Rotary Club - HK East Newsletter October 17th, 2007

It would appear that our members are still busy or traveling as only 11 members were present at the meeting. We welcomed 4 guests - our speakers from U-hearts, Karen Dyer, Y Y Wong and Ricky Tam together with Marcus Chan, an applicant for the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship.

President Laurence started the meeting promptly at 1:30 pm by making various announcements. In the latest Board meeting, the Directors deliberated on the choice of candidates for the 2010/2011 District Governor Nominating Committee. The meeting endorsed the Board's recommendation unanimously. The Board also approved a sponsorship of HK$19,500 for a Playright project in relation to setting up a package of games for the hospitalized children. A visit will be arranged for members and families in November as part of this project.

On 3^rd November, a delegation of 10 rotarians from our sister club, RC of Osaka Jonan, will be visiting Hong Kong. The Directors will have lunch with the visitors on 4^th November as well as to discuss matters of mutual interest. A golf outing has been arranged for the morning of 5^th November and there will be a farewell dinner for the visitors on the same evening with our members and their families. Details will be issued in due course.

The charter function of RC of Hong Kong Financial Centre will be held at the Marriott Hotel in the evening of 22^nd November. The cost will be HK$1,000 per head and please contact the Secretary if you are interested in attending.

Acting SAA PP Rudy reported the red box collection of HK$900 for the day.

The highlight of the meeting was the talk by our guests from U-hearts. Karen Dyer, who is also a personal friend of President Laurence, made the initial introduction. This was followed by more explanations from Y Y Wong and Ricky Tam.

U-hearts is a non-profit making charitable organization established by a group of volunteers comprising professionals, civil servants, businessmen, educators and engineers. The aim is to improve the condition of study in the mountainous areas of remote parts of China. Apart from renovating old schools and providing scholarships to the needy, they organize field trips for Hong Kong students to experience life in the mountainous areas. As a result of these experiences, the youngsters would develop leadership skill-sets. Each field trip is usually of 5-6 days duration for about 100 youngsters and supported by about 60 volunteers. The participants and volunteer workers have to go through introductory training as well as a sharing session upon their return to Hong Kong. In their latest field trip, 9 student volunteers from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University accompanied the youngsters who are typically 13-17 years old.

The participants paid HK$2,500 each but this is far from enough to cover the total expenditure for the field trip. U-hearts has to subsidize approximately HK$300,000 for each field trip and they have to rely on donations and sponsorships from the community. If members are interested to support U-hearts, please contact the Secretary for more details or contact them direct on 2838 3369 or www.u-hearts.org.

As for renovating old schools, U-hearts have renovated 14 schools to date. They have strict criteria in terms of selection of location to render assistance. Each renovation normally takes 3-6 months and costing on average about RMB 600-700 per square meter. U-hearts will fund up to 50% of the renovation cost with the local authority picking up the remaining 50%. This is to ensure that the local authority takes a serious interest in the renovation project and education in particular. Ricky Tam usually inspects the renovation work from time to time before authorizing further release of the funding. Last but not the least, U-hearts offer scholarships for needy students to continue their education in these remote parts of China.

In the interest of time, President Laurence thanked the speakers himself and drew reference to the school / student related projects which RC of Hong Kong Island East had participated in. A toast to Rotary International coupled with our own club was made before the bell was rung to signal the end of the meeting.

RI President Nominee (2009-2010)

As disclosed by RI World Headquarters, John Kenny of the Rotary Club of Grangemouth, Central, Scotland is the selection of the Nominating Committee for President of Rotary International in 2009-2010. He will become the president-nominee on 1st December if there are no challenging candidates.

Kenny is a past dean of his local law faculty, a judge, and a notary. He is active in scouting and earned the medal of Merit for helping form new scout groups in Eastern Europe. An elder of the Church of Scotland, he's served as session clerk and presbytery elder. Kenny was also appointed deputy lieutenant of his district by Queen Elizabeth II. He is a past president of both the Forth Valley Junior Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Scottish Junior Chamber of Commerce. He is also past general legal counsel of Jaycees International.

A Rotarian since 1970, Kenny served Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland (RIBI) as president and vice president. He has served RI as director, executive committee chair, Rotary Foundation Trustee, Institute moderator, district governor, convention vice chair and group leader, president's representative, and committee member and chair. He's been a delegate, member-at-large, and parliamentarian at several Councils on legislation.

Kenny is a Major Donor to The Rotary Foundation and a Bequest Society member and has received the Foundation's Citation for Meritorious Service and Distinguished Service Award.

The nominating committee members are :

Ray Klinginsmith (chair) USA
G. Kenneth Morgan (secretary) USA
Jacques Berthet, France
John T. Blount, USA
Hee-Byung Chae, Korea
Gerson Goncalves, Brazil
Abraham Gordon, USA
Sushil Gupta, India
Lynn A, Hammond, USA
Rafael G. Hechanova, Philippines
Toshio Itabashi, Japan
Jorma Lampen, Finland,
Gerald A. Meigs, USA
David D, Morgan, Wales
Jiichiro Nakajima, Japan
Stan Tempelaars, The Netherlands and
Luis F. Valenzuela, Guatemala.

Polish Divorce

The US lawyer said to his Polish client that getting a divorce would depend on the circumstances, and asked him the following questions:

Have you any grounds?

Yes, an acre and half and nice little home.

No, I mean what is the foundation of this case?

It's made of concrete.

I don't think you understand. Does either of you have a real grudge?

No, we have carport, and not need one.

I mean. What are your relations like?

All my relations still in Poland.

Is there any infidelity in your marriage?

We have hi-fidelity stereo and good DVD player.

Does your wife beat you up?

No, I always up before her.

Is your wife a nagger?

No, she's white.

Why do you want this divorce?

She is going to kill me.

What makes you think that?

I got proof.

What kind of proof?

She's going to poison me. She buys a bottle at drugstore and put on shelf in bathroom. I can read, and it says: "Polish Remover."


PDG Uncle Peter, Speaker Y.Y. Wong from U-Hearts & Pres. Laurence Chan	Hon. Sec. Norman Lee, Speaker Mr Ricky Tam from U-Hearts & guest Mrs Karen Dyer


AG Eddy, PP Stephen, Ambassadorial Scholar applicant Mr Marcus Chan, Hon. Tres PP Rudy, PE Andy & PP Tim	PDG Y K Cheng, PP Stephen Liu, PP John Kwok & Rtn. Kishu Narain


Visiting guest Mrs Karen Dyer introduces the guest speaker Ms Y.Y. Wong	Guest Speaker Ms Y.Y. Wong


Mr Ricky Tam from U-Hearts talks to us how the schools are built in China	Group picture with guest, speaker & members


A school to be rebuilt in Guizhou Province.	Another school to be rebuilt in Guizhou.


A rebuilt school in Gansu Province by U-Hearts.	Another rebuilt school in Yunnan Province.