Rotary International District 3520 hosted “Ten Great Projects to Make Taiwan Better” Press Conference

The President of Taiwan Legislative Yuan and Several City Mayors and County Magistrates Were Present at the Press Conference; 100 Handy Buses worth NT 1 Billion Dollars Were Donated.

Rotary International Districts 3460, 3470, 3480, 3490, 3500, 3510 and 3520 hosted the "2009-2010 Ten Great Projects to Make Taiwan Better" on July 1st at the Sheraton Hotel in Taipei.

The President of Legislative Yuan Wang Jin-Pyng, Taipei County Magistrate Chou Hsi-wei, Kaohsiung County Magistrate Yang Xing, Taoyuan County Magistrate Chu Li-lun, Yilan County Magistrate Lu Guo-Hua, Nantou County Magistrate Lee Zhao-ching, Tainan County Magistrate Su Huan-chih, Pingtung County Magistrate Tsao Chi-hung, Mayor of Tainan City Hsu Tien-tsai, Changhua County Deputy Magistrate, Taichung County Deputy Magistrate Chen Mao-Ren, Vice Mayor of Taipei City Wu Ching-chi, Hsinchu City Deputy Mayor Chen Gui-wide, National Strategy Advisor Yen Wen-shi, his wife, and all other guests of honor came to the press conference to support and encourage Rotarians in Taiwan.

The seven District Governors formally announced the "Ten Great Projects to make Taiwan better." They also announced the donation of 100 Handy Buses worth up to 100 billion NT in value, to all Taiwan’s city and county governments. By this announcement, Rotarians were ready to make a contribution to the public service in Taiwan and to create a new record in history.

3460 District Governor Chang Guang-Yau, 3470 District Governor Si Mau-Gen, 3480 District Governor Hsieh Yan-Sheng, 3490 District Governor Lee Jing-du, 3500 District Governor Xu Bai-chou, 3510 District Governor Lin Zhao-xung, and 3520 District Governor Chen Yau-Fang declared in the press conference the year 2009-10: “Ten Great Projects to Make Taiwan Better”; this will be accomplished through the Rotary International multidistrict service platform, and through collaboration they will promote: 1. Deaflympics Service; 2. Rotary Golden Award Ceremony for News of Public Service; 3. Rotary Public Image Billboard Campaign; 4. Barrier-free Environment Campaign; 5. Rotary Handy Bus Donation; 6. Legal Education Campaign; 7. Evacuation Center at the Summit; 8. Rotary E-Map; 9. Around the Island Cycling Relay; 10. Rotary Sun Moon Lake Marathon (run for eradication of polio).

Chen Yau-Fang from the 3520 district emphasized that “Rotarians see their own responsibility through serving the public”.

He also pointed out that this year the 7 districts would cooperate to focus on the annual theme: ”The future of Rotary is in your hands”; this will promote the quality of Rotary in Taiwan in public service with unprecedented multidistrict service platform: "Ten Great Projects to Make Taiwan Better.” By this, it will encourage more than 540 Rotary Clubs in Taiwan, and 18,500 Rotarians to share the platform, which is a rare opportunity to serve and help home towns with Rotary’s rich resource by contributing for the public good, and to accomplish the mission with full effots.

The President of Legislative Yuan Wang Jin-pyng gave a positive reconfirmation to the public service Rotarians in Taiwan had given when he was giving a speech as a VIP.

He stated that Taiwanese Rotarians from all seven districts were consisted of business leaders and the talents in the society. They cared for public service and had given a long-term commitment and contribution to the development of Taiwan and public service. They were the role models for the society! Today, Rotarians in Taiwan work together for the first time ever to create multidistrict projects: Ten Great Projects to Make Taiwan Better. This will be another highlight in the public service history in Taiwan.

Wang emphasized that Ten Great Projects to Make Taiwan Better came from civilian organizations and this could help the government strengthen the development and building of the society and made the social welfare in Taiwan better. From grassroot works to international grand events, Rotary volunteers are everywhere. From the highest mountain, Yusan, to Sun Moon Lake, Rotary’s foot prints go from the mountain to the ground level. From energy conservation to promoting of the barrier free environment, from the Golden Award Ceremony for News of Public Service to legal education taking roots, Rotarians always have the long-term view and goal. There would be Handy Buses donation ceremony and that was the most thoughtful gift Rotarians could give to the disabled and helped the city and country governments greatly!

The City Mayor of Taipei specially stated that beginning from August this year, there would be people from 81 countries coming to Taiwan and the estimated number could reach over 10,000. District 3480 and 3520 from Rotary International in Taiwan have recruited their members and students and teachers from 87 schools in Taipei to work for hosting the players on cultural exchange.

He believed it would be a success. Rotarians in Taiwan were the reason for the success because they were responsible for recruiting volunteers and worked together with the Deaflympics Committee to portray a friendly city image of Taipei.

City Mayors and County Magistrates from Taipei, Kaushiung, Taoyuan, Tainan, and Pingtung and representatives from different places all came together for Rotary International in Taiwan without differentiating their party or location affiliations.

They also represented the local governments to receive the donation of Handy Buses, worth NT$ 1 billion. For the future, the number of Handy Buses will be assigned to different local governments according to their actual needs. They will reduce the inconvenience of the disabled and moving across small streets in Taiwan, representing the spirit of Rotary’s public service.

District 3520 District Governor Chen stated that Rotary International in Taiwan is consisted of local leaders in business and the society. Every Rotarian represented their industry and organization and the energy in public service! Rotary International encourages Rotarians in business to promote corporate social responsibility.

Doing business is not only about making money but also about giving back to society and caring for employees and saving the environment. They should work with the public to do public service so that the business can have a firm foundation. In addition, Rotary Clubs in Taiwan will hold more international events in Taiwan so that Taiwan can walk onto the world stage and share with the world Taiwanese Rotarians’ stories.

3520 District Governor Chen emphasized that if we could all achieve Service Above Self and give back to this land, if we hoped Rotary in Taiwan would grow to be more active and better, and if we believed that the future of Taiwan’s public service would look up to Rotary in Taiwan, then we should not be satisfied with our current status quo. We would need to make a change, welcome new challenge, and begin to walk up towards the peak!

During the event, the actual details of the ten projects were announced and the introduction “Ten Great Projects to Make Taiwan Better” DVD was played. In addition, the highlights from the past Rotary Golden Award were played. The President of Legislative Yuan and all audience witnessed the opening and it resembled the beginning of the “Ten Great Projects to Make Taiwan Better!” Rotarians love Taiwan and their service will last forever!

2009-10 Rotary International "Ten Great Projects to Make Taiwan Better” service plan:

1. 2009 Taipei Deaflympics Service: Rotary International will be the Taipei City Government's "official partner", and recruit 5000 volunteers to assist in making sure that the international competitions run smoothly. Also with the cooperation of 89 primary and secondary schools in Taipei City, Rotary International will host the 81 country's athletes and team staff, in order to promote cultural exchanges. (Sponsored by D 3520)

2. Rotary Golden Award Ceremony for News of Public Service: Rotary International, in order to encourage Taiwan's media for their public service and reporting accurate news content, plans to increase in June 2010 the total amount of prize money 1 million NT prize, and have the presentation ceremony broadcast live by television media. (Sponsored by D 3520)

3. Rotary Public Image Billboard Campaign: In order to spread information about Rotary’s public service, and to encourage the public to support public service works in Taiwan, every Rotary Club will be planning to set up at least one public billboard. (Sponsored by D 3510)

4. Barrier-free Environment Campaign: Rotarians will host the “Barrier-free Environment Campaign” in order to let everyone understand how it feels to be handicapped. They will also publish the Barrier-Free pamphlets in the campus of the elementary schools throughout Taiwan. (Sponsored by D 3520).

5. Rotary Handy Bus Donation: Rotarians plan to donate one Handy Bus per sub-district (a total of 100 Handy Buses) in response to local government’s needs. This will help reduce the inconvenience of transportation for the disabled. (Sponsored by D 3490)

6. Legal Education Campaign: In order for children to develop the concept of “laws”, and to help them develop and observe rules, Rotary will schedule a special program. (Sponsored by D 3480)

7. Evacuation Center at the Summit: Rotary will develop an environmental protection and disaster prevention model, and install environmentally friendly toilets. (Sponsored by D 3470, 3520)

8. Rotary E-Map: Using the GPS system, members can search Taiwan for other Rotarians and thus strengthen cross-district communication and aid in the mobilization of social and public welfare activities. (Sponsored by D 3500, 3520)

9. Around the Island Cycling Relay: Rotarians will bike around the island of Taiwan and conduct activities to promote energy conservation, and to explore the beauty of Taiwan. (Sponsored by D 3500, 3480)

10. Rotary Sun Moon Lake Marathon: Rotary International’s “End Polio" campaign will feature activities like the marathon at Sun Moon Lake. This will also help establish ties with other Rotary clubs abroad, and help increase the international awareness of Taiwan. (Sponsored by D 3460)