KINGSPARK NEWS

Club Number: 30119

2009-10 Rotary Year : Issue 2 : 22 December 2009

Contents

From the Editor (The Perils of the Written Word) - By Francis Wann
From the Chater President (Winter Solstice) - By CP John Wan
Letters to Editor

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From the Editor

The Perils of the Written Word

[Editor Francis wrote this article on 3 November 2009, snd has since been slightly edited - Webmaster]

Are we going to witness the death of the written words? For years, this editor has been faithfully producing his editorials, amusing some, distracting others. So far, formal responses have been rare. Some would make a remark in passing that they've read our newsletter, and that's probably all our feedback. Then last time John mentioned some members complained that the editorials were mostly not about Rotalry or club business. But at least they were aware of it, and we should be truly grateful to the district webmasters that Kingsparknews is still the most featured club newsletter on the official district site..

I mentioned in the past that this honour is not only dearly earned, but also easily lost. But just when I thought nobody cares to read anymore came an unsolicited email from Down Under. The writer referred to a past edition and made a request which our CP is in the best position to respond. I thought about the whole thing for a while, and momentarily I thought very hard about the existence of our bulletin in the wider context of the Rotary world...

I still remember I once mentioned the possibility of a Kingspark Blog. Now that seems something we should seriously consider if we've faith in the words. Or what about an e-Kingsparknews where leaders and comments and club news can be made on the spot, and later we might expect kingsparknews on your iPod or mobile, and you have the liberty to respond whenever, and wherever you want.

The onslaught of modern technology is breaking new boundaries in our concept of connectivity. A few years ago the Queen made news when she decided to broadcast her Christmas message on Youtube. Now you and I can upload any message, and it doesn't involve rocket science. Obama's doing it, Brown's doing it, and possibly millions of others are sending electronic signals across the globe at any time.

The idea of broadcasting yourself is but one of the many new breeds of modern communication, and it simply helps restore our confidence in words, if not the fun. The e-book's been in the market for some time, but it doesn't seem to be catching up. Then came the nano, but again they require you to subscribe to something else first. But our information highway clearly knows no bounds, and even your humble Windows will give you the luxury of instant messenging, and in the language of your choice. The Skype should let you explore more, and imagine how cool it is if you tell others that Kingsparknews is now on Twitter...

Pie in the sky? Not necessarily. Back home, our Government has also been using new technologies to its advantage. The Policy Address, for example, is now only available on internet, and you can go to our ministers' blogs to "share your views" with the powers that be.

Well, the policy address is now past news and has indeed been defeated in the traditional vote of thanks motion. The Chief Executive had since talked to the business sector, and reiterated his pledge for support of his new political reform package. He confessed he was "occasionally bothered" by the stream of criticisms, but anyway he emerged unscathed and managed to sleep well...

It was simply beyond anyone's imagination that our Chief Executive should have become an easy target for complaints, and indeed most of them are groundless and silly ones. I remember how the media made a fuss of his remarks on Radio 3 when a doctor called and told him she couldn't afford to buy property at today's price. Well nobody expected him to give an answer, and his fatal mistake was just that. And when Francis Moriarty mentioned some were "seriously rich" while others were permanently poor, he started talking about the importance of our knowledge based economy, of sustainability, of strengthening our economic foundation, etc.

Yeah, he babbled about "the big picture" when we wanted him to focus on individual hardship. Some believe there's a crisis in his governance. I was reading an excerpt of our Legislative Council proceedings dated 29 March, 1917 at the time of the war when the President (Sir Henry Francis May) quoted a speech of (British Prime Minister) Lloyd George in that morning's Daily Press : We can overcome it (cheers); but only if the nation is prepared to back the Government with the whole of its resources... The peril is great, but it can be surmounted by the grit, the energy, the courage, the determination of a great people like the people of these lands...

There's a lesson for everyone. Who says all politicians are the same?

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From the Charter President

Winter Solstice

It is Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, and by Chinese tradition, a very important day, even more important than the Chinese New Year Day, or so it goes. On this day, workers traditionally have a half-day or at least an early afternoon off; and everyone with a family is expected to go home for dinner, wherever home is and whatever one calls home.

For a few years, I spent this day with whoever who offered me dinner. I was fortunate to know a young couple who were very good to me and very hospitable and more importantly the husband can cook well. Every year though, they would ask whether I have any place to go to and sometimes, they would nominate another day because they also needed to go back to their parents for the festival. I met my wife after the last Christmas, so this would be the first year in a few that I have a home etc. and we decided to invite someone to dinner, someone dear to us but who does not have a home for dinner yet.

I don't know yet what we are having for dinner, but it doesn't really matter; does it?

A few days ago, Su asked me to write a Christmas message or an year ender or something for my website. I said I would like to do that, but it would take time and some organizing: I need o organize my schedule, my work and most important, my thoughts. Then I stumble into my brother's article which he gave me more than a month ago and which has become dated so that I had to edit one or two areas. I hope he approves. I also found a picture of President Michael which Su took of him at the Kowloon East Ball we went to two weeks ago, which I have since uploaded onto the Club Website Home Page - Better Late Than Never; isn't it? And while I was at the keyboard, I decided to do another issue of Kingspark News. It is high time, anyway.

Well, we are half way into a Rotary Year and the Club has just confirmed the next President, in the face of Stephen Lin. He has in turn decided on who would be on his Board and I would get those information onto the club website later. It appears that Stephen is keen to make a difference; and that can only be good news for all of us.

At the last Club Meeting, which by the way, was the AGM in which Stephen was confirmed as the Club President Elect, President Michael took the opportunity to ask the membership to approve a couple of things. Among others things, he had asked and the Club had approved that we would raise funds for the Rotary Foundation Polio Plus Campaign in support of the efforts of some 34 Rotarians, Rotaractors and their familes and friends who are going for an NID in India in January 2010. Each person going would spend time and around HK$10,000 on the trip. Understandably, there are others who would like to go but whose commitments at work and elsewhere would not mke it possible for them to go. Accordingly, the District Foundation Chair, PP Kenneth Chow has made an appeal to all clubs to match the efforts of those going to India by a monetary contribution instead. The Rotaractors have said for example that they would try to encourage each member to contribute $100.

Back to our Kingspark News and the lament of my brother editor over the written word or its disappearance, I am not as pessimistic; and for that matter, I believe that the electronic newspaper or electronic book would never replace the printed versions. Maybe what we should be doing now is to consider putting in print things that are worth more than the paper on which they are to be printed. I still recall with great fondness the pet project of our IPP Joyce - Bring Me A Book - which primarily seeks to encourage young people, and indeed, babies and young children, to read. The written word will always have a place, even though at times it seems misplaced.

Have a Happy Winter Solstice and may the Year of 2010 bring you such happiness and joy as you have never imagined or experienced. In the meantime, I'll think about my year ender.

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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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