The following graphs aim to examine whether the program of the Rotary Club of Shanghai was given more "Chinese flavor" while Chinese members took leadership positions in the club. We defined two main criteria for gauging the "Chineseness" of the program: the nature of events and the nationality of speakers invited at regular meetings. We also analyzed the topic of lectures in connection with speakers’ nationality and affiliation. 

We extracted the original information from press reports of meetings in three major local newspapers (North-China Herald, China Weekly Review, China Press). The tabulated data we used for conducting these analyses are available in the "Tables" Section.

The two first graphs show the distribution between Chinese and foreign speakers under four Chinese presidents - L.M. Jee (1927-8), Fong Sec (1931-2), Percy Chu (1934-5), and W.H. Tan (1937-8) - and under Lee's chairmanship of the program committee (1934-6), respectively. The third graph shows the distribution of topics among Chinese and foreign speakers, while the last one examines their institutional affiliation.

From these analyses we can draw four major conclusions: 

1. First, there were only two “Chinese-style” meetings during the period under study: a “Chinese program” in July 1927 and a “Chinese tiffin for Rotary Ladies” in February 1935. In addition, the former was more hybrid than purely "Chinese", involving a Chinese pianist playing Western-style classical music, and a Chinese comedian reciting English poetry. Except for these two special events, most of the program during the selected years was dominated by foreign-style or multinational events: Valentine’s day, Christmas tree, Father, Son and Daughter’s day, stag dinner, scout jamboree, golf and tennis competition. 
2. Another major finding regards the nationality of speakers. We observe that that Chinese speakers never exceeded one third of all lecturers invited at Rotary regular meetings. They were best represented under the first Chinese president (Jee) but then declined under the next presidents, dropping to 26% during Tan’s term. In other words, the club was not given more “Chinese flavor” under Chinese leaders. Paradoxically, foreign speakers and programs progressed while Percy Chu was president and Yinson Lee chairman of the program committee. Simultaneously, the number and share of Chinese lecturers declined significantly, falling from 45% in 1934 to 21% in 1935 and only 9% in 1936. Part of the explanation lies in the exclusive use of English during meetings, which practically banned Chinese lecturers who could not deliver their speech in this language. It was during Lee’s chairmanship, however, that several lectures were devoted to Chinese culture and specifically Chinese topics. Interestingly, however, most lectures dealing with Chinese culture were delivered by foreign experts. This should encourage us to remain cautious when discriminating between topics of Chinese vs. foreign interest. Ultimately, speakers’ nationality, which primarily translated organizers’ connections, is the most reliable criterion for assessing the “Chineseness” of the program.
3. More generally, aside for Rotary matters, cultural subjects were Chinese speakers’ major focus of interest, followed by social and health issues, travel experience, economics and education, and more marginal topics. The major difference between Chinese and foreign speakers applied to politics and communication, two sensitive topics that Chinese speakers never addressed. While expertise in communication remained essentially in foreign hands, it may have been delicate for Chinese officials to articulate in public their personal opinion on Chinese institutions or on Sino-Japanese relations.
4. Regarding speakers' affiliation, most Chinese lecturers worked in associations, followed by universities and private companies. A minority was employed by the central or local government. In contrast to foreign speakers, there was no Chinese serving in the army or in foreign governments. 

In the end, efforts to sinicize the club program proved insufficient as long as English remained the dominant language and as organizers continued to rely on their network of overwhelming foreign connections.