Sunday, May 17, 2009

Harlem Globetrotters in Singapore - passe?



What came out well?
We were early.. way too early and thus no rush at all.
We were moved to better seats as the stadium was half full or half empty.

What came out badly?
The tickets said 6.30pm but SISTIC's website said 7.30pm. We sat there for more than an hour. Why?
Perhaps to get us there early without dinner. Is that a ploy for us to spend more money on the expensive food and drinks in the stadium. Or is to get people there on time?

The performance of the Globetrotters - slow, dull, unslick, not much basketball, too much clowning around, poor sound, probably the third or fourth Globetrotters reserve team came to Singapore.

Verdict - Don't waste time. Go do something else.

Thursday, May 07, 2009

AWARE beware? Or be aware of AWARE?

Finally, it is official!!! MOE has suspended AWARE's sex education programme being run in our schools. Noted its programmes have both plus and minus points.

I was forwarded a copy of the materials used from a reliable source. After reading of it, I was thoroughly flabbergasted that such "things" are allowed officially in schools. I just hope not too much damages have been done to a generation of children.

1st Issue
I am not here to question what AWARE stands for. But the members of AWARE should be concerned as to whether the original intention of AWARE has mutated by adding a word here and there to their original manifesto by subsequent management committees.

2nd Issue
One of the first bit of info I was looking for in the initial many days of many full pages of newspapers dedicated to the "quibblings" at AWARE - How many members' interest were affected? Now we know... 300 members... until the fracas started...

Question for the Old Guards - Why were the membership only at 300? Has the membership been increasing or decreasing over the years? This is a good indicator as to whether AWARE has been doing delivering values to its members.

In business, no point telling our bosses that we have been working hard throughout the year. Bosses always ask, what are the measurable outcomes against targets?

3rd issue - "Membership increased from 300 to 3000" in a matter of weeks.
Apparently AWARE's constitution allows ladies to sign up minutes before a General Meeting and yet be allowed to vote on issues a few minutes after.

The Old Guards were voted out by the New Guards using this rule. The New Guards were subsequently voted out when many phantom supporters suddenly turned up at Suntec City by the thousands to sign up as members.

Suggestion - For the stability of leadership and operation of its various programmes, perhaps the Clause should be amended to require new members 3 months' "warming period".

One good thing that comes out of all these AWARE episodes - Singapore's society continues to mature as we openly discuss issues responsibly (said a friend of mine).