In light of the potential risks of Covid-19 transmission at public meetings and gatherings our CMIRC Board has decided to take the following action:
Beginning on Wednesday, March 18, all CMIRC regular club meetings, social evenings, and informal Friday lunches are cancelled until further notice.
All those on our mailing lists and social media sites will be kept fully informed of any changes in our schedules and we hope to resume our meetings as soon as possible. If you have questions, please contact me at president@cmirotary.org .
It's the time of year when farmers burn their fields to eliminate the waste from the previous season's crop and, more sadly, when locals go into the National Parks and burn the underbrush to make it easier to pick mushrooms in a couple months -- mushrooms that fetch a high price locally and in China. Both activities are illegal, but somehow they persist. Chiang Mai has had the dubious honor of being the city in the world with the highest air pollution for several weeks now. You can read about this problem on the website of one of our partners, Warm Heart Foundation.
While the high air pollution and horrendous road safety problem are much bigger threats to public health in Thailand, the novel coronovirus, COVID-19 has now attracted the most attention. While there isn't a mandate (yet) to stop public gatherings, we're finding that several organizations serving Chiang Mai expats, such as the Chiang Mai Expats Club and The Informal Northern Thailand Group have temporarily suspended their meetings, citing COVID-19. Yet there has only been one confirmed case of COVID-19 in Chiang Mai and the public health system in Thailand is robust, with universal health care access for Thai nationals.
The members of CMIRC continued with their projects and activities in February, although the club's Board will meet soon to decide if activities should be curtailed over concerns about COVID-19. This may be your last opportunity for a while to pour your favorite beverage and relax to enjoy such a fun-packed bulletin, below. 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.
Well I thought our CMIRC 6th Birthday in February would be my opening paragraph this month, but some GREAT NEWS has moved it down the page! Avis Rideout, the founder of Agape Home/Nikki’s Place for children who are victims of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and our nominee for Rotary District 3450 The One International Humanitarian Award, has been selected as one of the three finalists for the 2020 International Humanitarian Award. She joins Kanchana Thornton of the Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), who CMIRC nominated in 2017 and Dr. Cynthia Maung of The Mae Tao Clinic who was nominated by the Rotary Club of Chiang Mai North in 2013.
There are three finalists each year and finalists receive at least US$50,000 to enhance or expand their humanitarian work. The individual chosen as the International Humanitarian of the year will receive US100,000. We are very proud to be working to improve the lives of children with these amazing human beings! And, we are hoping that Avis (pictured right with some of the babies she cares for) is chosen as THE ONE this year!
Many thanks to Rtn. Wessel Veenstra of the Rotary Club of Franeker, the Netherlands for taking the lead on Avis’s nomination and to CMIRC Rotarians PP Jerry Nelson and Tabatha Lee for helping to compose the successful application!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Chiang Mai International Rotary Club (CMIRC)! On February 22, our club members and guests celebrated our sixth year in existence; our official Rotary International Charter was granted in February 2014. We even had a birthday cake with six candles (shown with Rtn. Aree and future Rotarian Areeya) which CMIRC Charter President Roger and CMIRC “Godmother” Elsie Choy, our first honorary member, cut for the children present, and some adults too! Elsie is a long-time member of the Rotary Club of Chiang Mai North; she guided us through the application process and our early growing pains. We go into our seventh year as a strong club with 27 regular members and two honorary members, an important mission focused on Child Safety, Health, and Education in Northern Thailand, and a record of charitable giving at the Rotary International and local project level that makes us proud. Our members join the club for community service opportunities and we keep the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self” at the forefront, and there is every reason to believe that as we move out of our “infancy;” the next six years will be even more productive.
Our club prides itself on its increasing diversity and the high quality of its members. At our meeting on February 18 we inducted new CMIRC Rtn. Niwatchai Suknaphasawat (shown at right, receiving his Rotary pin). Khun Niwatchai is a Thai citizen from the Lahu indigenous group here in Northern Thailand. He was the Thailand Country Coordinator for the Heifer International NGO for many years and will now lead our projects focused on village-based sustainable agriculture. Khun Niwatchai’s expertise and experience will open many new doors for our club.
Our international network continues to grow. Bruce Pflaum of the Rotary Club of Lake Oswego, Oregon and Fred Peck from Rotary Club 21 of Spokane, Washington were recent visitors to our club and as result they have carried the message of our projects back to their home clubs. Both Rtn. Bruce and Rtn. Fred have indicated they have found interest in our club among their clubs’ members. We are hoping that opportunities for cooperative projects will follow.
Finally, I have hired a Communications Specialist to help me and our club communicate better with our Thai Rotary colleagues. Khun Ganitha (Pik) is a graduate of Chulalongkorn University and is currently employed at the Ambassador Bilingual School and she is also an accomplished Thai classical musician. She is already busy learning all things Rotary and will be a great resource for our club.
Dear Bulletin readers, if you are excited about supporting meaningful service in a part of the world where children still have many unmet basic needs, contact me and I will tell you how you can join us or support us in our efforts to improve Child Safety, Health and Education in Northern Thailand:johnschorr@hotmail.com , CMIRC President and Membership Chair 2019-2020.
On the 29th of February BEAM Education Foundation celebrated its 10th Anniversary, an achievement of note, thanks, to dedication, vision, commitment, volunteers, donations and hard work.
First a little about BEAM:
BEAM Education Foundation (BEAM) was founded in January 2010 and is located in Chiang Mai, Thailand. BEAM is a registered non-profit educational foundation. The emergence of BEAM was in response to the rising educational needs of marginalized people, migrants, and refugee youth living in Thailand, most of whom are from Myanmar.
BEAM envisions local, people-oriented, peaceful, and developed communities in Myanmar and Thailand. This can be sustained by empowering local communities through comprehensive education.
BEAM believes that migrant youth have the potential to be a part of the larger community development of Thailand, Myanmar, and the ASEAN nations, but they are marginalized due to the difficulties in attaining access to higher education.
29 February 2020 Location: Community Square of Intranurak Village.
103, Intranurak Village, Viang Ping Road, T. Changklan, A. Mueang, Chiang Mai 50100
The location gives an insight to the evening “Community Square” because it epitomized the event: everybody -- students, the local community, organizers, dignitaries, and VIP guests were having, FUN! One could not help being infected (not with COVID 19) with their absolute joy. One can use superlatives, but they don’t express or match the feeling of an inner warmth and joy by being part of this evening of celebration and recognition.
This was an evening to forget exams, studying, the life of a student, being a teacher, a fund raiser, but rather a time to appreciate each other and say "Thank You".
A truly colourful evening, decorated with laughter, smiles, fanfare, traditional costumes, food stalls offering an interesting array of delicious food, accompanied with homemade local teas, fruit juices together with other stalls selling tee shirts and cloth shopping bags to raise funds for the BEAM Education Foundation.
Of course, there are the formalities of speeches, past students talking of their success and inspiring current students, awarding of certificates in appreciation of various supporters/ fund raisers. (Pictured below is CMIRC P. John, receiving a Certificate of Appreciation for the club.) The highlight of the evening for me was the various traditional dancing, some of dances performed by the current students, to see one of the dances performed by the students go to the following address: https://youtu.be/EQPVgfJP7Jc
All this said and done, one cannot forget or overlook the achievements of, BEAM Education Foundation, ten years have passed thanks to its inspiration, its supporters, students, volunteers, here’s to the next ten years.
A message:
Greetings from BEAM Education Foundation!
We at the BEAM Education Foundation wish to express our sincere appreciation to our partners, volunteers, and co-workers for their loyal support as we celebrate the first decade of working in the field of education for the marginalized populations. Thanks to your dedication and a strong commitment to our Foundation, our Foundation is today a greater network locally and internationally. We could not have come this far without the loyal support and hard work of each member of the Foundation and local development partners.
A wise man said: don’t look back to see how far you have come from but rather look forward to see how far you can go.
This month we were able to have Vin (Thongin Nuntarut) come out and do some consulting about gardening projects at the Burma Children Medical Fund's B. K. Kee Patient House surrounding property and some priorities that Burma Children’s Medical Fund director, Kanchana Thornton had in mind. Within a matter of a couple of weeks, he and some other volunteers purchased supplies, made a couple of visits to the house and were able to accomplish the work. The results are quite amazing. Of course, now the goal will be to make sure the hard work doesn’t go to waste and the edible plants, herbs and flowers are well tended. In addition, two air purifiers were purchased to assist patients who have respiratory issues.
Sunday visits continue to occur each week. Patients and families enjoy a variety of activities such as Arts and Crafts, workbooks for the kids, games, etc. We recently enjoyed a new musical game that volunteer Mwe Kaem introduced. Everyone forms a circle and while music is playing, a small ball is passed around. When the music stops, the person holding the ball wins a small prize, like the happy winner of a pair of gloves, pictured at left. The second time around, if a person who has already won a prize is holding the ball, he/she has to sing a song, perform a short dance, tell a joke or make a funny face. (Some form of entertainment!) It was a big hit with all of the staff, residents and Rotary volunteers. I’m sure we will be playing it again very soon.
Some former younger patients who had stayed at the house several months ago arrived in February. It was a joyful reunion to spend time with them and their families.
This month we also had the pleasure of having a former member of CMIRC and former project champion of the B. K. Kee Patient House surprise us with an unexpected visit. Gary Herman (far right, below) was in Chiang Mai earlier in the month and we all had a wonderful time visiting. It was also a great opportunity for him to see the work that continues at the house.
Sadly, visits by CMIRC members to the B.K. Kee Patient House have been put on hold, effective March 15, until further notice because of concerns about COVID-19.
The Mae Tao Clinic/Child Protection Department/Child Development Center is the oldest project of Chiang Mai International Rotary Club. Those interested in the history are invited to read past bulletins and our running story on our website. Also, please visit Mae Tao Clinic's website www.maetaoclinic.org
February / March Activity:
When we visit the Mae Tao Clinic we always ask how can we help. We are working on ideas that will have a sustainable impact on the clinic and the extended communities they serve. We are actively looking for international partners. Some of the ideas we are considering include:
Early Childhood Development and Child Safety Training. This could involve developing and delivering different sets of curriculums for different age groups. Specifics could include drawing and artwork, especially for the youngest group. Safety would be the prime focus. The idea would be to start at Mae Tao Clinic’s Child Development Center (CDC) and then expand to other Migrant Learning Centers.
Nursing Aid Training. The course is six months in duration with a month internship. The course would train 20 to 25 people at the MTC campus. After completion they would go back to Burma and work in their own villages.
MTC needs help with Dry Food Programs, stipends for staff and much more.
One of the serious challenges for people served by the Mae Tao Clinic is the fact that many are stateless. Great efforts are ongoing and one marvelous result is that babies born at the Mae Tao Clinic can often receive a Thai birth certificate, allowing the children eligibility to receive education and medical care in Thailand. (beaming family, right, with the newborn's Thai birth certificate) In the coming months, I hope to write more about this general topic.
No CMIRC tours of MTC are scheduled at this time. See the MTC announcement here. Hopefully, we will be back on track soon. In the meantime, I will continue to work with the MTC staff, and all others interested in helping this amazing organization. These are exciting and challenging times. Let’s talk soon!
We are nearing the end of our Children’s Water Safety and Drowning Prevention Programs for this year. Thai schools are now going on summer break for March and April (the hot season here) and since all of our programs rely heavily on full cooperation from the schools, our program is going on break too. The logos you see above are the foundations and organizations that support training our 4th-graders at the 11 Chiang Mai Municipal Schools, two municipal schools in Phrao, two municipal schools in Phetchabun Province, the BanYa Migrant Learning Center in Phuket, and the kids at the Warm Heart Foundation. We are also supported by the Thai Thaim Foundation of Park Rapids, Minnesota, USA and of course all the generous donors to the Chiang Mai International Rotary Club. THANK YOU ALL for your support this school year.
Because of the generosity of our sponsors, we have taught another 500 children survival swimming and water safety this year. This will bring our total over the last four and half years to almost 2,500 children!!! Our program continues to grow and expand. With the help of the Rotary Club of Patong Beach, we have launched a growing program in Patong Beach that is now three years old and going strong under RC of PB leadership. Our Rotary partners in Lom Sak are ready to build on the start we made this year and plan to grow their program in the next school year too.
Finally, we recently received news that the British Community in Thailand Foundation for the Needy (BCTFN) has decided to fund our Phrao programs again this coming school year with an expanded 131,000 baht grant!! Thank you BCTFN and your local coordinator Ian Bushell for your support.
The position of Youth Programs (YP) Director was handed off by Mike Gholson so that he could focus on other duties. At the February 25, 2020 CMIRC Board meeting the YP position description was unanimously approved and is available on the club’s website. This Board position will be the Champion for the club’s sponsored youth clubs and related Rotary International (RI), youth programs and activities. In the near future a planned drop menu on the club’s website will allow easy access to YP activities.
On February 29, the YP Director attended the BEAM Foundation's 10th Anniversary Community Celebration along with other club members. (see report on BEAM for details).
ROTARACT: ROTARACT CLUB OF PAYAP UNIVERSITY, William Churchill, Liaison
The Rotaract club held a brief meeting with Liaison William to discuss the way forward. The new Rotaract President noted the current state of mid-terms and illnesses among the membership as causes for delays in activities and projects. The club has a meeting home in the student office and plans a membership recruitment “party” soon upon the return of the President. During the meeting, the club President signed the amended club Bylaws that include the agreement to continue under the sponsorship of CMIRC.
INTERACT CLUBS:
CHIANG MAI INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, Mike Gholson, Advisor
The club continues to meet on campus but outside projects and activities are restricted due to COVID-19 precautions.
UNITY CONCORD INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, Advisor (open)
HELP! THERE IS AN IMMEDIATE OPENING FOR AN ADVISOR FOR THIS CLUB. PLEASE CONTACT THE YP DIRECT OR PRESIDENT JOHN/SECRETARY JERRY AND VOLUNTEER
YP Director visited the club during a luncheon meeting and was introduced to members and faculty advisors (photo, right). This club has also curtailed outside activities because of COVID-19 precautions. The club noted two ongoing projects: CONNIE’S HOME, and BAAN PAK DEK PHRAPORN, in Chiang Rai that they are eager to re-energize.
Paul Harris Fellow (PHF) recognition is given in appreciation to anyone who contributes, outright or cumulatively – or in whose name is contributed – a gift of US$1,000 or more to Rotary International Foundation's Annual Programs Fund, PolioPlus, PolioPlus Partners or the Humanitarian Grants program. The recognition consists of a certificate, pin (shown left, with Paul Harris Society hanger), and optional medallion. A Paul Harris Fellow is not an award, but formal recognition of the donation. Rotary established the recognition in 1957 to encourage and show appreciation for substantial contributions to what was then the Foundation’s only program, Rotary Foundation Fellowships for Advanced Study, the precursor to Ambassadorial Scholarships.
The following CMIRC members are Paul Harris Fellows: Jerry, Maliwan, John, Gary, Clarence, Colin, Nancy and Roger. Honorary member Shana is also a PHF as is Elsie Choy.
Certificate of Appreciation. Occasionally, a donor contributes US$1,000 and wishes to recognize a business or organization. In these instances, since Paul Harris Fellow recognition can only be presented to individuals, a Certificate of Appreciation is given instead.
Multiple Paul Harris Fellow. Multiple Paul Harris Fellow recognition is extended at subsequent $1,000 levels (e.g., $2,000, $3,000). Recognition consists of a pin with additional stones corresponding to the recipient's recognition amount level. US $2,000 to 2,999.99 - one sapphire; 3,000 to 3,999.99 - two sapphires; 4,000 to 4,999.99 - three sapphires; 5,000 to 5,999.99 - four sapphires; 6,000 to 6,999.99 - five sapphires; 7,000 to 7,999.99 - one ruby; 8,000 to 8,999.99 - two rubies; 9,000 to 9,999.99 - three rubies.
Paul Harris Society. The Paul Harris Society is a district-administered recognition for those who elect to personally contribute US$1,000 or more each year to the Annual Programs Fund, PolioPlus, PolioPlus Partners or the Humanitarian Grants program. Individual districts handle all associated recognition for this program, and inquiries should be directed accordingly. Paul Harris Society contributions are eligible toward Rotary Foundation Sustaining Member, Paul Harris Fellow, Multiple Paul Harris Fellow, and Major Donor Recognition.
Photo from Wikipedia, author Richard P. Welty; photo his own work.
The 4-Way Test was conceived by Herbert J. Taylor, a Chicago Rotarian and president of Rotary International in 1954-55. He applied The 4-Way Test to the operation of his company with remarkable results and subsequently shared it with others.
The story is told best by Herbert J. Taylor in this description of how the Test came into existence and what effect it had.
“Back in 1932 I was assigned, by the creditors of the Club Aluminum Products Company, the task of saving the company from being closed out as a bankrupt organization. The company was a distributor of cookware and other household items. We found that the company owed its creditors more than $400,000 in excess of its total assets. It was bankrupt but still alive. At that time we borrowed $6,100 from a Chicago bank to give us a little cash on which to operate. While we had a good product our competitors also had fine cookware with well-advertised brand names. Our company had some fine people working for it, but our competitors also had the same.
"Our competitors were naturally in much stronger financial condition than we were. With tremendous obstacles and handicaps facing us, we felt that we must develop something in our organization which our competitors would not have in equal amount. We decided that it should be the character, dependability, and service mindedness of our personnel. We determined, first, to be very careful in the selection of our personnel and, second, to help them become better men and women as they progressed with our company. We believed that ‘In right there is might,’ and we determined to do our best to always be right.
“Our industry, as was true of scores of other industries, had a code of ethics — but the code was long, almost impossible to memorize and therefore impractical. We felt that we needed a simple measuring stick of ethics which everyone in the company could quickly memorize. We also believed that the proposed test should not tell our people what they must do, but ask them questions which would make it possible for them to find out whether their proposed plans, policies, statements, or actions were right or wrong. We had looked in available literature for such a short measuring stick of ethics but could not find a satisfactory one. One day in July 1932, I decided to pray about the matter. That morning I leaned over my desk and asked God to give us a simple guide to help us think, speak and do that which was right. I immediately picked up a white card and wrote out The 4-Way Test of the things we think, say, or do as follows: 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?
“I placed the little test under the glass of my desk and determined to try it out for a few days before talking to anyone else in the company about it. I had a very discouraging experience. I almost threw it into the wastepaper basket the first day when I checked everything that passed over my desk with the first question, ‘Is it the truth?’ I never realized before how far I often was from the truth and how many untruths appeared in our company’s literature, letters, and advertising. After about 60 days of faithful, constant effort on my part to live up to The 4-Way Test I was thoroughly sold on its great worth and at the same time greatly humiliated, and at times, discouraged with my own performance as president of the company.
"I had, however, made sufficient progress in living up to The 4-Way Test to feel qualified to talk to some of my associates about it. I discussed it with my four department heads. You may be interested in knowing the religious faiths of these four men. One was a Roman Catholic, the second a Christian Scientist, the third an Orthodox Jew, and the fourth a Presbyterian. I asked each man whether or not there was anything in The 4-Way Test which was contrary to the doctrines and ideals of his particular faith. They all four agreed that truth, justice, friendliness, and helpfulness not only coincided with their religious ideals, but that if constantly applied in business they should result in greater success and progress. These four men agreed to use The 4-Way Test in checking proposed plans, policies, statements, and advertising of the company. Later, all employees were asked to memorize and use The 4-Way Test in their relations with others.
“The checking of advertising copy against The 4-Way Test resulted in the elimination of statements, the truth of which could not be proved. All superlatives such as the words better, best, greatest, and finest disappeared from our advertisements. As a result, the public gradually placed more confidence in what we stated in our advertisements and bought more of our products. The constant use of The 4-Way Test caused us to change our policies covering relations with competitors. We eliminated all adverse or detrimental comments on our competitors’ products from our advertisements and literature. When we found an opportunity to speak well of our competitors, we did so. Thus we gained the confidence and friendship of our competitors. The application of The 4-Way Test to our relations with our own personnel and that of our suppliers and customers helped us to win their friendship and goodwill. We have learned that the friendship and confidence of those with whom we associate is essential to permanent success in business.
“Through over twenty years of sincere effort on the part of our personnel, we have been making progress toward reaching the ideals expressed in The 4-Way Test. We have been rewarded with a steady increase in sales, profits, and earnings of our personnel. From a bankrupt condition in 1932 our company within a period of some twenty years had paid its debts in full, had paid its stockholders over one million dollars in dividends, and had a value of over two million dollars. All these rewards have come from a cash investment of only $6,100, The 4-Way Test, and some good hard-working people who have faith in God and high ideals.
“Intangible dividends from the use of The 4-Way Test have been even greater than the financial ones. We have enjoyed a constant increase in the goodwill, friendship, and confidence of our customers, our competitors, and the public — and what is even more valuable, a great improvement in the moral character of our own personnel. We have found that you cannot apply The 4-Way Test continuously to all your relations with others eight hours each day in business without getting into the habit of doing it in your home, social, and community life. You thus become a better father, a better friend, and a better citizen.”
A Vocational Service program — In January 1943, the Rotary International Board of Directors agreed that The 4-Way Test should be brought to the attention of Rotary clubs. It became a part of the Vocational Service ideal and has been published in various forms and in many languages by RI.
When people, especially children, have access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, they lead healthier and more successful lives. We don’t just build wells and walk away. Rotary members integrate water, sanitation, and hygiene into education projects. When children learn about disease transmission and practice good hygiene, they miss less school. And they can take those lessons home to their families, expanding our impact.
Clean water is a basic human right that many are often denied. There are 2.5 billion people in the world that lack access to improved sanitation and 748 million people that don’t have clean drinking water. When people have access to clean water, they live healthier and more productive lives.
In 2015, the United Nations introduced their new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty and promote prosperity while protecting the environment and addressing climate change. Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 on water and sanitation encourages us to address universal access to drinking water and sanitation along with improved water management to protect ecosystems and build resiliency.
WASH is an acronym that refers to the global development issues of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene. Due to their interdependent nature, these three core issues are grouped together to represent a growing sector. While each a separate field of work, they are also interdependent on the presence of the other and represent a current global crisis.
Water: 663 million people do not use an improved drinking water source, most of whom are poor and live in rural areas.
Sanitation: 2.4 billion people still lack an improved facility, and among them 950 million people still practice open defecation.
Hygiene: Of the range of hygiene behaviors considered important for health, hand washing with soap is a top priority in all settings.
At least 3000 children die every day from diarrheal diseases – an avoidable consequence of poor water, sanitation and hygiene.
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.
The weekly Monday, Tuesday and Friday English Language Cultural Club sessions at the BEAM Educational Foundation.
On the first and third Fridays of the month, club members attended the Chiang Mai Expats Club meetings where full Owl Banks were exchanged for empty Change for Children Owl Banks and encouraged adoption of ducks for the CMIRC Children's Charity Duck Race.
Tuesday, February 4, the Service Project Committee met.
Tuesday, February 4, we had our regular club meeting at the Royal Peninsula Hotel, where Larry S. Dohrs presented on the topic "Biometrics for Good: The Flip Side of a Scary Technology".
Tuesday, February 18, we had our regular club meeting at the Royal Peninsula Hotel, where U Aung So presented on the topic "Protecting Vulnerable Human Beings".
Saturday, February 22, club members attended the Chiang Mai Expats Club general meeting where full Owl Banks were exchanged for empty Change for Children Owl Banks and encouraged adoption of ducks and attendance at the CMIRC Children's Charity Duck Racethat evening.
Saturday, February 22, the Membership Committee had a Pre-Induction meeting with prospective members Kim White.
Saturday, February 22 we had our Children's Charity Duck Race and Sixth Birthday Celebration at the Centre of the Universe Swimming Pool and Resort. Nearly 200 rubber ducks raced in 10 heats, with the first and second place winner of each heat going into the final race. Emotions ran high as the 20 finalists set off across the pool. Several people in attendance had ducks in the finals, including two representing the various branches of Duke's Restaurants, since David and Pim, the owners of Duke's had graciously adopted a duck for each of their branches. In the end, first prize was won by a local friend of Rotary, second prize by an overseas friend of Rotary (who had also placed in last year's race, proving you've "got to be in it to win it") and third by Ragu, one of Duke's restaurants.
Thursday, February 27, some club members had lunch with old friends from visiting friends from Rotary Club of Likas Bay District 3310 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah State, Malaysia.
Thursday, February 27, some club members attended the 40th Birthday party of our sponsoring club,Rotary Club of Chiang Mai North.
Friday, February 28, we had our last Friday in the month “Let’s Talk Rotary” get together at Kiti Panit Restaurant.
Saturday, February 29, we joined in the celebration of BEAM Foundation's 10th Anniversary with events at Chiang Mai University and the BEAM Foundation in Chiang Mai.
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 visits by club members to Burma Children Medical Fund's (BCMF) B. K. Kee Patient House temporarily on hold. Interested for the future? Contact Rotarian Bill Pierce.
17 March 2020 - Regular club meeting, 7 pm at the Royal Peninsula Hotel. The program will be presented by Greg Tyrosvoutis of TeacherFOCUS"Building Bridges for Out-of-School Migrant Children in Thailand". Gather at 5:45 pm for fellowship and an optional dinner; order from the menu of Thai food at the hotel.
Posted by Jerry Nelson and Nancy Lindley on Feb 18, 2020
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, sadly has closed their doors for good, because of declining business due to the ever-increasing length of the burning season, strength of the Thai baht and ever more stringent and arbitrary enforcement from Chiang Mai Immigration and now COVID-19 causing some of their customers to look elsewhere for where to spend their winter holidays or make their permanent retirement home. It will be missed. See this wonderful tribute to Pern's in CityLife from Paul Surtees.
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.
The Lila Thai Massage Ex-Inmate Employment and Skill Development Center was established in 2014 by "Naowarat Thanasrisutharat" to help and support women being released from prison. The ladies receive a massage training course from certified massage instructors (ex-inmates who work for Lila Thai Massage); these programs are endorsed by and meet the requirements of the Chiang Mai Public Health Department. This project reduces the women conviction rates in Chiang Mai and helps to solve the societal problems that perpetuate the situation, bringing about our long-cherished dream for a better community. The quality of massage at Lila Thai Massage is consistently superb.
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.
Our sponsors donate money that supports our operational expenses, freeing funds for the projects we love. Please give them your support.
And, we are hoping that Avis (pictured right with some of the babies she cares for) is chosen as THE ONE this year!
cut for the children present, and some adults too! Elsie is a long-time member of the Rotary Club of Chiang Mai North; she guided us through the application process and our early growing pains. We go into our seventh year as a strong club with 27 regular members and two honorary members, an important mission focused on Child Safety, Health, and Education in Northern Thailand, and a record of charitable giving at the Rotary International and local project level that makes us proud. Our members join the club for community service opportunities and we keep the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self” at the forefront, and there is every reason to believe that as we move out of our “infancy;” the next six years will be even more productive.
Our club prides itself on its increasing diversity and the high quality of its members. At our meeting on February 18 we inducted new CMIRC Rtn. Niwatchai Suknaphasawat (shown at right, receiving his Rotary pin). Khun Niwatchai is a Thai citizen from the Lahu indigenous group here in Northern Thailand. He was the Thailand Country Coordinator for the 
This month we were able to have Vin (Thongin Nuntarut) come out and do some consulting about gardening projects at the 
Sunday visits continue to occur each week. Patients and families enjoy a variety of activities such as Arts and Crafts, workbooks for the kids, games, etc. We recently enjoyed a new musical game that volunteer Mwe Kaem introduced. Everyone forms a circle and while music is playing, a small ball is passed around. When the music stops, the person holding the ball wins a small prize, like the happy winner of a pair of gloves, pictured at left. The second time around, if a person who has already won a prize is holding the ball, he/she has to sing a song, perform a short dance, tell a joke or make a funny face. (Some form of entertainment!) It was a big hit with all of the staff, residents and Rotary volunteers. I’m sure we will be playing it again very soon.
One of the serious challenges for people served by the Mae Tao Clinic is the fact that many are stateless. Great efforts are ongoing and one marvelous result is that babies born at the Mae Tao Clinic can often receive a Thai birth certificate, allowing the children eligibility to receive education and medical care in Thailand. (beaming family, right, with the newborn's Thai birth certificate) In the coming months, I hope to write more about this general topic.
YP Director visited the club during a luncheon meeting and was introduced to members and faculty advisors (photo, right). This club has also curtailed outside activities because of COVID-19 precautions. The club noted two ongoing projects: CONNIE’S HOME, and BAAN PAK DEK PHRAPORN, in Chiang Rai that they are eager to re-energize.
Paul Harris Fellow (PHF) recognition is given in appreciation to anyone who contributes, outright or cumulatively – or in whose name is contributed – a gift of US$1,000 or more to Rotary International Foundation's Annual Programs Fund, PolioPlus, PolioPlus Partners or the Humanitarian Grants program. The recognition consists of a certificate, pin (shown left, with Paul Harris Society hanger), and optional medallion. A Paul Harris Fellow is not an award, but formal recognition of the donation. Rotary established the recognition in 1957 to encourage and show appreciation for substantial contributions to what was then the Foundation’s only program, Rotary Foundation Fellowships for Advanced Study, the precursor to Ambassadorial Scholarships.
“I placed the little test under the glass of my desk and determined to try it out for a few days before talking to anyone else in the company about it. I had a very discouraging experience. I almost threw it into the wastepaper basket the first day when I checked everything that passed over my desk with the first question, ‘Is it the truth?’ I never realized before how far I often was from the truth and how many untruths appeared in our company’s literature, letters, and advertising. After about 60 days of faithful, constant effort on my part to live up to The 4-Way Test I was thoroughly sold on its great worth and at the same time greatly humiliated, and at times, discouraged with my own performance as president of the company.
In 2015, the United Nations introduced their new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty and promote prosperity while protecting the environment and addressing climate change. Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 on water and sanitation encourages us to address universal access to drinking water and sanitation along with improved water management to protect ecosystems and build resiliency.
On the first and third Fridays of the month, club members attended the 
Saturday, February 22 we had our Children's Charity Duck Race and Sixth Birthday Celebration at the Centre of the Universe Swimming Pool and Resort. Nearly 200 rubber ducks raced in 10 heats, with the first and second place winner of each heat going into the final race. Emotions ran high as the 20 finalists set off across the pool. Several people in attendance had ducks in the finals, including two representing the various branches of Duke's Restaurants, since David and Pim, the owners of Duke's had graciously adopted a duck for each of their branches. In the end, first prize was won by a local friend of Rotary, second prize by an overseas friend of Rotary (who had also placed in last year's race, proving you've "got to be in it to win it") and third by Ragu, one of Duke's restaurants. 
Thursday, February 27, some club members had lunch with old friends from visiting friends from 
