Thursday, November 16, 2006
Yesterday was quite eventful because it was the 1st time i co-ordinated a ceremony while in my unit. It was the Mindef Reserve Ceremony, where NSmen who clocked the revised Mindef Reserve Criteria of 7HKs and 10 years are phased to this special holding unit called Mindef Reserve. Under the enlistment act, they may recalled back in times of emergency, up to the statutory age limit of 50 for WOSEs and 40 for Officers(they will be untouchables after the age limit... coz some of them will probably in not-so-good-health, to put it nicely).
The above-mentioned is just a summary. Look what happens when you get an Arts student to read directives and GOM... And the speech i wrote for CO was even more erm, interesting with phrases like..
"I would like to thank you for your devotion and dedication over the past decade"...
"With your contribution, the *** is able to shape itself into the capable force it is today"....
"I wish you success in your years ahead"
Looking back, i actually enjoyed the entire process of organising the event. Ms Chua and me were responsible for EVERYTHING. Of course, we engaged assistance from an extremely reliable team of S1 Branchers. Namely, David, Raj, Clev and Dezhong.
Everything had to be done by ourselves. From identifying the nsmen who qualify to sending out of invitation. From indenting the medals, to printing the Certificate of Appreciation. From printing the backdrop to photostating the programme sheet. From designing the signs, to sneaking into CO's office to make use of the colour printer to print out the signs so that they are more attractive. From writing emails to beg for help to get the PA system to making trips to STK to lias wrt e food. Or from travelling all the way to the brewery in a 5 ton lorry to collect the beer dispenser, to figuring out how to chill the beer. Or from selecting what track to play for background music to making courtesy calls to the nsmen to turn up for the event. From rushing out to Anchorpoint to buy balloons, to blowing the balloons. From picking up the food, to displaying the food on the table, to serving food, to washing the tupperwares(or rather, plastic storage boxes) and buffet trays, to disposing the dontknowhowmanyrubbishbags of waste at the trash point. From "kooping" dunnohowmanychairs from the mph, to carrying the rostrum back to the stage in semi-darkness. .............. From accomodating to boss' last minute demands to hospitable to the 70 or so guests who turn up.
And talking about the guests. We were quite encouraged with the 33 Nsmen who turn up. This is despite them phasing into the Mindef Reserve in April.
Was even more encouraged with the presence of the Active PSOs/OCs/2ICs/CSM/RSM/PCs and the list goes on... I've never been sooo close to soooo many of my unit officers before(coz we were all in the mess). And i had to be extremely nice and warm and all because im the organizer, or one of the hosts... Had to go around smiling and distributing drinks and cut fruits and making people queue up for food and giving them paper plates and clearing their rubbish and make small talk, tell them what is so special about the $186 Hamilton Khaki Series gift watch and SAF National Service Medal(with their names engraved on the underside) and collar pin..... I really felt like a waiter...
I must say i am quite satisfied with yesterday's event. I didnt expect it to turn out so well, by my standard. Although there were a few miss cues as a result of boss' indecisiveness(ie. decided to change EVERYTHING 5 minutes to 1730), there were practically no other screwups(maybe not enough paper plates... so we used ration box). Couldnt finish the food so we got the Guard House ppl and Duty Medics to have them! Ha.
More importantly, it is the people who made a difference. Early in the morning at 8, i sent out an email to all the officers/wo who turned up and cc it to CO, and my branchmates who helped out.
" Good Morning Sirs/Mdm,
We would like to express our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to you for gracing the Mindef Reserve Ceremony. We hope you had an enjoyable and pleasant evening.
We would also like to thank all those who have kindly assisted in one way or another. The ceremony was made possible through your active co-operation and dedicated contribution.
Please convey our message of thanks to all those whom we might have accidentally left out
Thank You"
And we've got a reply from one of the OC who said that "credit shld go to the huiping and gang"... And then CO who said that he "shared the same sentiments.." and then thanked "S1, S1 branch and nsmen section"...
The OC really made my day when he said he could really see the team spirit. Finally.. Someone finally recognize us.. (perhaps u wldnt understand.. u need a boss like mine to see how unmotivated we can get...) It is all these little EQ "things" which makes a difference. Tio Bo?
And oh.. CO knows i stay in Tampines.. First of all, i think my boss wanted to test me(he was looking at CO when he asked me the question.. we were near the buffet table)..
Boss: Ridza. What are u going to do with all the food?
Me: Since we havent eat, we will stuff ourselves tonight...
Bosses: *laugh*
Boss: How abt the beer?
Me: No choice. We will have to dispose it.. Will return the barrel and dispenser tmr.
Bosses: Yea.. No choice..
Suddenly...
(CO turns to look at me directly)
CO: Ridza.. U stay in tampines right?
Me: yeah.. correct sir..
CO: Yeah. I thought it was you.. I saw u buying ice-cream for a little kid near the stadium
Me: (trying hard to recall).... oh yeahh.. for my brother.. near the swimming pool right.. I stay around the area... You were there?
CO: Yeah. But i didnt think u saw me lah.
Me: I stay next to the block with the "show-room" above.. where u can see the entire tampines..
CO: 856E?
Me: No.. 856*
CO: My mum stays at 856E..
BLAH BLAH BLAH.. we were practically discussing abt Tampines blah blah blah..
And then..
Me: But i find the place a little bit far..
CO: You mean far from camp? must take mrt and all?
Me: erm. yeah.. but then also far from the bus stop.. coz its quite near the interchange but not exactly that near..
CO: oh yeah...
(ooppps.. i think he thinks im hinting that i want a lift home... and fyi, i dont really like such an idea lah)
and we blahblahed for awhile.
It is the 1st time i was having a conversation with CO although he's been w the unit for about 1 year. The only time i talk to him is when i need him to vet some speech or documents or letter, on behalf of my boss. And oh.. the occasional "i bump into you" in the cramped toilet.
Despite reaching home after 2230 yesterday night, reported to work extra early.. at 0700 this morhing because i took the earlier train.. And then went to Asian Pacific Breweries to return the stuff. Was kinda pissed coz there was no one in the office.. I called a number i saw on a tax invoice and started making A LOT OF NOISE.. This was for the empty barrel which had to be returned.. The dispenser and Co2 tank was already settled. COnsidered abandoning the barrel but then it had ARMED FORCES and ltos of serial number on it.. And the best thing is that, Dys1 whom i went with discovered that...... We cld have left the barrel behind because..... what DyS4 meant is that we return the barrel to him, and not return it to APB.. How exciting is that. Anw, lunched-out again. At ikea BK.. was at ikea during lunch yesterday too.. And abt the beer thing.. funny thing is i dont even drink.. why shld i do all the beer-related thing.. still no answer.....
|| nobone ran out @ 11/16/2006 07:29:00 pm ||