Golden News
Volume 13 - Number 36 - 6 March 2000.
The weekly newsletter of the Rotary Club of Kowloon Golden Mile, Hong Kong.
Web site: www.rckgm.org

Attendance Improves - HOORAY !
 
Well folks, there I was last week, moaning about our miserable attendance result for the first 6 months of the year but, behind my back, it would seem that you sneaky little devils had taken my complaints to heart, and you finally decided to do something positive about it, in a true spirit of Rotary.
 
Or maybe you just had nothing better to do on Wednesdays in January ? Whatever !

Anyway, the bottom line is that I am delighted to report that KGM jumped from a lousy 59.38% (for the 6 months to December 1999), to a very respectable 72% for January 2000, and we came in 7th overall out of 48 clubs in District 3450 !!

Well done troops ............ you can give yourselves a collective slap on the back.
 
Ouch !!! Not that hard, OK ? I'm still terrified about February though, given the Chinese New Year holidays but, hey, let's wait 'n' see, OK ?
 
Next Board of Directors Meeting:
 
All KGM Directors are reminded that the next Board of Directors meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the 2/F, Holiday Inn Golden Mile hotel on Tuesday 7th March, 2000. (i.e. tomorrow evening).
 
If you are unable to attend, kindly have the courtesy to inform Club Secretary Nanu Lachman in advance, to whom you should also send your written report of the status of your plans and activities since the last Board meeting.
 
Alternatively you may send someone from your Committee to present your report on your behalf, however your representative will NOT count towards achieving a quorum NOR can they vote on resolutions presented to the Board for consideration.
 
Toys For Tots ?
 
The following message was received this week from KGM member David Harilela:
 
"I would like to donate to any worthy cause 4 cartons of exquisite toys which I sell overseas.  If there is an association that could benefit from this, please ask them to contact me".

David can be contacted at hgl@wlink.net
  
This Week's Speaker: Dr. Trevor Holmes
 
Topic: The HKSAR Antiquities and Monuments Office
 
No folks, this is not merely a chat about PP Louis Thomas - apparently Dr. Holmes will primarily speaking about ancient buildings in Hong Kong - those which are over 10 years old :-)
 
Next Fellowship Event: Mexican Night - FINAL CALL !
 
Date and Time: 11 March, 2000 at 7:30 p.m.
 
Venue: Coyote Bar & Grill, 114-120 Lockhart Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong.
 
Cost: Only $350 per head, which includes enormous servings of typical Mexican specialties including empanadas, quesadillas, stuffed jalapeno peppers and chicken wings of fire, all washed down with unlimited soft drinks, sangria, margueritas and beer. Ole !
 
Those of you taking the MTR (highly recommended), should take "Exit C" and turn left once you reach street level, and you will find Coyote is about 50 few metres away. Those preferring to drive can find parking in the First Pacific Bank Centre (entrance on Jaffe Road between Fenwick Street and Luard Road, opposite the new "Chinatown" bar).
 
As seating in Coyote is limited to a MAXIMUM of fifty (50) people, it will be a usual KGM case of "first to pay, first served".

Payment in full is required not later than this Wednesday, 8 March, to secure your booking.
 
By the way folks, I am currently on the way to Europe, so I need a volunteer to take photos of the Mexican Night for upload to the KGM web site.
 
Please DO NOT email photos to me - just pass a diskette to me with your photos in JPEG or GIF format when I return to Hong Kong in about 10 days time - thanks.
 
This Week's Birthday Celebrants:
 
15 March - Martyn Davies, our favorite Welsh singer, boyo, who shares his birthday with Sly Stone of "Sly and the Family Stone" from the 60's, who recorded such memorable songs as "Hot Fun In The Summertime".
 
Forthcoming Club and District Events:
 
4 March 2000 - Assistant Governor Training Seminar, Venue Unknown !!
 
The above seminar is only for those who will be AG's commencing 1 July 2000.
 
11-12 March 2000 - President Elect Training Seminar (PETS), Miramar Hotel, Tsimshatsui.
 
The above seminar is for ALL incoming Directors of KGM who assume office on 1 July 2000.
 
12 March - Tree Planting Day and District Walk-A-Thon, Chung Sha Teng, Sai Kung.
 
Self explanatory.
 
20 March - Arrival of GSE (Group Study Exchange) members in Hong Kong.

The members of the GSE will visit KGM and give a brief presentation on Wednesday 22 March 2000.
 
26 March - Seven-A-Side Soccer Tournament, Stanley Ho Sports Centre, University of Hong Kong, Sandy Bay.
 
Hmmm. I wonder if they have a "Seniors" division ?
 
KGM Web Site:

1) Some KGM members have complained that they have not received their copy of "The Rotarian" magazine recently each month. If you are one of these unfortunate individuals, simply visit the KGM web site, click on "Rotary Links" at the top of the page, and then follow the appropriate link to "Change of Address". This will zoom you over to the R.I. web site, where you can update your address details directly with R.I.
 
2) KGM members who are interested to know more about the progress of our Rotaract Club should click on "Serious Stuff" at the top of the KGM web site, then on "Our Rotaract Club". At the bottom of the new page which opens, you will find a hyperlink to the "Half-Year Activity Report from the Rotaract Club of Kowloon Golden Mile".
 
Interesting stuff from a bunch of highly dedicated and enthusiastic youngsters, of whom we are very proud !
 
 
Cool Internet Sites:
 
www.frankdevlyn.org/ is the web site to visit if you want to know more about incoming R.I. President Frank Devlyn and/or his new Rotary theme for the 2000/2001 Rotary year.
 
www.alienabductions.com/  is definitely well worth a visit if you have ever been abducted by aliens OR if that was the excuse you gave to your "significant other" to try to explain why you came home extremely late one evening, reeking of alcohol and/or with your clothing in disarray.
 
No names, of course, but I can think of a few KGM members who should visit this site :-)
 
Quote Of The Week:

"Men often oppose a thing merely because they had no agency in planning it, or because it may have been planned by those whom they dislike."

Former US President Alexander Hamilton

Jokes Of The Week (For Those Of You With Answering Machines or Voicemail):
 
1. My wife and I can't come to the phone right now, but if you'll leave your name and number, we'll get back to you as soon as we're finished.

2. A is for academics, B is for beer, one of those reasons is why we're not here. So, leave a message.

3. Hi. This is John. If you are the phone company, I already sent the money. If you are my parents, please send money. If you are my financial aid institution, you didn't lend me enough money. If you are my friends, you owe me money. If you are a female, don't worry, I have plenty of money.

4. Hi. Now you say something.

5. Hi, I'm not home right now, but my answering machine is, so you can talk to it instead. Wait for the beep.

6. Hello. I am David's answering machine. What are you?

7. Hello. If you leave a message, I'll call you soon. If you leave a sexy message, I'll call much sooner!

8. Hi. John's answering machine is broken. This is his refrigerator. Please speak very slowly, and I'll stick your message to myself with one of these magnets.

9. Hello, you are talking to a machine. I am capable of receiving messages. My owners do not need siding, windows or a hot tub, and their carpets are clean. They give to charity through their office and they do not need insurance. If you're still with me, leave your name and number and they will get back to you.

10. This is not an answering machine. This is a telepathic thought-recording device. After the tone, think about your name, your number and your reason for calling, and I'll think about returning your call.

11. Hi. I'm probably home, but I'm avoiding someone I don't like. Leave me a message, and if I don't call back, it's you !

12. Hi, this is George. I'm sorry I can't answer the phone right now. Leave a message and then wait by your phone until I call you back.

13. If you are a burglar, then we're probably at home cleaning our weapons right now and can't come to the phone. Otherwise, we probably aren't home and it's safe to leave a message.

14. Please leave a message. However, you have the right to remain silent. Everything you say will be recorded and will be used by us.

15. Hello, you've reached Jim and Sonya. We can't pick up the phone right now, because we're doing something we really enjoy. Sonya likes doing it up and down, but I like doing it left to right, real slowly. So leave a message and, when we're done brushing our teeth, we'll get back to you.
The Phantom