Rotary

Rotaract Young Professionals Networking event

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

On Thursday evening 14 May 2015 at The Bookworm we had our Young Professionals Networking Event, organized by Beijing Rotaract. It was a chance to meet young professionals in Beijing and give to charity at the same time; proceeds went for earthquake relief in Nepal, through Shelterbox – we raised RMB 1245, a modest sum as unfortunately few Rotarians turned up.

Guest speaker was Daniel Mulroy who spoke about the art of coping with cultural differences and leveraging multicultural workforces to get things done and even achieve higher output. Daniel is currently the Director of Research & Development at the Leithon Consulting Group. He has more than 18 years of experience in entrepreneurship and business planning.
Thanks to Rotarians Daniel, Apithy and Marc-Philipp for their support.
I also had the chance to introduce Mr. Li Wei who is deeply involved with the local Chinese charity “OpenDoing”. Some of my friends are volunteers there and regularly visit retirement homes and schools for children with disabilities.
See: www.opendoing.com
It is a proof many Chinese people start to actively participate in charity, something rather new in China.
And one pic is a view of the new building under construction of SOHO Sanlitun, to be a hotel.

Beijing Rotaract Elections: the new board

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

On Monday 11 May we had our Rotaract elections in The Bookworm.
See here the results, the new Board for Rotaract Beijing 2015/2016

President: Anissa Zidi (France)
Vice President: Frederik Kerckhof (Belgium)
Treasurer: Tristan Louette (France)
Secretary: Emmanuel Hanley-Lloyd (UK)
Director – External Relations and Projects: Johanna Chen (Germany)
A special Advisory Board Position (for Chinese Citizens):
External Relations – Chinese Projects: Sophie Zheng (China)
Missing: a Director-Marketing, position to be filled soon.

We are also looking forward to our Social event in The Bookworm on 14 May 7 pm.
We look forward to another Rotaract year that will start in July. A warm welcome to the new board! See the pic with the new board as well as the new and present board.

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

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

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

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

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

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

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!