Rotary International was founded over 100 years ago in Chicago by a man called Paul Harris. Over the years Rotary has grown to over 2 million members in 147 countries throughout the world.

The King of Thailand is an honoury Rotarian and therefore Rotary is highly thought of in Thailand.

Being a Rotarian means sacrificing some of your time and money to helping others. We also try live our lives and do business applying the Rotary "4 way test".

My club is based in Pattaya. Traditionally Rotarians are senior managers, directors and business owners who come together to benefit others. This is also true in Thailand, however in the expat clubs there are a high number of retirees!

Gay People and Rotary
Rotary isn't known to be a particularly "gay friendly" association. However, in Pattaya there are a fair number of gay people involved in Rotary. In fact there is a Thai Rotarian in the Jomtien club who is openly gay and was the District Governor a few years ago, and is held in high esteem by both expat and Thai Rotarians. He turns up at functions regularly with his boyfriend.

In my club we have myself who is openly gay, and two other members who are in the closet. We had two other closeted members also, but they both left to join a new German-speaking club in town. We will soon be welcoming a new Rotarian to our club who is also openly gay.

If you are here either working or retired and you want to be involved in a respected international organisation, want to give something back to the community, looking to get another interest then please consider Rotary. Our club has many get-togethers, evenings out having fun as well as the good work we do. It introduces you to Thai citizens you wouldn't normally meet, some at a very high level. And if you want to you can get involved as a board member at the club, attend District events and help at a District level too.

Personally I joined Rotary 3 years ago after being invited to attend a meeting. With-in the year I was a board member and this year I was elected President. Next year I have been asked to help out at District level to serve as a District Committee Member assisting the District Governor.

In finishing, if you are interested at all in Rotary please contact me by email at president@rotary-pattaya.org or telephone on 081 894 2118. You will be invited to a meeting to see how you feel. Should you wish to come to further meetings you will be welcome, and then if you wish to join you just tell us, and then we will look at your application.

Please contact me first as I will need to invite you as my guest initially.

For further details on what our club does go to
www.rotary-pattaya.org or visit the RI site at www.rotary.org for the worldwide perspective.

Warm regards, and yours in Rotary,

President John Botting
Rotary Club Of Taksin-Pattaya

Photo courtesy of
www.rotary-pattaya.org

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