International Relations

Good morning Director Sam Eldebs.

After failing to re establish our relationship with RC Taipei through email and phone calls, I decided to give this issue a final try. I went to Taipei last week and went directly to the office address that we had of RC Taipei. Fortunately their office secretary Catherine Yen was there. She received me warmly and then she connected me by phone to PP William “Braces” Choi (M.S. Dentistry). PP Braces is also the Chair for International Relations. Eventually we had a breakfast meeting that included President Stephen Tan, VP Shirley Ting (who is also President Designate, Year 2017-18), PP Braces Choi and Director Kish Harkishin (Indian origin and longtime Taipei resident). It was a very friendly meeting and the ff points were discussed:

1) They apologized for the difficulties I experienced in trying to contact them. I also apologized for not having replied to an email message that they had sent in January. I actually missed this email.

2) RC Taipei has 105 members and was founded in October 1948. They will celebrate their 70th anniversary next calendar year. Of course they verbally expressed an invitation for us. We can expect a formal one in the near future.

3) I also explained that we will be celebrating our Centennial Year two years from now. They expressed eagerness to reestablish our connection and to strengthen this relationship.

4) PP Braces Choi regularly visits Manila. He attended UERM and maintains many personal friends here. He asked me to confirm our anniversary celebrations this year and indicated that he would be happy to attend it with a colleague or two. Please advise me of our plans for this year's anniversary and please arrange to send them a formal invitation to our Centennial event.

5) One of them asked when our sister club treaty expires. Not really sure about this, I just said that for as long as we want to closely interact, then our relationship can continue. I figured that even if there may be an expiry to it, we can simply sign a new treaty. I will look into our files for this.

6) RC Taipei seems to be very active in cooperating with other Clubs to work on projects. As is the case with RC Kowloon East, they look like a good potential partner for community projects.

Thank you.

PD Nick Locsin, Co-Chairman, International Relations Committee