On July 18, our first service outing of the Rotary Year! Arranged by Past President Lily with the NGO, Suicide Prevention Services (生命熱線), we volunteered for the Outreach Befriending Service for Suicidal Elderly. This is a program sponsored by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust to support the elderly with emotional distress and suicidal thoughts through professional case services and befriending volunteer support. The theme of the day, due to the hot summer season, was, “消暑打氣(Don’t)冬瓜水”. President Sam, President Elect Eliza (& Tiffany), Rotarian Jason (& Sara), Past President Samuel (& Amy), Rtnnes. Coco and Kelly met Lily at SPS’s Links Café in Kwai Hing. Divided into four outreach teams, the teams visited 14 elderly cases at their homes in the West Kowloon district and gave them a care package containing biscuits, hygiene masks, hand sanitizer, sweet heart cake (老婆餅), and winter melon water (冬瓜水). During these home visits, team members chatted with them and found out how they were doing, how is their health and whether any other support is needed.
On July 10, District Installation was held. The guest of honor and speaker was the Honorable Bernard Chan, GBM, GBS, JP. During the Club Presidents’ Installation Ceremony, outgoing President Mark passed the president’s sash to incoming President Sam. In attendance from our Club were Charter President Patrick, Past District Governor Belinda, Past Presidents WT and Grace, and President Elect Eliza. Later in the day, during Past District Governor Belinda’s presentation of Rotary Foundation Major Gifts and Pledges, President Sam announced the largest pledge of the day, the US$250,000 Rotary Club of Hong Kong Harbour 35th Anniversary Endowment Fund. The investment earnings from the Endowment Fund is to be designated perpetually and solely for scholarships in Rotary District 3450. More details will be shared with all Club members in the 1st Club Assembly on the evening of September 23.
Club Installation marks a time for new beginnings. Immediate Past President Mark gave his year-end review, including some interesting photos. President Sam, under the supervisory eyes of District Governor Keith Chow and Immediate Past District Governor Eric Chak, was handed the meeting gavel as well as the presidential sash. Several members were recognized during the Installation, including Charter President Patrick and Past District Governor Belinda for their great support of the Club and of the District over the years; outgoing Board of Directors; and Paul Harris Fellows in 2020-21. Overall, 24 of 26 members attended, plus two of our Honorary Members.
On July 1, District Governor Water of Rotary Club of Taoyuan Southeast, our sister club, held a ceremony celebrating her assumption of Governorship of Rotary District 3502. Many members of our Club attended via Zoom, including Past District Governor Belinda, who was Club President classmate with Water in 2010-11. Past Rotary International President Gary Huang also attended, and personally extended greetings to several members of our Club, including our Charter President Patrick, who was President when Gary was District Governor of our predecessor District 345, and Belinda, who was our District’s Governor when he was Rotary International President.
On June 24, our Club met at Regal Hong Kong Hotel. To ensure proper social distancing, Regal has given us a large room, with 4-person tables separated by ample spaces. President Mark began by inviting President Elect Sam to summarize arrangements for Club Installation and District Installation. Club Installation shall include a Paul Harris Fellows (PHF) recognition session in which 14 members shall be recognized for achieving new PHFs or new PHF tiers. President Elect Sam also briefly talked about ”The Familiar Strangers” charity concert on August 3. The concert, organized by Suicide Prevention Services, shall be one of incoming President’s first fellowship events. President Elect Sam says that a Whatsapp signup sheet shall be circulated in due course, and urges members to sign up themselves as well as their families and friends. President Mark reported that our sister Club, Rotary Club of Taipei Mingmen, has done a great job donating health supplies to local hospitals to combat a surging Covid-19 pandemic in Taiwan. Heeding their call for help on social media, our Board has approved a special donation to their Club to join their humanitarian effort. The donation is further topped up with extra donations from individual members and…
On June 21, our Board met for the 12th and final time in RY2020-21. Board members mainly made sure that handover to the incoming Board would be smooth, and that all lingering issues were dealt with. Thereafter, a small dinner gathering was held. Quite a few members and their spouses attended, including Honorary Member Vivien Lau, as well as our new Honorary Member Professor MF Yuen. President Elect Sam brought to the occasion 3 bottles of whisky with a varied flavor profile. Others brought wines, ranging from classic French Margaux and St. Emilion, to a Chinese cabernet from Yunnan, China.
District Conference was held in June, 19-20. A total of 10 from the Harbour family attended: President Mark, Charter President Patrick, Past District Governor Belinda, Past Presidents Grace, Angela, WT and Dora, President Elect Sam and Rotarian Eliza registered for two days of programs, while Wendy attended as special guest of the Organizing Committee during Foundation recognition ceremony and lunch. The OC team and venue operator took meticulous care to ensure everyone’s safety and good health. Past President Dora worked behind the scenes to ensure smooth operation as part of the OC team. Past President Angela presided over the People of Action Photo Competition prize presentation ceremony, during which Past District Governor Belinda, in her role as District Public Image Committee Chair, presented top awards. Past President WT was a panelist in a breakout session on peace. Charter President Patrick and Wendy, as well as Past District Governor Belinda, were recognized for their contribution to The Rotary Foundation during Foundation recognition ceremony. President Mark attended the business session to vote on behalf of our Club. Possibly most significantly, however, was that our own Past District Governor Belinda was awarded Rotary International Service Above Self Award, an RI award recognizing individual…
In a special ceremony during the Second Plenary Session of the 61st District Conference, District Governor Eric Chak presented the Rotary International Service Above Self Award to Past District Governor Belinda. Rotary International President Personal Representative Past District Governor Peter Wan stood nearby as witness. The RI Service Above Self Award is the highest individual award within Rotary. Congratulations, Past District Governor Belinda!
During The Rotary Foundation recognition ceremony at the 61st District Conference, Charter President Patrick and Wendy, and Past District Governor Belinda, were recognized for their contribution to The Rotary Foundation. Our Club was also recognized as District’s #1 Club for Annual Fund contribution per capita and #1 Club for total annual giving.
For the second year in a row, Rotary International Convention has turned virtual. Unlike last year, this year’s arrangements are more formal, with the usual flag ceremony, house of friendship, breakout sessions etc., in addition to the usual plenary sessions. Various members attended. President Mark attended a number of interesting sessions, including flag ceremony (where he greeted fellow Rotarians from all around the world), and a cooking class with Rotary International President Holger Knaack. Rotary International President Holger and Susanne cooked white asparagus with potatoes, served with homemade mayonnaise. While doing so, Rotary International President Holger said that he was the first Rotary International President to never have used his Rotary International office in Evanston, but most certainly the first Rotary International President to cook for Rotarians from his own kitchen.