President Henry opened the 3rd meeting of the year with a warm welcome to the our visiting Rotarians, PP Peter Tse of Tsim Sha Tsui East, Rtn. Louise Chan of King's Park and Rtn. Francesco Cavazzoni of Hong Kong South. President Henry and all members then greeted PDG Uncle Peter for his holiday-return from California of the United States of America. Our Sergeant-at-arms Andy reported that the total contribution to the red box was $900.
At this moment our invited speaker, Captain Yuen and four of his team mates from the Fire Station of Wanchai, had arrived. In order to allow the best use of the speaker's available time President Henry shifted the other agenda items to the end of the meeting and asked Rtn. Tony to introduce the speaker to us.
Then Captain Yuen started his informative talk about fire prevention followed by a video program of 10 minutes on the topic of fire safety. Talk could be summarized as below:-
1. Different Types of Fire Extinguishers
There are four different kinds of fire extinguishers each has its own characteristics to put off specific type of fire. They are a) Water b) Foam c) Dry Powder and d) Carbon Dioxide. One may not apply to the others in putting off a specific type of fire though the last two are more generally applicable.2. Fire Service Installations
In most buildings we can find the following fire service installations:
- manual call point which will give out the fire alarm when the glass pane is broken
- visual advisory system which is commonly used in karaoke rooms where alarms may not be heard
- exit sign which is self-powered and always lit up
- smoke stop door for stopping the spread of smoke and therefore needs to be closed at all times
- emergency lighting which will be lit by battery when power is out
- fire detection system for fire detection by smoke or by heat
- fire blanket which is usually used in restaurants' kitchens for putting off small fire
- automatic sprinkler system which is the most effective one to put off fire
- fire hydrant which is mainly for the use by firemen to put off fire nearby.3. Statistics of Fire Calls 1.1.2002 to 30.6.2003
Caption Yuen showed us the statistics of the year 2002 and the first half of 2003. A brief analysis and comparison of the collected statistics showed that the pattern of fire calls in 2002 were similar to that of 2003 except that there was a slight increase in building's fire, mainly on unattended premises.He further mentioned that the number of complaints regarding fire hazard was also similar when comparing with a total of 385 in whole year of 2002 and a total of 404 annualized from the total of 202 in the first half of 2003. The causes of fire were found to be mainly due to careless disposal of cigarettes and matches.
4. Video Program about Fire Safety and What to do in case of fire
The program revealed that in case of fire most people who were dead or injured were found unable to stay calm during the fire outbreaks; therefore people should know what to do in case of fire.The following recommended steps and/or actions were shown in the video for our reference:
- keep calm
- leave the fire site immediately after informing everyone nearby, switching off all electricity and
close all doors to prevent or slow down the spreading of fire or smoke
- do not use the lift, use the staircases
- call Fire Service Department when safe
- meet and tell the fireman the situation.When leaving the premises is found not possible because the access to staircase is blocked then one should go back to the original unit and try to keep the unit free from smoke by closing the doors with wet clothes because most people died from smoke not fire.
Generally in less than 6 minutes after a fire call the firemen would be arriving to the fire site. One should show the need for rescue by hanging a blanket or clothes outside the window to get the attention or by calling to tell the location needed for the rescue.
The video also highlighted that the major causes of fire would be cigarette ends, overloaded sockets, careless or unattended cooking, careless use of paints and thinner, and careless welding process.
Finally we were advised to take routine checks and maintenance at least once every 12 months of our fire protection equipment as "prevention is better than cure".
There followed a few rounds of interesting questions and answers interacted between Captain Yuen and our PP John Yao, PP Stephen and Rtn. Kishu. Then Dir. Jason was asked to officially thank the speaker of giving us such an interesting and important talk to protect our life and property through effective fire safety measures.
President Henry continued the meeting by asking Dir. Laurence to report on the following decision and report made in our last board meeting:
1. the board has decided to joint the Jubilee action called "100,000 trees for the centennial" initiated by the Rotary Club of Melun in Kano of Nigeria in Africa.
The action is proposed to all 825 clubs in 56 countries worldwide who happen to celebrate their 50th anniversary at the same time as Rotary International celebrates its centennial to conduct a common and lasting action as supported by Rotary International.
The action is intended to contribute towards reducing desertification in crucial areas chosen by Unesco by planning trees that would enable the soil to absorb and retain water.
This action will be prepared within the next 600 days with NATO, Unesco and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (F.A.O.) in collaboration with Rotary District 1770 and Rotary International.
10 trees at the cost of 10 Euro for each Rotarian member of the 825 clubs could add up between 100,000 and 1 million trees depending on the number of participants and the additional number of trees each participant would subscribe. A nameplate bearing the name of each club participating in the action will be placed at the entry of this new forest.
Dir. Laurence reported that in the last board meeting the funding of up to HKD 4,100 (HKD 100 per member) had been approved and members who would like to contribute extra to plant more trees could inform Dir. Laurence by phone or by e-mail before end of July 2003 for registration.
2. Dir. Laurence reported that our club would respond to the request from the Franklin Rotary Club in the United States of America asking us to support a project by sending one item, worth around USD 10, to represent Hong Kong to them.
The chosen items would include:
a) 10 postcards of fabulous and bustling Hong Kong scenes to show our dynamics of lives in action and variety of infrastructure in different outlooks as an unique international city with mixed culture
b) two bank notes of HKD 10 (the old in green and the new in multi-colors) to symbolize our attractive colors with composite patterns as a world-class financial centre.
PP Hubert also have suggested to Dir. Laurence to send these items together with a flag of our club to the Franklin Rotary Club and PP John Yao had reminded Dir. Laurence to avoid sending the items by post as this would be against the law.
Finally President Henry announced that our next week's meeting would be joined by our two daughter clubs, Hong Kong North East and Hong Kong Harbour and our speaker for the next week would be Ms Christine Fang, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service. President Henry also revealed that our speaker for the week after next would be the Principal of the Hong Kong School of the Deaf. Then Pres. Henry closed the meeting by proposing a toast to the Rotary Clubs of Hong Kong South and Kingspark.
Rotary Information Club visit to the Inauguration Ceremony of Pres. Donnies Alas of the Rotary Club of Makati North The party consisted of four PP from our club, PP Tajwar Shadikhan, PP George Leung, PP David Li, & PP John Kwok. We left Hong Kong at 8:30am on flight CX901 for Manila. After a smooth flight of 1 hour 30 minutes we landed at Aguino airport and were met by many old friends led by Pres Donnies himself. They drove us to Peninsula hotel in Makati. We were then taken out for a very enjoyable lunch hosted by PP Rene Magadia, accompanied by PP Boy Sevilla & PP Pabling Calma. After the lunch we went back to the Hotel for a rest before the Inauguration party that evening. The party started sharply at 7:00 PM. with the usual cocktail reception. After meeting many of our old friends, the buffet dinner started in earnest. After stuffing ourselves, the main event started which is the Induction Ceremony. The ceremony were very simple and orderly. Pres. Donnies assume command of the club by making a oath of office with the recitation of their oaths of office by all the directors & officers of the club. Then the clubs exchanged gifts. There was another sister club present which was the Rotary Club of Raffle City from Singapore. We also exchange cards with them with the understanding of working towards the goal of cooperation doing our Rotary matters.
The highlight of the evening was their Dancing & Singing Extravagensa. It was an act based on the Broadway show "Chicago". All singers were Rotarians from Makati North including their Rotarianns. It was a show to remember for the rest of your lives. They were all decked out in their costumes which was fit for the original Broadway show. Congratulations to them for their talents and guts.
The next day we got up very early to play golf at the Takatay Midland golf course which was situated at the mountain top about one and half hours by car. We teed off at 12:00pm and play scramble format. We teamed up matching one member from our club with one of them for a friendly competition. This time John Kwok thought he had a change because he was teamed up with Marisa who is a 12 handicap. As it turned out he dragged Marisa down by his bad play. His team ended with nothing. However, Team George & Team David tied as joint winners. Also I'm sorry to report PP Taj also didn't win anything either.
After the great golf game came the dinner reception hosted by PP Ed Mijares at his house in Alabang. We were treated to a sumptuous dinner with roasted pig & very tasty desserts. We were joined by all Rotarianns & Rotarians from Singapore also. We got home very late that night.
The next day some of our Rotarians played another game of golf joined by some Rotarians from Makati North. Then we all return back to Hong Kong on the 8:00pm flight.
Joke & Cartoon A couple has a dog who snores. Annoyed because she can't sleep, the wife goes to the vet to see if he can help.
The vet tells the woman to tie a ribbon around the dog's testicles and he will stop snoring."Yeah right!" she says. A few minutes after going to bed, the dog begins snoring, as usual. The wife tosses and turns, unable to sleep.
Muttering to herself, she goes to the closet and grabs a piece of red ribbon and ties it carefully around the dog's testicles. Sure enough,
the dog stops snoring! The woman is amazed!Later that night, her husband returns home drunk from being out drinking with his buddies. He climbs into bed, falls asleep and begins
snoring loudly.
The woman thinks maybe the ribbon might work on him. So she goes to the closet again, grabs a piece of blue ribbon and ties it
around her husband's testicles. Amazingly, it also works on him! The woman sleeps soundly.He wakes from his drunken stupor and stumbles into the bath-room. As he stands in front of the toilet, he glances in the mirror and
sees a blue ribbon attached to his privates. He is very confused and as he walks back into the bedroom, he sees the red ribbon attached to his dog's testicles. He shakes his head and looks at the dog and whispers, "I don't know where we were, or, what we did, but, by God, we took first and second place!Photographs of our meeting on 16th July, 2003
Hon. Sec. Eddy is entertaining Rtn Louise Chan from Kingspark, and Rtn Francesco from HK South. Pres. Henry has his personal touch to our members Dir. Jason, Rtn John Yao, Rtn Stephen Chow, VP Robert, Rtn Tony and PE Rudy. Dir. Laurence is enjoying the company of PP Stephen, PP Hubert. and PP Peter Tse from TST East. 
Pres. Henry, PDG Uncle Peter, PDG YK and Hon Sec. Eddy took a group photo with our visiting Rotarians (PP Peter /TSTE, Rtn Louise Chan /Kingspark, and Rtn Francesco from HK South). Pres. Henry presented a club banner to speaker- Captain Yuen ( a fire Ambassador). Captain Yuen and his colleagues from the Fire Services Department.
Visit to Rotary club of Makati North's Inauguration of Pres. Donnies Alas on their 31st Induction Ceremony on 16th July, 2003
We were honoured by the welcoming committee led by Pres. Donnies Alas himself. We were treated to a very enjoyable lunch by PP Rene Magadia. (L to R) PP Li, PP Boy Sevilla, PP Taj,
PP John IV, PP Rene, & PP Pabling Calma. Not shown is PP George.The induction ceremony of Pres. Donnies with his cabinet standing behind him. We presented a souvenir to Pres. Donnies of a gold sailing junk. Also we presented a momento to Pres. Donnies in the form of a golden lamb to remind him of our visit
in this year of the lamb.Finally, the day after the inauguration, we were taken to the Takatay Midland golf course for a very enjoyable day of golf. The format of the golf was teams of two, one from HKIE & one from Makati North. We played scramble. Our own members PP George & PP Li both won trophies as co-winners of the tournament. Congratulation to you both. previous home
