Staff reporters
Rotary District Governor Rachnee Euprasert recently made her official visit to
the six multi-language speaking Rotary clubs in Pattaya.
This is a customary duty of a district governor whereby he or she visits every
Rotary Club in the district at least once during his or her term in office.
This is a unique year for District 3340 Rotary International as DG Rachnee is
the first lady governor since the formation of this district in the 1992-93
Rotary year.
District 3340 R.I. stretches from the north-eastern-most to the eastern-most
provinces in Thailand, so a governor’s job to visit all 57 clubs for the purpose
of instruction and giving advice is quite an arduous one.
It was a proud moment for Naiyana
Stark and deservedly so as she is inducted as member of the Rotary Club of
Jomtien-Pattaya and honoured with a Paul Harris Fellow recognition.
The Town in Town hotel was the venue for the August 26 meeting where President
Satienpong Khamnon and his fellow members of the Rotary Club of Pattaya held a
business meeting with DG Rachnee during the day, followed by a Rotary style
fellowship which was attended by over a hundred Rotarians from many nearby
clubs.
During the course of the evening Peter Malhotra, president of the Pattaya Sports
Club Association, presented a cheque of 100,000 baht to President Satienpong to
supplement the Rotary Club’s fund raising projects for the purpose of
implementing humanitarian projects in aid of underprivileged children and needy
adults.
Incidentally Peter Malhotra is also a Past District Governor of the same
district.
(l-r) Margret Deter, Sabine
Schlaffer, President Joseph Roy (Rotary Club Pattaya Marina) and President Otmar
Deter (Rotary E-Club of Dolphin-Pattaya International).
Other formalities included the sister club signing ceremonies between the Rotary
Club of Bangkok Benjasiri and the Rotary Club of Ploenchit in Bangkok. The
sister club pact brings together clubs in Thailand or any part of the world in
friendship and cooperation in the service of humankind.
Special recognition was given to Suwapat Souksatitthanawat, a 59-year-old nurse
specialist at Banglamung Hospital, and Samart Thongrod, a 50-year-old journalist
for Sophon Cable Television for their tireless contributions to the community
and being outstanding members of society.
PDG Prasart Euprasert escorts his
wife DG Rachnee wherever she goes to perform her duties.
The following day DG Rachnee met with the presidents and secretaries of five
non-Thai speaking clubs at the Royal Cliff Beach Hotel. They included President
Vutikorn Kamolchote of the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya (English), President
Russell Iffland of the Rotary Club Eastern Seaboard (English), President Joseph
Roy of the Rotary Club Pattaya Marina (French), President Ingo Raeuber of the
Rotary Club of Phoenix Pattaya (German) and President Otmar Deter of the newly
formed cyber Rotary E-Club of Dolphin-Pattaya International.
Business being ended, Rotarians from every club, including visitors, came
together for an evening of fellowship interspersed by some thought provoking
words from Governor Rachnee. She encouraged clubs to grow, saying, “We need more
people to join Rotary and together with the present number of 1.2 million
Rotarians we could do much more to alleviate the sufferings of millions of men,
women and children on this planet.”
President Russell and Maggie
Iffland (Rotary Club Eastern Seaboard) together with their members.
The highlight of the evening was the induction of Naiyana Stark (Noiy) as an
honorary member of the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya. Rotarian Noiy was
honoured even further by being awarded the Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary’s highest
recognition for Rotarians and non-Rotarians for their dedicated service to
humankind.
Before DG Rachnee bestowed the honour on Rotarian Noiy, PDG Peter expounded on
the purpose of this award. He said, “Not only has Rotarian Naiyana taken an
active role in our club’s humanitarian projects for over 20 years, but more
important she has dedicated most of her life relentlessly serving the
underprivileged and the sick in and around our community and elsewhere in
Thailand. The symbolism in this recognition is to say Thank You Noiy for making
a difference in our community and in the lives of less fortunate people in the
world.”
Paul Harris Fellow awards were also presented to Rotarian Jan Olav Aamlid and
Rotarian Timothy Watton for their contributions to the club and service for the
betterment of our community.
President Ingo Raeuber (left) of
the Rotary Club of Phoenix Pattaya with his fellow members.
Tim Watton (above) and Jan Olav
Aamlid (below) receive their Paul Harris Fellow recognition pins.
DG Rachnee is presented with a
pair of exquisite swans from all 5 Rotary club presidents. (l-r) Vutikorn
Kamolchote (Jomtien-Pattaya), Otmar Deter (Dolphin-Pattaya International), Ingo
Raeuber (Phoenix Pattaya), Russell Iffland (Eastern Seaboard) and Joseph Roy
(Pattaya Marina).
Peter Malhotra (right) president
of the Pattaya Sports Club Association, presented a cheque for 100,000 baht to
the Rotary Club of Pattaya. (l-r) PDG Premprecha Dibbayawan, President
Satienpong Khamnon, PP Jamlong Phassara, and DG Rachnee Euprasert.
