Rotary Centennial
Institute for Wetland Conservation
Centennial Community
Project
Rotary International District
3450 Area 5
Rotary Club of Hong Kong Island West
Rotary Club of Hong Kong Northwest
Rotary Club of The Peak
Rotary Club of City Northwest Hong Kong
Rotary Club of Mid-Level
Rotary Centennial Project - Summary Report
23 February 2005
(Report in PDF, 1.05 MB)
Project
Title Rotary
Centennial Institute for Wetland Conservation
District No. & Area No. District 3450 Area 5
Rotary Club
Names Rotary Club of Hong Kong Island West,
Rotary Club of Hong Kong Northwest,
Rotary
Club of The Peak,
Rotary
Club of City Northwest Hong Kong,
Rotary
Club of Mid-Level.
Country Hong
Kong SAR
Start date 1
April 2003
End date 31
January 2005
Project
Objectives
To renovate the Peter Scott Field Studies Centre, a wetland conservation and education centre owned and managed by the World Wide Fund For Nature Hong Kong and located in the Mai Po Nature Reserve, Hong Kong SAR.
To establish the
“Rotary Centennial Institute for Wetland Conservation (District 3450
Area 5)” in celebration of the centennial of Rotary International. The main
function of the Institute is to organize a variety of educational programs on
wetland conservation for the public in Hong Kong. The 5 Rotary clubs in
District 3450 Area 5 also plan to continue supporting the Institute on a
long-term basis.
How did your club determine the need for this project?
Three of the 5 clubs that were involved in this project have worked with WWF Hong Kong in the wetlands in Mai Po Nature Reserve for some years, helping WWF Hong Kong in building various facilities. After one of the clubs completed the renovation of the Visitor’s Centre at the Mai Po Nature Reserve in December 2002, WWF Hong Kong asked if we could further help to renovate the Peter Scott Field Studies Centre. The 5 clubs discussed and agreed that this could serve as a Rotary Centennial Project.
To make the project more meaningful, the clubs suggested and the WWF Hong Kong agreed that the school that provides the wetland education and public awareness programs would be renamed the Rotary Centennial Institute for Wetland Conservation.
From our past experience, we were confident that the proposed work would be completed on time, within budget, and to our partner, WWF Hong Kong’s satisfaction.
As this was a joint project by the 5 clubs of District 3450 Area 5, it was important that all members of the 5 clubs should contribute in terms of both finance and professional efforts. A working committee was set up to handle the financing and the assignment of work among the 5 clubs – in engineering, surveying, construction, project management, fundraising, website and publicity, project logo and souvenir design, secretariat and financial administration. The spirit of co-operation was strong all along. We are extremely pleased that the project has helped to cement the ties among the 5 clubs.
Project Description (Implementation, Partnership, Fundraising, Publicity)
The Peter Scott Field Studies Centre was built in 1990 at the edge of the Mai Po Nature Reserve. It was built on shallow footing foundation directly on top of soft marine clays. Over the years settlements were recorded on the ground floor slabs and severe cracks were found on some of the partition walls. The timber roof was damaged due to termite attacks. The waterproofing did not give proper protection to the building, leading to water damage to the interior decorations. The plumbing and drainage system was not working properly and had to be replaced. Many rooms needed to be refurbished. The library and teaching areas had to be upgraded to meet the Institute’s training and educational requirements. Finally the whole building required a new coat of paint to brighten it up.
The first stage of our work was for Rotarians who are design and construction professionals to study the requirements of the renovation work. A geotechnical engineer studied the ground conditions and the foundation system. He prepared a design to strengthen the foundation. A Registered Structural Engineer studied the structural plans and made recommendations for the reconstruction of the cracked walls and the damaged roof. Other professionals looked at the plumbing, the drains and the waterproofing system and prepared a report for their upgrading. A report of the required renovation work was compiled for discussion. When the exact scope of work was agreed, a quantity surveyor then prepared a project estimate for the proposed work. In a subsequent meeting, the 5 clubs accepted the estimate and agreed to the amount to be contributed to the project. A committee was set up for the project. The committee consisted of the Presidents, the Presidents-elect and the Directors of Community Service of each club. A Chairman, a Secretary and a Treasurer were appointed to look after the project and its finances.
In the second stage we prepared reports and plans and submitted them to the Building Department in Hong Kong for approval. This was carried out by a Rotarian, who is an Authorized Person and Registered Structural Engineer. Based on the plans and the scope of works, the Quantity Surveyor prepared the tender documents. Tenders were then invited from approved contractors.
The third stage consisted of the award of the contract to the successful bidder, the commencement, the supervision and the completion of works. With the signing of a memorandum of understanding on 2 February 2004 between the 5 Rotary Clubs and WWF Hong Kong on the establishment of the Rotary Centennial Institute for Wetland Conservation (District 3450 Area 5), the project works commenced in March 2004. The Black-faced Spoonbill, a migratory bird which finds its winter home at Mai Po, was chosen as our project logo. Souvenir lapel pins, baseball caps and T-shirts with the project logo were also designed and sold for fundraising and publicity. Major funding for the project was raised at an Area 5 Rotary Joint Ball on October 18, 2003, an Area 5 Rotary Joint Golf Tournament on 7 November 2003, an Area 5 Centennial Bell Visit Luncheon on 13 May 2004, and an Area 5 Rotary Charity Ballet Performance (partnering with a local ballet school) on 14-15 August 2004. We have also raised additional project funds through the District 3450 Installation, miscellaneous dinner and red box contributions, Xmas party games, and Rotary souvenir sales. All along, the project publicity was done through press releases, souvenirs, a project website, and exhibition displays at fundraising functions and Rotary District and the Rotary Osaka Convention.
While the renovation project management tasks were carried out by Rotarians who
are building professionals, some of the work, such as tree planting and the
painting of the rooms were contributed by other Rotarians, their family
members, Rotaractors, and Interactors. The Rotary Centennial Institute for
Wetland Conservation (District 3450 Area 5) was incorporated on 3 December
2004. The renovation work came to its close with further interior decoration
and completion of repair work at the Peter Scott Field Studies Centre in
January 2005.
The fourth and final stage was to
accept the completed project from the contractor and hand over the site to WWF
Hong Kong. A permanent signage was
installed prominently at the Visitor’s Centre at the Mai Po Nature Reserve to
identify the Rotary Centennial Institute for Wetland Conservation as a joint
project of the 5 Rotary clubs. On
23 February 2005, the 100th birthday of Rotary International, the Institute was
formally inaugurated. The inauguration ceremony was officiated by guest of
honor Professor the Hon Arthur Li Kwok-cheung, G.B.S., J.P., Secretary for
Education and Manpower, HKSAR, District 3450 Governor Alexander Mak and WWF
Hong Kong CEO Eric Bohm, and was well attended by members of the 5 Rotary
Clubs, WWF Hong Kong, Rotary officials from District 3450, and reporters from
the press and TV stations. Immediately following the ceremony, DG Alex Mak,
Professor the Hon Arthur Li and the Club Presidents of Area 5 also led a
birthday cake-cutting ceremony to celebrate Rotary International's 100th
birthday.
Press Release, Rotary Centennial Institute Inauguration, 23 February
2005 (PDF, 278 KB)
News
Clippings, 24 February 2005 (PDF, 455 KB)
Who benefited, either directly
or indirectly, from this project?
WWF Hong Kong will be the direct beneficiary from the project. Indirectly, many people will also benefit from the project. The Institute has trained many wetland administrators from Mainland China and other countries over the years. When these administrators returned to their jobs, they have helped to promote and administer other wetland sites. Previously, many wetlands in China had been converted into agricultural land or industrial sites for the sake of economic development. This trend has now been reverted at many lakes, rivers and coastal sites in China. This trend is very important in terms of environmental protection and sustainable development. Wetlands also help to prevent flooding along the rivers and offers protection to coastal areas during typhoons. If we look from such a perspective, then the number of people who benefit from the project is enormous. A suggestion came from the 5 clubs that the Institute should work together with local universities to provide post-experience wetland management courses to local professionals so as to spread the wetland management message to a wider spectrum of people in Hong Kong. This suggestion has been accepted by WWF Hong Kong.
Apart from educating the adults,
the Institute will also provide courses and study tours within the Reserve to
local school children and other interested groups. The influence will be felt locally and internationally. The
first educational project sponsored by the Institute will be the publication of
a well-illustrated guidebook on the Mai Po Nature Reserve in March 2005.
Why was the project successful?
The project was successful because this was not the first time the Rotary Clubs in Hong Kong partnering with WWF Hong Kong. WWF Hong Kong has been extremely generous in this project to allow us to rename the wetlands educational programs as the Rotary Centennial Institute for Wetland Conservation to celebrate the 100th birthday of Rotary International. Within the 5 Rotary clubs in Area 5, we have ample design and building professionals to participate in the project. Well before the commencement of the project works, the 5 clubs had contributed enough financial resources to help make the project a success. Finally, the 5 clubs are ‘genetically’ related, the Rotary Club of Hong Kong Island West being the grandmother or mother of the other 4 clubs. We are all grouped under Area 5 in Hong Kong, with the IPDG being a PP of one of the 5 clubs. There have been past experience of good co-operation among the 5 clubs in joint club projects. We have also been able to solicit external partners and resources for fundraising and professional support as needed.
Project Websites
Official website: http://www.rotary3450.org/area5
Additional info on project events: http://www.rotary3450.org/cnwhk/archive_special/centennial/centennial.htm
URL for this report:
http://www.rotary3450.org/cnwhk/archive_special/centennial/Rotary_Centennial_Project_Summary_050223.htm
Project Contact
Ms Irene Leung, Executive Secretary
GPO Box 11292
Hong Kong
Email: ileungsy@netvigator.com
Tel +852 2545 0001
Fax +852 2541 1360
Project
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