This year we have injected a bit more new ideas to our celebration week, by taking all our members and sister clubs to Macau for a weekend retreat, authentic Portuguese cuisine, and a tour around Macau city. District Governor Andy and Jane, District Governor Elect Nigel and Flora and little Raphael, and some Rotarians from Macau have joined our banquet on March 23 too. We wish to thank our incredible Organizing Committee,including President Elect David, Past President Eddie, Past President Grace, Past President Dora, Past President Ricky, Past President Lily, Past President Mark, Past President Sam P, and Rotarian Ka Man, and our good friend Past President Elizabete Fong of Rotary Club of Macau for making it such an enjoyable get-together.
We have not had our annual Shabu Shabu since December 31, 2018 due to the pandemic and other various situations. And now we are BACK!! Thanks to the great organization by President Elect David, Past President Dora and Past President Lily, and more importantly the generous catering arrangement by Past District Governor Belinda, we had a very enjoyable evening with great food, drinks and laughter at Regal Hongkong Hotel.
On November 18, many Club members attended Intercity Meeting 2023, including: Charter President Patrick and Wendy, Past District Governor Belinda, Past Presidents Grace, Dora, Lily, and Mark. Charter President and Wendy were recognized on stage as our District’s all-time top donors in a special recognition session presided by Rotary International President Gordon McInally and District Governor Andy Li.
November 4, President Jason, Past President Grace and her family, Past President Dora and her friends, Past President Mark, Rotarian Ka Man and her dad, participated in a charity walk organized by Suicide Prevention Services and Past President Lily. It was a very sunny and warm day, perfect for an easy walk around Clear Water Bay Golf and Country Club. Apart from our members from our Club, there were other Rotarians, including Past District Governors YC Ho and Eric Chak, and members from other Clubs. Past President Lily also invited Assistant Governor Roy Tang, a past contestant of “中年好聲音”, to perform after the charity walk.
On September 28, our Assistant Governor Leo Yu visited our Club to share RI President and District Governor’s vision for the year, as well as the latest updates of the District. Two former members, Past President Theresa and ex-member Ada Leung also joined. A visiting Rotarian, Suzanne Cook, of Rotary Club of Brampton, Canada, also joined us. Rotarian Suzanne shared a bit of her background, her Rotary Club’s projects as well as her plans for the upcoming two weeks in Hong Kong. We wish her a great rest of the trip. On occasion, President Jason also exchanged club flags with Rotarian Suzanne, thus adding to our prized collection of club flags from around the world! Heeding Honorary Member Vivien’s call, members donated shoes, clothing and stationery to Good Fortune and Wisdom International Charity Fund, who will send all those items to Kenya. The campaign will last for another month; please contact Past President Dora for details and ways to help.
Past President Dora, Past President Webster, Past President Lily, and Rotary-ann Sara visited Red Cross Blood Donation Center in Mongkok to give blood (and save life). Past President German Hui of Rotary Club of Lan Kwai Fong, District Blood Donation Chair, also joined us. The day closed with a nice afternoon tea.
The 63rd District Conference was held on May 20-21, 2023, at Regala Skycity Hotel. Many of our members attended: President Eliza, Past District Governor Belinda, Past Presidents WT, Angela, Dora, Ricky, Lily and Mark, and Rotarian Ka Man. Past District Governor Belinda chaired the Foundation sessions, while President Eliza managed the Preserve Planet Earth breakout. Past President Lily was on hand at the leaders’ lunch on the first day, while Past President Angela led group discussions during a Diversity Equity and Inclusion breakout. Past President Dora was in the Conference Organizing Committee, managing the conference floor and banquet. President Eliza also reported that she was part of the welcoming party that received our Mongolian Rotarians at the airport the day before the Conference.
On May 11, Immediate Past President Donald Chan of Rotary Club of Golden Bauhinia Hong Kong was our speaker on the very hot topic of Generative AI – way forward changing our lives. Immediate Past President Donald showed us how AI world could replace many of our jobs, particularly in the design world that you only need to type what you want in the poster and get it done in minutes. Prompt Engineering is the new job type to go for! Past President Dora encouraged Club members to attend the upcoming Rotary Club of Pudu installation on 10 June 2023. We had cake cutting to celebrate Past President Mark’s Wedding Anniversary. President Elect Johnny of Rotary Club of Auckland Harbourside, the Club that President Eliza always visited when she was in Auckland, visited our club today. Immediate Past President Donald also brought his friend Weston who so happened to be President Eliza’s common friend. Rotarian Clive Tsang from Rotary Club of Hong Kong Northeast also visited our club too.
On May 5, President Eliza, Past Presidents WT, Dora and Webster, and President Elect Jason represented our Club to attend the 25th Anniversary Celebration dinner of our sister club, Rotary Club of Taipei Mingmen. All Clubs within the same Area of District 3481 joined the dinner celebration too! One of the highlights was the charity painting auction for one of the Food Banks in Taiwan.
On 19 April, District Governor Norman Lee and the District Foundation Committee Chair Past District Governor Belinda Yeung co-hosted a special event to celebrate Paul Harris 155th Birthday, and to show appreciation to Major Donors, members from the Bequest Society and Paul Harris Society. The Dinner sponsored by the Regala SkyCity Hotel was held at its state-of-the-art Ballroom. Besides Past District Governor Belinda, other Rotarians from Rotary Club of Hong Kong Harbour also joined the Dinner; including Arch Klumph Society members Charter President Patrick Poon, Mrs Wendy Poon and Immediate Past President Sam Poon, and Major Donor Past President WT Wong. Others include Past President Angela Hui who was Chair of the Organizing Committee, while Past Presidents Grace Yen and Dora Liu were members of the Organizing Committee.The night was spent under lots of fun and entertainment. District Governor Norman sang “Imagine Rotary” and help raised funds for the District Foundation. Our own Charter President Patrick succeed in auctioning a limited edition painting by artist Darren Jones, who is the brother of the Rotary International President Jennifer Jones.