Created on 24 May 2020
Herbert K Lau
Secure a public relations professional from your club to publicize activities. > Make sure your club’s projects are relevant to your community. > Use Web sites and the Internet in your public rela tions efforts.R.I. President Carlo Ravizza exchanges ideas with conference participants in Hong Kong.
> In addition to local media, talk to different community groups and local youth about Rotary. > Use Group Study Exchange team members to talk to your community and youth, rather than sending out only Rotarians.
In his keynote address, Rotary Foundation Trustee Chairman Bill Huntley discussed the relevance of the Foundation as Rotary approaches its 100th anniver sary. In particular, he out lined the new Rotary Centers for International Studies, a program involving seven universities around the globe, where 70 “World Peace Scholars” will study on a two-year basis to earn Master’s degrees.
“You should feel very me proud that The Rotary Foundation can go forward this way in peace,” Chair man Huntley said.
He also discussed what comes after PolioPlus.
“Have we reached our peak?” Chairman Huntley asked the audience. “My
answer is a big ‘no.’ We’re just beginning to realize what we can do. Whatever comes next, we’ll be confi dent because we’re not step ping out into the unknown. PolioPlus has shown us our strength, our power and our possibilities.”
Continuing with the theme, regional PolioPlus Committee Chairman and Past R.I. Treasurer/Director Brian Knowles reviewed polio eradication efforts in Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific. “The ulti- mate success of polio eradi cation hinges on Asia and Africa,” said Chairman Knowles, who also reported that India, with the highest number of polio cases worldwide, has seen a dra matic reduction in the past several years in its south and central regions. “India is the key to our goal of eradica tion in Southeast Asia,” he said. “The strategy of National Immunization Days, targeting all children up to the age of five, is obviously working,” said Chairman Knowles. “If we are to see final eradication, not only in Southeast Asia but in other polio-endemic regions, this strategy must continue. “He concluded that Rotary and its partners are on target to reach the goal
of global polio eradication by 2005, the 100th anniver- sary of Rotary International.
On the conference’s final day, several Rotarians shared their insight and experience regarding the many service opportunities in non-Rotary countries. “None of this work is easy-but it’s certainly very rewarding,” said Tony Castley, past president of the Rotary Club of Epping, Sydney, Australia, and cur rent chairman of the three district China Australia Friendship Exchange, repre- senting districts 9680, 9690 and 9750. Among the pro jects the group tackled was constructing water-pumping stations and storage tanks in remote Chinese villages. The stations and tanks have become larger and more elaborate, said Rotarian Castley. The group also helped renovate schools that had only dirt floors and no windows.
“What we have shown is that it is possible for non Chinese-speaking Rotary clubs from other countries to have very successful and rewarding projects in China, even though Rotary isn’t there to help supervise,” he said. However, he warned, clubs must ensure that the type of aid offered is appro- i priate for the country. They also should work in con junction with a reliable China aid organization, with its own people on site where the project is being conducted, to facilitate communication.
In his opening address on the first day of the confer ence, Past District Governor Wong remarked to Rotari ans: “I hope you will enjoy these two days, make a lot of friends and go home more motivated and better equipped than before.” Without a doubt, Rotarians left the conference with those wishes fulfilled. O
• Anne Stein is associate editor of THE ROTARIAN.
THE ROTARIAN/JUNE 2000
Hong Kong by Anne Stein
25-27 FEBRUARY 2000
TOP PHOTOS BY PETER H.S. TSE; SCENIC BY ANNE STEIN **/ ?>
Presidential Conference 2000
Below: Keynote speaker the Honorable C.Y. Leung, convenor of the Executive Council of Hong Kong, S.A.R., spoke on the impact of the regional economy on community service. Right: Past district governors Raymond Wong (left) and Charles Loh address a group discussion session.
4:2000
PRETAT, COTE
000
With the clang of a traditional gong, Past District Governor Raymond Wong convened Presidential Conference 2000: Hong Kong, attended by 460 Rotarians from 19 nations, on 25-27 February.
The future of Rotary is in Asia," said R.I. President Carlo Ravizza in his opening remarks at the conference, which was co-sponsored by The Rotary Foundation of R.I. "Twenty years ago, Asia membership was 14.6 per- cent of Rotary membership; today it is 25 percent.
Dramatic changes have marked Hong Kong as well; on 30 June 1997, the world witnessed China's resump- tion of sovereignty over Hong Kong. Soon after, eco- nomic pressures kicked in and many...
Home 
FIle Download Area 
WebMail 
Membership Toolbox 
District Calendar Club Runner 
