Soroptimist International Region of Malaysia

Greetings to ALL SIROM Club Presidents and Sisters!

With great joy ( and a greater relief I must admit), I wish to convey my sisterly good wishes and to report to you especially to all SI sisters who were not able to be with us in Johor Bahru that the 7th Biennial Conference, 23-25 March 2007, has ended with a big bang. In fact it has entered SIROM’s history by being the first SIROM Biennial Conference to stage the Gala Dinner on the luxurious Danga Cruise floating up and down the Tebrau Straits. For 3 hours we were transported back to a childhood dream of magic and fairy land with the Johor and Singapore sides of the Straits lit up to create that ever-magical backdrop.

All this was made possible by the most generous compliments of YAB Dato’ Abdul Ghani Othman, the Menteri Besar of Johor, his charming and kind-hearted wife, Datin Paduka Prof. Dr. Jamilah Ariffin and the Johor State Government. On behalf of SIROM, I would like to record one more time our great appreciation and obligation to such generosity and personal kindness shown to SIROM by YAB Dato’ Ghani and Datin Prof. Jamilah.

The end of one biennium means also the beginning of another. With humility and determination to serve as your President, SI sister and comrade of the common cause we have embraced, I wish to extend my sisterhood affection and sincerity to all of us in SIROM. I do hope and expect the very same spirit in return. As we all know, SIROM can only continue to be a successful community service organization with dedication and cooperation among its clubs and members only if we stand together. Alone, a President cannot make a difference. To be an effective leader and President requires a dedicated teamwork and positive cooperation from all in the organization. SIROM is no exception.

My first message to all dear SI sisters in Malaysia is therefore an emphasis on the spirit of Soroptimism embodied in the pledge we read before our every meeting. Let’s live up to that commitment we voluntarily make. Let’s work together with generosity, sincerity and dedication to our good work. Let’s be positive and give SIROM a national focus it amply deserves.

During my “Meet the Presidents” session in Johor Bahru recently, I have announced the 2007-2009 Biennum Project and have requested that all clubs decide to undertake at least one project on this identified field. The 2007-9 SIROM “Paint It Green and Clean” Project aims to advocate and act upon the need to save and/or improve our environment in order to make life better for all, especially those who live in a disadvantaged environments; slums; rundown schools, play-grounds, public gardens and parks; ravaged natural and/or socio-economic environments.

I am confident that all clubs will come up with some meaningful “Paint It Green and Clean” Projects of your very own. In fact I am most looking forward to receiving your responses in no so far a future.

I hope to be able to pay you a traditional presidential visit and talk with individual clubs in the near future in order to build up and strengthen our bonding and communication. Needless to say I am always open to your kind and positive suggestions at all times. Please call, e-mail or fax me whenever you need to talk to me. I am here for you and our SI cause.

Let the fun of sisterhood begin.
Wassalam and thank you.

Yours in SI Sisterhood,

Datin Prof. Dr. Kobkua Suwannathat-Pian
President, SIROM