Miriam Batliwala In Sight Dr Michael Moreton 21 September 2012 ...

President Nick PisalyaputPresident Elect Michael SchulzImmediate Past President Mark ButtersVice President Narain Suradejvibul ● Vice President Krin CharnmaytesakulService Projects Jon Plate ● Fund Raising Chip Bowness ● Rotary Foundation Dana CaronCommunications Junior Shaw ● Administration Morgan PerkinsTreasurer Rakesh Sodhia ● Secretary Vince Shueh ● Sergeant-at-Arms Douglas RiachDr Michael MoretonNo 245621 September 2012Miriam BatliwalaIn SightShe came, most of usthought she saw,and she definitelyconquered.She came with a huge familygroup, reveling in the dayand the chance to be inBangkok listening to Mimispeak.Saw, well I am sure there arestill some in the club whocannot believe that she islegally blind. Meeting her justafter she arrived and taking afew photographs, I wasamazed at her ability to getaround a new environmentwith no problems.Conquer, well that she didduring her rapid-fire talk thattook us from when she wasfirst diagnosed with an incurableeye disease to her latestadventure – writing and publishinga book on her life.Her story, and it is an absolutelyamazing one, has noend, and certainly as shesaid clearly, has no limitationsjust because of somesmall challenge in that shecannot see…In her talk, much to hermother’s chagrin, wish Icould have photographed heras she listened to her daughter,Mimi kept us amusedwith stories about how shelearnt to dance, play tennisand golf, become a yoga instructor,live and work in Europe,in short, achieve morethan most with vision.A thoroughly charming woman,her book sold like hotcakesand I can only hopethat her family enjoyed beingwith us as much as we enjoyedlistening to their amazing,daughter, sister or wife.

Flashback in PicturesHe started it by calling himself theGrumpy Old Walrus… We just took it onestep further this week with a handy prop.I cannot remember any speaker having somany family and friends along to supportthem as Miriam did this week.IPP Mark (FBV)and IPP Rene(FBC)If you know whatFBC and FBVmean, let meknow...In Sight by Miriam BatliwalaOne Woman’s Incredible Journeyfrom Darkness to Light.Rtn Elmar collecting 100 Bahtfrom PP John for Cosmos...

District Governor Club Visit CommentsIbegin every official visit byasking the President to give adescription of the club – itsorigins, strengths and weaknesses.Knowing this is importantto understand the present, whichis in turn important for understandingfuture prospects.You know your club's origins, butyou don't know mineI was born in the USA a long timeago but moved to Thailand at theage of seven. After graduatingfrom the International School ofBangkok, I completed universityin the USA. I immediately returnedto Thailand to work andhave remained here ever since.After 20 years in the courier industry,I became a consultant.Today I work at the Sasin GraduateInstitute of Business Administrationas Chief of Operationsfor the Centre for SustainabilityManagement.I have been a Rotarian for 18years – Bangkok South, the largestclub in the District, and thelargest club in Thailand. It's anEnglish-language club with strongfellowship and active communityprojects.That's my own story. What aboutRotary's background? I would liketo make a few points about ourorganization's origins that willhelp us understand where we aretoday.Rotary was founded byPaul Harris, as we allknow. But what we oftenforget is why Paul Harrisproposed such an organization,which was tohelp build friendshipssimilar to the relationshipsPaul Harris knewin the small town wherehe grew up.Friendship lies at theheart of Rotary, and alwayshas, ever since thefirst meeting 108 years ago. Servicecame later in Rotary's developmentas a means to cementand strengthen friendships.Our great organization has outlivedmany of its imitators andcontinues to be successful forthree reasons. First, it was builtnaturally from the ground up, overtime, and not from above, basedon a master plan. Rotary's foundationis therefore very strong.Second, it relies on the volunteerhands-on efforts of its members,not on paid professionals. Andthird, everything Rotary doesbuilds friendships among itsmembers, and between Rotariansand the community.But as big and strong as Rotary istoday, we need to remember thatit cannot be run like a company,for volunteers are not employees.Also, we should bear in mind thatRotary is not a charity organization,even if we sometimes practicecharity as part of our strategy.Finally, while we are open to allenthusiastic applicants, Rotary isan organization that may not besuitable to everyone.To become a Rotarian – as opposedto becoming a member ofRotary – one must have a skill setthat lends itself to teamwork andcommunity service; one musthave a spirit of volunteerism, andthe time to exercise it; and onemust have an overpowering desireto be of service.Almost no one is born with thesethree characteristics fully developed.We acquire them, overtime, with practice and with thesupport of our fellow Rotarians...our friends. Because friendship,the reason Paul Harris first proposedthe organization, remainsthe touchstone for Rotary's successtoday, and into the future.

Khun Khob’s Club AlmanacNo 2456 21 September 2012Happy BirthdaysThanakorn Telan (September 21)PP Chainarong Indharameesup (September 25)Wedding Anniversary GreetingsPeter Upperton (September 26)Attendance for 14 September 2012: 58%Present 38, Make-up 8, Absent 33Exemption 27, Total 106Visiting on 14 September 2012Local ClubsPP Rene ClausenKaren HochhauserFrom AbroadDan ChristensenDon MoultonDr Paresh LohaporiaShameem BatliwalaWendell ChristoffBangkapiBangkokNibe, DenmarkIrvina Las Colinas, USAMain Mumbai, IndiaGreen City Mumbai, IndiaLowell, USAInvited GuestsIntroduced byBernhard GrothElmar LinsDaniel EastwoodAlastair TimblickDennis De RoaqueIPP Mark ButtersNaiyana PukswarinRui BeloShaler JosephMiriam BatliwalaSheila BatliwalaMiriam BatliwalaSimone CallaiTom BankerTubby BatliwalaMiriam BatliwalaHelen ChristoffNathan ChristoffZubuir BatliwalaMiriam BatliwalaRecent Make-upCopenhagen, 5/09/12: Poul WebberBangkapi, 13/09/12: PP Andrew MacPhersonMake-up Credits"Rotary One" Day, 10/09/12: PP Andrew MacPherson,Thanakorn TelanService Projects, 10/09/12: A Topham, Arie Bloed, DRiach, PP J Quarmby, Jon Plate, Marcel Dubbelman, NarainSuradejvibul, Stuart Baker, Stuart LucaniProgram, 11/09/12: Alastair Timblick, PP A MacPherson,Colin Hasting, PP Don Lavoie, IPP Mark Butters, PP NarinderSachdev, Prasert Mangkornkarn, PP Renato PorzioClub CalendarFriday, 28 SeptemberMegumi HataRotary Ambassadorial ScholarFriday 5 OctoberOktoberfest at RCBSFriday 12 OctoberBob Van-EsPerfume Industry (Ladies Day)Friday 19 OctoberKen MaysBumrungrad Hospital MedicalTourismFriday 26 OctoberPimon Srivikorn, WTF Council MemberTaekwondo in ThailandFor Bangkok South Eventsrotarybangkoksouth.org/calendar-of-eventsOther Really ImportantDates to RememberThursday, 18 OctoberClub Social NightFriday, 2 NovemberCoins on SilomSaturday, 17 NovemberTawandang BreweryTuesday, 11 DecemberClub Christmas CelebrationThursday, 21 February 2013Paul Harris Dinner