All About Active Community Leaders

[ksks]

To share with parents who are keen to go via this grassroot route.

I tried to get into the RC membership of my constitutency 2years ago. I went down to talk to the Chief there. I'm very upfront with him that my objective of joining RC is for my kids' P1 registration. The committee seems "unhappy" that i have such ulterior motive. The chief says "it is important that you have a passion for community work!" ....

I mean to be fair, we are not a brunch of rich people who sit at home and do nothing. Our work hours are long and to do such RC work, i have to put my limited rest hours to better use.

At the end of the day, i decided not to join them becos i dont think im willing to spend those endless hours of meeting talking about all sort of things under the sky in the community.

Moreover i find that RC work is very remote and distant from your school of choice. If we really come to an appeal case, the school is unlikely to give you a chance as compared to parent volunteer who is more closer to the school.

[titank]

Hi KSKS,

I heard there are some kind of benefits for being a Grassroot Members, maybe the enrollment of Phase 2B as Community Leaders is one of them.

As one of the member had mentioned that you have to attatined Executive Member then would be able to get the endorsement letter. The letter only allowed you to try at the schools in your GRC.

[learningtobekiasu]

i am curious to know if the endorsement letter only applies to people in RC? i noticed on the pa website there are other areas for grassroot leadership volunteers such as sports and cc committees.

any idea? thanks.

[titank]

Maybe joining PA can have endorsement letter too in enrolling in Phase 2B.

[agent66]

Hi

I am in the NC (Neighbourhood committee), similar to RC except that this is meant for non-HDB residents.

The difference between the volunteers and Executive Member lies in the so called "membership" . To be an Executive Member, one has to register with the RC (your GRC) 1st. You need to be present for all bi-monthly meeting and if you are absent for consecutive 3 meetings without valid reasons, you are out of the ball game. I joined in Nov 07 and receive my Executive Member "title" in Apr 08. I have been "active" in attending the meetings, giving suggestions in meetings and participate in 90% of the activities.

For volunteers, one is not required to attending the meetings and is free to move around and assist in the activities. I doubt if one will be given endorsement letter but the RC will give you recognition if you are really active. Recognition in the form of appreciation thru Annual Dinner and certificate.

I don't think there is a one year period as I receive the email to apply for priority registration too given the fact that I have joined less than 1 year. It depends very much on your "contribution" to the RC/NC.

[learningtobekiasu]

Hi

I am in the NC (Neighbourhood committee), similar to RC except that this is meant for non-HDB residents.

The difference between the volunteers and Executive Member lies in the so called "membership" . To be an Executive Member, one has to register with the RC (your GRC) 1st. You need to be present for all bi-monthly meeting and if you are absent for consecutive 3 meetings without valid reasons, you are out of the ball game. I joined in Nov 07 and receive my Executive Member "title" in Apr 08. I have been "active" in attending the meetings, giving suggestions in meetings and participate in 90% of the activities.

For volunteers, one is not required to attending the meetings and is free to move around and assist in the activities. I doubt if one will be given endorsement letter but the RC will give you recognition if you are really active. Recognition in the form of appreciation thru Annual Dinner and certificate.

I don't think there is a one year period as I receive the email to apply for priority registration too given the fact that I have joined less than 1 year. It depends very much on your "contribution" to the RC/NC.

always good to get information from people who have experience!

so, to ensure i got this right - for private housing i would have to join the NC, not RC, and executive membership has no cap (i.e. there are only 'x' number of members at any one time?).

do you know if there is a time frame as to how long one has to serve as an executive member before being eligible for the endorsement letter for primary school registration?

thank you!

[agent66]

Hi

I am in the NC (Neighbourhood committee), similar to RC except that this is meant for non-HDB residents.

The difference between the volunteers and Executive Member lies in the so called "membership" . To be an Executive Member, one has to register with the RC (your GRC) 1st. You need to be present for all bi-monthly meeting and if you are absent for consecutive 3 meetings without valid reasons, you are out of the ball game. I joined in Nov 07 and receive my Executive Member "title" in Apr 08. I have been "active" in attending the meetings, giving suggestions in meetings and participate in 90% of the activities.

For volunteers, one is not required to attending the meetings and is free to move around and assist in the activities. I doubt if one will be given endorsement letter but the RC will give you recognition if you are really active. Recognition in the form of appreciation thru Annual Dinner and certificate.

I don't think there is a one year period as I receive the email to apply for priority registration too given the fact that I have joined less than 1 year. It depends very much on your "contribution" to the RC/NC.

always good to get information from people who have experience!

so, to ensure i got this right - for private housing i would have to join the NC, not RC, and executive membership has no cap (i.e. there are only 'x' number of members at any one time?).

do you know if there is a time frame as to how long one has to serve as an executive member before being eligible for the endorsement letter for primary school registration?

thank you!

yes, for pte housing, there is only NC and you need to check with GRC you belong to. Most impt, make sure that there will be no change to your GRC . There is no cap becoz usually very not many people know abt NC and those in pte estate hardly wants to join NC too.

Like I mentioned, I joined in Nov'07 and has been issued the Executive Member endorsement letter in Apr'08. Of coz, prior to this endorsement, the chairman will ask if there is any objection from the rest.

[titank]

In summary, if on the ball a bit then should be able to get Executive Member. Only Executive Member then can get endorsement letter.

[learningtobekiasu]

thanks all for the insight. two more questions. does it matter if the NC is not in the same neighbourhood as the intended school, as long as the school is in the same GRC?

what if i move nearer to the school before the Pri 1 registration process starts? would the executive membership endorsement still be valid?

[agent66]

You can check this website on the list of school within th GRC that you serve
http://www.moe.gov.sg/education/admissi ... ng-by-grc/

Not quite sure about the change of address but you can't be serving the NC then and should be changing to the RC/NC near to the new address. It shouldn't affect your membership as you would have attained it at least one year ago? You can call People's Association to check on this.