The event of the Rotary Year was well attended by our club, including: President Sam, Charter President Patrick, Past District Governor Belinda (via Zoom), Past President Grace, Past President Eddie Leung, Past President Angela, Past President Dora, Past President WT, Past President Lily and Immediate Past President Mark. Past President Eddie Wong returned from the UK and joined the Governor’s Banquet on Day 1.
On May 21, District Public Image Seminar 2.0 was held. Speaker Ralph Szeto, Chairman of HK Association of Interactive Marketing, talked about digital transformation of businesses and lifestyle from Web 1.0, 2.0 to 3.0. Speaker Honnus Cheung, cofounder of Mojodomo, an incentive/loyalty marketing company using Fintech and Martech, talked about Digital and ESG transformation. Past President Angela moderated the Q&A session. Past President Lily assisted during the quiz session. President Sam, also our Club’s Public Image Chair, was a quiz winner. Past President Grace and Immediate Past President Mark also attended.
This meeting we welcomed our own Rotarian Tony as speaker. Immediate Past President Mark made the speaker introduction, noting that Rotarian Tony’s hobby, in fact, is doing community service. As the Head of Mainland Strategic Development of Hong Kong Jockey Club, Rotarian Tony’s topic was “Social Betterment Projects in Mainland.” For most of us, when we think about Hong Kong Jockey Club, we think about horse racing, Mark Six and sports betting. Rotarian Tony’s presentation gave us an overview of the community service portfolio of the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Established in 1993, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, reflects the evolving nature, scale and scope of donations. The Charities Trust is one of the world’s top ten charity donors. Approximately 90% of the Jockey Club’s annual operating surplus after tax is donated to the Trust, enabling it to play a significant role in the community’s development. Locally, in Hong Kong, we are familiar with Tai Kwun, a heritage site developed and preserved by HKJC. Ocean Park, at its inception, was also a HKJC project, providing locals and visitors alike with a world class recreational facility. There are many more community projects. HKJC has 10 areas of community contributions,…
Immediate Past President Mark participated, as group facilitator, in Peace Camp 2022, jointly organized by Li Po Chun United World College and Rotary District 3450. The Peace Camp was planned to be a physical one, but moved to Zoom due to the ongoing pandemic. Immediate Past President Mark reported that he and another facilitator (a Li Po Chun Initiative for Peace fellow) managed a diverse group comprising of teenagers around the world, including two living in Mongolia and one in Armenia, and held discussions on peace and conflict resolution. The camp was from 9:30am to 4pm, with speaker programs and breaks in between.
On March 16, President Sam, Past Presidents Grace and Webster, Immediate Past President Mark, and President Elect Eliza met with the incoming cabinet of Rotaract Club of HKU Lap Chee College International. Our Honorary Member MF also joined. President Sam gave an overview of Rotary and Rotaract. President Elect Eliza gave updates of upcoming Rotary and Rotaract activities. Past Presidents Grace and Webster shared valuable past experiences with Rotaractors.
On January 19, representatives from our Club and Scouts Association Hong Kong Island Region met on Zoom to kickoff planning for Island Scout Trail Walk 2022. The race is tentatively scheduled for April/May 2022, subject to pandemic conditions and government regulations.
On December 19, Rotaract Club of HKU Lap-Chee College International organized a Christmas fun day with children at Caritas Ngau Tau Kok Community Centre. President Sam, Past Presidents Grace and Lily, Immediate Past President Mark, President Elect Eliza, and prospective member Tony went to support our Rotaractors. Our Club was a supporting Club in this Rotaract project.
On December 12, President Sam, Past President Grace (and mom and sister), Past President Webster (and his two sons), Immediate Past President Mark and President Elect Eliza went to support Interact Club of King’s College in their participation in CDMF’s Carol Singing Festival at the newly renovated Central Market.
Several Club members attended Intercity Meeting on December 7, including Past District Governor Belinda (Committee chair), Past President Grace (Committee member), President Sam, Charter President Patrick and Rotarianne Wendy. Recognitions included: (1) Arch Klumph Society – Foundation Circle: Patrick S.C. Poon & Wendy Y.P. Fok (2) Rotary Club of Hong Kong Harbour 35th Anniversary Endowment Fund (3) Major Donor Level 2: President Sam; and (4) (new) Paul Harris Fellow: Immediate Past President Mark.
The lunch meeting was attended by 14 members with an attendance rate of 52%. Visiting Rotarians included Deputy Assistant Governor Dominic Wai and Charter President Jimmy Lau from Rotary Club of Star Avenue. After President Sam gave reports of past events and announced future Club/District events, Immediate Past President Mark introduced the meeting’s speaker, Ms. Iris Wong, the Executive Director of Ronald McDonald House Charities Hong Kong (“RMHCHK”). Iris’s topic was: “Keeping Families Close: A unique Role in Family Centered Care.” Family-centered care is the delivery of health care based on partnerships between patients, families and all those involved in the care of the child and family. Family-centered care improves the patient’s and family’s experience with health care, addresses evolving needs of families, reduces stress (e.g., emotional and financial pressures), improves communication and improves the health of children with chronic health conditions. RMHCHK mainly has three types of service: Ronald McDonald House, Hospitality Cart Program and Love Companion Program. The first Ronald McDonald House was built in Hong Kong In 1996 in Shatin, nearby to the Prince of Wales Hospital. The House offers temporary residence, a “home away from home” for families with seriously ill children. The House has comprehensive…