President Mark Tong, Past President Webster Ng and Rotarian Jason Ling traveled to Taipei on September 28 to participate in Rotary Run 2019 the following day, organized by Rotary Club of Taipei Mingmen, our Sister Club. The competition course, located in the hilly part of Ruifang District in New Taipei City, was specially designed by PP Kent Yen of RC of Taipei Mingmen, a seasoned runner who is never shy of pushing the boundaries. As such, the course meandered across the hillside of Ruifang, and included a steep altitude climb of nearly 500 meters followed by a rapid descent, all within a 4km segment of the course. PP Webster, who attempted that treacherous segment, confessed that it was one of the most insane and challenging runs he has ever experienced, certainly not helped by intermittent torrential rain throughout the morning. That said, all three agreed that it was one of the most unique and beautiful scenic runs ever attempted. For the occasion, the three of us, together with additional contributions from Past President CK Wong, raised 40,000 TWD for our Sister Club to distribute to various charities, including a food bank and a local secondary school.
On September 28, Past President Grace Yen attended the Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) / Automatic External Defibrillation (AED) Education Project 2019-2020 Launch Ceremony at Hong Kong St. John Ambulance Headquarters. The project, organized by our Area 3 friends from Rotary Club of Hong Kong Northeast, is sponsored by our Club. As part of our sponsorship, 20 of our Interactors and their teachers shall have the opportunity to learn basic CPR/AED skills. Past President Grace collected a certificate of appreciation from our District Governor Wilson Cheng and President Heidi Lee of Rotary Club of Hong Kong Northeast, the organizer of the Project.
On September 26, our Club’s first Assembly of RY19-2 was held. Many topics were discussed. Before the official start of the Assembly, a short ceremony was held to present Paul Harris Fellow (+4) pin to Past President Samuel Chung. Congratulations to Past President Samuel for achieving a new philanthropy milestone!
On September 21, President Mark Tong, Past President WT Wong and Rotaractors Anuj Bhatia and Cindy Effendy attended the District Peace Night Dinner at Regal Kowloon Hotel. Rtrs Anuj and Cindy are respectively from India and Indonesia. Our Club arguably sent the most internationally diverse group of attendees to Peace Night (if one also counted el niñito, the Mexican cowboy…)
On September 21, Club members attended District Public Image Seminar at Regal Hongkong Hotel. Perhaps “attending PI Seminar” was not the most appropriate description: our Club members, including Past District Governor Belinda Yeung, Past Presidents Grace Yen, Angela Hui and Dora Liu, and Immediate Past President Lily Chan all have important roles and duties in the District Public Image Committee, led by Chair Past District Governor Belinda, and were instrumental in the planning and execution of this Seminar. On this same day, the Committee unveiled the Rotary People of Action Photo Competition, which is surely one of the most high-anticipated events in this Rotary year.
After our meeting with the District Governor, we jetted to HKU Alumni Association for our monthly Board meeting. The meeting was nourished with excellent food from the kitchen, with a menu specially crafted by Rtnne. Catherine and input from Charter President Patrick Poon. Our Board members and observers continued the Connect-The-World Wine Program with two wines: a Malbec from Patagonian Argentina, and an Aglianico from Campania, Italy. Past President Kay Lau, an expert in wines, gave us an overview of how to appreciate the two wines on offer. When Board members were not too fixated on aromas and finish, we turned our attention to Club affairs, with special focus on various service projects, including those with local service partners and those with sister clubs abroad.
On September 19, President Mark Tong, Past Presidents WT Wong, Grace Yen and Dora Liu, and Immediate Past President Lily Chan met with District Governor Wilson Cheng and his District team at RIC in Causeway Bay. Assistant Governor David Thomas, his deputy Sunny Chen and District Secretary Peggy Sin were also in attendance. At the meeting, our Club’s Directors outlined our goals and plans for this Rotary year, and shared with our District Governor our various projects under planning, including projects with Yuk Chi, with our sister clubs, in East Timor etc. District Governor Wilson and Assistant Governor Thomas also gave us some excellent feedback and advice, for which we are grateful.
On September 14, Club members went to watch “童sing童戲 MUSIC Stand by Me”, a musical staged and performed by Music Children Foundation, our Club’s new service partner. Music Children Foundation is a non-profit organization aimed at providing free music education to underprivileged children in Hong Kong. Club members attended two shows: President Mark Tong, Immediate Past President Lily Chan, Rotarian SS Kong and Rtnne. Liliana attended the matinee show, while Past Presidents Grace Yen and Angela Hui, with Jerry and Maurice, attended the Gala Concert in the evening.
The Club meeting on September 12 had a full agenda: we have invited Ms. Vicky Woo to tell us more about Social Enterprise Doctor, a Rotary sponsored activity that was started by some Clubs in our District in the previous Rotary year. Meanwhile, Area 3’s governing team sent their special envoy, Deputy Assistant Governor (and our Club’s IPP) Lily Chan to give an update of our District. Finally, Outgoing President Sally Oh from our Rotaract Club of HKU Lap Chee College International came to give her annual report. First to the rostrum was DAG Lily, who put down her IPP hat, put on her District hat, and gave us updates of our District, including the creation of Areas 11 and 12 to facilitate better and more attentive District governance. One side effect from the creation of new Areas that affects us greatly is that both our baby Club, Rotary E Club of Lantau, and our grandbaby Club, Rotary Club of Neoteric Hong Kong, are moved from our Area to one of the newly created Areas. We are sad to see them go, but we are sure that our connection and fellowship shall continue unabated. Next up was Rotaractor Sally, who…