Dear folks,
You may like to know that the organizing committee for this year’s annual dinner is working very hard to bring us a ‘big bang’ come 04Nov10 Thu at Orchid Country Club. Sneak preview tells me we have a pop band of our own and fashion show. Mark your calendar and you will be hearing from them soon. Pricing will be affordable. Be hearing from them real soon….
The joy of giving
I have heard people say that when I have more, I will give more. While they usually are talking about money, it does not matter. My view is don’t wait. Even if it is a little bit, give.
Giving to others can help us focus on all that is going well in our lives rather than all that is wrong. It can allow us to see all that we have rather than all the things we do not have.
Extracted from BEing the present
As I recalled, was it not Michael Bloomberg who in more recent days said that it is more joyful to give while you are still alive. It must be terrible to have someone else spend your money when you are gone.
So I urge you folks to support our 3rdCharity Ride on 14Nov10 by making a donation and joining us. Any one above 12 years old may join in this ride. This is NOT a race and we will be using the soon to be launched Northern Loop park connector. Park connectors, by definition, are specially designed pavements for use by cyclists and pedestrians, away from vehicular traffic.
Based on past two years, average donation per head is $300/- and the highest at $3,000. Proceeds collected shall be donated to the School Pocket Money Fund. Please <click here> for more details, including route.
Angel Tax Deduction
You may like to know that the Angel Investors Tax Deduction Scheme was recently launched on 28 June 2010 under charge of SPRING Singapore.
The scheme provides tax incentives to individuals with entrepreneurial and business expertise to bring their investments, expertise and networks to start-ups to help them grow. This scheme was announced in Budget 2010 early on this year
Under the Scheme, approved angel investors who make equity investments of at least $100,000 in eligible start-ups in a given year will qualify for a 50% tax deduction of the investments on their income. To benefit from the scheme, the angel investor must demonstrate the ability to nurture investee companies, through his entrepreneurial or business experience.
More information is available onwww.spring.gov.sg/aitd
To enjoy the tax incentives under the scheme, members should first submit the application to obtain the approval status. Once one is approved as an angel investor, one can then invest according to the specified criteria, without the need for further approval from SPRING. Please submit your completed forms to Minghui (angel_scheme@spring.gov.sg, DID 6279 3191), or contact him if you require more information.
The purpose of this notice is to highlight to members that such a scheme is available. HPA is NOT responsible for any investment you make.
The best and worst of National Day 2010
As this year’s ND was at Padang, seats were limited. My daughter, breed on nostalgia, asked if I had tickets. Well, no luck this year. So we settled for option B, to catch the parade on roof terrace of Cricket Club.
On the day itself, she dropped a bombshell asking her ex-JC classmates to descent on our puny flat at Tiong Bahru. So while we all gathered around to watch ND, she cooked various types of pizza for a group of 14.
It was one of the best ND for me as I learned much about her JC friends. Because of her esoteric choice of subjects (only person doing a specific combi in her entire cohort!), she landed in a class of high-achievers of different sorts after being shuffled 3 times. There was a swimmer, a rugby player, a canoeist, a dancer, a fencer, a sync swim dancer, an archer and some other sports; all at national level. She is no Olympian playing social tennis.
Interestingly, her class of 18 had more racial diversity than those straight ‘A’ propeller-head classes. Almost all did well, not exactly full ‘A’ students, but highly confident. Most make it to university reading diverse subjects including politics, law, architecture, business, economics, philosophy and engineering. Getting a B or C grade is not the end of the world for this lot. They will do well.
To maintain marital harmony, I surprise the wife by sending my bashed-up car for a face life. Over 3 years, my car was inflicted on 4 sides. The last was a big dent on my rear bumper when another motorist was too impatient to wait for me to reverse to park. So my wheels spent the long weekend in Kaki Bukit workshop. I took the train, cycled to collect my newly restored on ND.
The next day, I drove to work and decided not to park in my designated lot as it was raining buckets. There is a huge tree staring at me, in front of my lot and I don’t wish to risk any uprooting mishap. So I scout around and settled for a free lot, plenty at my work place.
I came down at lunch time and was about to drive off when I realize there was a long scratch on car roof. On closer examination, it was vandalized all over including roof, bonnet, booth and side doors. I must have parked at some one’s favourite lot. A work colleague passed by and commented: “now I know why we must uphold caning for vandalism”.
Meanwhile, I am told an army commander kept hundreds of soldiers waiting on parade square at a ND observance ceremony. He apparently forgot the national pledge. I always thought uniform personnel should recite the pledge at least once a month. That way, we don’t lose it. In school, I believe we still recite at assembly time. Here goes: “we the citizens of Singapore eh…<click here>
10thanniversary of theChamberPlayers
Free concert on 19Se010 Sun at 7:30pm
Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, NUS
For details, please emailtcpconcerts@gmail.comOR call 65161167. Tickets are required for entry.
Welcome On Board HPA Aug10
HPA-Eric Phan
HPA-Patrick Low
HPA-Dumas Chin
HPA-Wilson Ang Choon Kee
HPA-Wong Wai Kheong
© 2010 (Han Jok Kwang)
