Terence Speaks on Rotaract

Q1) How did you end up being a Rotaract?

It was both by coincident and choice. I migrated to KL in early 1994, and got in touch with a friend who was an Interactor. She was the VP in her club and when she completed Form 5, a Rotaractor of Gombak contacted and invited her to club meetings. I still remember the telephone conversation. She mentioned something about a Rotaractor who has been bugging her to attend their club meeting for the past few weeks. I laughed and thought that was funny – perhaps the Rotaractor wanted to date her. So, as to end the constant calling to attend meetings, she summoned up 6 friends majority ex-Interactors (including me) both from her Interact club and college to join her in attending this meeting. In return, we were promised the opportunity to meet new friends of the opposite gender. (p.s. The six of us do not really know each other, you see). At that time, how could a single and lonely guy who just settled in the big city like me refused?

It was a Saturday afternoon; we took the bus and congregated at Lebuh Ampang before proceeding to Jalan Medan Pasar (the venue of the club meeting) by foot. We were supposed to locate a college named Bedford Girls College somewhere behind the Central Market. We found the college, but no Rotaractors. We wait for about 15 minutes before being informed that the club meeting was postponed, by a Gombak Rotaractor who was there because he thought that Saturday was a meeting day and also got to know the postponement after calling the President. As we were about to leave the 2nd floor of the otherwise closed college, we heard a kind of laughter, noise and commotion coming from the 4th floor. Being a young curious lad at that time, I climbed 2 floors up and investigated. What did we know? Another Rotaract club was about to begin their meeting as well. It was the Pudu Rotaract Club instead. Instead of leaving without achieving our main intention set earlier, I convinced the others to spend the hour at the club meeting. Since then, I fell in love with Rotaract; or to be more precise, the Rotaract Club of Pudu.

Q2) Why did you decide to become a Rotaractor?

This may sound like nonsense to majority of youth today. I wanted to do something more meaningful during my weekends compared to shopping (or window shopping most of the time), watching TV or sleeping at home. I had a hobby then – photography. It was quite a costly past time then. A portion of my salary went to films, processing them, and transportation cost. Digital cameras weren’t introduced yet back then. I also realized I lack many other skills, being fresh out of school. To many people’s surprise, I was really a shy boy back then, without much socializing or inter-personal skills. I wanted to develop this and other related leadership skills, and I knew Rotaract can offer me these opportunities. The other reasons I joined Rotaract were also to meet new friends and perhaps do a bit of charity or service. All in all, it was for rather selfish reasons, so to speak.

Q3) People say they do not have much time nowadays. It was noted that you were having a day time job and night classes during your earlier years in Rotaract. Where did you find the time and how did you pulled through?

It’s simple math, really. I worked from 9am to 5pm, Mondays to Fridays; and 9am to 1pm on Saturdays. Classes were from 6pm to 9pm, 3 out of 5 weekdays. This left me with 2 evenings in weekdays, 1½ days in the weekends. People say Rotaract or any volunteer work is time consuming. Yes, it is. But it is we who decides how much time is given. We can spend half a day in a week for Rotaract activities and meetings, and we can also spend half of our weeks on Rotaract stuff. It’s voluntary, remember.

How did I pull through? Well, we got to like what we are doing in Rotaract. I’m glad I didn’t need to do anything I don’t like in Rotaract. Better yet, we need to be passionate. You’ll be surprised what passion can do to anyone. That’s how I pulled through – Prioritized my time and did what I was passionate about. To top that, I was actually dating my current wife then. She always lamented that I'm more passionate in Rotaract than in our relationship.

Q4) How did you become so passionate about Rotaract?

Personally, I believe the formula or ingredients to create ‘Passion’ are time, purpose, and motivation. When we have these 3 mixed at the right amount, we get passionate. I must say these 3 factors played a significant role in creating the passion I needed in Rotaract. Firstly, passion needs time to be cultivated. This is particularly relevant to allow experiences to settle in. We can’t really demand passion from someone if he/she just sat his/her eyes on that something. My passionate point came when I approach my second membership year. So much so, I gave additional attention and time for Rotaract.

Secondly, we can’t be passionate if we do not know our purpose in life or at any particular point in our life and the reason(s) we are attracted to that something. Whether the purpose is good or otherwise is irrelevant. I know the purpose I joined Rotaract and believed in its objectives were in accordance to my life principles, and Rotaract could help me get to where I wanted to go and what I wanted to achieve at that time.

Thirdly, when passion is built upon and needed to be sustained, motivation is the fuel or energy supplies to ensure the passion we have do not run out of steam. Amongst the motivation I received were the enjoyment experienced when being with friends (members), the improvement in leadership and management skills obtained, enlarged network circle of friends, the happy faces on the individuals Rotaract has touched, and not forgetting an understanding partner.

Q5) How has Rotaract benefited you?

Wow! The list will be long, but to keep it simple and short, I shall keep it to these 2 areas - Opportunities and Self Development. Through Rotaract and its association with Rotary, I’ve been given various opportunities to experience and achieved several life pursuits otherwise not possible if I wasn’t a Rotaractor. I’ve performed dances on stage, organized various projects both fund-raising and service oriented, lead various teams of volunteers who were not paid to work with me, gave public speeches to thousands, witnessed the suffering and predicament of unfortunate individuals in our society, made friends from overseas, and learned what protocol meant in our society.

From the self development aspect; I’ve learned and developed numerous life- or street-smart skills that can’t be found in any tertiary institutions’ subject. To name a few; how to market without money, managing others without giving monetary rewards, leadership by example, entrepreneurship, practical communication skills, and multi-tasking.

Q6) Rotaract has not grown (much) in terms of membership numbers since you joined more than a decade ago. Do you think Rotaract is still relevant to youth today?

I’ll reply this with a resounding “Yes!” Rotaract’s objectives are based upon human principles that do not expire through time. Self- and professional development, world peace and understanding, and respect for others are universal principles of life that transcend religion, race, and nationality. These objectives also underlay the general needs of youth today, whether locally or internationally. Rotaract in principle will not go out-dated. But, it is what Rotaract does (meaning its members) that defines or translates these objectives. Therefore, Rotaractors’ actions (or non-action) are what is important. It is what we say, do and think that the youth today will perceive Rotaract’s relevance in this new millennium.

Personally and saying from a local perspective, I sincerely believe there is more relevancy now than a decade ago. Graduates are unable to secure jobs and amongst the major causes are the lacks of communication skills (especially English), the over-prioritized of academic pursuits resulting in not well-rounded individuals, the chase for materialism, and the involvement in drugs and other unhealthy activities. I rest my case.

Q7) Why then Rotaract is not enjoying the acceptance or growth it duly deserves, in terms of membership numbers? Rotaract in Malaysia is in existence for close to 4 decades now, but the membership numbers is not in a pleasing state many would like it to be.

I guess by responding to this question, it is like having to give excuses or to blame someone. Well, after being for quite some time with this organization, I shall respond to this as factual as I possibly can and speaking from a majority perspective. Before I proceed on the Malaysian scene, it is a point to note that Rotaract as an international organization is not doing well in the membership growth aspect in almost all 5,000 plus Rotaract clubs. It is not an isolated or national issue.

Rotaract is only eligible to young adults between the ages of 18 and 30 years. Although this may represent a huge portion of the country’s active and productive population, the sociology aspect is one of the challenging factors Rotaract is facing currently. Young adults within these ages are either still in tertiary education institutions or beginning to step into the working world and establishing dream careers. The former group has always been advised to spend more time in academic pursuits, while the latter group is focusing on finding a suitable job (and money) or climbing the corporate ladder. To a certain extend, we do have students working part-time, while working young adults studying part-time. Then, young adults in their late 20’s are also focusing on starting a family, if not undergoing the dating scene. Volunteerism or community service suffers as a result of lack of priority in Malaysian young adults. I must say that the need or importance to generate more income in today’s living conditions has also resulted in personal spare time otherwise available for volunteerism being exchanged with money generating or additional income activities.

On the other hand, I must admit that Rotaract and like many other NGOs lack publicity, promotion, marketing or PR efforts to create the much needed awareness and interest. There are thousands of NGOs out there wanting to increase their memberships (like Rotaract) from this pool of young adults which are limited.

Then, we have the Rotaract’s intangible benefits that require much persuasion and conviction to first-timers. Members are required to spend (or invest, in my terms) precious time and personal money (expenses), but the benefits that one gets is not tangible and many times not instantly received or seen. It’s a tough ‘business’ selling hope, care, world understanding, and fellowship. What more if the ‘sales people’ we have are volunteers and selling during their past time? Young adults know (or being told) that if they spend money and time in obtaining an academic degree, they will be assure of a better future, both monetary and recognition wise. Do Rotaract enjoy such perception? Who cares if you’re a Rotaractor (or volunteer of any NGOs)? Do yours or my boss (employer) cares? Sadly, it may not even add value to your job resume.

To conclude my response to this question, I wish to say that personally I’ve come across many other great and beneficial NGOs available for young adults here in Malaysia; but these organizations are also not having good numbers of membership I truly believe they deserve.

Q8) After hearing your response on the previous question, it gives one a second thought of joining or participating in Rotaract or any other NGOs. Do you think Rotaract membership will decrease in the near future based upon your points stated earlier (above)?

Well it’s hard for me to predict, but what I can be certain is that if Rotaractors continue doing what they are doing now or since a decade a go; membership numbers will not have any significant changes, either the positive or negative ends. I’ve seen Rotaractors come and go (retired at age 30). Although the majority of young adults, as per what I’ve described in my earlier points, will not find Rotaract attractive or beneficial; there will always be this niche or extraordinary young adults who fit and see Rotaract the way I and other Rotaractors, past or present, sees it. This has somewhat been a natural survival system experienced by Rotaract. In summary, Rotaract will survive through time. But to thrive, Rotaract requires more than this.

Q9) From your experience, do you have any recommendations that may help Rotaract here to thrive to a desirable stage?

I dare to say I’ve tried numerous methods and approaches when I was a Rotaractor. As the record shows, Rotaract membership currently is not at a promising figure to many of us. I guess we have to reach our destination first in order to review what we have not done right and how can we do it better. I guess I’ve reached the end of my Rotaract journey, and hopefully what I’m about say here will not be considered as lip service to certain individuals.

We should start with leadership, at the club level. The strength of Rotaract foundation lies within each club. It’s like the analogy, the strength of the nation lies within family institution. If our nation should consist of broken or malfunctioned families, how could we think of progress? If clubs are in unhealthy or concerning state, how can we speak of progress in Rotaract as a whole? A good or great leader can do wonders to an otherwise unprogressive or weakening club. How do we get good or great leaders to lead a club? This is a question I once asked myself. There are 2 means – internally and externally. Internally, existing members need to be nurtured or developed into leaders. Succession planning is key. Externally, capable leaders are invited or convinced to join membership and subsequently lead the club.

It is a norm that any club will consist of very active, occasionally active, seldom active, and non-active members at any one point in time. Age wise, we will have the young ones, not so young ones, and old (retiring) ones. Competency wise, we may have the knowledgeable, skillful, talented, and gifted. Not forgetting, Rotaract is also open to men and women. The challenge is to strike the right balance or mix throughout these demographics. Problem may arise if imbalance occurs. Clubs should put some thought and action into this. That’s my second recommendation.

Then, clubs have to put in more focus and effort in club meetings. Venue is the least concerning to me. The program and proceedings should be the key factors. Clubs need to remind themselves that club meetings are the door to club and projects or activities are the windows (pun intended). Potential members (guests) need a way to get in. Make sure we have club meeting, activities and project, no matter how small they may seem. Everyone I know has their initial experience of Rotaract either at club meetings or projects. Rotaractors need to ensure that the right image (or perception) is projected by the club and experienced by guests. Club meetings need to be organized, well prepared and enjoyable all at the same time. Members (and guests) shouldn’t have the thought that club meetings are a waste of time. What's more time wasting than club meetings? Waiting! It’s time to ask ourselves, what is really holding members back from being punctual? Again I need to stress; it’s not the venue that will make the difference. It’s Rotaractors, each and everyone of us individually that will make a difference to the experience a guest feels or gets from our company. Be aware of our actions and words. Show them our hospitality, fellowship and fun. Then only people are attracted to our clubs. This is easier said than done in most instances, but not impossible.

The forth comment I’ll be pointing out is marketing and publicity. My view is Rotaract is not effective in this much needed area, perhaps due to the lack of marketing and PR students or professionals in the organization. Otherwise, our efforts and methods have not been effective or sufficient all this time. We failed to recognize that marketing and PR is a continuous exercise, and not to be paused at any one time. Being the age of information technology, I thought such efforts would be made easier. I guess it’s too easy until we forgot the usefulness and proper methods to achieve results from it. We have the internet (websites, blog, chat, etc), emails, mobile phones (sms, mms, etc), cyber cafes, more radio stations and magazines (publications) than 10 years ago, and yet to get the Rotaract name or message across to young adults seem unsuccessful. I must admit, I’ve not used all these channels during my days; and most probably that is a reason why Rotaract is still unheard of generally amongst youth.

Lastly, I’m also of the opinion that Rotaractors (in general) have sent an irrelevant (or perhaps out-dated) message to young adults about the potentials and benefit of Rotaract. Most of us are guilty by telling people Rotaract is a community service and charity organization, or least these are the first few pointers or majority explanation we give people. I believe we may not (and will not) hit our potential members’ on-the-spot with such description and clarification about Rotaract. Perhaps it’s time we profess Rotaract as a personal and professional development organization with immense opportunity and network around the world. These are Rotaract objectives we spoke or shared the least with people. Have we tried this approach? From my observation, we have not. I believe there’s no harm trying. We can’t expect change if we keep doing the same (old) thing, right?