Salud Bar Nanluoguxiang: Rotaract evening, and a flashback at 2010

On Monday 4 May 2015, with the holidays just behind us, a social evening in Salud. Turnout was pretty good under the circumstances.
I actually was there years ago for another Rotaract social, with clips I posted on YouTube, see here the short report:

Beijing Rotaract first anniversary
On 5 July 2010 the Beijing Rotaract held its first anniversary party in SALUD, Nanluoguxiang. Great evening, great party and nice people.

Talking about young talent, here it comes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uN5HpVn300

If in China, you need a VPN to watch the clips…
I also show here the pics of that very successful mega-party as I think it was never put on a website. Many familiar faces who have left Beijing…

Our Rotary Club lunch on 28 April: China Entrepreneur Club

Mr. Eric Gass is Investment Alliance Project Officer at China Entrepreneur Club, a non-profit organization founded by some of China’s leading business founders to bolster respect for the Chinese private sector in creating employment and growth opportunity. Since 2013, Eric has focused on further building the club’s international engagement, through projects such as the CEC’s annual China Green Companies Summit and International Visit. Additionally, Eric is responsible for the Investment Alliance platform created to serve the outbound investment interests of member companies.

Founded in 2006 by Liu Chuanzhi, Liu Donghua and 30 other Chinese entrepreneurs, the China Entrepreneur Club (CEC) created as a non-profit platform bolstering the reputation of the Chinese private sector is dedicated to better business in China, and an embrace of sustainable growth across all represented sectors. CEC currently has 48 members, with member company total annual revenues representing over 3% of China’s GDP in 2014. It holds high level internal and external events regularly. CEC is pragmatic of individual aspirations and intentions, creates potential of cooperation both within the club platform and through club organized activities, and philanthropy through the promotion of better business individually and a force for good in China. Its major annual events including member company visits, China Green Companies Summit, international visit programs, Daonong Gala Celebration and tailored events.
Their website: www.daonong.com

In my thanks to the speaker I joked I was disappointed not to hear stories of cigar-smoke-filled rooms where rich people enjoy expensive French wine and Cognac. Instead we heard many times the words “pragmatic, philanthropy, green, sustainability, promotion of private sector”. And more key terms so important today, all in all an encouraging sign the elite CEOs are contributing to make China a better place. Other positive aspect: all the economic and business missions they organized to France, Belgium, USA, UK, Singapore, Australia; Germany and Italy to follow soon.
CEC has a staff of 35 with one foreigner, Eric. Becoming a member seems pretty tough; membership is like RMB 200,000 for two years.

Rotaract in The Bookworm

On Monday 20 April, other very international gathering of our Rotaract members in The Bookworm.

Next round of activities: Storytime at the migrant’s school 25 April; networking event possibly 14 May in The Bookworm (TBC); Interact Picnic possibly 30 May (TBC).
And of course the Rotary Ball on 23 May where Rotaract will set up a photobooth..
Elections for the Rotaract Board are planned for 11 May and we welcome candidates!

Rotaract Beijing, meeting in The Bookworm

On Monday 13 April, another meeting in The Bookworm, the usual mix of nationalities: Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland (Rtn Regula) and China.

Rotaract Beijing can look back at some recent successful events: The Speech Competition (Capital Club, with the Interact Club) with Frederik as coordinator; the Art Jam that attracted twenty participants and two artists, under the guidance of Youssef and Oliver, bringing in RMB 1620 for Crossroads Beijing, a Women Rights Library Project.
Upcoming are, among others, the usual “Story Time” at a migrant school in the South of Beijing, presenting again the story of the Turtle and the Hare, coordination by Tinia.

Rotaract Club of Beijing, meeting 30 March & Art Jam

On 30 March we had our regular working meeting at The Bookworm. As usual we had a very mixed crowd of nationalities, for once with THREE Belgians around the table.

Recent activities organized by Rotaract: the Story Time at the migrant school (28 March, Fenzhongsi) and the speech competition in Capital Club on 4 April. Upcoming: see here the flyer for Art Jam on 11 April.
Rotaract is the Young Generation (18-30) of Rotary. See on this website the introduction under Beijing Rotary.