Dear fellow Rotarians and Rotaractors,

We started off the Imagine Rotary year with a great headstart.  After a month of club installations throughout the district, we kicked off the District Installation on August 7, 2022 with a drum performance.  We have many distinguished guests including Mr. Okada Kenichi, Consul-General of Japan in Hong Kong;  Mr. Colin T. Crosby, Deputy Consul General of USA in Hong Kong & Macau; Dr. Bernard Chan Pak Li, Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development; District Governor Henry Shih of Lions International District 303; and National President Karen Yeung of Junior Chamber International Hong Kong.  We had the honour of having Dr Rex Au-Yeung, Non-Executive Chairman of MTRC, to officiate the ceremony.  Whereas IPDG Keith Chow delivered review of the last Rotary Year, I shared the key focus of this Rotary Year:  VRE – Virtual Rotary Exchange, DEI – Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and PPE – Preserve Planet Earth.   With these three focuses and our imagination, we would deliver a great year of services! 

A highlight is the great start with 50 new members being inducted at the District Installation.  Membership growth has been a key focus of Rotary.  Attracting and retaining quality members is of utmost importance.  August is the Rotary Membership Month – I urge Rotary Clubs in our District to set out your membership growth strategy and work out plans for recruiting quality members. 

August is also a month of various major events.  On August 16, the Beyond Imagination Concert was held at Youth Square to raise fund for The Rotary Foundation.  It was a great time for fellowship and some good singing.  PDG HW Fung, PDG Eric Chak, DGE Andy Li and myself performed on stage.  The finale was the Imagine Rotary song which touched the audience.   

On August 17, we were invited to the Asia Sustainability Conference where I was one of the panel speakers.  The focus of our sharing was the needs in education and development for our youths. The concept of sustainability is a long term mission, we must start from education and should start early. Rotary International District 3450 provides youth services from Primary school (JuniorAct), secondary school (Interact), universities (Rotaract) as well as working youths (Community based Rotaract).  We are also expanding the Virtual Rotary Exchange program in our District to broaden our youths’ vision in international understanding.

Technology and innovation is also an important topic in relations to youth development.  I was delighted to meet the young winners of the STEM Competition organized by Rotary Club of Peninsula East.  Career opportunities in IT is growing fast and for sure the trend will continue.  My IT development experience was shared with the youths to encourage them to start their IT education early.  Indeed, I envision that our future award presentation ceremony may take on a new life and be held in the metaverse with no limit of attendance!

I will be concluding the month with attendance at Digital Entertainment Leadership Forum as Guest of Honour on August 28.  I am honoured to be invited to these activities where we could demonstrate how Rotary and our District is a forerunner in the development of our society.

Let’s continue to imagine new ways we can contribute to our community and to Rotary.  Imagine Rotary!

Norman Lee
2022 -23 District Governor
Rotary International District 3450