President Chris initiated today's meeting by inviting PP C.Y. to introduce Rotarian Benny Ratnani of HK North East. President Chris then led the birthday song to celebrate the birthday of VP Robert.
PP Taj took the rostrum and announced to all member golfers regarding the upcoming PP John Kwok Challenge Cup to be held at Fanling on Friday 28 at 8:00am. Further details would be released by PP Taj.
President Chris made an announcement that he would be returning to the UK to join the main board of directors of his company. While he would be assuming his new position in the UK in April, President Chris expected that would be traveling back and forth between HK and UK starting in March and promised that he would be back to attend the last meeting of this Rotary year. He thanked the HKIE board of directors for all their supports. For the upcoming club assembly in March, PE Rudy would chair the event.
Sergeant-at-arms Rotarian Heron announced that $1,220 had been collected for our red box. There were 15 members present at the meeting.
Director Danny then introduced his friend and colleague Joe Tam as the featured speaker of the day. Joe has over 20 years of IT experience specializing in Collaborative Product Commerce solutions. He has extensive knowledge of the IT market and industry in the Asia Pacific Region. Joe has gained his expertise by serving General Electric, IBM, Compaq and is currently the Chief Consultant of eProduct Development & Services of PCCW. Joe has been involved in the development and promotion of the ConXerto Harmony software, the only collaborative product commerce software developed in Asia Pacific Region. Joe's presentation today was entitled "Collaborative Commerce (CPC - Collaborative Product Commence)".
The internet revolution of the 90's ushered the world into the new economy. Early application of internet in the business world (i.e. e-commerce) focused on cost reduction while Collaborative Commerce, the second generation of e-commerce, focuses on revenue opportunities by bringing more innovative products to market faster.
When applied within a product/service context, Collaborative Product Commerce ("CPC") provides a business model that leverages on the internet enabling information sharing among employees, business partners and customers. CPC aims to increase new product introduction cycle, improve quality, reduce product/overhead cost, improve product/service customization and improve customer lifecycle management.
CPC features the concept of connecting islands of product knowledge into a single, extended enterprise base. These islands of product knowledge (scattered throughout an enterprise, customers and vendors) once connected electronically and used collaboratively will allow the enterprise to address and respond to issues and challenges quickly and effectively.
Joe cited an example of how CPC can benefit a manufacturing workshop. In a workshop where doors for automobiles are assembled, parts are manufactured and shipped to the workshop for final assembly from different sub-contractors . If there is a production problem at one of sub-contractors, the final assembly process will be impacted. CPC attempts to make the entire manufacturing process transparent by linking up with all sub-contractors electronically. Check points that monitor the process are strategically placed throughout the entire workflow. If a sub-contractor's manufacturing process is disrupted, management of the workshop will be notified right away and remedial actions can be developed and applied quickly.
The application of CPC in the marketplace is expected to grow rapidly. CPC is currently a US$12 billion business worldwide and is expected to be US$48 billion by the end of 2005.
VP Rudy echoed Joe's comments on the growth potential of internet. VP Rudy led members in thanking Mr Tam for his informative talk in the usual Rotarian manners.
President Chris then ended the meeting by proposing a toast to the Rotary Club of Hong Kong North East.
Brush up your Rotary Knowledge Please try to answer the following questions about Rotary and see whether you attain the full mark :
1. What is the largest private international scholarship programme ?
2. What was the first Rotary service project ?
3. What is Rotary International's service organization for secondary school-age youth ?
4. How much money (in US$) will Rotary have contributed to polio eradication by 2005 ?
5. What is the latest region of the world to be declared polio-free ?
6. Rotary International is the world's oldest service club organization (True or false)
7. Every dollar contributed to The Rotary Foundation is spent on humanitarian and educational programmes. (True or False)
8. U.S. Rotarians make up half of Rotarians worldwide. (True or False)
9. Almost 50 Rotarians helped draft the United Nations charter. (True or False)
10. The first Rotary club to be chartered in a non-English-speaking country was in Cuba. (True or false)
(Please send your ten correct answers to PDG Peter Hall (pdgpeter@yahoo.com) to claim a small prize before the end of February 2003) Each member can claim only once.
Jokes & Cartoons An old man lived alone in Idaho. He wanted to spade his potato garden,but it was very hard work. His only son, Bubba, who used to help him, was in prison. The old man wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament.
Dear Bubba,
I am feeling pretty bad because it looks like I won't be able to plant my potato garden this year. I'm just getting too old to be
digging up a garden plot. If you were here, all my troubles would be over. I know you would dig the plot for me.Love Dad
A few days later he received a letter from his son.
Dear Dad
For heaven's sake, dad, don't dig up that garden, that's where I buried the BODIES.
Love Bubba
At 4 A.M. the next morning, F.B.I. agents and local police showed up and dug up the entire area without finding any bodies. They apologized to the old man and left. That same day the old man received another letter from his son.
Dear Dad
Go ahead and plant the potatoes now. It's the best I could do under the circumstances.
Love Bubba.
Photographs of Our Meeting on 19th February, 2003
Our guest speaker for the week was
Mr. Joe Tam of PCCW who talked about
Collaborative Commerce
Pres. Chris made an announcement that he will be going back to the UK on business. He appointed PE Henry to take care of normal business of our club. He will be back!
PP Taj also made an announcement concerning our next golf tournament. Further information will be announced this week.
PDG Uncle Peter sitting at the left head table with our guest speaker Mr. Joe Tam & Pres. Chris.
On the right head table are Rtn Heron, and Bulletin Editor Danny & PP John smiling for the camera.
Our birthday boy is none other then VP Robert receiving his present from Pres. Chris. (L to R) PP's Hubert, C.Y., VP Rudy, PP Tim &VP Robert enjoying the fellowship. (L to R) PP Taj, Dir Jason, Rtn Kishu, Rtn Benny Rotnani (HKNE) & PP J.L. at the lunch. Group Photo of PDG Uncle Peter, the guest speaker, VP Robert, .Pres. Chris, Rtn. Benny, & PP John on 19th February, 2003 previous home
