies.

Oh I do "hear" some of you groaning "headache". Hey let's keep our spirits upfloat ok?

I presume we can also start "head-hunting" for our successors already. Hahaha. For anyone whom you think can sit on the 2nd YCM Youth Panel, I think we can email our YCM Secretariat.

As 2005 becomes history, let's embrace the coming year in a new positive manner and allow each and everyone of us to flourish in our personal growth. Start afresh!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Alan aka Humourboi

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

2005-12-27T13:23:00.000+08:00

okay, so christmas came and went, so did our meeting!!
hope everyone enjoyed the last meeting... glorious food and gift exchanging and of course, our main course: the final voting..

=)

Here's wishing all of us a Happy New Year!!!
And may the new year be a better year for us all!!

P.S.: I heard publicity needs some brainstorming done for the March Launch...
so do help!

quick update

2005-11-08T00:40:00.000+08:00

Hi everyone!

now, meeting ended at 11pm just now...
it's 12.42am on my laptop's clock. by the time i end this post it might be slightly over 1am or before that...

anyway, the meeting was great!
We had.. right, pizza again. I blew the budget by $6.30 but we enjoyed it with some complaints.
Whoevers buy dinner next month, make it Chicken Rice please!

Right, hahahaha...
we have to take one issue online, which will be discussed over the forums. I don't know how many from the public actually reads this. (I hope none)
It's about the projects that branched out to smaller little peppery projects that actually do come from one focused project or event: Do we fund those? Or do we look at those few individual projects, and we give the money to the project that bests suits our principles and interests?

So yeah, that one, go over to the forums, someone.. please start the ball rolling on that topic.

Those who didn't turn up, you have to write lines.
"I will not skip classes again." 400 lines, no carbon copying, no typed out ones either. cannot ask your friends to help.

okay, just kidding.

What else?
oh yes, groupings.
New groups will be out by tomorrow. I think latest, afternoon.
(but andrew saw the hard copy and i'm the only girl in his group. great. i thought i'd sue keng for that, but i don't have the money and i was merely joking about it..)

=P

yes, i can't think of anything else to type in here...

oh look, it's only 12.48am.. or around there...
hahaha..
shall end here, and should I have the sudden inspiration to type something corny in here, I will..

other than that...
meeting is on the 28th November, dinner is at 7pm.. meeting commences at 7.30pm.
OH WE HAVE AN OUTING DATE CONFIRMED.

it will be on 4th December.
Time isn't confirmed. I can't remember where we're gonna be at...
but i know i'll be in-charge of games and entertainment.
you guys are gonna die, coz i can't seem to think up of better games than Ultimate frisbee and soccer and the limbo walk (that thing where you play music, have a bamboo stick and you have to go under it and all that.. i do hope you guys don't have stiff backs, coz i do)

anyway, yeah...

time to go.
i haven't shitted the whole day and am feeling constipated now..
so i'm gonna go to the toilet.
i hope you have sweet dreams tonight. ;)

Votes people, VOTES!!

2005-11-01T18:22:00.000+08:00

Hi, so here I am, typing out mental notes to people literally.
hahaha...

Dear fellow YCM-ers,

I hope all of you had a wonderful Deepavali and a freaky Halloween's day yesterday!!
Well, since I celebrated deepavali listening to my mom scream and make alot ALOT of noise and me being sick, plus having my cat prancing past me every 10 minutes chasing after a paper ball which i so nicely shaped into a little rat's head for halloween...

shawn decided to see if i was well enough to get out of the house for some fresh air and-

okay, cut things short, I went for the meeting.

Like usual, it's been such a blast!!!
but like only, what..?
16 of us turned up?

hello, people....
alright, I know that a few of us have public holiday rights and some have exams...
but where have the rest of you went to?

I can sense that the secretariats aren't exactly pleased about the lack of votes, but i'll be vocal about it, I don't like it that not everyone is voting because the rest of us DO actually try ways and means to find time to actually download those applications, read them, comment on them and even vote on them.

I swear it won't even take you longer than reading this post.

Within the next few days, the secretariat and group 2 will be sending out some more votes. Please cast your votes via the emails/forums-via-post-reply.

I don't like to start being like those americans who, whenever they have a general election, go all out even in tv serials to do their patriotic "Vote of Me, but if you don't, still, your vote still counts. Please vote!" thingy...

but it seems like every month, that's my duty to do so... hahaha...

so, please please please vooooote.
damn, i sound so pathetic going around asking people to vote. hahahaha....

anyway, that aside, we still have 3 projects that we've approved of, that need mentors. I have rather short term memory, so I can't really remember which 3 projects they are.

other than that, vote vote VOTE, aye?

cheers from your lovely fellow panellist..
angeline

Good evening Everyone!

2005-10-24T21:34:00.000+08:00

Alrighty, word is out that we have to review AND meet all the applicants due to everyone's lack of voting...

This means that we have 2 meetings to sit through..
on the 31st October, 8pm at NYC.
The other meeting has yet to be confirmed.

Please please please....
try to do more voting come next month...
we desperately, yes, desperately, need the votes and valid reasons for the votes to make these applications count.
15 votes out of 30, 40 people doesn't count as unanimous(sp?) votes.
So, please do vote!

The votes, I've seen, have been extended till tomorrow, 10.30pm.
So, if you can, and you MUST, vote now.

We have a responsibility in voting on the proposals coming in, and deciding whom we should meet or not, I must emphasize on that.

I'll see you all soon...
=) will update when there are updates given!

Updates

2005-10-23T19:08:00.000+08:00

Alrighty people...
Poll session is in, please do your usual thing, vote please!!!

Meeting will be on the 31st, not tomorrow, so please do take note.

Hello to all the sleeping Beaus and Belles!!

2005-10-19T02:17:00.000+08:00

It's time again for all of us to go over to the forums for some good bedtime story reading and lots of questioning "WHY?!? BUT WHHHHY?!?!?!" to do...

[hey, it's the ONLY time we get to do this, yea? ;) relish it!]

So, while we may grumble at the amount of work we have to do right now, "THIRTY FOUR PROPOSALS LEEEEEH!!! THIRTY FOUR!!!"
yes yes, we all know, it's a big 3 and 4. (okay, it's not very big numbers but when you put them side by side, yes, they're quite huge)

BUT, 34 could be a small sum compared to what we might face next month, and possibly all through till april next year! (we may well be chalking up to about 70 proposals?)
that's if we're that great at the publicity in getting us known, we could even get even up to the hundreds.

So, 3 and 4 can be considered quite small!
haha.. alright, enough rubbish, i'm just consoling my silly lazy self again. ;P

ANYHOW, get your butts to our all new [FORUMS].
Have a go at it, go on... take it for a spin and a few rides.... tell us how you're liking it already?

oh, btw, you need to register to gain access to the boards. tell june or shawn that you've registered, and they'll authorise you on in no time!

I haven't had time to put up the amount of proposals we have to review, but when i get back from my short vacation to genting, i will do so.

Meanwhile, be good boys and girls (or disciplined men and women) and go download those files, read them and comment.
When shawn and gang has put up the polls, you know the drills... vote and state why (if you have extra reasons already not stated in the other threads).

Alrighties?

to alan: i think i shall leave this particular blog's tagline as it is.. it adds a little more cosy humour to the reader. ;)
besides, this blog isn't the official website of YCM, so we can just play around with the stuff around here. like post silly jokes or share a funny picture or two.. nothing too serious unless it's the monthly updates like these to get you guys to start up on your reading again.. =)

(good on those who've read and commented! you guys rock!)

alrighty, i'm outta here, unless we haven't all realised, i'm typing this at something like 2.30am, freezing my ass off in the chilly air. ;)
okay, goodnight (or good morning/afternoon/evening) to you, wherever and whenever you read this!

First meeting - CONQUERED!

2005-09-27T19:01:00.000+08:00

Guess what?
GUESS?!?!?!

(besides the fact that my birthday is just next friday - *HINTING*)

alright, i shan't torture you lah...
WE CONQUERED THE FIRST MEETING!!!
thanks to Group 1's great efforts in the later part..
i don't know how you guys did it, but terrence was fan-ta-bulous at facilitating the meeting!
Alan's compiling all the information now, and we'll be hearing from our nyc friends' on the things that have been discussed last night..
Kal did a GREAT job in pushing out suggestions and questions!
Shima and Khairul.... GREAT food. (but can we have a box of fishballs too?) hahahaha....

anyway, everyone did great jobs!!
(i'm not that great a 'care taker' but i'm trying here, i'm trying here! lol)

alright.. umm.. i can't really think of what to add in here..
but to remind you guys to look out for the documents that will be uploaded on the yahoo groups soon!
If you can't access it, please do ask around from the rest of us ya? =)

hope you guys have a GREAT week ahead!

HEY EVERYONE!!!

2005-09-21T23:24:00.000+08:00

Hi everyone!

we had our VERY FIRST inaugural (sp?) tonight!
and it was a BLAST!!!

first up, to those who couldn't turn up, it's alright! =)
further details will be posted up soon... michelle ong is working part of our meeting notes as I type this. (THANK YOU MICHELLE O!!! we love you for that! mwah!)

In other news, please DO DO DO try to come for our first meeting on this coming 26th!
we need a strong turn up coz we have LOTS to do on the 26th alright?
please also,

check out the new forums board HERE.
7 of you haven't signed up yet! (how could you NOT?)

so please go sign up, and put in your votes.
Our friendly NYC friends have told us, 12 noon tomorrow will be THE dateline for questions, comments and most importantly, YOUR VOTES.

We really need the votes in soon, coz they count!

Plus, we've decided on the tag line! (FINALLY man, i can take off the "Air your Views, not your armpits!" but then again, this blog can be here for our future crap business.. hahas)

Anyway, "information overload" will be out from tomorrow to at most, within the next 2 days.

please check back often for some more updates!

Have a great week, and weekend ahead!
do get some red bull on monday, it'll give you wiiiings!
we need the energy on monday!

p.s: please confirm with either june or shawn about your attendance for monday!

toodles! ;)
angie

Young Change Makers!!

2005-09-20T01:41:00.000+08:00

This is quite an interesting TV commercial shown in French - What if people with disabilities are not a minority in this world?

http://www.ad-awards.com/inc/video.swf?id=104

Channel NewsAsia has just started running the encore of 'I'm special, It's OK'. The programme debuts 19 September 2005, every Monday night 8.32pm (reruns at 11.32pm) until 3 October 2005. The program visits schools in Singapore and Thailand where information technology levels the playing field for children with special needs.

In Asia, Asians see people with disablities differently..very often, in a negative way. The same goes to some Singaporeans.

It's about time we ought to change this mindset.

People with or without disablities, I say, we are all human beings. Why must we discriminate people with disablities, thinking that they can't do the same things as their able-bodied counterparts?

If we don't give them the chance, how can they prove their capablity?

Work your facial muscles....

2005-09-15T11:25:00.000+08:00

Hi guys,

A piece of saturated to chew on...and to reflect upon the roles to which we have committed and what we are embarking upon....

'Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.' - Anonymous

Project Forum version 1.1

2005-09-14T18:00:00.000+08:00

Kal, I've taken the liberty (again) to unclutter the blog a little.. (sorry, i'm quite a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to digital stuff coz i know i'll NEVER be this neat irl.)

I hope this proves to be neater?
anyway, review and comment on it..
we'll have to discuss on who wants to own which project and whatnots too.

Project Forum version 1.1:

Project Title:
Charity Premiers, Help Your Two Best Friends

Quick Description: for Breast Cancer awareness
Project Period: 6th October 2005
Project Location: Cathay Cineleisure Orchard
Project Budget: S$3,800

access it at: Charity Primers

Project Title:
Creative Learning Strategies through Styles

Quick Description: help students gain more learning styles
Project Period: August - December 2005
Project Location: St Andrew's Secondary School
Project Budget: S$5,300

access it at: CLASS

Project Title:
Imagine Singapore

Quick Description: Civics Education for the Youth
Project Period: August 2005 - August 2006
Project Location: School of Thought / public areas
Project Budget: S$7,000

access it at: Imagine Singapore

Project Title:
L'effet de Papillon (The Butterfly Effect)

Quick Description: for the awareness on Systemic Lupus Erethematosus (SLE)
Project Period: End October 2005 - January 2006
Project Location: Singapore
Project Budget: S$19,790

access it at: L'effet de Papillon

Project Title:
Making a Difference In Nuturing Compassion

Quick Description: increase awareness on different societies that are involved in Animal Welfare to the general public
Project Period: 18 August - 2 October 2005
Project Location: Bishan Park
Project Budget: S$4,350

access it at: M.A.D.I.N.C

Project Title:
Medisearch

Quick Description: for convenience of the general public to able to gain immediate knowledge on the nearest clinic in their neighbourhood.
Project Period: 3 months
Project Location: Online
Project Budget: S$7,000

access it at: Medisearch

Project Title:
"My World" Photo Exhibition and Auction

Quick Description: a photo exhibition on 3 youths (who have been through hell and back again and still be able to get O level certs) and to encourage other school dropouts to give a shot at studying again.
Project Period: September - December 2005
Project Location: National Library Board (New Lee Kong Chian Reference
Library)
Project Budget: S$6,300

access it at: My World

Project Title:
North East Youth Volunteer Empowerment Programme (VEP)

Quick Description: promote volunteerism to the school-going community
Project Period: 3 months
Project Location: Sengkang / Punggol
Project Budget: S$2,100

access it at: NE youth VEP

Project Title:
"SAID! Youth Open" Debate Championships

Quick Description: To encourage active centizenry and openess among youth in singapore
Project Period: 12 - 26 November 2005
Project Location: Centennial Tower
Project Budget: S$4,770

access it at: SAID debates

Project Title:
Social Entrepreneurship Programme (SEP)

Quick Description: a programme in which Singapore Sports School is working together with the community for a good and charitable cause
Project Period: September - November 2005
Project Location: Based in Singapore Sports School
Project Budget: S$4,520

access it at: SEP

here are the nominated tag lines thus far...

2005-09-10T12:28:00.000+08:00

hi hi!!!

I've taken the liberty of putting up the nominated tag lines that huimin (aka jam) has taken the time to consolidate so far..

o Unleashing Dreams, Inspiring Change
o Empowering Dreams, Inspiring Change Together
o Empowering Youth, Inspiring Change
o Empowering Youths, Realising Dreams
o Embracing dreams, inspiring youths
o Youth Empowered by Aspirations and Hope
o Youth Embracing Aspirations and Hope
o Empowering our Youth, Improving our Future
o A new tagline!

A few of us have issues with YEAH! and how it might confuse the public about YEAH!, the signature project/programme from South West CDC. We might want to re-think on being more original without trying to borrow accronyms too much.

It would be a bonus if we had accronyms in our catch phrase like "Have you been MAD today?" from heartware network. MAD being Making A Difference. (i think most of us would know that one.. hahas)

(: cast in your votes, nontheless!
and great suggestions everyone!

VISION!!!!

2005-09-10T09:34:00.000+08:00

We have yet to come up with a vision...

So far it's... Empowering Youth, Realising Dreams is it?

Empowering our Youth, Improving our Future?

It's a sort of alliteration, with the "P" sound on the second syllable of each half of the sentence. I added in "our" to sort-of take care of the "Together" which, I agree, makes it a little clumsy. And because of the fact that we are CHANGE MAKERS, and by that we implicitly mean positive change, I used the word improving.

Voting 4b: Indirect links to project

2005-09-10T09:28:00.000+08:00

IF we have very close but indirect links to the project (say, family/friend/girlfriend/ boyfriend/ boss/colleague is applying for grant), should we still vote?

I say yes... we should maintain some professionalism and trust amongst ourselves.

Voting 4a: Personal links to project

2005-09-10T09:26:00.000+08:00

Are we agreed then that if you are involved in the project, you don't vote?

Voting 3: Voting in absentia

2005-09-10T09:22:00.000+08:00

When someone is missing, are they allowed to vote by proxy, or is my vote counted as an "Abstain" vote?

Voting by proxy means if I'm not going to be around, but I somehow already know which ones I want to vote yes, I'll just pass my voting decision to someone.

Voting 2: Re-vote

2005-09-10T09:10:00.000+08:00

(This blog is assuming we have a "majority wins" voting process)

Given that we should be looking towards giving out grants rather than not giving out grants, I'm wondering if we can add in a small detour on the voting process.

I would like to suggest that there has to be a clear margin of victory. So for example, the difference between the "aye" and "nay" camps should be at least a difference of 2-3 votes (not just 1 vote), otherwise it goes back to the voting process.

The reason why I suggest this is because if it's an almost 50-50 split, it means that half of us agree with the grant, and half do not. Both sides should then be given a chance to say, within a time limit of 3-5 min, what they feel is right about the grant, or wrong about the grant. Then we take a re-vote.

Voting 1: Majority rule?

2005-09-10T09:08:00.000+08:00

I know we haven't covered this yet, and so far we've just taken the majority wins attitude.

So I just want to visit this topic.

Is it Majority wins during voting to award grants?

Legality 2: Setting up a Red-tape committee

2005-09-10T09:04:00.000+08:00

As has been pointed out, there may be some activities that will never see the light of day, simply because of legal concerns. The Le Parkour case has been raised.

My suggestion is that we set up a Red-Tape committee (RTC).

If a suggestion comes to us, and we find that it does not satisfy the Legality criterion, then the RTC can study it to see if we can help push the activity either through legal means, OR through helping to cut the red-tape.

After all, if we are the Young Change Makers, then we need to spearhead change right? :)

Thoughts?

RE: Legality 1: rewording the Eligibility criterion

2005-09-10T09:02:00.000+08:00

That's a good point raised, but I feel that 'The activity should be legal' actually has a more positive intonation than 'The activity should not be illegal'. It might be due to 'not' and 'illegal'. I think the word 'illegal', more than 'legal', gets people started on restricting their activities and ideas to something safe.

Legality 1: rewording the Eligibility criterion

2005-09-09T20:34:00.000+08:00

This post is wrt the case study on Le Parkour (btw, I haven''t had a chance to read June''s attachments, so I hope this point isn''t covered already).

I think instead of us saying "The activity should be legal", we should say "The activity should NOT be illegal".

The difference is a small one, but the wording is significant. It's like saying "You can turn only when there's a U-turn sign", versus "You can turn UNLESS there is a No-U-turn sign"

Thoughts?

And now, the heavy stuff

2005-09-09T20:20:00.000+08:00

Hi all,

KJ here. OK, perhaps we should start putting this blog into good use. I''ll raise a few issues here, just like a forum. Here are some "norms" (haha) that I think we should observe when using this blog as forum, so that our discussions can be productive and focused. Please feel free to add or suggest improvements

1) Be tactful and understanding - Do unto others what you'd like done unto you
2) Be concise - 'nuff said
3) If someone else has said it already, don't say it again (unless it's a vote)

4) Each blog entry should ideally deal with only 1 issue. So that when people reply, they will only focus on that one issue. For example, if I am concerned about our own panelists applying for grants, my post would prob look like:

a) Panelist applying for grants: Should the panelist abstain from voting?
b) Panelist applying for grants: Should the panelist remove him/herself from the voting room so as not to pressure the other panelists into voting yes?

The following are NEGATIVE examples:

a) Can panelists apply for grants? [This topic is very general, as it encompasses many points]
b) How can we make YCM more transparent in light of accountability [again, too big a topic]

If your response covers, say, 3 points, then, to make it easier to read, you can post 3 different responses. This way, when others are making references to your points, it is easier to single out the idea.

Of course, I understand that sometimes it is very difficult to separate issues, but let''s try our best :)

5) I'm already going against my Be Concise rule, so I'll stop here.

Have a good weekend!

check it out everyone!

2005-09-09T12:48:00.000+08:00

hey everyone!

hope you're all having a great week so far..!
the weekend's near! (in just a FEW hours!)

June's sent out the mails to get all of us to check out the mock set up for the new webby, so please do check it out, and share your views on it!!

I find it really good! (:
-angeline

Case Study: Le Parkour

2005-09-08T09:34:00.000+08:00

This is our long topic on Le Parkour, please do put in your thoughts about it! (:

Hazrul:
Hi guys,

I was watching the news yesterday and there was this report on Le Parkour practitioners in Singapore and how this "sport" is gaining popularity among the young. Here's the bombshell. Police say, the sport is illegal. There were cases where "practitioners" were caught for "Trespassing" and "Causing nuisance to residents".

I wasn't comfortable with the "Proposal must be Legal" criteria but I couldn't voice out an example.

Le Parkour is not an official sport, and no organisation represents it. What if a group of practitioners would like to propose a public display of Le Parkour to encourage more people to take up the sport and to give it due recognition as a sport?

How then do you balance between what is a positive change against what is legal/illegal?

Imad:

Hhhmmmm......

I think that as with all sports,practitioners of that particular sport must register themselves with SSC (or an equivalent organisation) for it to be "recognised" as a sport.A long time ago,skateboarding was illegal in the strictest sense of the word. Over time,views became more developed and the sport was subsequently accepted and recognised.Now,we have skateboarding parks and youths do it all over the place.This does not mean however that if they were caught skating at places where they shouldn't be,they will be let off.

IF a bunch of youths came to YCM for a grant to promote the sport of free running,I think it will be prudent for us to mentor them accordingly.Get the proper license for them to demonstrate the activity and etc.I,for one, would support it 100%.I saw the movie "Yamakasi" and want to be hero lah and want to start jumping and flipping all over the place....dem yaya lah me.... can't even get out of my own bed properly :-p

I mean think about it... how would you feel if one of these chaps (leftover word from the training session :-p) was suddenly found hanging from your 5th floor HDB flat at Yew Tee or something?

But never say never....

On another matter,kudos to all involved in the creation of the contact list.Absolutely outstanding! :-))

Imad
p.s. I went home on Sunday and saw a note on the fridge.My parents are out of town for 2 weeks....hahahhaaa.....

Hazrul:

Good call.

But then again, Free Running and Skateboarding are 2 different things. (I don't think there is a Skateboarding Association of Singapore. Anyone know of any?)

Imagine if we built a "Free Running Park". Kind of weird don't you think? With live-size buildings and bridges and people flying and jumping around.

Anywhere else, free running is illegal. And you have to put up all those stick man signs like those "No Football at the void deck!" hahaha... Imagine, "No Parkouring!" I wonder how the stickman will look like. heh...

Please Parkour at designated Parkour Lots!

But eventually, people will have to live with it. Like how many of us are guilty of playing football at the void deck and at the basketball court?

Angeline:

hey, i'll have a say in it, coz I once tried parkour (only once) and
i have buddies who does le parkour like how one would go for tkd
training. it's a very interesting sport, I'd have to say as it
challenges your body and your mind. Let me tell you, it's SO
addictive and fun coz it makes you feel like you're superman..!
hahs...

Anyway, Parkour is said to be illegal only because it is potentially
very dangerous (i'll get to that in a bit) and it isn't safe for the
society, i might add.
I'd say it isn't safe because, what if criminals learnt parkour in
order to do their crimes?

I have to emphasis that by practicising parkour on a regular basis
makes one REALLY fit, and i mean like SUPER fit, they are very
agile, they travel like ninjas (they must learn how to land lightly
on their feet after dropping 9 feet down) and they are VERY VERY
fast. This would give an advantage to these potential criminals and
it would take a car just to catch up with them. You can't catch up
with these guys if you're gonna chase them on your feet.
This is possibly one of the standing reasons why the police aren't
making it legal.

Another reason would be that, if parkour was to be allowed, we're
gonna see ALOT of broken bones, alot of foot prints on buildings
(yes, i said buildings) and alot of speed-crazy youths on feet.

I've watched this documentary on Discovery Channel on Le Parkour.
I'll just introduce Le Parkour briefly to those who are clueless
about it. Le Parkour was founded by a youth (who's prolly around 24
now) in France. It is a new alternative sport that embraces a cross
disciplinary of martial arts and a hell lot of running.
It practices the arts from ninjitsu to (actually i can't remember,
but they had put the emphasis on the way ninjas travel around).
Anyway, these guys came together one day and got bored of just
running on the ground, they loved playing platform computer games
(eg: sonic, spiderman, you get the idea) and they wanted something
MORE challenging that the norm, hence, le parkour was formed.
These guys are so good, they even did a guiness record of travelling
above ground at a certain rate for a few hours to complete some
kilometres. This was done either in France or Londone (i can't
remember those details), and they jumped from building to building
as much as they could and this happened over a span of several
famous buildings.

But anyway, back to the topic, I'd love to see a free running park
in *scape. ahaha.. they're still looking for ideas, I think this
would be a good one. Coz i think even if parkour is to be made
legal, there'll be more parkour kids around to help out as well. The
only concern left would be them trying to climb up the walls like
the chinese kungfu heros (eg: jackie chan or jet li) would do and
jumping 2 stories down without the intent to commit suicide.

A good friend of mine who does parkour fractured his wrist and
sprained his ankle from jumping 1.4m down.. that's how bad it gets
if one doesn't have proper training.

Yep..
so that's my say on it.. hahs.. i know it's pretty long a say, but
yeah.. hahas..
hope you guys learnt more insights to parkour.. (:

toodles!
angeline

any other thoughts, anyone?

virgin post...

2005-09-06T16:28:00.000+08:00

haha.. hi guys, this is the virgin post....
those with blogger accounts, send me your emails to add you in....
I'll work on getting the layouts done (or if our gahmen counterparts are willing, i wouldn't mind a background picture, and i'll do up the rest) AFTER my exams are done..

Also, the debut post will come soon... (btw, we can start on the topics, i shall add in the post on Le Parkour after this..

Till then,
cheers!
angeline

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