The HomeTeamNS Appreciation Day 2015 - Opening Address by Mr Desmond Lee, President of HomeTeamNS, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of National Development

HomeTeamNS members

Family and friends,

Good afternoon and thank you for joining us today.

Appreciation

1.     As HomeTeam NSmen, you play a very important part in keeping Singapore safe and secure. So today, Appreciation Day, is your day. It is for you, and all about you. And it is one way for us to say a big Thank You for your service, dedication and sacrifice.

2.     Indeed, HomeTeamNS, formed 10 years ago from the merger of SPANS and CDANS, exists in order to recognise your contributions as NSmen.

3.     Our NSmen are at the front and centre of everything we do and in every activity that we organise, here at HomeTeamNS.

New facilities

4.     For example, HomeTeamNS conducted a strategic review in 2012 to see how we can better serve you and your families.

5.     The team worked hard over the last two years to transform our clubhouses to make them even more comfortable and welcoming for you and your family.

6.     We included more family-friendly facilities and dining options and attracted diverse tenants. We are therefore very encouraged to see more members coming to our clubhouses to enjoy our facilities.

7.     If you have young children, please visit our HomeTeamNS Bukit Batok clubhouse next month.

8.     We will be launching T-Play, a first-of-its-kind augmented reality playground for your kids.

9.     For those of you staying in the east, you will be happy to know that there will be a new HomeTeamNS Tampines Clubhouse offering facilities such as Laser Quest and the very first Clip-N-Climb facility in Singapore.

Supporting education

10.     HomeTeamNS also actively supports the education of our members' children.

11.     Since our inception, we have given out education awards to 2,295 students, amounting to $1.29 million.

12.     This year, we will be awarding another 97 education awards to our members' children, to encourage them to work hard and excel in school.

Launch of anniversary book

13.     To mark our 10th anniversary, we will be launching a book entitled - "10 Years of Stories" - that traces the milestone and memories behind the HomeTeamNS' development and transformation.

14.     A group of NSmen came on board to serve as editorial advisors for this project.

15.     I hope more NSmen will come forward to contribute in different ways to HomeTeamNS.

Conclusion

16.     In closing, let me thank you all once again for being a part of HomeTeamNS family. Please enjoy the rest of today's festivities.