TIME CAPSULE – HISTORY REVISTED

This month marks the 10th anniversary of the launch of our Rotary time capsule. A project undertaken by our Centennial Governor Dato’ Jeff. One decade has passed and so many things have changed. But one thing has remained constant – our love for Rotary and for those who have distinguished themselves by Rotary service. 

Time capsules are placed on purpose and intended to be opened or accessed at a particular future date. It is an attempt to capture a moment in time and provide input for future generations about the past. Our Rotary time capsule is such an attempt at providing a snapshot of Rotary at the turn of the second millennia for future Rotarians.

It is common place for time capsules to be lost due to thievery, secrecy or poor planning. Our own time capsule is in urgent need to maintenance and refurbishing. Which is why the efforts of RC KL DiRaja is commendable. Our time capsule will enrich posterity by assuring that the voices of this generation of Rotarians are heard in the future.

There are any number of famous time capsules “buried” over the years. The 1939 New York World’s Fair time capsule was created by Westinghouse as part of their exhibit. It was 90″ long, with an interior diameter of 6.5 inches, and weighed 800 pounds. Westinghouse named the copper, chromium and silver alloy, “Cupaloy”. It contained everyday items such as a spool of thread and doll, a Book of Record (description of the capsule and its creators), a vial of staple food crop seeds, a microscope and a 15-minute RKO Pathe Pictures newsreel. Microfilm spools condensed the contents of a Sears Roebuck catalog, dictionary, almanac, and other texts. This first modern time capsule was followed in 1965 by a second capsule at the same site, but 10 feet to the north of the original. Both the 1939 and 1965 Westinghouse Time Capsules are meant to be opened in 6939. Guess none of us will be around to see it!! Unless you believe in reincarnation!!!!

The Crypt of Civilization (1936) at Oglethorpe University, USA, scheduled to be opened in 8113, is generally regarded to be the first successful implementation of a modern time capsule, although it was not called a time capsule at the time. George Edward Pendray is responsible for coining the term “time capsule”.

NASA has sent snapshots of earthling culture on interstellar probes out into space. The Pioneer Plaques and the Voyager Golden Records have been attached to spacecraft for the possible benefit of spacefarers in the distant future. Another time capsule, the KEO satellite, will be launched in 2012, carrying individual messages from Earth’s inhabitants addressed to earthlings around the year 52,000, when KEO will return to Earth.

An international consortium is in the middle of placing time capsules under the surface of Antarctica, which, of course, leads one to think alarmingly about a time when the polar caps will be history themselves.

This Sunday, 13th June 2010, we will all be commemorating the 10th years of our Rotary Time Capsule at Dataran Merdeka at 11.30am. It is particularly momentous that Y Bhg To’ Puan Juriah will also be there. It will be great to see her after all these years. I can remember what a great first lady she was, kind and always affable.

We must all thank Pres Elizabeth Yam for all her hard work in putting this event together. She was then DG Dato’ Jeff’s secretary, but today she is a Rotarian herself, no doubt inspired by his example. She herself is an example to all of us, she could have been content to enjoy her retirement by doing the things that bring her selfish gratification, but instead, she is one of us. Battling each day to leave the world a better place then when she found it.

Let me end this piece by sharing her rousing words,

“You served as club presidents, assistant governors, secretaries & district chairs in RY1999-2000 under the late PDG Jaffar Mohd Ali. Many of you today still have wonderful memories of that year, the Millennium. Rotary Theme: Act with Consistency Credibility Continuity and many of you don the theme jacket with such pride  even today; many of you still chose to do so.”

 

 

LONG LIVE ROTARY D3300!!!

“When it comes to the future, there are three kinds of people: those who let it happen, those who make it happen, and those who wonder what happened.” – John M Richardson

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