We're having a technical issue with our online bulletin-editor software this month and in the interest of sending the bulletin on-time, we elected to "live" with the problem this month and hope you can, too. We apologize for the format being less-friendly. You may wish to click on the option at the top of the email to read the bulletin online, rather than as an email. We hope to solve the problem before next month's bulletin.
I would like to begin this month’s President’s Message with warm wishes to all for a joyous holiday season. This month includes Thai Father’s Day, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and, of course, New Year’s Eve. I hope everyone enjoys this special time of the year.
December is also the month where CMIRC is hosting a very special event: “An Evening of Love and Support for the Mae Tao Clinic.” The event is on December 7 at the Amora Hotel near the Thapae Gate beginning with dinner at 6 pm. It will feature Mae Tao Clinic founder Dr. Cynthia Maung as the keynote speaker. The Mae Tao Clinic was CMIRC’s first service project and we continue to support the projects there that share our focus on children’s safety, health, and education. Please plan to attend!
What happened in November:
Of course, first and foremost, our projects focused on Child Safety, Health, and Education continued with the great efforts of all of our Rotarian and Friends of Rotary volunteers. Service is and always has been the prime motivator for our club members, there will be more about the specific project activities later in this Bulletin. I will focus this month’s President’s Message on the efforts we make to fund our charities.
The month began with “It’s Only Rock and Roll But (You’ll) Like It” Rolling Stones tribute band charity concert and it was a great success. Many, many thanks to Joe Cummings and his amazing Bangkok-based band, The Midnight Ramblers; they literally had our members and guests dancing in the aisles! We had a total attendance for the evening of about 140 people, and as a result of our ticket sales, raffle proceeds, wine sales, and after party with the band at the Venue, organized by PE Colin the next night, CMIRC raised nearly 100,000 Baht. Our best fall fundraiser yet! It must be said that this net income for our children’s charities would not have been possible if it had not been for the amazing generosity of the Midnight Ramblers! They put 8 great musicians on the stage, all of whom basically donated their performances for our charities. THANK YOU, Joe and the Midnight Ramblers!!
Next came the City Life Garden Fair, where the CMIRC has had a booth for the last 3 years. Our fundraising activity at the fair is the sale of second-hand clothing, books, used electronics, and other household items. In the past this event has netted the club and average of 15,000 - 22,000 Baht each year. This year, however, a last-minute change of location for the event to an out-of-town setting affected our sales. Our net this year of around 8,000 Baht will certainly come in handy though as we seek to fund all our children’s projects.
In addition to the event oriented-fundraising described above we also have CMIRC meeting-based fund raising such as our raffles, donations, and Happy Baht. These proceeds go to our children’s charities and average about 8,000-10,000 Baht/month.
Finally, we also seek grant funding for our projects, and this month we learned that our Children’s Water Safety and Drowning Prevention Project has been selected for an Australian Direct Aid Program Grant to support expanding our survival swimming courses for children to Phrao and the Ban Ya Migrant Learning Centre in Phuket. The total to be granted is 360,000 Baht during 2019.
So, November was an excellent month for fundraising. Thanks to the hard work of the Fundraising Committee led by PP Shana, the grant writing work of the Children’s Water Safety Committee and the Foundations Committee, and the generosity of our members and friends, we raised almost 500,000 Baht in November!! Our goal this year is to donate over 1,000,000 Baht to our children’s charities, so there is still much work to do. And, money alone is not enough. We also need more service-oriented members to organize, facilitate, and plan the best ways to improve children’s safety, health and education here in Northern Thailand.
How readers of our Bulletin can help:
As the reader of this Bulletin will see, CMIRC is doing a lot of great work in our Northern Thai community, especially if you consider that we only have 23 members! So, the message this month ends again with an appeal to our readers. If you live in Chiang Mai or know someone who does, and you think they would be a good candidate for membership in our club, please let me know: john@cmirotary.org. If you wish to make a financial contribution to the CMIRC, please contact treasurer@cmirotary.org.
If you wish to make an in-kind contribution. We especially need children’s toys, sports equipment, and school supplies, please contact president@cmirotary.org or 09 4856 3011.
We had a marvelous tour of Mae Tao Clinic 20 – 24 November. Rotarians from four Rotary Clubs gathered on Wednesday 20 November and had a lovely dinner at Khao Mao Khao Fang in Mae Sot: Roger and Carol Ward from the Rotary Club of Aireborough, Leeds,United Kingdom; Richard Jones, Reetika Paris and her husband Sonny from the Rotary Club of Royal Hua Hin, Thailand; Thu Zaw from the Rotary Club of Yangon, Myanmar; and myself enjoyed getting to know each other over dinner. (we're all shown in the photo, along with our excellent van driver)
On Thursday morning we toured the old clinic and noticed many training sessions and saw how the site is also now used to house many people who are involved with the clinic.
Then, we went to new clinic and were given a tour of the facility as it serves the migrant population today. We were fortunate enough to have Dr. Cynthia join us for the update meeting.
After lunch we visited the Child Development Center and learned about that project in quite a bit of detail. The entire pre-GED class was invited to join us for the briefing. The room was packed and full of young energy! This is where the magic happened. Young Htee Khu Paw told us she wanted to study in India. Reetika Paris, who happens to be Indian, told her that if she studied hard, passed the GED and was otherwise eligible, she would see to it that her dream would come true. The power of Human Kindness through Rotary is amazing! (Pictured at left at Reetika and Htee Khu Paw at Passport Restaurant at Thankgsiving dinner.)
The briefing environment was indicative of the very busy pace they keep; during the briefing we were joined by officials from the Tak province government who were there to certify the CDC Nursery School. (students shown at right) It all went very well.
That evening we went to the Passport Restaurant at the Hospitality & Catering Training Center(below) where we enjoyed great fellowship and an American Thanksgiving Dinner. It was a great experience for all. Several people commented that they had never had an opportunity to participate in such a dinner.
The next morning our group had an opportunity to observe a status report meeting at Committee for Protection and Promotion of Child Rights (C.P.P.C.R) Representatives from Mae Tao Clinic and other community based organizations reported on violations of child rights and their solutions. One problem that seems to be endemic is child beggars at the border. We were reminded that these children are controlled by gangs in Miwaddy. The bottom line: please do NOT give to these beggars. The work being done to protect children by C.P.P.C.R. is truly admirable.
Our last meeting was to discuss the possibility of Rotary Global Grants to support the Mae Tao Clinic. Possible projects which meet Rotary International standards include GED scholarships, Health Workers Training, Child Protection Training. Both training ideas would include elements of capacity building to ensure sustainability. We are actively seeking international partners!
Dr. Cynthia Maung is the Karen Burmese doctor who founded The Mae Tao Clinic. She was just awarded the UNDP’s N-Peace Award! She is the winner of the Ramon Magsaysay Award, Winner of the Sydney Peace Prize, one of Asia's top 100 Most Influential People in Time Magazine, the 2018 Roux Prize and much more. Dr. Cynthia is an inspirational and amazing speaker. The last time she spoke the event was sold out. Be sure and get your tickets now. Admission tickets are 850 Baht and includes dinner. Contact Jerry Nelson at jerry@cmirotary.org or 089-556-4293. Tickets are also available at Pern's Restaurant.
This event is a part of Access to Justice Week in partnership with BABSEACLE. We are proud to support the Mae Tao Clinic with this event at the Amora Hotel, Chiang Mai from 6:00 p.m. on Friday 7 December 2018.
Chiang Mai International Rotary Club's Annual Winter Clothing Appeal continues to grow in size, with three deliveries to high-elevation villages in Chiang Mai province so far this year, with at least two more remaining. We delivered the first collection of winter clothes on 1 November to Ban Muser, a hiltribe village 253 kms west of Chiang Mai city. The destination was recommended by Philanthropy Connections, a charity based in Chiang Mai. The clothes were collected at a variety of shops, schools and offices in and around Chiang Mai, the most successful being the Rim Ping and Macro Supermarkets.
A delivery to the same area last year showed the roads to be extremely rough, and with recent rain it was decided to arrange two transport pickup trucks, one with 4wd as a potential "recovery" vehicle. In fact, on the day, the roads were very good and the weather beautiful. The journey to and from the village was just a scenic ride.
We were met by the school teachers and entertained for lunch. The school cares for over 300 children and has a teaching staff of 32, a much better teacher-student ratio than many in the west. The village appeared old; comprised entirely of simple wooden houses and dirt roads. The normal population of dogs and pigs roamed the streets.
The trucks were unloaded onto tables under a tree and after some photos the villagers were let loose on the delivery. The goods were most welcome and the teachers grateful. I asked the Head Teacher if there was anything urgently required by the school. He told me that they needed sports equipment like footballs, volley balls and nets.
So, our first delivery was a most enjoyable experience. Delightful children and staff and a feeling of accomplishment.
The next delivery was to Ban Nam Dun and Ban Om Pan Muser Tribe near Om Goi on 11 November. We departed Chiang Mai at 0745 in good weather, but a forecast of light rain. This was something of a worry as we had been told that the road from Ban Muser to Om Pam was very bad. In fact, the worst road was a short stretch of 5 kms from the Route 1099 to Ban Nam Dun. Not difficult but very muddy, whereas from Ban Muser to Ban Om Pam was a good cement road all the way. It was none the less exciting because it was narrow, winding and very steep in places for 11 kms through the forest and over a mountain. Ban Om Pam (left) was beautiful.
The delivery at Ban Om Pam Muser Village was very well organised by Khun Atcharee of Philanthropy Connections in Chiang Mai. We met up with guides at Ban Muser School where we had previously delivered. We brought sports equipment this time by request from the Head of the large school. Footballs, volley balls and badminton racquets.
Our guide took us a further 8 kms down the muddy road to Ban Nam Dun. Here we dropped off clothing at the small school for 50 children.
Our next stop was Ban Om Pam, an even smaller school with maybe 20 pupils in a lovely setting. My daughter Pang is getting much more confidant in her role as interpreter and local manager. She questioned the locals carefully about the previous week’s delivery to Ban Muser. Particularly about the relevance of the clothes delivered. The responses were predictably polite and full of ‘’Kreng Jai’’. However we did establish that everything was made use of and was welcome, but there were no suitable warm Jackets which is what most folk were hoping for. The young girls were naturally hoping to find a smart track suit top or similar.
Friday 23rd November 2018 saw a convoy of three fully laden vehicles set off from Chiang Mai to Mae Chaem, a distance of 110 kms. Mae Chaem is beyond Doi Inthanon en route to Mae Hong Song.
Our contact in MAE Chaem is Mme. Naat Lhoumeau who in turn is in contact with Khun Panachai the local representative of IMPECT (Inter Mountain Peoples Education and Culture in Thailand Association).
IMPECT in Mae Chaem support a group of eight villages and through the local Tessabaan are in contact with many others. Khun Panachai is a real find. He arrived on time, and with Nat arranged the use of an enormous room in the Tessabaan (local government office) for our large delivery. At left, CMIRC members William Churchill is at left and President John Schorr is at right, with Mrs. Nan Barlow and Khun Panachai at the Tessaban.
Although Panachai does not speak English, he speaks three local dialects. He arranged for the villagers to send transport to Mae Chaem to collect the clothes. The villages are between 20 and 30 kms from Mae Chaem and the roads are all muddy unmade tracks. Panachai advised 4wd for any of us wanting to visit. He told us of a need for volunteer English teachers in the villages. Home Stay was available but no English was spoken and even Thai was only spoken by some of the younger folk. Any volunteers would have to eat the local food, be very confidant and self sufficient.
Khun Panachai said that he was very happy to arrange further deliveries as there was a great need. Nothing would be wasted. He also said that deliveries of cooking pots and pans, utensils etc would be well received.
Currently, we're removing collection boxes from many locations, with the last pick-ups occurring around December 1. We anticipate final deliveries around 7 December to wrap up another successful year for the CMIRC Winter Clothing project.
The big news for November was the Oz Swim Aquatics of Brisbane Australia Training and International Certification Visit. Our swim instructor teams in Chiang Mai, Phuket, and a visiting team from Siem Riep, Cambodia all received advanced training from Eve Fraser, Director of Oz Swim Aquatics and her team of three internationally recognized swim instructors. In all, 50 Thai and 3 Cambodian swim instructors received advanced training and 20 of those qualified for Swim Australia, Australian Swimming Coaches and Teachers Association International Certification! Our partner Safe Child Thailand sponsored international certification for three of the four lead trainers guiding the CMIRC program expansion to Patong Beach, Lampang, and Phetchabun.
Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 15 in Thailand. The Chiang Mai International Rotary Club, Kru Payu Swim and Safe Child Thailand Foundation are working together to reduce drowning deaths in Thailand. The Oz Swim Aquatics volunteers with their decades of teaching experience shared a great deal of knowledge and experience with our swim teachers. This will help us do an even better job. In one lesson that I observed, Eve Fraser worked with a municipal school child in our program who was panicked by the water, in the pictures you can see our teachers’ rapt attention as Eve works with the child. That child was back with her school later that week and seemed to be much more relaxed in the water, even enjoying it!
The members of the Oz Swim Aquatic Team traveled at their own expense and provided instruction at no charge. They were in Chiang Mai from November 11 to 17 and then went to Phuket from November 18 to 24. This team has done GREAT WORK! Thank you Oz Swim Aquatics volunteers!! Our swim teachers have learned a lot from you!
Thanks are also due to the Australian Embassy in Thailand and Australian Honorary Consul, Ron Elliott. During their stay in Chiang Mai, Oz Swim Aquatics Team was honored at a special recognition dinner hosted by the Honorary Consul.
Australian Direct Aid Program Grant
More good news with an Australian connection: on Friday, November 23, we received a telephone call from the Australian Embassy in Bangkok, and were told that from the 160+ Australian Aid Program grant applications that they received this year, they have selected fifteen projects to fund. We are very happy to share with you that the Chiang Mai International Rotary Club (CMIRC) Children’s Water Safety and Drowning Prevention Program was one of the projects selected for funding in 2018-2019! This 360,000 Baht grant will enable us to expand our survival swimming and drowning prevention program to the Ban Ya Migrant Learning Centre in Phuket and to the Phrao (in Chiang Mai Province) municipal schools.
Petchabun
Finally, we are working very hard to expand our water safety program committee to Petchabun Province. We have received a large grant from the U.K.-based Safe Child Thailand Foundation and CMIRC member Craig Clark has begun a fundraising campaign in the U.S. A. to ensure that the programs we establish in Petchabun will be sustainable for many years to come. CMIRC member Dr. Narong and Children’s Water Safety and Drowning Prevention Chair, P. John are planning a promotional trip to Petchabun next month. The current plan calls for the first pilot project to begin in February.
The BEAM Education Foundation was founded in December 2009. BEAM (Bridging Educational Access to Migrants) was created to assist with the unmet needs of Burmese migrant students seeking higher level college preparation courses and advanced vocational skills training. Most students must also work difficult full-time jobs for their livelihood. Before BEAM started migrant worker programs consisted of informal schools geared towards short term basic level courses.
A four person management team of experienced teachers and administrators designed BEAM’s academic, vocational and cultural programs. Prospective students were surveyed to determine their needs and preferences. An advisory team of educational leaders in Chiang Mai provided input and helped guide the process.
The BEAM Education Foundation is a registered non-profit foundation under Thai law. Tuition and textbooks are provided free of charge.
CMIRC's English Language Cultural Club engages students in discussions about various aspects of other cultures and the ethnic cultures of the students. Some areas of discussion are: Home, Folklore, History, Dance, Leadership, Music/Song and Religion. The exchange is led by Rotarian Linda Pfotenhauer with assistance from Rotarians Gary Herman and Roger Lindley and friend of our club Bob Carroll. The exchange sessions occur on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. In addition to cultural exchange, our members help with understanding the social studies portion of the students' General Educational Development (GED) testing. The social studies section covers economics, history, civics and government and geography. The history and civics portions have a significant portion of Canadian and US emphasis.
It is not all study and discussion. On November 24, the BEAM students staged a dance party, inviting CMIRC English Language Cultural Club members. The students took time to individually talk about their specific ethnic groups and sub-groups, clothing and dance. Rotarian Linda (leading the line at right) provided dance demonstration instruction on how to perform line dancing. The students were soon enthusiastically line dancing. A good time for all with a party shutdown time of 2100 so the students could return to their studies.
The weekly visits to the Burma Children Medical Fund's B.K. Kee Patient House continued in November. As always, a special thank you to Roger Lindley and Mike Lake for their helping hands.
We have finally been able to celebrate the return of a healthy OO-Ah-Poe to his village from successful tumor surgery along with two babies with similar maladies. We also said goodbye to an 11 year old boy with extreme eyesight problems who was here for corrective surgery.
The work at the house never stops and November saw the admission of a few more patients of all ages and with many different maladies, including a few additional babies with tumors, one with liver problems and a distended stomach and another with heart problems. The current group of patients and family members are shown at right, with Mike and Roger.
The house has several patients here for heart surgery and patients with a range of problems from the tumors mentioned to neurological issues. Almost all patients are accompanied by family members to care for them while at the house. When they go to hospital, unlike American hospitals, there are beds in the rooms or wards where family members can stay overnight.
Our small contribution this last month was that I taught English vocabulary each week, with Roger helping. Mike talked to each of the patients and their escorts to discover their needs and wants. We delivered cookies, fruit and newspapers each week. We also delivered some extra clothing from the Winter Clothing Appeal donations and toys. On the last Sunday of the month the patients and staff had already begun making Christmas decorations, and we donated some Santa hats and red sparkling stars. Klao (staff) said the tentative date for the Christmas party will be Saturday, December 15th. Not sure when, but the BCMF Mae Sot staff is supposed to be coming.
The CMIRC-sponsored Interact club at CM International School has been busy with both school and Interact projects. They meet every Monday at noon when school is in session, alternating general and Board meetings on alternate weeks. Projects completed include a fundraising bake sale during an on-campus basketball tournament, a very successful winter clothing drive to collect and sort contributions for the CMIRC Winter Clothing Appeal and they will have another bake sale before year-end break. They now have a “Christmas Angel” tree with names of children in a poor village they are supporting. When they return to school in January following break they plan to schedule the painting project at B. K. Kee Patient House.
Membership continues to grow and is up to seventeen enthusiastic members, (shown above right) carefully sorting and folding clothing from their winter clothing collection.
Our health is everything. Yet, 400 million people in the world cannot afford or do not have access to health care. Rotary International believes good healthcare is everyone’s right.
Disease results in misery, pain, and poverty for millions of people worldwide. That’s why treating and preventing disease is so important to us. We lead efforts both large and small. We set up temporary clinics, blood donation centers, and training facilities in underserved communities struggling with outbreaks and health care access. We design and build infrastructure that allows doctors, patients, and governments to work together.
Our members combat diseases like malaria, HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, and polio. Prevention is important, which is why we also focus on health education and bringing people routine hearing, vision, and dental care. CMIRC's support of the Mae Tao Clinic and Dr. Cynthia (right) helps to prevent disease and reduce suffering along the Thai-Burma border.
There are more than a dozen Rotarian Action Groups (RAGs) committed to disease prevention and treatment.
Here is a list of eight of the many RAGs that address health issues:
Alzheimer's/Dementia RAG: They provide information and support to Rotarians on dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Members use their knowledge, experience and leadership to fight Alzheimer's disease and dementia. http://adrag.org/
RAG for Blindness Prevention: This RAG helps prevent blindness and promotes eye health and vision worldwide. http://www.rag4bp.org/
RAG of Dental Volunteers: These volunteers provide humanitarian dental service throughout the world. http://ragdv.com/
RAG for Diabetes: This RAG provides has commitment to education, identification, and treatment of diabetes. They are especially concerned about diabetes among children in developing countries. They work with the International Diabetes Federation. http://ragdiabetes.org/
Rotarians for Hearing RAG: These Rotarians promote hearing help for children and adults with hearing loss. http://www.ifrahl.org/
RAG on Mental Health Initiatives: The mission of RAGMHI is to act as a worldwide resource for Rotarians in the field of mental health and mental illness to promote, protect, restore, and to help re-build the lost human capital to make a happier and healthier world. http://ragonmentalhealth.org/
RAG for Multiple Sclerosis Awareness: These Rotarians work to make people aware of MS and improve the lives of People with MS. https://rotary-ragmsa.org/
Polio Survivors and Associates RAG: These Rotarians are dedicated to permanently ending polio. They focus on improving the health and well-being of polio survivors. http://www.rotarypoliosurvivors.com
Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation's administrative arm is collectively called the Secretariat which is led by the General Secretary.
When Rotary was in its infancy, and you could count the number of clubs on both your hands and feet and have toes left over, the Secretariat of Rotary was the Secretary of Rotary, Chesley R. (Ches) Perry. Today, the Secretariat is the nomenclature given to the staff, the offices and the services that run the infrastructure of Rotary International. Originally based in Chicago, the birthplace of Rotary; it is now headquartered in Evanston, Illinois (right) and supported by field offices around the world. There are seven international offices in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, India, Japan, Korea, and Switzerland. The clubs and districts in Great Britain and Ireland are served by Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland (RIBI), located in England, and not by the Rotary World Headquarters or international offices.
The RI general secretary heads a 650-member staff working to serve Rotarians worldwide. The Secretariat supports approximately 34,000 local Rotary Clubs doing good all over the world. The Rotary Clubs are organized into approximately 530 districts and 34 zones.
The present General Secretary is John Hewko who is a member of the Rotary Club of Kyiv, Ukraine. From 2004 to 2009, Hewko was vice president for operations and compact development for the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a U.S. government agency established in 2004 to deliver foreign assistance to the world’s poorest countries.
The mission of the Secretariat of Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation is to collaborate with Rotary’s constituents in strengthening membership and service efforts, increasing and safeguarding Rotary’s assets, and enhancing Rotary’s image.
On the 30th of October, we ended the month with the “Fifth Tuesday of a Month” social event, held at Pern’s Restaurant with the theme of “From Myanmar to You”. Entertainment was provided by students from the BEAM Foundation performing their Karen and Shan dances, in costume. Click Here to watch a video of the dancers.
During the month of November club members continued the English Language Cultural Club sessions every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday with students at the BEAM Foundation school. Former Rotarian and club friend Bob Carroll joined the team.
During the month of November club members continued their weekly Sunday visits with patients and their families at the BCMF B.K. Kee Patient House. A new gate (above left) was installed as part of the on-going improvement projects at the house sponsored by the club.
During the month of November club members collected and sorted clothing from collection boxes and delivered clothing to needy children in nearby hill communities.
On the 7th of November we had a regular meeting of the club. The program was presented by our Honorary Member Stasha Malcolm talking about her observations for her thesis regarding the Karen peace process.
On the 9th of November, at our fundraising event “It’s Only Rock & Roll But (you’ll) Like It” at Old Chiang Mai 140 people grooved to The Midnight Ramblers, Rolling Stones tribute band from Bangkok, including club president John, right. CMIRC raised nearly 100,000 baht, the best ever for a CMIRC FUNdraiser.
On the third week of November, members of the Australian Swimming Coaches and Teachers Association were in Chiang Mai to provide advanced water safety instruction for instructors from Kru Payu Swim and instructors from Cambodia.
On the 17th of November, we held another fundraiser at the CityLife Garden Fair where we sold second hand items. Sadly, this wasn’t particularly successful financially. But, PP Shana had the fun of meeting PP Miguel Ferrer of the Kumning Rotary Club (left), visiting as a tourist.
On the 20th of November at our regular meeting the program was presented by Jack Eisner on the topic “WWII Sites in Northern Thailand”.
On the 24th of November members represented the club at the monthly Chiang Mai Expats Club general meeting.
On the 24th of November the students at BEAM hosted a party and invited our Cultural Exchange Program members to attend.
On the 30th of November there was the last Friday of the month "Let's Talk Rotary" informal lunch gathering at the Hinlay Curry House.
For a complete and up to date list of events, check our online calendar.
Here are just a few of the important dates for members of Chiang Mai International Rotary Club (CMIRC). These are opportunities to meet some of us and to meet other Rotarians from around the world!
Every Sunday at 9:30 am, regular visit by club members to BCMF B. K. Kee Patient House. Interested? Contact Rotarian Gary Herman.
04 December 2018 – CMIRC Annual Meeting.
06 – 10 December 2018 – Access to Justice Week. Contact Bruce Lasky or Wendy Morrish.
07 December 2018 - Mae Tao Clinic Fundraiser in conjunction with Access to Justice Week. Contact Jerry Nelson.
23 December 2018 - Rotary Intercity Meeting, Uttaradit.
23 February 2019 – CMIRC’s 5th Birthday Celebration.
01 – 03 March 2019 - Multi-PETS, Hatyai.
23 - 24 March 2019 - District 3360 Conference, Chiang Rai.
01 – 05 June 2019 - Rotary International Convention, Hamburg Germany (www.riconvention.org/en).
23 June 2019 - District Governor’s Salute, Phitsanulok.
29 June 2019 – Installation of Rotary Officers 2019-2020, Chiang Mai.
06 – 10 June 2020 - Rotary International Convention,Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.
12 – 16 June 2021 - Rotary International Convention, Taipei, Taiwan.
04 – 08 June 2022 - Rotary International Convention, Houston, Texas, USA.
Rotary is not free; we give our hearts, we give our time and to some extent we give our money. Most of our heart, most of our time and most of our money goes to support our children’s projects. Yet we have operational expenses such as our website with its powerful tools such as this bulletin. We ask that you consider our sponsors for your needs.
Pern's Restaurant, a Mediterranean restaurant on Huey Kaew Road, near Central Kad Suan Kaew mall, across from the Shell Petrol station sold tickets for our November 9 "Rock & Roll" FUNdraiser and now has tickets available for the December 7 "Evening of Love & Support for Mae Tao Clinic". Brian Pern and his friendly staff (including the legendary Micky) create a warm and welcoming atmosphere for diners to enjoy steaks, seafood, chicken, pasta and vegetarian offerings. There are nightly specials and half-price house wine on Wednesdays. Most Wednesday and Sunday evenings you can enjoy smooth jazz while dining. First time diners receive a free glass of house wine when they reserve through Pern's website. Book here.
Lanna Lawyersis an expat-focused professional general practice law firm in Chiang Mai.They provide detailed and focused legal advice and services to expats and Thai nationals.Specializations include: Family, Business/Corporate, Property/Real Estate, Wills and Estates, Civil, Contract and Criminal Law. Other services include immigration, notary services, translations and accounting.Lanna Lawyers prides itself on the ethical, high quality and standard of care. Lanna Lawyers is a leader in providing pro bono services to a significant number of clients who are both in need of legal assistance and do not have the financial means and ability to pay for them.
Fashion Kingis the best tailor in Chiang Mai. They have been in the same shop for over 12 years and receive the highest ratings from Trip Advisor and others.They feature authentic craftsmanship, superior materials and a great value!Their success is measured in customer satisfaction. The owners, Frank and Vanita will personally guide you through the entire process: design, material selection, fitting and delivery. CMIRC members -- this is the place to order a custom-made CMIRC dress-shirt or have a CMIRC emblem embroidered on your casual polo shirt. Frank and Vanita are the sponsors of the famous Chiang Mai fundraising event called “Bollywood Night”.They do a lot to give back to their community, helping the underprivileged in and around Chiang Mai.
Hong Kong Lucky is a unique Hong Kong Chinese dining experience. The food is wonderful. Their Flagship Restaurant is in the Old City very near the regional police station. They have not only a dining room but facilities for private parties, large and small. Our Rotary meetings are held here. Hong Kong Lucky can be found on the 4th floor of Maya Life Style Mall, providing an excellent choice for a meal during your shopping experience.Hong Kong Lucky is also inside the Top North Hotel, near Thapae Gate where you can enjoy great food in a garden setting.
Our sponsors donate money that supports our operational expenses, freeing funds for the projects we love. Please give them your support.
The month began with “It’s Only Rock and Roll But (You’ll) Like It” Rolling Stones tribute band charity concert and it was a great success. Many, many thanks to Joe Cummings and his amazing Bangkok-based band, 
Next came the 
We had a marvelous tour of 
Then, we went to new clinic and were given a tour of the facility as it serves the migrant population today. We were fortunate enough to have Dr. Cynthia join us for the update meeting.
The briefing environment was indicative of the very busy pace they keep; during the briefing we were joined by officials from the Tak province government who were there to certify the CDC Nursery School. (students shown at right) It all went very well. 
The next morning our group had an opportunity to observe a status report meeting at Committee for Protection and Promotion of Child Rights (
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The trucks were unloaded onto tables under a tree and after some photos the villagers were let loose on the delivery. The goods were most welcome and the teachers grateful. I asked the Head Teacher if there was anything urgently required by the school. He told me that they needed sports equipment like footballs, volley balls and nets.
The next delivery was to Ban Nam Dun and Ban Om Pan Muser Tribe near Om Goi on 11 November. We departed Chiang Mai at 0745 in good weather, but a forecast of light rain. This was something of a worry as we had been told that the road from Ban Muser to Om Pam was very bad. In fact, the worst road was a short stretch of 5 kms from the Route 1099 to Ban Nam Dun. Not difficult but very muddy, whereas from Ban Muser to Ban Om Pam was a good cement road all the way. It was none the less exciting because it was narrow, winding and very steep in places for 11 kms through the forest and over a mountain. Ban Om Pam 
The delivery at Ban Om Pam Muser Village was very well organised by Khun Atcharee of Philanthropy Connections in Chiang Mai. We met up with guides at Ban Muser School where we had previously delivered. We brought sports equipment this time by request from the Head of the large school. Footballs, volley balls and badminton racquets.
IMPECT in Mae Chaem support a group of eight villages and through the local Tessabaan are in contact with many others. Khun Panachai is a real find. He arrived on time, and with Nat arranged the use of an enormous room in the Tessabaan (local government office) for our large delivery. At left, CMIRC members William Churchill is at left and President John Schorr is at right, with Mrs. Nan Barlow and Khun Panachai at the Tessaban.
The big news for November was the Oz Swim Aquatics of Brisbane Australia Training and International Certification Visit. Our swim instructor teams in Chiang Mai, Phuket, and a visiting team from Siem Riep, Cambodia all received advanced training from Eve Fraser, Director of Oz Swim Aquatics and her team of three internationally recognized swim instructors. In all, 50 Thai and 3 Cambodian swim instructors received advanced training and 20 of those qualified for Swim Australia, Australian Swimming Coaches and Teachers Association International Certification! Our partner Safe Child Thailand sponsored international certification for three of the four lead trainers guiding the CMIRC program expansion to Patong Beach, Lampang, and Phetchabun.
Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 15 in Thailand. The Chiang Mai International Rotary Club, Kru Payu Swim and Safe Child Thailand Foundation are working together to reduce drowning deaths in Thailand. The Oz Swim Aquatics volunteers with their decades of teaching experience shared a great deal of knowledge and experience with our swim teachers. This will help us 
The members of the Oz Swim Aquatic Team traveled at their own expense and provided instruction at no charge. They were in Chiang Mai from November 11 to 17 and then went to Phuket from November 18 to 24. This team has done GREAT WORK! Thank you Oz Swim Aquatics volunteers!! Our swim teachers have learned a lot from you!
Petchabun
CMIRC's English Language Cultural Club engages students in discussions about various aspects of other cultures and the ethnic cultures of the students. Some areas of discussion are: Home, Folklore, History, Dance, Leadership, Music/Song and Religion. The exchange is led by Rotarian Linda Pfotenhauer with assistance from Rotarians Gary Herman and Roger Lindley and friend of our club Bob Carroll. The exchange sessions occur on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. In addition to cultural exchange, our members help with understanding the social studies portion of the students' General Educational Development (GED) testing. The social studies section covers economics, history, civics and government and geography. The history and civics portions have a significant portion of Canadian and US emphasis.
The work at the house never stops and November saw the admission of a few more patients of all ages and with many different maladies, including a few additional babies with tumors, one with liver problems and a distended stomach and another with heart problems. The current group of patients and family members are shown at right, with Mike and Roger.
The CMIRC-sponsored Interact club at CM International School has been busy with both school and Interact projects. They meet every Monday at noon when school is in session, alternating general and Board meetings on alternate weeks. Projects completed include a fundraising bake sale during an on-campus basketball tournament, a very successful winter clothing drive to collect and sort contributions for the CMIRC Winter Clothing Appeal and they will have another bake sale before year-end break. They now have a “Christmas Angel” tree with names of children in a poor village they are supporting. When they return to school in January following break they plan to schedule the painting project at B. K. Kee Patient House.
Our members combat diseases like malaria, HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, and polio. Prevention is important, which is why we also focus on health education and bringing people routine hearing, vision, and dental care. CMIRC's support of the Mae Tao Clinic and Dr. Cynthia (right) helps to prevent disease and reduce suffering along the Thai-Burma border.
Originally based in Chicago, the birthplace of Rotary; it is now headquartered in Evanston, Illinois (right) and supported by field offices around the world. There are seven international offices in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, India, Japan, Korea, and Switzerland. The clubs and districts in Great Britain and Ireland are served by Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland (RIBI), located in England, and not by the Rotary World Headquarters or international offices. 
During the month of November club members collected and sorted clothing from collection boxes and delivered clothing to needy children in nearby hill communities.
On the 17th of November, we held another fundraiser at the 
