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February may be the shortest month of the year, but you wouldn’t know that by what our club accomplished this month! I will describe some of the club activities in my message. But, 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.
What happened in February: The biggest news for CMIRC is our move. On February 21, we moved all of our banners, records, and equipment to the Hong Kong Lucky Restaurant in the Top North Hotel just a few steps from Thapae Gate. Our CMIRC 5th Birthday Party and Children’s Charity Duck Dive took place at our new location on the 23rd of February, and our first regular CMIRC club meeting in our new home will be on Tuesday, March 5, 2019, beginning at 7 pm! As at our previous location, a Chinese family dinner will be available beginning at 5:45 pm for those who reserve at tablecaptain@cmirotary.org . Please reserve by Monday afternoon for the Tuesday dinner.
Speaking of our club’s 5th birthday party, we were honored to have Past District Governor Chamnan Chanruang of the Rotary Club Chiang Mai-North and President Poonthip Andersen of the Rotary Club Chiang Mai there to help us celebrate. President John and President-Elect Colin blew out the 5 candles and we all sang Happy Birthday to Us.
We also conducted our first annual Children’s Charity Duck Dive on the 23rd using the waterfall and pool at the Top North Hotel. Top North very generously agreed to close their pool from 6:30 to 7:30pm, so our 170 ducks could dive and then race for the finish line in 9 heats. (Duck Drover Nick Dale, at right, launches ducks over the waterfall, bailing with a plastic basket to encourage the critters to gain speed.) The final race included the three winners from each of the previous heats.
The winning ducks were: #221, 1st; #79, 2nd; and #160, 3rd. Two of our winners VERY GENEROUSLY donated their winnings back to the club. We appreciate the generosity of American International Tax Advisers in sponsoring the 2nd place prize and Chiang Mai's English-language radio station, Happy Radio FM 98.50 in providing free publicity of our event. We raised almost US$3,000 (90,000 Baht) this year and we learned a lot. Next year the ducks will race again and the goal will be 150,000 Baht!! Thanks to everyone who had a duck or a flock in the race this year! And special recognition to club members who sold ten duck tickets or more: CP Roger, PP Jerry, PP Shana, PD Clarence, Rtn Gary, Rtn Nancy and me!
This month we had Rotarians visiting and banner exchanges with Rtn Alexandria Sietz of the Foothills Rotary Club of Lakewood, Colorado, USA and Rtn Kiki Douwes of the Rotary Club of Leiden, the Netherlands. Our CMIRC Rotarians were also on the Road! PD Clarence was in Lopburi, and he had a banner exchange with the Rotary Club of Lopburi. PP Jerry was in Hua Hin and he had a banner exchange with the Rotary Club of Royal Hua Hin.
February also marked the official approval of our CMIRC-sponsored Rotaract Club of Payap University. Under the excellent leadership of CMIRC Rotaract liaison William Churchill we have the nucleus of an active group of Payap University students ready to join. (William is showing off the "Certificate of Approval", at left.) The first meeting of the club will be on March 13 at Payap University at noon.
CMIRC sponsors an excellent Interact Club at Chiang Mai International School and we were ready, willing and able to welcome yet another international school seeking to give their students community service opportunities through the Rotary International Interact Program. The Unity Concord International School has already identified fifteen students who will form the new club, to be chartered and sponsored through CMIRC. Thank you CMIRC Interact Liaison Michael Gholson for coordinating this effort.
Finally, we are very happy to report that we have inducted two new members, Jianping (Cynthia) Song from the PRC (below left, with me) and Brian Poole from the USA (below right, with Past District Governor Chamnan and President-Elect Colin), in February. We welcome Cynthia and Brian, and we look forward to using the amazing talent and energy these two new Rotarians bring to our club for improving child safety, health, and education in Thailand!
How readers of our Bulletin can help: I will end with an appeal. We are off to a very busy start for 2019. 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 .
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.
February brought much good news for the CMIRC Children’s Water Safety and Drowning Prevention Program. I'll share the successes in the Australian Direct Aid-funded programs in Phuket and Phrao and then provide an update on the Safe Child Thailand-funded program in Phetchabun Province.
But, first, on the financial front, we learned that the Swiss Lanna Society has decided to officially make their donation (estimated to be between 40,000 and 60,000 Baht) to the CMIRC Children’s Water Safety and Drowning Prevention Program (CWSDP) on Swiss National Day, August 1, 2019. We look forward to being a part of their celebration!
In February, we received donations of 155,000 Baht as a result of a fund drive for CWSDP led by CMIRC Rtn Craig Clark and wife U.S. Rtn Ann Clark. Minnesota Rotary Clubs and private donors were the sources of these much-needed funds.
Australian Direct Aid Program Grant As mentioned in previous Bulletins, CMIRC has received a 361,400 Baht grant from Australian Aid to expand our Children’s Water safety and Drowning Prevention Program.
In January, working with the swim instructional staff at the British International School and with the administration at the Ban Ya Literacy Centre for Burmese immigrant children, our program taught sixty-eight refugee Burmese children survival swimming and water safety. On February 28 the Australian Counsel General in Phuket joined CMIRC, Ban Ya Literacy Centre staff, British International School staff, Rotary Club of Patong Beach members, and British International School volunteers for a certificate presentation ceremony for all sixty-eight Ban Ya Literacy Centre children who completed the program. Each child was given a certificate and a Rotary medal.
In February the Australian Aid-funded program began in Phrao (right). The Warm Heart Foundation is our partner in Phrao, and they have already coordinated the CMIRC training and assessment efforts for the first of five courses. The second course began on February 25 and is already well under way. Between February 11 and July 5, we will offer survival swimming and water safety instruction to all one-hundred forty 4th grade students at the Ban Chaeng Khu Ruang School. (ร.ร.บ้านแจ่งกู่เรือง)
Petchabun In February, a CMIRC Team (John and Phijitra Schorr) traveled to Petchabun Province and met with both the Rotary Club of Lom Sak and the Rotary Club of Muang Phetchabun leadership (below). The meeting was very successful! There is strong interest and excellent capabilities in both clubs. We have found our partners! Both clubs also expressed strong interest in making the Children’s Water Safety and Drowning Prevention Program an ongoing project in their clubs. So, our criteria for partnering organizations have been met, i.e., interest, ability, sustainability.
In March and April: CMIRC-SCT teams will work with the two Rotary Clubs in Phetchabun Province to determine the schools to be included and the 4th-grade classes we will use in our first courses. Transportation issues will also need to be addressed. Once we know the anticipated numbers of students, we will purchase swim equipment including swim suits, swim caps, goggles, towels, and lice medicine.
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. As CMIRC CWSDP Program Chair, I met with Rotary Club of Patong Beach Committee members during my visit to Phuket for the Ban Ya Literacy Centre Certificate Ceremony.
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 children completing the program between October and February. The ceremony is planned for May, visitors and donors are welcome to attend.
We are now planning for next year’s CMIRC-KRU Payu CWSDP program; this will be our fourth year. We can now say that every Chiang Mai Municipal School graduate has had the opportunity to learn survival swimming and water safety. Over 90% of the elementary school graduates have successfully completed the CMIRC-Kru Payu course. In the past three years we have taught over one-thousand Chiang Mai Municipal School students survival swimming and water safety.
The Chiang Mai International Rotary Club fully funds this program as part of our mission to improve child safety, health and education in Thailand! Thank you to all our donors who make this funding possible.
February -- a month of nerves, trepidation, discovery, excitement, anxiousness, panic, fun, emotion, generosity and bonding for everyone involved with BEAM Education Foundation (Bridging Educational Access to Migrants) under the English Language Cultural Exchange Project, activities under the spotlight include:
> GED Exams > Presentations > English conversation opportunities
Students are currently actively working on preparing for Social Studies GED exams, to take place in the coming weeks of March and April. A learning curve for all involved in finding data, guidelines to help and exchange with students. The team (Roger, Gary, Brian, Bob) has been hunting with great zest, frustration, discovering new computer skills, their success being in finding a lot of information and tools to assist the students in their preparation.
One of the students' undertakings was to individually present a visual Power Point presentation on their home or culture of their choice to the Rotary members at the club meeting held on 12 February. Not only was it an outstanding success, but a very emotional exchange of the students' life and background, inspirational to everyone, and heart warming too. (At right is Rotarian Gary, with Alta from BEAM and the students ahead of the 12 February presentation. Gary was the technical adviser guiding the students in the intricacies of Power Point.)
BEAM raised a hand in a sea of despair: we need help, BEAM had a shortage of English teachers for February, can the team help, and with the great fortune of two new recruits (May Poole and Gordana Nardini), we were able to support their needs of four classes a week. The reports back that everyone was filled with enthusiasm, had a lot fun, gaining confidence, knowledge in exchanging culturally in English conversation.
An ER emergency arose minus George Clooney, which Rotary came to the rescue in helping the school. BEAM had a shortfall in funds. (A strong US Dollar) for GED exam costs; happily Rotary was able to assist, and a cheque was presented to BEAM in the value of 37,500 baht on the evening of 12 February. The gratefulness, joy and happiness was witnessed by all there, which words can not describe.
A busy month filled with rewards, for everyone. In learning about GED and sourcing information, aids, sites on the Internet, steadfast teamwork by Gary, Roger, Brain and Bob, (May and Gordana with English studies) everyone's commitment and enthusiasm was rewarded with overflowing happy and excited attendances.
As always we had a terrific time during our February visits to the Burma Children Medical Fund's (BCMF) B. K. Kee Patient House in February. B.K. Kee house exists to provide a place where patients and their escorting family members can stay while they are waiting to be treated at hospitals in Chiang Mai, usually Suan Dok Hospital (Chiang Mai University Hospital). Most are referred from the Mae Tao Clinic when they have ailments that require advanced treatment.
During the month of February, we had several new patients including a four-year boy with cancer and a one-year old girl who according to Klao, the B. K. Kee House manager has "something wrong for female". Also there are several patients with heart problems, a forty-nine year old man with a badly burnt arm who had several additional surgeries in February, a twenty-three year old woman with a facial tumor and a seven-year old girl with a neurological problem.
What amazes me is how brave and happy all these patients and their family members are. They always have smiles to greet us and when we are sharing language practice there is a lot of laughter and joy.
As always, we provided some sanitary supplies and toilet articles every Sunday, brought donated clothing and a few toys including Teddy Trekkers. We also bring fruit, cookies and other treats. Every week we also practice English language with the residents at the house. This entire month I am especially grateful for the talents of Rotarian Gordana Nardini from Croatia for leading the practice. Whenever she is in Chiang Mai, Gordana works tirelessly and we are sorry to see her return to Croatia each year. (Above, Gordana, in the bright yellow blouse, leads the English conversation practice at the B. K. Kee House.)
We also contribute to the wellbeing of the house by aiding in the maintenance and upgrades of the house itself and its environment. We have several small improvement projects planned. Among those are the expansion of the use of safety covers for the concrete drainage ditches around the house, some small concrete repair and caulk projects and safety railings for the new men’s bathroom. I am happy to announce that on February 9th the Chiang Mai International School Interact Club, sponsored by CMIRC, painted the wall in front of the house. Rtn Mike Gholson, our liaison, arranged with them to bring student members of the club to the house on February 9th for a paint party. We had seven students, the faculty liaison and his two young boys at the house. Everybody had a great time (left) and the students finished almost an hour early. There were no paint splatters and the students want to return for additional activity at the house. The finished wall is pictured at top left.
In February, the Interact Club at Chiang Mai International School completed a painting project at Burma Children Medical Fund B. K. Kee Patient House in a very impressive manner. (painters pictured below, with Rtns Mike and Roger at the back and Gary to the right). They are out on a one week break and when they return they want to schedule another day to paint at the B. K. Kee House sometime during March. That will be their last project for the school year as they get busy with school work and activities.
I will be going to Unity Concord International School this week for another organizational meeting for their Interact Club. They will be electing officers and will begin the paper work to get chartered with Rotary.
Rotarian, attorney and retired Judge William Churchill, while a member of the Rotary Club of Dallas (Texas, USA)and domiciled in Chiang Mai, inquired about becoming a member of the Chiang Mai International Rotary Club (CMIRC). Rtn William wanted to make Chiang Mai his secondary residence and to be active with Rotary in Chiang Mai. William had attended CMIS meetings as a visiting Rotarian. While going through the club’s standard pre-induction meeting, he was asked how he would want to serve the club and community as a CMIRC member. He promptly responded, “Start a CMIRC-sponsored Rotaract Club”.
After his induction as a CMIS club member, William began exploring the possibilities for forming an English Language Rotaract Club in Chiang Mai. While collaborating with another new member, Dr. Narong Tongsuk (D. Th.), an instructor at Payap University, the decision was made to focus efforts on forming the new Rotaract Club at Payap University. Discussions continued and follow-up letters exchanged between Payap University administration and CMIRC.
On February 1, 2019, all efforts gave way to Rotary International's approval of the new club and a "Certificate of Organization" was issued. Initial membership efforts and organizational planning is underway and we're expected to hold the first meeting for potential members on March 13th, 2019 at Payap University. Upon the election of officers and required documents, the new Rotaract Club of Payap University will be official.
Some time ago CMIRC was given a hundred or so “indestructible footballs” from One World Play to distribute to children who might otherwise not have access to such wonderful equipment. The balls were part of a large donation from Chevrolet and we thought our official involvement in the project ended last year when we discovered we could no longer obtain balls and thought we'd given away the last of our allotment. However, in cleaning out our "Rotary room", storage area in preparation for our move this month we discovered some additional balls!
Six balls went to the Thai/Burma border with the Mae Tao Clinic tour in early February. Two of the balls were distributed to the Nong Naam Kiew Migrant Learning Center supported by the Rotary Club of Bangkok South(pictured above with RCBS Rtn. John Quambry). The last four balls were given to the Burma Children Medical Fund for distribution to children they serve.
The highlight of our activity with Mae Tao Clinic for February was a most excellent tour. Eight of us went by van from Chiang Mai to Mae Sot on Wednesday, February 6. That evening we had dinner at Khao Mao Khoa Fang, Mae Sot.
The tour of the next day was great; we started with the old MTC campus then on to the Child Development Center (CDC) and finally to the new MTC campus where we met with the MTC's founder and director, Dr. Cynthia and her staff to discuss the current situation at the clinic.
Mike O’Leary (Rotary Club of Iowa City, USA), Alex Socci, Ranier Berger, Pitchapha Wichanta, Hedy Watrous, Dr. Cynthia Maung, Jerry Nelson (CMIRC), Jean Brookens (Rotary Club of Independence Mo, USA), David Friedberg (BEAM)
From this meeting came the confirmation that CMIRC will attempt to organize a project funded by a Rotary Global Grant for Capacity Building within the Mae Tao Clinic’s Child Protection Department. A meeting has been set for Friday March 15th to start organizing the grant request. It is anticipated that the actual project will start during the July – September time frame. Rotary Districts and Rotary Clubs across the globe are encouraged to contact Foundations@cmirotary.org for more information.
The dates for the next tour are tentatively set for Wednesday, May 8 through Friday or Saturday, May 10 or 11, 2019. Dates will be solidified during the 15 March meeting.
We also learned the Mae Tao Clinic will have 30th anniversary celebrations June 20, 21 & 22, 2019. More information will follow on this amazing accomplishment.
I had the pleasure of meeting Crystal (right), Dr. Cynthia’s daughter last fall and have been waiting for an opportunity to have a conversation with her. The question that I most wanted to ask was how is it to be the daughter of the legendary Dr. Cynthia Maung, founder of the Mae Tao Clinic? I had an opportunity to interview Crystal on February 7. What I learned is that she, like her mother, is an extraordinary person. Brilliant and driven, yet humble and kind.
Jerry(J): When I met you some time ago, you mentioned that you started out as a stateless person. Can you tell me more about that?
Crystal(C): I was born at the Mae Sot Hospital in 1994 and my family did not know that I needed a birth record. I finally received an ID for stateless people at age 17. There were no records of my birth but the doctor at Mae Sot Hospital who delivered me provided a guarantee. Then I had travel permission.
J: What happened after you finished high school?
C: After high school I attended a Global Leadership Program in Johannesburg, South Africa. Then, I attended the GED program at BEAM Foundation. After finishing the GED, I attended The Education University of Hong Kong. I majored in Human and Organizational Development. I have been working here (The Mae Tao Clinic) since September 2018.
J: Tell me a little about your brother.
C: Next week Chan Chan (Peace) will graduate from Mae Fa Laung University in Chiang Rai with a degree in Public Health. He will continue to work at Suwannimit Foundation.
J: We haven’t talked about your father. What about him?
C: My father met my mother when they arrived Mae Sot. He worked in the laboratory. About ten years ago he retired because of his health, problems with his lungs. He was paralyzed a couple of years ago, but is better now.
J: How was it growing up, with Dr. Cynthia as your mom? Does everyone expect you to work at the clinic?
C: It was that I had a big family compared to others. There were always lots of people around. I had a lot of support as well as expectation to work at the clinic.
J: Did people treat you differently because of you are Dr. Cynthia’s daughter?
C: No, the people who were around me were families who worked at the clinic; we all knew each other.
J: What do you think you will do in the future?
C: I want to do a lot of things. I want to work here and I want to work in different places inside Burma.
A Rotarian Action Group is an autonomous group of Rotarians, family members, program participants and alumni who are experts in a particular field, such as microcredit or water and sanitation. Group members share their expertise by collaborating with clubs and districts on service projects.
To start a group, you need at least fifty prospective members representing at least five countries. Prospective groups are reviewed by the RI Board of Directors. Contact actiongroups@rotary.org for help with your proposal.
Visit the website of the relevant Rotarian Action Group to learn more:
Clean water is a basic need for human beings. When people, especially children, have access to clean water, they live healthier and more productive lives. However, at least 3,000 children die each day from diseases caused by unsafe water, which is what motivates Rotarians to build wells, install rainwater harvesting systems, and teach community members how to maintain new infrastructure.
While very few people die of thirst, millions die from preventable waterborne diseases, providing the impetus for our members to also improve sanitation facilities in undeveloped countries. Members start by providing toilets and latrines that flush into a sewer or safe enclosure and then add education programs to promote hand-washing and other good hygiene habits.
From the United Nations: One of the most important recent milestones has been the recognition in July 2010 by the United Nations General Assembly of the human right to water and sanitation. The Assembly recognized the right of every human being to have access to sufficient water for personal and domestic uses (between 50 and 100 liters of water per person per day), which must be safe, acceptable and affordable; (water costs should not exceed 3 per cent of household income), and physically accessible (the water source has to be within 1,000 meters of the home and collection time should not exceed 30 minutes). (Graphic about the cost of water from the Rotary Club of Phillip Island & San Remo, Australia)
At the human level, water cannot be seen in isolation from sanitation. Together, they are vital for reducing the global burden of disease and improving the health, education and economic productivity of populations.
Water-related challenges:
2.1 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water services. (WHO/UNICEF 2017)
4.5 billion people lack safely managed sanitation services. (WHO/UNICEF 2017)
340,000 children under five die every year from diarrheal diseases. (WHO/UNICEF 2015)
Water scarcity already affects four out of every ten people. (WHO)
90% of all-natural disasters are water-related. (UNISDR)
80% of wastewater flows back into the ecosystem without being treated or reused. (UNESCO, 2017).
Around two-thirds of the world’s transboundary rivers do not have a cooperative management framework. (SIWI)
Agriculture accounts for 70% of global water withdrawal. (FAO)
Roughly 75% of all industrial water withdrawals are used for energy production. (UNESCO, 2014)
The regular Sunday morning visits by members to the Burma Children Medical Fund's B.K. Kee Patient House for dispensing good will, toiletries, food and English conversation.
The Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday Cultural Exchange and GED sessions with the students at The BEAM Foundation.
Friday, February 1, the meeting of BEAM team at The Clay Pot Restaurant to discuss the BEAM project.
Tuesday, February 5, there was no regular meeting of CMIRC due to Chinese Lunar New Year Holiday.
Wednesday, February 6, the meeting at Bronco Kids Sports to discuss the Children’s Water Safety and Drown Prevention Program.
February 7-10, the tour of Mae Sot and the Mae Tao Clinic.
Tuesday, February 12, the CMIRC regular meeting where the BEAM students presented the program on BEAM and Myanmar, below.
Thursday, February 21, the CMIRC Board meeting at Hong Kong Lucky Restaurant.
Saturday, February 23, the club table representing our club and Children's Charity Duck Dive ticket sales at the monthly general meeting of the Chiang Mai Expats Club.
Saturday, February 23, the Children’s Charity Duck Dive Fundraiser and CMIRC Fifth Birthday Party at the Hong Kong Lucky Restaurant at The Top North Hotel.
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.
5 March - Regular Club Meeting, Hong Kong Lunch Restaurant at Top North Hotel near Thapae Gate, 7 pm. Program: Martin Papworth explaining the sport of cricket and the Hilltribe Fund that teaches cricket to underprivileged children.
19 March - Regular Club Meeting, Hong Kong Lunch Restaurant at Top North Hotel near Thapae Gate, 7 pm. Program: "Meet the Rotarians", a chance for each member to introduce themselves. Charter President Roger Lindley will present a 12-minutes video he compiled of favorite photos from the five years of CMIRC history.
23 - 24 March 2019 - District 3360 Conference, Chiang Rai. Contact John Schorr.
29 March - "Let's Talk Rotary", last Friday of the month informal lunch, 11:30 am, Grill of India restaurant in the Old City. Map at https://goo.gl/maps/5WnjCmJs8C72
06 – 07 April 2019 - District 3360 Conference, Chiang Rai.
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 Mar 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 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, 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.
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. Hong Kong Lucky is inside the Top North Hotel very near Thapae Gate where you can enjoy great food in a garden setting. They have not only a dining room but facilities for private parties. Our Rotary meetings are held here. Also, 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.
Our sponsors donate money that supports our operational expenses, freeing funds for the projects we love. Please give them your support.
We also conducted our first annual Children’s Charity Duck Dive on the 23rd using the waterfall and pool at the Top North Hotel. Top North very generously agreed to close their pool from 6:30 to 7:30pm, so our 170 ducks could dive and then race for the finish line in 9 heats. (Duck Drover Nick Dale, at right, launches ducks over the waterfall, bailing with a plastic basket to encourage the critters to gain speed.) The final race included the three winners from each of the previous heats. 
February also marked the official approval of our CMIRC-sponsored Rotaract Club of Payap University. Under the excellent leadership of CMIRC Rotaract liaison William Churchill we have the nucleus of an active group of Payap University students ready to join. (William is showing off the "Certificate of Approval", at left.) The first meeting of the club will be on March 13 at Payap University at noon. 
Australian Direct Aid Program Grant
In February the Australian Aid-funded program began in Phrao (right). 
Petchabun 
In March and April: CMIRC-SCT teams will work with the two Rotary Clubs in Phetchabun Province to determine the schools to be included and the 4th-grade classes we will use in our first courses. Transportation issues will also need to be addressed. Once we know the anticipated numbers of students, we will purchase swim equipment including swim suits, swim caps, goggles, towels, and lice medicine.
Chiang Mai, CMIRC-Sponsored Program
One of the students' undertakings was to individually present a visual Power Point presentation on their home or culture of their choice to the Rotary members at the club meeting held on 12 February. Not only was it an outstanding success, but a very emotional exchange of the students' life and background, inspirational to everyone, and heart warming too. (At right is Rotarian Gary, with Alta from BEAM and the students ahead of the 12 February presentation. Gary was the technical adviser guiding the students in the intricacies of Power Point.)
As always, we provided some sanitary supplies and toilet articles every Sunday, brought donated clothing and a few toys including Teddy Trekkers. We also bring fruit, cookies and other treats. Every week we also practice English language with the residents at the house. This entire month I am especially grateful for the talents of Rotarian Gordana Nardini from Croatia for leading the practice. Whenever she is in Chiang Mai, Gordana works tirelessly and we are sorry to see her return to Croatia each year. (Above, Gordana, in the bright yellow blouse, leads the English conversation practice at the B. K. Kee House.)
We also contribute to the wellbeing of the house by aiding in the maintenance and upgrades of the house itself and its environment. We have several small improvement projects planned. Among those are the expansion of the use of safety covers for the concrete drainage ditches around the house, some small concrete repair and caulk projects and safety railings for the new men’s bathroom.
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After his induction as a CMIS club member, William began exploring the possibilities for forming an English Language Rotaract Club in Chiang Mai. While collaborating with another new member, Dr. Narong Tongsuk (D. Th.), an instructor at Payap University, the decision was made to focus efforts on forming the new Rotaract Club at Payap University. Discussions continued and follow-up letters exchanged between Payap University administration and CMIRC.
I had the pleasure of meeting Crystal (right), Dr. Cynthia’s daughter last fall and have been waiting for an opportunity to have a conversation with her. The question that I most wanted to ask was how is it to be the daughter of the legendary Dr. Cynthia Maung, founder of the 
One of the most important recent milestones has been the recognition in July 2010 by the United Nations General Assembly of the human right to water and sanitation. The Assembly recognized the right of every human being to have access to sufficient water for personal and domestic uses (between 50 and 100 liters of water per person per day), which must be safe, acceptable and affordable; (water costs should not exceed 3 per cent of household income), and physically accessible (the water source has to be within 1,000 meters of the home and collection time should not exceed 30 minutes). (Graphic about the cost of water from the Rotary Club of Phillip Island & San Remo, Australia)
