Opening of centre

Yesterday was the opening of our centre. After weeks of preparations, it was finally over!

Though there was rain, the program started with many elderly. Some tried to gatecrash too and one elderly even asked whether there was ang bao to take. Though it was a bit messy, we managed to have fun ourselves.

First of all, my colleague told the volunteers to put the tables and chairs very closely to the stage. I told them otherwise and she was not happy. Reason for my action: the tentage was so long and if we put all tables and chairs near the stage, then what's the point of having a long tentage? We might as well save money and asked for a shorter one.

Then, when one colleague saw that most of the seats were taken up, she was frustrated and questioned why I did not bother to let her have the table settings for her to arrange the VIPs and management committee members to sit. I told her that one table was already reserved but I did not know why 3 persons were sitted there. She then told me to shift the elderly who were performing to sit behind but I told her otherwise. Later, I told my reporting boss about it and he agreed that she should be the one to let us know the number of seats we should reserve not the other way round.

After that, during lunch, most of the Malay elderly were asking whether the food was halal. At first, I could not understand why they were asking until I was having my lunch, I saw that the food seemed to suggest that it was a Chinese-cooked food.

Then one of the RC people was so rude. She demanded that I took 2 bags of goodie bags and not asked so many questions. Then when one elderly came to ask for the goodie bag, she gave it to her without asking anyone. Thank God I saw it. I told this elderly that before I gave her the bag, she was to let me see her new medication and medication box. She tends to forget her medication and all staff in the centre are worried that she would get a stroke. She dutifully followed my instructions.

Though everything seemed to be a mess at first, the staff at the centre were just glad that everything went smoothly and ended well. Now, I have to get feedback from the elderly and volunteers. Some volunteers are just not ready and sensitive to the needs of the volunteers except for Dawn. She was so mad with the volunteers eating at the buffet tables and not helping out when I gave signals that she scolded them with vulgarities. I told my reporting boss about this so that if any of the volunteers complain later, he will know what happened.

Thank God for letting the event run as planned. Though there are hipcups, I'm just glad that there are volunteers around to help us do the cleaning up. Thank You Lord.