Chairman's Report
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Staff Club
Chairman’s Report 2023-2024
Introduction
As we approach the significant milestone of our Club's 50th Anniversary, this year stands out as truly remarkable. We extend our sincere thanks to our longstanding members for their enduring support and also warmly welcome the new members who have joined us. Together, let us stride towards another milestone in the journey of our Club.
We take immense pride in fulfilling the recreational and sports needs of our Club Members, having served over 18,600 person-times this year through a total of 240 organized events. This notable increase compared to previous years reflects our steadfast commitment to delivering exceptional experiences for our members.
The financial year has been completely shifted to align with the University's financial cycle from July to June, allowing for a comprehensive year-on-year comparison in the financial year reports of 2022/2023 and 2023/2024. Furthermore, key performance indicators (KPIs) have been established to assess the Staff Club's performance and facilitate the identification of areas for enhancement.
Our deepest appreciation is extended to all stakeholders who have played a significant role in the growth and advancement of the Club. This report will provide detailed summaries of our past events and activities, as well as comprehensive reports on our operations during the year of 2023/2024.
| Fitness and Sports |
Regular Fitness and Exercise Courses
The Club maintains a strong commitment to organizing fitness and exercise classes for our esteemed members. The Fitness Room Introductory course remains highly sought-after, with three courses held monthly, all consistently at full capacity.
In response to the high demand for our services, we have maintained twenty-three exercise classes throughout the year, fully utilizing available timeslots and venues. Our regular sessions, including lunchtime yoga and pilates, remain popular choices among members. Furthermore, we have introduced new classes such as Tai Chi and HIIT workouts, providing a broader array of options to cater to diverse preferences. In an effort to offer members more variety, we have added exciting sports activities like tabata, light volleyball, IPSC, singing bowl yoga, and belly dance courses. These fresh additions aim to enhance the overall experience and satisfaction of our members.
Social Sports Hours
The Social Sports Hours ran smoothly this year, welcoming new members to participate. We have maintained a total of seven sports activities: Badminton, Basketball, Squash, Table Tennis, Tennis, Soccer, and Volleyball. We are thankful for the ongoing support and enthusiastic involvement of our members, contributing to the success of these social sports hours.
Staff Competitions
The staff competitions have resumed in full swing, featuring a diverse range of sports such as badminton, tennis, basketball, squash, table tennis, and futsal. These competitions have garnered significant participation from staff members, resulting in intense and thrilling matches. Furthermore, the Club actively engaged in various inter-university friendly matches and competitions, underscoring our dedication to promoting sports beyond our own community.
We are particularly proud of our remarkable achievements in the Inter-University Staff Table Tennis Tournament 2023, where we secured the first runner-up position in both the Men's and Women's divisions. Additionally, our exceptional success extended to the Corporate Games 2023 - Tennis Competitions, where we emerged as the champions in Men's Singles, and obtained the first runner-up positions in Women's Singles and Women's Doubles events.
These accomplishments stand as a testament to the talent, dedication, and hard work of our participants, and we extend our heartfelt congratulations to all those who contributed to these outstanding results.
| Member Benefits and Activities |
50th Anniversary Activities
This year marks a significant milestone as the Club celebrates its 50th Anniversary. Various activities have been organized to express gratitude to our members and commemorate this special occasion. The Monthly Birthday Stars Events ran from April 2024 to March 2025, have been ongoing for several months and receiving immense support from our members. This initiative allowed us to celebrate birthdays together, with the generous support of Hotel ICON sponsoring cupcakes and beverages for our members.
Moreover, the Club hosted the Hotel ICON Pool Bar Social Night, which received tremendous support from different departments and members. This event not only fostered a sense of community but also introduced our members to the Pool Bar experience. Additionally, we conducted two anniversary gift giveaways featuring sports towels and cookies, which were well-received by our members.
In addition, we organized the Chinese Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition in October 2024, a first-ever event for our Club. In collaboration with our Chinese Calligraphy and Painting instructor, Mr Neville Yu, and his students, the exhibition showcased our members' artworks, offering them a wonderful chance to showcase their pieces of art. With tremendous support from members, the exhibition saw over 500 participants. The success of the exhibition would not have been possible without the support of Mr Neville Yu and his students, as well as the assistance from Campus Facilities and Sustainability Office (CFSO) for venue booking and provided equipment. We are grateful for the overwhelming support shown by our members throughout these activities.
Recreation Activities
Turning to recreation activities, the Club has continued to organize the popular Chinese Painting and Calligraphy courses, along with musical instrument courses such as guitar and harmonica. In addition to these offerings, a variety of D.I.Y. workshops are held every month to provide diverse and innovative experiences for our members. These workshops include the ceramic class, cooking class, perfume workshop, floral workshop and pastry class.
Christmas Party
The Club's Christmas Party took place on 16 December 2023, in the Staff Club Restaurant. With over 80 members and guests in attendance, the event featured live band music, exciting group games with prizes, and a delightful buffet-style serving accompanied by wine. This year, the party will continue and will be held on 13 December 2024.
Spring Dinner
The Club hosted its Spring Dinner on 24 February 2024 at the Silver Ballroom in Hotel ICON. The event drew over 260 attendees, including university senior management, staff, and members. The delightful dinner showcased a range of activities such as art booths, photo booth, an exceptional face-changing performance, and the eagerly awaited Bingo. The highlight of the evening was the lucky draw, which added an element of excitement to the atmosphere.
Group Sales and Privilege
The Club arranged a Group Sales in February 2024 for members, offering a diverse selection of fragrances, skincare products, and accessories at competitive prices. Approximately 200 members placed orders for over 770 items, allowing them the opportunity to acquire premium goods at reduced rates. Furthermore, the Club collaborated with 26 external businesses to provide members with exclusive discounts and benefits.
| Staff Club Restaurant |
The Staff Club Restaurant - U.Green, opened since April 2023, has operated for over a year with stability and a well-defined position in the market. The à la carte menu undergoes regular changes to offer a variety of choices for members, catering to their diverse needs. It also features signature dishes from Hotel ICON's catering outlet, such as char siu with rice and laksa noodles. Additionally, the introduction of create-your-own dinner specials with a wide range of options daily, coupled with attractive discounts, has significantly enhanced business operations during non-peak dinner hours.
The Staff Club Committee has worked closely with the operation team of U.Green, conducting bi-monthly regular meetings to gain insights into their operations. These meetings not only serve to understand the business better but also to offer ideas and suggestions for enhancing U.Green's offerings and services.
| Membership Number |
As of June 2024, the numbers of Ordinary Members and Associate Members of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Staff Club were 7,444 and 69, respectively when compared the figures of 6,653 and 77 in 2022/2023. The count of Ordinary members aligns with the university's full-time staff employment, with over 1,000 new Ordinary members joining this year.
| Office Staff |
The office team has demonstrated remarkable efficiency in managing the Club's day-to-day operations. Presently, the Club comprises five full-time staff members and several part-time helpers who consistently go the extra mile to provide quality services to members. With such a dedicated and exceptional team in place, we are extremely confident in the Club's ability to cater to a large number of Ordinary Members and deliver extraordinary experiences to all.
| Special Thanks |
We extend our deepest appreciation to our members for their continued support and enthusiastic engagement in our activities and events throughout the year. We deeply treasure their support and interests, which enable us to deliver a variety of activities and events.
We also would like to express our gratitude to the senior management of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) for their invaluable funding support and resource allocation to the Club. With the University's continued financial backing, we can provide dedicated services to our members and the wider PolyU community.
Equally vital to the Club’s achievements has been the support provided by various units within PolyU, including the Finance Office (FO), Alumni Affairs Office (AAO), Campus Facilities and Sustainability Office (CFSO), Campus Development Office (CDO), Communications and Public Affairs Office (CPA), Human Resources Office (HRO), Information Technology Services Office (ITS), Catering Committee, and Student Affairs Office (SAO). Their assistance, whether in significant or minor matters, has been crucial. We anticipate fostering and enhancing this productive relationship.
As the Chairman, I want to express my sincere gratitude to all Committee and Sub-Committee Members for their unwavering dedication and support in overseeing the Club's operations, as well as for their valuable guidance over the past year. I am also appreciative of our co-opted members and ex-officio members for their guidance and encouragement. Furthermore, a special thanks to all Sports Coordinators for their efforts in organizing all sports-related activities and events.
I am grateful to our office staff for their outstanding support and dedication. Despite facing numerous challenges, they have committed themselves to active communication and collaboration with and among members.
Lastly, we eagerly anticipate continued support from our members, enabling us to organize diverse activities that promote social interaction within PolyU and beyond. We also hope that this annual report serves as a token of appreciation for the contributions of all Committee, members, and staff, inspiring further growth and development of the Club.
Thank you.
Ir Dr TL Yip
PolyU Staff Club Chairman
on behalf of the PolyU Staff Club Committee
November 2023