Rotary Club of Hong Kong South Meeting Report

resident Gary welcomed DG, Rotarians, and guests to our luncheon meeting with our DG. They came as a team of delegates who would be properly introduced later.

Our attendance showed that our summer holiday is over. It was well attended. President noted that his email and faxes have been working.

Fellowship Chairman Simon introduced the following Rotarians from the district:

District Secretary PP Tang Kam Tim, HK Sunrise

AG PP Louis Thomas, Kowloon Golden Mile

Deputy District Secretary PP Joseph Chan, Wanchai

Deputy District Secretary PP Wilson Hon, Causeway Bay

Singapore Rotarian

Princeton New Jersey Rotarian who is on our second visit this year.

President Gary and the board of directors recommended PP William Heering as our DG Nomination Committee candidate. Our members approved him.

Sergeant-at-Arms Rtn. Thomas were hard at work receiving $1,200 and raffle $610. More on this latter.

Club 888 Chairman IPP Nick mentioned that the draw tickets should have arrived at your office. If they haven't, please contact IPP Nick or Rtn. Bernie. IPP Nick urged us to start selling now as first draw is Oct. 21st. We have sold 40 tickets already. That means there are still many good numbers call Rtn. Deborah or IPP Nick's secretary Mrs. Heath.

[Anyone is welcomed to get application form from our web:

http://www.rotary3450.org/hongkong-south/club888/index.html

3 steps: 1. Fill-in the form 2. Fax it 3. Mail with a check]

Announcement :

President Gary made the following announcement

Oct. 21st, our regular musician Joop Litmaath will not perform Jazz Night w/ Club 888 Draw. Our committed Fellowship chairman Rtn. Francesco will arrange the most appropriate entertainer(s).

Then it is Rtn. Nico to make a special announcement:

Thanks to our effective website in promoting our Leper project in China, we have received a single donation of

$250,000

from a trust fund. It is a great news and the strongest encourage that we can receive. Our president specially thanked Rtn. Nico and PP Gaston for their excellent work.

Our President, as decided during our last directors' meeting, announced new Membership Drive. Each director will try to enroll one new member. The board hope that other members and PP's can recruit new members.

President Gary introduced DG Dipo Sani. DG described us as one of the premier clubs in our district. He has no worry that we will able to perform. His speech was focused on our RI president Y2K forward-looking vision of Consistency, Continuity, and Credibility.

DG asked us to be more Consistent in following and applying our club rules. For example, attendance, its records, minimum attendance and memberships. Continuity in being a committed Rotarians. Our RI president set an example by having no new programs. Instead, he has continued several current multi-year programs. Rotarians shall maintain our Credibility both in our professional business and in our Rotary activities.

DG praised our membership drive, and our last district intercity meeting was also focused on membership. DG emphasized that it is each Rotarians who will make the introduction of new members, not the membership chairman. In addition, he asked us the club efficiency is also important citing a recent example of reviving a club by have only a few effective members.

Our DG and together with his team of AG and DS will support us on our activities.

During Q&A, DG Dipo asked us to ask difficult questions. Regarding new club(s), our DG would like to see a new club this year. He insisted that there is no weak club, only weak president, weak directors, and weak Rotarians.

DG also reported the recent setback in Shanghai, a small group of people tried to be recognized by the government. Instead, there were stopped by the government. DG asked us to maintain our current fellowship meeting in Beijing and not forcing the formation of Rotary in China. CP Dennis also agreed on this issue but with a slightly different schedule. Although we do not have a Rotary Club in China yet, DG further explained that we have activities in China. Last year, there were re-building of a village after flood. This year we have GSE program with China / HK doctors exchange.

TAIWAN EARTHQUARKE ACTION

DG asked all of HK district Rotary Clubs to contact their respective Taiwan's sister clubs to determine what kind of help. It was debated whether a rich country [Taiwan has one of 3 highest reserved in the world] would need financial help.

On the other hand Turkish Relief fund was distributed. Sadly, it did not receive any recognition in newspapers at all.

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival