9th March 2010 President’s Report 2009 Dear CARE members, Greetings in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is with great pleasure I present the report for 2009.  When we joined the management committee in 2007, we had set ourselves a 3-year plan:·         2007- To bring standards of administration and care up to acceptable levels, and set up and put in place appropriate processes;       ·         2008 - Embark on public awareness and outreach programmes, and member recruitment drives; ·         2009 - Tie-ups with various organisations to put educational and prevention measures in place and reach out to high-risk profile groups With God’s help, financial support from CSCC, the hardwork of two full-time staff and a handful of committed volunteers, we believe we have delivered, to a large extent, these lofty goals.  Amendments to CARE’s constitution, financial regulations and by-laws have finally been incorporated.  Procedures and policies have been set up to comply with the code of governance, as set out by the Commissioner of Charities. Efforts have been made to ensure that CARE is protected from various risks – both from the administrative and legal/professional standpoint. Security for the premises has been bolstered through the deployment of closed-circuit cameras and the engagement of night security service. Working with medical social workers from various hospitals, our shelter programme for poor and marginalised HIV+ persons (still the only one in Singapore to our knowledge) admitted 14 new residents, discharged 8, and evicted 2 for flouting in-house rules. We have 16 residents currently (compared to 12 when we started off in Jan 09). Our Non-resident programme supported 10 HIV+ Women and 15 children (3 of whom are HIV+). This support included food rations, cottage industry, tuition, outings for recreation and financial support. Outreach and advocacy programmes were delivered through in-house training (of volunteers and service providers), interaction with Catholic Schools (students from SJI, CHIJ), Religious Bodies (attachment of 6 Fransciscan postulants), Healthcare Institutions (NUS student nurses), and Others (Korean and Myanmar exchange students) just to name a few. The World AIDS Day mass was celebrated at St Mary of the Angels and supported by a talk on AIDS to parishioners. In total, we touched                2,728 people with our message of AIDS prevention and compassion for the people living with or affected by  HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs). Our work is far from over. A study we commissioned identified gaps in the social service continuum that CARE can plug. We can and should be journeying with PLWHAs and providing end-to-end support services.  We have a shelter due to the good graces of The Good Shepherd Sisters, but moving forward, our two most pressing need remain to look for permanent premises and to successfully obtain status as an  Institution of a Public Character (IPC).  It leaves me to thank Fr A. Anthony, our Spiritual Director, the late Noris Ong (who left us so suddenly but whose friendship and contribution to CARE will always be valued and remembered) and my fellow committee members who have given so much of their time and effort to help CARE stay on track, progress and be relevant. I am inspired by your dedication and generous service. May the Lord continue to bless you and reward in ways that only He can. Yours sincerely,  Michael A. PngPresident 2009 (Outgoing)