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 May 12, District Governor Keith Chow, Past District Governor Ada Cheng, Immediate Past District Governor Eric Chak and District Governor Elect Norman from District leadership joined our luncheon. From Rotary Club of Hong Kong Island East, our “mother club”, President Bernard Lee, Past President William Wong, and President Elect Rico Fung joined. Other guests included District Secretary Elizabete Fong, Mr. Kevin Chuc (a former speaker) and Winnie (Past President Dora’s guest). Our Honorary Member Vivien Lau introduced our speaker, the Honorable Kenneth Fok, a member of Hong Kong Legislative Council. Kenneth’s talk on “The Role of Sports in Social Development” was an extension of his talk at the 61st District Conference in 2021. Sports is more than sports. Over the course of the last 50 years of Chinese history, sports played a role in opening China to the world. In challenging political times, it is always best to keep sports and cultural exchange open among nations. In the Q&A session we learned a bit more about Kenneth. His grandfather’s involvement in sports development in Hong Kong and China was critical to his choice of profession. Just elected to the 7th Legislative Council, Kenneth seeks to support sports, arts, culture…
On March 26, our Club met on Zoom to celebrate our Club’s 35th Anniversary. District Governor Keith Chow, Immediate Past District Governor Eric Chak, District Governor Elect Norman Lee, District Governor Nominee Andy Li, District Governor Nominee Designate Nigel Lo, Chief District Secretary Ron Chan from the District joined our Zoom celebration. Past Club members including Douglas Hsia, Yoshie Takenaka, Kennedy Tang, Veronica DeKrey, Eddie Wong, CK Chan, Charles Lam, Patric Lee and Theresa Chan also joined. Organizing Committee Chair and President Elect Eliza, President Sam, District Governor Keith, Charter President Patrick and Past District Governor Belinda gave us opening remarks to kick off this special celebration. We also played snippets of video congratulations messages from Rotary International President Shekhar Mehta, Past Rotary International President Gary Huang, future District leaders, as well as Presidents of our sister Clubs. President Elect Eliza announced winners of the 35th anniversary photo competition. Past Presidents Ricky and Webster led us through a wonderful edition of Hong Kong Harbour ABC quiz. We particularly thank Organizing Committee Chair President Elect Eliza and the rest of the Organizing Committee for planning the original physical celebration and then this Zoom celebration.
On September 18, President Sam and Rotarian Jason attended District’s Public Image Seminar. This year the Public Image Committee is headed by Immediate Past District Governor Eric Chak and includes our Past Presidents Dora, Lily and Angela. Past President Lily was the organizing chair of the seminar this year. Immediate Past District Governor Eric and Past President Dora began the day with a briefing on “What is Rotary Brand,” and District’s Public Image goals, its social media and newsletter. Speaker Ms. Ruby Wan presented on “The Significance of Brand Building & Positioning of Rotary Brand.” Speaker Mr. TM Wong taught us “Special Tips on Mobile Video-Taking.” Speaker Roger Ng (Past President of Rotary Club of Peninsula) presented on “How to organize and execute on-site journalistic photography to beautify Rotary services.” Finally, Past President Angela kicked-off this year’s People-of-Action Photo Competition, which will include a video category in addition to People-of-Action photos.
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 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…
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!
On June 5, President Mark, Charter President Patrick and Past District Governor Belinda attended Interota 2020 kick-off event at Hotel ICON. The kick-off event included a live-streaming of the virtual opening ceremony, which featured speeches by Rotary International President Holger Knaack, Rotary International Director Surgeon Liu, District Governor Eric Chak and Immediate Past District Governor Wilson Cheng, performances by various groups, and the singing by District Governor Eric, Immediate Past District Governor Wilson, and Rotaractors. Several Rotarians also attended the virtual opening ceremony via Zoom or Youtube, including Past Presidents Dora and Grace, and others. Immediate Past District Governor Wilson, chair of Interota 2020 Hong Kong steering committee, hosted a few tables at the event. We thank Immediate Past District Governor Wilson for his generosity in this evening and for his stewardship of Interota 2020 Hong Kong in the past few years. We also thank Past District Governor Belinda for her support behind the scenes, especially when Interota 2020 Hong Kong was planned as a physical convention. Finally, and perhaps most significantly, the organizing committee took time during the live virtual opening ceremony to thank our Charter President Patrick, whose most significant and unwavering support of Interota 2020 Hong Kong,…
On April 20, President Mark, Charter President Patrick and Wendy, Past District Governor Belinda, and Past Presidents Grace, WT and Angela attended Intercity Meeting at Regal Kowloon Hotel. Past District Governor Belinda did not only attend the meeting; as Assistant Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator, she was the evening’s Guest of Honor and gave the keynote speech. Charter President Patrick and Wendy were guests of District Governor Eric Chak, and were recognized for their contribution (top donors in the District) to The Rotary Foundation. Past District Governor Belinda was also recognized as a Level 4 Major Donor. The meeting was separated into rooms of attendees to conform with government gathering restrictions. Each room was then linked to the main stage via live Zoom.
On consecutive days of October 16-17, Rotarian Jason attended Rotary Leadership Institute (“RLI”), which seeks to provide quality education in Rotary knowledge and leadership skills to Rotarians interested in developing their Rotary participation and to those identified by Rotary Clubs as having a potential in club leadership. Needless to say, Rotarian Jason is not recently identified as having leadership potential, but has for many years been leading aspects of our Club in many ways, including the planning and execution of our many community service projects this year, as well as aspects of Club Service and other activities. Past Presidents Grace and Angela, both certified District Trainers, were trainers at RLI.