November is the start of the cool season in Chiang Mai and our collection boxes for the Children's Winter Clothing Appeal are filling up as rapidly as the morning temperatures are dropping. Soon the city will be full of tourists coming to celebrate Loy Krathong, which coincides with the Lanna (Northern Thai) festival of Yee Peng. Here in the north, we blend both Siamese and Lanna traditions by floating krathongs (small decorated floral arrangements) down rivers and canals and also releasing kom loys (sky lanterns) during the time of the full moon this month.
Meanwhile, settle in to read our latest CMIRC bulletin. We've been busy, with more to come soon. You can better view each story by clicking on the story's title where you'll be taken to the story on our website, displayed in a full-page, easy-to-view format.
Posted by John Schorr and Colin Jarvis on Nov 01, 2019
It was with great regret that at the Chiang Mai International Rotary Club (CMIRC) Board’s October 25, 2019 meeting, the CMIRC Board received notice of and accepted the resignation of President Colin Jarvis (pictured left). Past President Colin is facing significant health issues and he felt unable to continue his presidency. PP Colin will continue as an active CMIRC member, but the president’s role will be assumed by me, the immediate past president; the CMIRC Board saw this as the most logical course of action. I will serve as president until June 30, and I plan to work closely with President-Elect Clarence, the CMIRC Board, and all CMIRC Rotarians to ensure we have a successful year. We all hope to see Past President Colin back at full strength very soon! Thanks to all for your support -- CMIRC President 2018-19, 2019-20 John K. Schorr
Dear Readers, I say readers as I know this message is read by many people throughout the world, both Rotarian and non-Rotarian. Last year I was really looking forward to becoming president of the best Rotary club I have ever been a member of. It was to be the highlight of my thirty-five years as a Rotarian. Unfortunately, the demands on my time are great. I am working between 60 and 80 hours a week which is just too much when I have health and other problems to contend with.
Sadly, I have not been able to provide the club with the service I intended and have decided to step down and enable John Schorr to continue in my place. He will do a far better job than I am able to at the moment. I have always said that Rotary clubs survive even very bad Presidents and I think this is a case that proves the point.
I shall continue to run a few projects and will help out in any way I can and hope that I will recover fully over the next year so that I can take a full and energetic part in the life of the club in future.
I would like to thank all the members, particularly those on the board, who have put up with my weakness over the last six months and would like to assure everyone that I will still be around, on a regular basis, able to pontificate as I like to do.
I was very pleased to see our response to the March against Slavery as I have felt for some time there are not enough activities that involve all club members at the same time.
Indeed, full club participation in community service projects is something I intend to continue developing. It may not seem much to take part in a march of less than 2 km but the solidarity between the members and the cause is beneficial for all concerned which is the fourth statement in the Rotary Four Way Test.
The other projects that I intend to develop you will hear about in future bulletins.
So, let me say again how grateful I am for the kind support I have received, particularly from Clarence, Jerry and John. I look forward to pulling my full weight as soon as possible. -- CMIRC Immediate Past President Colin Jarvis
The Children’s Winter Clothing Appeal has now been running for two weeks, and we are delighted to say that the response from the public is simply amazing! Our generous donors have supplied ten boxfuls of winter clothes so far, and their enthusiasm doesn't seem to stop here. In other news, the Chiang Mai Wattana Rotary Club has shown interest in managing a donation box on our behalf. We’ve been offered help by the Chiang Mai Expats Club too. What's more, we’ve got another venue, The River Market Restaurant, on-board as a donations drop-off point. We are truly grateful for the commitment of our community. Keep up the great work!
If there’s anything else we could wish for is some more school supplies. Many government schools in Thailand don’t have the basic resources at their disposal to meet their educational needs. They lack pencils, paper, books, and many items critical to learning effectively. The Chiang Mai International Rotary Club is dedicated to helping these institutions throughout Northern Thailand by collecting and distributing the essential supplies they need to provide quality education to their students. Please read more about what we need here.
The Club has scheduled a “sorting party” for Tuesday, December 3, 2019, starting at 12:00 noon. Project Champions Dylan and Viki will provide volunteers with pizza. We will meticulously go through and sort the donated clothes and remove what’s damaged, dirty or not appropriate. We will donate any items that are not suitable, but still wear-able to Free Bird Pre-Loved Charity Shop, so nothing goes to waste. We’re planning to start the distribution of donations during the first week of December. We will announce the distribution sites in next month’s Bulletin.
October is always the slowest month for our CMIRC CWSDP program, since we work with the 4th-grade children in Thai schools and Thai schools have a semester break during the month of October. So, as Project Champion, I took the opportunity to attend the World Health Organization-International Lifesaving Society World Conference on Drowning Prevention (WCDP) in Durban, South Africa. Almost six-hundred delegates attended from more than fifty countries, representing every major region of our planet. Pictured, left, are the Acting Mayor of Durban, South Africa and officials of the Sports Ministry, the WCDP hosts.
I was fortunate to be selected as a speaker, presenting a paper describing the work we have done here in Thailand: "Using Service Organizations and NGOs to Develop and Promote Children's Water Safety and Drowning Prevention Programs in Thailand: A Practical Guide for Poor and Middle-Income Countries"
Here is a summary (abstract) of what I presented: "Almost 1,000 children drown each year in Thailand; and according to the WHO, drowning is a leading cause of children’s deaths in the region. Focusing on the problem in Thailand, the Chiang Mai International Rotary Club (CMIRC) created a program based on the RLSS curriculum to reduce children’s drowning deaths. Over the course of the past 4 years CMIRC organized annual survival swimming instruction for 4th-grade students in 11 public schools in Chiang Mai, 3 schools in Lampang, the major elementary schools in Phrao and Patong Beach, and a Burmese refugee center in Phuket. This presentation describes our programs in detail and shares the lessons learned over the past 4 years of planning, implementation, and evaluation. We hope that other developing countries can learn from CMIRC's experience using volunteer network resources provided by community service organizations to organize and fund survival swimming instruction.
"Outcomes data were also analyzed showing final assessment results for over 1,000 8-10 year-old children who have participated in the CMIRC programs."
The presentation was well attended and very well received. Several important contacts were made, and sources of future funding and support were identified.
Coming Up in November:
This month we will be returning to our swimming pools with the 4th-graders and our supporting organizations:
Swiss Lanna Society Chiang Mai
In the Chiang Mai municipal schools
The British Community in Thailand Foundation for the Needy (BCTFN) in Phrao.
We hope in Phetchabun again.
In Chiang Mai and with the help of an individual Rotarian at the BanYa Migrant Learning Centre in Phuket.
Australian Direct Aid Program Grant
We have submitted another proposal for support of our programs to the Australian Direct Aid Program; this year we have requested nearly 500,000 baht for three new programs. We have our fingers crossed!!!
Introduction for New Readers: The Mae Tao Clinic with its Child Protection Department and Child Development Center is the oldest project of Chiang Mai International Rotary Club. Historically, we have organized awareness tours and have done fundraising on their behalf. Our tours have been expanded to include supporting organizations, to help people understand the situation along the Thai/Burma border. The challenge is to find a balance between the time available during a tour and the things to experience!
October brought an Amazing Tour! On Wednesday, 16 October a van-load of great and caring people departed Chiang Mai to tour the Mae Tao Clinic and supporting organizations. On board were four Rotarians from CMICR, three of whom saw the clinic for the very first time. We also had one CMIRC alumni who is very involved with teaching migrant children, one amazing woman who has started a business with the aim of providing employment for those rescued from human trafficking and two members from the local Toastmasters club rounded out the group.
On Thursday morning we started at the old campus of Mae Tao Clinic. The first stop was The Committee for the Protection and Promotion of Child Rights (CPPCR). While they deal with some very serious child issues it’s always a pleasure to meet with Saw Aung So and his staff.
We learned they are instrumental in providing proper documentation to the Royal Thai Government to facilitate birth registration. They are part of a Child Protection Response Team, their Child Advocacy Officer is a Thai lady -- an amazing woman! There are six categories of abuse that they deal with: sexual; physical; emotional; exploitation; neglect, and other (includes accident, child marriage and more). Child beggars at the Thai border are an ongoing issue. Horrific cases were mentioned. The kindness shown to these children by CPPCR staff is a true blessing.
Our second stop was at the MTC Office of Burma Operations & Ethnic Health System Strengthening Group. EHSSG is comprised of several organizations including the Mae Tao Clinic, Backpack Health Worker Team and more. They team together to provide the best level of care possible depending on the level of armed conflict in the area.
Their target population is more than 830,000 people. They have 296 service sites in Myanmar. Their total caseload was reported as 288,203 in 2018. Many of the health issues are due to poor hygiene.
Health workers from ethnic and community-based organizations are attempting to work with government to address health policy, systems strengthening and delivery of health services. Peace building concepts and practices need to be an integral part of health policy and planning; this is critical to improve the lives of people inside Burma!
The last stop of the morning was the prosthetic lab where we met two groups of people from Myanmar who are being trained in the skills required to make prosthetic limbs. The great news is that after their training is complete, they will return to Myanmar and will make these services available internally.
After lunch, we visited the Girls' Boarding House that is part of the Child Development Center (CDC). They maintain two boarding houses -- one for boys and one for girls. Although school was not in session, several children remain because of their family situations. When school is in session there are about ninety-four girls resident in the house we visited. The boys' dorm houses seventy-six. We had the pleasure of visiting the girls while they were weaving and sewing. The boarding houses are doing all they can to become self-sustaining.
Global Alms is an organization dedicated to the elimination of trafficking, sexual exploitation and physical abuse of men, women and children. We had an opportunity to visit their Mae Sot branch and learn about their operations. They run a self-sustainable Training Centre focusing on prevention. They provide Thai people, migrants, and foreigners with training options in Reality Based Self Defense, vocational courses and opportunities such as small business development, internships and leadership training.
The ‘Yes She Matters’ program provides women an opportunity, no matter their race, religion or documented status, to receive immediate help if they have been raped, sexually assaulted, abused or caught in domestic violence. Global Alms has partnered with the Royal Thai Police, Immigration Investigations, the Ministry of Social Development & Human Security and the local government hospital to support any cases that come through or are referred to their Emergency Assistance Team. They have recently partnered with National Rugby League Asia to spread awareness about the 'Yes She Matters' program in Thailand. They have partnered with Steedento produce one-hundred limited edition Rugby League balls for sale to raise funds and awareness for 'Yes She Matters'. The long-term goal is to have local community businesses support 'Yes She Matters' in their locations so it becomes a community based self-sustaining program.
Friday, 18 October we visited the new campus of Mae Tao Clinic. Dr. Cassim Akhoon, Clinical Consultant was our excellent tour guide (far right in photo below). He gave us a very thorough tour and explained many aspects of the clinic that we would have otherwise missed. His passion and thoroughness are so very much appreciated. He emphasized MTC’s ongoing efforts to educate the migrant population, especially when they must come to the clinic for medical care. Hygiene and diet are critical. During our briefing by the Child Protection Department we learned that MTC provides dry food to thirty-seven boarding houses. Fourteen are in Burma and twenty-two in Thailand.
We also learned that the Mae Tao Clinic is working toward establishing themselves as a special economic zone; more about that in the future. Due to fundraising challenges the staff at Mae Tao Clinic are now being paid 85% of their expected stipend.
After a brief stop for lunch, the tour's last stop was the Child Development Center where we received a thorough briefing on their activities. Their educational goal is to strengthen the quality of education provided and develop clear pathways for students to be able to access recognized and officially accredited education programs so they can obtain further education. In Thailand, they utilize Thai Non-formal education, and are working with Khon Kaen University and Tak University. CDC’s Pre-GED program and partnership with BEAM Educational Foundation in Chiang Mai prepare students to apply for International Universities. They are also developing paths for students to attend Myanmar University.
One of the most serious challenge for students who graduate from Mae Tao Clinic’s Child Development Center is finding funding for higher education. During the October tour we saw Merlyn Htoo, a student in the BEAM 2018-19 class. She is currently working in the Physical Therapy Department at Mae Tao Clinic. Merlyn wants to study nursing, has been accepted at university and is attempting to secure scholarship funding.
Help Me Brain Storm: It's impossible for one Rotary club to fill every need, but we are dedicated to Child Safety, Health and Education and we live by the motto ‘Service Above Self’! We need your support -- moral, physical and financial. CMIRC is always searching for ways to better support the Mae Tao Clinic. There will be a brain storming lunch at Phra Sing Village in Chiang Mai from 11:30 am on Thursday, 21 November 2019. The purpose will be to come up with ideas for the future. Your collective ideas will be presented to Mae Tao Clinic, discussed and then written into CMIRC’s strategic plan for the next year and beyond.
Happy New Year:
The next tour is scheduled to leave Chiang Mai on 1 January 2020. We set this date to be able to accommodate a group of Rotarians from The Netherlands. The itinerary will be similar to the October tour, but may be further improved based on feedback received from the last tour and the Brain Storming lunch.
The Mae Tao Clinic supports Burmese migrants and citizens through health care, training, child protection and education. Everyone is invited and encouraged to support this marvelous organization!
We visited the Burma Children Medical Fund's B. K. Kee Patient House on three Sundays in October. It’s wonderful to have Bill Pierce back in Chiang Mai. His interaction with the children is wonderful to watch.
On 27 October we met a new patient. She is six years old and has medical problems. While Sap Po (at right in the photo) is very outgoing and playful, the young child next to her is very shy. She really likes the Play-Doh modeling clay and was happy to show us the princess she made. Everyone was very happy to see her smile.
Many times we go to the house hoping to make the children happy and leave realizing that they do more for us than we do for them. Happiness costs nothing. We give a little love and receive a lot back! We welcome the chance to include other members of CMIRC. Usually, we try to have about four people go each time. If we have many patients, we can have more visitors -- we know week by week. CMIRC members have first choice to go. You may email bcmfproject@cmirotary.org for any questions or suggestions. All members of CMIRC have already signed the Child Protection Policy. Visitors are required to sign the same document. It is available at on CMIRC Website. I will have copies available. We visit the house most Sundays, usually meeting at pump Shell on Huay Kaew road at 10:30 a.m. We usually stay at the house until 12:30 or a bit later. Check the CMIRC Calendar to confirm. Time and days may change depending on the requirements of the B.K.Kee House.
In the future we are still planning possible projects with both the Rotaract and Interact clubs. Also, if we can find them, there may be a water balloon contest coming soon.
This is my second year of being involved with our club’s support of the English Language Cultural Club and General Education Diploma (GED) Social Studies Program at BEAM Educational Foundation. The present BEAM Team is composed of Rotarians Nick, Anne, Peter, Roger and former club member Bob.
First, a little background about Myanmar. Myanmar is very ethnically diverse with 135 ethnic groups recognized by that government. There are at least 108 ethnolinguistic groups in Myanmar. Officially, the country encompasses eight main ethnic groups. According to CIA Factbook, the majority group Burman make up 68% of the country’s population of 55 million, with the Shan (9%), the Karen (7%), the Arakanese (Rakhine) (4%) and the Mon (2%) comprising the largest ethnic nationality groups. Other estimates place the percentage of ethnic nationality groups to a substantially higher level. Many have argued that the breakdown of population by ethnicity remains highly contested and that the central government has consistently underestimated the size of non-Burman communities. Official demographic figures and indicators are likely to be particularly flawed in relation to border areas, many of which remain inaccessible to the government as well as international agencies.
The official language used is Burmese, with some ethnic groups using their own languages.
Religion in Myanmar is spread across Buddhist with 87.9%, Christian 6.2%, Muslim 4.3%, Animist 0.8%, Hindu 0.5%, other 0.2%, and none at 0.1% of the population.
The median age in Myanmar/Burma is 28.2 years of age, with a total life expectancy of approximately 68.2 years.
When we meet with the incoming group of BEAM students each year our initial session is a “get acquainted” session where Rotarians tell the students about themselves and the students tell the Rotarians about themselves. Rotarians talk about their home country, their family, their profession, their hobbies, why they live in Thailand, and why they are at BEAM.
The students tell us about their ethnic backgrounds, age, families, religion and why they are at BEAM. Generally, they are Karen and Shan, with a slight majority being female, typical age range from seventeen to twenty-two and religions primarily Buddhist and Christian. They have a common answer for being there: obtaining a GED to better themselves.
We spend about twenty weeks of three 1.5 hour sessions per week on topics such as: My country, famous people, debate topics and other areas they want to learn about. This is followed by another ten weeks of four 1.5-hour sessions per week on supplemental reviewing for their upcoming GED Social Studies Test.
If interested in knowing more about BEAM or in joining the CMIRC BEAM Team contact one of the BEAM Team members.
Rtn Aree Suksiri presented the silicone breast models and kits to screen development of young children to staff at McCormick Faculty of Nursing, Payap University for training students and subsequent screening of mothers for breast cancer and children for development abnormalities by mobile units in locations around Chiang Mai province.
Left to Right: Dr Suphanaree Kasemmala, Rtn Aree trying to restrain Areeya, the first volunteer for screening, Dean Wallapa Songprakun and Assoc Prof Yaowares Somsap.
The mobile units will begin work in November and further information is available from Rtn Aree.
Chiang Mai has come to look forward to the CMIRC Fall FUNdraising Events. Last year's was especially successful with a Rolling Stones tribute band coming from Bangkok. This year the interest is even higher for the "Fab Four" Beatles Tribute Band from Bangkok with brisk early ticket sales. Fortunately, we have a bigger venue at Old Chiang Mai Cultural Center. We'll need the "HELP" of every CMIRC member and friend during the event as we manage poster, fancy (theme) dress and trivia contests. So please, set aside Friday night, 29 November and sell tickets to all your friends, family and acquaintances.
Posted by Dylan Low, President & William Churchill, Liasion on Nov 01, 2019
October has been a continuation of the academic calendar where the students are between terms, have returned to homes, or are starting internships. Therefore, the Club’s activities reflect the same calendar.
BOOK DRIVE FOR REFUGEE CHILDREN: The book drive is a casualty of the academic calendar. Books will be collected upon the return of the members and a new disbursement delivery date will be designated. CMIRC members are asked to donate their English language books (ages 3 to young adults) and contact William for collection.
URBAN LIFE WALK FOR FREEDOM 2019: RCPYU Rotaractor Nina (top left) participated in the Urban Light Walk by helping with the management of the Urban Light booth at the Maya Mall concourse of event participants. Nina interacted and supported the CMIRC members who had a similar event booth.
CMIRC WINTER CLOTHING DRIVE: In anticipation of increased involvement upon the return to campus of its members, RCPYU asked Liaison William to place a collection box at an optimum location to support the annual CMIRC Project. Upon the return of its members, RCPYU will solicit the participation of students and faculty.
BEATLES MANIA: The Club hopes to participate in this fundraising event organized by its sponsoring Rotary Club CMIRC. The Club will meet upon the return of the membership and address this project opportunity as well as others. Hopefully the members will have the opportunity to participate not only with ticket sales but with the poster contest. Moreover, volunteer services by some of the membership is a possibility.
Rtns Wessel Veenstra of Franeker (The Netherlands) Rotary Club, Bob Ashley of The Rotary Club of Summit County (Colorado, USA) and Aree Suksiri of CMIRC visited two of Asia’s Hope’s homes for children in Doi Saket, about 20 km from Chiang Mai. The Berea Home and other homes under the foundation are sponsored by religious organizations and provide long-term, residential care for orphaned children at high risk of sexual and economic exploitation in Cambodia, Thailand, and India.
Tutu Bee, Country Director is pictured above right with Rtn Aree. Tutu leads an all-hilltribe staff caring for more than two-hundred orphaned tribal boys and girls at Asia's Hope Thailand's ten children's homes.
Bob, the Founder of Village Water Filters, inspected and gave advice on the clean water systems at the homes.
At the Rotary Convention in 2019 in Hamburg, Germany the General Secretary reported:
“Rotary clubs and districts worldwide show great enthusiasm for global grants, as the number of applications and approvals increases year after year. During this Rotary year, 1,117 global grant applications had been approved, with total funding of $79.7 million (as of 1 May). Worldwide, 90 percent of districts and 13 percent of clubs are participating in global grants to make the world better through sustainable projects. In addition, 451 district grant applications were approved — representing 83 percent of districts worldwide — to support more than 12,000 activities.
“As part of our focus on project sustainability and impact, any club or district that applies for a global grant to support a humanitarian project or a vocational training team are required to conduct a community assessment. These assessments help our members understand the community they wish to serve and what it needs, forge stronger relationships with community partners, and clarify what success would mean for that community and the beneficiaries. These assessments make all the difference in a project’s long-term success, or sustainability."
Further:
“We set a comprehensive fundraising goal of $380 million for the year. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, as of 30 April, Rotarians and friends of the Foundation had raised $318 million toward this goal.
“For the 11th consecutive year, the Foundation received a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, the leading independent charity evaluator in the U.S. This rating placed the Foundation among the top 1 percent of charities evaluated by Charity Navigator.
“When referring to the generosity of our donors, who are these people? They are Rotarians, they are friends of Rotarians, they are you and they are me."
From The Rotary Foundation:
Your generous contributions to The Rotary Foundation are essential to securing and growing Rotary programs throughout the world. We recognize donors to express our gratitude for your commitment, offering individual and club recognition as well as naming opportunities that enable you to honor a friend or family member with a named or endowed gift.
Individual donor recognition
Rotary Foundation Sustaining Member: When you give $100 or more per year to the Annual Fund.
Benefactor: When you include the Endowment Fund as a beneficiary in your estate plans or when you donate $1,000 or more to the fund outright.
Paul Harris Fellow: When you give $1,000 or more to the Annual Fund, PolioPlus, or an approved Foundation grant. To recognize someone else as a Paul Harris Fellow, you can give that amount in their name.
Multiple Paul Harris Fellow: When you give additional gifts of $1,000 or more to the Annual Fund, PolioPlus, or an approved Foundation grant.
Paul Harris Society member: When you elect to contribute $1,000 or more annually to the Annual Fund, PolioPlus, or an approved Foundation grant.
Bequest Society: When you make a commitment for future gifts of $10,000 or more to The Rotary Foundation, you’ll be invited to join the Bequest Society.
Major Donor: When your cumulative donations reach $10,000.
Arch Klumph Society: When your cumulative donations reach $250,000.
Legacy Society: When you promise a gift of $1 million or more to the Endowment.
Club recognition
100% Paul Harris Fellow Club: For clubs in which all dues-paying members are Paul Harris Fellows. This is a one-time recognition.
100% Paul Harris Society Club: For clubs in which every dues-paying member contributes a minimum of $1,000 to the Annual Fund, PolioPlus, or global grants within a Rotary year
100% Foundation Giving Club: For clubs that achieve an average of $100 in per capita giving and 100 percent participation, with every dues-paying member contributing at least $25 to any or all of the following during the Rotary year: Annual Fund, PolioPlus Fund, approved global grants, or Endowment Fund.
100% Rotary’s Promise Club: For clubs in which every dues-paying member supports the Endowment. The commitment may be for a future gift to The Rotary Foundation in an estate plan or an outright gift of $1,000 or more to the Endowment.
Every Rotarian, Every Year Club: For clubs that achieve a minimum Annual Fund contribution of $100 per capita during the Rotary year, and every dues-paying member must personally contribute at least $25 to the Annual Fund during the year.
Top Three Per Capita in Annual Fund Giving: For the three clubs in each district that give the most, per capita, to the Annual Fund. Clubs that give at least $50 per capita are eligible.
Source: Rotary Code of Policies dated October 2019
8.030.2. Rotarian Code of Conduct The following code of conduct has been adopted for the use of Rotarians:
As a Rotarian, I will
1) Act with integrity and high ethical standards in my personal and professional life 2) Deal fairly with others and treat them and their occupations with respect 3) Use my professional skills through Rotary to: mentor young people, help those with special needs, and improve people’s quality of life in my community and in the world 4) Avoid behavior that reflects adversely on Rotary or other Rotarians 5) Help maintain a harassment-free environment in Rotary meetings, events, and activities, report any suspected harassment, and help ensure non-retaliation to those individuals that report harassment. (January 2019 Mtg., Bd. Dec. 119)
And 34.070. Reproduction of the 4-Way Test All reproductions of The 4-Way Test should be in the following form:
THE 4-WAY TEST Of the things we think, say or do
1) Is it the TRUTH? 2) Is it FAIR to all concerned? 3) Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? 4) Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
The sole purpose of the reproduction should be the development and maintenance of high ethical standards in human relations.
The regular every Sunday morning visits by club members to the patients and their families at the BCMF B.K. Kee Patient House here in Chiang Mai.
Each Monday, Tuesday and Friday, club members participated in the English Language Cultural Club at the BEAM Educational Foundation.
Tuesday, October 1, at our regular club meeting, Maia Mounsher from Urban Light talked with the club about their efforts at restoring, rebuilding and empowering the lives of young men affected by human trafficking in Thailand.
Tuesday, October 1, at we inducted new Rotarian Tabatha Lee (pictured top left, with her sponsor Brian) at our regular meeting.
Wednesday, October 9, some club members visited Urban Light Drop-In Center to learn more about that organization's work in the community and to order T-shirts to participate in their CNX ATIP EXPO and Walk.
Friday, October 11, PP John presented a paper about CMIRC’s Children’s Water Safety and Drowning Prevention Project in Durban, RSA at the World Conference on Drowning Prevention.
Tuesday, October 15, at our regular club meeting, Khun Sudarat Sereewat from Fight Against Child Exploitation (FACE) told of that organization’s efforts related to protection of children from exploitation.
Tuesday, October 15, at our regular meeting we inducted our newest member Rotarian Bill Pierce (pictured right with what some would say is the best side of his sponsor Jerry).
Tuesday, October 15, at our regular meeting Rotarians Viki and Dylan announced the kick-off of the CMIRC Annual Children’s Winter Clothing Appeal. Boxes around town are filling up fast, especially at the Rim Ping Supermarkets. (A box at their Promenada Mall location is shown just a few days after placement. Who says that's a "dead mall"?)
Thursday, October 17, the FUNdraising Committee visited the Center of the Universe for organizing the CMIRC 2020 Duck Race Fundraiser.
Saturday, October 19. CMIRC had a booth and walkers participating in the Chiang Mai Anti Trafficking in Persons Expo and walk.
October 16 -18 the CMIRC organized a visit to Mae Sot and the Mae Tao Clinic.
Thursday, October 24 was Rotary International’s World Polio Day. CMIRC donated 15,000 baht -- proceeds from the 1Q meeting raffle and other donations.
Friday, October 25, Rotarians Aree and Clarence delivered Child Development and Breast Model Screening Kits to the McCormick Faculty of Nursing at Payap University.
Friday, October 25, the CMIRC Board meet at The Royal Peninsula Hotel.
October 29, the fifth Tuesday of the month, instead of a Social Meeting, the club had a Club Assembly at The Royal Peninsula Hotel with pizza from The Dukes.
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 10:30 am, regular visit by club members to Burma Children Medical Fund's (BCMF) B. K. Kee Patient House. Interested? Contact Rotarian Maliwan.
5 November 2019 - Regular club meeting, 7 pm at the Royal Peninsula Hotel. The program will be presented by Avis Rideout of Agape Home (Nikki's Place) and Dr. Barry Lycka will talk about "What I Discovered by Surviving Death". Gather at 5:45 pm for fellowship and an optional dinner; order from the menu of Thai food at the hotel.
19 November 2019 - District Governor's Official Visit to CMIRC contact John Schorr
21 November 2019 - Mae Tao Clinic Brainstorming Lunch, 11:30 am at Phra Singh Village contact Jerry Nelson
22 November 2019 - Let's Talk Rotary Informal Lunch, 11:30am to 1:00pm at Daifa Café next to Bangkok Bank on Thapae Road (beautiful new restaurant with garden, and there will be a gallery show of hill tribe photos by Victoria Vorreiter), Lunch: B200-B300 +/- Please contact P John Schorr if you wish to attend johnschorr@hotmail.com
23 November 2019 - CityLife Garden Fair, Chiang Mai contact Nancy Lindley
29 November 2019 - Beatles Mania! The Yellow Submarine Comes to Chiang Mai from the Big Mango for our fall Children's Charity Concert contact Nancy Lindley & John Schorr
29 November – 1 December 2019 Rotary Zone Conference, Manila Philippines.
3 December 2019 - 12:00 until ??? Winter Clothing Sorting (all hands on deck!) Pizza lunch. Followed by CMIRC Annual Meeting at 7 pm at the Royal Peninsula Hotel..
11 - 15 December 2019 Access to Justice Week, Chiang Mai see www.babseacle.org
14 – 15 December 2019 – District 3360 Intercity Meeting, Chiang Khong.
1 – 3 January 2019 - Tour of Mae Tao Clinic contact Jerry Nelson
Posted by Jerry Nelson and Nancy Lindley on Oct 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.
Fashion King is 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.
Royal Peninsula Hotel is an excellent international standard hotel located in the heart of Chiang Mai. They have 150 guest rooms with all amenities including free wi-fi. There is ample onsite, covered parking. The outdoor swimming pool and Jacuzzi are available to guests. There is both an indoor restaurant, featuring Thai cuisine and outdoor beer garden next to the swimming pool. The Royal Peninsula Hotel has two conference and banquet rooms, well decorated, with good acoustics. The staff at Royal Peninsula are very accommodating. The Chiang Mai International Rotary Club meets at the Royal Peninsula at 7:00 PM on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month, with many members and guests gathering about an hour before the meeting in the hotel's restaurant for fellowship and an optional meal, ordering from the restaurant's menu of reasonably-priced Thai food.
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The 
If there’s anything else we could wish for is some more school supplies. Many government schools in Thailand don’t have the basic resources at their disposal to meet their educational needs. They lack pencils, paper, books, and many items critical to learning effectively. The Chiang Mai International Rotary Club is dedicated to helping these institutions throughout Northern Thailand by collecting and distributing the essential supplies they need to provide quality education to their students. Please read more about what we need 
I took the opportunity to attend the World Health Organization-International Lifesaving Society 
The British Community in Thailand Foundation for the Needy (BCTFN) in Phrao.
Australian Direct Aid Program Grant
Their target population is more than 830,000 people. They have 296 service sites in Myanmar. Their total caseload was reported as 288,203 in 2018. Many of the health issues are due to poor hygiene.
The last stop of the morning was the prosthetic lab where we met two groups of people from Myanmar who are being trained in the skills required to make prosthetic limbs. The great news is that after their training is complete, they will return to Myanmar and will make these services available internally. 
When school is in session there are about ninety-four girls resident in the house we visited. The boys' dorm houses seventy-six. We had the pleasure of visiting the girls while they were weaving and sewing. The boarding houses are doing all they can to become self-sustaining. 
The
One of the most serious challenge for students who graduate from Mae Tao Clinic’s Child Development Center is finding funding for higher education. During the October tour we saw Merlyn Htoo, a student in the BEAM 2018-19 class. She is currently working in the Physical Therapy Department at Mae Tao Clinic. Merlyn wants to study nursing, has been accepted at university and is attempting to secure scholarship funding. 
On 27 October we met a new patient. She is six years old and has medical problems. While Sap Po (at right in the photo) is very outgoing and playful, the young child next to her is very shy. She really likes the Play-Doh modeling clay and was happy to show us the princess she made. Everyone was very happy to see her smile. 
When we meet with the incoming group of BEAM students each year our initial session is a “get acquainted” session where Rotarians tell the students about themselves and the students tell the Rotarians about themselves. Rotarians talk about their home country, their family, their profession, their hobbies, why they live in Thailand, and why they are at BEAM.
Rtn Aree Suksiri presented the silicone breast models and kits to screen development of young children to staff at McCormick Faculty of Nursing, Payap University for training students and subsequent screening of mothers for breast cancer and children for development abnormalities by mobile units in locations around Chiang Mai province.
BOOK DRIVE FOR REFUGEE CHILDREN: The book drive is a casualty of the academic calendar. Books will be collected upon the return of the members and a new disbursement delivery date will be designated. CMIRC members are asked to donate their English language books (ages 3 to young adults) and contact William for collection. 
CMIRC WINTER CLOTHING DRIVE: In anticipation of increased involvement upon the return to campus of its members, RCPYU asked Liaison William to place a collection box at an optimum location to support the annual CMIRC Project. Upon the return of its members, RCPYU will solicit the participation of students and faculty. 
Rtns Wessel Veenstra of Franeker (The Netherlands) Rotary Club, Bob Ashley of The Rotary Club of Summit County (Colorado, USA) and Aree Suksiri of CMIRC visited two of Asia’s Hope’s homes for children in Doi Saket, about 20 km from Chiang Mai. The Berea Home and other homes under the foundation are sponsored by religious organizations and provide long-term, residential care for orphaned children at high risk of sexual and economic exploitation in Cambodia, Thailand, and India.
Arch Klumph Society:
As a Rotarian, I will 
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Tuesday, October 15, at our regular club meeting, Khun Sudarat Sereewat from 
Tuesday, October 15, at our regular meeting Rotarians Viki and Dylan announced the kick-off of the CMIRC Annual Children’s Winter Clothing Appeal. Boxes around town are filling up fast, especially at the Rim Ping Supermarkets. 
