German television star and author Reiner Calmund has been named an honorary member of the Rotary Club of Phoenix-Pattaya for his charity work with children in Thailand and his home country.
Otmar Deter, president of the Phoenix club, the only German-language Rotary chapter in Asia, and Rotarian Juergen Schlag proposed the membership despite the former football manager’s busy schedule.
(L to R) Rotary District 3340 Past Gov. Peter Malhotra (left) pins the honorary Rotary badge on Reiner Calmund’s jacket, as Club President Dr. Otmar Deter looks on.
Calmund visits Pattaya three times a year and he and his third wife, Sylvia, this year adopted a girl from the Pattaya Orphanage.
The Phoenix club celebrated the appointment Aug. 13 with German Ambassador Rolf Schulze attending, along with Radchada Chomjinda, head of the Thai unit of the Human Help Network. Calmund is a board member with HHN Germany. Also in attendance was Sharron Purtell, sister of orphanage founder Father Ray Brennan.
Reiner Calmund proudly displays the honorary membership certificate.
Rotary District 3340 Past Gov. Pratheep Malhotra welcomed Calmund to the circle of Rotarians, explaining some of the principles of the Rotary Club.
Calmund’s friend, Jürgen Schlag, took the stage for a testimonial and Rotarian Heiko Klimanschewsky called Calmund to the stage to answer questions about his life.
Young dancers from the Pattaya Orphanage congratulate Rotary Phoenix-Pattaya’s newest honorary member, Reiner Calmund.
Schulze followed, lauding Calmund for his work with children, telling Phoenix-Pattaya members they were lucky to have him.
Malhotra pinned the honorary Rotary badge on Calmund’s jacket and passed the membership certificate on to him.
Children from the Pattaya Orphanage closed the evening with a dance.
