President Paul chaired the luncheon meeting as usual, and PDG Uncle Peter was taking a sick leave due to pneumonia. He assured us that he is all right but needs a rest. He will probably leave the hospital tomorrow.

Welcome back for Rtn Alex and visiting Rotarian was PP William Fong Yan from RC of Hong Kong North. PP Hubert introduced his guest, Mr David Fung and our speaker Ms Andrea Hope from Shue Yan University was formally introduced later.

President Paul made a few announcements:

1. District Assembly 2007 which is scheduled to take place on Saturday, the 28^th April 2007. It is a one-day event and the venue is at the 4th floor of Shatin Clubhouse, The Hong Kong Jockey Club. Each Club in the District entitles free registration for eight of their members. Welcome all additional participants at $250 each. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Shatin Clubhouse have ample parking spaces for those who plan to drive. The District will provide coach service from HK and Macau Ferry Terminal at Central to the Jockey Club and back with an additional pick up point at Kowloon Tong. District Governor Elect Peter Wong offered to award an elegant Rotary tie of 2007/2008 made of 100% silk to all participating Rotarians in the District if their clubs can have their Registration Forms return to RIC on or before the 5^th April 2007.
   
   
2. Rotary Club of Causeway Bay is working on a Community Service Project, Reach Out for the Kids, with Social Welfare Department - Chai Wan (East) IFSC, and they sincerely need our support to make the project a success. To provide good and usable condition books, toys and even bicycles for the less fortunate children during Children's Day and Easter Holiday period in 2007, bringing them happiness moment at no cost. To make use of toys and books that have been sitting in Rotarian families and our children do not need them any more. The transfer of these resources is a very effective and powerful way to demonstrate Rotary cares the community.

Check your home, pick and pack the items and send them to the collection locations.
Tell your friends and have them send the toys and books to the collection locations.

Collection Locations and Dates
For Kowloon and New Territories

March 5 - 9, 2007, 10:00am to 4:00pm
Unit B, G/F., Mai On Industrial Building, 17 – 21 Kung Yip Street, Kwai Chung, Hong Kong.

Private & small vehicle can enter the warehouse directly. If you encounter any difficulty in locating the warehouse, please contact Ms. Bertha Tang at 2503-2003

For Hong Kong Island

March 10 and March 17, 2007 , 9:00am-6:00pm

The Rotary Club of Causeway Bay Booth Social Welfare Department -
Chai Wan(East) IFSC 3/F, Chai Wan Municipal Services Building 338 Chai Wan Road Chai Wan, Hong Kong
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact President of Rotary Club of Causeway Bay William Cheng (mobile 9497-0961) or their Community Service Director, Jenny Tsao via email (jenny.np.tsao@hk.pwc.com ), mobile no. 9250-8800

3. Firework on 19^th February 2007 $500 per person (including Dinner) VENEU
   HK Exhibition Centre Booking through Mr. Paul K.C.Chan Time : 6:30 pm
   
   
4. Joint Lunch with 3 other Rotary Club will be held on 25^th April 2007 Speaker:
   Mr. Anthony Wu.

Acting SAA Rudy reported that the red box collection for 7^th February was HK$700, from PP Hubert, PP Desmond, IPP Eddy, HS Andy, Rtn Alex, PP John and PP Rudy.

IPP Eddy formally introduced our speaker, Ms Andrea Hope, the Associate Academic Vice-President of the HK Shue Yan University (www.hysyu.edu). Ms Hope had her MA from London, and with consultancy expertise from the Commonwealth of Learning, based in Canada. Ms Hope was instrumental to help upgrading the then Open Learning Institute of Hong Kong, now as the Open University of Hong Kong. Ms Hope was with SYU in the last four years, and now the SYU had her University title awarded in 19^th December, 2006 in the Legco; and to be honoured with an incoming formal inauguration ceremony on 14^th February, officiating by the Chief Executive of HKSAR.

Ms Hope addressed us about the path towards university title for Shue Yan University and the significance for HK of having its first private university.

SYU had spent six years effort for her elevation to University status, first obtaining the Education Commission endorsement in 2000, recommending that Hong Kong should have a private university.

SYU was first registered as a post-secondary college, and established herself in the past 35 years as a liberal art college in Hong Kong, currently with 3,500 students and 150 faculty members. Now SYU has three faculties for business, social science and arts, offering 10 accredited degree programs. They are subject to the Hong Kong Council for Academic Accreditation (HKCAA), and Education and Manpower Bureau (EMB) monitoring, regarding matters for their academic programme quality, institution governance, and finance soundness.

SYU was often known for her two founders, Dr. Henry H. L. Hu, an ex-Legislative member, and Dr. CHUNG Chi Yung, a prominent educationist, concerned over the acute shortage of college places for the local Form VI students aspiring after university education, made up their minds to establish an institution of higher learning for the benefit of the youths and in the interests of our society as a whole:

• Promote Chinese Culture
• Whole Person Education
• Four-Year Degree Programmes

Upon the elevation to the university status, SYU would enjoy a few benefits:

• Receiving one-off grant of HK$200 million to support its academic development and improve campus facilities, assuming 5% interest, therefore roughly with about HK$10 million funding per year. SYU intends to improve the student to faculty ratio into 15:1 (currently about 23:1).
  
  
• There will be more government contribution such as for land grants and subsidy in accreditation fees etc. <Currently SYU has campus in North Point, including the main building, the library and the student hostel, and building on the current North Point land site was a no easy task>
  
  
• The SYU students would be eligible to apply for UGC grants, whereas they could only apply to loans in the past. <Currently about one-third of student populations, was from the family income group with less than HK 12,000 per month>

In fact, SYU graduates were well regarded by the Hong Kong employers, since 2002, the student employment rate was consistently maintained at about 90%.

SYU has sound financial management, with sufficient endowments, other than those possible financial contributions from outside. So far SYU has been successful to attract very good quality senior faculty members, where as the future challenge will be to compete with other local universities to attract young academic staff.

The SYU topic generated were much interest from the members, reflected by their follow-up questions about the well being of SYU. Finally, the vote of thanks was by PP Desmond, who congratulated Ms Hope for the SYU achievements and her expertise and success in elevating those high education institutes for accreditation.

Pres. Paul ended the meeting with a toast to RI coupled with RC of Hong Kong North.

The guests were invited to join the members for a group photo.

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Rotary Information

International Assembly

Thanks to the Information Technology communication which enable us to know immediately what has happened at the International Assembly. The following is a press release of our incumbent RI President for general information.

“RI President William B. Boyd announced on 29^th January 2007 at the International Assembly that his successor, President-elect Wilfred J. Wilkinson, will continue to emphasize four key service areas – literacy, water management, health and hunger, and the family of Rotary.

Wilkinson’s choice of emphases follows the lead of Boyd and other recent presidents who worked to create a consistent focus over the last few years. This trend helps clubs continue their work in areas important to Rotary from year to year.

The basic needs have been at the forefront for Rotary’s efforts for several years now, and I hope that will continue. Wilkinson told an audience of district governors-elect at the 2007 International Assembly in San Diego. With clean water, good health, and the ability to read and write, so many of the people who need help will have the ability to help themselves.

Boyd agreed saying, “These are areas that build on each other with each being a prerequisite for the next.”

In addition, placing emphasis of the family of Rotary -- which includes Rotaractors, Youth Exchange students, and Rotary World Peace Fellows – helps ensure Rotary’s viability, so clubs can continue to do service projects, said Wilkinson,

During his worldwide travels as president this year, Boyd said he has seen repeatedly how all types of projects in the areas of literacy, water management, health and hunger, and the family of Rotary have opened up a world of possibilities for their beneficiaries. Everywhere, we say the truth of President-elect Will Wilkinson’s theme, ROTARY SHARES.

By continuing to focus on these areas over time, Rotary clubs can maximize the impact of their service projects. Boyd said. The district governors-elect agreed.

Emphases definitely help our clubs to focus, said Bill Pettus, of the Rotary Club of Jackson Hole Supper, Wyoming, USA.

The continuity with last year allows us to build on what we started, and continue that focus into this year and into the future said Mary E. Martin, a member of the Rotary Club of North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA.”

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Electronic Make-up Questions

You can submit an electronic makeup for this missed meeting by answering the following questions:

1. What happened to PDG Uncle Peter?

Answer:

2. Who did we welcome back?

Answer:

3. Who was our visiting Rotarian and what club did he come from?

Answer:

4. Pres. Paul made four announcements. Briefly name them.

Answer:

5. Who was the SAA today and what was the collection?

Answer:

6. Who introduced our guest speaker and who was the guest speaker?

Answer:

7. Who gave the vote of thanks?

Answer:

Name:
Email:

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Jokes

The Shipwreck

A man was washed up on a beach after a terrible shipwreck. Only a sheep and a sheepdog were washed up with him. After looking around, he realized that they were stranded on a deserted island.

After being there a while, he got into the habit of taking his two animal companions to the beach every evening to watch the sun set.

One particular evening, the sky was a fiery red with beautiful cirrus clouds, the breeze was warm and gentle - a perfect night for romance.

As they sat there, the sheep started looking better and better to the lonely man. Soon, he leaned over to the sheep and put his arm around it. But the sheepdog, ever protective of the sheep, growled fiercely until the man took his arm from around the sheep.

After that, the three of them continued to enjoy the sunsets together, but there was no more cuddling.

A few weeks passed by and, lo and behold, there was another shipwreck. The only survivor was Hillary Clinton.

That evening, the man introduced Hillary to the evening beach ritual. It was another beautiful evening - red sky, cirrus clouds, a warm and gentle breeze - perfect for a night of romance. Pretty soon, the man started to get "those feelings" again..

He fought the urges as long as he could, but he finally gave in and leaned over to Hillary cautiously, and whispered in her ear... "Would you mind taking the dog for a walk?"

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7^th February, 2007

Our charming guest speaker Ms. Andrea Hope gave a talk on the Shue Yan University.

(L to R) PP Tim, Ms. Andrea Hope, Pres. Paul.

(L to R) Hon Sec Andy, IPP Eddy and PP William Fong Yan (HKN).

IPP Eddy Introduced our guest speaker.

PP Desmond thannked the guest speaker.

(L to R) Rtns. Kenny, Dr. Tony, Peter II and Alex.

(L to R) Guest of PP Hubert, Mr. David Fung, PP's Hubert, Desmond, John IV and Rudy.

The group photo of our members, guest speaker, guest and visiting Rotarian on 7th February 2007.

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