| 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
(Redefining Rotary) - By Francis Wann | ||||
District Website | RI Website | RI President | TRF | News Room | Global History Fellowship | ||||
|
Redefining Rotary If success can be measured by numbers, our District Conference held some two weeks ago should go down on record as Kingspark outnumbered all other clubs in terms of attendance. There is of course some truth in it, and judging from the email exchanges from DG Alex and other members, it's so easy to be complacent. Indeed PDG John has sounded the alarm and suggested we ponder over our club bussiness during Easter break. I remember Theodore Griley II, Personal Representative of RI President Estess, quoted from another Rotarian of Switzerland during the conference - You are what you wear. Yes, it's all written down there loud and clear. It's about your Rotary pin which you proudly display on your chest. It says you are available; you are reliable; and you are dependable. It says you'll give more than you take, and it says you accept the responsibility of being a committed Rotarian. Indeed not many clubs in the world can survive the test of a whole century. With his simple belief in humanity, Paul Harris probably would not realise that today, over 32,000 Rotary clubs in 167 countries meet every week to go about their business, exploring every service opportunity, and spreading the gospel of Rotary. It's worth our celebration, as millions of Rotarians are doing these days with projects big and small. The centennial year has also brought increased membership, probably due to publicity; and we've exceeded our fundraising targets of 80 million by over 60m; and we're on our way to reap the glory of our signature project Polio Plus which we initiated over a decade ago. Yes, it's easy to be complacent. Today more than 42 million people still suffer from aids or HIV deseases, over 1 billion people go without clean water, about 6,000 children die every day, and more than 2 billion are illiterate. As President Estess said, this centennial year would be the last chapter of the first book of RI, and that you will begin to write the first chapter of the next one hundred years of Rotary... It's about time we put our heads together and redefine Rotary. I seem to remember what most teachers like to write on their students' records - Could have done better. Theodore Griley ended his speech with a quote from Oscar Hammerstein II - a song is not a song until somebody sings it... Love in your heart is not put there to stay. Love is not love until you give it away... And it should be a timely reminder for all Rotarians. | ||||
President's
Column
To keep you close to the Rotary World, we need "The Rotarian". To keep you close to the Club, let's take a quick look at what has happened in March. 1. On 19th & 20th of March, we had our Centennial District Conference. With a total registration of 31 Rotarians & friends plus 10 Rotaractors, I wish to express my gratitude to all of you who have made registration because you have shown your support to the Club and District. I would also like to say a "Big Thank You" to all of you who have attended the Conference. I'm sure you have enjoyed the enlightening speeches delivered by speakers especially Doctor Emily Chan and Mr. Michael Hui. If you have missed, please remember to attend the District Conference to be held at Disney Land Hong Kong next year. 2. To tighten the relationship with our sponsored Club, Rotary Club of Zuumond, Mongolia, we had a dinner with its CP Shagdar Battsetseg, President Ganchuluu Tsogtsaikhan, PE Beree, VP Risen and Naraa after our District Conference. Thanks for the support of our IPP Peter Lo, PP Edward Lau, PP Raymond Sin, PP Ted Ho, PE Dominic Ko, VP Sunny So and Patrick Wong, we had a fruitful night because we had a thorough discussion on their coming projects and enjoyed our fellowship. 3. The fellowship trip to visit our member Stephen's factory in Zhang Mu Tou, Dongguan was just over. Many thanks for the warm hospitality of Stephen and his beloved Huey Jin, we had a wonderful fellowship barbecue dinner and were able to know the recent development of the property market in China. My appreciation also goes to PP Raymond Sin who initiated and organized this trip because we were able to enjoy our fellowship through the visit to the GuangZhou Panyu XiangJiang Safari Park. 4. The Joint School Charity Variety Show co-organized by 6 secondary schools including Wah Yan College, Hong Kong and Kowloon, was held successfully. Back up by this success story, we shall continuously tender full support to our Interact Clubs and make investment in our future generation. | ||||
|
The answer is out there Easter has come and gone. Many of our Rotarians and brethren in Indonesia probably would wish that it had never come, as their country was once again wrecked by another natural disaster when it was still nursing the wounds inflicted three months before on Boxing Day. Many would ask why what has happened should happen and why these people should be twice unlucky within so short a period. Why is it that misfortune and disasters always befall on the poor and destitute. Across the oceans, we see drama being played out around a brain-damaged lady in Florida involving arguably the most powerful person of the most powerful nation. Also in the courts of the same country, we see more drama in and off court over the trial of a once celebrated artiste and arguably still a celebrity. Then in Vatican, we see a frail pontiff struggling to speak but couldn't and having to resign to having his Easter message being read out as he blessed a waiting congregation. Back to the local scene, the debate on the term of the next Chief Executive continues to take centre stage, with politicians and political parties trying their hardest to gain mileage from a non-event. One may ask, what about the livelihood of the people whom they profess to support and improve. Those with little faith begin to doubt whether there is a God at all and if so how could He allow such things to happen. There are no easy answers to these questions, and one simply has to find answers for oneself. After the Boxing Day tsunami, we saw human nature at its best: selflessness, generosity, prompt actions with celerity, patience, strength and so on, which had given hope and generated faith in many people and in turn provided some answers to that awkward question. Christian spirituality teach the faithful to pray unceasingly, for others and themselves, and to learn to be patient when their prayers appear to be unanswered. The faithful understand that God would grant them what is best for them, as opposed to what they ask for. Last night, the club held a club assembly which started late and was attended by less than a dozen members. To those who asked for whom the assembly was held, I would ask them to pray to their God. The answer could be blowing in the wind, but the answer is out there. | ||||
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 from the latter for publication in the same issue if possible. | ||||
Chief
Editor : Francis Wann The Board of Directors President
: Thomas Chan | ||||
| Return to Contents | ||||
| Send
a message to Chief Editor Francis Wann 2004 Issues, Back Issues, Home | ||||