Business executives and diplomats meet, party at Rovers gatherings
Veeramalla Anjaiah, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
If it's a break from your busy routine that you're after, it's important to pick the right place and time, and the right people to share it with.
We aren't talking about weekends or the city's nightlife, but how to find enjoyment on a workday.
The answer is simple: just join the Roving Insight Executive & Diplomatic Club, where you will find everything. The members of this informal club are called Rovers.
Once a month, the club organizes -- usually on a workday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.-- a gathering at an upmarket restaurant, cafe, bar or some funky place in town.
"It's a cosmopolitan mix of clubbers -- mostly Indonesian and foreign business executives, professionals and diplomats -- some sales promotion people," Said Boudaoud, a young, handsome African diplomat who is a longtime Rover, told The Jakarta Post during a recent gathering at Jittlada Restaurant, which serves exotic Thai cuisine.
The Post was invited as a special guest to a Rovers gathering at Jittlada.
The gathering began at 7 p.m. sharp with a mouth-watering Thai buffet. Everything was free except the red wine. Every Rover is expected to freely DET: drink, eat and talk.
But the main intention of the gathering is to develop friendships and interact with members.
A beautiful Russian designer, a European diplomat, a young entrepreneur from Texas, an Indonesian woman CEO and a Swiss mom chatted about everything ranging from business and foreign exchange to the nightlife at one table. Members were spread out over 10 tables.
"I enjoy this type of gathering, where I can meet different kinds of people at one place. The food and drinks are free, thanks to the generous sponsors of the gathering," said Benny, a new kid on the block at the gathering who is a sales executive.
Later there were lots of fun games and attractive door prizes for members and guests.
The club was founded by Loreen Neville -- a dynamic woman who was born in Singapore -- with the help of several business executives and diplomats in 1996. The present acting chairperson of the club is Adjie Sjaaf, an Indonesian businessman.
Loreen, who has never left the lilies of ambition unplucked, believes that there is always time for a little something. She is a freelance journalist, artist, painter and crusader against corruption.
"Actually we are promoting Indonesia, especially Jakarta, among foreigners through this club," Loreen said.
The club has grown in leaps and bounds in recent years thanks to the hard work of people like Loreen, Adjie and Yudhita Widhiati, an young and active executive committee member.
There are not many restrictions to joining the club.
"The annual membership fee is just Rp 600,000. We mostly depend upon sponsors for our programs," Adjie said.
The next Roving gathering will be at BBQ Ribs, a South African franchise, at Mal Ambassador on Tuesday.