To mark the 112th anniversary of Rotary International, more than 100 members and guests from Rotary clubs on the Eastern Seaboard of Thailand came together to commemorate ‘Rotary Peace and Health Day’.
The event, held on February 22 at the remarkable poolside of Nisha Pub & Restaurant off Pattaya 3rd Road, was designed to be a meaningful get-together, not only to party, but to also ‘Do good in the world’.
President Chamnote Plongudom of the Rotary Club of Chonburi said, “Our club will mark our 50th anniversary next year, so to commemorate our club’s historic milestone we are organising a Charity Golf Tournament to raise funds to apply for a Rotary Global Grant to purchase emergency life-saving medical equipment for needy hospitals in the area. Our target is to raise 4-5 million baht for this purpose.”
The objective was met with strong support from all the clubs in the area and contributions poured in from Rotarians and members of the community.
It was also an auspicious day to induct 3 new members into the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya. They were Jariya Wuensche (Training-Consulting Management), Wolf-Michael Wuensche (Health System Management) and Joachim Klemm (Real Estate Management).
Conducting the ceremony, Past District Governor Pratheep ‘Peter’ Malhotra said, “It is the duty of our Rotary Club to add new members from time to time, so that we may not only increase our usefulness and influence as a club, but also to extend the spirit of Rotary throughout the community.
“Jariya, Michael and Jo, you have been elected to membership in this club because your fellow members believe you to be a worthy representative of your calling and also to possess qualities that will permit you to exemplify the true spirit of Rotary in your public, business, social and private life. The honour and privilege of Rotary membership carries with it duties and obligations. You will be expected to attend the club’s meetings regularly, to perform your share of club service, and to place your knowledge and talents at the disposal of the club in its task of carrying the principles of Rotary into the daily life of the community.”
To set the pace for fund-raising that evening, President Dzenana Popin and President Elect Nacchlada Pamonmontree of the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya presented a cheque of 50,000 baht as their contribution towards the Global Grant Project to purchase the much needed medical equipment.
Father Michael Picharn, deputy director of the Father Ray Foundation, led a dance troupe of little children to perform for the enjoyment of the guests. As usual they were met by loving applause as Rotarians and guests donated funds to help them in their daily needs.
PDG Premprecha Dibbayawan conducted the ceremonies to mark Rotary Peace Day. More than one hundred white balloons were distributed to the guests for a small contribution and at the auspicious moment the balloons were released into the night sky.
As guests watched their balloons float up into the heavens, he said, “Our mission is to advance world understanding, goodwill and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education and the alleviation of poverty and we hope that as our balloons fly high over the earth, they will instil love and compassion into the hearts of all humanity on the ground below.”
