Rotary International District 3450

Report for 2004-2005

Alexander Mak20 March 2005

Celebrate Rotary

1. Membership

2. Services

3. The Rotary Foundation

4. Training

5. China

Celebrate Rotary (contd)

6. Publicity

7. Strategic Planning

8. District Administration

9. DGN 2007-2008

10.Conclusion

Club and District

In describing the activities of the District, I have taken account of all the activities that we have done, both on the club as well as district level.

Membership

• RI Goal — Significant Increase

• Mongolia — Rapid Expansion

• China — Non-recognition limits growth

• Hong Kong/Macau — Problems because

of economic depression, but signs of

recovery

Membership Figures As at 30/06/1005 As at 28/02/2004 Difference

No. of Clubs

Hong Kong 42 42 (Note 1) 0Macau 5 5 0 China 2 2 0Mongolia 5 6 (Note 3) 1

54 54 1

Note:1. RC of Quarry Bay is terminated for non-payment of RI dues and is

seeking re-instatement 2. New E-Club formed 3. RC of Bayanzurkh 100 chartered on 1/2/2004 4. Papers for formations of RC Selbe and RC Gobi are now in the RI under processing

Membership Figures

cont’d As at 30/06/1005 As at 28/02/2004 Increase

%

1. No. of Member 1,712 1,727 +0.88%

2. No. of clubs with 20 or fewer members 10 11 +10%3. Monthly attendance average HK/Macau 62.01% 62.17% +0.26% Mongolia 41.51% 67.15% +61.77% China 66.60% 65.00% -

2.4%

Note:1. A modest growth in membership 2. Many clubs with less than 20 members 3. Average attendance

Membership BreakdownHK & Macau China Mongolia Total

Number As at 30-06-2004 1,469 75 168 1,712

As at 28-02-2005 1,437 80 210 1,727

IncreaseNew Clubs 13 0 34 47

Net increase -45 +5 +8 -32

Note:1. Increase mainly from new clubs 2. Increase in Mongolia 3. Slight decline in Hong Kong and Macau—deceptive

Membership Growth

1600

1650

1700

1750

1800

1850

1900

1950

'95 96 '97 '98 '99

No. of members

Membership Growth cont’d

152015401560158016001620164016601680170017201740

2000 '01 '02 '03 '04

no. of members

Mongolia1. Rapid growth in membership due to (a) Rapid economic growth and

opening of Mongolia to outside world (b) Big need for all humanitarian services including very basic ones (c) International help through

matching grants (d) More support from the District

Reason for Decline in HK and Macau

1. Effect of economic depression on members

(a) Work longer hours and travel more

frequently to China – less time for meetings and activities (b) Less disposable income – less contributions and level of services

Reason for Decline in HK and Macau

(b) frustration and conflict among members2. However, Rotarians still motivated Tsunami, everyone contributed very quickly but more choosy e.g. attendance in

District Conference

Solutions ?1. What have we done ? All that we can including:- (a) District (i) Discussion in DG visits (ii) Membership workshop in District Assembly (iii) More visits from from AG and AS and Membership Committee

Solutions ? cont’d

(iv) Lady Member Get Member Award

(v) Presidents’ Award (vi) Work hard to convert over-

aged Rotaractors (vii) Form the E-Club

Solutions ? cont’d

(b) Club (i) Awards to members getting

new members (ii) More fellowship activities + mentorship programs

Solutions ? cont’d (b) Club (iii) Use joint meetings to develop better programs (iv) Members’ bring Friend Nights (v) Moving to cheaper venue etc… (c) Should improve when economy improves

Weak Clubs

1. In addition, we tried the following:- (a) DG special Representative for each of these clubs (b) Helped two clubs to merge, but unsuccessful due to big difference in cultures between clubs

Weak Clubs

cont’d (c) Threaten to close them down - struggled for a whole but stopped when knowing District has no authority2. Of those who tried hard (a) One club admitted 8 new members at the expense of mother club

Weak Clubs

cont’d (b) One club admitted many Rotaractors

but are still struggling with them3. Seems that position will not improve

unless (a) Legislation to give District more authority (b) Faster economic upturn

Celebration of Rotary with Services

Most clubs have Centennial projects e.g.

1. Fighting SARS Structure in HK Park2. Institute on Wetland Conversation in

Maipo3. Campaign on Organ Donation4. Planting of 100 trees of different

species in Tai Mo Shan Rotary Park

Result: A lot of media coverage

Club Service

1. Many Intercity Meetings (a) August - RID John Eberhard - Past TRF Trustee Alfredo Pretoni

(HK) (b) December - RID David Linett (HK)

Club Service

cont’d (c) January - RIPE Carl-Wilhelm Stemhammar (HK & Macau) (b) May - TRF Chairman Carlo Rarizza - RID John Eberhard (Mongolia)

Club Services cont’d2. DG Visits(a) Splitting up of private and

official—more discussion(b) Official visit to areas—sharing of

project and issues

3. Joint meetings of clubs in same area

Club Services cont’d

4. Centennial Race Cup—on TV

5. Sports Day cum Service for Rehap Power

(a) Low attendance—give to clubs next year

Club Services cont’d6. Survey to all Rotarians (a) Using RI Questionnaire (b) Using as yardstick for more in- depth research (c) Identification of Rotarian needs and expectations for long-term planning

Vocational Service1. Rotary Centennial Service Award

for Professional Excellence

(a) Great for publicity(b)HK/Macau/Shanghai/Mongolia

=6/1/1/1(c) 16 nominations(d)Presentation in May

Vocational Service

cont’d2. Others

(a) Talk on “Ethics in Workplace” by Anthony Neoh (b) Seminars + debates for students jointly with ICAC

Vocational Service cont’d

(c) Career Talks and Counselling (i) Small group (ii) Experience sharing in a

conference (iii) Counselling for members who

changed jobs

Vocational Service cont’d

(d) Teaching of Skills

(i) Investment (ii) Courses on how to start 美容院 (iii) Workshop to teach wheelchair assembly

Vocational Service cont’d

(e) Job Search - Recruitment program in hair-

styling for students

3. More emphasis on use of professional skills (unique to Rotary) because no money

Water Projects

A lot of projects in Mongolia but not so

in HK/Macau clubs--because

(i) few water resource problems

(ii) many clubs prefer to do local

projects

(iii) less hands-on in overseas project

Water Projects

However, some clubs did do

something including:-

• Identification and digging of wells in

Mongolia

• Water resource in India

• Water Cisterns for Farmers in China

Projects in Literacy and Education

Very popular among our clubs. Projects include:-

1. Building and extension of schools in China, (a) At least one school per club(b) Now more than 100 schools, still building but(c) Upgrading facilities and teaching (members, Rtrs)

2.Teaching of English

3.Teaching use of computer

Project on Health Concerns

Our clubs did many projects including:--

• Building of hospitals in China• Refurbishment of medical clinics• Financing surgical operations for

poor people• Medical checks• $2M SARS Structure

Project on Health Concerns

District(a) Hepatitis B:-(i) Handan Visit to monitor progress;(ii) $2M each year too onerous;(iii) Publicity with RI and removal of 5

MG limit–international help with 3H and/or matching grants;

(b) Leprosy Hospital in Xi Chang.

Youth

A priority for District for many years

1. Started with APPRC(a) Multi-district agreement and more

cooperation(b) Taipei in 2006

Youth cont’d2. Youth Exchanges(a) Canberra and Johannesburg(b) Local v international schools(c) Students interviewed by press(d) More next year(e) 5 Rotarians to Pre-Convention YEO

Meeting

Youth

cont’d3. RYLA (a) held in Shao Guan in China (b) participants forming a Rotaract

Club4. Rotaractors did successful ‘We Care

We Smile’ Project5. Others include Youth Outreach and

children from broken families etc

International Service1. Tsunami(a) Raised $3.5M(b) Donated $1M to Salvation Army for

mobile clinics(c) They are still negotiating with

governments on (i) 1,000 shelters in Indonesia (ii) 500 shelters

International Service (cont’d)

(d) Not paying until sorted out and SA proposal

(d) Not paying until sorted out and SA proposal

2. Clubs identified projects from WCS database

• Visiting booths in Osaka Convention

International Service (cont’d)3. One club did international toasting

(a) Choose an overseas club(b) Choose a date to do mutual

toasting(c) More knowledge on both clubs

4. Assignment to traveling Rotarians

Fund-raising Activities

District also very creative in fund-raising activities, such as:-

• Running in the Gobi Desert at 5 degrees Celsius raised $1.7M

• Walkathon with kindergarten children (3/4) and their parents raised $400,000

Fund-raising Activities

District also very creative in fund-raising activities, such as:-

• Lucky draw raffles for $888

• Calendar—members on artistic poses

My fellow Rotarians, I am amazed that

you can do so much in services, in spite of

the difficulties I mentioned above.Can I, therefore,

ask all of you to thank yourselves with a round of applause?

The Rotary FoundationA. CONTRIBUTIONS1. Annual Program Fund (a) EREY—Clubs active in developing initiatives (i) Deducting US$100 by autopay (ii) Using Red Box collections (iii) No problem with target of US$170,000

The Rotary Foundation (b) Major Donors—PDG YK will chase after PDGs (c) 10 Endowment Funds by generous Rotarians (d) Very good Presentations by DRFC - PP Kenneth made a talk in one evening and raised HK$30,000

The Rotary Foundation cont’d

B. PROGRAMMES 1. District Simplified Grants (a) Very popular (b) Allocated US$47,500 into 18 Projects (c) DRFC has completed 2003-2004 reports and will chase after 2004-

2005s (d) Caused greater awareness and

interest in TRF

The Rotary Foundation cont’d 2. Matching Grants (a) Mongolia – US$330K Wind Break Forest with all 17 Korean Districts (b) Problem in HK/Macau, despite

help from DDG (i) Troublesome, takes too long +preferred to use own funds (ii) Need to revisit this

The Rotary Foundation cont’d3. Scholars – very active program in

District(a) 7 Outgoing (b) Some Incoming (c) Amazed at their development while

overseas;(d) Forming Rotary Community Corp by

scholars returned for 6 months (need to bypass Rotaract)

The Rotary Foundation cont’d

4. GSE team in Perth

(a) Perth team will come next year(b) 4 teams next year (including Perth)

The Rotary Foundation cont’dC. DISTRICT DESIGNATED FUND 1. Allocations - 50% on humanitarian

programs - 50% on educational programs 2. Done in consultation with DRF Committee

The Rotary Foundation cont’d

3. With new system, more consultation

with presidents possible;

4. Also made appeals to clubs to use DDF to support matching grants;

The Rotary Foundation cont’d 5. Response is not good, since

(a) something new, (b) little interest in matching

grants.

The Rotary Foundation cont’dD. NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION DAY IN

INDIA- 10-4-2005 (a) Because raised so much money

for Polio; (b) Need to see how donations spent; (c) How vaccines administered; (d) Please go and support.

Training

Substantial improvement this year

1. Adopted interactive small group discussion approach;

(a) Sent 5 Trainers to Bangkok to be trained on how to do training;

(b) More interesting and productive;

Training

2. Trained English-speaking Mongolian how to train Non-English speaking members;

3. Took over training of Rotaractors including PETS and DA

China

1. Done a lot in services but recognition still nowhere in sight;

2. Foreign foundation law passes but not NGO law;

China

(cont’d)3. Dialogue with MoCA;(a) Meetings with International Director;(b) Wheelchairs;(c) Follow Lions?(d) Official dialogue with MoFA;(e) Taiwan Problem.

China

(cont’d)4. RI’s Response(a) Given report to RI’s China

Subcommittee meeting in Bangkok;

(b) RIPE very positive;(c) February BoD meeting adopted

most of our proposals

Some Details of our Proposals adopted

1. Confirmed District’s role in

(a) Advising RI on extension;(b) Supervising two China clubs;(c) RIP visiting China every year;(d) Subsidy for training of China

leaders;

Some Details of our Proposals adopted

(e) Plan to celebrate Rotary in China;(f) Exchanges with All China Youth Assn;(g) Uplift 5 matching per club limit in

China;(h) Help China to send scholars and

GSE;(i) China Subcommittee meeting in

Beijing in June.

Publicity

A. We have done a lot this year and greatly

increased our profile

• Coverage in the RI 1. Rotarian Magazine - RC Beijing’s hosting of scholar

Publicity

cont’d 2. Rotary World (a) Asia Pacific Regional Rotaract Conference (b) Gobi Run for Polio Plus 3. RI News Basket (a) Gobi Run (b) Tsunami Relief Efforts

Publicity

cont’dB. Coverage in local media 1. Newspaper reports (a) Centennial Plans (b) Gobi Run (c) Wetland Institute in Maipo (d) Organ Donation Campaign

Publicity

cont’d (e) Youth Art Competition (f) Launching of design

competition for Fighting SARS Structure (g) Tsunami Efforts (h) Youth Exchange

Publicity

cont’d 2. Interview by Metro Radio on Tsunami efforts 3. Article on Discover Magazine on Gobi Run 4. Advertisements placed (a) Tsunami (i) Appeal to public for donations (ii) Appeal to students to

Publicity

cont’d (ii) Appeal to students to participate in sending “We Care About You” Well- wishing cards to victim children (b) Centennial Day (c) 兩文三語菁英大比拼 (d) Many others by clubs

5. Organized Community Day for beneficiaries of our projects in Macau

Strategic PlanningRecently, we formed a District Strategic Planning Committee1. As recommended by RI2. To consider District’s Long-term

issues e.g. (i) Positioning(ii) Identification and development of

future District Leaders(iii) Our long term strategy in China

District Administration

We have also tried to make this more

effective by the following:-

• Having an Area Secretary for each area;

• Doing a DGN Nomination review to answer the calls of democracy;

District Administration

• Forming an RIC Ltd to take over staff and equipment of RIC to make it

(a) more supportive of District Secretariat; (b) more responsive to Rotarian’s

needs.

DGN 2007-20081. Congratulations to DGN Peter

Wong;2. Cannot use DGN Nominating

Committee 3. Therefore got consent from RI’s

BoD to use ballot by mail;4. Since only one nomination,

nominee will automatic be DGN and no need to send ballot papers.

Conclusion

1. Asked Rtns to do “a little more” at beginning of year - now they have done so much

2. Feeling of doom and gloom, since cannot meet RI target of significant membership development

Conclusion

cont’d3. Subject to RIPPR’s views,

(a) Low membership caused more by economic than lack of efforts

(b) Less time and less money leads to less participation;

(c) Tsunami showed Rtns still high quality and motivated;

Conclusion

cont’d4. Challenges in current economic

climate

(a) Be more flexible;(b) Bring cost down by any means;(c) Less rigid attendance rules;(d) More tolerant to fellow Rotarians;(e) More patient with clubs with low

membership;

Conclusion

cont’d(f) Do fewer but more quality projects;(g) Leverage more on professional skills;(h) Use matching grants more.

5. We have a light future;

6. Should not worry too much about status quo which will soon be changed.

Conclusion

Since we have done so much in Rotary this year,

in spite of all the difficulties, we should congratulate each other

for this achievement.

Shaking Hands

Can I ask you to do this by shaking the hands of the one

sitting next to you?

Let us continue to Celebrate Rotary

in the club, in our vocations,

in our communities and in the world,

under the guidance of our motto

“Service above Self”

Thank You