Rotary

Rotaract Sanlitun at Smokeyard Restaurant

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

On 16 May we tried for the first time a new location in Sanlitun Nan Lu: the Smokeyard.

My evaluation: nice and cozy interior, nice decoration, quiet corner on 2fl for us to meet. Surprisingly with a decoration that looks like a knockoff of the Rotary sign!
As for the food, not convinced yet. I tried the baby ribs, the meat was not tender while the taste was OK. Much better in other locations such as HomePlate BBQ and D-One Sports Bar where the meat falls from the bones and is so tender. Here, a lot of fork and knife work to do. The pizza looked nice, so did some of the hamburgers but I need to try. Prices are very reasonable. They quickly ran out of their home-brewed beer, did we drink so much?

One more good meeting for the Rotaract Sanlitun and we will come back here for sure.
Sadly, some of the Rotaractors shown will be leaving us soon.

The Rotaract Club Beijing West in action

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

On 12 May I finally made it to one of their first meetings since they started. Location: Bo Coffee, where they can use a private room. Very near the subway station Wudaokou, but nearly one hour by subway from gongti.

The new club is doing very well with new and dynamic members.
We are looking forward to organize a Gala with the two clubs (East and West), probably in Conrad Hotel on 25 June, details to be confirmed.

Rotaract East elections and party at The Tree

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

On 9 May a different location to do the elections of the new board for Rotaract East (Sanlitun): The Tree in Sanlitun, a well-known Belgian bar and restaurant.
The new team was elected, different nationalities, different faces. They will start their Rotaract year 1 July.
We were happily surprised by the invasion from many members of the Rotaract West (Wudaokou) who joined us for a pretty intense party.

Indeed our Birthday Boy Frederik paid us all a drink and they then switched to Tequila at some point. Somehow all Rotaractors made it home safely, if not the same evening…

Beijing Rotary lunch 3 May

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

A quiet lunch this time, just after the (short) 1 May holidays, no speaker.
Sven H., one more new German member of our club was inducted.

Gilbert received his new Paul Harris Foundation pin, the PHF+7, see his collection, PHF+7 (2016) and PHF+6 (2016), plus the first one and all others together! Received for his work with Rotaract.

Rtn Daniel R. also got a PHF pin and brought the banner and news of the new Rotary Club of Tianjin.
Daniel Ralph, who runs URBRAU (König Ludwig Beer!) kindly gave free tickets for a beer festival in Shanghai.

We had a French visitor from the loverly region of Monaco, Rtn Yann G. from the Rotary Club of Beausoleil.
Rtn Jens H. tried a new role as Sergeant-at-Arms!