The Future of Rotary Is in Your Hands
District Governor’s Christmas/New Year Message
26 December 2009

Dear Presidents and District Leaders

Walking past the busy streets and buildings everyday, I can see all kinds of Christmas decorations around, greeting us with the winter’s festivity and reminding us a season of thanksgiving has come. No matter how bright the luminous decorations are, and no matter how great the Christmas feast is, nothing else can replace the warmth you have placed upon me with your full support for Rotary, its projects and its members. Christmas is a time to say thank you to your dear ones, and this year I am particularly thankful because I feel the powerful backing of our Rotarians who strive their best to fulfill their commitment to Rotary and to serve the others. From the bottom of my heart I have to say a big thank you to all of you for your continuous support.

It is my great pleasure to share with you some of the fruitful accomplishments we have achieved in the first half of this Rotary year and I am sure you will be as pleased with it as I do. For the local community, we have put forward different projects on youth development, including MUNA to help widen vision on international issues and exchange, as well as Anti-Drug campaigns carried out by the different Rotary and Rotaract Clubs, in line with HKSAR government’s strategic promotion on anti drug-abuse among youngsters, and the Mock court provided unique opportunity to our Adopt-A-School students to gain basic knowledge and personal experience on our legal system and litigation procedure. One Rotaract Club and two Interact Clubs were formed so far in Hong Kong and Mongolia, respectively.

We are also stepping into the final chapter on our district project in China – Hepatitis B Immunization. The final stage of immunization in Chongqing has been implemented while we also launched our final project in Ningxia, Gangsu and Qinghai to complete our goal of one million immunizations. Our first-ever Rotary 10km Race which was held successfully on November 29 attracting over 700 participants and raised close to HK$200,000 for Polio Plus, bringing the total fundraised for Polio Eradication to-date to over US$100,000. Without the effort of each and everyone in our Rotary family, we would not be where we are now.

Looking forward to the second half of the year, I am counting on you to support our upcoming projects and events, including the district target for the Rotary Foundation fund-raising effort of US$200,000. Rotarians from our District will participate in the National Immunization Days in India in January 2010. Our annual District Conference will be held on 17 and 18 April 2010, I look forward to the eager participation from all Rotarians and their families to meet and share our visions and actions during the year. Meanwhile, let us not forget the importance of membership drive, which should be a continual effort to strengthen our Rotarian movement. Let us be reminded of Rotary International’s new membership initiative of “Reach One, Keep One”. I really look forward to seeing the Rotary family spread its branches and produce fruitful harvest among different sectors of our society, yielding goodness for those who need care and love.

I wish you all a very healthy, happy and enjoyable festival holidays and New Year with your families and loved ones. May the Rotary spirit always be with you because The Future of Rotary Is in Your Hands.

Yours in Rotary

DG Ada