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| Erwin Cabucos, Ritche Andit and Daniel Mallari |
by Ritche Andit
District Governor
Elect Annette and PP Eddie
Asst Governor
Martti and Karen Kankkunnen
Pres Peter Crane
PE David Field
PE David Furness
PP John Lipman
PP Albert Benfer
PP Marie Grant
Cr. Lance and Sheena Hewlett
Shalom! As-Salāmu `Alaykum! Peace be with you!
There’s this story of a young Japanese girl. She was two years old and was about 1.5Km away when Hiroshima was bombed. She survived the bombing but developed leukemia from the bomb’s radiation at around age 12. Her friend visited her at hospital and brought her a paper crane. It was in reference to an ancient Japanese story that anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish by the gods. Sadly, she fell short of her goal before she passed away. Today, at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park is a plaque that reads: “This is our cry. This is our prayer. Peace in the world.” That is the story of Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes.
It is a sad story about peace but it worth sharing. It brings focus to the often neglected countless casualties of war belonging to neither side of the conflict. It is a stark reminder that it is a fragile world we live in and that each one of us has an obligation to keep this harmonious balance.
What is Peace? RI President Elect Sakuji Tanaka said "No definition is right, and no definition is wrong"."However we use the word, this is what peace means for us.” I agree with him. He is right, we can’t define peace, but in the absence of peace we know what it means to have peace. It could well easily mean freedom or end to poverty, hunger or suffering or even contentment. His challenge is for us to address barriers to achieving these definitions of peace.
Anyhow, I really like the Sadako story. There's a copy of it on your table. Whoever gets to take them home, read it and pass it on. Read it to your children or grandchildren. It is very short. If you can’t read it in one sitting, you’re a slow reader. But the message is clear and simple. I can assure you it is better than the story about Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds or the flower power and the summer of love.
Also on you table is a bag of lollies. Sorry, I can't help myself. I am always going to be a pharmacist. And at this point I have to remind you that the difference between a poison and a medicine is the dose. So consume responsibly. And if you don’t feel the psychedelic effects it is probably because they are non-pharmacologic.
Yesterday, as I made this lengthy speech , I looked back over the year and a half since you lot made the decision to anoint me the messiah. Something became clearer to me. When you pay your dues before the end of this month, and you scratched your head and say, what was I thinking voting him in President? Well, that's the same realisation I came to: I am not the messiah. Not even if I have just been told that the destiny of this club is now in my hands. Not that I am afraid about the fact that the last person who said he was the messiah got nailed to a cross but that I can't do it all. Our club is shifting, and it will be changing. Whether it is for the better is totally up to us. I am not a boss.
A boss drives their team; a leader coaches them.
A boss depends upon authority; a leader depends on good will.
A boss inspires fear; a leader inspires enthusiasm.
A boss says, "I"; a leader says "WE."
A boss assigns the tasks; a leader sets the pace.
A boss says, "Get here on time"; a leader begins on time.
A boss fixes the blame for the breakdown; a leader fixes the breakdown.
A boss knows how it is done; a leader shows how it is done.
A boss makes work drudgery; a leader makes it a game.
A boss says, "GO"; a leader says, "LET'S GO."
So I will be doing what I am good at, cheerleading.
Our club does not need a boss. God knows we have plenty of those already. What our club urgently need is charity. Charity begins at home, much like peace. Sometimes we even use them interchangeably. For example, if someone says, “I’ve work my butt off and Ritche does bugger all.” One says, “The weather is nice, isn’t it?” Or if someone rings you the day before and says "You can't have champagne for your champagne breakfast because it is illegal", you say, "can we have sparkling water?" It is the charitable thing to do.
This reminds me of the prose poem, Desiderata (Latin for desired things) by Max Erhmann. It goes:
Go placidly amidst the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its shams, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.
This year we have reached within to embrace humanity. Bring that same passion and think about your desiderata before coming to our club assembly next week. I am excited to be part of this new chapter in our club’s life. We’ll work with the district to improve our club. We’ll develop leaders and attract new members. Let’s use technology to lessen frustration and improve communication.
Let’s find out what everyone else is doing and figure out what else we can do. I love this club because we are very passionate at what we do; we get pissed off if we are not allowed to do anything. Let’s channel that to something constructive and build peace. Also let’s not forget to build bridges with the other clubs around us: Redlands Sunrise, Cleveland, Capalaba, and Wellington Point well, even Logan.
In closing, may I congratulate Past President Andrew, fellow members of the board, Chrissie, PP Denis, PP Shirley, AG & PP Dusty, John Parkinson, Zen, and David McInnes; and all the members Karen, Susan, Mona, Jenny, Kerry, Prashant, Terry, Louise, Ron, PP Mark, Sacco, Paul, PP David, Stan, PP Raj, Doug, Bob, and John Flatt. Give yourselves a round of applause for a job well done.
It is my fervent hope that you’d give me the same amount of support in the coming year. Let us be change we want to see in the world.
For anyone here waiting to find out what my gay agenda is, I have only one: and that is Peace through service.
Thank you.
Pres Peter Crane
PE David Field
PE David Furness
PP John Lipman
PP Albert Benfer
PP Marie Grant
Cr. Lance and Sheena Hewlett
Shalom! As-Salāmu `Alaykum! Peace be with you!
There’s this story of a young Japanese girl. She was two years old and was about 1.5Km away when Hiroshima was bombed. She survived the bombing but developed leukemia from the bomb’s radiation at around age 12. Her friend visited her at hospital and brought her a paper crane. It was in reference to an ancient Japanese story that anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish by the gods. Sadly, she fell short of her goal before she passed away. Today, at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park is a plaque that reads: “This is our cry. This is our prayer. Peace in the world.” That is the story of Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes.
It is a sad story about peace but it worth sharing. It brings focus to the often neglected countless casualties of war belonging to neither side of the conflict. It is a stark reminder that it is a fragile world we live in and that each one of us has an obligation to keep this harmonious balance.
What is Peace? RI President Elect Sakuji Tanaka said "No definition is right, and no definition is wrong"."However we use the word, this is what peace means for us.” I agree with him. He is right, we can’t define peace, but in the absence of peace we know what it means to have peace. It could well easily mean freedom or end to poverty, hunger or suffering or even contentment. His challenge is for us to address barriers to achieving these definitions of peace.
Anyhow, I really like the Sadako story. There's a copy of it on your table. Whoever gets to take them home, read it and pass it on. Read it to your children or grandchildren. It is very short. If you can’t read it in one sitting, you’re a slow reader. But the message is clear and simple. I can assure you it is better than the story about Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds or the flower power and the summer of love.
Also on you table is a bag of lollies. Sorry, I can't help myself. I am always going to be a pharmacist. And at this point I have to remind you that the difference between a poison and a medicine is the dose. So consume responsibly. And if you don’t feel the psychedelic effects it is probably because they are non-pharmacologic.
Yesterday, as I made this lengthy speech , I looked back over the year and a half since you lot made the decision to anoint me the messiah. Something became clearer to me. When you pay your dues before the end of this month, and you scratched your head and say, what was I thinking voting him in President? Well, that's the same realisation I came to: I am not the messiah. Not even if I have just been told that the destiny of this club is now in my hands. Not that I am afraid about the fact that the last person who said he was the messiah got nailed to a cross but that I can't do it all. Our club is shifting, and it will be changing. Whether it is for the better is totally up to us. I am not a boss.
A boss drives their team; a leader coaches them.
A boss depends upon authority; a leader depends on good will.
A boss inspires fear; a leader inspires enthusiasm.
A boss says, "I"; a leader says "WE."
A boss assigns the tasks; a leader sets the pace.
A boss says, "Get here on time"; a leader begins on time.
A boss fixes the blame for the breakdown; a leader fixes the breakdown.
A boss knows how it is done; a leader shows how it is done.
A boss makes work drudgery; a leader makes it a game.
A boss says, "GO"; a leader says, "LET'S GO."
So I will be doing what I am good at, cheerleading.
Our club does not need a boss. God knows we have plenty of those already. What our club urgently need is charity. Charity begins at home, much like peace. Sometimes we even use them interchangeably. For example, if someone says, “I’ve work my butt off and Ritche does bugger all.” One says, “The weather is nice, isn’t it?” Or if someone rings you the day before and says "You can't have champagne for your champagne breakfast because it is illegal", you say, "can we have sparkling water?" It is the charitable thing to do.
This reminds me of the prose poem, Desiderata (Latin for desired things) by Max Erhmann. It goes:
Go placidly amidst the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its shams, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.
This year we have reached within to embrace humanity. Bring that same passion and think about your desiderata before coming to our club assembly next week. I am excited to be part of this new chapter in our club’s life. We’ll work with the district to improve our club. We’ll develop leaders and attract new members. Let’s use technology to lessen frustration and improve communication.
Let’s find out what everyone else is doing and figure out what else we can do. I love this club because we are very passionate at what we do; we get pissed off if we are not allowed to do anything. Let’s channel that to something constructive and build peace. Also let’s not forget to build bridges with the other clubs around us: Redlands Sunrise, Cleveland, Capalaba, and Wellington Point well, even Logan.
In closing, may I congratulate Past President Andrew, fellow members of the board, Chrissie, PP Denis, PP Shirley, AG & PP Dusty, John Parkinson, Zen, and David McInnes; and all the members Karen, Susan, Mona, Jenny, Kerry, Prashant, Terry, Louise, Ron, PP Mark, Sacco, Paul, PP David, Stan, PP Raj, Doug, Bob, and John Flatt. Give yourselves a round of applause for a job well done.
It is my fervent hope that you’d give me the same amount of support in the coming year. Let us be change we want to see in the world.
For anyone here waiting to find out what my gay agenda is, I have only one: and that is Peace through service.
Thank you.
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