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…
President Sam, Charter President Patrick, Past President Webster (Youth), Past President Kay, Past Pressident WT and President Elect Eliza attended the Installation Ceremony this year. President Rain Lau, School Principal Mr. Tang, Ms. Kwok, Ms. Leung, and the Club Committees welcomed our Rotarians. Principal Mr. Tang expressed his optimism that Interactors will be able to serve the community in the “new normal” and emphasized that Rotary/Interact is a valuable institution for young students. President Sam spoke about the Rotary International Theme, “Serve to Change Lives.” Charter President Patrick encouraged Interactors to adopt Rotarian values and principles in all things they do, in school and outside school. Past President Webster talked about the concept, “一齊服務 ,一齊健康”, loosely translated to be “serve together, and be healthy together”. Next, President Rain reported on activities completed in 2020-21 and his plan for the “new normal” in 2021-22. Finally, our Rotarians presented Interact pins to all the officers and committees of the Interact Club of King’s College.
We are happy to support the premiere of the Hong Kong Hymnos Festival, conceived and expertly run by Past President Angela and Maurice. Great effort was put into creating the two concerts and assembling the many performing artists and guests. On November 10, President Sam, Past President Grace and Jerry, and Past President WT attended the opening concert. On November 15, at the closing concert, Immediate Past President Mark performed as part of the Vox Antiqua choir. Holy Cafe’s Mrs Sung and her daughter performed as part of the festival choir.
On November 13, President Sam attended the opening ceremony of CPR/AED project. Our Club joined the project as Bronze Sponsoring Club. Altogether, twelve Rotary Clubs joined this projected hosted by Rotary Club of Hong Kong Northeast, in partnership with St. John Ambulance. TVB artist 曹永廉 and Miss Hong Kong 2014 邵珮詩 were special guests. Do you know every year around 8,000 cases of cardiac arrest require emergency ambulance service in Hong Kong? That is over 20 cases per day. CPR/AED is critical to survival in the minutes before the ambulance arrives. Past President Webster is working with our Interact Clubs to set up a training day for our Interactors in 2022. Before that, on November 28, there is a training day for District Officers, Rotarians and Rotaractors. Our Past President Lily and Rotarian Jason are registered to attend the certification course.
On November 12, President Sam, and Past Presidents Grace, Eddie and WT visited Ms. Lai and Ms. Lo at the Yuk Chi Resource Centre. The main purpose was to observe the District Grant project in action. Ms. Lai explained to the group the high demand of obtaining a comprehensive developmental assessment of age-6 or under children with suspected developmental problems. Underprivileged families may need to wait 15 to 18 months at the Department of Health. Our Club’s District Grant project will help 45 such families this year. Our Rotarians observed an assessment of a 4-year old girl for 20 minutes. Through playing with toys and engaging her in specific tasks the clinical psychologist was able to test the girl’s motor functions and assess her developmental progress. After the visit, President Sam led the group to a Singaporean restaurant (A Taste Above Shiok) in Causeway Bay for afternoon tea.
Several of our members were active at this year’s End Polio Now Walk & Carnival. Past District Governor Belinda, chair of District Rotary Foundation Committee, led the District’s End Polio work this year along with support from Past President Grace and Past President Eddie from our Club and others. Rotarian Jason, on the other hand, led our Club’s effort. President Sam, Past President Grace, Past President Dora, President Elect Eliza and Rotarian Jason’s friend Ken had lunch at Tai Po Cooked Food Centre. The group was guided by food recommendations from Charter President Patrick, as well as Past Presidents Ka Hing and Lily. After lunch, Past President Grace went ahead to Science Park to help to set up the special ceremony. Rotarian Jason, President Sam, Past President Dora, President Elect Eliza and Ken went on a 5.5km walk from Tai Po to Science Park as part of the End Polio Now Walk. The Carnival was full of games, and arts and crafts booths. Our Club was recognized by District Governor Keith Chow and Past District Governor Belinda for its contribution to the PolioPlus fund. The ceremony was also live-linked with Macau and Mongolia.
President Sam and Charter President Patrick joined Lap Chee College’s High Table Dinner on November 5. This was the first such dinner in a year and a half. Master of the College, our Honorary Member MF Yuen, welcomed everyone to the dinner. Professor Tsui Lap Chee, in his name-sake college, and Charter President Patrick presented gowns to several Lap Chee students. Professor Tsui gave the keynote speech. Past President of Rotaract Club of HKU Lap Chee College International, Sally Oh, is now a tutor of the college and is working on student development matters on campus. Crystal Lee, fellow of the College, was excited to share some of the plans of the Rotaract Club this year.
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 October 23, President Sam, Past President Grace, Immediate Past President Mark, Rotarian Jason and friends of Rotary volunteered at Holy Cafe, handing out hot meals and face masks to the elderly.
On October 16, led by Assistant Governor Sunny Chen and Deputy Assistant Governor Stella Law, it was Area 3’s turn to be promoted on Ming Pao as part of our District’s Public Image initiatives. Our Past President Lily and Past President Thomas Yeung from the Public Image Committee was on hand to help with the day’s work. President Sam represented our Club and described the major works of our Club and the signature 35th Anniversary Endowment Fund. It was a wonderful afternoon in Stanley and Presidents had an enjoyable fellowship.