The challenge this year will be to build a club to make our District 3330 proud.
We will start the new Rotary year in July with record membership; our second female president heading a very active board--and an ongoing need in the Phuket community for our support.
President-elect Stephanie Urchick has revealed the 2024-2025 presidential theme, The Magic of Rotary. Here is the official logo to be used. President Stephanie's message: "We are not going to end polio or bring peace to the world by waving a wand. It's up to you. You create the magic with every project completed"
President’s Message
After, hopefully, a good start to the new year, we now concentrate on the remaining six months of our Rotary year.
At the AGM last year, we elected a new board for the 2024-25 term. Our President-Elect Cabbie Rein, is already preparing and planning with her team for the new Rotary year.
Traditionally, the second half of a Rotary year is filled with district and training events for the President-Elect, board members, trainers, etc., and the District conference, which takes place in Surat Thani from March 29-31.
With the Children’s Day on January 13th, we already had our first little project – see separate article – this year and with Todd Blankship’s Fundraiser Swim Challenge Phuket, raising funds for our legacy swim program for children.
In early April, we have our traditional fundraiser, organized by PP O.B. and his team, which has been an iconic party and the key event for raising our funds for many years.
Public Image Chair Frank Walbaum resigned for personal reasons from his post, and I would like to thank Frank for his dedicated and successful work as P.I. chair for the last 18 months.
With over 40 members, our Rotary Club is in good health, and by the end of June, we might have a few more. I’m looking forward to the second half of the Rotary working with the board and all the members to achieve a few more goals.
Note: Being president and president-elect can be fun.
Yours in Rotary
Walter Wyler
Take a Break
Calling Public Speakers
Admin chair Rtn Joe does a sterling job every week finding us a guest speaker. It not an easy task. Joe is therefore asking members to dial through their address books to find one or two people you may know who could address our weekly meeting. Please contact Joe by email
Todd's Epic Swim For Saving Young Thai Lives
Todd Blankenship left Phuket on 20 January at Bang Tao Beach to begin his epic swim around the island.
He swam around 100 kilometres in the first week of the 140 km swim, but stopped for rough weather last week.
Once he completes his swim on 3 February at Bang Tao Beach a block party featuring Moody's live music, DJ Karim from Italy, Thai dancers and a fire show will celebrate his success.
Free Tickets
All tickets include a free Singha beer, huge discounts at The Local, Golden Fish, Wave bar, Beach Pig and Tiki Hut. All ticket holders also stand the chance to win lucky draw prizes.
Money raised goes toward our learn to swim programme.
Congratulations to Rtn Frank and Todd for this great event.
Note: When the Bulletin went to press Todd was due to finish his swim on Saturday, 3 February 2024.
Dinner Out February
"Over my expectations of having tasty authentic local Thai food here. A must to have and highly recommend." --review.
This is a noodle shop where the good old Thai noodle gets the star treatment. The restaurant was created by Chef Gor, formerly of the swanky Twin Palms Resort in Surin Beach. The Thai noodles are a real treat (chicken Kao Soi anyone), but you can also get Vietnamese and Malaysian dishes. If you want to experience a genuine Thai noodle shop, then pull up a seat, grab the chopsticks, spoon or fork and make Chef Gor's day.
A jolly good turn out of fifteen Rotarians, plus supporters, scooped up hundreds of ice creams and painted scores of kid's faces at the Thailand National Children's Day big event in Patong on Saturday,13 January 2024.
National Children's Day ("Wan Wek" in Thai) is celebrated on the second Saturday of January every year. This day is celebrated with fun activities for children and introduces them to their significant role towards the development of the country.
Various important Rotarians, including President Walter, became ice-cream boys and girls as the kids--and many adults--sought relief from the hot day with a little cone of chocolate (the favourite) and other ice-creams.
Cute Faces
Meanwhile President Elect Cabbie, Rtns Shiho and Nicha plus Rotary exchange student Leah Brown and Secretary Anand's wife Sonia tried out their artistic talents on cute Thai faces before the little tikes lined up for a soothing ice-cream.
Scooping
Doing the scooping, cone handling and toppings or just lending their moral support were Rtns Bill, Alastair, Lineke, Jacky, Acha, Frank, Shiho, Nicha, Joe, PP Best, President Elect Cabbie, Secretary Anand, PP David, and President Walter. Jack Eisman, a friend of Jacky's also put in a sterling performance on the scooping. Leah, Lincoln and Able Wanamakok and K Sonia all got stuck in.
Our thanks to Khun Wannachai from Piahong Ice Cream company (0954245264) who was on hand to supply the ice cream and cones.
Thank You Thomas
Our swim programme received a huge boost this month when Thomas Bihler, a German who is interested in joining our club, donated B230,000 (Euro6000) for the programme.
Thomas is the chairman and co-founder of the Munich Airport Association ( Flughafen München GmbH (FMG).
He is dedicated to supporting people in need directly and immediately.
Thomas attended the Thailand Children's Day event where he handed over a giant check for the donation. Thank you Thomas, and Rtn Frank for introducing Thomas to the club.
Thomas was obviously partial to one of our delicious ice-creams dished up by Rtn Lineke and enthusiastic helper on the day, Jack Eisman.
Our tireless membership chair, PP David, on the job.
And We're Off! Our First 2024 Meeting
President: Walter
SAA: Rtn Bill.
Report: Rtn Uma and President Walter
Rtn Uma and President Walter provided nice reports on our first weekly meeting on 9 January 2024.
Feature of the evening was the induction of Lineke Van Nederpelt (sponsor Rtn Jacky), introduced by Rtn Alex; and Acha Chupoh, introduced by PP David. Welcome Lineke and Acha and thank you for pushing our membership to a new record of forty-two.
Acha is Thai and a member of the Akha hilltribe. He has a Batchelor in Business Administration and worked for Chem Dry for many years. Acha helps the elderly, children to stay in school and helps out at temples.
Lineke is Dutch but has lived offshore for many years working in the corporate governance, Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and hospitality sectors. She worked in Singapore but has lived on Phuket for the last three years.
Guests introduced were Thomas Blehler (Ryn Frank); Keven Freedman (Rtn Bill); Mark Majszak (PP Karen) and Joom Sansabai (Rtn Bill).
Thomas Bihler is founder and president of the Flughafenverein Muchen e.V. in Munich, Germany. His organization donated Euro6000 (B230,000) toward our swimming programmes. Todd Blankenship's Swim Challenge Phuket motivated Thomas to support the project. Thank you for your generosity, Thomas.
Our Rotary exchange student, Leah Brown, shared her experiences in Thailand so far as a young American from Indiana; comparing her classroom in the USA vs Thailand; Thai food vs American food.
There was a reminder of the Children's Day on 13 January where Rotarians were to scoop out ice-cream to kids at Lama Park on Patong Beach.
SAA Bill shared a funny monkey story vs sling shot then the night ended, as Uma put it, "end of night, happy hundred, happy ending!"Thank you, Uma--and Shiho for the pictures--for a job well done.
Global Grant Handover.
President Elect Cabbie and PP Best represented our club on 19 January at the handover in the Raj Pracha Samasai Institute in Samut Prakan of a Global Grant (#2342607) led by the Rotary Club of Poochaosamingprai and RC Fuijeongbu-Hoiryong from South Korea for B3.710 million(USD$100,000). The money will be used to equip local hospitals with hemodialysis machines and a RO water system need to support the machines.
The first four machines are phase one of a multi-year project aiming at providing twenty machines. In Thailand kidney failure is a challenge facing medical professionals caused by issues such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and poor diet. Hemodialysis treats kidney failure by cleaning the blood with a filter on a regular basis.
Pictures: PP Best did the honours on behalf of our club with his usual aplomb and President Elect Cabbie met Khun JakChai, the Governor elect for District 3330 at the same time Cabbie becomes our president in July.
OB's Big Bash: Love the Children Charity Gala
Here are the details.
Date: Friday, 5 April 2020
Venue: Underwood Junkyard Theatre, Bypass Road (next to Ikea-parking in front)
Time: 7 pm to 11 pm
Cost: B5500 each. Table of six B33,000.
Book early because the last two years were sold out.
Entertainment/Fund Raising: Extraordinary musical dinner show. Silent and live auctions. Delicious food with perfect free-flow wine pairings. Vegetarian options available.
Note: All images are from last year's event on 15 April. OB rocking it, as usual; ladies doing a mysterious dance to the gods, and PP David in colourful haute couture off the Milan catwalk.
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Weekly Meeting, 16 October 2023
Host: President Walter.
SAA. Rtn Joe.
Speaker: Rtn JP (Who Am I?)
A small but perfectly formed group of Rotarians (11) plus one regular guest (Rtn Joe's friend, Keven Freedman) heard President Walter gong the meeting into life with a louder than normal...er...gong!
Keven informed the group that photographs from the Christmas Party were on the way; P Walter advised thirteen people were to attend the District Conference in Surat Thani and that a review of the constitution and by-laws is almost complete ready for presentation to the next club assembly.
OB's Big Bash
OB the outlined what he has in store for his big April fund raising bash--"OBOPEN11, PHUKET--and it's a lot. Four days of tennis, golf, a sunset cruise, elephant rides, a Junkyard Theatre show and a Kajoksee nightclub dinner party.
The various titles for each day are Thursday, April 4 "Help the Children;" Friday April 5, "Love Yourself;" Saturday, April 6, "Love Yourself;" and Sunday, April 7 the appropriately named, "Restoration."
OB outlined his philosophy on fund raising, which he has done for the club over 13 years (this may be his last). "Spend the charity money, there's a need out there." P Walter remarked, to applause, that without OB's fund raising efforts over so many years our club would hardly cease to exist.
Who Am I?
Then it was time for the show. JP's "Who Am I" was a tour-de-force of strong emotions as he detailed his life so far from his birth in Casablanca, Morocco in 1959; losing a younger brother to cancer early on, moving to Hong Kong at age 17; marrying and becoming a father at age 28. How life in Hong Kong moved a bit too fast for him and he had to stop, restart and rebuild, all the while raising three children of which is his obviously enormously proud.
Emotional Crash
JP described how he had an "emotional crash" just before 2000 but found Buddhism which enabled him to build a new life. He also met Shiho, his now wife. Life moved into other spheres--scuba diving, discovering the beauty of sharks, losing his beloved father and having a long overdue eye operation.
JP ended with a personal message of hope: "Enjoy the simple things in life. I want to die a better man than I was before."
Thank you JP for your enormously thoughtful address.
PP David thanked JP and the meeting closed ahead of schedule at 8.55 p.m.
Thanks Four Points
In our ongoing series of paying thanks to our lovely staff at Four Points, we introduce Khun Kevin, master of the power point presentation and one of the polite staff who check us inand take our money three times a month. Kevin is one of the efficient techno types (the other is Khun M) who ensures our the National Anthem and presentations all run smoothly. We also feature a new dessert delight, the lookchup. A colourful addition to the delicious buffet. It is an acquired taste but beats the passionfruit for looks.
P.S. Cabbie didn't like it.
Stephanie A. Urchick
President-elect 2023-24
Rotary Club of McMurray
Pennsylvania, USA
Our new President -elect internationally for 2023-24, Stephanie Urchick, is a member of the Rotary Club of McMurray, Pennsylvania, USA. She will serve RI as president in 2024-25. She has been an RI director and Rotary Foundation trustee. She has served RI in numerous capacities, including as training leader, regional Rotary Foundation coordinator, and RI president's representative. In addition, Stephanie was a representative and member-at-large to three sessions of the Council on Legislation.
Stephanie has also served as chair of the Rotary Strategic Planning Committee and The Rotary Foundation's Centennial Celebration Committee, as well as a member of various Rotary committees, including the Election Review Committee and Operational Review Committee.
Rotary Since 1991
A Rotary member since 1991, Stephanie has participated in a variety of international service projects, including National Immunization Days in India and Nigeria. In Vietnam, she worked with clubs to help build a primary school and traveled to the Dominican
Speaks Several Languages
Republic to install water filters. A student of several Slavic languages, she has mentored new Rotary members in Ukraine and coordinated a Rotary Foundation grant for a mammography equipment and a biopsy unit for a hospital in Poland. In its commemorative book, the Rotary Club of Krakow, Poland, noted Stephanie as a key figure for helping the re-birth of Rotary in post-Communist Poland.
Ukraine
Currently, Stephanie is helping to partner clubs and districts in the U.S. with Rotary clubs in Albania, Kosovo, and Ukraine for humanitarian and educational services.
Stephanie's professional background is in the higher education, consulting, and entertainment industries. She received her doctorate degree in Leadership Studies from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and has been recognized and awarded by The Rotary Foundation and numerous community and international organizations.
Pitching In for Orphans
Five Rotarians and their partners pitched in on Saturday, 20 January at Blue Tree to stuff 500 "goody packs" worth B500 each full of goodies to be distributed to five orphanages on Phuket under the auspices of AusCham CSR. Secretary Anand and Rotarians Alex, Alastair, Erik and Matthew did a good impression of working on the line at an Amazon or Lazada factory stuffing drawing books, drink bottles, snacks, toys, pens, flavoured mile and various chocolate bars into boxes. It was a good example of various organisations on Phuket working in co-operation with each other to help the orphans. Thanks to Alex and Matthew for your organization of this event..
Monthly Meeting
23 January 2024
Presiding: PE Cabbie.
SAA: PP Karen
It was ladies night at our 23 February meeting, with PE Cabbie hosting in P Walter's absence; PP Karen as SAA and our elegant and interesting guest speaker, Ms Lyn Kok, founder and CEO of MULA-X, a company aimed at helping underserved communities in South East Asia to achieve financial freedom.
A full house of four large tables with 14 Rotarians 12 guests. Cabbie gonged us into action with a rather timid gong compared to P Walter's hearty efforts. Guests were introduced and dinner served, featuring yummy chocolate and coconut balls that should be repeated in future.
Block Party on 3 February
Cabbie reminded members of the 3330 District Conference in Surat Thani on March 29-31; of the block party at Bang Tao Beach on 3 February to celebrate Todd Blakenship's successful swim around Phuket and related her trip to Samut Prakan with PP Best to hand over four dialysis machines from the Global Grant our club contributed to. Cabbie pledged to work on obtaining more machines during her year as president.
1052 Eyeglasses
Rtn Bill reported the projects committee would be distributing 1052 eyeglasses to schools and PP OB urged members to sign up for the major fund raiser on 5 April.
Lyn Kok assisted by her associate, Akash Sachdev, then talked about Lyn's company, MULA-X, a non-profit which has developed a digital lending and learning platform enabling instant access to load and knowledge to help the less empowered employees in an organization. The concept aims to enable financial empowerment to retain and motivate employees. She outlined the relationship between stress and mental health and its effects on employee behaviour. Several case studies demonstrated how the system works, including a points system for good behaviour, cash in hand rewards for earning points, certificates for face to face training a learning through a digital platform.
The evening ended with several questions about MULA-X and whether it would be effective with Thai employees. Karen then told a long joke, a generous amount of B100s was collected, and Cabbie led a toast to "being a caring person." The meeting closed at 8.55 pm. For more information about MULA-X click here for their website.
Take a Break
President Walter's beautiful little dog, Tobi, got into the Christmas spirit.
Monthly meeting
30 January 2024
Host: President Walter Wyler.
SAA: Rtn Jacky
Sixteen people, including two guests attended: Kevin Freedman (a regular guest) and David Gisby a principal at Tonsai Marine services, a guest of Rtn Jacky. David supports Disabled Sailing Thailand and the boats of several other members.
In club news Todd Blakenship's around Phuket swim finishes on Saturday with a big celebration party on Bang Tao Beach (see previous story and go to our Facebook page for information and details).
Invitations to members were due out on Thursday, 1 February 2024.
A German Rotary club who pledged Global Grant matching money for the Lenses for Learning program will STILL provide the promised funds even though our Global Grant application was not approved in its current form.
Our guest speaker was Samatha McCue of Seeds of Change (SOC), a non-profit dedicated to empowering underprivileged individuals in our very own Phuket.
Since 2013 SOC's mission is to break the cycle of poverty by providing education, vocational training, and an “Earn as you Learn” program that equips underprivileged people with employment skills.
Here is what SOC do:
Empower Thai and Burmese communities
Transforming lives: How practical skills lead to gainful employment, boosting confidence and self-reliance.
Invest in Phuket: Strengthening our local community and economy.
With the Children’s Day on January 13th, we already had our first little project – see separate article – this year and with Todd Blankship’s Fundraiser Swim Challenge Phuket, raising funds for our legacy swim program for children.
He swam around 100 kilometres in the first week of the 140 km swim, but stopped for
rough weather last week.
All tickets include a free Singha beer, huge discounts at The Local, Golden Fish, Wave bar, Beach Pig and Tiki Hut. All ticket holders also stand the chance to win lucky draw prizes.
Various important Rotarians, including President Walter, became ice-cream boys and girls as the kids--and many adults--sought relief from the hot day with a little cone of chocolate
(the favourite) and other ice-creams.
on hand to supply the ice cream and cones.
Feature of the evening was the induction of Lineke Van Nederpelt (sponsor Rtn Jacky), introduced by Rtn Alex; and Acha Chupoh, introduced by PP David. Welcome Lineke and Acha and thank you for pushing our membership to a new record of forty-two. 
Our Rotary exchange student, Leah Brown, shared her experiences in Thailand so far as a young American from Indiana; comparing her classroom in the USA vs Thailand; Thai food vs American food. 
The various titles for each day are Thursday, April 4 "Help the Children;" Friday April 5, "Love Yourself;" Saturday, April 6, "Love Yourself;" and Sunday, April 7 the appropriately named, "Restoration." 
Who Am I?
Morocco in 1959; losing a younger brother to cancer early on, moving to Hong Kong at age 17; marrying and becoming a father at age 28. How life in Hong Kong moved a bit too fast for him and he had to stop, restart and rebuild, all the while raising three children of which is his obviously enormously proud. 
and take our money three times a month. Kevin is one of the efficient techno types (the other is Khun M) who ensures our the National Anthem and presentations all run smoothly. We also feature a new dessert delight, the lookchup. A colourful addition to the delicious buffet. It is an acquired taste but beats the passionfruit for looks.
Stephanie A. Urchick
good impression of working on the line at an Amazon or Lazada factory stuffing drawing books, drink bottles, snacks, toys, pens, flavoured mile and various chocolate bars into boxes. It was a good example of various organisations on Phuket working in co-operation with each other to help the orphans. Thanks to Alex and Matthew for your organization of this event..
speaker, Ms Lyn Kok, founder and CEO of MULA-X, a company aimed at helping underserved communities in South East Asia to achieve financial freedom.
February to celebrate Todd Blakenship's successful swim around Phuket and related her trip to Samut Prakan with PP Best to hand over four dialysis machines from the Global Grant our club contributed to. Cabbie pledged to work on obtaining more machines during her year as president.
works, including a points system for good behaviour, cash in hand rewards for earning points, certificates for face to face training a learning through a digital platform. 
Our guest speaker was Samatha McCue of Seeds of Change (SOC), a non-profit dedicated to empowering underprivileged individuals in our very own Phuket.
