Farewell Message: from UTSAAMC President

[UTS:Alumni Malaysia]

If you are can't read this page, an online version is available here...
 

FAREWELL MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT - JULY 2008

This is the last time I'll speak to you as your President. We've been together three years now, and it's time for me to go. But before I do, I wanted to share some thoughts, some of which I've been saving for a long time. The past three years have been phenomenal for UTSAAMC and it's been the honor of my life to be your president. Many of you have written to say thanks, but I could say as much to you and i am grateful for the opportunity you gave me to serve. One of the things about the presidency is that you're always somewhat apart. You spend a lot of time going by too fast in a car someone else is driving, and seeing the people through tinted glass--the parents holding up a child, and the wave you saw too late and couldn't return. And so many times I wanted to stop and reach out from behind the glass, and connect. Well, maybe I can do a little of that this Saturday night at the annual dinner. People ask how I feel about leaving. And the fact is, "parting is such sweet sorrow." I've been thinking a bit at that window. It is now three years since I returned to run the UTS Alumni of Malaysia. At the time of joining, it was my sense that both the University and its dispersed alumni lacked the kind of productive relationship that we knew existed between successful universities and their alumni. We set out to be the best example we could be of what a UTS Alumni Association should look like - and devoted our limited resources to the effort. In my vision, the alumni association should be a vehicle through which UTS graduates associate with and renew their ties to other UTS graduates. It should also be the vehicle through which UTS graduates renew their ties to the University, and through which the University maintains its connection and relevance to its graduates. As i come to the end of my term, i thought that i should reflect and report back to you on our efforts. I simply want to take a few minutes to share my feelings of pride, excitement and satisfaction, which this farewell message is meant to celebrate - what it is that UTSAAMC did to improve and progress so admirably. Website We are proud to be the first Australian university alumni to have its own website at www.uts.org.my. This interactive website contains lots of information including graduate profile, event information, photo gallery, announcement, and more. It has been an envy to all, if not most of the other Australian university alumni in Malaysia. There were even requests for us to help and build similar websites for them too. Personal Development Programme (PDP) Probably more than any other activity, it is my belief that personal development - especially in today's demanding corporate world - have the greatest capacity to evoke our sense of connection to our graduates and the public. The introduction of PDP was an important landmark in the development of the UTSAAMC. PDP has been the talk of the town ever since the commencement in September 2006. Our first speaker was none other than UTS alumnus, Mr. Richard Monaghan (read more here). Our PDP had gained much success and grown by leaps and bounds, thanks to the leadership of Moh Mun Ching who makes sure our PDP takes place every first Saturday of the month. Please click here for further information.   Overseas Networking Trip There is this common saying among people that "The World Is My Backyard." We have visited three UTS alumni chapters including Bangkok, Shanghai and lately Hong Kong. We take pride in continuing to keep a close relationship with all graduates no matter where they are. It is amazing to know that UTS graduates can be located in almost every country on earth. We have in common a great institution, but these are people who rarely see campus after they graduate. It has been my commitment to reach out to all members of the UTS family - even if it involves more than 24 hours of flying time to see them. So i decided to take the family reunion to them. I will always cherish the friendship made with these overseas graduates.   Young Alumni events I remember that my first few years of work after leaving UTS were quite difficult - and that much of what I had grown to love over my two years at UTS just was not available to me in the wider world.Young alumni events are more than just social events - they are also opportunities for recent alumni to help, and learn from each other as they make the adjustment from UTS to the wider world. Terence Tan and Justin Paul, who run our Young Alumni events, are good examples of new faces who have emerged over the past three years. Both of them help to assemble teams for events such as Go-Kart, Treasure Hunt, and more. Networking Many of our members value the opportunity to connect with other UTS and Australian graduates. In order to facilitate this, we have set up a number of networking options - through Facebook, Friendster and Xing- an online business networking forum. We are also an active participant through the Malaysian Australian Business Council (MABC) and the Malaysian Australian Alumni Council (MAAC). We have also set up an online, searchable database of our members through our website, www.uts.org.my. This is not a first for most Universities, but it might be a first amongst the  Australian university alumni in Malaysia. To be included in our database, please click here to register. Establishing strong relationships with the University Without strong ties to back up our activities, our association is nothing more than a social club of sorts. But our ties to the University give our association purpose. We exist for each other, but most importantly we want to see the university healthy and successful on account of our efforts.   We have sought to build strong relationships with the various parts of the University that interact with alumni. Chris Benaud, Director of The Alumni Office at UTS, has been a strong ally over the past two years since coming on board, and we are grateful for his support and enthusiasm. We have also worked with the University's Faculty of Business office - namely Professor Rob Lynch, Dr. Stephen Topple and Mr. Peter Meyer - and we expect to grow our partnership with them over the next several years. I had a fascinating one on one meeting with Professor Ross Milbourne, UTS's Vice Chancellor two years ago in Sydney. I believe that Ross' vision for the future of UTS, and for its place in the world is excellent and right on the mark.   Many will be surprised to know that my 6-month working relationship with Dr. Alex Byrne has been the biggest inspiration during my term. Future of UTS Alumni During our period of office, debate over the future of UTS alumni during a mini conference in Sydney has spilled over into the public domain. The university's alumni are without doubt, the university's "funders of last resort." The University does not have a better, or a more loyal group upon which to rely upon to secure its future. As such, that group deserves to be heard, and should have the ability to make its views heard within the University's highest bodies. The alumni are also the group that is most likely to ensure that the decisions taken are in the best long term interests of the University. It is my firm opinion that the alumni do not have nearly enough say how the University is run. We are very much different from how the American university alumni are run, such as Harvard, Yale, Princeton, etc. I believe the American model is a good example of how we should adopt in order for UTS Alumni to stay in existence in the long term. At UTSAAMC, we have adopted the proactive American model and i'm glad that it works superbly well for us in Malaysia. Giving thanks, our finances UTSAAMC had never been run the way I proposed to run it. I had a vision for UTSAAMC and I wanted to take it far since day one. All the activities would not be possible without an incredible group of volunteers. I would like to recognize and give thanks to all those who have contributed so much to the UTSAAMC over the last three years - including Michelle Leong, Elissa Chan, Wee Lay Har, Moh Mun Cheng, Ang Zjia Fernn, Terence Tan, Justin Paul and Jeanne Toh. I also wish to thank Alex Lee who volunteered to be part of our committee although he is a graduate of UNSW. You have showed brilliant resilience in responding to my demanding presidency, and you have shown an unprecedented degree of motivation that has taken the UTSAAMC to another level. As you know, the UTSAAMC is volunteer run. In addition, the expenses are sometimes greater than our membership dues - a deficit which is made up for by financial contributions from our volunteers and partners. If you appreciate the work of the UTSAAMC, I urge you to give generously and perhaps serve as a committee.   Conclusion In closing It has been my pleasure to serve as President the past three years. My board and I join the rest of the members in wishing our very best to the next President and his/her administration, in meeting these challenges, and in leading our march in this new term. Always give your best, never get discouraged, never be petty; always remember, others may hate you, but those who hate you don't win unless you hate them, and then you destroy yourself. I am leaving but I will be watching your progress with interest and I shall indeed be back. I am certain you will all go on to achieve far better things than I did. If my legacy to you was time spent building this association up, your legacy to me is one of comradeship, faith in teamwork and an abiding passion for rock cakes. Thank you very much. David Tann 8 July 2008

[Peter Meyer]

Dear David,

The recent alumni dinner was a great success and I congratulate all involved. It was wonderful to see so many old and, especially, new faces. We are indeed fortunate to have such a motivated committee willing to undertake so much hard work for our benefit so ably led by you.

Your outline of the achievements of your long tenure as president is fully justified. The Malaysian alumni chapter have served the members faithfully and well in so many productive ways, and have reached out to the wider community both in Malaysia and in the region as well. As a result, UTSAAMC has earned much goodwill and respect. Yours will be a hard act to follow and I wish you all well as you continue to search for the next president.

Even though I shall be retiring from UTS on 4 September I look forward to giving whatever support I can to UTSAAMC in the years to come. Malaysia is my second home. My holiday among you all this past three weeks strengthens the ties that bind me to you.

May God bless us all.

Peter

Peter H.R.Meyer, MA., M.Ed.,
Director, Academic and English Language Support,
Faculty of Business,
University of Technology, Sydney
Tel: (02) 9514 3575

----- Original Message -----
From: "UTS:Alumni Malaysia" <uts...@gmail.com>
Date: Tuesday, July 8, 2008 9:34 pm
Subject: Farewell Message: from UTSAAMC President
To: uts...@gmail.com

> If you are can't read this page, an online version is available
> here...<
>
>

> *FAREWELL MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT - JULY 2008*

> *Website*

> We are proud to be the first Australian university alumni to have its
> own
> website at www.uts.org.my. This interactive website contains lots of
> information including graduate profile, event information, photo gallery,
> announcement, and more. It has been an envy to all, if not most of
> the other
> Australian university alumni in Malaysia. There were even requests
> for us to
> help and build similar websites for them too.
>

> *Personal Development Programme (PDP)*

> Probably more than any other activity, it is my belief that personal
> development - especially in today's demanding corporate world - have
> the
> greatest capacity to evoke our sense of connection to our graduates
> and the
> public. The introduction of PDP was an important landmark in the development
> of the UTSAAMC. PDP has been the talk of the town ever since the
> commencement in September 2006. Our first speaker was none other than
> UTS

> alumnus, *Mr. Richard Monaghan* (read more
> here<).

> Our PDP had gained much success and grown by leaps and bounds, thanks
> to the

> leadership of *Moh Mun Ching* who makes sure our PDP takes place

> every first
> Saturday of the month. Please click here < for
> further information.
>
>
>

> *Overseas Networking Trip*

>
> There is this common saying among people that "The World Is My
> Backyard." We
> have visited three UTS alumni chapters including Bangkok, Shanghai and
> lately Hong Kong. We take pride in continuing to keep a close relationship
> with all graduates no matter where they are. It is amazing to know
> that UTS
> graduates can be located in almost every country on earth. We have in
> common
> a great institution, but these are people who rarely see campus after
> they
> graduate. It has been my commitment to reach out to all members of
> the UTS
> family - even if it involves more than 24 hours of flying time to see
> them.
> So i decided to take the family reunion to them. I will always
> cherish the
> friendship made with these overseas graduates.
>
>
>

> *Young Alumni events*

> I remember that my first few years of work after leaving UTS were quite
> difficult - and that much of what I had grown to love over my two
> years at
> UTS just was not available to me in the wider world.Young alumni
> events are
> more than just social events - they are also opportunities for recent
> alumni
> to help, and learn from each other as they make the adjustment from
> UTS to

> the wider world. *Terence Tan* and *Justin Paul*, who run our Young Alumni

> events, are good examples of new faces who have emerged over the past
> three
> years. Both of them help to assemble teams for events such as Go-Kart,
> Treasure Hunt, and more.
>

> *Networking*

> Many of our members value the opportunity to connect with other UTS and
> Australian graduates. In order to facilitate this, we have set up a number
> of networking options - through
> Facebook<,
> Friendster < and
> Xing<-
> an online business networking forum.
>

> We are also an active participant through the *Malaysian Australian Business
> Council (MABC)* and the *Malaysian Australian Alumni Council (MAAC)*.

> We
> have also set up an online, searchable database of our members
> through our
> website, www.uts.org.my. This is not a first for most Universities,
> but it
> might be a first amongst the Australian university alumni in
> Malaysia. To
> be included in our database, please click
> here<to register.
>

> *Establishing strong relationships with the University*

> Without strong ties to back up our activities, our association is nothing
> more than a social club of sorts. But our ties to the University give
> our
> association purpose. We exist for each other, but most importantly we
> want
> to see the university healthy and successful on account of our efforts.
>
>
>
> We have sought to build strong relationships with the various parts
> of the

> University that interact with alumni. *Chris Benaud*, Director of The

> Alumni
> Office at UTS, has been a strong ally over the past two years since coming
> on board, and we are grateful for his support and enthusiasm. We have
> also

> worked with the University's Faculty of Business office - namely *Professor*
> *Rob Lynch*, *Dr. Stephen Topple* and *Mr. Peter Meyer* - and we

> expect to
> grow our partnership with them over the next several years.
>

> I had a fascinating one on one meeting with *Professor Ross Milbourne*,

> UTS's Vice Chancellor two years ago in Sydney. I believe that Ross' vision
> for the future of UTS, and for its place in the world is excellent
> and right
> on the mark.
>
>
>
> Many will be surprised to know that my 6-month working relationship

> with *Dr.
> Alex Byrne* has been the biggest inspiration during my term.

> UTSAAMC over the last three years - including *Michelle Leong, Elissa
> Chan,
> Wee Lay Har, Moh Mun Cheng, Ang Zjia Fernn, Terence Tan, Justin Paul*
> and *Jeanne
> Toh*. I also wish to thank * Alex Lee* who volunteered to be part of

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