On July 6, our Club kicked off the new Rotary Year’s first project with Caritas Ngau Tau Kok for the Street Cleaners. A total of 50 street cleaners received health check using Automatic Retinal Image Analysis (ARIA) method for screening of stroke and Alzheimer’s risk factor + cholesterol and blood sugar level testing. While on site, Rotarians also participated in stretching exercises together with the beneficiaries.
At the end of the Rotary Year it was great to have one last fellowship dinner. Hosted by Past President Peter and Coco, the dinner, on June 25, was attended by Past President Eddie, Rita, Past President Grace, Past President Lily, President Sam, President Elect Eliza, President Nominee Jason and Sara. Past President Eddie and Rita met Past President Peter and Coco early in the day to go to the market and prepare the sumptuous meal. By about 6pm, the other guests arrived at Past President Peter’s residence in Yuen Long. Over appetizers of homemade chilled abalone, spring rolls and durian cake, Past Presidents Peter, Eddie and Grace reminisced about ex-members and club events in the 1990s and early 2000s. After the fireside chat, the fire was lit for dinner. Past President Peter took care of a live fire barbeque while Coco was in charge of the Korean hot plate barbeque. The food included generous amounts of seafood , meats and vegetables. Dessert included ice cream and grapes. Everyone was too full to eat another bite. It was a wonderful evening of food and fellowship!
Suicide Prevention Services (SPS) applied for funds under the HK Jockey Club Charities Trust’s COVID-19 Emergency Fund. Initiated by SPS, this project (抗疫見喜樂) was hosted in conjunction with Holy Cafe’s hot meal box service and supported by volunteers, family/friends of Rotary Club of Hong Kong Harbour. Putting together 360 care packages (福袋) was the first step on Day 1 (June 1). The volunteers accomplished the task in just about one-hour at LINKS Cafe, SPS’s outlet in Kwai Hing. On Day 2 (June 2) 11am, volunteers moved all the bags by 5-ton truck to Holy Cafe. By 3pm, we started to distribute meal boxes and the gift bags, finishing at about 6pm. Some volunteers were inside the shop putting together the meal boxes and distributing them and the gift bags. Some were outside doing a mental wellness survey of the elderly and maintaining order. Volunteers from our club included: President Sam (+ sister Yvette, sister-in-law Emily, nephew Derek, niece Nicole), Past President Lily (+ sister Alice, nephew Sherlock, friends Bary & Antony), Past President Webster (+ son Shum Yeh), Past President Eddie & Rita (+ Rita’s sister Connie & Shun), Immediate Past President Mark, Past President Grace, President Elect Eliza and…
On May 27, Club members participated in the second service days in Phase 1 of our street cleaner project with Caritas. We gave out 120 care packages (福袋) to street cleaners in Ngau Tau Kok on May 20. On this day, we did the same at Tsuen Wan with 150 care packages. President Sam, Past President Eddie, President Elect Eliza and President Nominee Jason participated in this service day. Phase 2 of the project will be health days for street cleaners in Ngau Tau Kok and Tsuen Wan, providing them with a basic health assessment and follow-up by Caritas social workers. It is anticipated that Phase 2 takes place in July 2022.
This was the first of two such service days in Phase 1 of the street cleaner project with Caritas. We gave out 120 care packages to street cleaners in Ngau Tau Kok. Inside the bags were disinfectant liquid, KF94 masks, pain relief ointment, rapid antigen tests, facial tissue, water resistant plasters and a bag of rice. The next service day is on May 27 in Tsuen Wan. Phase 2 of the project will be health days for street cleaners in Ngau Tau Kok and Tsuen Wan, providing them with a basic health assessment and follow up by Caritas social workers. It is anticipated that Phase 2 takes place in July 2022.
Our Club, chiefly through Rotarian Jason’s liaison and planning, organized a COVID-19 talk together with Yuk Chi Resource Centre, our service partner, for the benefit of Yuk Chi’s members. The talk aimed to provide unbiased information related to the pandemic, and general advice as to how to detect, manage, and overcome illness. Speakers included: Vice President Dr. Kelvin and Dr. Catherine Lam, focusing on adult and child care respectively. On behalf of our Club, our Past President Peter made souvenirs to thank our two speakers.
At the start of the meeting, we sang Happy Birthday to Past President WT. Charter President Patrick followed by reporting on the 35th Anniversary Endowment Fund. To date, US$125,646 was raised towards the US$250,000 target. Treasurer Barry gave a report on Club accounts and President Elect Nominee Jason reported on recent pandemic relief support engaged by our Club. President Elect Eliza promoted the 35th Anniversary Celebration (Zoom) to be held on March 26, from 9pm till late. On May 7, President Elect Eliza plans to have a Charity Walk to raise funds for a service project to be launched in 2022-23.
On December 23, our Club held its Club Assembly x Annual General Meeting. During Club Assembly, various members brought up current issues for discussion, including our Endowment Fund as well as our 35th Anniversary Party. At AGM, other than the usual round of business, our Club elected a President for RY2023-2024 — Rotarian Jason, and other Board members for RY2022-2023. Thereafter, Club members and family members enjoyed an evening of fun and good food. We also played our usual rounds of lucky draw and Bingo, with the sound of joy reverberating throughout the evening.
On November 28, Past President Lily and Rotarian Jason attended CPR/AED training at St. John’s Ambulance.