Tracing the Roots of Group Study Exchange (G.S.E.)

"I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples," is a quote attributed to the famous humanitarian, Mother Teresa. No other statement could so aptly describe the impact that a Rotary Group Study Exchange (G.S.E.) experience can have on one’s self, family, friends, and colleagues.

In fact, the over forty-year ‘ripple effect’ of Rotary’s G.S.E. program has resulted in a tidal wave of loving and ongoing friendships, resulting in goodwill, improved world understanding and peace. One does not have to travel far in any community to find examples of someone touched by Rotary through this area of International Service. Many participants have personally grown and developed into industry, community and political leaders.

Rotarians in District 3340 R.I. hosted the Group Study Exchange team from District 1010 R.I. in Scotland. For six weeks the team travelled around the Rotary District, which covers all of the eastern and north-eastern provinces of Thailand. During their brief study tour in Pattaya, the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya was one of their hosts. President John Richards (center) welcomed the team at their weekly meeting. (L-R) Kenneth Jones, Tracy Thomson, Wendy Duke, Susie McIntyre and team leader John H Boyd.

Few Rotarians are aware that the seeds for the original G.S.E. concept were sown as far back as 1950 in Auckland, New Zealand. The idea of an exchange for business and professional people was first born during February and March of that year when this district hosted a group of six young men from Yorkshire (England), led by Dr. Geoff Morton. Eventually this exchange became a pattern for a similar one in 1956, which became a pilot program known as ROTA (Rotary Overseas Travel Award).

While reviewing the early stages of what would eventually become G.S.E., it was interesting to read the history and hear how it came to be. The ROTA idea was originally put forward in 1955 by Dr. Ralph Vernon as the District (39) project for Rotary’s (50th) Golden Anniversary year.

The exchange idea was patterned along the lines of the previous one in 1950 and actually took place in September of 1956 when six team members, lead by John Ledgerwood, travelled to Great Britain for a two-month excursion.

Rotarians liked and supported the program because it brought Rotary into contact with younger groups of people, including the Junior Chamber of Commerce, Young Farmers’ Clubs and Senior Secondary School students. Each member in the district contributed $2 that year to fund the project.

Following this second successful exchange experience, the District continued with the project over the next few years with the same financial arrangements. Exchanges were made with USA, Canada, India, Ceylon, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan and Pakistan. Since then, the district has been involved with special exchanges, such as an all female team from the U.S. and the first District to have a G.S.E. with Korea, lead by David Oakley.

By 1963 the program was submitted to Rotary Foundation for consideration to conduct worldwide exchanges. It was supported by the Rotary Foundation Trustees and Past R.I. President Harold Thomas from N.Z. Subsequently, Rotarians John Craig and Ralph Vernon, prime architects of the program in Auckland, assisted Evanston staff to design the "Exchanges of Study Groups" program which received final approval from the Foundation Trustees and R.I. Board of Directors in January 1964.

Since then, the name has been streamlined to G.S.E. (Group Study Exchange) and the program has had various policy and procedure refinements through the years. One thing that has not changed, however, is the overall purpose of helping improve world understanding through exchange visits of outstanding business professionals to develop good will and peace for the benefit of all mankind. This ripple effect grows and improves the world, one friendship at a time.

Like those above, many Rotarians have unknowingly cast stones upon the water through the years, causing ripples. Little did those few Rotarians know, back in 1950, that many lives would be changed and improved around the world as a result of their activities then. Once again, evidence that one person or one idea really can make a difference.

And what about you? Have you cast a stone or felt the ripple?

Golf in Amazing Thailand

In January 1998, Thailand was the proud host of the internationally renowned Johnny Walker Golf Classic in Phuket. This is the second time in four years that the prestigious tournament has returned to Thailand. On January 22 some of the world’s best golfers teed off in the four-day Classic. Some 150 golfers competed, including Ernie Els and the winner of this year’s Classic, Tiger Woods.

Thailand’s relationship with golf began early in the 20th century but it was in the 1920s when the Kingdom opened its first championship course that the sport began to take off. Since then, golf mania has grown steadily in Thailand.

The are some 200 golf courses around Thailand and local golfers are passionate about them, one better than the other. Not only are the courses amazingly challenging, they are also amazingly inexpensive, especially these days with the ‘floating’ baht.

The Kingdom offers some of the cheapest green fees anywhere. And the service you get while on the course is first class all the way. Caddies carry your clubs, shield you from the hot sun with an umbrella and give you a massage. The friendliness of Thai caddies is unmatched.

What’s more, on most courses there is a drinks hut every third hole, or at least two huts per nine holes. Golfers can sit down, sometimes in air-conditioning, and have a cold beer or juice and even a meal. Imagine what the clubhouses are like!

Some clubhouses are designed as Thai pavilions, and all specialise in Thai hospitality. Some have sports facilities including saunas, massage and a swimming pool. Most have different restaurants to choose from and some even have accommodations for those who’d like to spend more than a single day on the greens.

From Chiang Mai in the north to Phuket in the south, no matter where you travel, you are never far from a championship golf course. And with fine weather throughout most of the year, there is no end to our golf season.

Many of Thailand’s courses were designed by world-famous golfers and designers. The list includes names like Jack Nicklaus who designed more than 10 championship courses, Pete Dye, Gary Player and Nick Faldo.

Trent Jones first designed a championship course in Thailand for the 1975 World Cup. The course, Navathanee, is still recognised as on of the country’s best. Jones went on to design more than 10 courses in Thailand.

Where else in the world can you find a country with as many championship courses designed by world-famous pros?

Around Bangkok there are 40-50 courses to choose from, a real golfer’s paradise. Between Bangkok and Pattaya, golfers will never tire of the selection of courses.

As part of the Amazing Thailand 1998-1999 campaign, TAT is promoting golfing holidays with special packages being offered all over the Kingdom, either on their own or as part of an incentive trip or a business-cum-pleasure trip.

Last year TAT invited travel agents and tour operators from overseas to attend Thailand’s First Golf Travel Mart held between May 24-29, 1998.

About 250 golf packages tours were sold at the inaugural Golf Travel Mart held at Pattaya, Hua Hin ands Cha-Am. The event attracted more than 150 specialist sellers of golf holidays from Europe, the USA, Australia and Asia Pacific.

Buyers met with Thai travel agents, hotels, golf course management and other golf related businesses for informative briefings and course inspections. A friendly golf competition was also organised for delegates.

A gift from Petchburi

By Apirat "Add" Muangsirikul

The other day I and a friend had a chance to visit Petchburi Province. Since we were in the vicinity, we thought of visiting Cha-am at the same time to check out their beaches. Cha-am Beach in Cha-am District is not all that far from Pattaya. Both share the same bay, located opposite each other.

Plenty of free parking - with no time limit.

Cha-am is a beach resort which has been popular for quite some time. Many Thai and international tourists visit Cha-am during this time of the year, as the beach is soothingly clean, a pleasure for the eyes.

The service tourists receive in Cha-am is of good quality. There is also ample free parking space, and the area is well posted with information. There is also an officer on duty to ensure the safety of tourists, and the TAT has a center in Cha-am.

This horse is part of the beach.

After being there I must admit that there was a feeling of warmth and sincerity among the people. Food costs are also very reasonable, not like in some places where a strange face gets well done.

This piece of gathered information is put together for readers who may one day be passing through and may just stop over for an hour or two, in which case Cha-am is the place to go.

Ripley’s looking for anatomical extremes

The shortest, tallest, thinnest, and fattest person contest in Thailand is taking place at the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Pattaya and around the world.

The Ripley’s Believe it or not Museum in Pattaya is organizing a contest named "Extreme of all Extremes". The shortest, the tallest, the thinnest and fattest are all eligible to participate in this special event on the 14th of May at Ripley’s World of Entertainment on the 3rd floor of the Royal Garden Plaza.

The contest is a statistical competition, which will measure the extremes of each in order to try and gain another strange record for Thailand. Competitors from Pattaya will compete with the rest of the Ripley’s branches around the world.

Competitors will be tested for weight, height, personality and personal knowledge. The Museum will gradually collect and record the statistics of each competitor. Should any applicant have the height or the weight required to qualify, he or she will added to the list of eligible persons.

Those interested can apply free of charge up until the 8th of May 1999. There are no fees involved but entrants must be Thai and personally apply by taking along a photo, and a list of weight, height and personal history. Applicants can also phone to apply with Khun Rapiphan Ungsuksin of Public Relations at (02) 476 0021-2 ext.1835, or apply by post at Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Museum, 218 Moo 10, Beach Road, Nongprue, Banglamung, Pattaya, Chonburi 20260.

The winners of each category are eligible to win cash, a plaque and a certificate to prove the bizarreness from Ripley’s Believe It or Not! museum from the USA. Winners will be displayed in all Ripley’s branches around the world.

Mango symposium attracts worldwide attention

The sixth International Mango Symposium was held at the Merlin Hotel in Pattaya last week. No small affair, it attracted scientists from thirty countries, 170 foreign and 200 Thai delegates. Over three days they presented 110 scientific papers aimed at advancing know- how, technology and problem solving for the development of the mango industry. It was organized by the Kasetsart University and the International Society for Horticultural Science.

In his opening address Professor Suranant Subhadrabandhu of Kasetsart University said, "Mango has very high economic potential in many developing countries including Thailand. Besides being consumed locally in Thailand, mangoes are exported both fresh and processed. In 1997 Thailand exported 8,500 tons of fresh mangoes at an export value of 149 million baht.

"The Thai Government has included mango among other leading tropical fruits in her National Economic and Development Plans which help the development of the mango industry here," Dr. Suranant said.

Thailand was chosen for the symposium venue, as it is renowned for its many mango varieties together with continual research. Pattaya was selected because, "It is a well known international resort, not too far from Bangkok for Thais and overseas visitors. Additionally, in this Amazing Thailand year, we want to promote Thailand. Many delegates bring their wives who will have the opportunity to tour locally."

"Mango is one of the leading tropical fruits because it can be exported and is an important economic crop. The issues that will be addressed at this symposium are breeding mangoes for better cultivars, methods of growing quality mangoes, processing, various means of utilizing the product, the technology and technique of post harvest handling, packaging and marketing," concluded Dr. Suranant.

The Horticulture Research Institute of the Bangkok Department of Agriculture has produced an informative little booklet entitled, "Amazing Thai Mango". The book covers varied topics, including different mango products and traditional mango cuisine. Popular Thai dishes are pickled green mangoes, usually eaten with whiskey or steeped in syrup, Yam Mamuang, a hot and spicy mango salad, Nam Prik Mamuang, a rather hot and spicy mango dip served with vegetables or deep fried fish, and Khao Nieo Mamuang and Mamuang Phaen, Thai desserts. It appears that that the Thai people have found innovative ways to use mangoes. Have you experienced them all?

Madcap MEDCAP

The U.S Navy are in town again - this time not to play war games but to provide valuable community medical services on a Medical Civic Action Program, or MEDCAP mission as they call it. Seven hospital corpsmen, one dentist and one dental technician will be based here until mid April. "In the last two weeks alone we have given medical and dental treatment to 1500 Thai people in Rayong," said spokesman and mission organizer, HMC Jeff Butwoski.

Providing proper medical care to local children.

Last week saw the team devoting their day off to providing medical and dental care to the underprivileged children at the Fountain of Life School in Pattaya. Having met up with three members of the Jesters Motorcycle Club, which has made the Fountain of Life its special charity project this year, the MEDCAP were so impressed that they volunteered to do their bit, too.

In addition to giving dental hygiene talks they did medical and dental examinations and treatment for the 100 odd children. Thinking ahead, they even persuaded the day manager and receptionist from the Ban Nam Mao Resort where they are staying to attend and act as translators. As a farewell gesture the Medcap mission presented Sister Michelle, Fountain of Life Director, with medical supplies, vitamins, toothbrushes and toothpaste for the children. Thank you for your community spirit boys.

Monthly gourmet wine tasting in sight?

One doesn’t hear much from the Chaine de Rotisseurs lately - the last gala dinner in Pattaya was already one year ago. Also the wine club Confrerie de Bacchus doesn’t seem to exist anymore. So, for all those who joined either one or both, it was good news to learn about the newly launched Vintner’s dinner, held last Thursday at the Benjarong Restaurant of the Royal Wing at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort. The initiator of this special Vintner’s dinner was the Executive Vice President of the Cliff, Jean Fernand Wasser, who by all means knows how to appraise delicious food and wine, being a true Frenchman. The idea of the Vintner’s dinners, which are to be held every month, is to introduce samples of fine wines from various renowned wine merchants. Of course a gourmet dinner will always compliment this wine tasting.

The wines this week were perfectly presented by Bruno de Brisis, Export Manager of Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais, Bourgogne, in co-operation with Italthai Cellar, Bangkok. The wine tasting at the lobby bar of the Wing promised a lot. Yet the wines were even better. The combination of the wines together with the very delicious food, which was prepared under supervision of Chef Walter Thaenisch, was absolutely superb.

For example the Macon Villages 1997, a dry white wine, perfectly complimented the warm forest mushrooms with apple and balsamico vinaigrette. Mille-feuilles with mussels on a saffron sauce, an absolutely masterpiece, was served together with Pouilly Fuisse 1997, a light, fruity tasting white wine. A light red wine, Saint Amour Beaujolais, was presented With the main dish; roast beef with marrow and shallots on Burgundy sauce (truly one of Walter’s specialties).

The Rhubarb tartlet with yogurt ice cream, served at the end of the meal, was just the right choice of dessert before coffee or tea.

Mr. Wasser thanked all participants for an extraordinary evening and praised the wine presentation of Bruno de Brisis, the fantastic work of Walter Thaenisch and his crew, and Narong Charatsathian, Maitre de hotel.

Copyright 1998 Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
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Created by Andy Gombaz, assisted by Chinnaporn Sangwanlek.