Last week's Proceedings -

On 3^rd October 2007, the weekly luncheon of the RCHKIE was held in the Victoria Room, 3/F, Regal Hotel. President Laurence was in the chair and 16 members were in attendance.

We had six visiting Rotarians and visitors, viz. PP Brian Smart from the Rotary Club of Keri Keri - from way up north in the north island of New Zealand - and his Rotarianne Janice, PP Ozer Ebrahim of RC HK North East, Gilbert Fung of the toy industry - Rotaractor of HK Island East, and Karen Lee - guest of Director Eric Chin; plus our speaker today.

Acting SAA PP Rudy announced the Red Box collection at $1200, with 12 contributors.

Our speaker, Ms Kathy Wong, was introduced by Director Eric :-

Ms Wong is a Registered Social Worker in HK, with a Master's degree. She has been the Executive Director of the Playright Children's Play Association since 1996, and is on the board of more than 10 NGOs in HK. Playright has been established in HK for 20 years, and is a non-profit making organization that seeks to enrich the life of every child through quality play.

In her talk she reminded us that we all learned through playing when we were young (and maybe still doing so now!). Children in HK often suffer from obesity (1 in 5), and too many tutorials. They may be frustrated with our education system and also suffering from stress and emotional problems. Playing is essential for quality childhood development as it motivates learning and discovery and through it children express negative emotions and vent aggression.

Playright is helping to unlock the full potential of children through play in four areas, advocacy, play resources, play environment and play outreach.

Presently, Playright is having a project of "Developmental Play Packages to Hospitalized Children".

Three developmental play packages will be formed and will be located in the Princess Margaret Hospital and Caritas Medical Centre. 8,000 hospitalized children from age 0 to 8 in these hospitals will benefit in a year.

Play specialists will also teach the volunteers in other public hospitals in play therapy, e.g. Distraction Boxes before injections. Estimated project of HK$19,500 was needed for setting up the project by December 2007.

After the talk, enthusiastic Q & A session followed, and President Laurence thanked the speaker.

Director Heman then reported on the cheque presenting ceremony for a swimming training project in the Choi Jun (才俊) School for the mildly mentally handicapped students, where 2 students have represented HK in the international competition in swimming.

Rotarian Nancy reported on her attendance of the Rotary Foundation Seminar and advocated the yearly donation of USD 100 per member towards the Polio Extinction project.

Secretary Norman announced that the next week's speaker will be a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar. The meeting concluded with a toast to the RCs of Keri Keri from New Zealand and to HK North East at 2:10pm.

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History of The Rotary Foundation

We have successfully held a District Rotary Foundation Seminar on 15^th September 2007 at Taifook Securities Training Centre, 14th floor, On Hing Building, On Hing Terrace in Hong Kong. D.G. Peter Wong declared the seminar open while PDG Alex Mak welcomed the attendees from various clubs. From Taiwan, we have RRFC Dens Shao touching on "What's new in TRF" and PDG Jason Hsu (Archi) on "Every Rotarian Every Year". PDGs from district 3450, such as Dipo Sani chaired the subject of Polio Eradication and Jason Yeung on Foundation Alumni.

Due to time constraint, no details about the history of the Rotary Foundation were mentioned. Just a piece of supplement, we reproduced hereunder how and when TRF was established.

In 1917, Arch C. Klump, Rotary's sixth president, proposed to the Rotary International Convention in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, the creation of an endowment fund for Rotary for the purpose of doing good in the world to charitable, educational, and other avenues of community service. A few months later, the endowment received its first contribution of US$26.59 from the Rotary Club of Kansas City, Missouri, USA.

In 1928, when the endowment fund had grown to more than US$5,000,00, the fund was renamed The Rotary Foundation, and it became a distinct entity within Rotary International. Five Trustees, including Klumph, were appointed to hold, invest, manage and administer all of its property, as a single trust, for the furtherance of the purpose of RI.

Two years later, the Foundation made its first grant of US$500 to the International Society for Crippled Children, The ISCC created by Rotarian Edger F. "Daddy" Allen - later grew into the Easter Seals organization.

The Great Depression and World War II both impeded significant growth in the Foundation, but the need for promoting a lasting world peace generated great post-war interest in developing the Foundation. After Rotary founder Paul P. Harris died in 1947, contributions began pouring into Rotary International, and the Paul Harris Memorial Fund was created for the purpose of building the Foundation.

That same year, the first Foundation program - the forerunner of the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarships program - was established. Then in 1965-66, three new programs were launched - Group Study Exchange, Awards for Technical Training, and Grants for Activities in keeping with the Objective of The Rotary Foundation, which was later called Matching Grants.

The Health, Hunger and Humanity (3-H) program was launched in 1978, with the Rotary Volunteers program being created as a part of 3-H in 1980. The PolioPlus program was announced in 1984-85, and the following year saw the introduction of Rotary Grants for University Teachers. The first peace Forums were held in 1987-88, leading to the establishment of Rotary Peace Program. Then in 1989, RI President Carl. P. Miller (1963-64) and his wife, Ruth, donated US$1 million to establish the Discovery Grants program.

Throughout this time, support of the Foundation grew tremendously. Since that first US$26.50 donation in 1917, the Foundation has received contributions totaling more than US$1 billion. More than US$70 million was contributed in 2003-04 alone. To-date, some 914,792 individuals have been recognized as Paul Harris Fellows - that is, someone who contributed US$1000 or has had that amount contributed in his or her name.

Such strong support and involvement of Rotarians worldwide ensures a secure future for The Rotary Foundation as it continues its vital work for international understanding and world peace.

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Some Rotary Foundation Figures

Ending 30th June 2007, there were 1,068,741 Paul Harris Fellows, 74,791 Benefactors, and 8,707 Major Donors.

The Worldwide 2007-2008 Annual Program Fund goal of US$120 million was announced at the Salt Lake City RI Convention and endorsed by the board of Trustees at their June 2007 board meeting. Your strong support to the Rotary foundation in any program will be much appreciated.

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Club News - Joint Installation Ceremony of the Rotaract Club of Hong Kong Island East (22nd Board) & the Rotaract Club of Kowloon Northwest (11th Board) cum Opening Ceremony of the Project Competence Dynamic (Project CD)

The Ceremonies were held on Saturday evening 22nd September 2007 from 7pm to 10pm at the Hong Kong Scout Centre in Tsimshatsui, Kowloon and were well attended by over 40 rotaractors and their guests.

The ceremony was graced by the presence of the following officials of Rotary District 3450 as their guests of honor:

Mr. Vincent Ng, District Rotaract Chairman of Rotary International District 3450
Mr. Chee Lung Tham, Chairman of RYLA 2007-2008, Rotary International District 3450
Ms Grace Yen, Chairlady of New Generations Committee, Rotary International District 3450.

It was coupled with an educational forum to address the issues of job seeking and respective interviewing techniques for the audience. The invited speakers included:

Ms Elma Chan, Senior Consultant in Boyden Management Consulting Asia Limited
Ms Jennie Ma, Administration Manager, Hong Kong Airport Authority
Mr. Laurence Chan, President of Rotary Club of Hong Kong Island East
Mr. Chan Ka Wang, President of Rotary Club of Kowloon Northwest.

The forum attracted lots of attention followed by questions and answers for sharing afterwards. Prior to the official installation ceremony all the guests of honor and the Presidents of the two mother clubs were asked to give a short speech to the audience.

The handover ceremony of the installation was then performed and was witnessed by the guest of honor and all the participants. After the installations both incoming and outgoing Presidents of the two Rotaract Clubs then made their speech and presentation.

Invited guests were asked to set up a poster from puzzle foam boards to signify the official kick-off of the Project Competence Dynamic (Project CD) - a project organized by the two Rotaract Clubs jointly to promote the spirits of Rotary through a series of training and development programs coupled with community service exercises for youngsters to further develop their competence in a dynamic manner, to foster friendship and to tie fellowship through project and training with an aim to attract them to join the Rotaract Club at the end.

A group photo was taken afterwards and every body enjoyed their fellowship at a buffet dinner after the meeting was officially adjourned at around 9.30pm. No doubt all the participants would have enjoyed the memorable and somewhat educational gathering for the night making the Joint Installation Ceremony cum Opening Ceremony of the Project Competence Dynamic a good success of combining an official ceremony with fellowship, fun and value added. See also photos enclosed.

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PP Brian Smart & Mrs Smart from RC Keri Keri of New Zealand & PP Ozer Ebrahim from HKNE	Member picture with visitor Ms Karen Lee introduced by Rtn Eric Chin

Pres. Laurence exchange banner with PP Brian Smart of Rotary Club of Keri Keri, New Zealand	PDG Uncle Peter, Speaker Kathy Wong & Pres. Laurence

Hon.Sec Norman Lee visited Rotary Club of Shanghai and got a banner from them	Members of Rotary club of HKIE with Gilbert Fung from Rotaractor Club of HKIE

Rtn. Eric Chin introduces the speaker	Speaker, Ms Kathy Wong - Director of Playright Children Play Associtation

Rtn. Heman Lam reports the visit to Choi Chun School	Rtn. Nancy Yee reports the District Rotary Foundation Seminar

Hon. Tres. PP Rudy reports the Red Box collection.	HKIE member group picture with speakers and visitors

Pres. Laurence signed the dummy cheque to be presented to Choi Chun School	Rtn. Heman Lam, PE Andy, Pres. Laurence & Principal Lee of Choi Chun School

Rtn. Heman, PE Andy & Pres. Laurence presented the dummy cheque to Principal Lee & the student representative from Choi Chun School	Pres. Laurence, PE Andy & Rtn Heman toke a group picture with all the Swimming Team Student & Teachers of Choi Chun School.

Principle Lee show Pres. Laurence & PE Andy around the school's environment	Part of the facilities in Choi Chun School

RYLA Chair Chee Lung Tham, District's New Generation Committee Chair PP Grace Yen, District Rotaract Chair Vincent Ng listening to Rotaract Club of HKIE IPP Mimi on programs	Forum speakers : Ms Elma Chan of Boyden Management Consulting, Pres. Laurence of RC Hong Kong Island East & his wife Jennie, and Pres. Chan Ka Wang of RC Kowloon NW

Every body stand up and sing the Rotaract song together before the Joint Installation Ceremony	President Laurence making his addressing speech to the audience

IPP Mimi handing over the Presidency belt to President Ming Wong of Rotaract Club (RAC) of Hong Kong Island East	President Laurence pinning President Ming Wong of the RAC of HK Island East

Board Members of the RAC of HK Island East: Dir. Cat Liu, Pres. Ming Wong, Dir. Kenny Kwok and IPP Mimi Lau	IPPs and Presidents of the RAC of Hong Kong Island East and Kowloon NW

Team work to set up the kick-off symbol of the Project Competence Dynamic (Project CD)	IPP Mimi of Rotaract Club of HKIE received awards from PP Grace of RC HK Harbour

Group photo taken after the Joint Installation Ceremony and Project CD kicked off	Taken at fellowship dinner with the District's New Generation Committee Chair PP Grace Yen, President Laurence and his wife Jennie

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