Newsletter No. 456

8 456 • 19.4.2015 本刊由香港中文大學資訊處出版，每月出版兩期。截稿日期及稿例載於 www.iso.cuhk.edu.hk/chinese/newsletter/ 。 The CUHK Newsletter is published by the Information Services Office, CUHK, on a fortnightly basis. Submission guidelines and deadlines can be found at www.iso.cuhk.edu.hk/english/newsletter/ . 由院務室主任轉任拓展及籌募處處長，工作性質截然不 同，是甚麽令你接受這挑戰？ 我在2001年加入醫學院為教習醫院院務室主任，負責一般行政和 公共關係工作，也有處理捐贈個案。2003年，我在威爾斯親王醫 院和醫護人員共同渡過沙士難關，目睹很多真實感人的個案，也 看到很多人無私捐贈，支持大學發展。很快過了九年，我覺得是時 候轉換一下工作環境，剛巧拓展及籌募處出現處長空缺，雖不知 道自己能否勝任，但我也應徵了。 可要克服甚麽心理關口？ 很多人跟我說開口勸捐是很慘的一回事，多方懇求，人家也未必答 允。捐錢的都是有錢人，怎會認識你周瑤慧？我也曾擔心，但回想 自己加入醫學院的時候，不也是一個醫生也不認識？我告訴自己， 我會好像認識醫生一樣，慢慢多認識捐款人。 捐錢給中大的都是富人名人吧？ 我初上任時，和一般校友的想法一樣：捐錢？輪不到我吧！定要有 很大成就，很富有，才有資格捐助母校的。不是的，只要你認同大 學的理念，便可以出一分力。我們現在有十六萬校友，假如每人 捐出一百元，已是一筆很大的數目。我們不是要求巨額捐款，但假 如你享受在中大的生活，也想藉着畢業這個大日子向母校表達感 謝，一份小小的捐贈對母校已是很大的鼓勵。 最能打動人捐資的是甚麽元素？ 就是一個「情」字。對勸捐的項目有感情，有共鳴，便會支持。支持 中大的，有社會賢達、普通市民、校友、師生，大家完全是出於對中 大的一份感情。個別部門問我怎樣去籌錢，我不會先問要多少錢， 我一定會問：究竟要錢來幹甚麽？是幫助科研、教學，還是服務社 會？如果目標清晰，理由充分，錢便自然會出現。 有甚麽令你感動的故事？ 這份工作跟其他工作一樣，有開心之處，也有難處。有一次，某部 門邀請我出席午宴，跟一位獎學金捐款人見面。回家翻出舊文件 一看，原來那正是我在中大唸書時曾取得的獎學金。那一刻蠻激 動的，我從來沒想過會見到捐贈獎學金給我的人。見面那天，有點 像那女孩見長腿叔叔似的。我預備了花束，心想，畢業二十多年了， 捐款人會變了一位老婆婆嗎？後來見到的是一位中年女士，我告之 我是當年她資助的學生，大家都很開心。現在我們會盡量安排捐 贈人跟受惠者會面，和學生分享人生經驗，這是很難能可貴的。 這份工作可有給你甚麽感悟？ 在這崗位四年多，經歷很多捐贈個案。我覺得每一宗都是緣分：有 人願意捐贈，同時大學也有項目需要支持，兩者放在一起，其實有 點天意。很多捐款都是用作支持學生發展的，希望學生能感恩惜 緣，不要視作理所當然。你們得到的可能是一份獎學金，一份研 究報告、參加課外活動或海外交流的資助，金額未必很大，但都是 觀看錄像，請掃描QR碼或瀏覽以下網址： To watch the video, please scan the QR code or visit: www.iso.cuhk.edu.hk/video/?nsl456-janet-chow 出於社會人士對你們的一份期望和信心，還有背後很多大學教職 員的努力，希望你們畢業後能回饋社會。 公務繁忙之餘，你還是學校家教會的活躍分子，有何分配 時間的秘訣？ 由女兒唸幼稚園開始，一直到小學、中學，我都積極在家長教師 會服務。我在中大兩份工作有一共同點，時間不穩定，有時候晚上 要應酬，周末也要出席活動。當我因工作不能在家的時候，丈夫會 盡量配合，兩個女兒也很乖，會自動自覺讀書。我可以全情投入工 作，實在要多謝他們！ 公餘有何嗜好？ 我喜歡做小手工，煩惱的時候，就會拿出工具來，鈎織小玩偶，做 做紙花等，專注製作，便是最佳享受，讓我離開煩惱。作品完成 了，人靜下來，便會想到方法解決工作上的問題了。 The directorship of the Clinical Sciences Administration of the Faculty of Medicine is very different from that of the Office of Institutional Advancement (OIA) in terms of job duties. What made you take on this challenge? I joined the Faculty of Medicine as Director of Clinical Sciences Administration in 2001. I was responsible for general administration and public relations, and I also handled donations. In 2003, I went through the SARS outbreak with the medical workers at the Prince of Wales Hospital. I witnessed many touching stories and extremely generous donations. When I saw that there was a vacancy for the Director of Institutional Advancement, I was not sure if I was competent enough for the job. But I applied for it anyway, in the hope that it would allow me to try something new in my career. Were there psychological barriers to overcome? Many people told me that seeking donations is a gruelling experience. You might be rejected repeatedly. Donors are usually wealthy. How can they possibly know who Janet Chow is? I was worried. But I recalled that when I first joined the Faculty of Medicine, I didn’t know a single doctor. I told myself, you would get to know the donors one by one, the way you got to know the doctors. Are all benefactors to CUHK famous and rich people? When I first assumed the directorship of the OIA, I thought like some other alumni: Me a philanthropist? I don’t think I’m up to it! Those who make donations to their alma maters must have great career achievements or wealth. But that’s not necessarily true. As long as you identify with the University’s mission, you can do your bit to support it. We now have 160,000 alumni. If each one donates HK$100, it will be a considerable sum. We don’t ask them to make large donations. But if you enjoyed your life at CUHK, you can make a donation to your alma mater upon graduation as a token of gratitude. No matter how small, it’s a great encouragement that means a lot to the University. What is the most important factor in motivating people to donate? The bond. If there is an emotional bond between you and a project for which you are asked to donate, you will be happy to support it. Benefactors to CUHK range from the social elite to ordinary citizens, alumni, teachers, and students. They made their donations to CUHK because they felt a bond of affection for the University. Some departments asked me about the secret to successful fundraising. The question I would ask first is not how much money we need. It’s what the money will be used for. Will it be used to fund research, teaching, or community services? If the goal is clear and the reasons are sound, you’ll eventually get the money. Are there any stories that move you? Like any other job, this one has brought me both joy and frustration. I was once invited by a department to a lunch to meet a scholarship donor. When I got home I flipped through some old documents and found that it was the scholarship I had received in my undergraduate years at CUHK. I was excited. I had never expected that I would meet my scholar- ship donor. On the day we met, I felt like the young girl meeting Daddy-Long-Legs. I prepared a bouquet. I thought that it had been over 20 years. Has the donor become an old lady now? But it turned out that she was a middle-aged lady. I told her I was the student she had helped. We were both happy meeting each other. Now the OIA tries to arrange meetings between donors and beneficiaries, so that the donors can share their life experiences with the students. This is valuable. What have you learned from this job? I have handled many donation cases during the past four years or so. I believe that destiny is at work in each case: when the university needs funding for a project, there is always someone willing to support it financially. It feels like destiny that the right support would come. Many donations are used to support student development programmes. Students should be grateful for this and shouldn’t take it for granted. You may have a scholarship, or funding for writing a research report, joining extracurricular activities or overseas exchange. The amount may not be a large one, but it represents the general public’s expectation for and confidence in you. It also involves a lot of efforts from university staff. We hope that you’ll give back to society when you graduate. Despite your busy work, you’re an active member of the parent-teacher association of your daughters’ schools. What’s your key to effective time management? I’ve been an active PTA member since my daughters entered kindergarten, and all the way to their primary and secondary school years. My two jobs at CUHK shared the same characteristic of irregular working hours. Sometimes I have to go to meetings in the evening and attend functions at the weekends. When I’m away from home for work, my husband takes care of the family. My two daughters are well-behaved and self-disciplined in their studies. This allows me to focus on my work. I’m grateful to my family. What do you do in your leisure time? I like crafting. Whenever I fret about something, I take out my kit to crochet dolls or to make paper flowers. I find real enjoyment making handcrafts. When I focus on them, my troubles disappear. By the time I finish, I’m cool-headed enough to figure out the solutions to my job-related problems. 周瑤慧女士 拓展及籌募處處長 Ms. Janet Chow Director of Institutional Advancement ’ 請掃描QR碼閱讀全文版： Scan the QR code for the full version Photo by ISO staff