Welcome to April, the hottest, driest month in Thailand with poor air quality in Chiang Mai and the north. Soon, the rains will start around mid-month with the Songkran festival and we can celebrate by drenching everyone in sight. Meanwhile, you can better enjoy each story in our bulletin if you click on the title of a story where you'll be taken to the story on our website, displayed in easy-to-view full-page format.
We began the month faced with yet another move of our meeting location. Our club will no longer meet at the Hong Kong Lucky Restaurant in the Top North Hotel. We will now meet at the Royal Peninsula Hotel on the first and third Tuesdays of every month at 7 pm. Some members will arrive early and have dinner at the hotel restaurant beginning at 5:45 pm. This new meeting facility is by far the best we have had, and we look forward to making the Royal Peninsula Hotel our permanent home!
Our first meeting of the month on March 5th was the last at our old facility and featured a presentation by Martin Papworth(pictured right) on his Thailand-based cricket program and how he has used sport to help disadvantaged Thai children. A very interesting presentation, especially for the Americans in the audience. I now know what a “sticky wicket” is!!
On March 15, PP Jerry Nelson, PD Clarence Shettlesworth and I met with the grants and development staff at the Mae Tao Clinicin Mae Sot, Tak. We are well on our way to submitting a multi-year Rotary International Foundation Global Grant application for the development of a resource center for migrant learning centers in Tak province.
On March 19, we had our first meeting at the Royal Peninsula, it was a happy occasion since we had the newly-elected officers of our CMIRC-sponsored and newly chartered Payap UniversityRotaract Club visiting. We also welcomed new CMIRC member Gawain Booth (left) to the club. Gawain comes to us from Hawaii by way of Krabi and brings construction and water purity expertise. The meeting ended on a bittersweet note, we recognized PP Shana Kongmun (below) as an honorary member of CMIRC. Shana has taken full-time employment in Bangkok and will be leaving the active-member rolls of CMIRC next month. We wish Shana the best in her new position and hope she can continue to stay involved in some small way with CMIRC as an honorary member. We will miss her!
March is also the month when the CMIRC Service Projects Chair and the Treasurer consider and recommend funding for CMIRC service projects and programs for the coming 2019-2020 Rotary Year, which begins on July 1. This year William Churchill and Nancy Lindley have done an excellent job helping project champions develop their plans and build realistic budgets. All the projects approved for next year fall within the club’s signature focus: Child Safety, Health and Education. In all, the club has now budgeted almost 400,000 baht for its service projects and programs next year. Which begs the question, how do we raise these funds? I am happy to announce that Rtn. Andrew Myhill has agreed to take over the Fundraising Committee Chair position, following the amazing work done by PP Shana for the past three years.
How readers of our Bulletin can help: Please read the project reports in this Bulletin to learn more about how CMIRC has expanded and strengthened its focus on Child Safety, Health, and Education this month.
I will end with an appeal. We are getting ready for a very productive 2019-2020 year. Our club’s mission to improve the lives of children in Northern Thailand through our club projects focusing on Child Safety, Health, and Education demands a great deal of effort and commitment from CMIRC members and friends. There is much to do, and if you would like to help us by joining the club, or if you know someone who might like to join, please let me know: john@cmirotary.org or 08 5030 2143 .
And, while we have just one regular club meeting this month because of the Songkran holiday, we do have a Social Night at Duke's Restaurant, Maya Mall, Tuesday, April 30 at 7 pm. That's the perfect opportunity for potential new members to come chat with current members over free pizza and learn more about what we do.
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 08 5030 2143.
Our Mae Tao Clinic efforts for March 2019 consisted of reviewing, researching, requesting and registering. Notables for you to consider:
Our Next Big Project! We are doing the needs assessment and project definition for our next big project at Mae Tao Clinic’s Child Protection Department. The goal is to set up a Resource Center for the sixty-plus Migrant Learning Centers/Boarding Houses in Thailand’s Tak Province. There are four main objectives:
Improve and standardize the quality of life for the more than two-thousand children in this realm;
Develop four standard modules/training on Child Protection, Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights, Adolescent Reproductive Health and Parenting;
Raise awareness in the community for Child Protection and Birth Registration; and
Reduce the number of Out-of-School Children
Our hope is to develop a Resource Center that can support migrants through out the region. We are seeking partners to provide expertise, counsel and funding, especially in the form of Rotary District Designated Funds. Please contact us! (Rotarians and MTC folks shown planning the project at right)
Come to Mae Sot and See For Yourself We are scheduling our next organized tour, planned for 7 – 10 May. We are expanding the tour to ensure time to visit the Committee for the Protection and Promotion of Child Rights (CPPCR), The Burmese Migrant Teacher’s Association and the office of Burma Operations at Mae Tao Clinic. It promises to be two days full of information to satisfy your curiosity about the real situation along the Thai-Myanmar border. Of course, we will also schedule some delightful meals and fellowship along the way.
Please join us in our campaign to raise awareness and do good in the world. Remember“You may never know what results come from your actions, but if you do nothing, there will be no result.” Mahatma Gandhi
Tension builds, with sore eyes together not just with late nights but early mornings as well. And not just for the students but the cultural exchange team too such is the commitment, passion by all so that everyone can say enthusiastically, we did it!
Burning the candle at both ends is very descriptive of what is taking place in various homes, bedrooms, coffee shops, telephone calls and emails. The drive, pride, desire for more, with a galvanized approach to discover, obtain information by looking in every secluded corner of the internet, libraries, book shops all to share, complete with presentations, to guide the entire team, in the quest of success with GED examinations now and in the coming weeks. Hey guys this is how Championships are won!!
It is and has been an exciting, emotional, rewarding time for the cultural team, classes have been well supported to standing room only, even as other schools and universities are cancelling classes due to poor air quality. Wow that’s commitment! Anxious times for students, whose focus moves purely to be armed with knowledge, confidence to write the exams, while the rewards of success become distant, and faded.
A thought and appreciation must go to those we don’t see or hear, the families, partners, whoever, who have given support in their own way and may have been unintentionally slightly neglected over the past weeks and even in the on coming weeks. Thank You.
And if you don’t know who the team is, they are - Brian, Bob, Gary and Roger -- in the rear, with the BEAM students in front at the March 30 Celebration of Completion of preparation for the GED exams, to be taken in the coming weeks .
Why is the house named BCMF-B.K. Kee Patient House?
BCMF Stands for Burma Children Medical Fund. From their website: "The Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF) was established in 2006 in response to the increasing number of children on the Thai-Burma border who required complex medical treatment and surgery that is not available at local clinics or hospitals. Prior to BCMF being established, children who required surgery had their symptoms treated and lived either severely incapacitated lives or died prematurely as a result.” The website for BCMF is: https://burmachildren.com/
In conjunction with Mae Tao Clinic in Mae Sot, the BCMF sends children for advanced hospital treatments either in Bangkok or to hospitals in Chiang Mai. While waiting for treatment, the patients and family members stay at B.K. Kee Patient House. The B.K. Kee Foundation is a family foundation dedicated to the development of vulnerable communities in and around Myanmar. The Foundation was founded in December, 2005, by Dr. Lay Khin Kay in memory of her mother, Kee Beng Kung (B.K. Kee), shown above left. The Foundation typically makes small, strategic grants to community based organizations in the health and education sectors. According to Kanchana Thornton, the director of BCMF, The B.K. Kee Foundation has provided full running costs including staff salaries since the house's inception in 2013. BCMF needs to reapply for funding every year and so far, the foundation has generously continued to provide funding so that is why the house is named B.K. Kee Patient House.
This last month has been a normal month at the house with eight to ten patients and their families in attendance. I was able to participate in several visits to the patients along with Rotarian Mike Lake and Rotarian from Zagreb Croatia Gordana Nardini. Last week, in what I hope is a trend, we were joined by Saing Sint, a student from BEAM Education foundation. Saing Sint is herself a refugee from Myanmar so she has a special affinity for those at the house.
Due to smog conditions we did not practice English last week, instead we played some games and worked puzzles with the residents (below) while Saing Sint interviewed several. The patients and their families are originally from many areas in Myanmar and arrive from Mae Sot to Chiang Mai through the clinic. One mother and her 12 year old son who suffers from an ear problem come from Mandalay. A 22 year old with heart problems arrived March 14th from Mae La refugee camp. Another 17 year old young lady who also has heart problems has been at the house since January; she came from Pago in Myanmar. One young lady with a possible blood clot and her mother arrived on the 20th. A 17 year old boy with heart problems was there with his father; they both came from Magway in Myanmar.
These were only the patients and their parents from Sunday, March 24th. But they are representative of the good works at the house throughout the month. What always amazes me is the spirit, happiness and inner strength that they always show without complaint.
The air pollution problems in the Chiang Mai area caused us to cancel a planned painting party we were hoping have with the Chiang Mai International School Interact Club. We did provide N95 masks for the residents to use, even though the masks limit our ability to practice English language with them.
The Rotaract Club of Payap University (RCPYU) was officially chartered on February 1, 2019 and conducted its first meeting on March 13, 2019. Their newly-designed logo is at left. Several CMIRC members were in attendance as the sponsoring club. During the meeting an overview of the next steps in the organization of the club were detailed by CMIRC Liaison Rotarian William Churchill and other members. An informational video prepared by Rotarian Roger Lindley was shown and afterwards the Rotaract applicants present were inducted into the club.
CMIRC President John Schorr and the newly-elected RCPYU President Dylan Low officially signed the club's Charter.
Officers for the new Rotaract cub were elected and the first official meeting was held. Therein it was decided that a second meeting with the newly-elected Rotaract officers and respective officers of CMIRC exchanging ideas of how to best run the fledgling club.
Prior to closing the meeting, members of both clubs enjoyed pizza and drinks in celebration of the newly formed club.
Subsequent to this meeting, the RCPYU President designated the club's Secretary to join the CMIRC liaison at the 50th Anniversary Celebration and Multidistrict Rotaract Convention in Pattaya, Thailand on April 6-8th.
Things are winding down for the year in the Children’s Water Safety and Drowning Prevention Program (CWSDPP). March and April are school summer holidays in Thailand, and since all of our programs are school-based, this is our slow season. It is also the busiest season for our swim instructors working with their private students, so our staff is mostly unavailable this time of the year. However, we did manage to get one more class done before the school break.
Australian Direct Aid Program Grant In March, our Australian Aid-funded CWSDP program in Phrao continued working with The Warm Heart Foundation, our NGO partner there. We completed the second course in Phrao on March 8. We have now offered survival swimming and water safety instruction to sixty of the one-hundred forty 4th grade students at the Ban Chaeng Khu Ruang School (ร.ร.บ้านแจ่งกู่เรือง). CWSDPP Committee members CP Roger, Rtn. Gawain, and I were there for the last day of the second course. What a difference from the first day of the first course where many children were very anxious. They now swim, float, and play in the water. We also took the opportunity to meet with Evelind Schecter and Khun Nian, who are our local CWSDPP representatives in Phrao. Evelind is co-founder with Michael Shafer of the Warm Heart Foundation.
Petchabun Training of local instructors in Petchabun will take place in May and the program will begin in mid-May and run until July. We anticipate between one-hundred and one-hundred forty 4th-grade children will be taught survival swimming and water safety.
Patong Beach The Rotary Club of Patong Beach Larry Amsden Swim Safe Programme, under the leadership of program chair, Johan Storck, will continue the program with the Ban Sai Nam Yen School this year, with approximately one-hundred 4th-graders
Chiang Mai, CMIRC-Sponsored Program In January, we completed the Children’s Water Safety and Drowning Prevention Program for Rotary Year 2018-2019 with all eleven municipal school 4th grades successfully completing the program. We are now planning a certificate ceremony for these children between October and February. The ceremony is planned for May, visitors and donors are welcome to attend.
We have requested CMIRC funds to continue the program for the next Rotary Year beginning in July and the CMIRC Service Projects Committee and Board have approved the request. We have also sought grant funds for this program from the The British Community in Thailand Foundation for the Needy (B.C.T.F.N, under the auspices of the British Embassy-Bangkok). We should know soon, if they have approved our CWSDPP for funding.
Since 1910, the Rotary convention has combined fellowship with Rotary business and inspired attendees with notable guest speakers and entertainers, workshops, and messages from Rotary leaders.
On 15 August 1910, Paul Harris convened the first Rotary convention. At the time, there were sixteen clubs in the United States. They shared the Rotary name and had similar objectives, but no central office or constitution.
In Rotary’s early years, the convention delegates debated and voted on changes to Rotary’s Constitution and Bylaws. As membership and convention attendance grew, this process evolved, and in 1977, the Council on Legislation became Rotary’s legislative body. The convention remained the main event for meeting friends, celebrating accomplishments, and discussing the future of Rotary.
Rotary milestones and memorable moments associated with a convention:
1917: At the convention in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, outgoing President Arch C. Klumph inspired the creation of The Rotary Foundation when he gave a speech proposing “endowments for the purpose of doing good in the world.” Convention delegates changed the constitution to allow for an endowment fund — the precursor to The Rotary Foundation. To celebrate the Foundation’s centennial, the convention returned to Atlanta in 2017.
1921: Delegates added the promotion of peace and goodwill to Rotary’s Constitution at the convention in Edinburgh, Scotland, the first held outside the United States.
1931: Austria created the first commemorative postage stamp honoring Rotary on the occasion of the convention in Vienna. Many other countries have since issued commemorative stamps to coincide with Rotary conventions, including Brazil, Japan, and Germany.
1945: In January, the U.S. government issued a directive limiting the size of meetings that involved travel from communities outside the meeting location. Rather than request an exemption, Rotary held the 1945 convention in Chicago as four separate meetings from 31 May to 19 June. Total attendance was 141 — the second smallest in convention history.
1978: Rotary President Clem Renouf announced a new grant program to improve health, alleviate hunger, and enhance human and social development at the convention in Tokyo. Members would use the Health, Hunger and Humanity grants to create access to clean drinking water, support literacy programs, provide medical care, and more — setting the stage for today’s global grants.
1980: Albert Sabin, the developer of the oral polio vaccine, spoke at the Rotary Convention in 1980 and again in 1985. Both times, Sabin stressed the importance of mass vaccination campaigns. At the 1980 Rotary conventionin Chicago, Dr. Albert Sabin told Rotarians of the need for "community campaigns for mass vaccination of all children under four or five years of age" to eradicate polio. In this photo from Rotary's archives, Sabin (left) and 1984-85 RI President Carlos Canseco appear at a press conference to announce the launch of Polio 2005 (PolioPlus) in 1985.
1988: Rotary was a founding member of The Global Polio Eradication Initiative with an initial fundraising pledge of $120 million in 1988. At the convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, Rotary announced that almost $220 million had been raised. When contributions and pledges from late-reporting clubs were tallied, the campaign had raised $247 million.
1989: Rotaract members gathered for the first Rotaract Preconvention in conjunction with the convention in Seoul, Korea.
2004: The convention in Osaka, Japan, set a record for largest number of paid attendees, drawing 45,381 people. Sadako Ogata, a former Ambassadorial Scholar and United Nations high commissioner for refugees, recalled her time as a scholar and its impact on her efforts to understand the causes and consequences of conflict.
Rotary’s first fiscal year began the day after the first convention ended, on 18 August 1910. The 1911-12 fiscal year also related to the convention, beginning with the first day of the 1911 convention on 21 August.
The next August, the Board of Directors ordered an audit of the International Association of Rotary Clubs’ finances. The auditors recommended that the organization end its fiscal year on 30 June to give the secretary and treasurer time to prepare a financial statement for the convention and board, and to determine the proper number of club delegates to the convention.
The executive committee agreed and, in April 1913, designated 30 June as the end of the fiscal year. This also allowed for changes to the schedule for reporting club membership and payments. Even The Rotarian magazine changed its volume numbering system to correspond to the fiscal year (beginning with Volume 5, No. 1, in July 1914).
Rotary continued to hold its annual conventions in July or August until 1917. Delegates to the 1916 event in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, approved a resolution to hold future conventions in June, mainly because of the heat in cities where most of them occurred. The next one was held 17-21 June in Atlanta, Georgia.
The term “Rotary Year” has been used to signify Rotary's annual administrative period since at least 1913. An article in The Rotarian that July noted, “The Rotary year that is rapidly drawing to a close has been signalized by several highly successful joint meetings of Clubs that are so situated as to assemble together easily and conveniently.”
Since the executive committee’s decision in 1913, the end of the Rotary year has remained 30 June.
Rotary makes high-quality health care available to vulnerable mothers and children so they can live longer and grow stronger. We expand access to quality care, so mothers and children everywhere can have the same opportunities for a healthy future. An estimated 5.9 million children under the age of five die each year because of malnutrition, inadequate health care, and poor sanitation — all of which can be prevented.
How Rotary Makes Help Happen Rotary provides education, immunizations, birth kits, and mobile health clinics. Women are taught how to prevent mother-to-infant HIV transmission, how to breast-feed, and how to protect themselves and their children from disease. The Rotary Foundation reaches mothers and children in need by giving communities the help and training they need to take control of their own maternal and infant health care.
Mobile Prenatal Clinics Haiti has the highest maternal and infant mortality rate of any country in the western hemisphere. Rotary provided a fully equipped medical Jeep to volunteers and midwives to reach mothers and children in remote areas.
Cancer Screening Rotarians provided a mobile cancer screening unit and awareness training around Chennai, India, where there is a high mortality rate of women with breast and cervical cancer due to late diagnosis.
Preventing Injuries and Deaths Rotary members launched a $3 million, five-year pilot to save lives of mothers and children during home deliveries in Nigeria. Since 2005, they’ve also repaired 1,500 obstetric fistulas — 500 more than their initial goal — restoring dignity and hope to vulnerable mothers.
“If mothers are empowered and healthy, so are their families, leading to an alleviation of poverty and hunger.” Robert Zinser, co-founder of the Rotarian Action Group for Population and Development and retired president for Asia at chemical giant BASF.
Spread the word about Rotary’s efforts to save mothers and children.
Club members continued their regular Sunday morning visits to the patients and families at the Burma Children Medical Fund's B.K. Kee Patient House. We need additional members to become involved with this due to Gary and Mike departing our club and visiting Rotarian Gordana’s return to Croatia.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday GED preparation sessions with students at BEAM Foundation wrapped up this month. Students are beginning to take and pass the Social Studies portion of the GED test. There will be a break during April, May and June before new group of students begin GED preparation. Club members are welcome and needed to participate to support this project.
Club members represented CMIRC at the 1st and 3rd FridayChiang Mai Expats Club Breakfast and the 4th Saturday of month CEC general meeting to recruit new members and encourage adoption and change collection for the "Change for Children" ceramic owls (shown top left).
Saturday and Sunday, March 2 and 3, multiple Thailand District President Elect Training Seminar (multi-PETS) in Hat Yai attended by PE Colin and PP Jerry.
Tuesday, March 5, our final regular club meeting at Hong Kong Lucky at Top North Hotel where we learned about cricket and children’s cricket in Thailand from speaker Martin Papworth.
Friday, March 8, a visit to Phrao and the Warm Heart Foundation where club members saw evaluation of students completing the Children’s Water Safety and Drown Proofing Program which is financed by Australian Direct Aid Program.
Monday, March 11, the pre-induction meeting (PIM) for Gawain at My Secret Café in Town.
Wednesday, March 13, Rotarian William and other club members were at Payap University for the organizational meeting and officer election for the new Rotaract Club of Payap University.
Monday, March 18, the CMIRC moving party from Hong Kong Lucky at Top North Hotel to PP Jerry's Rotary store room. Deja vu again.
Tuesday, March 19, a regular club meeting where we inducted a new member Gawain, recognized departing PP Shana and had some of our members share part of their life story with their club members. This meeting was at Royal Peninsula Hotel which we hope will become our permanent new meeting home. The newly elected officers from the Rotaract Club of Payap University also attended the meeting.
Monday, March 25, the Budget planning session for projects in RY 2019-2020.
Tuesday, March 26, the monthly CMIRC Board meeting.
Friday, March 29, several club members attended a seminar hosted by BEAM on "Continuous Education Access for Migrant and Out-of-School Children and Youth", with participants from both the Thai and Burmese governments and several organizations concerned with solving the problems faced by these disadvantaged youths.
Friday, March 29, the monthly informal "Let's Talk Rotary" lunch, lightly attended because of a conflict with the meeting scheduled by BEAM. Below is a photo (from left to right) CP Roger and Rotarians William and Gary, at "The Grill of India" restaurant, after they finished lunch and sucked in their tummies for the photo. "The few, the proud and the way too fat". The next "Let's Talk Rotary Lunch" will be Friday, April 26, 11:30 am at Ristorante Italiano Pulcinella da Stefanonear Thapae Gate. Google maps: https://goo.gl/maps/415s2hkSpoP2
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.
2 April - Club Assembly, at Royal Peninsula Hotel, just outside northeast corner of the Old City, 7 pm. Gather at 5:45 pm for fellowship with an optional dinner in the hotel dining room.
16 April - Songkran Holiday, no club meeting.
26 April - "Let's Talk Rotary", last Friday of the month informal lunch, 11:30 am, Ristorante Italiano Pulcinella da Stefano near Thapae Gatein the Old City. Map at https://goo.gl/maps/xbijqN12Lks
30 April - Social Night at Duke's Restaurant, Maya Mall, 7 pm. Club provides the pizza, you provide your drinks and other food. Every member is encouraged to bring a potential new member.
7 – 10 May – Mae Tao Clinic Tour (Tentative). Contact Jerry Nelson.
25 - 26 May 2019 - District 3360 District Training Assembly, Payao.
01 – 05 June 2019 - Rotary International Convention, Hamburg Germany (www.riconvention.org/en).
20 – 22 June 2019 – Mae Tao Clinic 30th Anniversary Celebrations.
23 June 2019 - District Governor’s Salute, Phitsanulok.
29 June 2019 – Installation of Rotary Officers 2019-2020, Chiang Mai.
24 -25 August 2019 – District Membership, Foundations & Public Information Seminar, Phitsanulok.
11 – 14 October 2019 – District RYLA meeting, Uttradit.
14 – 15 November 2019 – District 3360 Intercity Meeting, Chiang Kong.
29 November – 1 December 2019 Rotary Zone Conference, Manila Philippines.
14 – 15 March 2020 District 3360 Conference, Lampang
06 – 10 June 2020 - Rotary International Convention,Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.
27 June 2020 - District Governor's Salute, Chiang Rai.
12 – 16 June 2021 - Rotary International Convention, Taipei, Taiwan.
04 – 08 June 2022 - Rotary International Convention, Houston, Texas, USA.
Posted by Jerry Nelson and Nancy Lindley on Apr 01, 2019
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, for example, 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, is located across from the Shell Petrol station. Brian Pern and his friendly staff (including the legendary Mickey) 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.Please note that Pern's will be closed for the month of April, reopening on Wednesday, May 1 with exciting new menu items.
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.
Our sponsors donate money that supports our operational expenses, freeing funds for the projects we love. Please give them your support.
This new meeting facility is by far the best we have had, and we look forward to making the Royal Peninsula Hotel our permanent home!
On March 19, we had our first meeting at the Royal Peninsula, it was a happy occasion since we had the newly-elected officers of our CMIRC-sponsored and newly chartered 
Our hope is to develop a Resource Center that can support migrants through out the region. We are seeking partners to provide expertise, counsel and funding, especially in the form of Rotary District Designated Funds. Please contact us! (Rotarians and MTC folks shown planning the project at right)
It is and has been an exciting, emotional, rewarding time for the cultural team, classes have been well supported to standing room only, even as other schools and universities are cancelling classes due to poor air quality. Wow that’s commitment! Anxious times for students, whose focus moves purely to be armed with knowledge, confidence to write the exams, while the rewards of success become distant, and faded.
These were only the patients and their parents from Sunday, March 24th. But they are representative of the good works at the house throughout the month. What always amazes me is the spirit, happiness and inner strength that they always show without complaint.
CMIRC President John Schorr and the newly-elected RCPYU President Dylan Low officially signed the club's Charter.
CWSDPP Committee members CP Roger, Rtn. Gawain, and I were there for the last day of the second course. What a difference from the first day of the first course where many children were very anxious. They now swim, float, and play in the water. We also took the opportunity to meet with Evelind Schecter and Khun Nian, who are our local CWSDPP representatives in Phrao. Evelind is co-founder with Michael Shafer of the Warm Heart Foundation.
Petchabun 
Chiang Mai, CMIRC-Sponsored Program
At the 1980 Rotary conventionin Chicago, Dr. Albert Sabin told Rotarians of the need for "community campaigns for mass vaccination of all children under four or five years of age" to eradicate polio. 
Friday, March 29, several club members attended a seminar hosted by 
