Thanking Our Volunteers

As is the Law Society’s tradition, an annual ‘Thank You’ Dinner is held each year to recognise and thank chairpersons and members of the Society’s standing committees and ad-hoc committees for their hard work throughout the year.

Committees toil hard to help Council bring to fruition its workplan vision, goals and objectives and carry out the Society’s purposes. This takes the form of organising events, seminars, talks, activities, helping to shape policies of Council, growing the various practice areas, being involved in dialogues and representing the Society in exchanges with foreign visitors, the judiciary, AGC or other government bodies, or rendering opinions, planning and implementing projects and helping Council to execute its regulatory responsibilities.

So it was fitting that on 7 January 2005, the Law Society thanked all volunteers by way of a dinner held at Café Society @ Old Parliament Lane. Ninety volunteers attended the event. It was a good way to start the new year too, as was evidenced by the cheery new year greetings that were exchanged. Dinner was a hearty buffet spread amidst the cosy warmth of Café Society (which previously housed the chambers of a District Court judge).The location certainly seemed apt and fuelled the animated conversation between members about the good old days of practice.

The dinner was also an occasion to thank the outgoing members of Council for their contributions, and after a brief and witty speech characteristic of our President, Mr Philip Jeyaretnam, SC, he handed plaques of appreciation to the following:

Mrs Arfat Selvam                     - 1 June 1999 to 31 Dec 2004

Mr Gan Hiang Chye               - 1 Jan 1999 to 31 Dec 2004

Mr Montague Choy                - 1 Jan 2001 to 31 Dec 2004

Mr Leslie Chew, SC                - 1 Jan 2003 to 31 Dec 2004

The President also acknowledged the contributions of the following outgoing members of Council who were unable to attend the event:

Mr Ronnie Quek Cheng Chye -  1 Jan 1999 to 31 Dec 2004

Mr Mohd Lutfi Hussin            -  1 Jan 2003 to 31 Dec 2004

Mr Sean Francois La’Brooy   -  1 Jan 2003 to 31 Dec 2004

Thank you, all.

Sharmaine Lau

The Law Society of Singapore

Members mingling and catching up with one another

Something seems to be happening on the stage ...

The crowd loosens up

Members having their pick of the sumptuous buffet spread

Members relaxing after a hard day’s work

Ms Yasho Dhoraisingam addressing the audience while Mr Philip Jeyaretnam, SC looks on

Mr Philip Jeyaretnam, SC giving a short speech

Mr Montague Choy, outgoing Council member

And my point is ...

A beaming Mrs Arfat Selvam, Immediate Past President with her token of appreciation from Mr Philip Jeyaretnam, SC

Outgoing Council member, Mr Gan Hiang Chye accepting his token of appreciation