THE HOME (THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM)

        It all began in 1992 during the term of Past President (PP) Lion T. Sriskanda.

       

        The late father of PP Ex Lion Andy Lim Chong Soo, Lim Kian Huat had decided to donate a piece of land at RPT Batu 8 Tambahan 1 measuring 5321 sq. ft to the club since he was the developer of the scheme for the government.

        The members were very happy and immediately started a building fund to the raise monies for the Lion’s Home under the chairmanship of Past President the late Lion Lau Man Wah.

        Since the said land at the time was a RPT land, it could only be given to individuals.

        The club at that time decided to nominate PP Lion Dato’ Dr. Foo Wan Kien a Lion of more than twenty years (now forty years) as its trustee.

        All the members were anxious for the issuance of the title for the said land. The title was finally issued in 2002 but by which time the interest and enthusiasm of the 90’s had diminished and the HOME was hardly talked about at the meetings by the members.

        New members came and all of them hardly knew of the existence of the said land and the decision to build the HOME. In a nutshell one can say that the spark/fire that had burnt brightly in the 1990’s had nearly diminished.

        In the year 2011, PP Lion Ir. Foo Wan Shoon came forward and encouraged our members to continue with the dream of our HOME. The children with special needs from the Ray of Hope needed a Home and the Club was going to build a HOME for these children.

        As such with much gusto and now with an aim and a purpose, the members lead by PP Lion Ir. Foo Wan Shoon went about their task of reviving the HOME. Plans were drawn and architect appointed and the pilling work commenced.

        The Club on its 46^th Anniversary even had a ground breaking ceremony which was attended by Past International Director Hajjah Ellis Suriyati Haji Omar on 25^th Feb 2012.

        At that time it dawned on the members that the title issued in 2002 was not taken from the relevant authorities until 2012.

        Upon enquiries at the Land Office about the original title, it was no longer there. There was no record on who took the title since it was ten long years ago.

        PP Lion Dato’ Dr Foo Wan Kien now already a Past District Governor immediately applied for a new title and with the resources available to him obtained it on 8^th April 2013.

        Thereafter again the project came to a standstill although pilling work was done on the said land.

        Things did not move, until the 50^th President of the Lions Club of Ipoh Host Lion Emily Kong Phooi Lai took office. In the meantime some members felt it was time to amend the club’s constitution so that the said land can be transferred to the Club and the current owner PDG Lion Dato’ Dr. Foo Wan Kien had executed all relevant documents for the transfer.

        Things began to unfold rather quickly thereafter, PP Lion T. Sriskanda then decided to assist PP Lion Ir.  Foo Wan Shoon who came back to be the Organising Chairperson. A kind hearted developer, Dato’ Doh Jee Ming, a personal friend of PP Lion T. Sriskanda came forward to complete the HOME for a sum of only RM230,000.00 of which he personally donated RM30,000.00 .

  

        Things were moving now that there was excitement in the air and the Lions spirit was there for its member and everyone to see.

        On 18^th December 2015 after numerous visits by the club’s secretary PP Lion Peter Lip Yoke Heem to the Registrar of Societies (ROS), the ROS allowed the amendment to the Club’s constitution.

        The Club then applied for the state consent to transfer the said land from PDG Dato’ Dr. Foo Wan Kien to the Lions Club of Ipoh Host on 22^nd Dec 2015.

        The application was not accepted at the beginning due the some queries that the Land Office had and after answering the queries by PP Lion T. Sriskanda it was finally approved on 1^st Feb 2016 and the said land WAS FINALLY transferred to Lions Club of Ipoh Host on 3^rd Feb 2016.

        The Lions Home was completed in May, 2016 and the certificate of fitness was issued on 26^th July, 2016. The members raised the funds to pay the kind hearted developer who agreed to build first and collect his payment later. The most generous donors’ names have been inscribed on a plaque at the HOME together with the name of the donor of the land.

        It has indeed taken nearly 24 years from the time of donation of the said land for the HOME to come true.

        At the Club’s 51^st Installation ceremony on 13^th August, 2016, the club signed a long term Tenancy Agreement with the Ray of Hope for RM100.00 per annum.

        The Ray of Hope has obtained all approvals from the local council to date. Now they are awaiting the final approval from the Welfare Department to commence their operations at the HOME.

        Along the way, this dream which most senior members thought would be an impossible dream has now finally come true in the club’s 50^th year of service to the community.

        For this the club must thank the many generous lions and well-wishers who have come forward to assist the club to achieve this dream.

        Indeed as the memorable song goes, the club and its members have finally reached the ‘UNREACHABLE STAR’ with the completion of the HOME in the name of the LIONS CLUB OF IPOH HOST.