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KINGSPARK NEWS Club Number: 30119 2005-06 Rotary Year : Issue 16 : 17 February | ||
| This
is the biweekly bulletin of the Rotary Club of Kingspark Hong Kong Club Website: http://www.rotary3450.org/kingspark-hongkong | ||
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| Chief
Editor : Francis Wann Club Webmaster : John Wan | ||
| Editorial
(Are
You a Blogger?) - By Francis Wann | ||
| District Website | RI Website | RI President | TRF | News Room | Global History Fellowship | ||
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Are You a Blogger?
We don't and we'd never know why people join, and naturally Rotarians never question each other's faith and commitment. If you are a Rotarian, people would know that you'll live by what you believe, that you'll give your Rotary pin the prominence it deserves. But the real test comes when you see members leaving, and for no particular reasons. First they don't turn up at regular meetings, then gradually you see less of them, and then they disappear into oblivion. If we're wondering why people should join Rotary, we might as well ask why they choose to desert. Past RI President Frank Devlyn discusses it in his book "Frank Talk" and offers his remedies which all responsible Rotarians should seriously read. It comes at a time when members' faith begin to fade, when the name Rotary is not enough to give them the sense of pride, and when they're looking for new directions from the leadership. With a century of record behind us, Rotary must have gone through a bit. Would it be possible that we're become too complacent to our past glories? Would it be that Rotary is beginning to show signs of fatigue after all these years? Kingspark remains one of the few clubs which continues to honour its tradition of publishing its bulletin every fortnight, and thanks to internet, you don't have to be a Rotarian nor a Kingsparian to access our editions. While we have no figures on readership, but webmaster John has on several occasions accused others of apathy in no uncertain terms and invariably the response is diplomatic - no time. It makes a mockery of the very nature of what we believe. Indeed how can someone without time to spare becomes a Rotarian? This editor has been naively contemplating the possibility of changing the format of Kingspark News to something of a blog, and if anyone is in any doubt about what a blog is, learn it from our Rotaractors. If Rotary wants to move with time, every club should have one to tab the pulse of their members. The inter- activeness, the instantness, and the spontaneity of a blog could change the face and contents of our bulletin, and what's more, it should open up a whole new culture among Rotarians, and you can look forward to your official Kingspark Blog. Are you a blogger? | ||
President's
Column
We had our potential member PP Stephen Tsai sharing his experience in our luncheon meeting on 9th February, 2006 as our speaker. He told us about his 3 weeks' trip together with a small group of adventurers from Hong Kong and overseas to the Antartica in December, 2005. He showed us his wonderful pictures and also told us how he was delayed in the airport, his baggage delay, how he overcame his seasick and dizziness, how he got his mouth numb by the cold air, how beautiful it was in the Antartica, how he ran a long way to pick up a piece of tissue to avoid pollution, how one should learn some Spanish and bring enough cash (not US$) when you travel to South America. As there was no night time in the Antartica he realized that time was not important for him, but direction was the essence because he would loose his way and it is true in our lives in many ways. It was a wonderful sharing and we knew that not many of us will be able to go there because of health reasons, time, etc. We resolved in our Board meeting on 9th February, 2006 that we would hold our Kingspark Camp at Tung Tsz Scout Centre in Ting Kok Road, Tai Po from 21st-23rd July, 2006 (Friday to Sunday). The Hostel can accommodate 148 persons in rooms and you may choose to use the outdoor tent camping facilities to have a try of the camping experience. The facilities include swimming pool, conference room, rope course, archery range, barbecue/camp fire areas, qualified instructors can be hired for programs such as water bomb, leather engraving and orienteering. We are planning to book the whole camp site and invite Rotarians, Rotaractors, Interactors and our friends to join us. The Kingspark Camp is our annual activity for our members and their families. By that time all the children must have their summer holidays started. Please mark these days in your diary for the fun camp. We also resolved in our Board meeting on 9th February, 2006 unanimously that we would nominate our PP Peter Lo to receive the Four Avenues of Service Citation for Individual Rotarians in this Rotary year. This citation will be issued by Rotary International to provide a means by Rotary clubs to recognize a member of the club for his outstanding efforts in the four Avenues of Service. The citation commends the service carried out by an individual Rotarian in the club, thereby reinforcing the importance which Rotary places on the personal involvement of each club member in Rotary service activities. PP Peter has proved himself for more than 10 years as a very dedicated Rotarian and has consistently demonstrated support of the Object of Rotary through participation in service activities in each of the four Avenues of Service: Club, Vocational, Community, and International. We are proud to nominate him to receive the citation. | ||
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Club
Vocational Service Project [Marvin Lai is the Club Vocational Service Director]
The turnout was overwhelming; more than 500 people participated in the event: 22 speakers, more than 10 Rotarians with some as speakers or helpers or attending in support of the Talk, and 428 students and teachers. The auditorium was filled with participants. People arrived at the school of their own accord or by the transportation arranged by the school. Our External PR Director, PP Edward, accompanied the bus with the speakers to arrive at the school. The guests were all welcomed by the school's scout team at the entrance and showed to the reception area for a proper registration. At the reception, all guests were welcomed again and properly guided for the registration process by our very own Rotarian Feroz Sultana and Kennedy Tsang and school's welcoming committee members inclsuive of teachers such as Ms Wu Kin Yun and a group of students called IE angels (IE stands for Invitational Education). At around 14:25, Rotarian Kennedy Tsang escorted all distinguished guests, namely AG Albert Wong, PE Patrick Wong, Mr Herbert Hui, JP and Principal Lucy Poon to the auditorium door, and subsequently Rotarian Marvin Lai, the Chairman of the event, led the distinguished guests onto the stage, and the program formally begins with MC Rotarian Spark Lam and Ms Yeung Shek Tan of the school facilitate the program run-down. At 14:35, PE Patrick Wong addressed the whole student body on behalf of President Dominic Ko, who had to be in Beijing for an emergency meeting. The opening remark was about the importance for students to prepare themselves for the future career prospects. Students were motivated by the remark. At 14:40, AG Albert Wong addressed the audience on behalf of DG Peter Wan, and shared the important message about Rotary, of its mission, vision and worked done throughout the globe. At 14:45, Principal Poon addressed the students about the importance of lifelong learning.. Principal Poon was so pleased with the success of the seminar that she wrote a warm Thank-You letter to Rotary Club of Kingspark Hong Kong to show her appreciation, see attached letter. At 14:50, PE Patrick Wong and Principal Poon exchanged souvenirs to express gratitude to both organizers of the event. At 14:55, Mr Herbert Hui addressed the students about the importance of staying in school and mastering the art of language. The talk was about 45 minutes, which planted the seeds in all students' minds of how to be pillars of Hong Kong when they grow up. At about 15:40, Chairman Rotarian Marvin Lai delivered his first thank-you speech in Cantonese to the audience; all was well. Subsequently, souvenirs were presented to Mr Herbert Hui and AG Albert Wong by PE Patrick Wong and to the rest of the guest speakers by Chairman Rotarian Marvin Lai. A group photo was taken at around 16:00, and afterwards, IE Angels showed all the guest speakers to their perspective class rooms where 30-40 students per class were waiting for them. This concludes the run-down of the entire program. This year students have chosen 15 industries, namely Psychology, Bakery, Tourisum, Food & Beverage, Fashion Merchandising, Athlete, Interior Design, Advertising / Graphics Design, Chef, Entertainment & Communication, Hotel Management, Entrepreneur, Beauty & Cosmetics, Fireman and Police and the participating corporations are The Hong Kong Institute of Directors, Hong Kong Association for the Promotion of Mental Health, a German catering company, Realty Travel Service Ltd, Café de Coral, Carey & Co., Ltd., Hong Kong Sports Institute, Sun Hei Football Team, Law Wing Kee C&D Co Ltd, RCC Construction Ltd, Eric Chan Design Co. Ltd., Pak Loh Chiuchow Restaurant, Kanetanaka, The Hong Kong Jockey Club, Shangri-la Hotels & Resorts, ABC Communications (Holdings) Ltd., Bio Beauty Culture Ltd, Fire Services Department and Hong Kong Police Force, respectively. I want to take this opportunity to thank the keynote speaker Mr Herbert Hui, AG Albert Wong, and PE Patrick Wong for their support, and all the Kingspark organizing committee members, namely Advisors PP Peter Lo, IPP Thomas Chan, and President Dominic Ko; External PR Director PP Edward Lau; Secretary Luna Lee, Chief Treasurer PP Ted Ho, Internal PR Director Joyse Mak and Feroz Sultana, Logistics Director Kennedy Tsang, MC Spark Lam and MC Advisor Elsa Law and the school's organizing committee, namelyPrincipal Lucy Poon, Mr C C Chan, Mr Choi Chi Leung, Mr Ng Chun Hung, Mr Choi, Mr Yip Ka Fai, Ms Wong Wai Man, Mr So Wai Man, Ms Lam Kwan Ying, Ms Ng Lily, Ms Man So Shan, Ms Pong Ching Man, Mr Lee Kin Man, Ms Fong Ka Ki, Mr Lee Kwong Cheung, Mr Poon Wai Chung, Ms Hui Sau Chuen, Ms Chan Shuk Ying, Mr Mak Koon Hung, Mr Siu Kam Hong, Ms Yip Ka Wai, Ms Yang Ching, Ms Chan Tsz Yan, Ms Wong Pui Kwan, Ms Leung Wai Yu, Ms Lam Teresa, Ms Wong Yuk Yee, Ms Yeung Shek Tan, Mr Ng Kwok Fung, Ms Wong Wing, Ms Wu Kin Yun, Ms Ng Sze Wan, Ms Chang Chi Fun and Ms Cheung Lai Ping for their dedication and perseveration to put this event together and insights to solve problems whenever we faced challenges. I want also to thank all the guest speakers, without whom this program would not be possible; they are Mr Herbert Hui of The Hong Kong Institute of Directors, Messrs Andrew Liu and Richard Lee of Hong Kong Association for the Promotion of Mental Health, Miss Chan Ka Foon, Mr Cheng Man Wai of the German catering company, Mr Michael Au of Realty Travel Service Ltd, Ms Phoebe Yeung and her colleauge of Café de Coral, Ms Noel Choy of Carey & Co., Ltd., Mr Li Khai Kam of Hong Kong Sports Institute, Mr Lee Kin Wo of Sun Hei Football Team, Mr. Peter Lo of Law Wing Kee C&D Co Ltd, Mr Felix Lee of RCC Constrution Ltd, Mr Eric Chan of Eric Chan Design Co. Ltd., Mr Hui Mei Tak of Pak Loh Chiuchow Restaurant, Mr William Chang of Kanetanaka, Mr Mark Tung of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr Mahmood Rumjahn of Rotary Club of Admiralty Hong Kong, Mr Eddie Yau of Shangri-la Hotels & Resorts, Mr Joey Fan of ABC Communications (Holdings) Ltd., Ms Janice Wong and her colleague of Bio Beauty Culture Ltd, Mr Lo Tit Leung of Fire Services Department and Mr Ryan Chau of Hong Kong Police Force. Last but not the least, all students and teachers participated in this event that made it even more fruitful and meaningful. Thank you all. Looking forward to another successful Kingspark Career Talk in 2007, and wishing all a prosperous and healthy Year of the Dog! | ||
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World Understanding Month
First, some statistics. I have it on very good authority that many members of Rotary clubs left their clubs and Rotary after they had become members for less than two years. Indeed, a past governor once said jokingly that if all the people who left Rotary clubs or Rotary banded together to form a club, it would probably be the single largest interest club in the world. If you think that recruiting members to Rotary clubs is difficult, I can assure you that retaining them in Rotary is many times more difficult, which is why RI always stresses the importance of membership retention in membership development. People join clubs for many reasons, but the primary reason would have to be, they identify their values with those of the clubs they are about to join. Rotary is no different. A century and a year ago, Paul Harris gathered together three other men whom he thought shared similiar values as he. That was how the first page of Rotary history was written. What did they have in common? They were all lonely men in a foreign city. It was cold, and the hearts of people they met each day, even colder. They wanted to expand their business circle. They wanted to do business with people who shared similiar values. In the process, they decided that theirs was to be a service organization. World understanding and peace came much later. Yes, service, not self, has been the theme of Roatry from the the start, and most importantly, it has never changed. It is not necessary to change. Indeed, the definitions for good or bad ought never change. It was in this context that I said anyone motivated to join a Rotary club for reasons other than "Service" could be joining for the wrong reason. But people, being people, are never perfect. For that matter, let me say in the same breath that it is OK to join a Rotary club for the wrong reason. Many experienced and very dedicated Rotarians have written volumes telling others why they had joined Rotary, why they were Rotarians and why they were still in Rotary. Over the years, I have outlined in my speeches examples: some popular ones include, it is a prestigious club, my good friends are all in the club, the club serves very good food, they have heavyweight speakers, fellowship is excellent, the president is charismatic, a very good friend invited me to join, and so on. Now, each and every one of these factors I have outlined or yet to outline can change and does change over time, which is another proof that all conditioned things in life are impermanent. It follows that when the material factor is removed or ceases to be such - the food has deteriorated, I fall out with some friends, the present president is different, and so on - the motivation to remain in the club would go as well. This could be the single most important reason why so many people left Rotary clubs in their first two years. However, if a person has Rotary is his heart and joins Rotary because of his commitment to the Ideal of Service, nothing would drive him out of the club, for the Ideal of Service has not changed over the years and would not change. People have been asking whether Rotary should change with time and be more relevant. I would encourage them to look closely into themselves and ask why they see it fit to ask the question at all. Has the Ideal of Service to which Rotary subscribes changed? Will this Ideal become irrelevant? Has the world achieved universal peace and understanding, which is embodied in the Object of Rotary? Have the people of the world stopped fighting and killing each other? We are in the month of the year that Rotary calls World Understanding Month. Let us all re-double our effort in this direction, beginning from home and beginning with our own club and oneself. Thus, fellowship among members being vital notwithstanding, a Rotary club which prides itself running excellent fellowship programmes and boasts higher attendance at such functions than at its regular meetings ought to ask the question why it is still called as such. | ||
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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. | ||
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Chief
Editor : Francis Wann The Board of Directors President
: Dominic Ko | ||
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