Nobuhiro
Nonaka and his wife were emotionally overwhelmed by the kindness and
sympathy shown for their people by the Rotarians and their families.
Pratheep ‘Peter’
Malhotra
Past District Governor
District 3340 R.I.
The natural disasters that hit the northern part of Japan
early last month was one of the most horrific natural catastrophes for as
far back in time as one can recall.
People the world over were shocked and saddened by the
tens of thousands of lives lost and the overwhelming damage of property and
the unimaginable destruction of the environment.
Ratana
Yothawong, proprietor of Yamato Restaurant,
took personal care of her guests.
Humanitarian relief efforts were launched in almost every
country and aid in various forms was made available for the Japanese people.
In response to the massive earthquake and tsunami that
struck Japan on 11 March, the Rotary Foundation established the Rotary Japan
2011 Disaster Recovery Fund, to support long-term recovery projects in
affected areas.
Rotarians in Thailand, especially in District 3340 which
covers the northeast and eastern regions of Thailand, immediately set up a
Japan Relief Fund and the response has been truly overwhelming.
The
beloved and revered Past Rotary International President Bhichai Rattakul
(right) with PP Dr. Olivier Meyer and Francois Lecomte Rotary Club of
Pattaya Marina encouraging humanity to ‘Sow the Seeds of Love’. (File photo:
Feb 23, 2011)
On March 20, Rotarians, families and friends in Pattaya,
Chonburi and Plutaluang gathered at the Yamato Japanese Restaurant not only
to collect funds to help acquire some of the immediate needs of those who
lost everything, but also represented a collection of hearts and minds,
sending their thoughts and prayers for those who lost their lives and a wish
for a speedy recovery for the survivors.
Amongst the guests that day were Nobuhiro Nonaka an
engineer at the Mazda assembly plant on the eastern seaboard and his wife,
who on hearing that Rotarians were holding the fund raising event to help
their people, were so moved by their kind gesture, that they stood up and
emotionally thanked the Rotarians for their kindness and love for the
Japanese people.
PDG Premprecha Dibbayawan conducted the raffles and
auctions with such extreme enthusiasm and vigour that the sum raised by his
gallant efforts topped 50,000 baht. Ratana Yothawong, past president of the
Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya and owner of the Yamato Restaurant generously
opened her premises for this event, supplying food and drinks at less than
cost. She did, however, donate another 6,000 baht towards the relief fund.
Past
District Governor Premprecha Dibbayawan expounds on the pain and suffering
of the Japanese people and implores Rotarians to dig deep into their
pockets.
District Governor Thongchai Lortrakanon said, “I wish to
express my deepest gratitude and appreciation to you, your families and
friends for attending the charity fellowship at Yamato restaurant. Rotarians
showed true love and compassion for our fellow human beings, especially for
those who are going through the most horrific and painful period in their
lives.”
PDG Peter Malhotra added, “Rotarians don’t just wait to
be asked for help. Whenever and wherever humanity needs help, Rotarians
reach out with open arms and hearts immediately.
District Governor
Thongchai Lortrakanon seems pleased with the proceedings.
“This gathering of kind hearted people from all parts of
the world who have made Pattaya their home, will be recorded as one of the
most memorable events in the history of Rotary.”
Through the combined efforts of Rotarians in Rotary
District 3340, the amount raised in aid of the Japanese people now stands at
almost 2 million baht.
The funds will be transferred to the ‘Rattakul Kai’
which is a group of Japanese Rotary District Governors who served in
2002-03, the year HE Bhichai Rattakul was the Rotary International
President. Their stewardship will more than ensure that the funds will be
used where it is needed most.
In a letter written to one of the members of the
Rattakul Kai, Past Rotary International President Bhichai Rattakul said,
“All of us here in Thailand are greatly relieved to hear that you and your
family and the members of the Rattakul Kai are safe and well from the
catastrophe. We also hope and pray that this great disaster will not deter
the determination and the courage of the Japanese people to stand up bravely
and strongly to start rebuilding what had been destroyed. We have great
confidence in the Japanese people to overcome, come what may.”
Bruce
Hoppe draws one of the raffle prizes.
After district 3340 urgently transferred one million Yen
into the Rattakul Kai account in Japan, HE Bhichai continued in his
letter, “This is a very small amount of money when we think of the huge loss
your country has suffered. It is like just a drop of water into the sea.
But, I want to assure you that it comes from the sincere desire to be of
help from the Rotarians of District 3340. They felt that they must do
something quickly to help the victims in their small way. They felt that
whatever hurts the Japanese people hurts them too! And they wanted to share
with the Japanese people in time of this great sorrow and grief!
“Therefore, whatever you and the Rattakul Kai
members can do with this small sum of money to help the victims please do so
without hesitation.
“I believe the other three districts in Thailand are also
busy raising funds to be transmitted to Japan... to either the clubs they
are associated with or to their sister clubs. Here again, I am sure that the
other three districts in Thailand are most eager to do something to help
relief this painful experience.
“On behalf of the Rotarians of district 3340, we will
continue to pray for the safety of our Japanese friends. We will continue to
Sow the Seeds of Love to all of you this day and always!”
Rotarians have now another crisis to tend to. This time
the natural disaster and human suffering is in our very own home. The heavy
storms, rains, flooding and mudslides has inflicted enormous loss and damage
to the lives of people living in the south of Thailand.
DG Thongchai Lortrakanon has put out a call for Rotarians in District 3340
to help alleviate the sufferings of our own countrymen, women and children
who are victims of this natural catastrophe. The relief efforts are being
spearheaded by our fellow Rotarians in the District 3330 where the severest
damage has occurred. Please contact a Rotary club near you if you wish to
give aid.
Sales of raffle tickets
were brisk and they were rapidly sold out.
Lovely Rotarians from
Plutaluang and Pattaya came to lend their moral and financial support.
Rotarians (l-r) P.
Malakul, Prasit Ariyapongsakul, Thinakorn Limsakul, Peter Malhotra, Dennis
Stark, Bob Denzel and Jin Srikasikorn sit in anticipation of the big draw.
