LINKS Cafe

On June 10, President Mark, President Elect Sam and Rotarian Eliza visited LINKS Cafe, a community center focused on providing services to carers and families of elderly exhibiting depressive or suicidal tendencies. The center, styled in the form of a coffee shop, provides a comfortable venue for social workers and service targets to talk about life’s difficulties in a safe and relaxed environment. The venue also hosts events and classes to uplift the community. The center is run by Suicide Prevention Services, where Past President Lily currently works. Mr. WT Tsun, Past President Lily’s colleague, not only gave us an introduction of the center’s service offerings, but offered each of us a delicious cup of hot beverage.

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Club meeting — AI and ed tech

On June 10, 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. Mr. Kenneth She joined as a guest of Past President WT. President Mark began by recounting memorable episodes from Interota 2020, which closed the day before. President Mark also asked those members who have signed up for Rotary Virtual Convention to check their emails to gain access links. President Elect Sam gave more details about Club Assembly, Club Installation and District Installation. Charter President Patrick reported that he attended Rotary Club of Pudu’s Interact Leadership Training Seminar, held via Zoom. He had fond memories of his appointment as Youth Service Director of Rotary Club of Pudu, in the late 70s. He also reminded us that fellowship and international understanding are two important pillars of the Interact experience, and that our Club should open more opportunities for our youth to experience both. Finally, Past President Samuel counted members’ efforts during our service day at Holy Cafe in the previous weekend, the 14th official outing of this Rotary Year, and commented that Coco was mad that she couldn’t join us for the…

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Hot meal distribution at Holy Cafe

On June 5, President Mark led a team consisting of Past President Grace, Past President Samuel and Amy, and President Elect Sam to deliver hot meals to 200+ elderly living in Cheung Sha Wan and Lai Chi Kok areas. Amy, first to arrive, was the star of the day. She singlehandedly handled 100+ meal boxes. Past President Grace managed the front line, while Past President Samuel and President Mark managed the day’s traffic, which was mostly orderly.

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Club meeting — The Rotary Foundation

On May 27, 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. Several announcements were made before the speaker program. President Mark urged members to support Interota 2020 Hong Kong by signing up and joining the event virtually. President Mark and President Elect Sam gave more details about an upcoming joint Board meeting, to be held on June 21. President Elect Sam also announced several important dates for our Club and District: June 24 (Club Assembly and last Club meeting of RY2020-2021), July 8 (Club Installation), and July 10 (District Installation). Club Installation would be a regular lunch meeting, at Regal HK Hotel. Final arrangements are still to be hashed out, dependent upon social distancing rules of the day and the number of members and spouses wishing to attend. At the moment, both outgoing and incoming District Governors, both outgoing and incoming Assistant Governors will attend. Finally, according to President Elect Sam, District Installation would be held in the afternoon, at HKCEC, with no meals. Members who have yet to sign up but wish to join should contact President Elect Sam directly.…

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Blind Bowling Tournament

On May 23, our Club sent one team of Interactors to 11th Hong Kong Bowling Tournament for all x 10th Hong Kong Blind Bowling Tournament. President Mark, Past President Grace, President Elect Sam, and Grace’s sister Joyce went to cheer our team of Interactors from King’s College. Also in attendance was Dr. Kelvin Siu, our speaker from last week, and his colleague Mr. Ricky Chan (not to be confused with our most cheerful Past President Ricky). Both are innovators who are passionate about supporting the disabled through technological innovation. We also managed to catch Honorary Member Vivien, who was the event’s Guest of Honor.

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Club meeting — Mobile App for the Visually Impaired

On May 13, 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. Special welcome was given to all five of our Charter Members. Before the speaker program, members took turns to give reports of Club and District activities. Past President MK, as Sergeant-at-Arms, thanked President Mark and President Elect Sam for their contribution to the red box in the Poster Hunting Challenge, and thanked many others for their generous contributions to red box on the day of the meeting. Past President WT gave highlights of a tree planting outing to Fung Yuen Butterfly Reserve. Past President Grace chimed in and said the work this year was especially challenging as some of us had to carry pots of plants up a steep slope and had to clear wild bushes before saplings can be planted. Charter President Patrick gave details of District Training Assembly, and highlighted key points by the event’s guest of honor, Mr. Kenneth Fok, JP. President Mark ended the reporting section by encouraging members to sign up for the upcoming service outing at Holy Cafe, when over 250 elderly were expected…

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District Training Assembly

On May 8, at Kowloon Bay International Trade & Exhibition Centre, our District conducted Training Assembly for incoming Presidents Elect, officers and directors. Various members attended, including: Charter President Patrick, Past District Governor Belinda, Past President Angela, President Elect Sam, Rotarian Eliza (President Nominee) and Rotarian Jason. The Keynote Speech by Mr. Kenneth Fok, JP, informed us on Youth Development and Sports in Hong Kong. Later, Past District Governor Belinda chaired a breakout session on The Rotary Foundation, while Past President Angela and Rotarian Eliza presented in the Public Image and Service Projects (Health, Preserve Planet Earth and Peace) breakout sessions, respectively. Rotarian Eliza also acted as the reporter for her breakout session in the Plenary Session. One new item for this upcoming Rotary Year is to appoint a Youth Protection Officer at each Club, as required by new Rotary International policies.

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Club meeting — Producer Responsibility Scheme on Plastic Beverage Containers

On April 22, 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. Past President Dora, first to report, gave details regarding our virtual meeting with our sisters at Rotary Club of Taoyuan Southeast: it would be a Zoom affair, with the two Clubs’ respective Presidents Elect introducing their incoming Board members and their current Presidents giving a quick update of services in the current Rotary year. Past President Dora said that a Zoom link shall be provided to all in due course. Rotarian Eliza and Past President Angela detailed arrangements of our tree planting outing on May 1, with District Preserve Planet Earth (“PPE”) Committee. Rotarian Eliza also promoted beach cleaning, to be held on May 9. Finally, President Elect Sam highlighted the arrangements of the upcoming District Training Assembly, to be held on May 8. It would be a hybrid occasion with both physical and online options for those interested. Rotarian Eliza was our meeting’s speaker, who shared with us the current government consultation on the Producer Responsibility Scheme on Plastic Beverage Containers. The consultation, launched on February 22 and will…

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Club meeting — Suicide Prevention Services

On April 8, our Club returned to physical lunch meeting at Regal Hong Kong Hotel after one month of virtual meetings on Zoom. To ensure proper social distancing, Regal has given us a large room, with 4-person tables separated by ample spaces. Various members gave detailed reports of Club and District events. Rotarian Eliza reported on our service outing at Holy Cafe the week before, and was happy to see a playful and most affable side of Rotarian Kelvin. Rotarian Eliza also urged members to sign up for tree planting on May 1 and beach cleanup on May 9, whereupon Past President Angela chimed in and suggested to make tree planting a fellowship affair with members and spouses. For those wishing to sign up, please contact Rotarian Eliza or Past President Angela. President Elect Sam also reported on the current arrangements of Scouts Trail Walk x Walkathon. President Mark urged members who haven’t signed up for Intercity Meeting or District Conference to do so as soon as possible to take advantage of these two rare occasions of district-wide fellowship. Past President Lily, our meeting’s speaker, shared with us her new career at Suicide Prevention Services, an NGO in Hong Kong…

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Presidents Elect Training Seminar Part 1

On March 20, Presidents Elect Training Seminar Part 1 (“PETS 1”) was held. The seminar was held on Zoom. Live feed was broadcasted from Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, generously arranged with help from Charter President Patrick. President Elect Sam attended as participant, while Past Presidents Grace and Angela chaired two sessions as moderators. Past President Lily worked behind the scenes.

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