Green Team to focus on environmental issues and humanitarian service
As is tradition, a worthy Rotarian is chosen from amongst the hundreds of clubs in the district to be the district leader for one full year. This year the choice fell upon Onanong Siripornmanut, a member of the Rotary Club of Plutaluang located in Sattahip District of Chonburi Province.
Having served her club with distinction for 17 years, including a year as president in 2004-05, Rotarians of district 3340 saw it most favourable to elect Past President Onanong to be their District Governor for the 2017-2018 Rotary year.
The installation ceremony was conducted by Past Rotary International President Bhichai Rattakul during the annual Rotary District Training Assembly held at the Ambassador City Jomtien on May 5, 2017. The DTA is a two-day training seminar where incoming club presidents and directors were trained in their roles and responsibilities in preparation to administer their respective offices on July 1.
DG Onanong is a former school teacher and recipient of numerous Royal decorations including Knight Commander (Second Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant, and the Chakrabarti Mala Medal for dedicated and loyal service to the country.
She said, “Since joining Rotary, I have learned so much about this wonderful service organization. I have come to cherish Rotary and our ideals of service. My daughter Lalinda was even a member of the Rotary Youth Exchange program where she spent a year with kind and caring Rotary families in the United States. Many years later, Lalinda joined Rotary and went on to serve as our club president in 2016-17. I am so proud of her.
“Now as District Governor, it seems like it’s the start of a new life. I will utilize my time as governor in the service of our clubs and their members and assist them in their various projects. I will strengthen our clubs by encouraging them to increase membership, implement more humanitarian service projects to benefit the needy and enhance Rotary’s public image. But most important of all we will initiate environmental projects where we will encourage Rotarians and the public to plant hundreds of thousands of trees.
“As District Governor I must be loyal to the Rotary ideals. I must be a good leader, mother, daughter, and most important, a knowledgeable teacher. The governor has a responsibility to travel to all the Rotary clubs in his district to guide, instruct and assist in all Rotary matters. I must be ready to sacrifice a lot of my precious time and to be able to carry out my duties effectively during my tenure.
“It will be an exciting adventure as I spread the message for 2017-18, Rotary: Making a Difference.”
