Surprisingly, there are no holidays in Thailand during the month of September. Odd, for a people who love their celebrations. The rainy season is winding down, so in olden days unpaved roads could be problematic and people stayed close to home. School is in session -- another reason to stay close to home. The cool season hasn't yet started, but the clouds of the remnants of rainy season make many days pleasant and lazy.
It's an ideal time to pour a favorite beverage and settle down to read our latest CMIRC bulletin. We've been busy. 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.
Time really flies! This is my third monthly message already and it seems like only yesterday I became president. I am really quite astonished as to how much appears to happen in just one month.
Sometimes it’s a small but wonderful thing. For example, our Australian colleagues have supplied us with more “Trekker Teddies” (right) which we have begun distributing. You can read more about them elsewhere in this newsletter, but I want to mention it as it is a very good example of how two Rotary clubs, when working together, can achieve some really worthwhile projects.
We have also had the district conference, which I was unfortunately unable to attend due to other commitments, but I am sure that John or Jerry will give a short report here.
We are in the process of inducting several new members which shows that John Schorr’s membership committee is working well. The quality of these new and prospective members is outstanding.
Two of our major projects, the Mae Tao Clinic and the Children's Water Safety & Drowning Prevention Program are impressively successful. John Schorr has managed to raise a considerable sum of money which is enabling the program to be taken up by other clubs much more quickly than we originally expected. Jerry Nelson’s fundraising campaign for Mae Tao Clinic has also been exceptionally successful and I know the money will be used wisely by the clinic to enable them to continue to do their incredibly valuable work.
Understandably, for an English-speaking club, we are asked to help improve the English language capability of many different groups. The more we do, the more we seem to be asked to do. Our input varies from simple conversation groups to teaching more complex aspects of communication. This means that if someone has professional skills they can contribute at a high-level whilst those who have no particular teaching experience, but do speak English, can help many people and organisations who are desperately looking for support.
Chiang Mai International Rotary Club is not only working with other Rotary clubs, but it is actively extending its relationships with other organisations. This month has seen discussions held between both Toastmasters Chiang Mai (left) and the Chiang Mai Expats Club. In both cases we believe some considerable synergy will be created by working together.
There is no doubt that the CMIRC is achieving far more than would normally be expected for a relatively small club. However, despite our undoubted success, some projects that we would like to undertake are proving difficult because of a lack of manpower and finance. The vision screening in the Tessabaan schools and the clean water project are cases in point. Both of these projects are incredibly worthwhile and will, without doubt, happen soon but we have been talking about both for some two years. The solution is simple, more members. So, if you know someone who is willing to contribute time to help others, then bring them along to a meeting or introduce them to John Schorr, our membership committee chairman.
August has been a busy month for the CMIRC Children’s Water Safety and Drowning Prevention Program. School is in session, so we have programs going in Chiang Mai, Phrao, Phuket, and soon Phetchabun.
Australian Direct Aid Program Grant The Australian Embassy Staff visited Chiang Mai on August 9 and 10, so they were able to join CMIRC Rotarians John Schorr and Roger Lindley at the certificate ceremony on August 9th in Phrao for the 128 4th-grade children from the Ban Chaeng Khu Ruang Municipal School (ร.ร.บ้านแจ่งกู่เรือง) who completed the survival swimming and water safety course this year. The 2019 Phrao program was funded by the Australian Direct Aid Grant Program.
Alexander Wills, Second Secretary (Political-Economic) of the Australian Embassy Bangkok and his colleague, Teerasak Siripant were joined by Ron Elliott the Australian Honorary Consul here in Chiang Mai (pictured right with PP John) at the ceremony and Alex gave a very nice speech in Thai. The school administration, teachers, and students all showed great appreciation to the Australian visitors, CMIRC, and our local partner the Warm Heart Foundation, represented by Evelind Schechter and her aide, Nian.
Before the ceremony (below), the school principal explained to us why the program was so important to the children and staff at the school. In 2018, two 4th grade girls from the school drowned in a small pond, so they all felt very grateful that our program could help reduce the future drowning risk for children in Phrao.
The final swim course for this Australian Direct Aid Grant will be at the BanYa Migrant Learning Centre in Phuket in September.
We are already preparing to submit another grant request to the 2019-2020 Australian Direct Aid Program in September. This grant will focus on a children’s water safety and drowning prevention course in Lamphun and on a Thai regional swim training center to be located in Phuket. More about this next month.
Phetchabun Having completed two courses successfully, we are now in the process of arranging for another swim program in Phetchabun with the funds remaining in the generous grant we received in August of last year from the Safe Child Thailand Foundation.
Patong Beach The Rotary Club of Patong Beach (RCoPB) Larry Amsden Swim Safe Programme, under the leadership of program chair Johan Storck, is continuing the program with the Ban Sai Nam Yen School this year. Kru Gob has agreed to do the evaluation/assessment this year, so the Rotary Club of Patong Beach’s Larry Amsden Swim Safe Programme is now totally self-sufficient and the first example of a sustainable swim programme emerging from the Safe Child Foundation Grant we received two years ago. They have plans to grow and involve other Rotary Clubs in Phuket as well.
Enrollment is now set for the swim teacher training program to be conducted September 12 to 16 when Eve Fraser and her trainer-volunteers from the Oz Swim Aquatics/Global Swim Aquatics will provide Australian Swim Coaches and Teachers Association international certification-level courses for our Larry Amsden Swim Safe Programme team in Patong Beach. Lead teacher Gob and Rotary Club of Patong Beach Past President Karen are also actively involved in the planning. The program will be conducted at the J.D. Pool facility in Phuket owned by the Past President of the Rotary Club of Andaman.
We are currently using the funds donated by the British Community in Thailand Foundation for the Needy (BCTFN) to conduct swim programs for the 4th-graders at the Ban Chaeng Khu Ruang School (ร.ร.บ้านแจ่งกู่เรือง) in August. The goal is to again teach all 140 4th graders there from August to November. In Phrao we organize the survival swimming and water safety courses with our partner organization, the Warm Heart Foundation.
We have invited representatives of the BCTFN to visit the lessons and we will organize a trip once we have learned of their availability.
This year’s Phrao Children’s Water Safety and Drowning Prevention Program schedule is: 1. August 19 to 30. 2. September 2 to 13 3. September 16 to 27 4. October 21 to November 1 5. November 4 to 15
Chiang Mai, CMIRC-Sponsored Program Courses for the 2019-2020 Rotary Year continue, we have already taught nearly 100 4th-graders in three of the eleven municipal schools we sponsor. All eleven will be completed before the school break in March. This year we have much-needed, significant help from the Swiss Lanna Society, Chiang Mai (see below)!
Swiss Lanna Society Chiang Mai
Last, but not least, we learned that the Swiss Lanna Society donation of the proceeds from the tombola raffle at their Swiss National Day Event on August 1st to our Children’s Water Safety and Drowning Prevention Program in Chiang Mai amounted to 100,000 Baht!! As a result, they will be able to sponsor five of our eleven Chiang Mai municipal schools during the 2019-2020 school year. We plan to actively involve Swiss Lanna Society members (their board is pictured) in swim course visits and, of course at our certificate ceremony.
NEXT TRIP: Great news about the next trip. The trip is confirmed! The van will leave Chiang Mai the morning of Wednesday 16 October. We will tour Mae Tao Clinic and supported organizations on 17 – 18 October 2019. There are six people already signed up, but don’t despair, we’ll have room for you. The van comfortably holds nine and if needed we’ll take two vans! People coming from other locations will meet us in Mae Sot. The tentative schedule is:
Wednesday 16 October – Travel to Mae Sot and in the evening have dinner at Khao Mao Khao Fang 08:00 start picking up passengers in Chiang Mai 15:30 Arrive at hotel in Mae Sot 18:30 Rendezvous with tour members coming from other locations and go to dinner
Thursday 17 October – (times and details are tentative; we need to be flexible). 09:00 Tour Mae Tao Clinic, beginning with the Old Campus. We will see Committee for the Protection and Promotion of Child Rights, Mae Tao Clinic Burma Operations team and more. 13:00 Tour New Campus of Mae Tao Clinic, including Child Protection Office and Burma Children Medical Fund. We hope to receive briefings from several departments.
Friday 26 July (Times and details are tentative; we need to be flexible). 09:30 Visit a Migrant Learning Center/Boarding House supported by Mae Tao Clinic 12:45 - Briefing and then a tour of the Child Development Center 14:00 – 15:30 Depart for Chiang Mai
THE 100 DAY FUND RAISING CAMPAIGN
I am both humbled and proud to announce that we have exceeding our original goal. Much of the success was due to very generous Rotarians who responded to my birthday appeal. Thank you all so very much! All of the money goes to the Mae Tao Clinic Child Protection Department/Child Development Center. Thank you so much for your generous donations and your willingness to share the appeal with your kind and generous friends.
Thus far we have raised 151,525 THB and money is still coming in! If you haven’t donated and want to please contact me for donation instructions through CMIRC. Donations are also accepted at the Mae Tao Clinic website.
SUCCESS ON ALL SIDES
Increasing Awareness is my first priority for Mae Tao Clinic. Both the fundraising campaigns and the tours accomplish those goals. Every tour brings unexpected information. Who knows what we will learn in October?
My dear friend PE Dr. Raj Mani of the Rotary Club of Aireborough has organized good liaison between Mae Tao Clinic and Chiang Mai University Hospital’s senior vascular specialist, Dr. Kittipan. Rotarians Carol and Roger Ward from RC of Aireborough and RC of Royal Hua Hin have been to Mae Tao Clinic on one of our tours and have assisted Dr. Raj in starting a fundraising campaign in District 1040. All I did was introduce them to the miracle that is Mae Tao Clinic!
There will be a workshop on Child Protection that will be hosted by CPPCR (one of Mae Tao Clinic’s partner organizations) on Saturday 30 November 2019). This workshop will be partly funded by Mae Tao Clinic Children’s Protection Department; a gesture that could not have happened without your generosity!
Are you coming to Chiang Mai? Interested in helping some of our projects? Depending on the timing, you might be able to see some of our projects. For example, you can join a tour of the Mae Tao Clinic, see article above. No matter when you come to Chiang Mai, you can help.
Are you coming up from Australia? Please contact us and we will put you in touch with the wonderful people who make the Trekker Teddies that we distribute to needy children.
Are you coming from any point overseas where it’s cold in the winter? Please consider stopping by your local Salvation Army or other used clothing store and picking up some used children’s winter clothing. We will distribute them to needy hilltribe children during our winter clothing appeal. We accept donations year around.
When you stay in a hotel, virtually anywhere, you are given toiletries. Bring what you don’t for us. We make hospital kits from them because patients in government hospitals are expected to provide their own toiletries.
If some of this begins to sound vaguely familiar it might just be because you read my article “The Origin of the Trekker Teddy” which appeared in the September 2018 CMIRC Bulletin. You can check it out here.
Recently Nel de Betue contacted me saying there were about one hundred Trekker Teddies ready to come to Thailand but no one coming this way. She decided to ship them to me EMS. I gave her the CMIRC postal mailing address and waited. On 19 August I went to the post office and found a form directing me to go to Chiang Mai Customs; there would be an import tax to be paid. For a moment my heart sank, but only for a moment. The Trekkers are way too important to be trampled by government fees. “In for a penny, in for a pound."
I called my favorite e-taxi driver (sounds cooler than tuk-tuk driver, which was absolutely true when I met him a few years ago). He examined the paper from the Customs Office, smiled and said OK he knew where to go, and took me straight to the Immigration Office! Close but no cigar. Now I’m starting to get a bit edgy and really need to breathe. I take the paper (written all in Thai, which I can't read), go into the Immigration Office, find an official who looked like he might be helpful; and he was. (Perhaps this wasn’t the first time a tuk-tuk, err e-taxi driver had made this mistake.) I should go to the big building next to the airport terminal.
At the Chiang Mai Customs Office, I saw a Customs Officer on the stoop and showed her my paper. She kindly took me to the proper room. The Customs Officer in Charge asked me to show him the contents of the bag. We opened it and I explained that the Trekker Teddies are a gift of love from older ladies in a retirement home in Australia. They have been sent to me for free distribution to needy children in Northern Thailand. I showed him a photo of a little girl, with her Trekker Teddie. Officer smiled and then observed the amount of postage paid and the insurance declaration. “Pang Mach” very expensive he said. How much do you estimate the value he asked me. I told him in truth that I have no idea of their monetary value and assured him they would be given to children like the one in the photo. He understood, consulted with his colleagues and told me he would estimate the value at 1,000 baht. God Bless him and may Buddha go with him always! The total customs tax was 676 baht. (About AU$33)
Now we have almost one-hundred Trekker Teddies ready for distribution. Most will go to the Burma Children Medical Fund, others will go to Community Based Organizations here in Northern Thailand. Did you know that sometimes when a child receives a Trekker Teddie it is the first toy in their life?
We are fairly aggressive in distributing the Trekker Teddies; they stay in our storage for just a short time and we need your help to obtain the next batch. Should you have travel plans that include a flight from Australia to Thailand PLEASE let us know and we’ll introduce you to the marvelous Trekker Teddie team. Perhaps you would carry a few back for us.
If you are coming to Thailand from Australia, especially Melbourne, perhaps you would be willing to help transport some of these wonderful toys? Contact me for details.
News! We visited the house every Sunday in August and have attracted regular people who will come to the Burma Children Medical Fund’s B. K. Kee Patient House often. Rotarian Gordana (right) is missed by all of us. She will return in November.
We have Trekker Teddies for the children again. What a joy to share with a young child! On 31 August we had a very special activity -- baking banana bread (left). No left overs! Also one of the patients, Naw Paw, took it upon her self to braid hair for the ladies.
On 11 August Kanchana (the founder of BCMF) visited us. She loves what we are doing but asked us to consider two other ideas: 1. Can we help teach the patients enough Thai so they can communicate with the hospital? Staff is looking at developing a chart to help. The patients have different native languages. Most do not speak any Thai or English. It can succeed with the language of love. 2. Can we help make the garden sustainable? The patients can help but we will need the staff to be involved. Could this be a project with Rotaract or Interact?
In the future there is a plan to involve Interact Club members in a painting project. More News Soon!
We have also heard from another Rotaract Club in Hong Kong. They are interested in doing a project. More News Soon!
Old Useful Information I am Rotarian Maliwan Kaew-Amphai, the new Project Champion for the CMIRC BCMF Project. For now all of our effort is at the BCMF B.K.Kee Patient House in Chiang Mai. All of the patients have serious medical conditions such as heart disease, cancer or birth defects. Our purpose is to bring the patients and their families love and respect and make their lives more comfortable. You may email bcmfproject@cmirotary.org for any questions or suggestions.
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 CMIRC Calendar for sure. The time may vary, even the day. CMIRC Members and future members are encouraged to attend. We try to have about four people go each time. 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 for visitors.
The week that started off on Monday with frustration, anger, annoyance: I discovered I had a water snake in my fish pond, so now I knew where the fish were disappearing, this was, “meals on or in water” rather than “meals on wheels”. My anger was that recently purchased fish were no more than a meal to satisfy my unwelcomed visitor.
The project of emptying the pond and cleaning began with even more interesting discoveries; I did not have one but three snakes. I was only able to relocate one with the other two snakes not so keen on being relocated, jumped out of the net and took their chances in my complex. I am not a fan of snakes but also realize life cannot be that great, no voice, legs or arms and a predetermined attitude by your foe.
In my frustration as a snake catcher I headed to BEAM to join and share with BEAM students on their quest to hold a debate on the impending Friday with the topic “Smoking Should Be Banned" Roger and Bob had supported and guided the students prior to my session, so their preparation was in the right direction and with a little interaction the students were prepared for their first debate.
When Friday came, I was still vexed about the snakes, and their menu choice. Roger and I sat at the back of the class as observers, with a fantastic turn out of 95%, though there was another noticeable fact, the importance these students attached to this event in their stunning dressed code telling all that this was serious event and day in their life.
Bob officiated the debate, outlying the rules of engagement; the classroom was filled with tense apprehension, excitement, nervousness and curiosity.
As each team presented their, case, answered questions, rebuttals, their fire and energy grew, the students changed right in front of our eyes, their passion, beliefs, concern were taking over, their confidence grew, faces reflected youth and in their passions I could see their belief in themselves as individuals, and as teams growing. They were interacting as a group, as teams with a purpose, it meant something, their voices being heard!
Listening, watching the process of the debate, Roger, Bob and myself were truly amazed how these students had taken on the challenge. Shyness, lack of experience, self-consciousness were overcome; they learnt the respect of having and giving tolerance. A few weeks ago, their understanding, knowledge of a debate let alone having one of their own was totally foreign, never mind in a language that is not their mother tongue. This was the first of many debates planned over the coming months.
So, a week that started off with slippery customers frustration ended upon a high for me I was walking on air, to witness these students develop and grow in stature, life is exciting.
You may well wonder what these stories have in common, the unidentifiable, trepidation the element of surprise, conquering a challenge, the reward, satisfaction in the face of adversity. For the writer the conclusion of everyone’s achievement was sheer joy, to be shared, with the frustration of the snakes in their quest for a fishy meal forgotten. They, too, had achieved a goal and I had gotten over my fear of handling them.
Posted by Dylan Low & William Churchill on Aug 29, 2019
The Rotaract Club of Payap University(RCPYU) members are currently nearing the end of their semester classes. In order to move the Club's activities forward, a membership meeting was called and held on August 27, 2019, where several items were reviewed. CMIRC President Colin Jarvis and Liaison Rotarian William Churchill were invited. Regrets were noted for President Colin and William reviewed several matters with the Club, including the following:
A brief review of the RCPYU/CMIRC relationship with a focus on "What is Rotaract?"
A review of current CMIRC service projects and sponsored Interact Clubs and how the RCPYU could participate.
New or proposed CMIRC service projects, including the Children's Sight Project; World Polio Day; and Toastmasters.
In addition to the above service projects with their sponsoring Club, the RCPYU also will pursue the following service opportunities:
The Millennial Festival at PYU (members will volunteer and also plan to have a booth to solicit Club memberships)
A collaboration with the World Trade Organization
English language collaboration with BEAM
A project for World Rotaract Week
A social interaction with the visiting Rotaract Club RACHKIE (Rotaract Club of Hong Kong Island East)
RYLA meeting (Bow and Dayton, two bilingual members have expressed an interest in participating)
The membership and Liaison also discussed fundraising, Club banking, obtaining and sustaining a District 3360 presence, the 51st Multi-District Rotaract Convention, identifying two annual sustainable service projects and mentoring by CMIRC members.
William extended appreciation to the Club for its support and participation in the HKUST (Hong Kong University of Science & Technology) Rotaract Club visit.
Given the above, the Club is truly motivated by Rotary and Rotaract values and commitments.
Clarence Shettlesworth, CMIRC Foundation Chair Bob Ashley, RC Summit County and Founder, Village Water Filters
Aree Sukrisi, CMIRC
Areeya Sukrisi, Chiang Mai Babyact Club
An hour’s drive from Chiang Mai is the beautiful temple and meditation centre of Wat Tham Doi Thon. Inside the temple it is quiet and serene with access to a splendid cave.
Around the village elephant camps have sprung up, polluting the Mae Wang river that supplies water for the temple and surrounding villages. There is also upsilting due to seasonal rains that cloud the water.
Two years ago the village raised THB 300,000 to install a clean water system.
Complexity caused maintenance issues and recently the system broke down leaving the village unable to meet the cost of repairs.
CMIRC initiated contact with Jake Douglas, a Novice at the temple, and visited to assess needs.
Jake (right, with Bob, Aree and Baby Areeya) is consulting with the Abbot and village elders and will prepare the ground for further visits.
Village Water Filters may consider donating a Facility Filter which would meet the needs of the village and is fairly straightforward to operate.
In Bob’s experience, key issues are:
Setting up a Village Water and Sanitation Committee and ensuring that women are involved.
Promoting ownership and assisting the Committee develop a financial plan for the sale of water and the use of the proceeds, especially for maintenance.
Training local villagers to maintain the system.
Establishing a simple and effective monitoring system. The possibility of using mobile phones and the LINE app which is popular in Thailand is being explored.
(Editor's Note:) Last year CMIRC made a donation to this project in honor of former member, Bill Kipp who split his time between Chiang Mai and Sun Lakes. He had to return to Sun Lakes to live full-time after a health crisis that has sadly left him unable to participate in Rotary. In researching this project, I was surprised to learn that many members of the Navajo Nation, U.S. citizens, live in worse conditions than the hilltribe people we serve in Thailand.
Here is the update from Sun Lakes RC:
Presently we have achieved the installation of 31 indoor water systems of the 33 homes supported by this Rotary Foundation Global Grant. The remaining two (2) homes will be installed September 25 and 26 and our International partner, Brantford-Sunrise Rotary Club, District 7090 in Ontario, Canada will be attending with our Sun Lakes Rotary Club to provide hands-on participation. This is Rotary in Action.
Again, we THANK YOU for all the support provided by:
According to the United Nations, 57 million children worldwide are not in school and 757 million people over the age of 15 — two-thirds of whom are women — are illiterate. In honor of Rotary Basic Education and Literacy Month celebrated each September, take action by starting or supporting a literacy project in your community. Here are a few ways you can get involved:
* Volunteer in a classroom or after-school program. * Promote student enrollment and prevent absences, especially for girls, by providing safe drinking water, gender segregated toilets, handwashing stations, and training on hygiene and menstrual hygiene management for students and teachers. * Work with a partner to provide training to school librarians on performing reading assessments and utilizing methodologies to work with students who have special learning needs. * Develop an adult literacy program. * Start a mentorship program for students in your community. * Find a project to support on Rotary Ideas.
CMIRC Efforts in Education and Literacy Our club engages in our local community by way of: the BEAM Social Studies GED program, CMIRC English Language Cultural Club, support of the Mae Tao Clinic Child Development Center in Mae Sot, college scholarships for BEAM GED graduates, basic English language sessions at the BCMFB.K. Kee Patient house, night-time sessions in basic English for adults at BEAM and support of a student (right) at The Warm Heart Foundation.
Enhance your efforts Every community has different needs and different opportunities to serve. The Basic Education and Literacy Project Strategies Guide (download fromMy Rotary)can help you ask the right questions, identify real needs, and make the greatest possible impact with the time, energy, and resources you have at your disposal.
How have you been celebrating Rotary Basic Education and Literacy Month? Share your projects on Rotary Showcase. Join the Basic Education and Literacy Discussion Group on My Rotary to learn from experts and share ideas with fellow Rotarians!
The regular every Sunday morning visits by club members to the BCMF B.K. Kee Patient House here in Chiang Mai.
Thursday, August 1 the Swiss Lanna Society Swiss National Day at Skill Center Chiang Mai where CWS&DP demo was held and funds from the tombola were donated to the CMIRC CWS&DP program. The total donation was a much-appreciated 100,000 baht!
Tuesday, August 6 we enjoyed a regular meeting of our club where Sally Myatt spoke on her Bamboo Bicycle project.
Tuesday, August 13 there was a special Membership Committee meeting.
Tuesday, August 20 the Membership Committee had a Pre-induction meeting with Dylan Thomason and Viki Thomason.
Also on Tuesday, August 20 there was a regular meeting where Tom Jerayu Tiamraj presented the program on “Going Forward Together”.
Saturday, August 24 the CMIRC had a table at the monthly Chiang Mai Expats Club meeting to recruit members and exchange "Change for Children" ceramic owl banks.
The weekend of August 24 & 25, District 3360 conducted a Foundation, Membership and Public Image meeting in Phitasnaluk where the club was represented by Rotarians Roger, Clarence, John and Jerry pictured with new Rotarian friends.
Tuesday, August 27 the Membership Committee conducted a pre-induction meeting with Raphael Djenal.
Also on Tuesday, there was a August 27 CMIRC monthly Board Meeting.
Wednesday, August 28 the Membership Committee conducted a new member pre-induction meeting with Bill Pierce.
And, on Friday, August 30 the last Friday of the month lunch "Let's Talk Rotary" meeting was at the Phrasing Village 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 10:30 am, regular visit by club members to Burma Children Medical Fund's (BCMF) B. K. Kee Patient House. Interested? Contact Rotarian Maliwan.
3 September 2019 - Regular club meeting, 7 pm at the Royal Peninsula Hotel. The program will be presented by John Hulme and Brahm Press on the topic "Migrant Workers". Gather at 5:45 pm for fellowship and an optional dinner; order from the menu of Thai food at the hotel.
17 September 2019 - Regular club meeting, 7 pm at the Royal Peninsula Hotel. Program by Tom Neil Blacknell on "Aikido". Gather at 5:45 pm for fellowship and an optional dinner; order from the menu of Thai food at the hotel.
27 September 2019 - Last Friday of the Month, "Let's Talk Rotary informal lunch, 11:30 am at "The Food Factory" at Kad Farang. Contact PP John Schorr for details.
Posted by Jerry Nelson and Nancy Lindley on Aug 03, 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.
Our sponsors donate money that supports our operational expenses, freeing funds for the projects we love. Please give them your support.
Sometimes it’s a small but wonderful thing. For example, our Australian colleagues have supplied us with more “Trekker Teddies” (right) which we have begun distributing. You can read more about them elsewhere in this newsletter, but I want to mention it as it is a very good example of how two Rotary clubs, when working together, can achieve some really worthwhile projects. 
Chiang Mai International Rotary Club is not only working with other Rotary clubs, but it is actively extending its relationships with other organisations. This month has seen discussions held between both Toastmasters Chiang Mai (left) and the Chiang Mai Expats Club. In both cases we believe some considerable synergy will be created by working together. 
The Australian Embassy Staff visited Chiang Mai on August 9 and 10, so they were able to join CMIRC Rotarians John Schorr and Roger Lindley at the certificate ceremony on August 9th in Phrao for the 128 4th-grade children from the Ban Chaeng Khu Ruang Municipal School (
Alexander Wills, Second Secretary (Political-Economic) of the Australian Embassy Bangkok and his colleague, Teerasak Siripant were joined by Ron Elliott the Australian Honorary Consul here in Chiang Mai (pictured right with PP John) at the ceremony and Alex gave a very nice speech in Thai. The school administration, teachers, and students all showed great appreciation to the Australian visitors, CMIRC, and our local partner the 
Phetchabun 
We are currently using the funds donated by the British Community in Thailand Foundation for the Needy (BCTFN) to conduct swim programs for the 4th-graders at the Ban Chaeng Khu Ruang School (
Chiang Mai, CMIRC-Sponsored Program
Swiss Lanna Society Chiang Mai
Last, but not least, we learned that the Swiss Lanna Society donation of the proceeds from the tombola raffle at their Swiss National Day Event on August 1st to our Children’s Water Safety and Drowning Prevention Program in Chiang Mai amounted to 100,000 Baht!! As a result, they will be able to sponsor five of our eleven Chiang Mai municipal schools during the 2019-2020 school year. We plan to actively involve Swiss Lanna Society members (their board is pictured) in swim course visits and, of course at our certificate ceremony.
Thursday 17 October – (times and details are tentative; we need to be flexible).
THE 100 DAY FUND RAISING CAMPAIGN 
Are you coming up from Australia? Please contact us and we will put you in touch with the wonderful people who make the Trekker Teddies that we distribute to needy children. 
Are you coming from any point overseas where it’s cold in the winter? Please consider stopping by your local Salvation Army or other used clothing store and picking up some used children’s winter clothing. We will distribute them to needy hilltribe children during our winter clothing appeal. We accept donations year around.
Now we have almost one-hundred Trekker Teddies ready for distribution. Most will go to the 
We visited the house every Sunday in August and have attracted regular people who will come to the 
We have Trekker Teddies for the children again. What a joy to share with a young child! On 31 August we had a very special activity -- baking banana bread (left). No left overs! Also one of the patients, Naw Paw, took it upon her self to braid hair for the ladies. 
The Millennial Festival at PYU (members will volunteer and also plan to have a booth to solicit Club memberships)
An hour’s drive from Chiang Mai is the beautiful temple and meditation centre of Wat Tham Doi Thon. Inside the temple it is quiet and serene with access to a splendid cave.
Two years ago the village raised THB 300,000 to install a clean water system.
Jake (right, with Bob, Aree and Baby Areeya) is consulting with the Abbot and village elders and will prepare the ground for further visits.
Here is the update from Sun Lakes RC:
Our club engages in our local community by way of: the 
Saturday, August 24 the CMIRC had a table at the monthly Chiang Mai Expats Club meeting to recruit members and exchange "Change for Children" ceramic owl banks.
The weekend of August 24 & 25, District 3360 conducted a Foundation, Membership and Public Image meeting in Phitasnaluk where the club was represented by Rotarians Roger, Clarence, John and Jerry pictured with new Rotarian friends.
