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
 
District to plant 100,000 trees in Chongqing
Governor's Monthly Letter - By DG John Wan
April Governor's Monthly Letter in Chinese
State of the District Address - by DG John Wan
Continuity Column - By DGE Johnson Chu
Food for thoughts
Attendance Report - February 2001

District to plant 100,000 trees in Chongqing

District 3450 have agreed with the All China Youth Federation to sponsor the planting of at least 100,000 trees over an area of 2,550 acres in Chongqing through a donation of Reminbi 500,000 to be paid in two installments.

Past President Stanley Mok (Hong Kong Sunrise) is putting the finishing touch to an agreement between RI District 3450 and the Chongqing Youth Federation that would pave the way for a delegation of Rotarians and Rotaractors to visit Chongqing from 29 April to 1 May.

The project was the brainchild of All China Youth Federation Chairman Bayin Chaolu who first brought up the matter in 1999 during a visit to Beijing by the District delegation led by Past Governor Anthony Hung when he was Governor. Chairman Bayin brought up the issue a second time in May 2000 with the District delegation led by Immediate Past Governor Dipo Sani. Governor John Wan was also present. Shortly after he assumed office, Governor John made contact with the All China Youth Federation which culminated in a meeting in January in Hong Kong with Chairman Bayin during which both men agreed the broad framework of the project. It was understood that there were more discussion on the matter during the visit of a delegation from All China Youth Federation Central Committee to the District Conference on 7 and 8 April.

Details of the visit programme are now in place. The delegation will leave Hong Kong early in the morning from Shenzhen on 29 April 2001 and fly to Chongqing direct, arriving there at 1255. The Inauguration Ceremony will take place on 30 April during which youths from Hong Kong and Chongqing will plant trees. Leadership of the Chongqing Government at City, Provincial and Party levels will attend the ceremony, in addition to youth leaders and representatives from the local and central Youth Federation. The delegation will visit meet Party and City officials and will participate in cultural and community programmes before returning to Shenzhen by an evening flight on 1 May.

Under the Agreement, District 3450 would contribute up to Reminbi 500,000 towards the tree planting project, The project would involves planting 2000 acres of bamboo trees and shoots and 550 acres of other fire and flood resistant species. Half of the project money would be paid upfront while the other half, at the end of November 2001 subject to satisfactory progress on site. For this purpose, both sides have agreed to adopt high and stringent works standards for all constructions and associated works.

Project Chairman Stanley Mok is also working on a recognition system that would name donors, by club or by the individuals that had donated towards the project. The entire area will be designated as a Rotary Forest or RI District 3450 Forest, but the vast areas involved mean that it will be possible to name sections after clubs or individuals. The authorities in Chongqing have also undertaken to build a memorial on site to mark the corporation between youths of both sides and be responsible for its subsequent maintenance.
Members who are interested should call Stanley Mok at 2838 8680.

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Governor's Monthly Letter - April 2001
By DG John Wan

We had a successful District Conference. Where do we go from here?

My Dear Action Presidents, Club Secretaries and Rotary Leaders,

President Cinderella (Guia) came all the way from Macau for the District Conference in advanced pregnancy. Some of her friends had advised against that, for the baby could be born any time, but when her doctor said that it would probably be another ten days after the Conference, she bravely took the journey to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. She was radiant with love and beauty at the Governor's Banquet. If only a quarter strong of the membership in the District were as high-spirited and supportive of the Conference as Cinderella, the Conference Organizing Committee would have been able to balance the books and would not have to resort to seeking an advance from the District Finance Committee to settle the bills.

We had a very successful District Conference. President Frank Devlyn's Personal Representative, Director-elect Toshio Itabashi was all praises about the Conference programmes, the video conference with President Frank in Manila, the Governor's Banquet, the reception he and Ritsuko had from the District and the seriousness of the participants at the Conference.

At the Closing Session, there were over 250 participants, an all time high figure for a conference closing session. It was indicative that the programmes had successfully sustained their interest. The Governor's Banquet more or less broke even, The deficit was due to the unexpected and unprecedented low registration coupled with the failure to negotiate a lower minimum charge for the two lunches set by the Convention and Exhibition Centre. Nevertheless, I have enjoyed the Conference to the full. I thank all the Rotarians and friends who had taken part to make it such a great success. In particular, I am glad that nearly all Action Presidents turned up at least for a while, apart from a handful. I am eternally grateful to the public spirited Action Presidents for their advice and their decision and action to raise funds to pay for the advance.

A district conference is probably the single most important event in every district. In Japan, for example, Rotarians pay for the expenses of attending the conference in advance, through the district per capita dues, so that the organizers can focus on the programs instead of on the finance. This is perhaps something we can learn from. We have been talking and promoting our Conference for some time. The dates and venue were fixed a year ahead and I discussed the programmes in my monthly letters and at Joint Presidents' Meetings.

A conference is as good as its programmes. It is not an occasion or a vehicle to make money, or an excuse for excesses. We had excellent programmes. First, it was a forward-looking conference. It was about the future, our youths. Our theme "Back to the Future" blends seamlessly with that for the Asian Presidential Conference held at the same time in Manila, "Youth and Service Opportunities." To encourage participation from Rotaractors and Interactors, we had decided from the start that they would all attend free. I think we had done the right thing, for the Conference was organized for them. Secondly, we had involved more than ever our partner organizations and non-Rotarians. They participated as speakers, resource persons, moderators and award-presenters. For example, we had a Youth Forum moderated and empanelled with predominantly non-Rotarians and we had speakers from Government, the academia and the All China Youth Federation. This is in line with President Frank Devlyn's emphases on partnering with other organizations. Thirdly, for the first time, we had a live video link up with President Frank Devlyn in Manila. Fourthly, we had organized the Governor's Banquet in an entirely new format, with the extravaganza and exuberance of an Oscar evening. Lastly, to encourage attendance of non-English speaking members, we provided simultaneous interpretation in all plenary sessions.

On the other hand, attendance at a conference can be a reflection of the state of the District. I therefore take full responsibilities for the lower than expected registration. Obviously, we had failed to meet the expectation of quite a few members or to persuade them to register for the full programme. There are lessons to be learnt in the process.

Having been your Governor for over nine months, I have developed views on how our organization could remain relevant in the community in the wake of globalization, the mandatory popularization of the Internet, the information revolution, the scramble for positioning in the new economy and the increasing prominence of the third sector. We need an organization that is proactive and capable of delivering solution-oriented services to the people who need our service. And we must deliver our services more quickly, effectively and relevantly. We should be a leader among volunteers. We need a fundamental review in the manner we have been taking decisions in the District, particularly decisions that will have a long term effect on the well being and development of Rotary in the District. I had assembled experienced and dedicated Rotarians on the Governor's Policy Committee (GPC) precisely for this, having regard to the irreversible global trend and demand for greater transparency and accountability. The GPC has been meeting monthly since March 2000 and could become an institution in the District.

Spurred by the low registration for the District Conference and the imminent failure to achieve the overall membership target, I have decided to reconstitute the GPC forthwith. I intend to assemble a smaller group that will meet between now and end of June 2001 and as frequently as necessary with specific terms of reference and tasked with making long term and strategic recommendations to the District leadership. This will be in line with President Frank's vision to ask us to go into the 21st Century with a mission to create awareness and to take action. It will be in line with the need to modernize our organization to insure its relevance to the community and to the future.

I thank all my members on the GPC for their untiring efforts and contributions. Suffice it to say that leadership in a voluntary organization is not about authority, but responsibility. Governors and Past Governors have no authority over Rotary clubs or Rotarians, they have additional responsibilities, in return for the additional opportunities to serve. I ran this past Director-elect Itabashi before he left. He approved without reservation or equivocation of any kind.

Talk to you soon.

Your Governor John Wan

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April GML in Chinese
[now available]

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Governor's State of the District Address
By DG John Wan

Traditionally, the District Governor gave a report on the District's main programmes and achievement at the District Conference after the Rotary International President's Personal Representative had spoken on "Rotary Today" which is an account of the latest development in the Rotary world.

At the 41st District Conference, RI President's Personal Representative Director-elect Toshio Itabashi spoke on "Rotary Today" at the Third Plenary Session on 7 April. Governor John Wan spoke afterwards. This is the full text of his speech-Ed.

Thank you, Past Governor Y K Cheng. Director-elect Toshio Itabashi, Past Governors, My Action Presidents and Action Team members, Governor-elect Johnson, Governor-nominee Gloria, Rotaractors, Interactors, Fellow Rotarians, Ladies and Gentlemen,

There are 85 more days, including today, remaining in this Rotary year. What have we achieved as a team, as a District and as Rotarians? How far are we from the goals we set for ourselves at the beginning of the year? Have we tried hard enough? Have we created awareness in our clubs, in our community and in our world? Could we have done better and more? These and many other questions are to be the subject of my presentation.

But let me first go back one year to when President Frank Devlyn announced the theme for this year. And it is important to note that he did not mean the theme to be just the theme of one year. He said this was to be our mission in the 21st Century. He did warn us though that our journey with him this year would surprise us, delight us, challenge us, and even exhaust us, but above all, would change us. President Frank talked of the many key interests he had listed, ranging from membership development, poverty, children's initiatives, population, city violence, rapid disaster relief, UN agencies, avoidable blindness, and so on. He urged us to create awareness of the problems facing our clubs, our communities and our world, and reminded us that awareness of a problem is the essential first step towards its solution.

In presenting his theme, President Frank also urged clubs and districts to change a programme or a policy that was not working. He said that there was nothing to be lost from trying new ideas or new methods of doing things. Above all, he asked us to be proactive, and not to be afraid of changes.

My fellow Rotarians, that was the background against which we started this year in District 3450. It actually started with a big bang: for from 1 July 2000, our district territory has been expanded to include the country of Mongolia. I saw it as my first task to create awareness in the clubs in Hong Kong and Macau that our brothers and sisters in Mongolia are now part of the family and should deserve more care and attention from us. I have so far visited Ulaanbaatar three times and experienced their spring, summer and winter. It is a beautiful country, but rather less developed economically. A trained medical doctor is paid only US$50 a month. There is tremendous scope for clubs in Hong Kong and Macau to embark on Matching Grant projects with the Rotary Club of Ulaanbaatar, and I am glad that many of you have responded to the call to equip schools in Mongolia with computers, built factories, and more recently, in the disaster relief appeal following the severe snow storms. Indeed there is so much to do.

Talking of snowstorms, the same wintry winds from Siberia have actually caused more damage and destruction to Inner Mongolia of Mainland China. Mainland China is not yet Rotary territory, but this has not inhibited our Rotarians in the District to raise funds towards the disaster relief programmes being planned, with the assistance of Rotarians working in Beijing and Shanghai.

This brings me to another angle of the year's theme. You are all aware that some Rotarians and their friends have been meeting on a weekly basis in Beijing in the name of the Beijing Fellowship Group, which operates under the aegis of the Rotary Club of Hong Kong. Following the high profile visit from Evanston involving President Frank Devlyn, President-elect Rick King and President-nominee Bhichai Rattakul, plans are in hand to make the Beijing Fellowship Group a provisional club. That was to be a step to re-introduce Rotary clubs into the Mainland.

But let me make one point very clear: Rotary is actually alive and well in the Mainland, even without the formal institutional framework. Rotary clubs world over, in particular clubs in our District, have been taking Rotary services and hence Rotary's ideals of service to China and the people there that need our service. Many people in the Mainland have benefited as a result. Rotarians have provided schools for children, food for the hungry, medical supplies for the sick, shelters for the homeless, and so on. The Rotary Club of Hong Kong South has for example created awareness of the plight of the lepers in China and has taken action. In short, we have not allowed discussions on whether and how to re-establish Rotary clubs in China to inhibit or slow down our humanitarian and educational programmes in China. This is the message: between Rotarians in our District, we have created awareness that the people in China need our service, and we have taken action. The effect is that Rotary is already in the Mainland, even without a Rotary club.

Still on the Mainland of China, and keenly aware of the need to preserve the environment, we have been creating awareness in the District of the need to protect our Mother Rivers. Now, Mother Rivers are the rivers that have led to human activities and civilization. We are talking about the Amazon, the Nile, the Mississippi, and in China, the Yellow River and River Yangtze. For many years, we have seen flooding from these two rivers, causing tremendous losses of lives and properties. Every time it happened, Rotarians in the District invariably rallied to raise funds for disaster relief and for reconstruction of villages wiped out entirely in these floods. We have learnt, and more importantly, China is now very much aware, that these disasters could have been prevented, in the same way that blindness or poverty is avoidable and can be prevented. The Authorities in China have since enacted legislation, introduced incentive schemes for farmers to preserve vegetation and embarked on extensive tree planting programmes along the banks of these two rivers. Once again, we are taking action as soon as we have become aware of the problem. We have planned to raise $500,000 for planting more than 100,000 trees in Chongqing and we are taking the New Generations there to plant trees at the end of this month. This trip will serve many purposes. It would provide hands-on experience for Rotarians, Rotaractors and Interactors, create awareness in them of the need and urgency to protect the environment, and prevent further soil erosion along the river-banks. It would also help to enhance Rotary's image and our PR. For when the project is complete, the land on which the trees are planted will be known as a Rotary forest or District 3450 Forest. I am grateful to Past President Stanley Mok for taking charge of the project. Let us give him a big hand.

On the subject of enhancing Rotary's image and PR, we began to create awareness of this from day one. Our District organized a District Installation at the beginning of the Rotary year during which I was installed as your Governor, and all my Action Presidents, Preisdents. We invited a prominent speaker on that occasion to discuss the role of service organizations such as Rotary in the community; we invited a number of our strategic partners, including the Lions, the Junior Chamber, the Zontas and the Agency for Volunteer Service, to sign friendship and co-operation agreements; and we admitted over 35 new members to the District that evening. Thus, in one evening, in one stroke, we achieved a number of objectives given us by President Frank: we enhanced Rotary's public image and PR in the community, we partnered with other organizations, and we increased our membership that evening for everyone to see.

The event was so successful that my worthy successor, DGE Johnson, has decided to follow suit, for continuity and practical reasons, and has planned another District Installation Meeting in July. I can assure Johnson that he will have full support from me and my Action Presidents. This is what continuity is all about.

Continuity has been an important theme between the district leadership. We are very serious about continuity. Increasingly, we have taken action to shape the district organization to ensure that district programmes and activities would continue regardless of changes in personnel or leadership. We believe that nobody is indispensable as long as a sound and healthy district organization is in place. With this objective in mind, we have laid down the groundwork for the establishment of a District Leadership Academy; we have included sufficient resources for training in the District Budget so that those in charge of these activities can focus on these important tasks instead of having to worry over how to make ends meet; and for the first time, we have institutionalized a District Finance Committee on a logical and democratic basis.

All these and other changes are proofs that we are not afraid of changes and are determined to modernize the district organization with time. The process must continue if we are to be relevant and to address the problems facing us today in general and Rotary in particular. We need solutions to the problems of today and the future. We must therefore look ahead and not look back. We must not be afraid of new ideas from younger Rotarians and the New Generations. I am therefore happy that we would soon witness new style Rotary clubs comprising predominantly younger members and operating under new formats. These clubs will be our future.

Before I leave, let me stress that there is no beginning or end in the career of a Rotarian. And this applies to all Rotarians, including governors. A Rotarian must continue to render service to the people that need his service. Once he ceases to do that, he ceases to be a Rotarian and degenerates into a member of a Rotary club.

It follows that it would not matter if you cannot meet the goals you set for yourself this year. As long as you have tried and as long as you can say that you are a better person than last year, you will have done well and tomorrow is another day.

Yes, we are all volunteers; but we are also volunteers with a mission. Our mission is to create awareness and to take action. I urge all of you to continue to create awareness in your club, in your community and in the world, and to take action, not just this year, but for the years ahead. Thank you very much.

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Continuity Column
By DGE Johnson Chu

This is DGE Johnson Chu's ten article in the series. In this article, he gave an account of the training timetable for his team - Ed.

Dear Fellow Rotarians

Training for Assistant Governors for the Rotary year 2001-2002 was held at the Rotary Information Centre from 9a.m. to 12:45pm. All incoming secretaries as well as the incoming chairman for the extension committee were also present. PDG Arthur Au, the District Trainer for 2001-2002, conducted the training with my assistance. The Assistant Governors were briefed their responsibilities and duties, Rotary International President-Elect Richard D. King's theme, presidential citation, Rotary global quest, district organization structure and district goals. As several participants had been Assistant Governors before, they were asked to share their experience with others, which was well appreciated.

As incoming AG Amy Ho was unable to come at the last moment because she need to take care of her newly born baby, the entire training process was video recorded for her. She told us afterwards that the effect was excellent and she was fully aware of what was going on.

The attendance was good. I sincerely thank everyone for the commitment, especially PDG Arthur.

The Presidents-Elect Training Seminar was held on the 24 April 2001 at the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Shan Kwong Road, Happy Valley. Only four presidents were absent, one was the president of the Rotary Club of Ulaanbaatar. The second one said that next year would be his third time as President. The third president said one of her family members was very sick. The last one was out of town, but promised that he would attend the District Assembly. Over 90% of the Presidents-Elect were present.

Besides the two group sessions in the morning for the Presidents-Elect and Incoming Secretaries, a plenary session on Membership Development was held in the afternoon. The 90-minute session was chaired by PDG Raymond Wong. It was enthusiastically participated. Many questions were raised and discussed. The last program was a presentation made by our district webmaster, President Bill Benter, who talked to the Presidents-Elect and Incoming Secretaries on how to fully utilize the website.

I am grateful to the session leaders, PDG Peter Hall, PDG Raymond Wong, PDG Arthur Au, PDG Anthony Hung. DG John Wan also gave some encouraging opening remarks, for which I thank him.

A great District Conference was held on the 7th and 8th April at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The program was full of fresh ideas. Young and outstanding leaders from non-Rotary organizations were invited to be resource persons, moderators and discussion panelists. The live video-conference with Rotary International President Frank J. Devlyn, who was presiding at the Presidential Conference in Manila, Philippines, was well received.

The Governor's Banquet was wonderful. It was full of fun and the idea was creative. The awards were presented to the Rotarians who are well qualified for them. The awards presenters were humorous enough to make the event more successful. No wonder some Rotarians said they would bring along their children and even guests had they known the master of ceremony was Philip Chan and the names of the award presenters.

Rotary International President's Personal Representative, Director-Elect Toshio Itabashi and her wife Ritsuko were satisfied with the outcome of the conference. He was especially impressed by the reception of more than thirty Rotarians at the Hong Kong Airport at 9:30p.m. He repeated his happiness several times during and after the conference. I think he will write a very favourable report to R.I. President Frank J. Devlyn. District 3450 will enjoy another good record at the World Headquarters. Congratulations Governor John!

The District Badminton Tournament was held on Sunday, 18 March 2001 from 9a.m. to 4p.m. at the Kowloon Park Indoor Games Hall. Men's single champion was Peter Ho of the Rotary Club of New Territories. Ladies' single champion was Luci Yau of the Rotary Club of Bayview Sunshine. Men's Double champions were T.F. Tsui and T.H. Koo of the Rotary Club of Peninsula South, while Ladies' Double champions were Louisa Fong and Peggy Chan of Rotary Club of Peninsula South. Ladies' Overall champion was Rotary Club of Bayview Sunshine and Men's Overall champion was Rotary Club of Peninsula South. Congratulations to all the winners.

I would like to remind all club officers and Rotarians to attend the District Assembly:

Date: 12 May 2001 (Saturday)

Venue: Miramar Hotel, Penthouse floor
Nathan Road,
Kowloon.

Time: 9:00a.m. to 4p.m.

Registration: 8:00a.m.

Thank you.

DGE Johnson Chu

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Some food for thoughts

CASE ONE

It is Easter, a time for reflection. We came across a poem about the life of Jesus Christ by a James Allan Francis from an old club bulletin. We wish to share these with readers-Ed.

One Solitary Life
By James Allan Francis

He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another obscure village, where he worked in a carpenter sop until he was thirty. Then for three years he was an itinerant preacher.

He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family or owned a home. He never lived in a big city. He never traveled 200 miles from the place where he was born. He did none of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but himself.

While he was still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against him. His friends deserted him. He was turned over to his enemies, and went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves.

While he was dying, his executioners gambled for his garments, the only property he had on earth. When he was dead, he was laid in a borrowed grave, through the pity of a friend.

Nineteen centuries have come and gone,
and today his is the central figure for much of the human race.
All the armies that ever marched,
All the navies that ever sailed,
All the parliaments that ever sat,
All the kings that ever reigned,
put together have not affected the life of a man upon this earth as much as this One Solitary Life.

CASE TWO

Now, here is another message that could have gone round the world many times in more than one form or format. It came with a tongue of good report that it is very meaningful and a must-read, together with instructions that you should send the message to someone you would never forget and that you should send it back to the persons who sent it to you, to show them that you would never forget them. Important: there is no need to send this back to the editors-Ed.

No one is worth your tears and the only one who is will never make you cry.

If you love someone, put their name in a circle instead of a heart, because hearts can break, but circles go on forever.

Everyone hears what you say. Friends listen to what you say. Best friends listen to what you don't say.

If all my friends were to jump off a bridge, I wouldn't jump with them, I'd be at the bottom to catch them.

Don't frown, because you never know who's falling in love with your smile.

If you judge people, you have no time to love them.

Mother Teresa said, "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle."

Plato said, "It takes a minute to have a crush on someone, an hour to like someone and a day to love someone, but it takes a lifetime to forget someone."

Enthusiasm is contagious. You could start an epidemic.

Yesterday is the past, tomorrow is the future, today is a gift, which is why we call it the present.

CASE THREE

The following are Natural Highs sent to us by email in a format that requires you to scroll down the screen slowly item by item, with instructions that you send the message to at least 7 people in the next half-hour so that something godlike would come to you in the few hours following. To save you time and Internet bandwidth, we are giving them to you in one go with no breaks, but semi-colons-Ed.

Falling in love; Laughing so hard your face hurts; A hot shower; No lines at the Super Wal-Mart; A special glance; Getting mail; Taking a drive on a pretty road.; Hearing your favourite song on the radio; Lying in bed listening to the rain outside; Hot towels out of the dryer; Finding the sweater you want is on sale for half price; A milkshake; A long distance phone call; A bubble bath; Giggling; A good conversation; The beach; Finding a $20 bill in your coat from last winter. Laughing at yourself; Midnight phone calls that last for hours. Running through sprinklers; Laughing for absolutely no reasons at all; Having someone tell you that you're beautiful; Laughing at an inside joke; Friends; Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you; Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep; Making new friends or spending time with old ones; Having someone play with your hair; Sweet dreams; Hot chocolate; Road trips with friends; Swinging on swings; Wrapping presents under the Christmas tree while eating cookies and drinking eggnog; Making eye contact with a cute stranger; Winning a really competitive game; Making chocolate chip cookies; Spending time with close friends; Seeing smiles and hearing laughter from your friends; Holding hands with someone you care about; Running into an old friend and realizing that some things (good or bad) never change; Watching the expression on someone's face as they open a much desired present from you; Watching the sunrise; Getting out of bed every morning and thanking God for another beautiful day.

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Attendance Report - February 2001

Go to District Web site for the February Attendance Report

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