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KINGSPARK NEWS Club Number: 30119 2006-07 Rotary Year : Issue 2 : 18 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
(Happiness)
- By Francis Wann | ||
| District Website | RI Website | RI President | TRF | News Room | Global History Fellowship | ||
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Happiness
What's wrong with us? When the chips were down, we were the first to complain. Whatever the Government policy, whatever our economy, and whatever our political destiny, we are just not happy. Why is it that the world's most important and successful financial hub is also the victim of its success? Why is it that with our state-of-the-art innovations in technology which has made our living standards almost second to none, we're still not satisfied? In a study published by British thinktank, the new economics foundation, Hong Kong ranks 88th in the Happy Planet Index which takes into consideration people's well-being, life expectancy, and environment, among other factors. And Vanuatu, the South Pacific island with a population about half of Kwun Tong, tops the index. It seems incomprehensible that the Melanesian island nation east of Australia with no known natural resources, vulnerable to natural disasters, and with a GDP per capita value stood at US 2944 and ranked 117th among 177 countries in 2003 (as compared to US 27179 and ranked 1st among all Asian countries for Hong Kong) could be the source of our envy. (United Nations Development Program 2005) What, then, is their recipe for happiness? Perhaps the answer is already in our heads. As Mark Loven of Vanuatu online put it: the people are satisfied with very little. It is not a consumer-driven society. But that's not the whole picture. Readers might still remember some two weeks ago, three women died together in a suicide pact in Tin Shui Wai. What more serious accusations than death could there be when there is so much delusion, disillusion and deprivation in life? A life devoid of aspirations and hope is a life destined to tragedy, and in our new towns and other deprived areas, these tragedies are lurking in the corner, waiting to happen. It doesn't matter whether we or the Government understand the social dimensions and implications; the important thing is that we are determined to change, and as Rotarians, this is also something high on our agenda. Happiness must be something long forgotten here in Hong Kong. Last week our guest speaker writer-artist-illustrator Ah Chung, aka Yim Yee-king, also gave us much insight on the subject of happiness. Perhaps happiness still means different things to different people. CE Donald Tsang has pledged to understand the problem first hand. All your friends should have told you what life is like there in those towns. Tin Shui Wai - embracing heaven and sea - what a poetic name, and what a bitter joke it is. | ||
IPP's
Column [This is IPP Dominic's Speech at the Club Installation Meeting held on 6 July.]
Our Club has grown to a stage that we have many projects, many sister clubs and many sponsored clubs and there is a lot of work to manage them. As the President I have taken up the challenge to deal with them. I got the pressure from my business, my family and the work in Rotary and very often it is difficult to give priorities. However, I believe that the objects of Rotary can help the needy and make the world a better place and I always believe what the deceased PP of the USA John F. Kennedy said "Ask what you can do for your Club Ask not what your Club can do for you". This is the driving force which has helped me overcome my difficulties. I understand that there are still many problems in our Club, like membership, insufficient helping hands, etc., but if our members can team up and bring in quality members I am sure the problems will be solved automatically. I would like to thank all our members, particularly the Board members, officers and Past Presidents, for your support for the past year. Without you I would not have this enjoyable year of presidency. First of all, I must thank the 2 PDGs of our Club for their guidance. PDG Alex, you introduced me to Rotary. You have been my mentor on Rotary matters and also my personal consultant on Taxation. Your active role as IPDG has certainly given me a lot of help and inspiration. PDG John, you were the District Rotary Foundation Chair. Under your encouragement and leadership I was able to work on several Matching Grant Projects between our Club and the Clubs in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. In the past I always forget what I have learnt about the Rotary Foundation, but after this year I have learnt a lot more about it by hands on experience. PDG John, you are also our Webmaster and you are writing biweekly in our Kingspark News. I must thank you for you continued contribution to the Club. VP Sunny, you were chosen as PE but you changed your mind to defer your Presidency due to your work. We respect your decision and I am sure you will become our PE again. In fact I did the same when I quit 4 years ago as PE, but now I have completed the presidency. Sunny, we are waiting for you. PE Patrick, you have been an excellent Rotaract Advisor and that is why our Rotaractors love you so much and you have been chosen as one of the best Rotaract Advisors of the District this year. This shows your enthusiasm in Rotary and in youth activities. Thank you, Patrick, for taking up the PE position 1 year ahead of your plan otherwise, I have to be the President for another year. I am sure you have got the right decision and we will give you our full support. PP Ted, to be the Treasurer of our club is not easy and you have taken up this honorary job again and again. Thank you so much Ted. You are a great sportsman and you have won a lot of trophies in the Sports Day and the Golf Tournament for our Club. You have organised the Kingspark Camp to Qian Yuan, the 3 Clubs alliance and you have helped the YDC School Company Partnership program. Thank you for your support and hard work. Rotarian Michael Eyles, I understand that you were starting the business of your own and were not able to show up in many of our meetings. I am sure that you will continue to support our Club when your business is settled down. Thank you for being our Club Secretary. IPP Thomas, having a net growth of 1 new member is the most difficult goal for me last year in order to get the Presidential Citation. Finally, we have achieved this. Thank you for your work on membership, for being our Rotaract Advisor and helping the YDC School Company Partnership program. PP Peter, you are the PP who never says no. Every time when I cried out for help, e.g. for having no speakers, having to support district events and club projects, you always give me a hand without any hesitation. You have been our Interact Advisor, Career Talk Advisor and you have helped the YDC School Company Partnership program. Thank you PP Peter. I would like to present an award issued by the President of Rotary International to recognize individual Rotarians for his outstanding efforts in each of the four Avenues of Service. It is the Four Avenues of Service Citation awarded to PP Peter Lo. Congratulations, PP Peter, you deserve this recognition. PP Edward, I was inducted by you when you were the President of our Club. I was impressed by the spirit of our Club under your leadership and you have set good example for me. Your continued contribution to the Club as the Club Service Director has helped to tie our members together. Your role as the District Youth Exchange Chair has brought several youth exchange opportunities to our club. Thank you PP Edward. Rotarian Joyce, Congratulations for being chosen as one of the Best Rotaract Advisors of the District. I know why you are chosen. It is because you look like a Rotaractor. Thank you, Joyce, for being our Community Service Director. We were impressed by what you have presented to us about the projects for next year in our last Club Assembly and we are looking forward to your leadership to organize them. You are the most helpful Rotarians in all club events because you have been the secretary for our board meetings, committee member of Christmas Parties, Anniversary Dinners, etc. Thank you, Joyce. Rotarian Marvin, as the Vocational Service Director you have won 2 awards for our club, namely the Best Vocational Service Project from the District and the Best Cooperative Service Award for the YDC School Company Partnership program from Rotary International. They are the most difficult awards to get because of the keen competition among the clubs in our District. Thank you, Marvin, for your outstanding achievement and your help. Rotarian Michael Au, thank you for organizing our 3 Clubs alliance visit to Thailand, our visit to Mongolia and treating the visiting Rotarians to Hong Kong from our sister clubs. Thank you, Michael, for helping the YDC School Company Partnership program, for being the Interact Advisor and the International Service Director. Rotarian Kennedy, you were the youngest member in our club, but now you are not. You have mixed very well with our members and you have helped the Club a lot for being the Sergeant at Arms. You have helped the YDC School Company Partnership program. Thank you, Kennedy. Rotarian Raymond Lam, thank you for being the Sports Captain. Your work in China has stopped you from attending our regular meeting, but it has not stopped you from organizing sports activities for our members. You always show up in evening meetings whenever you are in Hong Kong. Your enthusiasm has shown you devotion to Rotary. Thank you, Raymond. PP Raymond, I forgot to name you as one of our Club officers in the beginning of the year, but in fact you are. You have been our Club's Representative in the Hong Kong Model United Nations Association and you have been working hard to promote Model United Nations in Hong Kong. Every year the 4 days program is attended by more than 240 students from 60 schools locally and 60 students from the overseas. My dear members, this has been a big project of our club and have you noticed this? We should recognize PP Raymond for his work done. Thank you, PP Raymond. Rotarian Francis, we don't see you often in our regular meetings because of your work, but we never miss you in the Club and District Annual events. You have worked quietly for our Club as the Editor of the Kingspark News. We had our Editorial Board meeting a few days ago and I am looking forward to see some changes in our Club's bulletin. Thank you, Francis. Rotarian Feroz, although you quit as the Program Director in the middle of the year because of your work, but once you have worked for the Club you should be recognized. I am sure that you will continue to support the Club in the coming year. Thank you, Feroz. Fellow Rotarians, I cannot be your President anymore. Before I stop here, I must give my thanks to my wife, Yvonne. She has been very patient with me. I have been very busy for the last year and I always work late. She works late too, but she has to take care of the studies of our son after office hous. She sleeps late and in fact it is not good for her health. We moved our home in March this year and she took 2 weeks day off to tidy up our home. She did all the work without my help, but she didn't grumble at all. In the coming year I wish I will spend more time with my family to make up for what I could not do last year. Thank you, Yvonne. | ||
By Club Service Director Edward Lau Welcome new member Alexander Kar Rtn Alex was inducted into Rotary Club of Kingspark Hong Kong at our regular meeting on 13 July by President Patrick, who was chairing the meeting for the first time as President. We had a long agenda that day including birthday celebration and I am not sure who was more nervous - President Patrick or Rtn. Alex. In any event, congratulations Rtn Alex! Rtn. Alex is well known to us all as he had attended many regular meetings and fellowship gatherings during the past three months, including the joint visit to our sister clubs in Thailand in May. Rtn. Alex works for Cisco Systems (HK) Ltd and his classification is Network Solution. He can be contacted at 93843181 and his email address is alexanderkar@gmail.com. Rtn. Alex will be serving as an advisor to our Rotaract Club. District Appointments for Kingsparicans for Rotary year 2006-07 Congratulations
to the following members who will be serving at the District level: 1. PDG Alex
Mak - Rotary Foundation Committee, Chair | ||
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Kingspark Camp
But I have been accused of more serious crimes before. Again, at the risk of being accused of looking back - a popular pastime for many past whatevers - I recall saying at a major district event that I did not court controversies, but that I would never be afraid of or run away from them. I am talking about the Kingspark Camp being held this weekend which clashes with the District Installation. Kingspark Camp has been an annual event for many years. It started as an event at the beginning of the summer holidays when members with young families could get together and have a good time. Rotaractors and Interactors were invited; and indeed everyone had a good time. By now, it has become a tradition. District Installation began in Year 2000 when the Governor Elect of the day decided that the district needed an event to project itself as an institution, as a cohesive going concern. From then on, all future governors have followed suit, though not necessarily in the same manner or fashion. To go to the Kingspark Camp or the District Installation - that is the question. I quickly point out that that must be a question for the individual; and there can be no right or wrong answer. For that matter, I tend to agree with Mark Twain that the only event one must be present is one's own funeral. Seriously, Rotary is not one's job, not one's family and not one's only life, there can be no one single event that one must go to as such, at club level, at district level or at RI level. Indeed, RI has since made the rules on attendance very flexible - and quite rightly so. One can also suggest that the essence of being a Rotarian is in the spirit behind Rotary, rather than following or observing the culture of the institution, at club level, district level or international level. The debate on whether a member of Kingspark should "support" the annual Kinspark Camp by being there will continue; and before I am taken to task, I would confess here that I have not been present at the annual event for a few years in the running, and I have my personal reasons for that which I would not go into in detail and in the open, not only because the reasons are personal but also because such reasons are fundamentally irrelevant to the discussion in general and to Rotary as a movement in particular. Let me say this clearly. No one should feel obliged to do anything in Rotary, at any level. Once one has that feeling, one must review the situation and reassess one's priorities. | ||
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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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