AGM Minutes and Financial Statement

• Update of past year's activities
  
• Review of key issues and updates on the Marina Reservoir
  
• Review of accounts and passing of accounts/minutes
  
• Election of office bearers 2007/2008
  
• House-keeping issues
  
• AOB

• Included 25 River Monster programmes conducted, with an outreach to about 1,400 students
• Gave 7 assembly talks in schools with a reach of 3,000 students
• Gave talks at public conferences like Asia’s Water Forum, Youth Conference (organized by NTU) and a Geography teachers’ talk at MOE
• Increase in weekday school programmes, thanks to members who have contributed much help

• 5 corporate sessions were organized with groups from the public and private sectors that had a total participation rate of 250

• Pig-Nose turtle exhibition at Under-Water World
• Exxon Mobil Family Day Carnival

• 4 camps were conducted throughout the year, where about 80 students participated in total for the 3D2N camps

• Took part in the International Coastal Clean-up with about 80 students from a German school, NTU Earthlink and Mayflower Sec.
• World Water Monitoring Day
• Clean and Green Week activities at Republic Polytechnic, School carnivals at EXPO and safety boat duties during the week
• 2 weekday boat patrols conducted, and a night bicycle patrol by members

• Collaboration with NTUC Income’s youth programme with youths from Singapore Polytechnic and Mayflower Secondary for the youth wing bicycle patrols on Saturdays, where some (no?) of these students have later signed up with WWS to continue volunteering
• Stakeholders’ Programme was launched in March 2007 however not very encouraging and successful. Re-think of this strategy necessary. So far of the over 150 letters sent out, only 2 restaraunts joined and both are of foreign ownership.
• Water testing activities were included in the Sunday patrols but are temporarily on hold due to technical issues with the testing equipment
• Thanks to Senoko Power for donating a weather monitoring station where students can learn more about weather monitoring

• Presented with the President’s Environment Award in November 2006
• Mentioned in PM Lee’s May Day Rally speech in 2006
• Member of WWS – Annie Young Giri, won the Eco-Friend Award from NEA in 2007 for her outstanding contributions to environmental work in Singapore

• Details of progress on the construction of Marina Barrage shared with members (pictures were included in presentation slides)
• Safety precautions to be taken also informed – particularly, to stay clear from the barrage at all times, minimally 300m, not to go beyond the placed yellow beacons
• Danger areas are to be noted by all drivers. Refer to notices placed around the office on areas to be avoided – 5 main locations to be beware of: mainly at locations near the Marina Barrage and Clifford Pier. All Members (especially Team Leaders of Boat/Bike Patrol) to refer to Notice Board for all updates of constructions within the Marina Reservoir before proceeding out on Patrol.
• Botanics by the Bay – layout and future transformation of the surrounding environment in the area announced

• Explanation of income – some individual donations from individuals and companies (eg: NTUC Income and Primech)
• Service income from the boats differ based on specific clientele. Lower chargers for Schools, Societies and Higher charges to corporates , etc.
• Reimbursements and support from PUB and NEA. PUB gave an advance this year for their two year commitment. Monthly Accounts has to be submitted each time before subsequent reimbursements from them. Other Sponsorships in kind are also included and reported e.g. Petrol Vouchers from Shell, Disposable Gloves from UMC.
• Electricity, water and petrol differences in expenditure comparing 2006-2007 highlighted as change in bookkeeping methods. This service is provided by Water Venture (our neighbour) and paid usually on a Quarterly basis per service agreement with them.

• A reminder that nobody is hired to clean up the premises, work done solely by volunteers, hence members are reminded to clear up their own food consumed and wash their own utensils each time they vacate the premises. All non-essential electrical and water supply outlets to be turned-off before leaving.
• Members are reminded to take care of equipment as maintenance of assets are not cheap. Reports are to be made on any accidents that occur during duty.

• Most recent over the past two months
• Glue sniffing cases reported at Alkaff bridge near the private condominiums. Case to be continuously monitored
• Partnerships with PUB, NEA, NParks and SPF continue.
• Reports to the authorities continue every week, but there is still some lack of communication and action within the various groups for effective solutions to be carried out.
• Bicycle Patrol Route 2 was introduced. Note that dismounting and carrying of bikes is required in this route.
• Review of Bicycle Patrol Route 1 as well. Bikers are to look among the bushes during patrol as well, something which the cleaners often miss out.
• Understand LTA is planning to remove the ‘No cycling’ signages along the underground passages. Until then, members are still required to dismount from the bicycles at each sign.
• NParks and PUB members have been joining WWS fortnightly during our bicycle patrols. Fishing zone
• Fishing zone to be set up. Ongoing negotiations are being done among PUB, Sports Fishing and CH2M.
• A designated area for fishing will be created. The proposed area is opposite UIC, near the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
• Recently, more ‘No Fishing’ signs have been put up along the river banks.

• ‘No Fishing’ signs are only in English. Discussion that the signs are pictorial as well, it should be pretty clear to all, even non-English readers however, perhaps bigger and more clear signages at more strategic locations can be done.
• Constant problems about the increasing numbers of Thai workers along Kallang Riverside Park and the litter that ensues. Leave it to NParks to handle, WWS as a VWO should not take such matters with them in this matter. We will continue to observe and report. Reminder not to go too near to take photographs as we do not want members to be “implicated” or threatened. However, do keep the timely reports coming in.
• Please do be observant, and when new phenomena or activities have occurred, do inform the office, so we can notify the right authorities as soon as possible.
• WWS engages in bi-monthly meetings with PUB, NParks, NSA, and everyone who has a vested interest in the marina. Attempts are also being made to engage all the water sports users as well and hopefully at some later stage all Stake-holders
• Note that dragon-boaters (under Singapore Dragon Boat Association)can do night dragon-boating. Permit has been extended to 8pm.
• Some members went to the CEO run at Pulau Semakau. SEC and NEA coorganized the run to raise funds from 40 companies. Each environmental group will get 1/6 of the funds raised, including WWS. WWS will set up a full time-part time secretariat with the S$40,000 obtained from this event.
• Query if there are any plans to expand WWS premises for campsite purposes? Not at the moment, but we are looking to that in the future. Currently, it works fine on an ad-hoc basis, but if more queries come in, we might want to consider running our camps as a business.