Visit to the Rotary Club of Shanghai

On March 18 I had the opportunity to visit the Rotary Club of Shanghai in China. The club resides at the Hilton Hotel and reception was very formal with a desk and a clerk handing out the name badge for members as well as guests. I was fortunate to join table with two fellows from Belgrade in Serbia, both now living permanently in Shanghai. We had an interesting conversation about the business climate in China.
The club accomodates only members with non-Chinese passports so it was an international evening with people from at least Malaysia, England, US, Sweden, Serbia, The Netherlands and more. The club hosts 23 different nationalities.

Two members collected a little sum from those who did not wear a tie, pin or badge and after that the collected "happy" money and then "sad" money before they auctioned some original Rotary pins from Hawaii. This was done in a humorous way and contributed to the club funds for charity and other projects.

Consultant Jerel Bonner gave his very personal view on which general skils that are needed in the future: Six Competencies of Business Success for the 21st Century.

Jerel Bonner

After the meeting I exchanged club banner with President Tom Kane.

Carsten Helmuth and Tom Kane

The Rotary Club of Shanghai has an interesting history dating back to 1919 - please study these links for further reading:

• RC Shanghai Historical Narrative – narrative

• RC Shanghai Historical Overview – narrative
• RCS Post WWII Report to RI - narrative
• Historical Timeline 1919 to date
• History of the Rotary Club of Shanghai – Part II, Far Eastern Rotary Revue Nov 1939
• History of the Rotary Club of Shanghai – Part III, Far Eastern Rotary Revue, Mar 1940

Best regards, Carsten Helmuth