The New Pathways -- Making Connection Through Networking

In this Pathways' project, Make Connection Through Networking, the participant learns how to engage, interact and maintain contact established through networking events. He will learn to acknowledge the interests of others to cultivate mutually beneficial relationships, gain more self-confidence and develop his interpersonal skills.

Rotary "Seeing Eye to Eye" International Conference held on 7 October 2017 at Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) was indeed an eye-opener! We had participants from many ASEAN countries, including from Bangladesh. They included Rotarians, medical practitioners from SNEC and other Institutions of Higher Learning, Lions and Project Orbis (Flying Eye hospital).

According to World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics, it is estimated that 285 million people are visually impaired; 39 million are blind and 246 million have low vision. Out of the 39 million who are blind, 20 million are suffering from cataracts. The reality is that four out of five cases of visual impairment are preventable or treatable if we are able to diagnose vision problems at their onset to prevent further deterioration.

The main objective of this conference was to network and to present papers on blindness prevention. I was one of the conference speakers and presented Rotary Eclub of 3310's involvement in this area. They include Eye Screenings for Elderly, Avoidable Blindness Seminar covering the whole spectrum of challenges which was held in conjunction with World Glaucoma Week and our "Gift of Sight" Medical Outreach in Hetauda, Nepal (December 2017) and Bandung, Indonesia (late April/May 2018). 

   

With Ms Charity Wai, Chief Operating Officer, SNEC

The emcee read out my elevator speech, "The next speaker needs little introduction. He has been a Rotarian for more than 25 years and is a Past President of two Rotary Clubs - a traditional "brick and mortar" club and the 1st operating CyberClub in Asia. His hybrid model is now the norm for many Rotary Clubs around the world. The speaker is a Distinguished Toastmaster and Past District Governor of Toastmasters District 80. During his term as District Governor, he was awarded the coveted Toastmasters' Excellence in Leadership Award. This was a first for a Singapore District. A man of many “firsts”, ladies and gentlemen, let us warmly welcome... Charter President Chew Ban Seng, Rotary EClub of 3310."

Besides the networking and making many life-long contacts, what were some of the takeaways?

Let me just name two... Firstly, the longer is in the name, the higher qualified is the person. For example, an optician, and optometrist and an ophthalmologist. The second, and in basic layman's language, cataract is nature's way of "protecting" the highly sensitive retina.  

So, what's next? We look forward to coming together again at the next Rotary "Seeing Eye to Eye" International Conference to be held in Penang in October 2018!!

Chew Ban Seng DTM

Past District Governor