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KINGSPARK NEWS Club Number: 30119 2006-07 Rotary Year : Issue 24 : 12 June | ||
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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 | ||
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Editorial
(Editorial
Credibility ) - By Francis Wann | ||
| District Website | RI Website | RI President | TRF | News Room | Global History Fellowship | ||
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Editorial Credibility
Like most Rotarians, Bill saw the good influence of a group of dedicated men was having on the local community before he became a Rotarian himself, and a Rotarian to the last breath. Yet unlike some Rotarians, Bill had never been disillusioned by Rotarians. As a Trustee of the Rotary Foundation, he clearly understood his immense privilege of being part of a global humanitarian movement which has to realise its true potential. It must be a question of attitude. How can an organization as complex as Rotary be without its problems? Will our belief in Service Above Self address our problems? After all, it's our desire to serve which brings us together. Rotary's unparallelled service track record has been a mark of instant credibility worldwide, and it's given us privilege and convenience in our work. However the notion of credibility is not only dearly bought, but also easily lost and there certainly is no room for complacency. I suppose people look at Rotary from different angles and hence draw different conclusions. At the 3-club Alliance meeting last month, I met Laurel and Ian Sayers from District 9710 (Australia) and they were worried about the size of certain clubs. Put plainly, they may not be able to display their Rotaryworthiness to make their club life sustainable and justifiable. There is certainly some truth in her worries as they would be hamstrung in their projects as a result of lack of resource or expertise. I remember I talked to IPDG Peter Wan when he was district governor about the same issue but he confessed since these clubs were chartered there wasn't much he could do to streamline the clubs. The fact, as Peter admitted, was that they usually didn't want to disband and merge with another club. And as the Rotary office only lasts for one year, it wasn't worth to rock the boat and end up being unpopular. Well it's where the question of credibility comes in. As we embark on our various projects under the banner of Rotary, have we ever asked ourselves if we've got credibility as a member, and as a club. Kingspark's been keeping itself busy with projects and functions big and small, but let's not be complacent, and let's ask ourselves seriously what we really want out of Rotary. PE Elect Marvin has promised to start his column in this edition but unfortunately as Webmaster John has to leave Hongkong for the States this Tuesday, he requested that all articles reach him on Monday, including this one. I made an effort to alert Marvin of this notice but my email bounced. So dear Kingsparians if you cannot read his contribution now, it's got nothing to do with his credibility... Still on the subject of credibility, I was reading the submission of the Commission's counsel and there's a section titled "Credibility and Reliability of Witnesses". On one of the key witnesses in the inquiry, it says "a number of areas in which Mrs Law's evidence was clearly found wanting in terms of credibility..." 'Nuff said. | ||
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President's
Column There were so many club activities, one after another and to list them chronologically: The Rotary RainLily Fund Raising Concert "From Opera to Musical" held in the St. John's Cathedral in Central on the 3rd; Reception Dinner to welcome members of our sister clubs from Taipei Chung Yuan and Sathorn Bangkok on the 4th; 3-Club Alliance Bowling Competition on the 5th; 3-Club Alliance Agreement Renewal Ceremony and Club Annual Dinner Party on the 5th; Rotary RainLily Closing Ceremony Family Day on the 6th; Inauguration Ceremony of the Interact Club of Hotung Secondary School on the 7th; Adopt-A-School Lead The Way Youth Forum on the 23rd; District Conference Opening Ceremony on the 24th, and; District Conference on the 26th. Each event is of great significance to bring Rotarians and Rotariennes together in the spirit of fellowship and service. I hope those of us who attended the above events enjoyed and appreciated the value and spirit of Rotary. I also hope that our new friend, Fiona Chou, was able to pick up something interesting about Rotary when she attended the District Conference. Again, I would like to thank Joyce for her many hours of hard work, aided by PP Edward, to bring the Rotary RainLily Project to a successful finale. My gratitude also goes to all members who played a vital role on stage in the closing ceremony. The project has successfully raised favorable publicity to the Rotary District. Although the project was not nominated in time for any Rotary or District award in the current Rotary year, the impact to the community is encouraging. The 3-Club Alliance is of high importance to the clubs. The pact helps to extend the service of Kingspark, Sathorn and Chung Yuan beyond domestic geographical boundaries. It brings members from different countries together to work on Rotary service projects, and achieving fellowship and close friendship in the process. The recent renewal of the Agreement also sets out a formal agenda for the 3 clubs to pay official visits to each other in turns, and to carry out projects at the hosting club's country. It was agreed that in 2008 and 2010, Taipei Chung Yuan will be the hosting club. The club will celebrate their 10th Anniversary in 2010. Kingspark will be the hosting club in 2009 and celebrate our 15th Anniversary. In 2011, Sathorn will be the hosting club and celebrate their 15th Anniversary. I wish to thank President Jim and President Freezer for leading your members to share the memorable moments in our Annual Dinner party. It was a wonderful re-union with our friends from Bangkok and Taipei. The fellowship helps to maintain the very close friendship between the members. The Editor reminded me in the last issue that I had made a renewed pledge to urge every member to contribute to the official club newspaper. I thought I had poor memories, but I did not forget. I had done it face to face with some of our members, and not once. I had even appealed to the members publicly when I wrote the column in April and was printed in Issue 21 of May 3. I can understand that the Editor might have missed it because he was so much preoccupied with his own editorial work, among other things, and almost detached himself from daily club affaires and fellowship. I do not owe the members any explanation. I do not need to answer to them when members are not willing, or do not wanting, or having no interest, to contribute to the newspaper. It is they who have the answer and explanation. Even more so, should it not that the Editor, and the publisher, be interested to know why members are not contributing despite the President having urged the members for articles. Curiosity sometimes pays. May be it does not matter to all, or it is none of the President's business anymore. It should however be enlightening to all if the answer and explanation could be shared. The term of the President lasts twelve months. The newspaper could go on until god knows when. At the end of the day, it is business as usual, with or without article contribution. I am now concerned whether the final issue that I pledged will ever be printed. | ||
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From
the Webmaster
My brother editor should have no cause to be upset by President Patrick's remarks about his apparent dis-interest in attending regular club meetings, for that was exactly how he has projected himself, consistently, notwithstanding that he has consistently and painstakingly tried to keep Kingspark News alive and kicking. If he were upset, he would have responded to the veiled criticisms through his; for I received President Patrick's article at 1936 hrs on 11 June and my brother editor's editorial at 0044 hrs on 12 June. He would have plenty of time to respond if he had wanted to. Similiarly, there would be no cause for President Patrick to be upset about the manner in which this bulletin has been published in his presidency; and let me quote my own column issued on 1 April (Issue 19) which was titled "Forgiveness". I had said, " The job of an editor or webmaster is to publish what he has been tasked to, regularly and on time, without fear or favour......Kingspark News appears to be the only internet based biweekly of our district, so much so that the District Webmaster has seen it fit to highlight its contents on a highly regularly basis. Every now and then, friends and Rotarians would make the odd remarks about Kingspark News, usually polite and complimentary......." In particular, I would urge President Patrick not to be concerned that any of his articles won't be printed; or for that matter, any other member or reader. We are not exactly overwhelmed with articles. And anyone who can count with both hands would be able to figure out who has done what and how often. If anyone has anything credible to say on Kingspark News, he would have plenty of time and space to air them. More specifically, it is not for the editor or webmaster to find out why members have not been pouring in articles for publication. As it was in the beginning, Kingspark News has existed to serve members and readers. I'd like to believe that Kingspark News has remained a credible club bulletin and would remain so. It is therefore everyone's business, including of course the President's to be concerned if there are signs that something unusual is brewing on the horizon. Let me remind readers and members that this is the 24th Issue and hence the last for this Rotary Year. The next issue would be Issue 1 of the 2007-08 season; but I can assure President Patrick that his reports would receive no less attention long after he ceases to be President. I discussed the role of club leadership and the office of the President at the last regular meeting. Let me recap briefly. The membership should support the President of the club because he or she holds the office, regardless of who the incumbent is and regardless of the personality and the intrinsic qualities perceived of the person. Those who say that they support a certain president or leader may encounter problems when they face an incumbent with whom they are at variance or against whom they entertain some animosity. Support for individuals usually involves politics. I hope the day for this would never come, for if it does, we would not be in a Rotary club, certainly not the one that I had the privilege to charter. If I had more time last week, I would have gone on to discussing the role of governors in a district and of the charter president in a club. These leaders have a slightly different role in the leadership picture, nothwithstanding that they are all elected, as are presidents. The charter president of a club holds a special position. As a start, there can only be one such person for each club. In time, he becomes a bit of an institution. Nevertheless, it falls on the membership and current leaders to draw on him for the experience, the inspiration and the whys and wherefors he had done what he had, in the manner and fashion they wish to or need to. There is always the danger that a founder of an institution could inadvertently and unnecessarily perpetuate his or her usefulness and hence become an obstacle to progress. The balance is a difficult one to strike, and it depends on the founder as much as on the membership to maintain that balance. Just as no one person is permanent, no one institution or publication can claim permanency. I shudder at the thought of a club retaining its founding advisor for 20 years and over, on a continuing basis. I would miss you guys for the rest of the season and I would think about whether the format and layout of Kingspark News can be improved. | ||
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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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