As a tradition, our Sister Club Rotary Club of Taipei Mingmen held their 26th Anniversary Celebration on May 2, 2024 at Taipei Garden Hotel (台北花園大酒店). We have five representatives attending including President Jason and Sara, and Past Presidents Dora, Webster and Mark. In the afternoon, our Sister Club treated us to a lunch of authentic Taiwan-cuisine at 山海樓, and after their Anniversary Celebration, we all went to karaoke for extra fun!
As a tradition, our Sister Club Rotary Club of Taoyuan Southeast held their 28th Anniversary Celebration on April 1. Eight representatives from our Club attended, including members, spouses and family members. On the second day, we joined a day tour to Yilan (宜蘭), where we enjoyed local food, fruit picking, boat ride and local food again. Just like past years we were flooded with the hospitality, passion and souvenirs from our beloved Sisters!
Various members, including Past Presidents Grace, Ricky and Mark, Immediate Past President Sam, President Elect Jason and Sara attended our sister Club Rotary Club of Pudu’s 57th Club Installation in Kuala Lumpur. President Elect Jason represented President Eliza as head of our visiting delegation. Past President Ricky also had the privilege of having the entire venue of 100 tables singing happy birthday to him.
We visited our Sister Club, Rotary Club of Taipei Mingmen during their regular lunch meeting via Zoom. We had President Eliza, President Elect Jason, Past President Eddie, Past President Samuel, Past President Grace, Past President Dora and Past President Lily attended the meeting. During the meeting, Past President Samuel helped to promote the Yuk Chi Global Grant and received positive feedback. A follow-up Zoom meeting with Past Presidents Kevin and Ronald of Rotary Club of Taipei Mingmen was also held on December 14.
On September 18, while others are at the District Public Image Seminar, Past President Grace, on behalf of our Club, attended Rotary Club of Pudu’s 1st Virtual International Youth Exchange. Rotary recognizes the importance of empowering youth through Leadership Development Programs. Rotary Youth Exchange is one of the many Youth Leadership Development Programs offered by Rotary. The objectives of the Rotary Youth Exchange include but not limited to: (a) Promoting International Understanding and Goodwill among the youth; (b) Creating positive changes by empowering the youth; (c) Making lasting connections. With these objectives in mind, the International Service Committee of the Rotary Club of Pudu (RID3300) is organizing this Virtual International Youth Exchange with its Sister Club, the Rotary Club of Mandaluyong, Philippines (RID3800), from September 2021 to February 2022. It will be a virtual youth exchange between the Interactors and Rotaractors sponsored by the Rotary Club of Pudu and the Rotaractors sponsored by the Rotary Club of Mandaluyong respectively. The Organizing Chairman is Past Assistant Governor Mike Tung from Rotary Club of Pudu. An international award-winning guest speaker, Ms. Andrea Zsapka from Budapest, Hungary, gave a creative leadership talk during the opening ceremony. Ms. Andrea is a Professional Master Life…
On July 19, we conducted an Intercity Meeting (virtual) with Rotary Club of Pudu, our sister club. Arranged by Past President Dora and Past President Alex of Rotary Club of Pudu, both Clubs joined the Zoom meeting at 8pm. Also in attendance were Pudu’s two satellite clubs and two guest-Rotarians from Pakistan. President Elect Jitco Chin of Pudu acted as Sergeant-at-Arms and called the meeting to order. Past President Dora acted as Sergeant-at-Arms on behalf of our Club. Immediate Past Presidents TK Chee and Mark both shared their annual reports and key service projects. Then, Presidents Elaine Tan and Sam made presentations about their new Boards, and the Club Goals and Projects in RY2021-22. A Q&A session followed, then the meeting concluded with a fellowship session. We learned that Pudu currently has 75 members and aims to increase its size to 100+ members. Pudu’s 55th Anniversary is coming in December and we look forward to connecting again!
President Mark Tong, Past President Webster Ng and Rotarian Jason Ling traveled to Taipei on September 28 to participate in Rotary Run 2019 the following day, organized by Rotary Club of Taipei Mingmen, our Sister Club. The competition course, located in the hilly part of Ruifang District in New Taipei City, was specially designed by PP Kent Yen of RC of Taipei Mingmen, a seasoned runner who is never shy of pushing the boundaries. As such, the course meandered across the hillside of Ruifang, and included a steep altitude climb of nearly 500 meters followed by a rapid descent, all within a 4km segment of the course. PP Webster, who attempted that treacherous segment, confessed that it was one of the most insane and challenging runs he has ever experienced, certainly not helped by intermittent torrential rain throughout the morning. That said, all three agreed that it was one of the most unique and beautiful scenic runs ever attempted. For the occasion, the three of us, together with additional contributions from Past President CK Wong, raised 40,000 TWD for our Sister Club to distribute to various charities, including a food bank and a local secondary school.
President Mark Tong, together with Past Presidents Dora Liu, Webster Ng and Patric Lee of Rotary E Club of Lantau, and Joey, visited our Sister Club in Kuala Lumpur over the weekend of July 12-14. President Mark could not stay for one more than one night as he had to return to Hong Kong on July 13 to attend District Installation, but the rest stayed behind to attend our Sister Club’s 53rd Installation. Naturally, they were feasted with fabulous food and warm hospitality from our dearest Rotarians from Pudu. President Mark did manage to join Pudu’s fellowship evening, during which the Sister Club Agreement between the two Clubs was renewed. Harbour Rotarians also managed to watch a presentation by Past District Governor Paul Lee, who is readying a Global Grant application to build water access for indigenous people in the rural forests of Malaysia.