San Francisco Chinatown Rotary - Hall of Fame

Affectionately known as our "Godfmother", Ceciel is a member of the San Francisco Rotary Club (also known a Club #2) and was their club representative. Club #2 is our sponsor club.

Ms. Helen Abe

Helen is the Rotarian with the vision for starting our club.

April 19, 2010

Dear Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Chinatown in San Francisco:

In the year of Past District Governor Holy Axtell, I mentioned to her that I wanted to start a Rotary Club in Chinatown because I thought that beautiful area of the City was not represented in our organization. Some time later I met with 4 Chinese prospective members and Peter Lagarias at the Rotary of San Francisco and things went on from there. A year or so later I did not have much luck; I went to many meetings when I was there by myself. But then I said: what we need is a person who has contacts and someone who is really enthusiastic and optimistic and since my Chinese was not so good I said we also need to have someone who speaks Chinese better than me. I also thought that we needed someone who looks better than me and someone who was prettier than me because the Chinese people I asked to come to Rotary meetings did not pay too much attention to me. So, I called Helen one day and asked her for assistance

And now you now know the rest of the story.

Helen did not like me too much either, but she felt sorry for me and she made me wait a few months before she called me and she said “I have some ideas”. And I said “You do? And she said “Yes” .”I am going to tell my friends that if they don’t join Rotary I am going to divorce them”. And now you know the rest of the story.

And then came Alex. God I was afraid of him; an attorney, Chinese, does not smile much and on top of that he is taller than …not only me, but everybody else.

He also probably felt sorry for us and so he decided to be the first President of the Rotary Club of San Francisco Chinatown and he also decided that he, as an attorney, could help run the club legally, according to the laws, (of Chinatown), but also making everybody afraid of him. He decided that the club was going to be the best club or else; excellence or nothing. “Everything you said could be used against you” if you do not volunteer to do the job”. Alex, guided the Club and taught the club how to do it simply and with no drama or discussion. Just go there and do it. And now you know the rest of the story.

Then Cecile found out that there was a Chinese Rotary Club coming up and since she is crazy about helping in Rotary and since she believes in Rotary so much. She said “I will be there” and she showed up every week since then and help with the guidance of this new group that by the way, I thought was going to be shy and afraid and quite. Well. You now know the rest of the story.

Then, Ron came and thought that if Alex could do it, he could do it to, even if he was not as tall. Alex told him that “it was a piece of cake”; just be cool and tell people what to do and the Chinese spirit will prevail. (Alex did not tell Ron how much work it was to be president; thanks God for that). Ron took the club and became a real Dictator and said “My people, the fortune cookie says that this coming week end we will be doing this project and we should be there”. “The next week end we are doing another project and we should all be there and by the way we need to raise money for this and that and do not forget to get ready for the assembly and the conference, By the way, Susan you bring the cookies, because Alex could do it and if he could do it I can do it and if I can do you can do it. And by the way, we have to make Helen, Cecile and Pablo proud. And now you know the rest of the story

Congratulations my Friends. You deserve to be the best Rotary Club in the whole world. (I believe you could that too).

Congratulations Helen, if it was not for her dictatorship and beauty I do not know if we would have a Chinatown Club; I would probably still be learning Chinese.

Congratulations Cecile, you are what every Rotarian should be. You are full of energy, willingness and support for your friends: with your altruistic attitude you help everybody and by the way, you have a great smile.

Pablo

The Godfather