Golden News
Volume 13 - Number 27 - 10th January, 2000.

The weekly newsletter of the Rotary Club of Kowloon Golden Mile, Hong Kong.
Web site: www.rckgm.org


Last Week's Meeting - 5th January 2000.
 
According to our beloved President Ram "Bo", an anonymous member of KGM has REPEATEDLY asked him to ask me to include the actual date of "Last Week's Meeting" in each issue of Golden News because they are obviously confused about how KGM operates.
 
OK, whoever you are, I know this may be an extremely difficult concept for you to grasp, but please try to follow. KGM meets every Wednesday. The Golden News is published every Monday. With me so far ?
 
Hence it therefore follows that when I refer to "Last Week's Meeting" in THIS issue of Golden News (dated 10th January, 2000), it means the meeting held last Wednesday, 5th January 2000. Still having a problem ? OK, just dial 1-800-IMA DOPE and ask Bozo The Clown to explain it. Tell him Grumpy sent you. Sheesh.
 
Anyway, in the absence of a scheduled speaker, we were fortunate last week (Wednesday 5th January, 2000) to have the Royal Danish Consul-General for Hong Kong, Rtn. Jens Peder Jensen, a member of the RC of Hong Kong, give us an informative talk about Denmark (anonymous please note - Danish means "from Denmark", a country in Scandinavia NOT a sticky bun).
 
Now where the hell are my happy pills ?
 

Message from The President:
 
Due to the length of the regular columns in this week's Golden News, there is insufficient space to include the latest broadcast from our beloved President.
 
However KGM members will receive a second (unedited) e-mail broadcast from me, on behalf of the President, immediately after this issue of Golden News.
 

Prospective New Member:
 
The Membership Committee and the Board of Directors have approved an application for Active membership proposed by Mazhar Sultana in favour of Mr. Mukesh Dayaram, Director of H.Daya International Company Limited. The membership classification which is being loaned is "Manufacturing - Jackets".
 
Any club member who wishes to lodge an objection to this proposal is required to do so in writing to the Club Secretary within 7 days from the date of this notice (i.e. on or before 17 January, 2000), setting out the reasons for their objection.
 
If no objections are received within the specified period (and subject to payment of the ruling joining fees), Mr. Dayaram may be inducted as an Active member of KGM on or after 19 January, 2000.
 

Recently Departed Members:
 
1) Bert Van Vuurde, who is now living in Europe.
 
2)  Bhagwan Khemlani, due to an inability to satisfy his attendance obligations in the foreseeable future.
 
We wish both gentleman well, and we hope they will consider re-joining KGM if and when circumstances permit.
 
Attendance - Shame On Us:
 
Well folks, I am disappointed to report that things are not getting any better, and your Board is very concerned.
 
Our attendance recorded so far this year was July 55 %, August 66% September 64%, October 63%, November 51%, which gives KGM a woeful year-to-date average attendance of 59%.
 
Frankly folks, this is just not good enough, and we need to take immediate steps to rectify this situation.
 
If you cannot attend regular meetings of KGM, please do a "make-up" at another club in District 3450 or overseas. Full details of where and when you can effect "make-ups" are available under "Rotary Links" on the KGM web site.
 
When you first joined KGM, you made a commitment to maintain your attendance at a level of not less than 60%, but our records show that we have some members who are barely achieving 25% in recent months.
 
You need to be brutally honest with yourself and with the club. If you think you really cannot improve your attendance in the foreseeable future, perhaps you should consider resigning from the club until your situation improves. We hate to lose members, but the alternative of having members whom we never see is no less palatable.
 
Your Board has exercised considerable tolerance, patience and understanding in recent months, but they cannot allow this situation to continue indefinitely. Rotary is a service club, and your attendance is an essential part of your commitment to Rotary.
 

Welcome Committee:
 
I STILL have no idea who is supposed to be on duty this week, nor do I know who is in town at the moment, so it's exactly the same deal as last week folks.
 
Would the first 2 members who arrive at the hotel this Wednesday kindly assume the task ? Thank You.
 

This Week's Speaker: Ms. Penny Smith
 
Topic: Riding For The Disabled
  

This Week's Birthday Celebrants:
 
For the second time this year we have no birthday celebrants at KGM.
 

Next Fellowship Event: Indian Night !

Yes folks, it's on again !!! Our exceedingly generous Indian members have once again graciously offered to host what has arguably been the most fun fellowship on the KGM calendar for the past few years:
 
Time and date: 7:30 p.m. (Indian time), 22 January 2000.
 
Venue: The Viceroy of India Restaurant, Sun Hung Kai Centre, Wanchai North, Hong Kong.
 
Cost: ZIP (unless you are an Indian, in which case your share is a truck load of rupees).
 
VOLUNTEER REQUIRED: As your erstwhile Bulletin Editor will not be able to attend this Indian Night due to his overseas travel commitments, a volunteer photographer(s) will be required for the evening, preferably those with a digital camera.
 
If you would like to assist, please DO NOT e-mail photographs to me. Simply transfer your images in JPG, GIF or BMP format to a floppy diskette and pass the diskette to President Ram. Selected images will be uploaded to the KGM web site, with credit given to the contributing photographer(s).
 

Forthcoming Club and District Events:
 
(1) 25-27 February 2000 - Rotary International Presidential Conference, Regent Hotel, Hong Kong.
 
This is a prestigious event in the Rotary Calendar which will be attended by Rotary International President Carlo Ravizza and many other RI dignitaries. This event commences on the evening of Friday 25 February, comprises a whole day session on Saturday 26 February and concludes with a half-day session on Sunday 27 February.
 
The registration fee is US$175 (HK$1,365) per person however, in an effort to support DG Dipo, your Board of Directors have agreed that the KGM General Fund will fully subsidise up to twenty (20) members of KGM to attend this important event. Members who are willing and able to attend not less than 60% of this event are invited to register their interest with President Ram.
 
Members who register but who subsequently fail to attend will be expected to reimburse the registration fee to KGM.
 
(2) 27-29 February 2000 - RC of Paranaque 25th Anniversary, Manila.
 
Due to the conflict of this event with the RI Presidential Conference above, a small delegation of four members lead by PP Vince "It's A Rotten Job But Somebody's Gotta Do It" Pinto will represent KGM in Manila at this event, with all costs borne individually by those attending.
 

KGM Web Site:
 
Other than adding New Year graphics and a "Last Updated" indicator at the top of the page, there have been no dramatic changes lately at the KGM web site.
 
Nonetheless, your Webmaster still believes the KGM web site remains the most advanced, comprehensive and regularly updated club web site in District 3450, and it has proven to be an excellent communications tool and reference point.
 
However if any member has any positive suggestions on how we can further improve the web site, please do not hesitate to contact the Webmaster at pinto@selpro.com.hk
 

Cool Internet Sites Of The Week:
 
http://www.historychannel.com/ is an interesting web site for history buffs and for those with children in senior school.
 
http://www.laughnet.net/ is an ADULT humour intensive web site. Note that some items range from risqué to, well, very bold !
 

Quote Of The Week:
 
"To get something done, a committee should consist of three people, two of whom are always absent."
 
Unknown author.
 

Joke Of The Week:
 
After parking his BMW, the yuppie driver started alight from his car, when suddenly another car came along and hit the door, ripping it completely off.
 
When the police arrived at the scene, the yuppie was complaining bitterly about the damage to his precious BMW.
 
"Officer, look what they've done to my beautiful BMW,"  he complained.
 
"You yuppies are so materialistic, you make me sick" retorted the officer. "You're so worried about your stupid BMW, that you didn't even notice your arm was ripped off !!!"
 
"Oh my God" replied the yuppie "Where's my Rolex ??"
 

The Phantom