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KINGSPARK NEWS Club Number: 30119 2006-07 Rotary Year : Issue 1 : 6 July | ||
| 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
(The
end is nigh) - By Francis Wann | ||
| District Website | RI Website | RI President | TRF | News Room | Global History Fellowship | ||
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The end is nigh [The Editor did sent in his editorial on 1 July 2006 - Webmaster] It's July 1 today, and as usual memories of the past should have returned to haunt you. Today is no any day, and three years ago the democrats managed to get half a million people into the streets demanding that the then chief executive should go, which hastened his downfall. It's realpolitik in action. Suddenly the media is all over Anson Chan as the possible contender for the next chief executive. Her reentry to the political scene has confused many. The former chief executive and the boss of CE Donald Tsang in those years should have known better. So far she's not been giving out much and there are only speculations on whether she intends to run, and if she does, it would possibly be the show of the year. Whatever her intention, she knows how the game of democracy is played. July 1 also marks the start of another Rotary year, and here at Kingspark, incoming president Patrick Wong will officially begin his term of office today while Dominic retreats to backstage. A new Rotary year ensures new leadership, new initiatives, and renewed sense of confidence. As chief editor, I've never set guidelines for what presidents should write in their columns, and naturally whatever they've written will get published because of their official capacity. But over the years I have to admit on some occasions I received articles from presidents which should have been the work of his programme directors or whatever. Naturally the president's role is symbolic and he gives a sene of direction and personal thoughts to the way the club is moving, and ideally these would be reflected in his column. Charter President John has reiterated from time to time that the role of our club bulletin is first and foremost to serve our members. However in the absense of substainable contributions your chief editor would often find himself in an unenviable position of deciding what as Rotarians our members are most concerned about. Webmaster John was probably right when he suggested Kingspark News had a wider readership outside our membership. Kingspark News was late for more than a week in its last edition and despite the apologies, nobody asked, and probably nobody noticed the difference. The editorial board meeting on June 29 had to be suspended even with Michael Eyles' dinner offer. I cringed with embarrassment when sometime ago District Webmaster Bill Benter told us in an email that he was a "big fan" of Kingspark News. If the situation goes on, then the end is nigh. Well I suppose I should look on the brighter side of things. Anyway it's July 1. Have you played your card? | ||
President's
Column
Recalling when I was standing at the member's induction ceremony 12 years ago, but I cannot recall at which hotel it was, it was PP Edward Lau who offered his right hand welcoming me as a new member. Very soon and I hope, I will have the same distinct honor to do such service for our new members. Over the past decade, I have tried very hard indeed, in one way or the other, to postpone the arrival of such day. I cannot run away anymore. Well, I should honestly thank Rotarian Sunny. He accelerated the process and made this day happen sooner. I wish that Rotarian Sunny could very soon settle down with his business endeavors and return to join the Board. I have seen our Club matures over the past years. I like to use the word 'mature' to describe our Club in this context. We have borne two District Governors in a matter of a dozen years. During the same period, many of our members have upgraded their marital status from single and available, or married and without child, to become responsible parents having a small family of one child, or to a big family of two, or even big big family of three or even four kids, measured by the 21st century Hong Kong standard. I can easily name a few here, for instance PP Ted, PP Raymond, PP Thomas, Rotarian Stephen, Rotarian Raymond Lam, myself, and a few others. As the Club matures, the number of members destined to serve our Club as leaders has shrunk. Immediately available candidates have become fewer and fewer. The Hong Kong economic and competitive landscape has changed. Traditional industries have matured and were replaced and relocated. Some of our members have to flow with the tide and relocate northward into our mother hinterland. The Club membership has not grown in a meaningful way. That was the past, wasn't it? What is new then? In the present Rotary year, I can see that there are a few pressing priorities and tasks that I have to face and accomplish during my term. 1. The most imminent is the Kingspark camp that is to take place at the Scout Association of Hong Kong Tung Tsz Scout Centre at Tai Po on July 21-23. Show your support and commitment to the Club by participating and bringing family members. Invite friends to come along to the 2-day event. Ask our partners-in- service to come to the camp. This is the least you can do for the Club. The cost is very affordable. 2. The Joint-Sister Clubs' meeting next year with the Rotary Club of Chung Yuan, Taipei, Taiwan, and the Rotary Club of Sathorn, Bangkok, Thailand, is an important project and commitment. Imagine that we, as Host Club, have to return the kind hospitality to 30 to 40 overseas Rotarians, their spouses and family members. This is not going to be an easy task. Our Club will be very stretched in terms of manpower, time and funding. I need every ounce of support from all of you to welcome our friends, and organize visits and meetings. Taking a day off here and there from work to treat our visitors would be an effort more than welcome. We have to institutionalize a meaningful Club project for our sister clubs to participate. As our IPP Dominic mentioned in his very last President's Column, our Club did not have a club project last year. Well, I assure you that our Club will have one project before the end of my term. 3. Our Club is facing a leadership succession issue. This is serious matter. We are also facing a membership issue, like many other Rotary clubs. This is not new. In any organization, be it a business organization or a social organization, the lack of succession planning could lead to the demise of the entity. Our Club still has knowledgeable, capable, able, wise and experienced members whom we can look up to as our future Club leaders. I hope they could commit to service, and lead. The RI's theme this year is "Lead the Way". I wish they could step forward, lead the way, and return to active services soon. We have seen our Club blossoms and matures. I suppose none of us would like to see our Club falling into senility so soon. CP John does not like the idea of enlisting past presidents to become president for the second time. I agree, but not entirely, unless we run out of choices. There are options to resolve this issue. I shall deal with this pressing issue inevitably. Of course, suggestions from our wise members are very welcome. You are seeing young and committed members on my Board. They are our Club's future. I urge our vintage members to support them, and nurture them to become our future Club leaders. Finally, taking this editorial space in my first President's Column, I would also like to encourage every member to write just one article, or more if you would like, to support our Chief Editor Francis Wann and Club Webmaster CP John Wan. They deserve to be recognized for taking up the challenge and commitment to publishing the Kingspark News. I have done mine. I have started to "Lead the Way". Why haven't you? Let's do it. I look forward to a year of great service and enjoyable fellowship with our membership. | ||
By Club Service Director Edward Lau Congratulations to the following Kingsparicans on their job change! PP Thomas Chan joined ABN AMRO Bank as Vice President and Head, VGPB Business Banking, in charge of Consumer Clients. PP Thomas's new office is on 38F, Two IFC, which is just a few floors below our President Patrick's office. His new office no. is 3513 2988 and email is Thomas.k.f.chan@hk.abnamro.com. Rtn. Kennedy Tsang switched to SBI E2-Capital Securities Limited as Investment Analyst, Equity Research. Rtn. Ken's new office is on 43F, Jardine House, so he has no excuse to be late for our happy hour. His new office no. is 2533 3713 and email is kennedytsang@softbank.com.hk. | ||
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Foundation News
Before that, let me have a word on the late publication of this issue, the first in a new series. The main reason is that I have been waiting for the new banner with the theme logo from the District Webmaster. I checked late last night, and it was not up then. It is now, and so is our beloved Kingspark News. I am happy that President Patrick has seen it fit to retain my service and I would try my best to do a better job. Now here are extracts of my 3-year report. I began by thanking the three Governors of the last three years, namely Jones Wong, Alexander Mak and Peter Wan for entrusting me with the stewardship of the District Rotary Foundation Committee while they were in charge of the District. Indeed, between them, they have made me the first Rotarian in the history of the District to be responsible for all Rotary Foundation matters in the District for three consecutive years, for which I am deeply grateful. The past three years have indeed offered me invaluable insight and experience on the Foundation, have reinforced my commitments to its programs and have given me exceptional and unique opportunities to work with dedicated and service-minded people who are committed to making our community and our world a better place in which to live. I have been humbled by the experience. Let me say once more that it is my belief and wish that every person who calls himself or herself a Rotarian must contribute to the Rotary Foundation on a regular and continuing basis, or he or she would not be worth the Rotary pin he or she wears. I am very happy that I have been helped in the job by the many Sub-Committee Chairs and Committee members of the DRFC in the last three years. In their own ways, they have all contributed to the success of the District. Now, here are some highlights in the last three years, with emphases on the last year. Annual Program Fund (APF) - The District achieved the goals set for each of the three years. Increasingly, more clubs and Rotarians have responded to appeals to contribute and we have had positive and encouraging results. Sadly, for the year that has just ended, and at the time of reporting, we had a total of 14 clubs that had not contributed at all in the last year towards the Foundation, either towards the APF, restricted giving or the Permanent Fund, as at end of May 2006. They are: Guia, Gobi, Zuummod, Hong Kong Bayview, Hong Kong North, Kowloon Northwest, Metropolitan, Peninsula South, Peninsula Sunrise, Quarry Bay, Queensway, The Peak, Tsimshatsui and Victoria. This is regrettable, particularly when 11 of the 14 are from Hong Kong, of which two are clubs with past governors. The top three clubs for highest per capita Annual Giving as at end of May are Mid Level, Hou Kuong and Kowloon East; and I congratulate them all and thank them for their efforts and commitments. District Simplified Grants (DSG) - This program began in 2003 and we are into the third year now. The program enables the District to allocate 20% of the District Designated Fund (DDF) on projects that would benefit the local communities. I am happy that we have created awareness among clubs and Rotarians and we have seen increasingly more clubs - including Rotaract clubs - coming forth with applications to fund their very meaningful projects. I would like to thank PDG Joseph Lee, PP Stephen Lam (HK Northwest), Amy Leung (Bayview Sunshine) and PP Thomas Wong (HK Island West) for the parts they have played in making the program so successful. Matching Grants - I have noted that more clubs have been successful in their applications for Matching Grants. In addition, for the first time, the District, in co-operation with three other districts, namely, District 3300 (Malaysia), District 3520 (Taipei) and District 3650 (Korea), has been awarded a Major Matching Grant of over US$150,000 to enable us to carry out a project estimated to cost US$314,000 for immunizing about 200,000 children in Anqing, Anhui in China against Hepatitis B. Major Donors - Thanks to the untiring efforts of PDG YK Cheng and PP Grace Young (Mid Level), we have had more major donors; and the trend is to encourage district leaders to lead by example by becoming major donors themselves. Paul Harris Society - This is a recent initiative whereby individuals pledge to contribute US$1,000 each year to maintain their membership of this very exclusive Society which began in our District in November 2005. By the end of June 2006, we have had 31 Rotarians pledged to be the founding members. It means that henceforth the District will have US$31,000 each year in contribution to the APF without additional efforts. The formation of the Paul Harris Society is due largely to the initiative of PP Kenneth Chow (Tsuen Wan) to whom the District ought to be eternally grateful. PolioPlus - We have had spectacular achievements in the past three years, in terms of fund raising and in terms of participation in National Immunization Days organized by other districts. I would like to thank PP Rainbow Li (Kwun Tong), PP Stella Kan (Macau) and PP Edward Lau (Kingspark HK) for the respective parts they have played over the years. Scholarships - We have continued to be very active in funding scholars; and have been sending out between five to eight scholars each year. We are also hosting incoming scholars. Most recently, we have proposed a rather competitive candidate for the World Peace Scholarship program. Group Study Exchange: We are a popular district in the program and we have been very active, particularly in the year just ending which saw Hong Kong hosting seven teams, thanks to the untiring efforts and energies of PP Lawrence Li (Hong Kong Bayview). Conclusion - I am grateful to have the opportunity to serve the District in this capacity for three years. I have learned a lot about the Foundation and I would be an advocate of the Foundation from now on. I would like to believe that I have handed over the job to my successor - PDG Alexander Mak - in a better and more structured form than I found it. I am confident that he would do a better job than I and I hope you would all give him the support you have given me in the past, the better that more people who need our service would benefit from the Foundation through your contribution, in kind or in cash. | ||
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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
: Patrick Wong | ||
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