SEE Preparation Group Work Report in Preparation Period |
| http://www.sina.com.cn 2005/06/29 09:54 |
Yang Ping
Deputy Director of Preparation Group
Ladies and gentlemen, all charter members:
First of all, it is necessary to make clear the meanings of “SEE” Establishment Meeting ﹠ “SEE Ecological Foundation” Initiative Meeting.
The Preparation Group originally intended to establish a standard foundation at the initiative of the association. However, plans were delayed owing to the reasons that establishment of a foundation was bound by complex registration procedures involving extensive aspects, and that Regulations on Foundation Management issued by the State Department recently didn’t come into effect until Jun. 2004. In order to accelerate this meaningful cause, Preparation Group made an unwavering decision that we should first set up an association for the sake of developing the cause in good season and mobilizing all members, then register a foundation with all current charter members recognized as charter members of the foundation, thus establishing a standard foundation platform for mass development in future.
Therefore, this meeting is not only an establishment meeting of “SEE”, but also an initiative meeting for “SEE Ecological Foundation”.
It is necessary to make clear that once a foundation is registered, relationship between the foundation and current association will become so crucial that we can’t afford to ignore. Definition of their relationship hangs on the decision through thorough and intensive discussion of members in Executive Council soon formed by election.
On behalf of Preparation Group, I present the following Work Report during “SEE” Preparation Period:
1 General situation of work in preparation period
Since the first preparation meeting held in Feb.14, 2004, Preparation Group has been working in the following areas: initiative and mobilization, system establishment, preparation for an expert committee, development of an official organization for the association, financial construction and standardization, preparation for relevant affairs of an establishment meeting.
By Jun. 4, 2004, totally 102 enterprises and entrepreneurs have promised to join the association as formal council members, of whom 87 participated in the establishment meeting, accounting for 85% of the total number of council members, which accorded with a majority of two thirds stated in Articles of Association.
2 Initiative and mobilization
At Moon Lake Enterprise Salon organized by Chinese Entrepreneur Forum in Oct. 2003, Liu Xiaoguang (general manager of Beijing Capital Group), Li Jun (former secretary-general of Chinese Entrepreneur Forum), Yang Ping (former managing editor of China Times) and Song Jun (board chairman of Beijing Jiuhan Tiancheng Co., Ltd) submitted a joint proposal on sandstorm control, mobilizing 100 Chinese entrepreneurs to establish a public welfare organization dedicated to sandstorm control.
Taking shape in early 2004 based on joint planning of Yang Peng (director of Policy Section of Policy Research Centre for Environment and Economy, SEPA), Guan Pengmin (board chairman of Beijing Fengge Jiuzhou Adertsing Co., Ltd) and Mu Jun (board chairman of Hong Kong Jialilai Co., Ltd), the current idea “SEE” calls SEE its performing platform, where the organization will spare no efforts to promote the fulfillment of responsibility by Chinese entrepreneurs in ecological environment area, with sandstorm control as a primary goal.
Liu Xiaoguang (general manager of Beijing Capital Group), Song Jun (board chairman of Beijing Jiuhan Tiancheng Co., Ltd), Ren Jingxi (board chairman of Nanyang Education Group), Jiao Jialiang (board chairman of Yunnan Longrun Group), Lin Rongqiang (board chairman of Tsinghua Tongfang Environment Co., Ltd), Zhang Shuxin (board chairman of Genesis Capital), Zhao Min (board chairman of Beijing Xinhuaxin Management Consultancy Limited.), Li Jun (former secretary-general of Chinese Entrepreneur Forum), Mu Jun (board chairman of Hong Kong Jialilai Co., Ltd), Liu Jing (president of Zhongmin Group), and Shi Yuzhu (board chairman of Giant Investment Co., Ltd) were among the first charter members who jointly held a first preparation meeting for “SEE” at Jade Palace Hotel, Beijing in Feb. 2004. Volunteers such as Yang Ping, Yang Peng, Guan Pengmin, Nie Xiaohua and Zhu Mei also attended the meeting. It was decided at the meeting to promote this public welfare cause representing a public image of Chinese entrepreneurs, and set up a Preparation Group with Liu Xiaoguang as director and Song Jun, Yang Ping as deputy directors.
In Mar.12, 2004, 9 entrepreneurs involving Liu Xiaoguang, Song Jun, Shi Yuzhu, Ren Jingxi, Lin Rongqiang, Zhang Shuxin, Zhao Min, Li Jun and Jiao Jialiang injected RMB￥450000 into the association for preparation expenses, providing a solid base for preparation work.
Jiuhan Tiancheng Co., Ltd made significant contribution to Preparation Group in facilities, personnel, equipment and legal procedures during early stage of the preparation period.
Enrollment of the first 30 entrepreneurs—the most difficult work at initiative and mobilization stage—has successfully accomplished, thanks to the unremitting efforts of General Manager Liu Xiaoguang and Board Chairman Zhang Shuxin, who, despite busyness, highly recommended the association and mobilize entrepreneurs to enroll at almost every occasion of entrepreneur meetings.
A special thanks hereby goes to Ms. Gao Wenning (board chairman of Yaoheng consultancy, Singapore) and Mr. Han Jiahuan (president of Dachan Group), both of whom made a special trip back to Taiwan, and worked together with Mr. Li Mouwei (board chairman of Li Changrong Chemical and Industrial Inc.) to mobilize Taiwanese entrepreneurs to join us through Global Young President Organization.
At initiative and mobilization stage, Dai Zhikang (board chairman of Shanghai Zhengda Investment Group) was the first in southeastern coastal area to join us and help carry through initiative and mobilization.
Thanks also extend to entrepreneurs who have made substantial contributions to initiative and mobilization work, involving Wang Yan (CEO of Sina Net), Wang Weijia (president of Meitong Co., Ltd), Zhang Xingsheng (president of AsiaInfo Holdings Inc.), Wu Kegang (board chairman of Yunnan Red Wine Group), Liu Jing, (president of Zhongmin Group), Zhao Min (board chairman of Beijing Xinhuaxin Management Consultancy Limited.), Lin Rongqiang (Tsinghua Tongfang Environment Co., Ltd), Shi Yuzhu (Giant Investment Co., Ltd), and Zhu Mei (Lindeng Consultancy Ltd.).
So far among all the initiated, 81 entrepreneurs come from mainland of China, and 21 from Taiwan; 18 enterprises are state-owned or state owned holding companies, while 84 are privately owned or share holding enterprises or other businesses; 52 enterprises headquarter in Beijing, and 50 have their bases out of Beijing.
In the course of initiative and mobilization, what struck the members of Preparation Group most was that so many enterprises or entrepreneurs actually gathered together within less than 3 and a half months, pledging investment in sandstorm control. It is no doubt that some facts such as commercial motives and personal feelings between friends may be involved in. Nevertheless, the most fundamental reason is that this, as such, is a lofty and great cause of enormous benefit to contemporary people as well as our posterity. With powerful influence, the lofty and great cause will certainly turn out to be a success.
3 Preparation for an expert committee
Experts are so important to our cause of ecological environment protection and sandstorm control that we can’t afford to ignore, so are scientific solutions to ecological environment problems. Ever since the foundation of Preparation Group, we have attached high importance to preparation for an expert committee. A common understanding has been reached that all proposed projects, from survey and demonstration at earlier stage to midterm implementation and inspection and assessment at later stage, must be subject to examination and approval by Expert Committee for the sake of scientificity and justice.
As for composition of the expert committee, Preparation Group suggests that it should incarnate the principle of an optimal proportion between renowned scientists and acceptable professional experts, as well as between experts on ecology, sand control, propagation, solar energy and economists, sociologists.
The preparation meeting for Expert Committee held in May.15 in Beijing mainly discussed and approved the Code of Conduct for Expert Committee, deliberated on the status quo of ecological environment in Alxa, worked out a preliminary plan for improvement, and founded an Expert Committee composed of a contact person named Gong Jiadong (researcher of Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Science, deputy leader of Alxa League) and 15 experts, involving Li Jijun (academician of Chinese Academy of-Science), Cheng Guodong (dean of Lanzhou Branch of Chinese Academy of Science), Zhang Weiying (vice dean of Guanghua School of Management, Peking University), Li Liangqian (researcher of Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences), Tu Pengfei (professor of School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University), Wang Tao (researcher of Chinese Academy of Science’s Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute), Wang Yuhui (associate researcher of Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences), Yang Peng (director of Policy Research Centre for Environment and Economy, SEPA), Zhou Guangsheng (deputy director of Research Center for Botanic Ecology and Biologic Diversity Care Chinese Academy of Sciences), Cao Jinqing (professor of Department of sociology, East China University of Science and Technology), Gao Shangyu (chief of Section of Science and Technology, Beijing Normal University), Huo Zhichen (professor of China’s Professional Committee of Solar Energy Use), Zhang Zhiyun (researcher of Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences), and Royal. D. Colle (professor of College of Agriculture, Cornell University, U.S.)
Expert Committee came into existence upon recognition at this establishment meeting. In order to ensure an optimal functional performance of Expert Committee, personnel will be specially assigned by the secretariat of the association for future contact with members of Expert Committee.
4 System Establishment
The most important resource for a public welfare organization is its public trust. For SEE, three magic weapons will be enough to achieve its goal: a sublime objective, a transparent pocket and honesty.
A sound system is a crucial guarantee of honesty. Therefore, Preparation Group has drafted out the following three systems based on intensive and extensive researches: Articles of Association, Financial Management System, and Measures for Project Application and Management.
Articles of Association Articles of Association is the fundamental law of the association. Therefore, we have issued a third revision, giving adequate consideration to suggestions and advice from all walks of society, most of which are revolving around the following controversial areas:( 1 )Purpose( 2 )Areas of activities( 3 )Member qualification( 4 )Relationship between council members and ordinary members or international members in rights and obligation. Because more details on Articles of Association will be given later, we will introduce them here only as they relate directly to the other areas hereunder.
Financial Management System Financial Management System relates to three aspects, viz., financial management of projects, contribution management and financial management of office expenses for SEE. We have consulted financial management systems of other foundations for reference in the process of developing the current Financial Management System. As a provisional financial management system during the transition from association to foundation, the existing financial management measures of the association will follow those of other foundations, until the formal establishment of SEE foundation.
Measures for Project Application and Management For the sake of standardization and feasibility, we widely consulted rules and regulations for international organizations as well as similar organizations at home in the process of developing this system. We have distributed to you materials on financial and project management measures, both of which are temporary and unsound expedients subject to further exploration and improvement through practice.
5 Development of official organization for the association
As everything went on well in an all-round way, Preparation Group set out to develop an official organization for the association in Feb.14. With 8 formal employees, the association has so far established two offices, viz., SEE Beijing Office for initiative and mobilization as well as system construction, and Alxa Project Office for environmental protection affairs in relation to Moon Lake Ecological Tourism base.
Presently, personnel of SEE mainly comprise recent college graduates and volunteers, who possess enormous passion in work and an ardor of idealism. Under the leadership of Deng Yi, a winner of Ford Motor Company Fund’s environment prize, environmentalists from all over China, who call deserts and farmer-herdsman community their home, have been working together steadfastly on survey and demonstration at earlier stage in Project Office. According to operation mode of future foundations, proposed organization of the association will also include Project Department, Department of Financing and Management, PR Department, Department of Legal Affairs and Administration Department.
6 Financial construction and standardization
Preparation of the association benefited substantially from the significant contribution made by Jiuhan Tiancheng Co., Ltd, who helped a lot in legal registration and financial affairs, serving as an administrator for the association with little human and financial resources at the initial preparation period,
Standardization management had been brought to top of the agenda of SEE with more and more people dedicated to our work and investment effected by charter members. Preparation Group thus carried through the following tasks:( 1 )Entrusted Beijing Zhongtianheng Certified Public Accountant Firm with financial audit for SEE during preparation period；( 2 )Recruited and employed financial professionals and cashiers for SEE, in order to realize financial management by the association itself instead of companies；( 3 )Made readjustments in the nonstandard caused by whatever reasons during initial registration to ensure legality and legitimacy.
At present, the association has opened bank accounts for Alxa Office and Beijing Office. Capital will be subject to management by Beijing Office in principle. However, administrative invoices are still made out against Alxa bank account temporarily, because the problem of administrative invoice issuance is quite a hard nut to crack. On the other hand, SEE has already opened a foreign exchange account as well.
7 Preparation for relevant affairs of an establishment meeting
In the middle ten days of May, Preparation Group focused its energy and efforts on preparation for meeting affairs
During the period of over 20 days, personnel of the Preparation Group, who worked night and day for 12 hours or above per day without any Sunday holidays, devoted themselves in the coordination of local authorities involved, contact of transportation and accommodation services, and preparation of conference documents, aiming to ensure a successful meeting that all charter members, relevant governmental officials, international organizations, the media, and people from other social sectors would attend.
Preparation Group founded a secretary team, a receptionist team, a meeting affairs team, a safeguard team and a government coordination and contact team for the very purpose of holding a successful meeting. Besides, in order to ensure an instructive meeting on ecological education, Project Office of the association carried through mass ecological protection work in Moon Lake Ecological Tourism Zone.
In retrospect, more than 3-month efforts of the Preparation Group turned out to be highly effective, presenting a considerably satisfactory answer sheet to SEE. Why was everything going so well during this period? This is a question we’ve been asking ourselves over and over again. The answer is that this cause represents the future, represents a historic trend and represents the will of the people.
Over this period, we have received surprisingly abundant and substantive support from many people such as Nie Xiaohua, Cao Guoxian and Yu Hong (Beijing Capital Group), Lin Gang, Lu Yongzhuo (Capital market magazine), Deng Yun (China's Talents magazine), Zhu Mei (Lindeng Consultancy Ltd.), Zhen Qian (former senior journalist of Nanfang Weekend), Ying Ge, Xu Jing (Recent college graduates from Beijing Normal University), Cheng Xiaolu (former chairman of China Disabled People’s Art Troupe), Zhou Zhaohui (Pan Asia International Limited), Xiao Yanqing (Beijing Forestry University), Ma Yanwei (Beijing Normal University), Liu Dai (from Chongqing Mintray Garments Group Co.,Ltd.), whose volunteer support, together with the philanthropic acts of yours, my dear entrepreneurs, has proved to be a rushing trend of our cause which cannot be held back. It is therefore predicted that this cause will surely obtain great achievements.
Jun. 4, 2004
