The Foreign Correspondents' Club Hong Kong

Farewell to our General Manager Didier

Farewell to our General Manager Didier

Dear Members,

By now you may have heard the news that our skilled and accomplished General Manager Didier Saugy will be leaving us to take up an exciting new position as Executive Director of the National Press Club in Washington D.C.

Over the last five years, Didier has helped steer the Club through probably the most challenging times in our recent history, including the last three years dominated by ever-changing government pandemic regulations, early closing hours, uncertainty over our building lease and the departure from Hong Kong of so many longtime members, friends and colleagues. Throughout it all, and with his calm and unflappable demeanour, Didier has kept the Club on an even keel.

Since I took over as President in January 2021, I’ve come to know Didier as a partner, confidante and friend. I want to extend to Didier my personal thanks and best wishes for his new adventure in my old stomping grounds, Washington D.C. Our loss is the National Press Club’s gain.

Didier will be with us through the end of May and our Annual General Meeting. The Board at the upcoming Saturday meeting will be naming a current member of Didier’s executive management team as interim club manager while a designated search committee conducts a search for a new general manager. The next Board to take office in May after the AGM will be responsible for confirming the new general manager. We want to ensure you there will be a seamless transition. You should not notice any disruption to Club activities.

In the meantime, let’s raise a glass to Didier in thanks for helping get the Club through these tough times. And let’s wish him and his family the best as he leaves behind the Lion Rock for the wonders of Rock Creek Park.

Excelsior!
Keith

FCC Nomination for the Board of Governors 2023–2024

FCC Nomination for the Board of Governors
2023 – 2024

Dear Members,

The FCC Annual Nomination Meeting will be held on Wednesday, 12 April 2023 for the purpose of accepting oral nominations for the Board of Governors for the 2023 – 2024 Term.

Under the provisions of the Articles of Association, nominations may also be made in writing.

For those who wish to make a written nomination or nominations, please use the form(s) we are sending to you by mail or you can ask from the office. The written nominations should be delivered to the Club office, either in person or by registered letter, no later than 6pm on Wednesday, 12 April 2023.

Nominations are invited for the following positions:

A President who shall be a Correspondent Member. The nomination must be made and seconded by Correspondent Members.

A First Vice-President who shall be a Correspondent Member. The nomination must be made and seconded by Correspondent Members.

A Second Vice-President who may be a Journalist Member or an Associate Member. The nominations may be made and seconded by Correspondent Members, Journalist Members or Associate Members.

Eight (8) Correspondent Member Governors who shall be Correspondent Members. The nominations must be made and seconded by Correspondent Members.

Two (2) Journalist Member Governors who shall be Journalist Members. The nominations may be made and seconded by Correspondent Members or Journalist Members.

Four (4) Associate Member Governors who shall be Associate Members. The nominations may be made and seconded by any Voting Member.

A Member being nominated does not mean that he or she is elected a Club Officer. An election by mail ballot will be held subsequently and the mail ballot papers together with a list of candidates accepted will be sent to all Members of the Club one week after the Nomination Meeting.

A candidate for election to the Board of Governors can accept nomination for only one position on the Board of Governors.

By order of the Board of Governors,

Keith Richburg
President

Temporary Suspension of Club Service on Monday March 13 from 9am to 9:30am

Mask-wearing policy (finally) lifted!

Mask-wearing policy (finally) lifted!

Dear Members,

Liberation Day has arrived! Maskless March is here!

The Government has finally announced that masks will no longer be required, starting from today, 1 March. That means member and guests are no longer required to wear a face mask anywhere on Club premises. It’s been 959 long days since we’ve been wearing face masks. This welcome change could not have come soon enough.

You are all free to wear or not to wear your face mask in all areas of the Club. Our staff will no longer remind any member or guest about wearing the mask.

What a long journey it’s been but we have finally arrived on the other side.

I look forward to seeing your unmasked faces around the Club. Let’s have a drink and celebrate this return to normalcy, better late than never!

Keith Richburg
President
1 March 2023