Letters to the Editor

Please send your comments to Managing Editor PDG Y K Cheng c/o Rotary Information Centre
14/F Capitol Commercial Building, 26 Leighton Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong.
Phone:    (852) 2576 4343
Fax:         (852) 2895 0237
E-mail:    ykchkcpl@netvigator.com

Contents

1. District to raise funds to plant trees in China
2. Governor’s Monthly Letter – By DG John Wan
3. October Governor’s Monthly Letter in Chinese - Coming Soon
4. Polio Eradication Private Sector Campaign – By PP Joseph Tan
5. Continuity Column – By DGE Johnson Chu
6. Rights and Wrongs – By PP Joseph Tan
7. Zen Moments
8. Attendance Report – August 2000

District to raise funds to plant trees in China

PP Ronald Lu has organized a Charity Golf Day for Friday, 17 November 2000, at Mission Hills to raise funds towards a project—Protect Our Mother Rivers—to plant trees along the banks of River Yangtze and Yellow River in China

Past President Ronald Lu (Hong Kong South) and his golfing friends have put together a project that would blend together golf, environmental protection, awareness of our Chinese heritage and fellowship and at the same time raise fun and funds.

Ronald Lu was responding to a call by District leaders to raise funds of up to HK$500,000 to finance tree-planting activities along the banks of Yangtze River and Yellow River. These two are the most important rivers in China. Both featured prominently in the cultural, social, economic, anthropological and historical development of China and are fondly referred to in China as Mother Rivers.

Uncontrolled economic development along the banks of the two rivers has caused severe environmental problems. In recent years, particularly in 1998, there was massive flooding along the rivers resulting in more than 3,600 deaths, 14 million homeless and 240 million affected. In addition, 5 million houses were destroyed, 12 million more damaged and 25 million hectares of farmland flooded, causing estimated damages of over US$20 billion.

The authorities in China have begun massive tree planting programs along the banks on the other. A number of agencies have been tasked for mobilizing workers and volunteers for these programs and for seeking the necessary finance to support the activities involved. The All China Youth Federation is one of the more prominent agencies. The District leadership visited Beijing in May 2000. During a meeting with the Chairman of the All China Youth Federation, we were invited to consider taking up a role in the project to protect the Mother Rivers. The scheme entails cash contribution from the District through individuals, clubs or the District for purchasing seedlings at $5 each. In return, we can name the areas where the trees are planted with our contribution as the RI District 3450 Forest. In addition, individual clubs and Rotarians will have naming rights for selected areas within the Rotary Forest provided their contributions exceed $20,000. A date will be set for a delegation of Rotarians, Rotaractors and Interactors to visit the site in a high-profile and visible public event designed to create awareness on environmental issues on the one hand and to enhance Rotary’s public image and our desire to partner with other organizations in service projects on the other.

The Presidents decided at their Joint Presidents’ Meeting in September that this would be the principal District Project for fund raising purpose. Past President Stanley Mok (Hongkong Sunrise) is Project Convenor.

The Charity Golf Day will take place on 17 November 2000 at Mission Hills. Chairman Ronald Lu and his Fund Raising Committee has devised ingenious ways to raise funds. They are seeking corporate sponsorship as well as individual donations and are optimistic that they can raise up to $150,000. Governor John Wan has agreed to officiate the Charity.

Governor’s Monthly Letter

Redouble membership development efforts;

Work on Rotary PR; Partner with other NGOs;

Support the Rotary Foundation

My Dear Action Presidents, Club Secretaries and Rotary Leaders,

In the three months ending 30 September 2000, we have taken on 99 new members, including the intake of 35 members from the Rotary Club of Ulaanbaatar and those inducted at District Installation, but we have also lost 85. The membership count on that date is 1,706 and a rather far cry to the membership target of 2,001 we set for ourselves to achieve by mid May 2001.

I would like to thank the clubs and the members in particular that have brought in new members so far. Past Governor Moses Cheng has been visiting clubs talking about the District Membership Challenge - the by now well known Challenge 2001 - and we have designed rather attractive recognition pins for the proposers and new members. They should be ready for distribution soon.

The fact remains that we need to work much hard at membership recruitment, retention and retrieval. While the figures indicate that the District achieved a net increase of 14 members in the first quarter, the shrew readers would notice that we would actually have lost 21 members if we had not had the addition of 35 members from Mongolia. To add to the gravity of the situation, I have unconfirmed reports that we might not have 35 members from Mongolia, certainly not now. This means we are losing members as a District. The situation is serious. We need to address the problem urgently and the clock is ticking.

Consistent and continuing membership growth is one of the four criteria for an effective club. It follows that a district that cannot report membership increases for a few years can hardly be regarded as an effective district. I am calling for an urgent meeting with Membership Task Force Chairman Moses Cheng and the District leadership to address the problem and I am looking for effective solutions. Please tell us what the problems are and what you think we can do to increase our membership.

As we move out of October, I hope you have commemorated Rotary’s Vocational Service Month in a meaningful way. At district level, Past Governor Arthur Au organized a District Vocational Service Seminar during a regular meeting of the Rotary Club of Peninsula. Over 100 Rotarians attended. In Macau, President Cinderella Ngao of the Rotary Club of Guia partnered with a number of government and non-governmental organizations and launched a series of activities in a New Millennium Seminar and Exhibition at the Macau Tourist Activities Centre, featuring life long education, environmental protection, time management and free training on the use of the Internet. I am particularly happy that the events received a good run from the local media, both the printed and the electronic. President Cinderella has certainly created awareness of Rotary’s concern for Vocational Service and has taken action by partnering with other organizations and in the process enhanced Rotary’s public relations and image.  These are certainly in line with what President Frank J Devlyn has been urging clubs and Rotarians to do. If you are still thinking about what to do, I suggest you answer to President Frank’s call to provide job opportunities for the disadvantaged and the disabled. It is not necessary to start or complete your projects in the month of October. As I have said before and I am saying again, there is no beginning or end for anyone who wants to do a good turn to others. Anytime is as good. The important thing is to take action and do it.

Now is the time to plan for activities in November to mark The Rotary Foundation Month if you have yet to do so. I urge you to create awareness in your club of the Foundation and the need to contribute to it. I urge you to encourage club members to get accustomed to contributing to the Foundation on a continuing and regular basis. Once again, I am not asking every Rotarian to contribute US$1,000 each year, although that would be very much welcome. I am thinking of a tenth of the amount, but making it a habit. Yes, doing good can be habit forming. I can think of no better and more worthwhile or noble habit than doing good I general and contributing to The Rotary Foundation in particular. If you need help or ideas for giving, please feel free to call any committee member on my District Rotary Foundation Committee or you can call me. We are here to help.

Still on The Rotary Foundation, I would like to share with you - if you have not already heard - the good news announced by the Trustees of The Rotary Foundation recently. Past Governor Y K Cheng and Managing Editor of this very District Bulletin is among the 171 Rotarians awarded the Citation for Meritorious Service for 1999-2000 in recognition of his significant service to the Foundation. As we congratulate Y K for his achievement and the thoroughly merited award, let us pause for a while to think of the service rendered to the needy by these worthy Rotarians through the Foundation. Don’t be left out. Support the Foundation.

I cannot leave without asking you one more time to support the Rotary Zone Institute to be held in Hong Kong from 10 to 12 November. Many Rotarians in the District are working very hard to host the event and to ensure that our visitors would receive the welcome they deserve. I urge you to be part of it, to play host and to make a difference. Talk to you soon.

Your Governor John Wan

Polio Eradication Private Sector Campaign

By Past President Joseph Tan

Past Governor Anthony Hung (Tai Po) was appointed City Chairman for the Rotary Polio Eradication Private Sector Campaign and I had the privilege of attending the workshop at Evanston. As soon as I entered One Rotary Centre, all the grandeur that Rotary means to me was in ample evidence. The palpable spirit of “Service Above Self” emanates throughout this edifice. A feeling of camaraderie and happy faces eager to assist one and all permeates the habitue of our head office. I was actually quite intoxicated by all this goodwill. But let me relate to you what I learned at the workshop.

BACKGROUND - Rotary and UNICEF have during the past decade spent over US$1.5 Billion trying to eradicate Polio from the face of this world.  Our success in the last decade include -

·         350,000 Polio cases in 1988, down to 7,086 last year – at least 3 million more people in this world, who would have been paralyzed, are now walking because they have been immunized against Polio.

·         Eradicated Polio from most part of the world to only small pockets in parts of Africa and India.

·         We have achieved peace dividends – when warring factions who have been killing each other for decades, would actually lay down their arms to allow us the chance to immunize their own children during National Immunization Days.

·         We had and continue to have access to ALL the children in the world.

·         Built a Global Polio Laboratory network of more than 140 laboratories to do surveillance and immediately test for Polio any cases of Acute Flaccid Paralysis – which may or may not be a case of Polio.

·         Built a complete Cold Chain & Vehicles infrastructure, trained personnel and designed the social mobilization necessary to deliver Polio vaccines to all the far reaches of the world. It is expected that this capacity to deliver medicine and/or other vaccines will be used in the future if and when the need arises, and in fact Vitamin A is now routinely given to children the same time that they receive their Polio vaccination.

THE NEED NOW – All our past successes will come to naught if we now let down our guard to eradicate Polio from the world. Just so long as there remains even only one case of Polio in this world, the threat that it will return and conflagrate to its past destructive pattern of destroying the lives of our children remains.  Rotary have contributed over US$378 million for global Polio eradication and indeed a total of over US$1.5 billion have already been spent on this effort to date. But a further US$1 billion is required now to complete the work.  Of this total, US$550 million have already been pledged by various organizations and individuals, notable amongst which includes the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (Microsoft) – US$50 million, The United Nations Foundation (Mr. Ted Turner of CNN is its Chairman) – US$28 million, De Beer’s Corporation – US$2.7 million.  This leaves us with the task of having to raise a further US$450 million which Rotary have decided would be best done by appealing to large donors (over US$1 million each) in the private sector.  Whilst our past efforts to mobilize individual Rotary clubs and Rotarians had been successful, RI recognizes that using the same tactics this time around will not be able to satisfy the time constraints imposed by the nature of how Polio spreads.  It is imperative that we continually and repeatedly immunize ALL the children of this world until we see no more new cases of Polio infection. This involves either the routine immunization of infants starting with four doses of oral polio vaccine in the first year of life or else two rounds of vaccinations per year for at least three consecutive years for all children under five. The UNHCR has estimated that for every year that we delay in the total eradication of Polio, a further US$100 million would be required to complete the work.  Worse, if there are any disruptions in the schedule of Polio immunization that they now adhere to, we risk its return to prevalence and we will need to start all over again from Day One.

THE PLAN – Rotary has identified initially 1562 prospects globally as potential donors. The plan is to target these prospects.  Theirs will be a historical contribution in the total and final eradication of this deadly and crippling disease. Polio eradication will not only mean an annual US$1.5 billion savings worldwide for the treatment and fight against Polio, but it will also, once and for all, remove the threat that any of our children will ever suffer the debilitating effects of this killer virus. Rotary and the UNHCR has basically given us Carte Blanche in the way donors may want to structure their donations and will work for AND with them to ensure that they will get their money’s worth.  Further, these donors are to receive special recognition and award at a formal ceremony to be conducted by a world famous luminary. City Chairman PDG Anthony Hung has not made the final decision as to who he would want to invite to conduct these proceedings, but we have been given assurances that such a luminary would be in the calibre of Mr. Bill Gates, Mr. Ted Turner or even Mr. Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations.

WHAT YOU CAN DO – Greatness is not only measured by the success one has in life but indeed by how one is willing to share such success with others.  All you Rotarians are great people in my books, and all I ask of you is to start by reviewing your memory bank for friendship, acquaintances and contacts you may have with people who would be willing to entertain the prospects of donating to our cause.  Rotary has provided us with 48 names that we should approach – but you and I know that there are many more names that should be added to this list of notables in Hong Kong, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines and even Vietnam, Burma etc.  Please feel free to contact me at 9199-4000 anytime should you have any leads. Many Thanks.

Continuity Column

By DGE Johnson Chu

This is the fourth article in a series from District Governor-elect Johnson Chu. In this article, Johnson gave an account of his activities over the past few weeks in the District, beginning with his involvement in the Balloting Committee for the Nominating Committee for his successor, DGN 2002-03; his trip to the Ma On Shan Swimming Pool to present awards at the District Swimming Gala; and how he narrowly won the award of Top Bowler at District Bowling Day. He also thanked Rotarians for attending the District Vocational Service Seminar organized by his club, the Rotary Club of Peninsula —Ed.

Dear Fellow Rotarians,

On l3th October 2000, a Balloting Committee met to count votes from the Ballot-by-Mail in respect of the election of members to serve on the Nominating Committee for District Governor 2002-2003. The meeting was held at the Rotary Information Centre. The committee members were PDG Y. K. Cheng (Chairman), DS Tenny Leung and PP Wendy Wong (Secretary). DG John Wan, PDG Anthony Hung (legal advisor) and myself attended as ex-officio members.

Everything went very smooth. Nine candidates and eight alternates were elected. There were only eight because all the votes cast in the Macau Area went to one single candidate. Governor John would notify club presidents in each area of the results. These nine candidates, to whom I extend my congratulations for being returned in the election, together with the nine most recent Past District Governors who are still residing within the district, will form the Nominating Committee for District Governor 2002-2003. It is the responsibility of each of the nine elected committee members to arrange for his alternate to vote at the Nominating Committee meeting scheduled for Friday, 1^st December 2000 should he be unable to attend the meeting.

The District swimming gala was held on 24^th September 2000 at the Ma On Shan Swimming Pool from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. I was invited to present prizes. I went in my car together with my son. As I did not know the exact location of the swimming pool, I turned at the wrong junction. I then called DG John Wan with my mobile phone, who told me he was already back home after attending the opening ceremony, but that he unable to tell me the way to the swimming pool. I then called DS Kenneth Chow, who was also at home. He instructed me on the phone the direction and where I should turn. I finally located the place. A big thank you to DS Kenneth. In fact my son and I realized that we did drive our car on that one-way road a year ago, without knowing that the swimming pool on the left-hand side would be hired for the district swimming gala.

Upon arrival at the venue, I met many Rotarians, rotaryannes and their children. All events were actively participated; competition was keen and serious. Some participants hanged a number of medals proudly around the neck. A Rotaryannne from the Rotary Club of Tai Po was the Ladies’ overall champion, while the Men’s overall championship went to PP Kinsen Fok of the Rotary Club of Kwai Chung.

The function was absolutely successful. One reason was that the two host clubs, Rotary Club of Kowloon Northeast and the Rotary Club of Tai Po have worked very hard to organize the function. A second more important reason was that a lot of events were arranged for the children. Sunday is usually a family day. Parents prefer to have a day of fun with their children. If a district function is held on a Sunday with games or events for children, it is for sure the function will be well participated and end with success.

The District bowling tournament was held on Sunday, 15^th October 2000. The District booked the entire Mei Foo Bowling Center and many clubs participated actively. Each team comprised four people and played three games. The first game was a fluorescent game with a trophy for men’s high game and a trophy for ladies’ high game. The lady champion was a Rotarian from the Rotary Club of Hong Kong Harbour. However, there were two male Rotarians with the same score, namely President Vincent Tsui of the Rotary Club of Admiralty and myself.

Vincent and myself compromised to be co-champions, but the organizing committee chairman President Alcuin did not agree because there was only one trophy. Although we agreed to receive the other trophy at a later date, President Alcuin refused to award two winners, arguing that he had no budget to purchase another trophy. We then suggested that we paid for it, but he still insisted that there should be a play-off in the form of sudden death, which meant we would have only one chance to bowl.

The format was cruel because each player would bowl under over two hundred staring eyes. A toss of coin resulted in lane assignment of each player. The toss was in favour of President Vincent, while I had the privilege to bowl first. My ball went into the one two position without hitting the head pin. My pinfull was 7. I sat down. It was then Vincent’s turn. His ball had a greater speed than mine, but pinfall was 6 only. So I became the lucky champion for men’s high game.

The District Vocational Service Seminar was held at the regular lunch meeting of the Rotary Club of Peninsula on Tuesday, 17^th October 2000. It was well participated with over 100 Rotarians. Many thanks to those Rotarians visiting our club and supporting the District function.

Does Being Right Mean Nothing

By PP Joseph Tan

Joseph Tan is a Past President of the Rotary Club of Hong Kong Northeast. He was in Rotary World Headquarters in Evanston recently with PDG Anthony Hung finding out the plans of our Rotary leaders for raising the very much needed funds to eradicate the Polio virus once and for all. Please see his report on Page 4. Joseph sent a second article with his report. We had to rearrange our articles in this Issue so that we can print his in its full and unexpurgated version. In this article, this experienced Rotarian discusses the rights and wrongs in life and how they relate to Rotary. You may or may not agree with him, but Joseph suggests you read it a second time if you are in doubt. The careful readers may find that Joseph has his heart in the right place. But neither this District nor the Editorial Board of this Bulletin claims responsibility for the contents of his article.-Ed.

I blasted my driver after he wrecked my car…He told me that he was in the right…and I told him that being right is not what’s important…that if he had been driving defensively, he would not have gotten into an accident….and that being right means nothing as now I’ve got no car for a few weeks…and that him, being right, means everybody loses.

On my way back from Evanston, I started thinking about why our club seems to have of late been more and more embroiled in controversies, arguments, frustrations etc.  It took me a good part of the 15 hour flight PLUS 5 vodkas, before…EUREKA…I believe I’ve come up with the answer.  The main problem is ME – and with due apologies - you and you and you…and…! 

In business, being right means BIG BUCKS.  In religion, it means you’ll go to Heaven. In regular life, it means you’ll be able to impress the gals and sweep them off their feet.  In Rotary – all it means is ….. NOTHING!!  Let me explain.

How many times have I said to myself (and you probably have also asked the same question)  – how come some of my fellow members got mad at me when all I did was doing right/with a clear conscience/truly altruistic?  WELLLLLL….the answer is that - the spirit is there, but what about its execution?  You see, as we become more and more experienced as a Rotarian, most things Rotary we know dead cold.  The rules, how we do certain tasks, what is the tradition, what is right etc…..that when somebody does wrong, we are quick and ready to point out the mistake.  Well, the problem is that what you may think is wrong, the other guy thinks its right.

Rule #1 I’ve made up for myself – give advise/assistance in the same spirit as you would want such to be received…and of course vice-versa!

A history of 17 years, and like I said, all of us know - and can do - practically all Rotary tasks blind-folded - something like painting by numbers.  AAAHH, YES, you get a perfect picture painting by numbers, but can you turn out a Mona Lisa?? I am fond of recalling the incident of when we were doing the classic car project in 1984.   When we went to Victoria Park, we found at the last minute that we had to physically build the kiosks and had to push tons of bleachers together by hand to form the perimeter.  All of us just shook our heads, rolled up our sleeves and then proceeded to work at it till 3 in the morning. Somehow, as if by miracle, we had turned a disaster into a big success - We had painted a Mona Lisa  (The painting Mona Lisa has a few technical flaws in it, but it is recognized as a true masterpiece). Can you imagine such a thing happening in our club these days?  Of course not… nowadays, our club would never make such a giant mistake (Thank God!).  But if it did happen, I can see that there would be immediate recriminations, fixing of blame, screaming, arguments as to whose fault it is etc…. and of course nobody would get down and just do the work at hand. OK, you say - so what??!!  These days, there is no way that something like this could happen in our club….and that, I think and I hope is true.  You see, these days, before something like this could happen, just like when painting by numbers, somebody (especially somebody with a big mouth like me) would have already spotted the problem and warned/alerted somebody…which is good…and bad!  The guy about ready to screw things up thinks that he is doing right.  I, on the other hand, of course know better, and since my motives are altruistic/for the good of the club/I know I am right, that it is OK for me to open my big mouth.  IS IT??!!  Yes and No - Yes I must at least discuss the matter, but No, not when 1. Not a big deal, 2. Subject to interpretation, 3. Not a clear-cut matter and,  4. Certainly not with the attitudes that I…and quite a few others in our club.…..had in the past displayed.  Please look to yourself now and analyze if you had also been guilty of this ….Please!

In years past, I had always made it a point to tell an incoming board to, at all times put their faith, trust and support behind their President and work together for the common good of the club.  Well, now I know that this advise basically only touches upon the subject. Today I am telling you that it is not important to be right in Rotary.  What is important is that you have the spirit of sacrifice and tolerance for each other – right or wrong!!  You could be 101% correct but what is the use of that if you stand alone?!  None of us are in Rotary to make money, or to gain fame, or to find benefits for one self or…..??  We are all in Rotary to do Service Above Self.  And how bad is the feeling one gets when doing service above self, some idiot turns around and start finding fault with you or worse, blast you off?!

A recent incident (true story but no names) illustrates the point I want to make: Member “A” was given a task by Chairman “B.”  Member “C,” who had been doing this task for many years was not consulted. “A” went ahead and did the job with a few changes which  - only then –  prompted “B” to consult “C”. “C” in the Rotary spirit gave his advise etc and all was Ok.  But then “A” made a little mistake and WHAM!! “C” was immediately on the phone with me, all upset and unhappy.  In the past, “C” and I would probably have immediately blasted “A” for such an error – well, at least told him off a bit  - right?  Well, with my newly found wisdom, I asked “C” what…in the Rotary spirit… we should now do – emphasizing the Rotary Spirit!  Well of course “C” laughed… “He-He-He, I guess you do me a favor and tell him our concerns nicely for if I did it myself, it could easily be interpreted as being ‘sour grapes’ on my part for not being given the job this year.” The true spirit of Rotary and a True Rotarian at work!

I phoned “A” and of course – again with my new wisdom guiding me – found him to be ever so gracious, grateful for our advise, and doing something to immediately correct the situation.  When I relayed to “B” what happened, the first thing that “B” did was to become ever so defensive (he did not know that I found new wisdom yet I guess!!).  “B” went on and on about why he chose “A’, that “C” does not own the job, that its good to train up other members to do a job, that circumstances had dictated the changes “A” made, that “C” should not be so sensitive, that….. “YES, YES, you are 100% right” I was screaming – “but so what?!”  “You are so 100% correct but here is “C” who is not happy, who has found an error, who would have in the past made this error into a big deal and got everybody else to be aware of such an error….and you, by you being 100% correct, will just cause bad feelings, bad words… a mountain out of a molehill” -  which is precisely what it was, but which would have, in the past, taken on a life of its own! “B” thinks he’s right, so does “C” and until I pointed it out (nicely this time!) “A” also had thought he’s in the right….and SO WHAT?! Everybody is right and nobody is wrong – after all, everybody thinks he is doing his part with a clear conscience and with the welfare of the club as a whole in mind. 

WHAT CIGARETTES IS EVERYBODY SMOKING?  Is this realistic? Well, this is precisely the kind of things that has been happening in our club of late – everybody thinks he is himself right and doing right – how dare anybody challenge his good intentions?!

You see, if we were all not such experienced Rotarians, we would all make mistakes, nobody would be the wiser and when the mistake is discovered, well, everybody just chip in and try their own best to try solve the problem at hand together.  This is what happened in the past.  Well, 17 years has passed since we started the club, and since we all became so wise and experienced, these days we are always crossing swords with our own “ I Am Right!”

Rule #2 for myself – never mind what is correct – just know that whatever is being done, is done by a fellow Rotarian who’s got nothing to gain personally from doing it – for after all, his motto is also “Service Above Self.”  Never presume that anybody has a monopoly on being right, and always, always, give the benefit of the doubt!

Wow, the new gentler, kinder, softie Joe Tan!! Yeah, right….but just wait till I figure that somebody – anybody - is not doing Service Above Self – you’ll still see fireworks from me!!

Now, please do me a favor – can you please, please read this piece from the top again and try, try to understand what it is that I am trying to relay in this piece?  With apologies, I believe that I most probably have not done a good job of explaining my thoughts here as it is such an ambiguous concept. An ambiguous, fleeting and hard to explain concept which nonetheless I feel important to relay to all of you as I do believe that it is this particular malaise that has well and truly infected our club.  If you still do not understand what I am talking about after re-reading this piece again, then I can only suggest that you also consult Mr. Smirnoff.

Zen Moments

Don't worry, it only seems kinky the first time.

Good judgment comes from bad experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.

The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in your pocket.

Timing has an awful lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.

A closed mouth gathers no foot.

Duct tape is like the force. It has a light side & a dark side, and it holds the universe together.

There are two theories to arguing with women. Neither one works.

Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your mouth is moving.

Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.

Never miss a good chance to keep your mouth closed.

We are born naked, wet, and hungry. Then things get worse.

Don't be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the Ark, but professionals built the Titanic.

(This is Part 2 of a passage sent to the editor through the Internet from a well wisher.—Ed.)

Attendance Report – August 2000

Go to District Web site for the August Attendance Report

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