Rotary Club of Beijing

This is a short summary, for the full Bulletin in PDF, click the following link:
090331_bulletin.pdf

Rotarian Solomon led the Four Way Test in both Chinese and English.

Sergeant-at-Arms Gilbert welcomed visiting Rotarians:
- Rtn. Robert Rosenberg, from RC West Bay, Camden, Maine, USA
- Rtn. Stephen Sham, from RC Alhambra, CA, District 5300, USA
- Rtn. David Alonso, from RC Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, Spain
And visiting guests:
- Ms. Hillary Waterman, guest of Rtn. Robert Rosenberg
- Ms. Erika Rosenberg, guest of Rtn. Robert Rosenberg
- Ms. Whitney Rosenberg, guest of Rtn. Robert Rosenberg
- Mr. Robert Gustavsson, guest of Rtn. Curt
- Mr. Graham Brown, guest of Rtn. Curt
- Mr. Tom Stader, guest of Rtn. Kevin Fong
- Ms. Lily Chen, guest of Rtn. Stephen Sham
- Ms. Nancy Liu, guest of Rtn. John Barnes
- Ms. Tammy Tsao, volunteer

Banners were exchanged with the following clubs:
RC of West Bay, Camden, Maine, USA
RC of Kfar Saba, Israel (c/o Rtn. Nicolas Frishmann and his assistant, see realted picture)

Reports & Announcements
Communication Director, Rtn. Gilbert announced that we were only able to get only two out of the five visa aplications approved for the incoming GSE team from Pakistan and as a result, RI had decided not to go ahead with their visit. On behalf of Rtn. Regula, Rtn. Gilbert expressed thanks to all members and their families who had helped plan and organize the visit. Rtn. Gilbert added that the GSE teaming with Australia was still going ahead and arrangements were being made for the visit in October 2009.

President Elect Henry announced that the 2009 Ball preparations were pressing ahead and a detailed flier will be sent out to members shortly. He added that a VIP reception event was being organized by Rtn. Ruby on the evening before the Ball (22 May) at which many senior representatives from the business community will attend, including CEOs, Ambassadors, Government officers and Rotarians.

President Elect Henry also announced that he and Rtn. Regula had recently met with the UNDPI from New York who expressed an interest developing closer ties with our club.  He added that in November 2009 there will be a Rotary International day at the UN HQ in New York and anyone interested in attending the event should contact himself or Rtn. Regula. It is expected that there will be more than 300 Rotarians and UN representatives attending this event.

Rtn. Rigobert Itoua launched the Ball reservations by paying for a full table.

Speaker’s Program
Rtn. Carl presented an overview of the makeup of our club membership.  Some of the statistics he reported included:

• 34% of our members were from Germany
• 61% of our members were male
• 36% of our members were aged between 40 and 49
• 28% of our members were in either Education or Financial Services
• Our longest serving club member has been with us for 28 years
• 50% of our members are Paul Harris Fellows
• 2 members have received the “Four Avenues of Service Award”

His overall conclusion was that more female members and members from non-FS/Education industries were required.

Birthday Celebration
Happy Birthday to Rtns. Eddy Henning, Stefan Hoffmann-Kuhnt, Peter Humphrey, Serge Kioes, Nandani Lynton, Helge Stavonhagen, Gloria Wong. Rtn. Stefan cut the birthday cake on behalf of all members celebrating their birthdays during March.