Welcome message from Kelynn Soon,
I feel that every designer has their own touch and style much like how each renaissance artist has their own unique way of conveying their ideas. Creativity, I think, is the outward expression of one's inner ideas. Interior architecture, Photography and Fashion has always been an inspiration to me. People, in particular have been big influences, not so much in my web design but my creative thinking. From the world of fashion, to the world of print and to the web I am inspired by a handful of people. I'm into anything that I can feel that people are passionate about. True stories or anything where you can hear that heartbeat coming from, that's what fuels me. I love to see the creativity of other people, not so that I can find new styles but rather for the joy of seeing new creative ideas spun out onto the web, reinventing and evolving the web landscape. The Web is slowly but surely growing up. Web professionals of today are expected to understand not only how various disciplines interact with and affect each other, but also the impact of business objectives on web projects. With strong emphasis on building relationships, we at Integricity's have been fortunate to work closely with clients like you, to develop solutions and deliver results which meet your goals. The past few months have been phenomenal for us. We've been going through unprecedented growth and we’d like to take this opportunity thank the all of you for your continuous support. Most days it seems we can barely catch our breath trying to keep up with everything, and sometimes I sit at my desk and look around at the twenty or so people around me and cannot believe how far we've come in such a short period of time! No matter how fast we grow or how large we may become, our primary goal is, and will always be, about being in touch with you and providing you the best Fanatical Service possible. It is with a joyous heart I welcome you to the July edition of Fanatical Voices. Fanatically yours, Kelynn Soon
In recent years, open source alternatives have come to a point where IT managers are beginning to consider switching from commercial software Office suites from Microsoft, IBM and Corel to a license-free alternative. The continuous improvement of open-source office applications, coupled with the fact that these applications have no licensing fees, makes such a move attractive - but not for all. Open source alternatives only make sense when you are doing really simple stuff and do not need all the functions of a complex software suite. Openoffice.org is a multiplatform and multilingual Office suite and an open source project. Compatible with all other major Office suites, the product is free to download, use, and distribute. Unlike the original version which was slow, this free productivity suite is faster and compatible with Microsoft Office file formats. It even has a PDF converter built in! However, this program does not do everything the Microsoft Office suite does. The downside is that it does come with tech support, but the web site does host a community-based support forum which is supported by a global community of friendly volunteers, only too happy to provide assistance to newcomers and advanced users alike. Consider this free productivity suite if you are one who does not want to pay the premium price of a commercial software for rarely used features. If you know the name of OpenOffice.org, you'll know where to download it from. Otherwise, click here. The closest thing to do in the month of the World Blood Donor Day (14 June) is to become a voluntary blood donor. And that’s what exactly what our Fanatics did. On 23 June 2006, 7 of our Fanatics headed to Sekolah Menengah Damansara Utama in Selangor to do their bit of volunteerism. It was a good day for all despite the inevitable heat. Here are a few snapshots of the big day:
Wu Han
Friends of Integricity : Mona Hanim Sheikh Mahmud (Head of Capacity Development Division, Malaysian AIDS Council) and Lilei Chow (Public Relations & Marketing Officer, SPCA Selangor).
As well as meeting people behind Integricity, we thought you might also like to get to know some of our friends. The first few friends we’re going to introduce to you are Mona Hanim Sheikh Mahmud, who is Head of Capacity Development Division at Malaysian AIDS Council and Lilei Chow, who is the Public Relations & Marketing Officer at SPCA Selangor. We had a chat about their involvement in a non-profit organization, challenges they face and their relaxation methods. Hi Mona and Lilei, let's start at the start. Tell us a bit about yourself. Lilei : You do not want to start at the start, believe me. Good thinking. Now, tell us a bit about the organization you work for. Lilei : Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) is an international organization whose mission is to reduce and alleviate cruelty towards animals and to improve the welfare of animals around the world. SPCA Selangor was founded in 1958 and remains at the forefront of the animal welfare movement in Malaysia. And what made you decide to join this organization? Lilei : My passion for animals, naturally. I became very involved with the animal rights and vegan movement in the US - as an activist, I learned how to organize and lobby effectively, and how to reach out to people, and how to inspire change at the grassroots level. I was also exposed to various issues within the animal rights movement, issues that still rage on and spark controversy such as euthanasia, stray control population and the exploitation of farm animals. Anyway, it was a natural progression to dedicate my time and efforts towards animal welfare in Malaysia. Can you please explain what you do at your organization? Lilei : Like most NGOs, resources are tight, so I tend to do a bit of everything. I run the PR department and act as the main liaison with the media. I am also in charge of the SPCA corporate sponsorship program which is a great avenue for businesses to give back to their community. On the education front, I speak at colleges and schools, and get involved with outreach activities outside of SPCA to spread awareness and to educate the public. How big is the team at SPCA? And Mona, how big is the team at MAC? What are the current challenges which your organization faces? Lilei : SPCA is currently spearheading Stray Free Malaysia, a broad-based movement which aims to drastically reduce and eventually eliminate homeless and abandoned animals in the country. This requires not only the creation of infrastructure that is needed to achieve a humane society, but galvanization of diverse groups within the animal control, abuse prevention, and pet communities. Stray Free Malaysia also requires, in my opinion, commitment and continuous political will to change the way animals are treated in this country through effective legislation and the incorporation of humane stray control solutions. What are the ways the public can contribute to the cause? Lilei : SPCA is heavily reliant on the public to help fund its work, and we certainly welcome any donations in cash or in kind. We always encourage the public to get involved as volunteers and to help spread our community messages. In your opinion, have Malaysians been adequately educated and exposed to the needs of your organisation? Lilei : I think that we have come far in highlighting the fact that animal abuse exists in this country, especially in recent years, but we have a long way to go. I have seen first hand that the basic concept of responsible pet ownership has yet to become a part of mainstream Malaysian moral landscape. One of the misconceptions that the public has about SPCA is that we are here to solve their pet woes. Our Animal Home receives thousands of animals every year, many of which are the result of owners who do not spay/neuter their pets. They do not realize that while we try to re-home as many animals as we can, the sad reality is that we simply do not have the space and resources to accommodate the constant stream of animals that are brought in each day. Euthanasia has been forced upon us by irresponsible pet owners; it is not a solution to pet overpopulation. Moving on, would you say that the lack of civic-mindedness is also partially why your organization is constantly facing an uphill battle, or do you think being civic-minded and being educated on specific causes are unrelated? People often asked me why I work on HIV/AIDS. Some even asked if I am infected. I am passionate about the work I do because I love the communities that I work with. There is enough stigma and discrimination in this world. Why punish someone further for their health status? I won’t get HIV from touching, sharing food or having a cuddle with someone who lives with HIV/AIDS. How can I not pick up an infected child, kiss and hold him or her tight? They face so many challenges in life as it is. Let’s not make it worse by fearing them! Lilei : I think that education plays an important role in instilling civic-mindedness. You cannot make informed choices as a consumer, as a parent, as a teacher, if you don’t educate yourself about the issues. I am not saying that educating yourself will automatically mean that you care enough to do something, but it is certainly harder to turn your face away if you know the truth. From your desk, what would you do to get the attention of the public in order to make things better? And Mona, the same question. Where do you think your organization will be in 5 years time? Mona : Hopefully winding down because the tide of HIV infection in Malaysia has been reversed! Wishful thinking perhaps. But I think MAC will continue to grow as there is still so much to be done! We need to upscale targeted interventions in a big way and of course ensure there is continuum of care for those who have been infected. We will have a generation of young adults living with HIV/AIDS by then. They will go to colleges, universities and eventually join the workforce. If we don’t eradicate stigma and discrimination, these future adults will never experience the same quality of life as you and I. And just a few random questions to finish off. Being involved with "work" 24-7 can cause a lot of stress, frustration and personal emotional conflict. How do you relax when you're not working at SPCA? Mona : I love pottering around the house - there is always something to do! I also play the piano or the violin. I have fun with the kids, read novels, light candles and incense sticks and I listen to Imee Ooi all the time. Good on you. What's your dream holiday? Very nice. Lilei, what’s your dream holiday? Fantastic. Do you have any pets? Lilei : I have two shih tzus, May and Yoda. May was a puppy farm product, and as a result is petrified of humans in general, but she is completely devoted to her family. Yoda is the sweetest little nugget and has learned to purr like a cat. I am not ashamed to admit that I am an overindulgent parent. Do you bring May and Yoda to SPCA to allow them to socialize with the other animals? That’s true. Finally, who’s your favorite Beatle and your favorite Beatles song? Mona : I’m not from the Beatles era! Of course! Thanks for your time, Mona and Lilei. If you'd like to help out or find out more, visit MAC's website at www.mac.org.my or email Mona at mona@mac.org.my, visit SPCA's website at www.spca.org.my or email Lilei at lilei.spca@gmail.com.
Testimonial : Women's Aid Organisation WAO has been a customer of Integricity since 2002, and in the entire period, have received nothing but commendable support and service from them. True to their promise of 'Fanatical Service', any problems communicated were consistently addressed and solved within 24 hours, 2 days at the most. Integricity has also gone above and beyond the call of duty, and provided additional services and assistance to our organisational's web needs. This included financial discounts on the basis of our non-profit stature, extra hosting space and technical advice to help us expand our internet communications needs and strategy. Without question, Integricity is one of the best digital solutions company on the market; operating not just on profits, but also on a commendable commitment towards ethical social impact. Warmest, and much thanks,
News and Updates 3 July 2006 30 June 2006 20 June 2006 |
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