KINGSPARK NEWS

Club Number: 30119

2005-06 Rotary Year : Issue 8 : 18 October

Contents

Editorial (The Rotary Roadshow) - By Francis Wann
President's Column - By President Dominic Ko
From the Webmaster (Club Leadership Plan) - By CP John Wan
Letters to Editor
The Board

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EDITORIAL

The Rotary Roadshow

Some eight years ago, same month, same place, former chief executive Mr Tung Chee-hwa made his first policy address under the theme of "Building Hong Kong for a New Era"

And only a few days ago, under the banner of "Strong Governance for the People", CE Donald Tsang delivered his maiden policy address.

It was meticulously calculated to be the chief executive's personal roadshow as we saw him move from one spotlight to another, dispelling any suggestions that he was still living under the shadow of his predecessor. With maximum publicity, he appeared on radio phone-ins, panel discussions, went to public forums, and met the press - and his critics.

While policy addresses are hardly exciting after all, there's at least a thing or two Rotary should learn from him.

Long on promises and fundamentals; and short on specifics.

Forget what the new Exco members said about conflict of interest, about universal suffrage, and about party politics. At least on camera, they speak in one voice.

The Rotary Image committee since its inception in June has been talking about maximising media coverage, and has commissioned the PolyU to undertake a study on poverty and youths which, as suggested by District Governor Peter Wan, should help Rotarians better understand their roles, and in turn, initiating projects at various levels which would attract media interest.

In its latest report uploaded under DG's newsletter, the committee outlined its strategies. The Rotary offensive would begin with establishing working relations with the media, district offices, and the China Liaison Office.

There are also suggestions of hightlighting Rotary landmarks in the territory, more precise guidelines for public announcements and proofreading, as well as possibly a Rotary library.

However, media coverage is a tricky subject, and the most effective publicity usually comes when it's least intended. So far the call for more joint projects at district level has received what can only be described as a lukewarm response. After PolioPlus, Rotary doesn't seem to have anything with a global demension to identify ourselves.

As mentioned in this column before, the media is, and has always been, hungry for news. Are we at the risk of a misplaced identity in a sense that we care more about our image - or lack of it - than those we serve? Sometime ago I talked to PP Kenneth Chow, Rotarian of the year (2005) about this image issue. He agreed that within Rotary there's no shortage of media professionals and influential personalities and they should come forward and talk to the Image Committee. It certainly opens more doors.

District level events like the Photography Competition - or karaoke for that matter - will not interest the media unless it carries a strong enough message, and unless it is effectively publicised.

This week the District Governor visited Kingspark and was duely honoured. As he continues his roadshow during his term of office, he should also be aware that when they stop talking about Rotary image, we'll be back to square one.

Time we went for the plunge.

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President's Column
By President Dominic Ko

Our District Governor Peter Wan paid his official visit to our club on 13th October 2005. He was accompanied by AG Albert Wong, DS Albert Tsui and DDS Rainbow Li. It was a very useful meeting because it gives an opportunity for our members to know more about our Governor and the District and also for our Governor to know more about our members. The major issue of our club brought up by the Governor is the drop of the membership no. from 36 at 30-6-2004 to 29 as at 30-6-2005. We are aware of our problems and it has been our major objective to address membership growth and retention in our club. In the same evening we had our Board meeting and we have considered the suggestions from our IPDG Alex that we should invite very good speakers to our club, say monthly, and at the same time ask our members to bring their guests to the meeting to make the no. of attendants up to at least 3 tables. It was well accepted by the Board and will be implemented as soon as possible.

The Governor also announced during his visit that our district had decided to donate HK$1 million to the disaster relief for the earthquake in Pakistan and our district will partner with Medicins San Frontiere in this project. At our Board meeting we have resolved that we will appeal to our members for donation and earmark the red box donation from the date of DG's visit to the end of November for the disaster relief. Our club will commit to donate HK$20,000 to the relief and will make up for any difference if our collection is less than HK$20,000.

In addition to our annual vocational seminar project, our Vocational Service Director, Marvin Lai, has successfully organized 6 members, i.e. PP Peter Lo, PP Ted Ho, PP PP Anwer, Kennedy Tsang, Michael Au and Marvin Lai, from our club to participate in the School-Company Partnership Program organized by the Young Entrepreneur Development Council Ltd. The objective of the program is to let students learn outside the classroom and gain exposure to the business world. In this program we will form 2 teams in the name of our club and for each team we will nominate 3 Company Ambassadors, i.e. our members, to work with the school to deliver the program content. There will be certain amount of time resource commitment involved by our members. Thank you Marvin for organizing this meaningful vocational service project for our club and also all you are participating in this program.

In our Youth Exchange program with our Twin Club, the Rotary Club of Canberra Sunrise, a student from Hawker College of Canberra will come to Hong Kong by the end of November this year. She is Michaela Flanigan and she is a Grade 11 student. She will study for about 6 weeks in Belilios Public School and will be hosted by Rotarian Feroz. Again thank you Feroz for supporting the Youth Exchange program.

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From the Webmaster

Club Leadership Plan

A few weeks ago, I discussed the Club Leadership Plan at a regular club meeting. This is RI's recommended plan for every club, as opposed to the one that the District Governor asked every club to prepare before his year began, but which very few did with all their heart and mind, or on time.

Let me briefly outline what it is all about, even though anyone who would read this could have read it on the RI Website.

The Club Leadership Plan is to assist the club to ve an effective club, the four elements of which are, substain membership growth, implement successful projects that address the needs of a community, support the Rotary Foundation, and develop leaders capable of serving in Rotary beyond the club level.

RI's suggested solution is that each club should have five standing committees, each tasked with specific functions to develop and implement plans in its specific area, as follows -

First, the Membership Committee, a comprehensive plan for the recruitment and retention of members.

Second, the Club Public Relations Committee, plans to provide the public with information about Rotary and to promote the club's service projects and activities.

Third, the Club Administration Committee, plans to conduct activities associated with the effective operation of the club.

Fourth, the Service Committee, plans for projects that addresss the needs of specific communities.

Fifth, the Rotary Foundation Committee, plans to support The Rotary Foundation through both financial contributions and program participation.

All five standing committees should be chaired by experienced Rotarians who could deliver and report to the club board on the status of their activities on a regular basis and at club assemblies, as appropriate. This would help make board meetings finish on time and more interesting.

Perhaps the recommended ways and means of running a club have not changed that much, but it is up to the club leadership to take ownership and encourage the club to do the same. As things are and have been for some years, there is little to no governance at club level that the club can boast with a clear conscience. It certainly gives a new interpretation to the well used saying that all that glitters is not gold.

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Letters to Editor

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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The Editors

Chief Editor : Francis Wann
Ex-officio : President Thomas Chan
Features Editor and Board Secretary : Michael Eyles
Events Editor : PP Ted Ho
News Roon Editor : Joyce Mak
Profiles and International Desk Editor : PP Edward Lau
District Desk Editor : PDG John Wan

The Board of Directors

President : Dominic Ko
President-Elect : Sunny So
Vice-President : Patrick Wong
Secretary : Michael Eyles
Treasurer : Ted Ho
Rotary Foundation : Peter Lo
Club Service Director : Edward Lau
Community Service Director : Joyce Mak
Vocational Service Director : Marvin Lai
Programme Director : Feroz Sultana
Sergeant-at-Arms : Kennedy Tsang
Membership Director and IPP : Thomas Chan

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