June was an eventful month for the RCPYU as it provided support to its sponsoring Club, attended District training, engaged in its first service project, assisted with the formation of an Interact Club and conducted its year-end meeting. The following highlights are from these activities.
PRIMARY LEVEL ENGLISH INSTRUCTION at St. Andrew’s Community Learning Center; Nina Wanwarin Yensuk, Project Champion
This project actually started in May and continued into June, 12th. RCPYU members participated as well as Rotaract visitors from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). The Community Learning Centre (CLC) at St. Andrew’s Siriaunda School periodically offers primary and secondary level English courses for the children of the surrounding Nong Pa Khrang community. A Facebook messenger group consisting of RCPYU members who expressed interest in volunteer-teaching English to Thai children in the local community was created. After RCPYU received the confirmed teaching dates from Gerry Gan, the St. Andrew’s School contact, they allocated each date to at least one volunteer. Each volunteer was responsible for coming up with their own lesson plans for their teaching dates. Teaching dates were every Monday and Wednesday from 20 May to 12 June, at 5:30pm to 7:30pm. Volunteers took charge of their own individual transportation to and from the venue. To address sustainability issues, RCPYU may explore how the program may be open to volunteers from the general student body of the Payap International College rather than draw only from RCPYU members.
ASSISTED CMIRC with its collaboration with HKUST service visit to Chiang Mai.
President Low and liaison Rotarian Churchill provided assistance which further involved RCPYU members' participation in the HKUST itinerary. RCPYU members engaged with Rotaract Club of HKUST members by greeting at the airport, painting at Burma Children Medical Fund's BK Kee Patient House (below, left), St. Andrew’s teaching, Khantoke dinner at Old Chiang Mai Cultural Center (below, right), whole-day sightseeing trip (10/6), Kad Namor shopping (10/6), Maya and Central Festival shopping trip (11/6). In addition, RCPYU members assisted with arranging transportation, a night market visit, and general social interactions. This endeavor took place over seven days while RCPYU members also continued with their regular academic programs. It is estimated that over forty hours were devoted to these activities in addition to the numerous hours of assisting during CMIRC's planning stage.
ROTARACT TRAINING
With the financial support of CMIRC, Rotaract President Dylan Low and then-Treasurer Diki Sherpa attended the RPETS training in Nakorn Nayok. RCPYU gives specific thanks and gratitude to Santi Chatterjee of District 3350 who not only provided support for RCPYU to attend another District’s training but gave personal assistance to RCPYU attendees as they traveled to and from the training locale. RCPYU has agreed to work with Khun Santi on an upcoming project in Chiang Mai. The two day event at Nakorn Nayok was directed to newly elected Rotaract Presidents and other officers. Knowledge gained from this training was immediately put into practice as RCPYU conducted it first membership meeting.
RCPYU FIRST INDEPENDENT MEMBERSHIP MEETING
The Club conducted its first independent meeting on June 25th with President Dylan Low presiding. Among other agenda items was the election of the new officers and Board members for Rotary Year 2019/2020:
- Dylan Low - President
- Diki Sherpa - Vice-President 1
- Peter Lee - Vice President 2
- Wi Wi Waradon - Treasurer
- Peter Koi Wongap - Secretary (interim)
- Dayton Estes - Secretary (away)
- Amy Kim - Public Relations Director 1
- Bow Arnprayoon - Public Relations Director 2
- Seal Wang - Service Project Director
The specific responsibilities of each position was presented and discussed with the leadership of President Dylan Low. Some specific topics discussed include:
- Whether to and the extent of any collaboration with the Rotaract Club of Hong Kong Island East (RACHKIE) in December/January.
- The utilization of an online platform to organize projects/activities.
- New service projects to be undertaken by RCPYU.
Proposed service projects:
- Teaching ethnic minority children in collaboration with a school of Grace Church
- Project Champion: Peter Koi Wongap
- Collaboration with the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO)
- Project Champions: Wi Wi Waradon and Darawan Khachonsaklawan
- Teaching Collaboration with BEAM Foundation
- Project Champion: Dylan Low
- Fundraising for Wat Don Chan Orphanage
- Project Champion: Nina Yensuk
In addition to the above the Club distributed Club Tees to its Charter members.
Fundraising activities were discussed as well other Club responsibilities of reporting requirements, and District and Thailand Rotaract events.
On note, the RCPYU membership has grown to nineteen (19) members.
INTERACT CLUB PRESENTATION AT PRINCE ROYAL'S COLLEGE
On 27 June, RCPYU President Dylan Low and CMIRC Rotarian Clarence Shettlesworth conducted a leadership engagement and introductory Rotary presentation at the Prince Royal’s College as part of a first step towards establishing an Interact Club at the school. The main topic of the talk was how Rotary, Rotaract, and Interact develop people into leaders who embody the motto of “Service Above Self”. The event was well-received and Clarence and Dylan received tokens of appreciation from the school.
