Report on the dinner meeting at the Hong Kong Golf Club on 6^th November 2003 at 13:00 by Lillian Lau

Our Fellowship Chairman welcomed all guests brought by our members. 

Last Saturday (8^th November), the Sandy Bay Fair successfully raised HK$8,078.20 for the Society for the Relief of Disabled Children.  Thanked for President Peter, PP Bob, PP George, PP Paul, PP Kishore, VP Tobias, Rtn Thomas, Rtn Sam and his wife, Rtn Mike, Rtn Jack and his wife contributing their invaluable time and effort for the fair.  Also, we would like to thank IPP Bernie for his toy donation, VP Tobias for donating the camera bags and Rtn Michael donating the candles for the fair.  

For the Leprosy project, PP George said that an independent company has been set up for running this project so as to separate the responsibilities of our club.  PP George will work with Tony Leung and PE Angela on the financial account of the project.

The leading seller for the raffle tickets till now is PP George, and the Rotary Club of Kowloon North is going to buy 60 tickets.  IPP Bernie said that we still have 420 tickets to be sold.  If our members are in need of the application forms for the Club 888, please feel free to contact Grace (Secretary of Bernie Ting) in arranging the delivery.  So, please send the application forms now!  Special thanks to David for preparing a sample letter for Club 888, which in fund raising money not only for Leprosy Project, but also for the local community services.     

In November and December, there are a number of exciting Fellowship Events to be held, including the Club Golf Tournament on 14th November, the District Golf Tournament on 19th November, a Poolside BBQ on 20th November and our Christmas Party on 18th December.  Thank our Fellowship Chairman Francesco for his efforts in organizing these excited activities.  Besides, Francesco will organize the Club Golf Tournament every month. Details will be announced later. 

The Osaka Conference will be held from 23rd to 26th May 2004 in Osaka, Japan.  In order to get the early bird discount, we need to submit the applications before 15th December 2003.  In addition, we also have to check with the hotel so as to ensure all of us can accommodate in the same hotel. 

Our speaker today was Dr. Shawn Wang, and his topic was entitled “ITAD Leads A Green Revolution”.  Dr. Shawn Wang was born and raised in Shanghai, China. He completed his University and earned a degree of B.Sc. in Shanghai, then went to Canada to pursue his graduate study in biochemistry and genetics.

Dr. Wang said that ITAD (Innovative Thermophilic Aerobic Digestion) process is a unique and proprietary environmental biotechnology. It integrates advanced biotechnology, engineering and computer technology and uses fermentation as its technology platform and is supported by ITAD ’s patented equipments to utilize organic waste materials as its raw materials producing effective and highly fertile organic fertilizers, enzymes and biological control agents.

He further indicated that the increasing world’s population creates about a billion tons of domestic waste each year. Wastes can be classified into two main categories: Organic and Non-organic. Organic wastes include organic residual sludge from sewage treatment plants, the vegetative wastes from yards and gardens, food leftovers from householders, restaurants and food processing plants, and the agricultural wastes include animal wastes from livestock and crop residues from farmland

Dr. Wang also declared that they have successfully developed a new proprietary technology in waste conversion after years of research. Through their state-of-the-art ITAD process, wastes are first sorted, taking out large non-biodegradable contaminants, leaving only organic wastes. Then the organic wastes are fermented at high temperature. Through this unique fermentation process, specific beneficial metabolites, plant growth stimulants and pathogen inhibitors are synthesized biologically. Wastes are de-odorized and large organic molecules are digested to smaller molecules and ready-to-use nutrients. The effective and highly fertile organic fertilizers in both solid and liquid forms are produced.  The end products produced through ITAD technology are high in qualities, pathogens and contaminants free. They contain high humus substance and have high biological activity. Not only does ITAD technology solve a global crisis in waste disposal, it also utilizes organic wastes as a resource to create an array of biological products and benefits the environment and our future.