Rotary Club of Hong Kong South Meeting Report

resident Kishore welcomed Rotarians and Rotariannes to our regular Lunch meeting.

Fellowship Chairman PP Paul introduced the following Visiting Rotarians / Guest :-

PDG Anthony Hung (Tai Po)

Rtn Egon Heldner (Pelting Jaya, Malaysia)

The following announcements were made :

PP Eoghan McMillan passed away on October 2, 2001. Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday October 9, 2001 at 12:00 p.m. at St. John's Cathedral. In Lieu of Flowers, please send your donation to the Red Cross.

Sergeant-at-Arms Rtn Thomas announced that fines and voluntary contributions totaled $780, the raffle raised $500, for a total $1280.

Speaker:

Mr Gary Stephens spoke on Mother's Choice

Mr. Gary Stephens is Managing Director of Mother's Choice. Mother's Choice was an organization established about 14 years ago with the vision of providing a home for girls facing crisis pregnancies.

In June 2000, Mother's Choice launched its web site www.motherschoice.com as one the media to facilitate the promotion of its services including sex education campaign, knowledge about pregnancy and adoption, etc. and interact with teenagers in Hong Kong and China. Mother's Choice also gives talks to about 140-150 secondary schools in Hong Kong a year and takes care of about 120-130 children everyday.

Mother's Choice also focuses its efforts at Mother's Love's Precious Home in Nanning, China, which provide care for the special needs children with severe disabilities and might not be adopted. Mother's Choice helps Mother's Love to raise the necessary funding for the long term care of these children. According to Mr. Stephens, Rotary Club funded Mother's Love at the beginning of its set up. In China, Mother's Hope is in the process of setting up.

Mr. Stephens advised that Mother's Choice would like to obtain funding for the following:

Remodeling of the residential facilities for pregnant girls to live with
Remodeling of the old buildings of about 70-80 years old which are rent-free and granted by the Hong Kong SAR Government

Mr. Stephens would be glad to submit proposal for funding should Rotary Club of Hong Kong South be interested in providing funding to Mother's Choice.

PP Paul thanked our speaker in his usual gracious manner.

President Kishore advised that for the next week's lunch meeting would be Virendra Anand and his topic : Indoor Air Pollution.

All Rotarians present were invited to drink the customary toast to the Rotary International. With that, the meeting was formally closed.