His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great, the
Royal Patron of Rotary in Thailand, said on the occasion of the 50th
anniversary of Thailand Rotary, 15 December 1980: “Rotarians are symbols
and examples of the search for progress and stability of humanitarianism.
All of them … have heavy duties and have joined in co-operation in the
glorious attempt to seek methods and means for solution of problems we
face in times of crises.”
Judy
Hoppe receives her well-earned Past President’s badge.
As the Installation Night for the Rotary Club of
Jomtien-Pattaya was held last week, His Majesty’s words, spoken 25 years
ago, had a prophetic ring and much of the work and dedication of Rotary in
Thailand this year has been within the context of a post-tsunami
environment.
Appropriately, the 2005-2006 Rotary International Theme
is “Service Above Self” - the very epitome of Rotary’s philosophy -
as Rotary International heads for its 101st year.
In a splendid Installation ceremony last Saturday, the
mantle of the presidency of our own Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya,
founded in 1987, passed from 19th President Judy Hoppe to incumbent Cyril
‘Chris’ Gibbins.
President
Cyril ‘Chris’ Gibbins is all smiles as he is installed as the new
president of the club.
It had been a tremendous year for Centennial President
Judy, balancing her busy schedules, family commitments across the globe in
the USA and elsewhere and, most of all, her total dedication to the ideals
of Rotary.
She ran a good meeting, well organized and always laced
with humour and good fellowship. Slim, perfectly groomed, elegant, erudite
and always smiling, this lady could not have epitomized better the
celebrations for Rotary’s centenary.
On
behalf of the membership, PP Dennis Stark thanks Judy for a job well done.
Judy and husband Bruce, CEO of Copeland Emerson Climate
Technologies, a leading company on the Eastern Seaboard, have always been
great supporters of events on the Eastern Seaboard and in Jomtien-Pattaya,
especially charities dedicated to the younger Thai citizens.
As Judy said it so succinctly in her closing message,
“We are ordinary people helping our local community. This year the
Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya undertook many projects that have greatly
improved the lives of others.” For example, when the tsunami struck,
“Our club participated in the district-wide effort to provide immediate
assistance and, in co-operation with Lodge Pattaya West Winds, to build
shelters (for the devastated, homeless thousands in the southern
provinces),” Judy noted.
Clarisse
Brundo presents Supanee Dibbayawan with a bouquet of flowers.
Perhaps an even more significant contribution, Judy
continued, “Has been to promote education in the area, starting with the
establishment of the splendid North Star Library and Community Centre –
a much-needed facility for Thais and resident foreigners alike – and
participation in Education Day for Thai students.”
Judy also outlined a myriad of other projects and
charity events, ranging from the “Happiness Camps for Teachers”, the
providing of 200 scholarships for needy children, to assisting the
“Street Kids” with a soccer field. There were beds and medication for
the old peoples’ home, a Road Safety Campaign, support for the annual
“Jesters Care For Kids campaign, a ‘swimathon’ across Pattaya Bay,
in tough conditions to finish at the Dusit Resort beachfront and, not the
least, support for the 11th PC Classic yacht race, one of the major
fund-raisers for the year.
President
Judy receives her Paul Harris Fellow pin from PDG Premprecha Dibbayawan.
How was so much achieved under Judy’s presidency?
“It’s amazing how many things have been accomplished,” she surmised,
adding, “I am very proud of our club and its members for all their hard
work and dedication to serving the community.” That is the answer.
Cyril ‘Chris’ Gibbins, the 20th in line to carry
the Rotary Wheel, up from president-elect and numerous other positions
since becoming a Rotarian in 1981, he was also our “quizmaster
Supremo” during Judy’s administration, with some mind-racking
questions and lots of good camaraderie. Of course, all the teams were well
fortified with good Royal Cliff victuals, in our unique Rotary Room
ensconced permanently at the Royal Cliff Grand (the only RC world-wide to
have a ‘permanent home’), thanks to the generosity of Panga
Vathanakul, MD of the Royal Cliff.
PDG
Premprecha Dibbayawan and PP Peter Malhotra, two of the original charter
‘old guard’ members of the club.
In his 25 years of Rotary experience, Chris, like
founder Paul Harris at the inaugural meeting in Chicago 100 years ago,
“Encourages fellowship between like-minded professionals.”
In fact, Chris reiterates his own theme for his
2005-2006 tenure, saying, “I am basically a simple man of few words …
nothing deep or profound, just one word: fellowship, and my slogan for the
next year is ‘Have Fun In Rotary’.”
Recipients
of the Paul Harris Fellows, Helle Rantsen, Supakorn Noja, Father Phillip
Banchong, Henney Vermey, Bronwyn, Little-Carey, David Doll, Kees Peperkamp
and Peter Malhotra (above)
Unlike Chris, two-times Past President Peter Malhotra
(1992-93 and again from 11/2003-2004, when he replaced the ailing, now
late, David Jeater during the 2003-2004 presidency), is a man of many
words. But not one of them wasted. Every so often, Peter would espouse the
goals and aims of Rotary, reminding us of the immortal four-way test: Is
it the truth; Is it fair to all concerned; will it build goodwill; and is
it beneficial to all concerned.”
Graham
Hunt-Crowley excelled as the MC showing signs of one day becoming an
outstanding president himself.
Peter gave 100 percent of himself, rarely missing an
important fund-raiser, visits to the disadvantaged of the community –
especially the children – and, through the pages of the Pattaya Mail
and the Pattaya Blatt, never failing to bring to the attention of
the community-at-large to the good works being propagated by Rotary.
Yet he, too, looks on his highest achievement in the
past year as the promotion of fellowship. As he says it: “In the last
few months, we have converted our meeting room into a ‘House of
Friendship’. It has been a joy to come to the meetings and see happy,
smiling faces all around.” Undoubtedly, PP Malhotra always presents the
“happiest and smilingest” face.
The
Benjarong Awards: Henny Vermey, Jan Abbink, Jon Tellefsen, Kees Peperkamp,
Dennis Stark, Cyril Gibbins, Geoffrey Paston, Max Rommel, Peter Malhotra,
Alvi Sinthuvanik, Richard Haughton and Peter Cummins.
His counsels have always been wise, examining issues
from the broad perspective of his experience, position in the community
and, naturally as a man of many words, his many tongues!
Obviously, in the restricted space of a newspaper, we
cannot acknowledge all of the 26 members and 13 honorary members who, as
well as the board of directors, have all made contributions to the ongoing
programmes and projects. The excellent Year Book 2004-2005 covers this so
well.
The
Ceramic Awards: Martin Brands, Premprecha Dibbayawan, Peter Malhotra -Pattaya
Mail, Elfi Seitz -Pattaya Blatt, Graham Hunt-Crowley, Bruce
Hoppe and Willi Zimmerman.
The Instillation Night, held at the splendid Ballroom
of the Royal Cliff Grand was, indeed, a night of fine fellowship, Rotary
generosity and, certainly, a forerunner of incumbent President Chris’s
2005-2006 theme “Have Fun in Rotary”. With the usual beautiful layout,
polite, attentive staff of the RC, a sumptuous buffet and rivers of beer,
wines and spirits almost defying us to drain, outgoing President Judy
cited a long list of Rotarians honoured at the close of the evening:
Firstly were the President’s Awards and Judy, in her
inimitable style, maintained a running commentary on each Rotarian’s
achievements and contributions during the year.
It was, indeed, a memorable Installation Night and I am sure that on
behalf of the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya, I can congratulate PP Judy
Hoppe on her wonderful year and offer full support to incumbent President
Chris Gibbins for the year ahead.
President
Chris Gibbins and his new board of directors for the 2005-06 Rotary year.
Rotarians,
their families and members of the community attended this historic event.
(L
to R) Ian Dickson, Jeremy Coles and John Hamilton share a few tales over
ales.
(L
to R) Bobby Brooks, MD Pattaya Hill Resort, Simon Moran, vice-president
Asean Manheim Asia Pacific and U-daporn Phookduang, director of sales and
administration Sukhothai Associates Inter Law.
(L
to R) Ian Dickson (left), MD Bluescope Steel (Thailand) listens in whilst
Gary Woollacott, president of Austcham 2005-2006, says a few words to the
assembled masses.
(L
to R) Simon Matthews, country general manager of Manpower, Neil Russell,
operations manager of Manpower and Gary Woollacott, president of Austcham
2005-2006.
(L
to R) Ian Davey, Australian Embassy trade consul, Peter Williams from ISP
(Thailand) Co., Ltd., and Mark Butters, director of RSM Nelson Wheeler
(Thailand) Ltd.