Helping people in need

A graduate of Eastern Michigan University and holder of an MBA from the College of Insurance in New York, Huang has worked in the security business all his life.

Huang resigned his other positions to fully engage himself in the Rotary Club after he was elected as its president.

Huang was born in southern China's Fujian province and grew up in Taiwan. Huang has traveled to the mainland many times for his business.

His relationship with Rotary clubs on the mainland began a long time ago, when he delivered the provisional club charter for the Beijing club when it was established 19 years ago. "It was a big honor for me," he says.

Huang is eager to establish more clubs and attract more members in China. He is also working hard to make Chinese one of the official languages for Rotary, which he believes will both attract more Chinese to the club and make the club more open to Chinese communities.

The first thing he did as president was approve 10 more provisional clubs in China. The organization is now applying to establish Rotary clubs in several Chinese cities, including Chengdu and Tianjin.

"To increase our membership, we must go beyond borders to wherever we see growth potential, such as the countries of China, Mongolia and Vietnam. I will put an emphasis on increasing female and younger members," Huang says.

Rotary clubs in Beijing and Shanghai have been involved in charitable programs including disease prevention, education and aid for women and children, according to Piper Tseng, president of the Rotary Club of Beijing, which has about 50 members.

For example, their Gift of Life project has helped fund the treatment of more than 440 children in China with congenital heart diseases, Tseng says.

Huang hopes the current club members in China will build a positive public image for Rotary so that China will become fully open to it.

"Rotary is only going to be a good influence for China," says Huang, who is impressed by the fast growth in the past few decades and believes Chinese people are ready for Rotary.

"China already has so much business and so many entrepreneurs. Rotary is a way for successful people to make a difference.

"It is also a way to help people who need it. We have millions of intelligent, creative people. Why would China not want to have them working for it, for free?"

Huang's efforts in humanitarian service have had profound influence on his family: His wife and three grown children are also Rotary members. They often share their experiences and discuss the community services their clubs provide, Huang says.

"We do Rotary work together. Then doing good becomes a family event," he says.

Mike Peters contributed to this story.