Summary of Activities
Malaysian Interns in US

Business Site Visits & Classes

Newsleader Tour

Date: June 16 2005
Description: Interns were hosted for 2 hours by senior editors of Springfield's leading newspaper company, Newsleader. The received a tour and explanation about the process of making a newspaper including details about reporters' job function, the production process, and distribution network. This followed a question and answer session/open discussion between the interns and the staff.

 

Water Treatment Plant

Date: June 21, 2005
Description: Interns received a tour of a water treatment center that produces from lake and spring water. Executives of this plant shared details on the process of sourcing the water, filtering, and monitoring the operation.

 

City Utilities Electric Plant

Date: June 22, 2005
Description: City Utilities is the main power supplier for Springfield and this plant visit was the most rewarding for the interns. They were given detailed information on sources of power for the city and how these sources are transformed into electricity.

 

Sewage Treatment Plant

Date: June 28th, 2005
Description: This final plant tour was of a center where drainage water from various sources is treated before being released to the river. From the river, the water is treated for future use.

 

Classes

Every Monday interns are required to attend a class at Drury University. They had the opportunity at the beginning of the internship to select the classes of interest to them from a set of choices. The following were the classes that the interns attended during the summer: Introduction to Psychology, Values Analysis, Global Features, Global Awareness, Ethical Issues in Healthcare, Principal of Accounting, Fit for Life.

 

Cultural & Volunteer Experiences

Bass Pro Shop

Date: May 27th, 2005
Description: Bass Pro, the world's largest outdoor shopping facility, is the leading tourist attraction in the State of Missouri. The interns had the opportunity to spend half a day at Bass Pro.

 

Travel to Branson, MO

Date: June 4th, 2005
Description: The interns spent the day at Southwest Missouri's entertainment capital and home to Dolly Parton's showroom. While in Branson they enjoyed numerous country shows and mid-western entertainment as well as had the opportunity to shop at the huge outlet mall.

 

River Rescue Mission and Blue Grass Festival

Date: June 11th, 2005
Description: Interns were involved in the river rescue effort made possible by the local community to clean the James River. They were assigned as volunteers at a garage sale sponsored by Bass Pro in support of this clean-up effort. They helped costumers carry and load their purchases following which they had the opportunity to have fun at the huge bluegrass festival with the locals.

 

Snow Fest

Date: June 18th, 2005
Description: Snow fest, hosted by the Jordan Valley Park, provided the interns an opportunity to experience a culture of the U.S that is family picnics. They also had the opportunity to have fun in the ice while interacting with a large number of American families at the event.

 

Drury Registration Day

Date: June 24th, 2005
Description: The interns participated in the carnival for the new students of Drury University and were responsible for broadcasting the event on the campus radio station, KDRU FM.

 

Fire Fall Festival

Date: June 25th, 2005
Description: This was a huge fire works event organized by the city as part of the pre-celebration activities for Independence Day. It was held downtown and involved thousands of people. The interns were able to see sky diving and hot air balloons shows. They got a free tag done at the tag maker booth while singing 'God Bless America', followed by the ‘Concert in the Sky FIREFALL!!!' at 9.45pm. Orchestra music was playing during the fireworks and this was the first live fireworks show for most of the interns.

 

Quilt Healing Center

Date: Throughout the program
Description: Each intern volunteers at the center a minimum of 2 hours per week. They are assigned to various jobs from decorating food drop barrels, to cutting material, and even knitting.

 

Work Attachments

Throughout the duration of their stay in Springfield each intern is attached to a company/organization where they work 2-3 times per week (non-paying). The companies are: Kwik Pantry Convenient Store, Smal–mart Convenient Store, Filter Factory, Radio Station – KDRU.fm, Drury Housing Department, Drury Library, Peregrine Corporation, Missouri Math Academy, Summerscape Youth Camp, SIFE World Headquarters, Tuthill Vacum & Blower Systems.

 

Business Forums

Gil Trout: Chairman & CEO-Southwest Region, UMB Bank
<www.umb.com>

Date: Friday July 15, 2005
Description: Gil shared insights about the banking industry in the United States, the growth of small business, and the key to securing financial capital. The interns were especially amazed to learn the large number of financial institutions that exist in the USA and the important role the Small Business Administration and US government plays to back and guarantee loans to entrepreneurs and small businesses.

 

Jim Anderson: President, Springfield Chamber of Commerce
<www.springfieldchamber.com>

Date: Friday July 22, 2005
Description: Jim shared insights about the general business community in the Southwest Missouri area and also discussed the free market system in the USA with comparisons made to his experience in doing business in China. He spent a lot of time answering a wide range of questions from the interns on all aspects of business.

 

Dr. Alvin Rohrs: President & CEO, Students In Free Enterprise Inc.
<www.sife.org>

Date: Friday July 29, 2005
Description: Alvin discussed the role of non-profit businesses and its growth in the United States over the years. He shared insights about the humble beginnings of SIFE, its international growth over the years and plans for the future. He also shared thoughts about market economics, the free enterprise system, business ethics, and the relevance of the interns experience in SIFE and why this is important to democracy and economic development.

 

Kurt Hellwig: President, American Dehydrated Foods/International Dehydrated Foods
<www.adf.com / www.idf.com>

Bob Noble: Founder & CEO, Noble World Communications
<www.noble-world.net>

Date: Friday August 5, 2005
Description: The focus of this session was on entrepreneurship as Kurt and Bob both run leading private companies founded by them (or in the case of Kurt his father-in-law). Kurt shared details about his industry, business growth and strategies over the years. He discussed the keys to success from his experience and advice on things the interns can be doing today to prepare them for the business world of tomorrow. Bob focused his presentation more on his life experiences in business over the last 30+ years. He shared important tips for success as an entrepreneur. A lot of time was spent on question and answers.

 

Additional Activities

Springfield Underground

Date: July 1st 2005
Description: Interns were given a tour of this remarkable facility, operated by the City Utilities - Springnet, that provides services to industries and businesses in safe keeping their equipments (especially electronic devices) from natural disaster like thunderstorms and tornados.

 

American Independence Day Celebration

Date: July 4th, 2005
Description: The interns spent the day and night at the James River – I LOVE AMERICA Independence Day Celebration, one of the largest fireworks events in the State of Missouri. The show involved concerts, speakers (including the governor), videos, vendors, games, fun activities, and fireworks displays. During the day the interns were also invited to spend 3-4 hours at the family home of a Drury SIFE student member. This provided them the opportunity to experience an American barbeque and also interact with an American family playing games and having fun discussions.

 

Springfield Cardinals Baseball Game

Date: July 7th, 2005
Description: This was the interns' first time experience of America's favorite pastime. They had the opportunity to watch the Springfield Cardinals play at the Hammons Field in Springfield. They were given Cardinals caps and coins as souvenirs and also invited onto the main field during the pre-game activities where they were introduced and received applause from the spectators and the mascot. The Cardinals won the game 4-2.

 

Wal-Mart Headquarters in Bentonville, AR

Date: July 9th, 2005
Description: Interns traveled to Bentonville, AR were they received a tour of the headquarters for the world's largest corporation, Wal-Mart. They also had the opportunity to sit-in and observe Wal-Mart's Saturday morning strategic planning meeting of senior executives, including head of USA division Mike Duke. This was undoubtedly one of the most enriching experiences for the interns given the first-hand experience it offered into the inner working of a major US corporation. The interns spent the day & night in Bentonville. While there they visited a free first class community center where they played ice-hockey, basketball, and broomball. Later that day they had the opportunity to visit the home and ranch of Jack Shewmaker, Board Director and Former President and COO of Wal-Mart Headquarters. Jack personally received them and gave them a tour of the ranch including his world renowned car collection. Jack also took the opportunity to share some of his experiences and many lessons of life with them.

 

Tindle Mills

Dates: July 6th to 7th
Description: Interns were divided into 2 groups which toured the animal food producing plant of Tindle Mills. The visit included 50% discussion with senior executives and 50% plant visit.

 

Ward Kraft Corporation

Dates: August 3rd
Description: Organized and led by Rob Presley, SIFE supporter and business executive from Peregrine Corporation, the interns spent the day on a business site visit of Ward Kraft Corporation, in Fort Scott, Kansas, a 1-hour drive from Springfield. Ward Kraft is a leading supplier of business forms, labels, label/form combinations, industry training, short & long run products, plastic cards & much more. The interns toured the various plants and observed production in progress. They learnt about the business from various senior executives and were treated to lunch on the premises.

 

Movie Nights

Date: July 15th, 16th, 22nd, 23rd, 29th, 30th, August 4th and 5th
Description: Interns volunteered in a free weekly open air movie show for the community organized by the City Utilities and Drury SIFE. Job descriptions included setting up of equipment before the show, dismantling them after the show, managing the snack counter, and more. This experience also provided them ample opportunity to meet and interact with numerous everyday Americans and gain greater insight into American way of life and people. They also enjoyed many great American movies.

 

Closing Ceremony

Date: August 12th
Description: An official closing ceremony was held for the Malaysian interns at Drury University from 12-1:30pm. The interns wore their traditional garments and invited key individuals they had worked with during the past 3 months, including their job supervisors, volunteer cordinators, professors and university administrators and friends. They had contacted the Malaysian embassy for souvenir gift bags which they gave to each attendee as a show of appreciation. The ceremony included speeches from the students, internship coordinators and some internship supervisors.