Rotary continues to bring clean water and sanitation to those in need

Project to help Pattaya kids

Rotary honors Father Patin

Rotary continues to bring clean water and sanitation to those in need

Rot. B. Phillip Webb Jr.
October 13, 2007, was a joyous occasion when the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya completed their clean water project for the Baan Nork School in Huay Yai (approximately 45 minutes from Pattaya).

Young actresses prepare for their thank you show.
President Jan Abbink stated, “It has been quite difficult, from start to finish.” He continued by saying, “Leaking pipes, leaking storage tanks, clogged septic tanks, electrical problems, termite infested buildings and a plethora of other obstacles seemed to surface; as we were correcting one problem, another one would surface. But in the end, it was truly a ‘labor of love’ and one project that all of us are deeply proud of.”
President Jan was sincere in his praise for the hard work and generous donations Rotary received; “A myriad of thanks goes out to several Rotarians. Past President Steve Smith and his Rotary Club, Watford (UK) for their generous monetary contribution, Past President Chris Gibbins, Dennis Stark and Khun Noiy; also, Lloyd Jones for the very difficult task of ‘breaking the ground’ work. And lastly, Michael Lambauer and his staff at Lomatec that installed their advanced water filtration system.”
Rotary’s fundamental intention of involvement in the Baan Nork School, Clean Water & Sanitation Project is to provide clean drinking water for the children, and at the same time, improve the humanitarian relations within the Thai communities throughout Thailand.

Jan Abbink describes how the new clean water filtration system is one of many projects Rotary undertakes to help make the world a better place.
Ann M. Veneman, UNICEF executive director says, “Waterborne illness kills a child every 15 seconds and underlies much of the world’s disease and malnutrition.”
Rotary believes every child has a right to clean drinking water, and Rotary’s focus it to provide as much clean drinking water to as many children as possible.
Through the clean drinking water projects, Rotary hopes to develop a mutual trust and respect between the Thai people, which enhances the viability of Rotary, and the clean water projects as well as other Rotarian projects.
Max Rommel, Past President of Jomtien-Pattaya Rotary Club stated, “Don’t drink the water is a meaningless prevention if you don’t have any other options.” He also said, “If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in clean water.”
In the next 24 hours, diarrhea caused by unclean water and poor sanitation will claim the lives of 4000 children. How long do we wait? How long must we consider the devastation of not having clean water, and how it will affect our most precious commodity, the children? Get Involved! Take action! Save Lives!
If you would like to know more about Rotary’s clean water projects and how you can help eradicate this serious problem of Thailand, then we would like to extend to you a cordial invitation to attend one of our weekly Rotary meetings. We meet on Wednesday’s at 6:30 p.m. at The Royal Cliff. (Royal Grande, 2nd floor). Or you may contact Dennis Stark at 038 734 076 for info or directions.
Rotary is a non-profit organization working collaboratively with many countries around the world. The projects Rotarians get involved in are cost-effective, sustainable, most respectful and are always much-needed in the communities that they serve.

Children at Baan Nork School in Huay Yai are very happy to now have clean drinking water.

Jan Abbink (left) makes the presentation of a clean water filtration system and water flasks at Baan Nork School in Huay Yai.

Stefan Ryser (2nd left) presents some of his learning English CDs to the school.

Project to help Pattaya kids

Vimolrat Singnikorn
A project to help street children was proposed at a Pattaya City Hall meeting on October 18 by Assistant Professor Dr Sutharawadee Tienpichet of the Faculty of Nursing at Burapha University.

Assistant Professor Dr. Sutharawadee proposes organizing the “Tanon Dek Dern/Children’s Street Project” for local children.

Dr Sutharawadee said that the Tanon Dek Dern Project would be for children in Chonburi Province, and that a similar project had earlier been organized at King Rama IX Royal Park on Prayasatja Road in Bangkok on June 22 this year.
Pracha Taerat, governor of Chonburi Province said that every municipality in Chonburi should become involved.
The Tanon Dek Dern Project has evolved out of the Child Watch Report, which has been carried out throughout the country. Results of the research show that youngsters with problems tend to indulge in risky behavior, due to lack of supervision and support.
The project is being organized as a strategic method for developing children, and as a concept was submitted to Government House on January 12 last year. In cooperation with provincial governors and local leaders, it started in August 2006.
Dr Sutharawadee said there are four important factors for the quality of children’s development (4Q 4Kids), namely Quality Family, Quality Media, a Quality Education, and Quality Space.

Rotary honors Father Patin

 (L to R) Steve Dibbayawan, Pratheep Malhotra, Dennis Stark,
Father Patin, Radchada Chomjinda, J.T. Warring, Jan Chris von Koss,
and Premprecha Dibbayawan pose in front of the Father Ray statue
during the presentation ceremony.

Father Patin (left) accepted his award from J.T. Warring (right) at the Pattaya orphanage amidst dozens of cheerful children.

Paul Strachan
The chief executive officer of the Father Ray Ministries is Father Lawrence Patin, a man who dedicates his life to taking care of the underprivileged here in Pattaya. He continues Father Ray Brennan’s work and today Father Patin oversees the running of the Pattaya Orphanage, the Home for Street Children, the School for the Blind, the School for the Deaf and the Redemptorist School for the Disabled.
In recognition of Father Patin’s great humanitarian work, Rotary International recently presented him with the Paul Harris Fellowship award, one of the highest made by Rotary for outstanding personal service. The presentation took place at the Pattaya orphanage amidst dozens of cheerful children.
Assistant Governor from District 5320 USA, J.T. Warring, representing the Southern California and Newport Irvine Rotary Club, flew in from the USA to present the award. Also on hand for the presentation were Past District Governor District 3340 (Thailand) Premprecha Dibbayawan and District Governor Elect District 3340 Pratheep Malhotra.
Assistant Governor J.T. Warring presented the award to Father Patin, telling him that he now has an open invitation to any Rotary Club in the world. Smiling wryly, he added that Father Patin might want to start by visiting any of the five clubs here in Pattaya.
Warring also mentioned that although he had known Father Ray Brennan for many years, he had only just found out that Father Ray had actually been the president of the first Rotary Club here in Pattaya - therefore he felt is was very fitting that the fellowship was presented to Father Patin.
Father Patin expressed his gratitude for the award, saying that he felt very humbled, if not a little overwhelmed, as in his eyes he is only doing his job.
During his acceptance, Father Patin thanked the Rotary Clubs of California and the local clubs, all of which have offered invaluable assistance to him over the years. He said that he shares the award with his team of 200 people who all help in the day-to-day running of the Father Ray Ministries, from the nannies to the executive secretaries.
Pratheep Malhotra said it was an honour to present this award alongside his fellow Rotarians from California, and said he was delighted that the good work done here is known overseas. He had known Father Brennan for many years and knows his legacy lives on through the work of Father Patin with the various schools and orphanages. All are going from strength to strength for the good of our children and the good of our community. Pratheep pledged to continue to give his support in any way he could.
Past President of Rotary Club Jomtien-Pattaya Dennis Stark was also present and congratulated Father Patin for this achievement, saying that Father Brennan had done a wonderful job and that Father Patin was continuing. He hopes that the good work will continue for man many years.

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