DG Thatree Leetheeraprasert
congratulates outgoing president Carl Dyson as DG Suwan Sanpaporn installs Nigel
Quennel as the new president of the Rotary Club Eastern Seaboard.
Elfi Seitz and
Phasakorn Channgam
Rotary International’s summer tradition of bidding adieu to outgoing
officers and welcoming new leaders for the next year played out across the
Eastern Seaboard in June as clubs serving all nationalities and languages held
installation ceremonies in Pattaya.
As the Rotary year approached its annual June 30 end, nine District 3340 clubs
hosted their always-festive and much-anticipated installation banquets.
Rotary Clubs Eastern Seaboard and
Phoenix Pattaya
Two clubs - the Rotary Club of the Eastern Seaboard and German-language
Rotary Club of Phoenix Pattaya kicked off the season June 1 with a joint
ceremony at the Holiday Inn Pattaya.
Five past and present District 3340 governors attended the gala, led by newly
installed District Governor Suwan Sanpaporn and outgoing District Governor
Thatree Leetheeraprasert. Also attending were past governors Premprecha
Dibbayawan, Seri Eiamchamroonlarp and Pratheep Malhotra, who offered the toast
and a short speech.
Outgoing Eastern Seaboard President Carl R. Dyson passed the reigns he held for
two years over to Nigel Quennell. Otmar Deter of the Phoenix-Pattaya chapter
took over from President Heiner Moessing.
Outgoing president Heiner Moessing
and incoming president Dr Otmar Deter of the Rotary Club Phoenix Pattaya
participate in the installation rituals.
Over a sumptuous buffet, Rotarians enjoyed a funky stage show
from the children of the Child Protection & Development Center, a tango
performance from the Rosinka Ballet School, and a couple from Steps & Rhythm
Dance Academy showed off their salsa moves.
After the new presidents received their chains from DGE Suwan, Quennell said he
planned to focus on recruiting a new generation of Rotarians and reviewed
ongoing and future projects planned by the Eastern Seaboard club. Among them are
a “Green Pattaya” environmental initiative, a water-filter project spearheaded
by a Bangkok model, and a welfare trip to Phangnga.
In his installation speech, Deter noted that Rotarians don’t do what they do for
recognition, but simply to help others.
“Rotary is a circle of friends, a goodwill organization and the executing help
for needy and socially deprived people,” he said. “We are not helping to gain
financially or emphasize what we do, but just do what has to be done out of free
will to help others.”
The line-up of the new board of
directors of the Rotary Club Eastern Seaboard (left) and the Rotary Club Phoenix
Pattaya (right).
5 Big Rotary Clubs
The area’s largest clubs also waited until nearly the July 1 start of the
new term to install their officers.
The Rotary clubs of Pattaya, Chonburi, Sriracha, Laem Chabang, and Phanasnikom
held their joint ceremony June 28 at Pattaya’s Town in Town Hotel. A large
contingent of District Governors past, present and future attended the ceremony.
Outgoing and incoming presidents
lineup for the changing of the guard.
Outgoing Pattaya club President Jamlong Phassara led the large crowd in singing
of the national anthem, followed by a welcome from Pattaya city spokeswoman
Yuwathida Jeerapat.
All the past and current governors joined in to install the new presidents and
board members from the five clubs.
Rev. Michael Picharn Jaiseri, president of the Father Ray Foundation, took over
the Pattaya club presidency from Jamlong Passra.
Urairak Kraisuwansarn was chosen to lead the Sriracha club,
taking over from Kancha Sphrangphon.
Sumet Makkrakkul will serve as the next president at the Laem Chabang chapter,
succeeding Patcharee Ruenjit.
Jaroon Khumpunya took the mantle from Rossakhun Tantiwuth at the Laem Chabang
club and Kamthorn Pongsutthiyakorn was installed as president in Phanasnikom.
The new presidents, Kamthorn Pongsutiyakorn (RC
Panas Nikom), Sumet Makkrakul (RC Laem Chabang), Urairak Kraisuwanasarn (RC
Sriracha), Jaroonrit Kampanya (RC Chonburi) and Dr Fr Pichan Jaiseri (RC
Pattaya).
Rotary Club of Pattaya Marina
The French-speaking Rotary Club Pattaya Marina was next up June 8, with its
grand installation dinner at Pullman Hotel G.
Members from many area Rotary and charity clubs attended to see Gerard Porcorn
installed as new president for the 2013-14 term. The event was presided over by
Past District Governor Peter Malhotra, who again put his thought provoking spin
on Rotary’s work and mission.
PDG Peter Malhotra proclaims Gerard
Porcon (right) as the new president of the Rotary Club Pattaya Marina as Joseph
Roy (left) successfully completes his term of office.
Outgoing President Joseph Roy thanked club members for their support of various
projects, including bringing electricity to a rural village in northern
Thailand.
Line-up of the 2013-14 Board of
Directors.
In his first speech, Porcorn noted he has twice served as a Rotary Club
president, in France and here at the Rotary Club of Pattaya. He said he believes
that with his experience he will guide and lead steer the Pattaya Marina chapter
to achieve its goals.
“I want also to recruit more members, who hopefully will bring new blood and new
ideas to the club,” he said. “Rotary itself needs more members, as membership
levels worldwide have stagnated. We have to do something about it.”
Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya
The oldest English-speaking Rotary Club in the area, Jomtien-Pattaya, waited
until the organization’s equivalent of “new year’s eve” to install its new
officers June 30 at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort.
PDG
Premprecha Dibbayawan.
Graham Hunt-Crowley took over as president from Dieter Reigber, who couldn’t
attend the party due to health reasons.
Another full slate of district governors did attend, however, including Suwan,
Thatree, Malhotra, Premprecha, Siri and Wiwat Pipatchaiyasiri, Jin Srikasikorn,
and Thirayuth Wattanathirawoot. Also present was district secretary Jedsada
Buntoonrungsi.
Rotarians from near and far joined in for the evening, including a visitor from
the Rotary Club of Knutsford in England. He received a bottle of whiskey as a
prize for travelling the longest distance, but charitably auctioned it off
immediately for 1,500 baht.
MC PDG Peter Malhotra.
PDG Peter Malhotra was at his best on stage as MC,
electrifying the crowd with his remarks prodding the program on at a steady
pace. PDG Premprecha Dibbayawan performed the toast and Nayana Stark and Dzenana
Popin carried the Thai and Rotary flags respectively, while CP Martin Brands
delivered the valediction for Dieter Reigber.
Italian Consul Dr Paolo Battaglino was honored as well, receiving the
prestigious Rotary Paul Harris Fellow Award and honorary club membership.
The night also marked the official passing of the governor’s chain of office
from DG Thatree to Governor Suwan.
Formalities aside, guests enjoyed a large buffet, wine and German beer sponsored
by Paulaner. Raffle prizes included flat-screen televisions, airline tickets and
a 15,000 baht voucher from Dr. William van Ewijk.
The International Dance School provided the entertainment with exquisite dancers
showing off classic belly dancing and modern dance numbers.
CP Martin Brands.
Closing the evening, new president Hunt-Crowley told the
Rotarians he, too, wanted to recruit new, young members.
“I want to rebuild our club on teamwork and not paperwork,” he said. “Pattaya is
a growing city with lots of people hoping to find their “pot of gold.” Few
succeed, many fail. We have to help them, as well as children, the elderly and
the unfortunate. Therefore we must find new ways to make more money to be
successful doing so. I would like all of us to abide by Rotary’s theme for
2013-14, Engage Rotary Change Lives.”
President Graham hunt-Crowley
delivers his address.
DGE Suwan Sanpaporn installs Graham
Hunt-Crowley as president of the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya.
The new board of directors for
2013-14.
Senior PDG Jin Srikasikorn performs
the somber ceremony of transferring the governor’s chain of office from Thatree
Leetheeraprasert (right) to Suwan Sanpaporn (left).
Dr Paolo Battaglino (left) is the
proud recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow award.
