Our Fellowship Chairman today was PP Paul and our Sergeant-at-Arms was Rtn Stephane. Our Sergeant-at-Arms managed to collect $820 between the raffle and fines.

President Tobias announced that the lunch meeting of next Thursday will be replaced by Wine Tasting organized by PP Gaston held on 2nd of November at Kellet Island, Yacht Club. For the Dinner and Wine Tasting at Kellet Island, it is free for member because it will replace the dinner of October. On the other hand, the price is just HK$280 each for the Rotarianne and guests. While our District Rotary Foundation Seminar will be held on Hotel Miramar on 5th November, the District Karaoke Competition will be held on 30th October at the same location. Interested members please contact Lillian.

Our District will have Rotary Open Week from 7th - 11th November, and welcome everyone to visit Rotary Information Centre. Our District will have a Tennis Tournament on 27th Nov and 11th Dec, which are opened to all Rotarians. The Charity Fair at Sandy Bay will be held on 5th November. We will have a counter to sell goods to raise fund for the Children. In fact, we need Rotarian to donate goods and help at that date.

We had two topics to be shared with Rotarians and guests. The first one was "Youth Exchange Program by PP Edward Lau and Rtn Stephane. Youth exchange program has started since 1927, with students and host families now all over the world. Rotary Youth Exchange students, can spend a year, or perhaps just an extended period of time, living with a host family in a country other than their own. Student may learn a new language and a new way of living. The student will be an ambassador helping to bring the world closer and together, and will make good friends in the process. Our member, Stephane is a good example. He was taking part the programme on 90's and got a lot of wonderful experience from this meaningful programme. Our club is planning to support one student next year, and the cost is just the air-ticket, insurance and some pocket money.

Another speaker of today was Mr. Douglas Gautier and his topic was "2006 Hong Kong Arts Festival". As the theme of November was Art, Mr. Gautier was the kick off speaker of this theme. To match the theme, PP George had reserved tickets of Art Festival for raffle instead of red wines. Mr. Gautier said The Hong Kong Arts Festival would be a major international arts festival as well as the premier arts event in Hong Kong. Featuring overseas and local artists of renown in an eclectic array of music, theatre, dance, popular entertainment, film and exhibition programmes, the Festival offers a three-to-four-week-long cultural feast annually from February to March. He recommended some good performance to us.