Happy Lunar New Year 2008

Hi Folks,

Year of Rat have finally arrived after 12 faithful years of waiting.

May Year 2008 be filled with Joy, Laughter, Peace, Prosperity and Happiness for you and your family as well as residents of SILRA Home.

Please be informed that we will resume our service on 16 Feb @ SILRA for 人日庆祝会, 2pm onwards.

Greetings from Joy Gathering Volunteer Group

Chinese New Year Celebration

Setting up the backdrop

Our Emcees.

Lion Dance...

Balloons and Balloons. Yeah..

Yu Sheng... Huat ah!!!

The performers.

Wheel of Fortune. Roll Money and Roll Money...

Our regular performers

Say "cheese"


Guitar... Hmm.. But where is Shaorong???

God of Fortune

Mass Singing

Upcoming Events in Feb 08

Harlow mates,

last week was our CNY big bash @ SILRA. So happening n enjoyable, of course including our dinner @ Ban Leong and birthday celebration for our Feb babies. Yes, a bit too early..as our Jan's babies was not around to take the limelight..

Stay tuned for our photos, please be patience..

Following is our Upcoming Events in Feb @ SILRA, do join us if possible..

2 Feb: Broadcast of 881 movie (2pm onwards - 4pm) / Spring Cleaning of our Volunteer Rm
9 Feb: Service Break (ie no service)
16 Feb: Ren Ri Celebration (2pm onwards - Steaming of Peach Buns and serving @ 3pm)
23 Feb: Normal Activities / Sashi Group

Cheers!!

CNY BIG BASH @ SILRA (26 Jan 08)

Hi All,

Once again, we've waited for 12 years to hear the squeaking of Rat into our Home. We are not saying about the grey type lingering at our rubbish chute. We are talking about the Golden Rat. Yes, the cycle begins once more and it will be another 11 more years till we hear 'oink oink'. How exicting it this, a new cycle and a new year!!

This coming Saturday, we will be having our Big Bash from 4pm onwards. PLEASE WEAR RED COLOR TOP!! Thou our event kick off @ 4pm, all volunteers please be @ SILRA from 12 noon onwards as manpower is required in the following area:-

• Lo Hei Preparation - we will be in the kitchen shredding and cutting all the ingredients needed (Please borrow vegetable shredders from your mummy and bring along)
• Titbits Preparation (Preserved Fruits/Pineapple Tarts/Panda Cake)- cutting into smaller pieces & arranging onto smaller plates.
• Set-up of Decoration - Stage Backdrop
  Tea Preparation - brewing a good pot of chinese tea for dinner serving
• Practice Mass Singing

Besides that manpower is also required during the event such as:-

• Lo Hei Distribution
• Buffet Distribution
• Clapping of Hands / Creating the atmosphere (Througout the whole event)
• Mass Singing
• Distribution of Mandarin Orange
• Spring Cleaning

We will be having our volunteer reunion dinner @ Ban Leong after the event, do join. =)

Weekly Updates - 13 Jan 08

Hi folks, how have you been...

Last week our volunteer room was filled with people for the first time. We have welcome close to 10 new friends. Of course, our dearest Shao Rong (aka "axxowex") shared with us his moments of truth when he first started volunteering and things that he managed to pick up along the way. Not forgetting our vice-chair, Li Yu also shared with us on how she was "cheated" but was happy about it. Also, our 2nd newest member, Lawrence (aka the small one) shared with how he started out by gathering information over the net etc. Guess most of us have different reason(s) as to how we first started out in volunteering and the experiences we have after joining the group. Take a few moments to think back that baby first step you took in volunteering and how it have created an impact in your life.. Just wonder if you have not taken this step where would you be now??.....................

This coming Saturday (19 Jan) we are having our normal activites in addition we are organising a video shoot out for individuals to "record" their special greetings for our residents..(Remember we posted an email earlier for you guys to send us your video clips..yah as usual we being media shy=no response). Wear your Sunday best to SILRA this Saturday.

Gentle reminder to all, next Saturday (26 Jan) is SILRA big day, we are having our Chinese New Year Celebration, ppPLEASE wear RED color T-shirts/polo/any top. Manpower required for lots of things...so please be @ SILRA by 1pm. More details released at later date.

Volunteer Orientation - 12 Jan 08

Hi,

this coming Saturday we will be welcoming new friends-to-be of SILRA.

Our normal activities such as Stress Ball Exercise, Coffee/Milk Making, Memory Game, Muscial Therapy and Stroll are all coming back already..Remember our activities start from 2.30pm.

If you have got the time, do join us. =) C ya.

Merry Christmas!!

Hi Friends,

Ho Ho ho, Merry Christmas to you & your family. Time files and today is Christmas once more. The season for giving and sharing. Thou in the modern world with globalisation going on, all festivals are getting more commercialise. Guess this make sense so as to "witness" the increasing in GDP per capita, economy spending and what have you. Ever wonder why Christmas? Why Log cake? and why do we have stuffed turkey with cranberry sauce on our dinning table this time of the year? Here's wishing all of you a Merry Christmas!!

Please note that there will be a Post Chirstmas gathering at Rimei's house. Details as follows:- Date: 29 Dec (Saturday)Time: After Saturday Service (6pm onwards)Menu: Spaghetti, Pizza, Cheesecake.
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Christmas is an annual holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus. It refers both to the day celebrating the birth; as well as to the season which that day inaugurates, and which concludes with the Feast of the Epiphany (Twelfth Day of Christmas). The date of the celebration is traditional, and is not considered to be his actual date of birth. Although nominally a Christian holiday, it is also observed as a cultural holiday by many non-Christians.

Bûche de Noël ("Yule Log") is a traditional dessert served during the Christmas holidays in France and Quebec. As the name indicates, the cake is generally prepared, presenter and garnished so as to look like a log ready for the fire. Bûches are often served with a portion of one end of the cake cut off and set on top of the cake to resemble chopped off branch andbark like texture is often produced in the buttercream for further realism.

A Yule log, is a large log which is burned in the hearth as a part of traditional Yule or Christmas celebrations in some cultures.
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Upcoming Events ~ Note*

Hi all,

guess some of us are feeling moody..just like the weather, rainy & dark.. guess this kind of weather adds a feel of the "coldness in the air" and maybe, just maybe that it is this same element that sets the mood rite to feel the warmness when one hand a gift of thought and concern over to you.

As the Boar is going to sleep for another 12 years, seems like the quiet Rat is making its way up to the table for oil..

But before that, how could we forgot about the joy of togetherness in making Rice Dumpling in ginger soup and the laughter that we always crack during gathering. All these is a form of our customs before the joy of seeing our Fortune of Wealth kicks in..

Also as part of a good practice, we can also review and plan new year resolutions. Also, to mark down on your 2008 calendar for SILRA Home events..=)

Some useful dates to note:

22 Dec: Winter Solace (Please arrive SILRA at 12.30pm for Rice dumpling preparations). Our dear Liyu will be our Chef of the Day

29 Dec: Volunteer Group gathering @ Rimei's house. Be there for a treat! Something special..
26 Jan: Chinese New Year Celebration @ SILRA (Event kick off at 4.30pm) - Pls volunteer your talents and assistance..Shao Rong are we going to hear your golden voice once more??
We will soon be having a committee meeting for review and planning of the events calendar. So do stay tuned and note down more dates.

Lastly, an advanced Merry Christmas to all of you!!

ESN Carnival & Concert 2007 - Elderly, Volunteers & Friends

Hi all,

How are you guys doing?? You must have heard by now that Elderly Sector Network (ESN) is organising a Carnival & Concert this year! Yes, you’ve heard them correctly – CARNIVAL & CONCERT. The carnival theme is “Elderly, Volunteers & Friends”.

The main rationale behind this event is to promote a sense of togetherness as a community of volunteers and elderly in the eldercare sector, such that we can all support one another's efforts in the services we provide for the elderly and improve, sustain these efforts for many years to come.
In addition, this will also be a form of “talent spotting” event, not exactly like Star Search with judges or facilitators. ESN committee would like to use this opportunity as a channel for showcasing the hidden talents such as singing, handicrafts and dancing from different Voluntary Welfare Organisation (VWOs). This will promote active lifestyle for the residents and an opportunity for volunteers to bring back ideas of how to engage their residents with other handicraft sessions.

This event will be held on 15 Dec 2007 (Saturday) @ Yishun Junior College Hall from 2.00 to 4.30pm. (Address: 3 Yishun Ring Road, Singapore 768675). Programme includes not mentioning Carnival = Food = Games = Fun, elderly/volunteer performances and lucky draw.

How is SILRA involved??
- We will be manning a handicraft booth showcasing, Ah Lim’s drawing, Salt bottles made by Uncles & Aunties, Ah Kow’s rattan handicraft and tissue paper carrier sow by Aunties.

How we would like you to be involved?? (please revert okie..)
- B4 carnival: Handicrafts preparations do join us for our upcoming Saturdays to engage the residents to continue our Salt Bottle.
- During carnival: 1) Bringing our residents out to/fro YJC; 2) Holding the fort @ SILRA; or 3) setting up either food or game stall (Closing date for proposal: 17 Nov)

Other information that you should be aware of??
This is not a fund raising event, non-profitable, but the coupon sales earned from handicraft booths will be returned to the respective agencies.

Lastly, we are also in the midst of sourcing for sponsors to cover the costs involved.

Alternatively, if you have a great idea and its bursting or burning to share, do drop us a few liners. We look forward to hear from you soon!

Check out our photos

Harlow everyone, check out our yoga photos and the video. It really help in relaxation, try it out at home. Be careful, not to be ignored by your spouse, parents or neighbors.