| This
is the biweekly bulletin of the Rotary Club of Kingspark Hong Kong Club Website: http://www.rotary3450.org/kingspark-hongkong | ||||
 | Kingspark News Rotary
Club of Kingspark |  | ||
| Chief
Editor : Francis Wann Club Webmaster : John Wan | ||||
Editorial
(Rotten to the Core) - By Francis Wann | ||||
| Rotten to the Core "A recession is when your neighbour loses his job. A depression is when you lose your job. And recovery will come when Jimmy Carter loses his." That's Reaganomics in its sharpest wit. As the world bid farewell to America's 40th president with all the grandeur and formality you'd expect for a state funeral, including the playing of "Amazing Grace", one might just wonder if it really signalled the end of an era. Baroness Thatcher said she had lost a great friend, and in her eulogy, she spoke of his "cheerful and invigorating presence that it was easy to forget what daunting historic tasks he set himself... yet they were pursued with almost a lightness of spirit." The former president was not into complex theories, but he stood up to his values, to what he genuinely believed. Exactly 17 years ago in Berlin, he asked Gorbachov to "tear down the wall", and the former Soviet leader now acknowledged "the personal rapport that emerged between us over the years helped me to appreciate Reagan's human qualities. A true leader, a man of his word and an optimist..." (New York Times Syndicate) You don't have to be a president to display these qualities, though they are central to the object of Rotary. As Paul Reynolds of BBC World Affairs correspondent wrote: Simplicity was his strength. It might simply be coincidence that only a few days ago, some leading academics and professionals were also talking about "defending our core values", and more than that - they've managed to get Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa talking. Understandably the CE has decided to "join hands with the people of Hong Kong to defend these core values." But indeed what are our core values? What have been eroded? With deflation and unemployment still very much with us, and the imminent threat to freedom of expression, people have become more suspicious of the government. It's a positive sign of reconciliation, but that wouldn't be enough. The group, led by Professor Cheung Bing-leung now has to work out concrete ways to convince the public that it is more than rhetoric, and that with univerdal suffrage categorically off limits, what would be worth fighting for. In a society where you see a widening gap between rich and poor, it's only natural that people tend to reminicise their past glories. But the group who signed the petition should have known better - a promise as empty and vague as a "Core Value Charter" would not lead to anything. As Baroness Thatcher said in closing, "We here still move in twilight. But we have one beacon to guide us that Ronald Reagan never had...", perhaps we can get inspiration from the man whose simplicity and unsophiscated belief helped change the world. After all, he was a Rotarian. | ||||
President's
Column The Stress During the last J.P.M. and the last broad meeting, many of Presidents and broadd members asking me about my feeling, do I find more relax or lonely or less of stress when my terms of office will be end in this month, and some of them said do you feel depress. My answer was I have no special feeling, they ask me why? I said may be this is my past experience told me, this is the game rule if you are a promising and committed Rotarian, you will be always busy to performance yourself to be a good member, in most of the organization or a company every individual was playing the different role in their job duty, as the President he simply like the Boss of the company, he was responsible for all the outcome either it is positive or negative, certainly, he has to undertake all the responsibility on all the matters, but as a broad members or a ordinary members, they still have their obligation and liability to the organization while you have taken an oath in the induction ceremony, if you find this is the stress. So, I think you have to reconsider is it the right place for you to stay. 2 weeks later, my presidency will be expire, some of the President feel depress, I told them my feeling simply like I just complete a project in my business, and I looking forward to another project or business. In the Rotary world, I think it’s this the time for me to turn to the other page, and as I.P.P. this is another job. In our club, traditionally, I.P.P. will be responsible for the membership affair if you committed to perform it well, I think this will be another challenge in the coming year. So my notion on the stress is only reflect on your personal behavior or how to full fill your commitment and it was not because of your post or ranking. To-day is the P.P. gathering night, it is also the recognition night, in last week I knew our club will receive 5 awards, which was announced by e-mail from P.P.- Kenneth ( District award chairman ) the name of the awards are as follow: 1) International project 2) World community service project 3) Club bulletin 4) Sponsor to new Interactor club 5) Sponsor to new Rotary club Congratulation to our club, I would like to claim this achievement is not only to our members but also to our sister club Sathron for they have launched the ‘ Music for life ‘ project in Bangkok, and the Rotoractors they have contribute their effort in M.U.N. 03-04. Certainly, my special thanks go to our Editorial broad members for their hard working on published our club bulletin on time. I wish these awards will not make the stress to our incoming President – Thomas, because I have full confidence to his broad members and with the strong back-up from our past Presidents, I’m sure our club will have another fruitful year. | ||||
By Elsa Law Assumptions
Mystic River is a movie. The story tells of a man who killed his childhood friend because he truly believes his friend has killed his daughter. His belief is based on two facts. The first is his friend was seen leaving the pub shortly after his daughter left. The second is he saw several cuts on his friend’s arm the morning when his daughter was found murdered. He made the assumption of his friend being the killer based on what he saw and believed to be true. The end result is, of course, a life time of guilt because his friend never did the killing but a couple youngster. Of course, Mystic River takes an assumption to the extreme. It can happen but our daily life assumptions are unlikely to be as dramatic as that. There is nothing wrong about making assumptions. Sometimes, we have to in order to find an answer e.g. in scientific research or in crime investigation. But bear in mind that assumptions can be the root of misunderstanding and misinterpretation, the next time when we make assumptions, it is best that we tactfully or directly ask the person concerned to clarify our assumptions so that we will not have to deal with aggravation, anger, disappointment or any other negative emotions that one may think of. Life will definitely be easier without too many assumptions. | ||||
By PP Edward Lau At one of the recent regular meetings, CP John suggested that, after giving Rotary information for ten years, it is time for other members to come up to the podium. John made it clear that he is happy to continue, but, in true Rotary spirit, every member should have an opportunity to be involved. President Peter concurred wholeheartedly and recommended that the process should start with Past Presidents. So here I am, giving my first piece of Rotary information at the regular meeting on June 10th. I spoke on “make-ups”. At the end of my little talk, I made the suggestion that the information should be published in Kingspark News as a point of reference. So, guess what, I end up being my own reporter which is fine because someone has to do it. What is a make-up? We all know that one of the key requirements of Rotary is the 60% attendance rule, and when we fall short of that requirement, we need to “make-up”. Usually, this means visiting another Rotary club and attending their regular meeting. I say “usually” because there are now so many other ways one can achieve a “make-up”, and this includes attending District events such as District Conference, District Assembly, but not District social or sports events; Board meetings; club service projects approved by the Board; and Rotaract and Interact Club general meetings. One can also make-up at the newly formed cyber Rotary Club, eClub One. PDG Uncle Peter, who happened to be making-up at our club, added that you would qualify for a make-up if you show up at another club’s regular meeting place only to find that they have changed the date, in which case you would need to inform your Club Secretary what happened so that he can credit you with a make-up. Obviously, this rarely happens. An important point to remember is that there is a time limit on make-ups. The make-up has to occur within 14 days prior to or after the absence. To illustrate, if I cannot attend say the June10th meeting, I can make-up anytime from May 27th to June 24th. This is a very wide window and members should have no problem doing a make-up when there are some 53 clubs plus other opportunities. As a suggestion, I mentioned that the President can bring a few members to another club to do make-ups. This is a great opportunity for fellowship among the members involved and also with the host club. When I travel, I do try to make-up at overseas clubs. Often it is not possible because my schedule is usually pretty tight, but sometimes I am able to schedule my dates such that I can meet my friends or colleagues who are Rotarians at their club meeting, whether it is a luncheon or breakfast meeting. I have made-up at large clubs and small clubs, mostly in North America, and I generally find that smaller clubs are much friendlier. They would welcome you with open arms and really make you feel one of them. I would certainly recommend members to try this when they travel abroad as a great means to experience the Rotary spirit. | ||||
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The Making of the Bulletin
Chief Editor Francis Wann has already put Incoming President Thomas Chan on notice that he should start putting together his first presidential column so that it would not miss the deadline for its publication. President Lo heaped praises on the Editorial Board for publishing the bulletins on time, as if to remind them that the editors and club webmaster would not extend the deadline for anyone, and would not be shy to expose even the president when the latter failed to turn up an article on time. Yes, some volunteers set high standards for themselves and for others alike. This should be a good time for stock taking, for the editorial board as well as the club board. As a start, the new club board should meet the editorial board or at least the chief editor and club webmaster on whether changes would be necessary. More importantly, we should not lose sight of the fact that a club bulletin is primarily for the club membership, which means that the membership must be consulted, at a properly convened club assembly, one that we have yet to witness so far in this Rotary year. For the record, we do not seem to have held the mandatory, well almost, assembly before the Governor's Official Visit. From its modest beginning, Kingspark News had the reputation of being informative, timely and fearless in exposing the truth. Any editor worth his salt would take these duties as given: publish and be damned or not publish at all. But there are other necessary elements in a good club bulletin, and I have actually read a few from other clubs in the district. These bulletins would normally provide readers essential Rotary news on the club, the district and RI without making the subjects boring, and would include jokes, titbits and gossips, as well as regular columns and serious articles. Old readers of Kingspark News might recall that we used to try to do that. It is now for the membership to tell the club what they want to see in the club bulletin and to participate in its production. To date, Kingspark News is the product of two brothers, aided by a handful of members and a few young Rotaractots and Interactors to the latter of whom we all should be grateful. And it is literally a handful. One of the brothers would collect all articles except the one from his brother, which means that the chief editor does not edit this column, edit them and email them to his brother, at least 24 hours before the publication date. The two brothers had had fights and had exchanged rude emails over deadlines. The other brother then puts everything in this format and uploads the articles as he finds them. They had debates as to whether the webmaster who is also an editor should do editorial work, and the two brothers agreed to play by the ears. Apart from the regular gripe, the two brothers have actually enjoyed the biweekly mad rush, certainly this one has, and have vowed to do an even better series if this is what other members want. So watch this column. | ||||
Views in any article in Kingspark News reflect those of the authors. They are not necessarily the views of the Rotary Club of Kingspark or of District 3450. You are welcome to write to Chief Editor Francis Wann or Club Webmaster John Wan on any topic, particularly in response to articles published in Kingspark News. We would publish all contributions as long as the authors identify themselves, the contents are not offensive or abusive, and would not offend common decency or common sense. You need not be a Rotarian to write to us and you have a choice to withhold your name in the published version. Where the contents make reference to statements or policies of individuals or organizations, we would try to obtain a response fro the latter for publication in the same issue if possible. | ||||
Chief
Editor : Francis Wann The Board of Directors President
: Peter Lo | ||||
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