In the 3rd regular meeting of the Rotary Year, our club invited our friends from the Rotaract Club of HKU Lap-Chee College International (“RAC HKU LCCI”) to be our speakers. President Thomas, Andrea Komguep Leoue (International Service), Subaita Mahadia (External Vice President) and Crystal Lee (Club Advisor) joined our meeting. Charter President Patrick brought his grandson, Derek, as his guest. After singing the Rotary Song, President Eliza invited Immediate Past President Sam to pin Rotarian Tony. Previously, Rotarian Tony was inducted during a Zoom meeting on January 13, 2022. We then sang “Happy Birthday” to Past President Samuel Chung, whose birthday was on August 11. The speaker program included two parts: President Thomas’ Year Plan and Rotaractor Andrea’s talk “From Paris to Hong Kong.” President Thomas began by reviewing a past activities. Rotaractors in December 2021 conducted a Christmas service day and in April 2022 there was the Get Creative! Handcraft workshop, both programs focused on interacting with ethnic minorities children. In April 2022, Rotaractors had a vocational talk about trending technology and Blockchain. In this Rotary Year 2022-23, President Thomas plans to have an installation ceremony on September 21, followed by orientation activities including welcoming night, recruitment briefing and…
Miss Ip of Home Care for Girls texted President Elect Jason on July 15, 2022 requesting about 100-200 RAT kits for their girls to use in September when school term starts. We, being people of action, searched around and Past President Webster, as the director of Accountancy Caring Alliance was so kind to offer some free RAT kits to fill the need. Six days later, President Eliza, Past President Samuel, Past President Webster and Past President Grace delivered 200 RAT kits to Home Care for Girls promptly while President Elect Jason helped to collect the RAT from ACA office and Past President Samuel acted as delivery driver. What a team effort!
On June 23, our Club met for dinner at Regal Hongkong Hotel. A number of spouses were in attendance at this final regular meeting of the Rotary Year x 4th Club Assembly. There were no birthdays or anniversaries announced at this meeting. Past President Dora, as Sergeant-at-Arms, reported the final figure of the Red Box which far exceeded the annual target. She thanked all members for the strong support. With the help of President Elect Eliza, President Sam reported on District Blind Bowling Tournament and District Preserve Planet Earth Tree Planting Day which were held on June 12 and June 18, respectively.Club Installation is to be held on July 14 (Thursday, 12:30pm) and members were reminded to wear the new theme ties/scarves and pins. At the club installation, a recognition ceremony will take place to recognize the Paul Harris Fellows, Paul Harris Society, Benefactors and Major Donors of the club. After the reports were settled, President Sam invited President Elect Eliza to preside over the 4th Club Assembly. First, President Sam gave a President’s Report that reviewed the activities and major projects of 2021-22. President Sam finished by promoting the Photo Archive of RCHKH which is now accessible by password…
On September 12, several of our members and friends, including: President Sam, Past President Lily and Ken, Past President Samuel and Amy, President Elect Eliza and Tiffany, Coco, Yvonne and Kelly, went to Suicide Prevention Services Headquarters in Choi Hung Estate to take part in an elderly outreach service program for Mid-Autumn Festival. Past President Lily gave a tour around the headquarters which housed the well-regarded SPS call center. Heading out in four teams, the teams visited elderly cases in the East Kowloon area and gave them care packages which contained mooncakes, biscuits, masks and other daily items. After the teams returned, a debriefing with each team and a social worker concluded the day. It was a great Mid-Autumn festival service outing that benefited the elderly in the district.
On August 23, our first fellowship dinner of the year to celebrate August birthday stars (Charter President Patrick, Wendy, Past President Samuel, Past President Angela, Kelly and President Sam) took place at the Shun Tak Fraternal Association restaurant. Thanks to Past President Grace and Vice President Kelvin/Winnie’s arrangement. Paul Harris pins were also presented by Past District Governor Belinda and President Sam to Past President Ricky (PHF+1) and Immediate Past President Mark (PHF+3, PHF+4). At the end of the dinner, a lucky draw was conducted to give out Suicide Prevention Services souvenir stamp booklets, organic tea from Holy Cafe, and a special “PPE” lucky draw of takeaway food boxes.
What is Kabaddi? On August 12, in our 3rd Club meeting, our speaker, Mr. Wyman Tang, a lecturer in Anthropology at CUHK, shared with us “Kabaddi” the popular South Asian sport. He has been promoting the sport in Hong Kong since 2015. Played between two teams of seven players, the objective of the game is for a single player on offence, referred to as a “raider”, to run into the opposing team’s half of a court, tag out as many of their defenders as possible, and return to their own half of the court, all without being tackled by the defenders. Points are scored for each player tagged by the raider, while the opposing team earns a point for stopping the raider. Players are taken out of the game if they are tagged or tackled, but are brought back in for each point scored by their team from a tag or tackle. Wyman co-founded Kabaddi United Hong Kong, aiming to bring out the message of multiculturalism and social integration. Experiential activities are organized at schools and in the community while providing training for young people of diverse race to be assistant coaches and ambassadors. In the world of Kabaddi, people…
On July 18, our first service outing of the Rotary Year! Arranged by Past President Lily with the NGO, Suicide Prevention Services (生命熱線), we volunteered for the Outreach Befriending Service for Suicidal Elderly. This is a program sponsored by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust to support the elderly with emotional distress and suicidal thoughts through professional case services and befriending volunteer support. The theme of the day, due to the hot summer season, was, “消暑打氣(Don’t)冬瓜水”. President Sam, President Elect Eliza (& Tiffany), Rotarian Jason (& Sara), Past President Samuel (& Amy), Rtnnes. Coco and Kelly met Lily at SPS’s Links Café in Kwai Hing. Divided into four outreach teams, the teams visited 14 elderly cases at their homes in the West Kowloon district and gave them a care package containing biscuits, hygiene masks, hand sanitizer, sweet heart cake (老婆餅), and winter melon water (冬瓜水). During these home visits, team members chatted with them and found out how they were doing, how is their health and whether any other support is needed.
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.
On May 22, President Mark led a team consisting of Past Presidents Grace and Samuel, Rotarian Eliza, and Coco to deliver hot meals to 200+ elderly living in Cheung Sha Wan and Lai Chi Kok areas. Everyone lost weight while standing under the 36-degree afternoon sun to hand hot meals and other goodies to the elderly. The next outing, likely our final one this Rotary Year, is scheduled on June 5.
During the first week of January, 100 care packages were delivered to refugee families via Society of St. Vincent de Paul. The care packages included canned food, cereals and noodles, and packaged beverages. Care packages for Muslim families were repackaged such that all products with pork were swapped with other suitable items. The 100 care packages were generously donated by a restaurant in Tai Wai and referred to us by Past President Samuel. Our Club helped to liaise with Society of St. Vincent de Paul, who then arranged the deliveries to dozens of refugee families. We thank Past President Samuel for introducing us to the donor, to Rotarian Jason and Past President Angela for helping to liaise with Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and to Society of St. Vincent de Paul for helping to arrange deliveries to the refugee families in need.