Members of Skål International Chiang Mai & North Thailand, located in the North of Thailand, traveled to Yangon, Myanmar on September 18 to spend a weekend meeting with Skål International Yangon members and perform the twinning ceremony that cemented ties with members in Yangon.
As part of the push by Skål Chiang Mai to create connections with different Skål groups, members and guests recently traveled to Yangon with Air Bagan to hold a twinning ceremony with the newly created Skål Yangon.
Skål Chiang Mai President Tim McGuire was joined by committee members and Skål friends in the trip that saw Skål International Yangon President Sonny Aung Khin and Tim McGuire sign the official twinning certificate at the Padonmar Restaurant on September 20. The ceremony was witnessed by Skål International Kuala Lumpur President Jean Wasser standing in for Marco Battistotti, President of Skål Asia and Annette Kunigagon, Vice President and Past President of Skål Chiang Mai as well as committee members Manfred Ilg and Shana Kongmun. The clubs then exchanged banners before citing the Skål toast in Thai, Burmese and English.
The clubs plan on holding joint activities and are certain that the increased number of direct Chiang Mai – Yangon flights will enable more frequent visits. Skål Yangon President Sonny Aung Khin said, “Good friends make good business. The twinning of Skål International Chiang Mai and North Thailand and Skål International Yangon hopefully will produce many exchanges of visits between two cities.”
Tim McGuire, President of Skål International Chiang Mai & North Thailand and Skål International President Sonny Aung Khin with the Skål International Twinning Certificate at the signing ceremony held at Padonmar Restaurant, Yangon, Myanmar on September 20, 2014.
Skål Chiang Mai President Tim McGuire said, “What an honor and pleasure to twin Skål Chiang Mai & North Thailand with the wonderful members of Skål Yangon. The city was nothing short of spectacular and the food and tours magical. I can’t express enough the warmth and sincerity I saw in the people I met. My entire outlook on Myanmar has changed and I can’t wait to return to this beautiful country!
“Sonny and his team could not have done a better job in welcoming us and providing us with a completely awesome journey. I thank you from the bottom of my heart and very much look forward to working closely with you all in the future to strengthen the bond between our countries and to support and assist one another in any way possible… Skål!”
