On November 3, several members of our Club attended Rotary Club of Hong Kong Island East’s regular club meeting, thus resuming our annual tradition of visiting our beloved mother Club. President Sam led a large group consisting of Charter President Patrick, Past District Governor Belinda, Past President Grace, Immediate Past President Mark, and President Elect Eliza. President Bernard Lee and his members gave the visiting Rotarians a warm welcome. During the meeting, we learned much from the day’s speaker, Rotarian Benson Ng, who talked about anti-money laundering. While there, Past District Governor Belinda took the opportunity to promote various Rotary Foundation-related activities. President Sam, while accepting gifts from the host, invited members from mother club to attend our 35th anniversary dinner, to be held in March 2022. We thank President Bernard, his Immediate Past President Leo Yu and other members of Rotary Club of Hong Kong Island East for their warm hospitality and overall generosity.
On September 30, District Governor visited our Club (at President Sam’s office). President Sam, Charter President Patrick, Vice President Kelvin, Past Presidents Kay, Grace and Webster, President Elect Eliza and Rotarian Jason represented our Club and our Board. District Governor Keith Chow led a full team from the District including: Assistant Governor Sunny Chen, Chief District Secretary Ron Chan, Deputy Assistant Governors Stella Law and Stacy Ho, and District Secretaries Brian Ho and Louis Ma. It was also agreed that District Governor Keith will be our speaker at our January 13 lunch meeting.
On September 23, our Club inducted Dr. David Lee as our newest member. Proposed by Past President Grace, David’s classification is “Medical – Western and Chinese Medicine.” Rotarian David comes to us with quite a bit of Rotary experience, having been an Interactor, Rotaractor and RYLA 2006 participant. President Elect Eliza hosted our first Club Assembly of the year. On the agenda was membership, Rotary Club of Hong Kong Harbour 35th Anniversary Endowment Fund and our Club’s 35th Anniversary Dinner. President Sam reported that the Endowment Fund will commence fundraising shortly in November with an eye on the InterCity Meeting on December 7. Planned completion of the fundraising is March of 2022 (total to be raised: USD 250,000). President Sam at the Club Assembly pledged to donate the first USD 25,000 to establish the Endowment Fund. President Sam will send details of the fundraising to all members once ready. President Elect Eliza reported on the 35th Anniversary Dinner. An Organizing Committee has been formed. Several venues and dates were proposed. Themes were discussed. The meeting concluded that Regal (Hong Kong, Kowloon, Airport) should be under final consideration, considering that social distancing regulations may be fluid and Regal offers the best…
On September 12, several of our members and friends, including: President Sam, Past President Lily and Ken, Past President Samuel and Amy, President Elect Eliza and Tiffany, Coco, Yvonne and Kelly, went to Suicide Prevention Services Headquarters in Choi Hung Estate to take part in an elderly outreach service program for Mid-Autumn Festival. Past President Lily gave a tour around the headquarters which housed the well-regarded SPS call center. Heading out in four teams, the teams visited elderly cases in the East Kowloon area and gave them care packages which contained mooncakes, biscuits, masks and other daily items. After the teams returned, a debriefing with each team and a social worker concluded the day. It was a great Mid-Autumn festival service outing that benefited the elderly in the district.
On September 2, President Sam, Past President Grace, Past President Webster and President Elect Eliza met with the outgoing “cabinet” of the Rotaract Club of HKU Lap-Chee College International at the Indonesian restaurant, Kaum: Potato Head, in Sai Ying Pun. Lap Chee members included Crystal (fellow), outgoing President Anushka, Bobby, Cindy, Gabin and Anuj. Cindy, from Jakarta, helped to order the food, and explained to us the dishes and how they would be served in her native country. Over the course of the dinner, we learned about our Rotaract friends’ studies and career plans, and life on-campus. The new Rotaract leadership will be recruited in the coming month and announced to our Club members!
In our 4th regular club meeting of the year, we had Past District Governor Ada come speak to us about “Integrating Integrity and Ethics in Your Rotary Journey.” It is always good to go back to basics like Rotary’s Four-Way Test and the Code of Conduct. While we join Rotary for years and focus on community service projects, we have to remember what makes Rotarians stand out from other membership organizations. Rotarian Jason gave a vote of thanks, while President Elect Eliza presented Ada with a precious gift: organic soap, handmade by Eliza!
On August 25, in search of our own Preserve Planet Earth Project, the day brought President Sam, Past President Eddie, and President Elect Eliza to Lei Yue Mun, Sam Ka Tsuen Ferry Pier. It was not for seafood, but to see an A.I.-self driven boat that collects ocean trash. It was very interesting to see young Hong Kong entrepreneurs working on this project. TVB was also on hand to interview the founders and learn about the boat.
On August 21, President Sam, Past President Grace and friend, Past President Lily (and her two nephews), Past President Angela and Maurice, Immediate Past President Mark, President Elect Eliza, Sandy and Trevor (Past President Ka Hing’s friends), and Tony (prospective member) went to Holy Cafe to pack hot meals for the elderly. With several youngsters helping out, the elderly beneficiaries also felt more lively.
On August 1, District Governor Keith, President Sam, Past Presidents MK, Eddie and Grace, and President Elect Eliza attended the 24th Island Scout Trail Walk Prize Presentation Ceremony. Past President Eddie also represented the Hong Kong Bone Marrow Foundation, as one of the beneficiary organizations of the trail walk. In a special arrangement, the race took place virtually from May to end of June of this year. Normally the prize ceremony would take place at the square outside The Peak Galleria. This year the ceremony moved indoors to the Hong Kong Scout Centennial Building in Wan Chai. The high point of the day was the presentation of the Hong Kong Harbour Cup by District Governor Keith and President Sam to the team with the best time. The next competition will come very soon in October 2021 to March 2022, which will be part of Scout’s 110th anniversary celebrations!
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.