It may be a month away, but the holiday spirit has already hit Beijing. The sixth annual Rotary Club of Beijing Christmas Bazaar takes place on November 21 and 28 at the Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast. Bradley Roberts spoke with Rotary committee chair Ruby Chang about the changes in this year’s event and other surprises in store.

How and when did the Rotary Club establish itself in Beijing?
Rotary was well established in China before the Second World War, and The Rotary Club of Beijing was first established in 1924. Rotary had established a total of 32 clubs across the country but it had to discontinue its activities after 1949. It returned to China in 1995 when a Fellowship Group of Rotary Hong Kong was created by Rotarian expatriates working in China’s capital city.

What, exactly, does the Rotary Club do?
With the aid of funds raised by our club and sister clubs around the world we deliver Rotarian support to underprivileged communities. Today we have over 60 members from more than 20 different countries. We have contributed our funds and time to a variety of social projects in poverty alleviation, health, special education and the environment.

What personally moved you to become a member of the Rotary Club of Beijing?
I came to know Rotary Club in Beijing in 1999 when a friend took me to their weekly luncheon. I saw a few familiar faces and found the Rotarians very diverse in their nationality and professions. I was particularly inspired by their volunteer work, but what I was most attracted to was their “Four-Way Test” – the cornerstone of all actions that are helpful in everyday life:

1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

What causes has Rotary Club of Beijing been involving itself with recently?
Rotary Club of Beijing is very active and has a lot of on-going projects such as Gift of Life, Sun Children Village, Gubeikou, Stars and Rains. We also have a lot of ad hoc projects – i.e. during the Sichuan earthquake, we worked with Shelter Box and sent milk powder and other necessities to the victims. I have also been involved with and chaired Gift of Life, a project that donates heart surgeries to children with congenital heart diseases. Altogether, we have helped over 220 children since 1999.

What changes have been made to the Christmas Bazaar this year?
We have a new venue, the Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast, which was opened just this past April – it’s much more spacious and the setting is ideal. Secondly, we have designed themed zones – Cultural, Gourmet, Fashion, Beauty, Lifestyle and Health – and have invited vendors who have the right products that match our target customers. We have also paid special attention to the needs of families: Wives can sample the free beauty, hair and health treatments, while husbands can enjoy the food and wine tastings.

There will also be a staffed play area provided by our play and music education specialists, Gymboree, and we’ve even included products for the family pet. There will also be Christmas Carols and a Santa Claus.

Another new feature is the garage sale. We are currently asking for donations of books, unwanted gifts, fashion accessories, costume jewelry, toys, and working mobile phones. All proceeds will benefit the numerous children’s health and education initiatives we sponsor, so be prepared to come for treasure hunting.

What kinds of products and services can one expect to find at this event? What is the total number of vendors participating?
We now have over 60 vendors (double from last year), and we are still trying to create more space and ideas to accommodate the demand. Our aim is to have a good variety of products, and we encourage bargains and free trials. We also have a lot of interesting cultural products that do not have outlets in Beijing. These are directly supplied from the source and include carpets and jewelry from Tibet and embroideries from Suzhou, as well as live paper cutting and handmade candy.

What about food and drink?
There will be an Aussino wine tasting, cheese and food provided by Comptoirs de France. The hotel also has its own gourmet corner and part of their income from the Bazaar will be donated to our projects. The guests of our Bazaar will also enjoy a 20% discount at all restaurants of the hotel except set lunches.

What other organizations are sponsoring the event?
The Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast donated the great venue and a lot of support, and Lehman Brown sponsored all printing and backdrops. Nokia, Yoga Yard, Marja Kurki, Alexander Health Club, Playhouse and Lane Crawford have all provided fantastic prizes for the raffle.

In terms of fundraising, what is the expectation for this event? How have past events been successful in meeting these goals?
We would like to raise as much money as possible as these events are our main sources of funds for the many projects we are working on. But what’s more important is the sharing of the common goals of charity, friendship and the holiday spirit with the vendors and guests in a cozy market environment. Above all, we want everyone to enjoy a Saturday out with the family, great shopping and learn a bit more about Rotary Club. We wish to repeat our successes in the years to come.

The Rotary Club of Beijing Christmas Bazaar will be held on Saturday, November 21st and Saturday, November 28th in the B2 level of the Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast. For more information on the Rotary Club of Beijing, their sponsored events and charities, visit the official Rotary Club of Beijing website at http://rotaryclub-beijing.org.

Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast, 26A Xiaoyun Lu, Chaoyang District. (5927 8888) 朝阳区霄云路甲26号海航大厦万豪酒店