Rotary Club of Beijing

This is a short summary, for the full Bulletin in PDF, click the following link:
090929_bulletin.pdf

President Elect Gilbert opened the meeting by extending a warm welcome to our guests and fellow members.

The Four Way Test was administered by IPP Kevin Fong in English and Chinese.

Sergeant-at-Arms Rtn. Charles welcomed visiting Rotarians:
- Rtn. Jim Firmin, RC Morgan City, Louisiana, USA
- Rtn. Khalide Abbas, RC Dubai
- Rtn. Helen Boyle, RC Northwick Park, London UK
- Rtn. Steve Ting, RC Cupertino, CA USA
- Rtn. Okudaira Nagayasu & Mrs. Okudaira Kazuyo RC Ogawa Japan
- Rtn. Addo Yukio & Mrs. Ando Chiyoko, RC Ogawa Japan
- Rtn. Nakanura Satoshi & Mrs. Nakanura Yoshiko RC Ogawa Japan
- Rtn. Matsuya Noriyoshi & Mrs. Matsuyya Kanoku RC Ogawa Japan
- Rtn. Tobuchi Katsumi & Mrs. Tobuchi Chisato RC Ogawa Japan
- Rtn JAMES PANNELL & Mrs. LOUISE PANNELL (TOUR LEADERS) PP, KNYSNA, SOUTH AFRICA
- Rtn NILS BERG & MRS MIA BERG GANDSFJORD NORWAY
- RTN MALCOLM DARROCH & MRS FAY DARROCH BULWELL & BASFORD UNITED KINGDOM
- Rtn HEDLEY GREAVES & MRS ROSANNE GREAVES PP FRODSHAM & HELSBY UNITED KINGDOM
- Rtn PETTER HAALAND & MS INGRID MOLAUG GANDSFJORD NORWAY
- Rtn ARVID HØGBERG & MRS JORUNN HØGBERG PP ANDSFJORD NORWAY
- Rtn ALAN HOUGEN, PP & Rtn PATTI HOUGEN PP ABBOTSFORD CANADA
- Rtn SIEGFRIED KAPPLER & Rtn RENATE KAPPLER PP MEDICINE HAT CANADA
- Rtn VICTOR MARIS & MRS THELMA MARIS PP EDSON CANADA
- Rtn AHMET MÜDERRISOGLU & MRS SILVIA MÜDERRISOGLU ISTANBUL TURKEY
- Rtn JOCK MURRAY & MRS MARIE-THERESE MURRAY PP LOEMFONTEIN, SOUTH AFRICA
- Rtn THEO RATHONYI REUSZ & MRS RENATE RATHONYI REUSZ ANDES HANEY CANADA
And visiting guests:
- Mr. Nick Cham, guest of Rtn. Gilbert
- Mr. Gordon Cheng, guest of Rtn. Priscilla
- Mrs. Yanming Firman, guest of Rtn. Jim Firmin
- Mr. Arics Lam, guest of Rtn. Ruby
- Mr. Walter Jansen, guest of Rtn. Gilbert
- Mr. Mare Burban, guest of Rtn. Charles
- Mr. Jan H.W. Kuhlefelt, guest of Rtn. Gilbert
- Mr. Magnus Bartlett, guest of Rtn. Peter Danford
- Mr. Charles Simmon, guest of Rtn. Raphael
- Mr. Janier Hernannez, guest of Rtn. Raphael
- Mr. Jesus Hernandez, guest of Rtn. Raphael

Banners were exchanged with the following Rotary Clubs:
- RC Bulwell & Basford Nottingham, UK
- RC Ogawa, Japan
- RC Haney British Columbia, Canada
- RC Istanbul, Turkey
- RC Gandsfjord, Norway
- RC Edson Alberta, Canada
- RC Bloemfontein, South Africa
- RC Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada

Reports & Announcements

Vocational Committee Announcement
It was announced that on October 27th there will be an opportunity to recognize non-Rotarian’s who have made a significant contribution to the club. Many of us rely on our staff to help arrange and organize our Rotary efforts and those who serve should be recognized. Please send their names to Nancy by October 20 so that we can arrange an appreciation certificate and recognize them in person. The hope is that members will invite these hidden assets to the lunch on the 27th so that they can receive their certificates and thanks in person.

Gubeikou Trip Report
Rtn. Jim Firmin reported that their second visit to Gubeikou this year was successful and brought greetings from his Club of Morgan City Louisiana. 10 people, including some spouses, went on the trip. 50 thousand RMB from RC Beijing and 25 thousand RMB from RC Morgan City, and its fellow district clubs, were presented to the local government for distribution. The money will be used to subsidize the room and board necessary for students from remote areas to attend high school, and for tuition, room and board, for students who were in the high school program who are attending University. IPP Kevin announced that the RCB will be taking its assistance to the next level by arranging interview training and help with job placement for students who are in the process of graduating from high school and university. This will be a third phase to our efforts. Having been involved with their high school and university education we want to extend our efforts to include job placement and mentoring. To make this more than a charity project, students and their parents will be asked to sign a pledge to return what they have received when they are able, to the next generation. The Service Projects Committee believes that by creating a pledge we are sowing the seeds for a self sustaining project which meets the ideals of Rotarian service. We hope that Rotarian’s will be supportive individually and through their organizations in being part of this next step. Members who are interested in placing students or being mentors please contact Kevin.

Fund Raising Committee Report
President elect Gilbert, as chair of the fund raising committee, asked first Ruby and then Raphael to talk about the Christmas Bazaar and the Rotary Ball respectively.

Christmas Bazaar
Chairman Ruby reported that the preparations for the Christmas Bazaar are in the process. She asked members to contact their favorite vendors about participating, either as vendors or as donators. Anyone with leads in these areas should contact Ruby. She is also interested in any sponsorship opportunities, so if you know of a company which would be interested please forward the contact information to Ruby also.

2010 Ball
Chairman Raphael and his team member Mr. Charles Simmon presented their initial ideas for next Rotary Ball. The emphasis will; be on creating a fun event. Raphael has reorganized the ball into four areas and is looking for someone to head up fund raising. The Ball date will be either May 15th or May 22nd. Contact Raphael is you are willing to offer a hand.

September Birthday Celebration
IPP Kevin, Rtn. Hedley Greaves and Mrs. Yanmin Firmin assisted in cutting the birthday cake. The addition of so many overseas voices greatly enhanced the rendering of the happy birthday chorus, resulting in positive comments from members and for once the staff did not cover their ears.