Membership Sub Committee Report

BOLSTERING THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION

With 5,000 dwelling units in TTDI, the population of the development is estimated to be about 20,000 residents, assuming an average of four people per house. The TTDI Residents’ Association, which is the Government-recognized representative and mouthpiece of area residents, boasts just slightly over 1,400 members. Assuming that only one person per household enrols in the Association, 80% of area residents are not participating in the Association. By comparison, we understand that 80% of the Mont Kiara area residents are members of their Residents’ Association. Clearly, we have a lot of catching up to do!

The new 2004 Executive Committee of the Residents’ Association, therefore, had decided to invigorate its commitment to members. Forming a special Sub Committee on Membership Issues to drive this challenge was a first step in this direction. Headed by Shahryn Azmi, Secretary of the Association, this Sub Committee will have the coming year see considerable changes progressively take effect.

We wouldl begin the membership initiative by issuing all RA members with official Association membership cards and possibly, car stickers as well. In time, presentation of these cards will enable members to claim special commercial privileges and benefits from shops, restaurants in TTDI and outside as well.

RA members will also have special access to a new Association website where announcements of area events will be regularly posted. In addition to a wealth of information about our neighbourhood, we could also offer other benefits. Potentially, members could for instance, also have a unique TTDI email address!

The TTDIRA newsletter has long been made available to all TTDI residents, Association member or not. For members only, though, we intend to introduce a specific, internal-RA update which will be sent out by post every quarter so that we can brief members on the activities and decisions of the Executive Committee on issues having to do with TTDI and its environs. This will permit members to share their thoughts with the EXCO on these matters.

Last but not least, the active and very participative Annual General Meeting at the end of April told us that we need more frequent dialogues with members, so a mid-term meeting might be held in a few months time once our initial proposals begin to take hold.