REPORT ON PETS 2021-22

By CP Joseph Leung, Rotary Club of Central Harbourfront

The PETS 2021 was kicked off by DG Keith CHOW, it was held on 20th March and 24th April 2021 at The Hang Seng University, Hong Kong.

In view of COVID-19 pandemic situation, the entire training was organized in Hybrid mode. For PETS 1, all speakers were invited to deliver their presentations physically and all President-elect was invited to access via Zoom. In order to cater for Mongolian and Macau attendants, simultaneous translation (SI) have been arranged by PP Prof. Scarlett TSO’s students, we were incredibly pleased to know the feedback was extremely good.
This year PETS have made some significant changes after consulting with DG Keith CHOW and District Trainer PDG YC HO, we intended to provide soft Rotary knowledge in PETS 1 via various panel discussion, to let our President-elect easily adopt related information such as “From Internal to External” – Strengthening your Club Identity via uniting your club members, we have the great pleasure to invite PP Bonnie WONG (RC Wanchai), CP Heman LAM (RC The Hub HK), CP Jimmy LAU (RC Star Avenue) as panel members, and PP Grace YEN (RC HK Harbour) as Moderator, throughout the discussion, each panel member have shared their club culture and how to upkeep members’ relationship, thus strengthening ideas to President-elect on club service.

Another good example was the discussion of Basic quality / Knowledge as a President, we have the great pleasure to invite PP Elsa WONG (RC HK North Point), PP Dennis CHAN (RC HK Sunrise) as panel members, they both were awardees of Outstanding Club President in their presidential years, we have the great pleasure to have PP Angela HUI (RC HK Harbour) as moderator, she has initiated many great discussions with them, thus inspiring our President-elect in how to become a great president.

Despite that we understand face-to-face is utmost important in training, we still had to continue with Hybrid mode due to social distancing policy, we have enlarged the audience to invite President-elect who were willing to join with us physically. We have invited many great district leaders to share core Rotary knowledge, such as membership from PDG Eric CHIN (RC HK North Point), Rotary Foundation from PDG Belinda YEUNG (RC HK Harbour), Rotary protocol from PDG Anthony HUNG (RC Tai Po), Public Image from IPDG Eric CHAK (RC Peninsula); Rotary Citation from DGN Andy LI (RC Kwai Chung), DLDA from PDG YC HO (RC Peninsula South).

Another highlight in PETS 2 was the panel discussion between Interactors, Rotaractors and Rotarians, and we have invited PP Menza CHU (RC Soho HK) who would be the Chair of District Youth Committee as moderator, with PP Rosa PANG (RC Happy Valley) and their Interactors 吳慧善 及 林詩晴 – 馬錦明慈善基金馬可賓紀念中學, and PP Edward LEUNG RC HK City North) and their Rotaractor PDRR Jessica WOO, we were delighted to have a very interactive discussion throughout 20 minutes.
Last but not the least, we conducted the most interactive session of the entire program, all incoming Assistant Governors were assigned to discuss with their Club Presidents on specific topics, and each Area was assigned to a virtual breakout room, it was very excited to see the first and ever O2O (Online to Offline / Offline to Online) Rotary training in the district, we could see their excitements from their faces.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank PETS organizing committee especially PP Angela HUI, PP Lily CHAN and PP Grace YEN great assistance and RIC team support, our competent MC President Francis CHAN (RC New Territories), Ms. Vivian LAU (PA to DG Keith CHOW), our Sergeant-at-Arms teams led by PP Dr Alexis SUEN (RC Kwai Chung), technical and simultaneous interpretation support from the Hang Seng University, Hong Kong. Lastly, without the guidance from DG Keith CHOW and PDG YC HO’s advice, the event would never be a success.