Dear Alumni,

With the greatest of joy and honour, I present to you the NUS Chancellors’ Shield 2008, the official title of the Best Faculty in the best university. Defending it for the third year in a row, the Shield will now rest in Bizad for eternity. As an icing on the cake, we won it together in the NUSSU Rag & Flag competition’s 50 years anniversary (Golden Jubilee).

Such a feat was certainly achievable because of our collective endeavours and generosity. This year, the score was computed evenly based on our scores from both Rag & Flag. The Rag team (a.k.a. known as Team Brag) (http://ragdezvous.blogspot.com/), led by Dexter Ho and Karmen Chan, painstakingly unleashed their creative energies and spent numerous man-hours in school to design and build a great float made of recycled/scrap materials. The float is that of the theme “Food”, which the team believes strongly to be symbolic of our collective Bizad Spirit as food is something that individuals from all walks of life can identify with. Together with a wonderful presentation by our freshmen on Rag Day 2008, the Rag team certainly played a critical role in achieving high scores to help us attain the Shield.

It was also my privilege and honour to lead the Flag Team 2008. With immense support from my vice-heads, Brent Pang and Amelia Wang, we managed to raise substantial amount of money for the 20 beneficiaries and win the Flag Shield 2008. This, of course, would not happen if not for the following groups of people (certainly in no order of importance, as everyone played a strategic role in our victory):

-          Black Rose Orientation Group (OG) freshmen from Retrospectif 2008 (Freshmen Orientation Camp) for their unwavering logistical support and enthusiasm

-          Mr Don Chen, Mr Ryan Peh, Mr Steve Tan, Mr Jackson Lim and Mr Zeng Liren for their practical advice in handling past victorious Flag campaigns as well as strong moral encouragement

-          Mr Kevin Chen & Mr Jonathan Loh, for their tireless dedication in supporting all stages of Flag operational plans

-          Flag Vehicle Support Team (Mr David Tay, Mr Lim Li Yang, Mr Abdur Raheem Basith, Mr Shaun Png, Mr Rio Elijah, Mr Alvin Choo)

-          Coin-Sorting Team (Mr Leong Wenkang, Mr Jasper Teow, Mr Edwin Chong, Ms Meryl Lee, Mr Liu Liwei, Mr Keith Hwam)

-          Publicity Team (Ms Ding Lingzi, Mr Shao Hongchang)

-          Orientation Week Committee 2008 for their logistical support as well as massive co-operation

-          O-Week 2008 Clan Heads (Eugene, Jonathan, Dawn, Hazel, Ervin, Jerry) for their coordination of our “army” of flaggers around Singapre on Flag Day

-          Every single Bizad Flagger for their endurance throughout Flag Day in their collective belief to do their part for the less fortunate as well as defending our school pride (and of course, filling up 544 tin cans with lots of donations)

-          Dr Helen Chai, our BBA Director, as well as Prof Quek Ser Aik, our Vice-Dean of Undergraduates, as our two huge pillars of support

Most importantly, I would like to thank everyone who made the difference by being so generous in donating to Flag 2008. They include:

-       NUS Business School Alumni Board of Directors

-          BBA Dean’s Office

-          BBA Career Services Office

-          Global Alumni Network Office

-          Corporate Development and Communications Office

-          Faculty professors as well as Non-teaching Staff

-          Bizad Alumnus

-          Bizad Rag Seniors/Alumni

-          Standard-Chartered Bank Singapore

-          And many, many more compassionate individuals

I would also like to elaborate on the significance of the awards that we swept during Rag Day 2008:

-          Overall Champion Chancellor Challenge Shield

o    For best overall total score in both Rag & Flag

-          Best Flag Collection

o    Most amount of total donations collected

-          Best Per Capita Collection

o    Most amount of total donations collected per Bizad Flagger

-          Best Total Coin Collection

o    Highest value of donations collected in the form of Coins. This means that our Flaggers cover Singapore extensively on Flag Day

-          Most Outstanding Progress by Amount

o    Best improvement in total amount collected compared to previous year

-          Highest Contribution by Organization

o    Standard Chartered Singapore kindly donated to Bizad’s Flag 2008 and theirs was the highest amount by an organization across all faculties and halls

-          Least Cost Float

o    We were able to create a superb float with minimal expenditures.

Truly, in the words of Mr Donald Koh, the NUSSU President, NUS Business School students truly “know how to raise a lot of money and spend the least amount” J

As a Club, we would also like to thank the entire NUSSU Rag & Flag Committee, led by Ms Chen Mingli and Mr Ryan Tan Runyan for their professionalism and dedication in mobilizing our entire university for a noble cause as well as their execution of Rag Day 2008 and Flag Day 2008.

I would also like to mention that throughout this journey of both Rag & Flag, the Bizad Club had managed to facilitate the forging of strong bonds amongst freshmen and also across generations of Bizaders, as well as with exchange students. Many of you told me that the sweat, tears and blood literally were all worth it. I fully share your sentiments.

Attached are some of the photos which showcase multiple aspects, but not all the great things about R&F 2008.

Last but not least, I sincerely call upon all of you to continue supporting future generations of Bizad Rag & Flag efforts, in our enduring belief to preserve and promote our legendary Bizad Spirit as well as compassion for the less fortunate members of the society.

With utmost pride & gratitude,

Ritchie Goenawan

NUS Students’ Business Club

21^st Management Committee

President & Flag Head 208