Fund Raising Dinner by INTI College Students netted RM5,000.00

Some of the Organizing Committee

Standing (L) Victoria O. Cardenas (R) Victoria J. Ongkili

Seated (L) Pang Fui San (R) Michelle Wong

Fabulous MC Adelaide Cornellius as he was introdusing the Main Organizing Committee.

Dr. Alan Lim, INTI College Academic Dean, watering the potted plant to symbolise the function theme "Nurture Nature For The Future" witnessed by Datuk John Sikayun, Batholomew Jingulam, Freddy Ekol, Sylvester Motulis and Ms Sherylnn James.

The VIP Guests Table attended to by the MC Adelaide Cornellius (Blue Shirt)

Batholomew, John and Freddy witnessing the watering of the "Feng Shui" plant.

Ms Mary Sherylnn James, the Organizing Chairperson, delivering her welcoming address.

Kota Kinabalu March 29, 2009: The Fund Raising Dinner organised by the final year 2009 students of the Diploma in Tourism Management from INTI College at one of the well-known Sea Food Restaurant in Kota Kinabalu last night far exceeded the INTI College Academic Dean’s expectation. It was well patronised by about 250 diners and well wishers including invited VIP guests.

I was one of the invited guests in the VIP Table and, on the insistence of my fellow VIP guest, agreed to sing a popular Chinese song entitled “Yue Liang Dai Piau Wo De Xing” meaning “My heart represents the Moon”. Perhaps most of the diners present were surprised by the fact that I am a Kadazan and yet I could render a Chinese song for the purpose of fund raising.

In the name of Charity, the organizers managed to collect from the enthralled guests who generously donated totalling RM1,500.00, thus raising the organizers’ total Nett collection of RM5,000.00 during this function in aid of WWF.

The students were given a task to carry out a management project from which they would be assessed – a requirement from the College Board of Examiners for the final year students to qualify themto pass their final examination and for the award of the Diploma Certificates in Tourism.

How apt it was for them to choose this Fund Raising Dinner as their final project. The project itself was not only related to Tourism industry but also to assist the WWF, a non-profit and non-governmental organization, in its effort to carry its various global conservation projects.

The Organizing Chairperson, Ms Mary Sherylnn James, together with more than 20 of her fellow final year students, had barely one month to organize the function timely to coincide with the Earth Hour which was observed globally on 28^th March from 8.30pm – 9.30pm local time.

The function was launched by the INTI College Academic Dean, Dr. Alan Lim by symbolically watering a potted plant (see pix) in reflection of the function theme, “Nurture Nature For our Future”.

The function would not have been so successful if not for the mastery of the MC, Mr. Adelaide Cornellius who was appointed by the event advisor cum Head of the Program, Mr. Sylvester Motulis. 

Notable VIP guests at the function were Datuk Marcel Leiking, President of Kadazan Society Sabah; Datuk John Sikayun, President of Sabah Law Society; Datuk Lawrence Sinsua, a prominent KL based businessman; Batholomew Jingulam, KSS SG; Freddy Ekol, a prominent local based businessman as well as KSS VP; and yours truly.

Flick your switch off to observe Earth Hour.

Do you want to show you care about energy conservation? Simply switch off your lights tonight, March 28 2009 from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m., local time. Don’t wait for SESB to switch off the power supply; they will do it for you at odd times not according to scheduled Earth Hour. This is Earth Hour, and Saturday is the third annual worldwide event. Millions of homes and businesses and hundreds of major landmarks will go dark for one hour to show that energy conservation is important and to send this message to political leaders attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference in December 2009. At the same time, Earth Hour reminds each of us how easy it is to conserve -- just turn off non-essential lights and electronics to reduce our own power consumption. Some famous buildings will be going dark on Saturday including: The Empire State Building in New York City, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the St. Louis Gateway Arch, the Sydney Opera House, the Sears Tower in Chicago, Seattle's Space Needle, the Great Pyramids and Sphinx in Egypt, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, and Broadway theatre marquees in New York City. Malaysia is also observing the Earth Hour but it is not known yet whether the Petronas Twin Tower will go dark tonight for one hour from 8.30pm. Earth Hour is both a symbolic act and the start of a practical habit to conserve energy.And during Earth Hour, what will most participants use for illumination? Candles. The Earth Hour website is filled with announcements – from New Zealand to Hong Kong to Serbia – of restaurants hosting candlelit dinners and clubs holding candlelit acoustic concerts, along with lots of tips on what to do at home during the electricity-free hour, which includes taking a candlelit bath or playing board games by candlelight. Check out some of the recommended tips for saving energy in and around the house all year round. How to save energy around the house From shutting down the electronics and picking up a book (gasp!) to closing your curtains at the right time, here are 21 simple things you can do to save energy, and cash, in your home. What's wasting energy in your home right now A gentle reminder -- with specifics -- to get up and unplug appliances you're not using. Keeping cool indoors If you don't have air conditioning -- or if you want to keep your power bill from going gangbusters -- you still can lower the temperature inside your house or apartment. Greening your home in the right order There is an important order to the steps each of us can take to make a difference. How low can you go? Saving energy while washing the dishes is as easy as pushing a button.