"March is, for Rotary International, the month of celebrating Water, Sanitation and Hygiene".
In many parts of the world, providing access to safe drinking water can feel like pure magic. But behind that transformation lies a powerful, life-changing mission — one that depends on collective effort: fundraising, planning, transporting, and installing water tanks, filters, and essential infrastructure.
Nothing illustrates this better than the inspiring message by Rotary International President Stephanie A. Urchick in the March 2025 issue of Rotary Magazine, titled "One Small Act."
March is here, and for Rotary International, that means celebrating Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Month a time to shine a spotlight on one of the most trans- formative areas of our work. This month is an opportunity to reflect on The Magic
of Rotary and the profound impact we create when we come together with deter- mination and purpose.
Years ago, I experienced this magic firsthand in the Dominican Republic. When a group of members helped people install water filters, three children watched with amazement as dirty water entered one end of a filter and clean water emerged from the other. When we paused the demonstration, one child tugged at my sleeve and pleaded, “Show me the magic again." To them, it felt magical. It was also the result of countless hours of effort - planning, transporting, and installing the filters - alongside local partners who were dedicated to making clean water accessible. In that moment, I realized that what seemed like a small act could change residents' lives. That is The Magic of Rotary.
This story is a testament to the incredible potential of our global family to create change. Water projects exemplify our reach, our partnerships, and our unwavering commitment to improving lives...When we make use of Rotary grants and advocate
for clean water in our communities, wę create a ripple effect that extends far beyond individual projects...
The Magic of Rotary shines brightest when we work in harmony with others to create lasting good. Together, we can turn dreams into realities that transform lives and communities. The result may feel like magic at times, but we know it's from the power of our collective commitment and compassion. Let's harness this magic to make a difference this month and beyond.
Caryn Tang, a certified water sommelier, was the speaker of the RCQ weekly meeting. She shared her knowledge of water with RCQ members and guests. A water sommelier is an expert in the taste, quality, and characteristics of different types of water. Their work involves educating consumers about the unique properties of various natural waters, including their mineral content, source, and impact on flavor. Their role bridges the gap between science and gastronomy, elevating water appreciation to an art form.
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Monday March 10, 2025
Brett Miranda, an expert in cryptocurrencies, financial derivatives, and international trade, delivered an insightful talk on the inner workings of cryptocurrencies. He explained how digital currencies operate on decentralized networks, the role of blockchain technology, and the impact of crypto on global financial systems. Miranda also highlighted the growing influence of cryptocurrencies in modern trade and finance, discussing both opportunities and risks associated with their use.
The awarding to RCQ of Rotary plaque for crossing the USD1 Million of All-Time Total Foundation Donation
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Monday, March 17, 2025
This meeting also marked the third Club Assembly of the year. President Farouk, Secretary Jeyan, and other board members provided updates on ongoing matters, current projects, and upcoming events. PDG Chris Chen, already a Paul Harris Fellow, was honored with a Level Four commemorative pin.
PDG Chris Chen, a Major Donor, received a Level Four Paul Harris pin from President Farouk and Board Member Rotarian Markus, in recognition of his generous contributions.
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Monday, March 24, 2025
PDG Chris Chen received a Benefactors certificate and insignia
Members of RCQ had the opportunity to sample banana chips and oyster mushroom crisps produced at the Bhakti Luhur Orphanage in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, under the patronage of Rotarian Axel and his spouse, Lakshmi.
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Monday, March 31, 2025
There was no meeting on March 31, 2025 due to the public holiday.
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SPECIAL COMMEMORATION SERIES
Faces of ROTARY CLUB OF QUEENSTOWN
RCQ Members share their stories
Eric (Chi Ming) CHAN joined the Rotary Club of Queenstown (RCQ) in December 1990, introduced by Past President A.K. Han. His classification within the club is Public Relations, and he served as RCQ President during the 1994–1995 term.
In 1991, Eric established PR Communications, taking the initiative to revive a struggling business from his former employer. Since then, the firm has steadily grown, gaining recognition for its work in corporate affairs and marketing communications, with a particular focus on lifestyle consumer marketing. Under Eric’s leadership, PR Communications has provided counsel to a diverse portfolio of clients across Singapore and the region.
In 2009, Marketing Magazine named PR Communications one of the Top 10 public relations firms in Singapore, also recognising it as a "Local Hero." Eric himself was acknowledged among the Top 10 Agency Professionals that year. His contributions to the industry have continued to be recognised. In 2019, he received the Best PR Practitioner (Gold Award) at the 2nd ASEAN PR Excellence Awards. That same year, the Institute of Public Relations of Singapore (IPRS) honoured him as The Outstanding PR Professional. Eric is an accredited member of IPRS and served on its Council from 2014 to 2018, holding the position of Honorary Treasurer from 2017 to 2018.
Eric and his wife, Fatoma, have two daughters (Sophia and Nadia), one son (Adam), and a grandson (Callum).
CHAN Eric (Chi Ming)
What inspired you to join the Rotary Club of Queenstown 50 years ago?
I joined the Rotary Club of Queenstown in the early 1990s after moving to Singapore for professional reasons. Originally from Hong Kong, where I was born and raised, I was honored to be nominated as club president for the 1994–1995 Rotary year just a few years later.
9Lr6My journey with RCQ began in the era of fax machines. At that time, all our newsletters, committee agendas, and reports were sent via fax, as email was not yet available. Those were different times, and looking back, it’s remarkable how much communication has evolved.
Can you share one of your most cherished memories from the early days of the club?
One of my most cherished memories from those early days was my installation as club president. My guest of honor was the Philippine Ambassador to Singapore, Miss Alicia Ramos. It was a proud moment for me, and I was grateful for my family’s unwavering support. Though they didn’t attend every single club activity, they were actively involved and proud of my leadership. They were also deeply impressed by the club’s many community service projects.
How did your family react when you first joined the Rotary Club? Have they supported your involvement over the years?
When I first joined Rotary, my children were still very young—just a few years old. Now, as I look back on my journey, I have a grandchild. It has been a long and fulfilling path, filled with wonderful memories of both my Rotary experience and my personal life.
How did your professional life influence your work within Rotary?
That’s an interesting question. Rotary is not about business networking; rather, it is a place for sharing knowledge and exchanging ideas. As a Public Relations and Communications professional, I was honored when fellow members sought my advice on product branding, marketing communications, and crisis management. These discussions were always kept confidential, and I was more than happy to share my expertise when needed.
How has the Rotary Club evolved in its mission, membership, and activities over the past 50 years?
One of the most rewarding aspects of RCQ is the diversity of its members. Our club consists of professionals from various fields, each bringing unique knowledge and experiences. I have learned so much from their expertise, and the insights they have shared with me are truly invaluable.
People often say that public relations professionals seem to know a little bit about everything. While I don’t claim to be an expert in all areas, my work with clients over the years has allowed me to gain a deep understanding of various industries. Through these experiences, I have accumulated a wealth of business knowledge, which has been both enriching and useful.
What personal passions or hobbies have you pursued outside of Rotary?
Outside of my professional life, I have a passion for fishing, traveling, and keeping aquarium fish. I also collect small collectibles, such as Beetle toy cars.
Have you ever had the chance to combine your personal interests with Rotary projects? If so, how?
Rotary has given me a wonderful balance between my work and personal life. Life is not just about making money; it’s about building friendships, contributing to the community, and striving for a better world.
What’s something you’ve always been passionate about, and how has Rotary allowed you to express or act on that passion?
The spirit of service has always been close to my heart. Before joining RCQ, I was a Rotaractor during my university days, so. Rotary has allowed me to take meaningful actions to support the community.
If you could give one piece of advice to someone considering joining the Rotary movement, what would it be?
My advice to new members is simple: be yourself. Offer the best you can to benefit those around you. Use your professional knowledge to help others. No contribution is ever too small—every act of kindness, no matter how minor, is invaluable if it makes a difference in someone’s life.■
For the full PDF version of the interview, please clickHERE.
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RCQ Announcement
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Message from Rotarian Andy Schmidt to the members
on the occasion of
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Month
Make a Difference: Help Provide Water Tanks for Families in Bali
Earth is a water planet, with about 70% of its surface covered by water, while land occupies only 30%. If all the water on Earth were gathered into a single sphere, it would measure just 1,400 km in diameter—leaving the rest of the planet looking quite bare.
Unlike oil, which can eventually be replaced by alternative energy sources, there is no substitute for water. It cannot be artificially created; we must rely on the finite supply available to us. However, while water is limited, it is also a renewable resource. We don’t “consume” water—we only “use” it.
According to the UN, 2 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water, while 3.6 billion lack safely managed sanitation.
A report published by the World Health Organisation Report in 2023, disclosed that worldwide some 1 million people are estimated to die each year from diarrhea as a result of unsafe drinking-water, sanitation and hand hygiene. Yet diarrhea is largely preventable, and the deaths of 395 000 children aged under 5 years could be avoided each year if these risk factors were addressed. Where water is not readily available, people may decide hand washing is not a priority, thereby adding to the likelihood of diarrhea and other diseases.
Let’s do our part to help families in Bali gain access to a reliable water supply year-round.
RCQ is partnering with the Rotary Club of Bali Ubud Sunset on a water tank project. So far, 260 water tanks have been installed, but 146 more are urgently needed to meet the demand.
As of today, RCQ has raised funds for 64 water tanks — a great milestone! So far, around 34% of our members have contributed. Our goal is to reach 50% participation. Each tank costs just $115 USD (S$160) and provides clean water to two families. Imagine the lives you can impact with such a small act. If that isn’t a priority, what is?
Let’s make it happen!
Send your pledges via WhatsApp to Rotarian Andy Schmidt, and let’s bring the Magic of Rotary to life — together, in Indonesia!
Every drop counts - Be Part of the solution
To read World Health Organization Report on Drinking Water (2023), please click Here.
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A heartfelt thank you to President Farouk, PP Jack Chuang, and PP Sanford Chee for their generous support of the SuperFestive program run by the FRCS Family Service Centre (FSC). Thanks to contributions from RCQ and others, a group of children celebrating Hari Raya were able to purchase festive supplies and clothing, making their celebrations even more special.
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Second Beach Clean up was held on Saturday 22 March at Changi Beach
Rotary Club of Tanjong Pagar celebrates its 13th anniversary on Feb 28, 2025
Rotarians getting together for a Sunday morning workout, March 2, 2025
Fellowship in a small group, March 6, 2025
Breakfast fellowships organized by PP Sabrina (March 7 and 12, 2025)
Fellowship dinner on Saturday, March 8,2025 at Raffles Town Club's Chinese restaurant
A fellowship dinner was held on March 14, 2025 at the home of PP PokZin and Avery, evoking warm memories of 17 years ago, when Sabrina first arrived in Singapore.
RCQ Koi lovers
Led by PP Sabrina, the RCQ Walking Group had the pleasure of exploring the newly reopened and revitalized Chinese and Japanese Garden on March 16,2025
Peranakan Dinner with Peter Guschelbauer, Ambassador of Austria to Singapore, March 19, 2025
Fellowship breakfast on March 20, 2025
Farewell Dinner in Honor of Peter Guschelbauer, March 27, 2025
Fellowship dinner, March 29, 2025
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Good Read
Water crisis in Indonesia and how we can tackle it
Although Indonesia has made enormous progress in the supply of drinking water in recent decades, only 20 percent of Indonesians had access to piped water in 2022. Almost 70 percent of households still consume water that is contaminated with fecal coliform bacteria, and still more than 10% of children under the age of 5 die from diarrheal diseases caused by dirty drinking water.
The water shortage in Indonesia is caused on the one hand by rapid demographic development, which is leading to an increasing demand for food and growing industry, and on the other hand by climate change.
3. The 2025 Council on Legislation of Rotary International
The 2025 Council on Legislation will take place in Chicago from April 13–17, 2025.
Rotary clubs and districts can use an online form to submit statements of support, opposition, or general comments on the proposed legislation. Statements from clubs must be submitted by the club president, while district statements must be submitted or confirmed by the district governor.
To review the proposed legislation, please click the link below:
Time: 06:00 PM Tour of Kampong Glam with a visit to a perfumary (Courtesy of PP Linda) followed by dinner at 07:00 PM.
S$50 per person (shared dining), includes a welcome refreshment, followed by dinner featuring a selection of vegetarian meze with bread, vegetarian pide, a mix of grilled chicken, beef, and lamb kebabs, lamb shank tanji, and finished with dessert and Turkish tea.
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5. District 3310 - 35th Presidents-Elect Training
- Seminar & District Training Assembly, April 24-26, 2025
- Online registration has already started
District President Elects are invited to register for attending 35th PETS and DTA immediately.
Rotarians are also invited to register for the DTA (District Training Assembly) soonest possible.
In conjunction with 35th PETS/DTA, we will be producing a Souvenir Magazine. We invite Rotarians and Friends to place Advertisements and/or Congratulatory Message Pages at nominal costs.
Sponsors have been secured for the cost of printing of the Souvenir Magazine (about RM20,000).
The received from the paid pages shall be entirely applied to Johor Projects, specifically for low income families, during Rotary Year 2025-2026.
For more information RCQ members may reach out to :
PE Pauline Pui
CP Goh Hee Seng
PP Mansoor Hassanbhai
Org Chair PP Ng Ling Ching
DGE Shahul Hameed
6. Day trip to Johor Bahru
Date: April 26, 2025
(If you are interested in joining, please register your interest in the RCQ Announcements Group.)
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May 2025
1. Trip to Yogyakarta, Indonesia to visit BLY orphanage organized by PP Axel
Date: 9-12 May, 2025
(If you are interested in joining, please register your interest in the RCQ Announcements Group.)
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2. Rotary District Conference in Indonesia, May 16-18, 2025
The Conference will be held in Bali, Indonesia.
President Farouk has created a WhatsApp Group for those who will be attending the link for which is:
The number of the "Early Bird Tickets Left" is as of
Tuesday 19th November.
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June 2025
1. Trip to Ise Shima organized by Rtn Maiko MAKITO
Date: June 2-8, 2025
If you are interested in joining, please register your interest in the RCQ Announcements Group and contact Rtn Maiko in the RCQ Social Group.
2. Rotary International Convention,June 21-25, 2025
Calgary, Canada
3. Rotary Club of Singapore installation, June 28th, 2025
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July 2025
1. Rotary Club of Kuching Central installation, July 5, 2025
RCQ is organizing a trip to Kutching, Malaysia, for RCKC installation and visit water tank project - July 3-6, 2025 (Please follow on the RCQ Announcements WhatsApp Group)
40th Installation of RC Kuching Central where Rtn Pauline Pui will be installed as President, along with her Board of Directors for 2025-26, while the achievements of 2024-25 under the leadership of President Roland Phang will be celebrated. Date: Saturday 5 July 2025 Venue: Sarawak Chamber, Puteri Wing of Riverside Majestic Hotel Time: 6.30pm* Theme: Black, White & Gold (formal)
RSVP your attendance by May 5, 2025 viatinyurl.com/rckc40th or the QR code shown in invitation card.
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2. 52nd Rotary Club of Queenstown installation.
Date: July 12, 2025
Time: 06:30 PM
Venue: The British Club, 3 Bukit Tinggi Road, Singapore 289761
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September 2025
Trip to South Bavaria, Germany (organized by PP PokZin, Ulrich and Ruth)
Date: September 6-13, 2025
(Please follow on the RCQ Announcements WhatsApp Group and If you are interested in joining, please register your interest in the RCQ Announcements Group.)
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June 2026
2026 Rotary International Convention
Taipei, Taiwan
13-17 June 2026
Super Early Bird Registration Rates will be available during the 2025 Calgary Convention 21-25 June 2025.
More information will be shared at a later date. Join the 2026 Taipei Convention Interest Group to standby for more information.
Earth is a water planet, with about 70% of its surface covered by water, while land occupies only 30%. If all the water on Earth were gathered into a single sphere, it would measure just 1,400 km in diameter—leaving the rest of the planet looking quite bare.
Photos©PP PokZin.
