Dear Fellow Rotarians, Donors and Friends,
As my term as President of the Chiang Mai International Rotary Club is coming to an end, I want to express my heartfelt appreciation for the privilege to serve as the leader over the past year.
This year, the Rotary theme has been "Imagine Rotary." I am inspired by how our club has embraced this call to action. We have imagined a better future for children in our community, and we have taken concrete steps to make that future a reality.
I am grateful to our Board of Directors, who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that our club runs efficiently.
I also want to express my appreciation to each and every one of our members for your unwavering dedication and passion to fulfill our mission of Service Above Self. Your unique perspectives, skills, and contributions have made our club stronger and more effective. Whether it was through organizing events, volunteering your time, donating money or advocating for our causes, each effort has played a crucial role in our collective success.
Without the support and contributions of our donors, our efforts would not have been possible. Your generosity has been the fuel that has powered our initiatives. Through your kindness and commitment, we have been able to provide essential resources and fund projects to better the lives of those in need.
As I pass the torch to the Incoming President, Roger Lindley, I have no doubt that our club will continue to thrive and make a positive impact on the lives of children in Northern Thailand.
This experience has been one of the most rewarding of my life, and I am grateful for all the memories and experiences I will take with me. I look forward to seeing all the amazing things that our club will imagine and achieve in the future.
Thank you.
Yours in Rotary,
Viki Thomason
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In May, as summer break ended, our school-based Children’s Water Safety & Drowning Prevention Program resumed. We are now back to teaching survival swimming and water safety to all 4th and 5th graders at the eleven Chiang Mai Municipal Schools and eleven schools in Phrao as well as 4th-graders at the Wat Suan Dok School in Chiang Mai.
New patients, both children and adults, have arrived at the Burma Children Medical Fund B.K. Kee Patient House. Sadly, recent arrivals include older patients with visible war wounds.
Students at the BEAM Education Foundation are preparing for their GED exam. The CMIRC Board of Directors has just completed a vote on extending 190,000 Bt to fund Tests of General Educational Development for seventeen migrant youths. In other BEAM-related news, we are excited and proud to see our Nursing Scholarship Students, David and Diana graduate. Congratulations!
The road trip video of our 2022 Children's Winter Clothing Appeal is finally out. See CMIRC members and project partners take on the hills of Northern Thailand to deliver donations to vulnerable children and families. Brace yourself for adventure!
Last month, CMIRC members performed two frenetic dance routines. We reached new heights (or lows 😉) and channeled our inner child with Gummy Bear. We partied like a star. We even had our prominent guest speaker, Hon. Keiichi Higuchi, the Consul General of Japan in Chiang Mai, join us in a viral cha-cha! Shoutout to Membership Chair Myrna Muyana for her excellent job with the choreographies.
Make sure you check out this month's CMIRC Bulletin thoroughly. These annual reports of our projects highlight the positive impact of our endeavors and outline our plans for the future.
Would you like to learn more about our projects or get involved? Come and see us! Contact secretary@cmirotary.org for an invitation.