Rotary Club of Laguna Phuket began high season with it’s inaugural open evening on October 3rd and it was a resounding success.

The dinner at La Trattoria restaurant at the Dusit Laguna was attended by members and non-members alike, and included guests from other clubs as local as the Rotary Club of Patong, represented by President O.B. Wetzell, and as far flung as Karen Moore from Liverpool Rotary who took time out from her honeymoon to join us with her husband.

In total, more than 30 people attended the evening and there was a healthy mix of both Thai and foreign attendees. All were treated to an interesting and imaginative presentation on events that have been held on Phuket by Jeanette Skelton, Managing Director of Luxury Events Phuket, and also a brief history of the Rotary on Phuket and it’s achievements by O.B. Wetzell.

The event also provided an opportunity for Rotary members to inform others of their purpose and also some on-going projects such as the involvement in Baan Than Chat Chain Village and the work done there since the tsunami. It also allowed members to highlight the story of Jirawan Salika, the young girl who is in need of a kidney transplant. This story caught Karen’s attention and in true Rotary spirit, she vowed to take the story back to her own Rotary to support us in our desire to assist Jirawan and her family.

We also heard of generous donations from Rick Garland, a book enthusiast from the States, who has become a Father Christmas type figure to the organisers of the Phuket Has Been Good To Us Foundation in Kamala with his monthly packages of books. These have been put to good use in schools in both Kalim and Kamala.

Overall, the night was a great success and served in opening the Rotary Club of Laguna Phuket to a whole new audience. As Prue Murphy, a first time attendee and General Manager of Tawan Cruises said,” Although I’d heard good things about the Rotary Club in the past, it wasn’t until attending the dinner that I actually learned about their involvement in the community and the effort they put into improving the lives of local people.”

Meetings with Up with People

(Wed) July 25th breakfast meeting

Guest speakers were Luis and Margaux from Up with People, a non-profitable organization See on their website what they are doing and how you can help or even participate http://www.upwithpeople.org/.

Monthly Calendar 2007

Remarks