Thanks to Past President Webster, we enjoyed a sumptuous dinner at Chez Moi in Causeway Bay. It was our Club’s first fellowship dinner in this Rotary Year. On occasion, we celebrated the August birthday boys and girls.
President Eliza and Past President Webster (Membership Director) attended the District Membership Seminar, which was a very informative and inspiring one. The Seminar focuses on the “Six Rockets” to grow our membership: Readmission Rotarians, Rotaract Club, Corporate members, Chambers of Commerce and Toastmasters, Satellite Clubs and Rotary Alumni.
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!
Suicide Prevention Services (SPS) applied for funds under the HK Jockey Club Charities Trust’s COVID-19 Emergency Fund. Initiated by SPS, this project (抗疫見喜樂) was hosted in conjunction with Holy Cafe’s hot meal box service and supported by volunteers, family/friends of Rotary Club of Hong Kong Harbour. Putting together 360 care packages (福袋) was the first step on Day 1 (June 1). The volunteers accomplished the task in just about one-hour at LINKS Cafe, SPS’s outlet in Kwai Hing. On Day 2 (June 2) 11am, volunteers moved all the bags by 5-ton truck to Holy Cafe. By 3pm, we started to distribute meal boxes and the gift bags, finishing at about 6pm. Some volunteers were inside the shop putting together the meal boxes and distributing them and the gift bags. Some were outside doing a mental wellness survey of the elderly and maintaining order. Volunteers from our club included: President Sam (+ sister Yvette, sister-in-law Emily, nephew Derek, niece Nicole), Past President Lily (+ sister Alice, nephew Sherlock, friends Bary & Antony), Past President Webster (+ son Shum Yeh), Past President Eddie & Rita (+ Rita’s sister Connie & Shun), Immediate Past President Mark, Past President Grace, President Elect Eliza and…
Past Presidents Webster and Lily, and President Elect Eliza joined the opening ceremony of Holy Cafe’s new shop on behalf of our Club. Past President Webster’s son, Shum Yeh, also joined. Special guest of the ceremony was Financial Secretary of Hong Kong SAR Paul Chan.
This was the first of two such service days in Phase 1 of the street cleaner project with Caritas. We gave out 120 care packages to street cleaners in Ngau Tau Kok. Inside the bags were disinfectant liquid, KF94 masks, pain relief ointment, rapid antigen tests, facial tissue, water resistant plasters and a bag of rice. The next service day is on May 27 in Tsuen Wan. Phase 2 of the project will be health days for street cleaners in Ngau Tau Kok and Tsuen Wan, providing them with a basic health assessment and follow up by Caritas social workers. It is anticipated that Phase 2 takes place in July 2022.
On March 26, our Club met on Zoom to celebrate our Club’s 35th Anniversary. District Governor Keith Chow, Immediate Past District Governor Eric Chak, District Governor Elect Norman Lee, District Governor Nominee Andy Li, District Governor Nominee Designate Nigel Lo, Chief District Secretary Ron Chan from the District joined our Zoom celebration. Past Club members including Douglas Hsia, Yoshie Takenaka, Kennedy Tang, Veronica DeKrey, Eddie Wong, CK Chan, Charles Lam, Patric Lee and Theresa Chan also joined. Organizing Committee Chair and President Elect Eliza, President Sam, District Governor Keith, Charter President Patrick and Past District Governor Belinda gave us opening remarks to kick off this special celebration. We also played snippets of video congratulations messages from Rotary International President Shekhar Mehta, Past Rotary International President Gary Huang, future District leaders, as well as Presidents of our sister Clubs. President Elect Eliza announced winners of the 35th anniversary photo competition. Past Presidents Ricky and Webster led us through a wonderful edition of Hong Kong Harbour ABC quiz. We particularly thank Organizing Committee Chair President Elect Eliza and the rest of the Organizing Committee for planning the original physical celebration and then this Zoom celebration.
On March 25, President Sam, Charter President Patrick, Past President Webster and President Elect Eliza met with College Master Thomas, Associate Master Victor and Student Affairs Officer Denny. Our Club gave background information on chartering Rotaract Clubs and alerted Hang Seng about the new rules of “Elevate Rotaract” due to take effect on July 1, 2022. We also introduced the concept of Rotary Community Corps.
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.