Rotary International District 3450 (Hong Kong, Macao & Mongolia)
District Installation 2009 (Hosted by RC of Wanchai)
Held on 11th July 2009
Speech by Guest of Honor PDG Joseph Lee
Read the newspaper supplement
Speech by District Governor Ada Cheng
District Installation
Saturday, 11 July 2009
Guest of Honor PDG Joseph Lee, distinguished guests, PDGs, IPDG Albert, District officers, my Presidents, Past Presidents, fellow Rotarians and family members, ladies & gentlemen,
Good afternoon!
It is my great pleasure and privilege to address you as District Governor for District 3450. I feel deeply honored to be installed, together with my team of Presidents, in your presence.
Welcome
Let me begin by welcoming you all to participate in the celebration of the continuity of leadership in our District. Around the world, Rotary’s leaders at Club, District and International level will pass the torch of leadership to a new generation. We gather here to celebrate the success of the past year and to share the hope for the future.
Theme
“The Future of Rotary is in Your Hands” is the theme chosen by RI President John Kenny for this Rotary year. The theme reminds us that everything we are, and everything we aspire to become, lies in the hands of Rotarians in their clubs. Each Rotarian is vital and must accept the responsibility to keep Rotary blooming.
RI President John asked us to build on the many accomplishment and successes established by our past Rotary leaders, and gain new strength and enthusiasm as we renew our commitment to promote the ideal and object of Rotary. Our District 3450 acquires a reputation as a premier District in the family of Rotary International does not come by accident. It represents the good work by many outstanding Rotarians over many years. Last Rotary year, Rotary development in our district again showed the sign of improvement and achievement under the leadership of IPDG Albert and his Make Dreams Real Presidents.
Area of Emphasis
As we embark on this new Rotary year of service, I urge Rotarians in our District to continue to take part in various meaningful projects both locally and internationally, especially in the key areas of emphasis set by Rotary International. These areas are water, health and hunger, and literacy.
We need to continue our work in the areas of water and sanitation. We need to provide water to communities which are unable to access clean water.
Past RI President Kinross feels that poverty and health is the number one enemy of world peace. Wherever there are problems in poverty and health, there will not be peace. We should promote health among the youth and communities we serve. Equally important, we should also promote health among each of us. How can we serve others if we ourselves are not healthy?
In the area of literacy and education, we should continue to promote closer partnership with the local government and other relevant organizations. Literacy can change people’s lives.
Members
Membership is an important element in securing the future of Rotary. To continue the Rotary’s mission of humanitarian service, we must remain focused on membership development and retention. Not only recruiting new, quality members but retaining OUTSTANDING Rotarians. Identify and groom future leaders.
With the various training program available in our district such as the Rotary Leadership Institute, we shall assist the clubs in developing their membership retention programs. It is only by having well informed and committed Rotarians that we can expect our membership to grow. Retention is as important as recruitment. We should keep the interest of the members of our respective clubs alive through active participations.
Four Way Test
Rotarians are also called upon to promote the practice of excellence in their profession and adhere to the high ethical standards of their professions and businesses. Past RI President Raja Saboo reminds us on the need for Rotarians to practice the “Four Way Test”. He stated, “Rotarians are no ordinary people. They just need to have the courage, the determination to walk their talk”.
We must have the determination to apply the “Four Way Test” in our daily lives if our organization is to remain credible and responsible in the years ahead.
The Rotary Foundation
Our commitment to The Rotary Foundation Programs shall remain strong this Rotary year. I am urging Rotarians in our district to continue to contribute generously to the Rotary Foundation so that our capacity to help others will increase. I am requesting you to support the “Every Rotarians, Every Year” program. As stated by Past RI President Raja Saboo, “we must not reply on a few people to support the Foundation, we must ask each of you to commit a hundred dollars so that in the end we will attain the per capita contribution of every Rotarian in every club.”
The Eradication of Polio program is always very close to my heart. I strongly support the Rotary’s Polio Fundraising Challenge to help eradicate Polio especially after my couple of visits to the poor areas of India. Early this year, Bill Gates announces an additional US$255 million grant to end polio and this becomes Rotary’s US$200 Million Challenge. Rotary accepted the challenge to raise an additional US$100 million in matching funds by June 30, 2012. This drives the combined Rotary and Gates Foundation partnership’s commitment to a total of US$555 million. The infusion of funds is crucial if the world is finally free from the threat of polio, a crippling, sometimes fatal disease that poses the highest risk to children. Our District has also accepted the Challenge. Your continued participation in this effort is crucial to making it a success. I am happy to announce that PP Solomon Lee of Rotary Club of Kowloon East has already made a contribution of US80,000 this Rotary year alone for Polio. What a good start for us.
District Projects
We will continue our efforts with the many existing humanitarian District projects this Rotary year.
- Immunization of Hepatitis B in China
As all of you are well aware, our District has committed in 2001 to a 10-year project to immunize 1 million children in China against Hep B. I am pleased to report that we are now in the last lap. We have completed immunizing 700,000 children and students so far. In September this year, there will be a fundraising event to raise the last bit of fund required.
- The Leprosy Project in China, Sichuan
Under the leadership of project chair, PP Nick Pirie, a clinic and support workshop was set up to help the thousands of Leprosy suffers in the remote area of the north west region of China. We also work with another NGO called Hana based in Guangzhou which specialized to produce special footwear and limb aids. District 3450 will continue to support this meaningful and live changing humanitarian project.
- Adopt-a-School
We will continue the Adopt–a-School project and other established youth programs such as Rotaract, Interact and RYLA . I am also pleased to announce that we will be hosting a Model United Nations Assembly in August in Guangzhou under the Adopt-a-School program.
My Team – Presidents and District Officers
Of course, it is not possible for me to do all the above by myself. Apart from my capable and talented Presidents, I have a team of dedicated and experience District Officers walking the path of Rotary with me this year. We are ready to embrace and overcome the many challenges ahead of us. We have a strong sense of action and a clear, well-developed and inspiring vision”. I am confident that as a team we will exceed our goals and fulfill our promise to do good in the world.
Conclusion
I would like to thank each of my Rotarians for the trust and confidence vested in me in leading the District, I promise that I will perform my duties to the best of my abilities. I will conclude by sharing a song titled “The Future of Rotary is in your hands” with all of you. This song is provided to me by the courtesy of my classmate District Governor Sid Gracia of District 3830, Philippines. With his permission to use the song, I would like to share the lyric with you:
WE ARE THE NEW GENERATION
WE’RE PARTNERS WITH A VISION
INSIDE US LIVES THE POWER WITHIN
TO MAKE THIS WORLD A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE IN
TODAY WE MAKE OUR VISIONS REAL
WE’VE GOT THE STRENGTH AND THE WILL
TO REACH FOR THAT SPECIAL DREAM
LET US BE THE CHANGE AND MAKE IT HAPPEN
ROTARIANS, ALL ACROSS THE LAND
THERE’S SO MUCH WORK TO BE DONE
LET’S ALL JOIN HANDS
ROTARIANS WE ARE THE CHOSEN ONES
TO LEAD AND FULFILL HIS PLAN
THE FUTURE OF ROTARY…IS IN YOUR HANDS
I wish you all a happy and successful Rotary year 2009-2010. Thank you very much indeed.
Ada Cheng
District Governor
RI District 3450 (Hong Kong, Macao & Mongolia)
“It is our daily actions, and our daily decisions,
that determine the course of Rotary for us all.
The Future of Rotary Is in Your Hands.” – RI President John Kenny |
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