Bulletin Issue 551 Volume 12  - No. 24 – 16th March 2018

(if you have any comments or questions, please contact the editor
 
________________________________________________________________________

Meeting Information

 ALL YEAR Dinner Out 1st Tuesday of each month 7pm at a restaurant

Meetings Friday 12.00 noon - 2pm @ Millennium Hotel in Jungceylon
Rat-U-Thit Road Patong Beach
 
Click for map
 
 
Visitors Welcome
registration mandatory
 
November – April 2nd 3rd & 4th Friday - May – October 2nd & 4th Friday only
 
Dress code - Smart-Casual
(long pants and shirts with collars for men, women: smart-casual)
 
Upcoming Events
Weekly Meeting -- Dr. Chantinee Boonchai
Millennium Resort Patong Beach Phuket
Mar 16, 2018
12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
 
ClubRunner Training
Millennium Resort Patong Beach Phuket
Mar 17, 2018
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
 
Preparation Meeting for incoming Board 2018/19
Phuket Villa Patong Beach (คอนโดมีเนียม ภูเก็ตวิลล่า ป่าตองบีช)
Mar 21, 2018
12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
 

Thought of the Week:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dear fellow Members & Friends,
Finally, back from our amazing trip to 'Ancient Egypt' - The land of Pyramids, Pharaohs, Goods & Kings, Cleopatra & Nefertiti - I was quickly drafted back into the world of Rotary.
With great honor and pleasure I became last Fridays lunch meeting guest speaker entertaining a huge crowed of members & guests with "Who am I"!
A bonus presentation in my capacity being 'Honorary Representative of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg' rounded up our excellent lunch.
As we have all noticed, March has arrived and in the cycle of the Rotary theme months, March is Literacy Month. When the concept of theme months commenced back in 1983 literacy was considered so important that it was the theme to start the Rotary year and July was the dedicated month.
Another important reminder to our membership is our forthcoming major fundraiser of the year coming soon in April.
If you have not done so, please help us generating much needed Dining vouchers, Hotel vouchers, any other vouchers or memorabilia for our silent auction & lucky draw.
Also book your tickets early to assure priority seating for best enjoyment.
Your Board & our Project Service Team has submitted some of our flagship charity projects for National Award recognition. Keep fingers crossed until April 6 when we'll find if we won. Shall revert!
Wishing you a great week and make it a productive one.

YIR
Andy Becker
President 2017/18
 
Recently problems have occurred with water treatment &
discharge in Patong. Dr. Chantinee, is a lecturer in the
Department of Technology at the Prince of Songkla
University, & a former speaker on the subject at the club
previously, will provide an update to the work she is
doing.
 
Steve Bender Leads another Dental team @ Patong Beach Hospital April 17 – 20
____________________________________________________________
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date: 2nd March 2018
Attendees: 20
Visiting Rotarians: 5
Visitors: 2
SAA: Gary
Photographer: Walter
Reporter: Bier
Guest speaker: Andy
Speaker’s subject: Who am I?


Important notes: AG Walter has announced that today is 550th bulletin anniversary. David was talking about fundraising in April; how to purchase tickets, online auction etc.


Editor Denis requested further details from PP David re the CARIBBEAN SUN SPLASH Fund Raiser @ Dream Beach Club on 7th April


PP David explained that the big fundraiser is set for 7 April and PP O.B. organized a meeting at the Dream Beach Club yesterday, to continue planning for what is sure to be a great event.
 
Help is still needed so please do sign up with PP O.B. or PP David to assist with this fundraiser.
The main way we raise money at these events is through our auctions and raffles.
 
We still need prizes for auctions, raffles and door prizes. Please do contact anyone you do business with and give them the opportunity to donate toward Rotary charity work, through a donation of something we can auction or raffle on the night.
 
We need all possible prizes from vouchers for restaurants, hotels, services, through any items that someone might wish to donate.
 
David also said that he had sent around a donation request letter to all members to use to help solicit donations and that any donor of a price with a value of 20,000 Baht or greater would receive extra recognition with their logo proudly displayed at the event, on the auction site and on rotarypatong.org and the Rotary Facebook page.
 
This year we are using an online auction to allow people to bid on items before the event and to win even if they cannot attend on the night. The online auction is now live and we have received in some bids already. Please see it by going to www.rotarypatong.org and clicking the online auction link, or by going direct to www.biddingowl.com/patongrotary and place your bids plus encourage friends and relatives to visit the site and bid. More auction items are going up on the site daily so be sure to check back often.
 
If we have enough Rotarians volunteer to help then we will have online bidding kiosks at the event and allow online bidding up to the last moment. If we are short of Rotarians then we will close the online auction at noon on the day of the event and use the highest bid placed online as the start of the silent auction. This will be advised before the event so bidders can have time to plan.
David also updated regarding the Water Filter project and the last few sets of the filters will be delivered on Monday to the Koh Sirae school and the BanYa learning centre.

Thank you PP David ed Denis
 

Guest Speaker President Andy Becker

Who Am I

Welcome

- Talk covers 3 parts, maybe 4 if time allows
- Part 1. The Beginning 2. The Middle 3. Dreams & Wishes yet to be fulfilled
- Part 4 City of Hamburg - Honorary Hamburg Ambassador in Hong Kong
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 

Part 1.

- born in Feb.'58 - Year of the Dog - in Hamburg; parents both Germans - refugee fleeing their respective homes during WW II;
- first born in a brut of 3 (1 bro/1 sis);
- spent childhood just outside Hamburg in farm country;
- parents build a big house on a beautiful piece of land;
- kids played outdoors most of the time football (soccer), cycling, climbing trees, chatting with friends, etc. etc. - for short a safe & happy childhood;
- surprise surprise - all without the use of "modern" technology...
- School time had its ups & downs - nothing special
- Left school when I was almost 18. starting my professional career as an apprentice in the field of Transport & Logistics;
- This took 2.5 years to complete finally holding a merchant diploma in hand;
- This gave me the ticket to explore the world of international business,


Part 2.

- One of the dreams has always been to work abroad especially Asia;
- Fascinated by the Asian culture, martial arts (Bruce Lee), food & climate!!!
- Arrived HKG in Jan'83 initially on a 3-year contract with same employer;
- Timing was perfect with the doors of China just starting to open;
- Although HKG has always been my home, I spent lots of time in China;
- Major cities Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou as well as many 2nd tier cities;
- Obviously China was still underdeveloped, but very hungry to learn! Fast!!
- Business in China & HKG grew very rapidly and I soon became part of senior management eventually No. 1 for many years;
- Traveling like crazy, entertainment with customers, business partners, subbies, HQ people, etc. was intense to say the least (Example: 15+weekly B/F, Lunch/Dinner engagements, sometimes 2 dinners early/late);
- In the midst of my career I got married to my lovely wife Mel and started a family. Got 2 terrific kids which sadly did not see much of me;
- Becoming a weekend Dad missing out a lot of 'normal' family life;
- Over time, my health started to suffer from all the "over everything indulgence", fatigue, jetlag's, etc. as well as constant pressure from all corporate stake holders;
- One of the Dreams was always to retire early;
- At 49. I got an opportunity & offer from my employer which was too good to be missed;
- After over 30 years of corporate "rat race" I was free! (At least that's what I thought);

- A sabbatical year later, I set up my own shop in HKG becoming Asia Partner in a global franchise dealing in Executive Search, Consultancy & M+A within the Transport & Logistics industry; Entrepreneur at last - no more reporting lines!!!
- This set-up allows me to travel to HKG regularly whilst working from home in Phuket. Perfect!
- Some other highlights:
a. Board Member of German Chamber of Commerce;
b. Board Member German Swiss Intl School (GSIS) - Examiner (Business)
c. Rotary Member in 2000
d. Hamburg Ambassador 2006
e. Managing Partner of Adi Consult/ Open mind 2009
 

Part 3.

- So, what's left?
- Kids are gone, wife & House still here!
- Good health & wealth needs to be taking care of;
- Maintaining good friends & harmony within the family is important. Very!
- Happy wife - Happy life;
- Thank you
 

Part 4.

Hanseatic City of Hamburg (PPP)
 
Thank you, President Andy,
Reporter:
K Bier + David Arell Photographer: Gary Eidsvik Moody
Thank you, ed Denis
Twenty-five persons joined the dinner with 13 Rotarians with their Wives & Partners. Plus assorted Friends of Rotary.
 
 
Last week’s Dinner Out on Tuesday - March 6th at 19:00 was at 'Taste in Kamala, which offered an extensive Menu of mouth-watering dishes, for all tastes & budgets, such as their Signature Gambas Al Pil Pil, wonderful Flat Breads, Lamb & Beef dishes etc.. all at reasonable prices, plus Drinks were also offered at attractive rates, such as Cocktails at 129THB!, plus for Wine Lovers, we were able to BYO with NO CORKAGE charge & many of us took of advantage of this kind offer & also bought Rotary Wines courtesy of President Andy.
 
It was a really Fun & Delicious ‘Dinner Out’ & with a Great Turn out in what is becoming the not to be missed Restaurant in Kamala!
YIR P.P. Richard.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Thank you PP Richard
-ed Denis
 
 
 
 
 

WRONG E-MAIL ADDRESS

 
 
 
A lesson to be learned from typing the wrong email address!

A Minneapolis couple decided to go to Florida to thaw out during a particularly icy winter.
They planned to stay at the same hotel where they spent their honeymoon 20 years earlier.
Because of hectic schedules, it was difficult to coordinate their travel schedules.
So, the husband left Minnesota and flew to Florida on Thursday, with his wife flying down the following day.

The husband checked into the hotel.
There was a computer in his room, so he decided to send an email to his wife.
However, he accidentally left out one letter in her email address, and without realizing his error, sent the e-mail.

Meanwhile, somewhere in Houston, a widow had just returned home from her husband's funeral.
He was a minister who was called home to glory following a heart attack.
The widow decided to check her e-mail expecting messages from relatives and friends.
After reading the first message, she screamed and fainted.
The widow's son rushed into the room, found his mother on the floor, and saw the computer screen which read:

To: My Loving Wife
Subject: I've Arrived
Date: March 19, 2017
I know you're surprised to hear from me.
They have computers here now and, you are allowed to send emails to your loved ones. I've just arrived and have been checked in.
I've seen that everything has been prepared for your arrival tomorrow.
Looking forward to seeing you then!
Hope your journey is as uneventful as mine was.
 
P. S.: Sure is hot down here !
 
 
 
Egypt - Land of Pyramids & Pharaohs
 
 
 
Birthdays
Member Birthdays
Jaspal Khanijou
March 5
 
Al Carthew
March 7
 
 
 
Rotary District 3330
District Governor - Dr. Peera Farmpiboon (RC Krabi)