Rotary History

The world's first service club, the Rotary Club of Chicago, Illinois, USA, was formed on 23 February 1905 by Paul P. Harris, an attorney who wished to recapture in a professional club the same friendly spirit he had felt in the small towns of his youth. The name "Rotary" derived from the early practice of rotating meetings among members' offices.

Rotary's popularity spread throughout the United States in the decade that followed; clubs were chartered from San Francisco to New York. By 1921, Rotary clubs had been formed on six continents, and the organization adopted the name Rotary International a year later.

As Rotary grew, its mission expanded beyond serving the professional and social interests of club members. Rotarians began pooling their resources and contributing their talents to help serve communities in need. The organization’s dedication to this ideal is best expressed in its principal motto: "Service Above Self. Rotary also later embraced a code of ethics, called "The 4-Way Test", which has been translated into hundreds of languages.

During and after World War II, Rotarians became increasingly involved in promoting international understanding. A Rotary conference held in London in 1942 planted the seeds for the development of the UNESCO, and numerous Rotarians have served as consultants to the United Nations.

An endowment fund, set up by Rotarians in 1917 for "doing good in the world," became a non-profit organization known as The Rotary Foundation in 1928. Upon the death of Paul Harris in 1947, an outpouring of Rotarian donations made in his honor, totaling US$2million, launched the Foundation's first program - graduate fellowships, now called Ambassadorial Scholarships. Today, contributions to The Rotary Foundation total more than US$80 million annually and support a wide range of humanitarian grants and educational programs that enable Rotarians to bring hope and promote international understanding throughout the world.

In 1985, Rotary made a historic commitment to immunize all of the world's children against polio. Working in partnership with NGO's (non-governmental organizations) and national governments through its Polio Plus program, Rotary is the largest private-sector contributor to the global polio eradication campaign. Rotarians have mobilized hundreds of thousands of Polio Plus volunteers and have immunized more than one billion children worldwide. Rotary has now contributed half a billion dollars towards creating a polio-free world.

At the dawn of the 21^st century, Rotary worked to meet the changing needs of society, expanding its service effort to address such pressing issues as environmental problems, illiteracy, world hunger and women and children at risk. The organization admitted women for the first time in 1989 and today claims more than 90,000 women members. Following the collapse of the Berlin Wall and the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Rotary clubs were formed or re-established throughout Central and Eastern Europe. Today, 1.2 million Rotarians belong to some 30,000 Rotary clubs in more than 160 countries.

OBJECT OF ROTARY

The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:

FIRST.

The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;

SECOND.

High ethical standards in business and professions, the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations, and the dignifying of each Rotarian's occupation as an opportunity to serve society;

THIRD.

The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian's personal, business, and community life;

FOURTH.

The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.

FOUR AVENUES OF SERVICE

Based on the Object of Rotary, the Four Avenues of Service are Rotary's philosophical cornerstone and the foundation on which club activity is based:

Club Service focuses on strengthening fellowship and ensuring the effective functioning of the club.

Vocational Service encourages Rotarians to serve others through their vocations and to practice high ethical standards.

Community Service covers the projects and activities the club undertakes to improve life in its community.

International Service encompasses actions taken to expand

Rotary's humanitarian reach around the globe and to promote world understanding and peace.

The Rotary Foundation

"No one can tell us what Rotary will be tomorrow, but one thing is certain: What Rotary will be tomorrow depends upon what we Rotarians do today. " Arch Klumph, founder of The Rotary Foundation

The mission of The Rotary Foundation is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education and the alleviation of poverty. The Rotary Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation that is supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotarians and friends of the Foundation who share its vision of a better world.

The Foundation was created in 1917 by Rotary

International's sixth president, Arch C. Klumph, as an endowment fund for Rotary "to do good in the world." It has grown from an initial contribution of US$26.50 to more than US$ 117.9 million contributed in 2004-05. Its event-filled history is a story of Rotarians learning the value of service to humanity.

The Foundation's Humanitarian Programs fund international Rotary club and district projects to improve the quality of life, providing health care, clean water, food, education, and other essential needs primarily in the developing world. One of the major Humanitarian Programs is Polio Plus, which seeks to eradicate the poliovirus worldwide. Through its Educational Programs, the Foundation provides funding for some 1,200 students to study abroad each year. Grants are also awarded to university teachers to teach in developing countries and for exchanges of business and professional people. Former participants in the Foundation's programs have the opportunity to continue their affiliation with Rotary as Foundation Alumni.

History of The Rotary Foundation

In 1917, Arch C. Klumph, Rotary's sixth president, proposed to the Rotary

International Convention in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, the creation of an "endowment fund for Rotary... for the purpose of doing good in the world in charitable, educational, and other avenues of community service." A few months later, the endowment received its first contribution of $26.50 from the Rotary Club of Kansas City, Missouri, USA.

In 1928, when the endowment fund had grown to more than US$5,000, the fund was renamed The Rotary Foundation, and it became a distinct entity within Rotary International. Five Trustees, including Klumph, were appointed to "hold, invest, manage, and administer all of its property... as a single trust, for the furtherance of the purposes of RI."

Two years later, the Foundation made its first grant of US$500 to the International Society for Crippled Child. The ISCC-created by Rotarian Edgar F. “Daddy” Allen-later grew into the Easter Seals organization.

The Great Depression and World War II both impeded significant growth for the Foundation, but the need for promoting a lasting world peace generated great post-war interest in developing the Foundation. After Rotary founder Paul R Harris died in 1947, contributions began pouring into Rotary International, and the Paul Harris Memorial Fund was created for the purpose of building the Foundation.

That same year, the first Foundation program-the forerunner of the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarships program-was established. Then in 1965-66, three new programs were launched-Group Study Exchange, Awards for Technical Training, and Grants for Activities in Keeping with the Objective of The Rotary Foundation, which was later called Matching Grants.

The Health, Hunger and Humanity (3-H) program was launched in 1978, with the Rotary Volunteers program being created as a part of 3-H in 1980. The Polio Plus program was announced in 1984-85, and the following year saw the introduction of Rotary Grants for University Teachers. The first Peace Forums were held in 1987-88, leading to the establishment of Rotary Peace Programs. Then in 1989,1963- 64 RI President Carl P. Miller and his wife, Ruth, donated US$ 1 million to establish the Discovery Grants program.

Throughout this time, support of the Foundation grew tremendously. Since that first $26.50 donation in 1917, the Foundation has received contributions totaling more than US$1 billion. More than US$70 million was contributed in 2003-04 alone. To date, some 914,792 individuals have been recognized as Paul Harris Fellows-that is, someone who has contributed US$ 1000 or has had that amount contributed in his or her name.

Such strong support and involvement of Rotarians worldwide ensures a secure future for The Rotary Foundation as it continues its vital work for international understanding and world peace.

Rotary Service in Thailand since 1930

17th September 1930, is a date of great significance to Thai Rotarians as it is the day when Rotary International officially entered Thailand.

From Rotary's inception in Chicago, U.S.A., in 1905, the organization has sought to broaden its role and to develop a truly international stature. As a result, Rotarian James W. Davidson of the Rotary Club of Calgary, Canada, was appointed by Rotary International as General Commissioner for the formation of Rotary Club in Asia.

During an audience with H.R.H. Prince Purachatra, Davidson was able to discuss the concept of establishing a Rotary club in Bangkok, Thailand. H.R.H. Prince Purachatra was impressed with Rotary's ideals and proceeded to found, on 17 September, 1930, Thailand's first Rotary club, the Rotary Club of Bangkok-an English-speaking club of 69 charter members from 15 nations. The Charter Presentation Ceremony was held at Phyathai Palace (now the Phra Mongkut Klao Hospital), with H.R.H. Prince Purachatra being installed as Charter President.

By 1931, eight Rotary clubs had been established in the region then known as the Golden Peninsula. They were grouped together as member clubs of Provisional District B which, four years later, included all Rotary clubs in French Indochina. This group of clubs later became identified as District 80 with H.R.H. Prince Purachatra serving as its first District Governor. Following Rotary's worldwide reorganization in 1948, District 80 became know as District 46.

To celebrate the Rotary Club of Bangkok's Silver Anniversary in 1955, His Majesty King Bhumipol Adulyadej (King Rama IX) graciously consented to honor Rotary by becoming the Royal Patron of Rotary in Thailand. It was at this time that the Constitution and By-laws of Rotary International were first translated into Thai by Luang Sitsayamkam, Past President of the Rotary Club of Bangkok. Rotarian Sitsayamkam later became a charter member of Thailand's second Rotary club, the Thai-speaking Rotary Club of Dhonburi (founded in 1958 with Phya Mahaisawan serving as its first president).

By 1957, the number of Rotary clubs around the world had grown to a point that two-digit identifications were no longer adequate, and in July of that year. District 46 became know as District 330. At its 45th Conference in February 1980, District 330 agreed to be split in two and District 335 was bom with Past President Rojvit Pereira of the Rotary Club of Bangkok South serving as its first District Governor.

At the time of Rotary International's 75th Anniversary on 23 July 1980, Rotary in Thailand had grown to 48 clubs. By 1992, however, there was need for a revision that would ultimately create four distinct districts, namely 3330, 3340, 3350, and 3360. In Thailand today, these four districts comprise 253 Rotary clubs and more than 5,700 Rotarian members.

Meanwhile, The Thai Rotarian played an important role in the organisation's growth beginning with its first issue in July 1983, when Past President Dr. Sumin Prurgsiganont of the Rotary Club OfChiangmai North served as editor.

 In 1985, as the number of Rotary Clubs in Thailand was fast growing. Rotary International approved the split of District 335 into two districts: District 335 and District 336, on 4 June 1985, and became effective on 1 July 1985.

In 1992 R.I. approved Districts 335 & 336 to split into 4 districts, namely: Districts 3330, 3340, 3350, and 3360 to be effective as from 1 July 1992 onward.

The 1992 Pattaya Conference made a further commitment to communicating in both Thai and English by establishing the Rotary Center. The following year, Rotarians decided that the center would be located on the 32nd floor of Ocean Tower II on Asoke Road in Bangkok. From here vital information is distributed, and the work of the clubs is facilitated and coordinated.

Among the many tasks under taken by Rotary clubs in Thailand, two stand out as particularly worthy of note:

Polio Plus in Thailand

Thanks to a concerted, four-year campaign by Thai Rotarians during 1987-1991, the Ministry of Public Health was able to announce in 1990 that Thailand had effectively achieved national child immunization against polio. By mid 1991, there was only one suspected new case of polio in the entire country-a sharp contrast to 17 cases in 1989. This feat was due in large part to the thoroughness with which Rotarians organized workshops and seminars, donated vaccine, produced and distributed health education materials, tapes, slides, pictures, press releases, and broadcast sports. Club members also mobilized the support of prominent public individuals such as Miss Universe, boxing champions, numerous political figures- even H.R.H. Princess Chulabhom-and conducted door-to-door distribution programs. These massive and successful efforts were ultimately extended past Thailand's borders to Laos, Vietnam, and Burma (now Myanmar).

The Literacy in Thailand Project

As part of its Health, Hunger, and Humanity (3-H) Program, The Rotary Foundation of Rotary

International provided a US$402,400 grant to Thai Rotarians to help eradicate illiteracy in Thailand. The Literacy in Thailand Project began as a five-year campaign to improve literacy rates among children in the provinces of Surin, Buriram, Srisaket, and Chaiyaphum. Since that time, the project has been implemented in other parts of the Kingdom as well.

An entirely new Thai literacy program, it focused on the first six years of school, was developed by the Ministry of Education, Srinakharinwirot University and Rotary Districts 3350 and 3360. It has been responsible for training more than 30,000 teachers and over one million children, and the success of this program to date has attracted the attention of educators in other countries, including Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, India, and Brazil. The core of the program, the Concentrated Language Education (CLE) teaching method, was finally adopted by the Ministry of Education for the entire country and incorporated into the Seventh National Education plan, which began in 1992.

With funding assistance from The Rotary Foundation, Rotarians continue to have a positive impact on all segments of Thai society. Thanks to Health, Hunger, and Humanity Grants, upcountry Rotary clubs are supplying clean water to schools and rural communities. More than 2,000 people with disabilities have received prosthetic limbs, and children with cleft palates have received free surgery. Rotarians all over Thailand have helped in a national campaign to promote public awareness of AIDS and to assist the orphans of AIDS victims. The Rotary Foundation's Ambassadorial Scholarships, the R.I. Youth Exchange Program, and the Rotaract clubs have all helped Thai youth to develop their leadership skills and to prepare them to be good Rotarians in the future.

In these and in so many other ways. Rotary in Thailand has shown itself to be thriving, resilient, and forward-looking, capable of changing and growing with the times and poised to face the challenges of the 21st century with confidence born of experience.

Reflections on Rotary

The majority of Rotarians are business leaders and professionals who seek roles of leadership in service to their communities. Their deeds of service have had a major impact on improving the quality of life in Thailand. Two past district governors, Krit Indhewat and Xanxai Visitkul, offer their thoughts on the significance of Rotary ideals and service.

PDG Krit Indhewat: "Rotary service has now spread to all 76 provinces in Thailand. It continues to make a notable contribution to alleviating the plight of the poor, particularly in rural communities where poverty is most severe. Without the help of Rotary International, we would not have achieved as much as we have today. Rotary will maintain its role as a champion of better opportunities for one and all. The Rotary ideals of building a healthier, peaceful society require that we give of ourselves, conscientiously and selflessly. We aim not only to gain friendship but to fulfill the responsibilities of friendship. And that cannot be achieved without dedication and passion."

PDG Xanxai Visitkul: "We are fortunate that Rotary International has a progressive, democratic organizational structure. More Thai-language information about Rotary and wider dissemination of Rotary ideals will help to build better Rotarians for the future. The Thai people need to have a dream, a vision, and to follow it so that we, too, can contribute to the enhancement of human and social development and promote understanding, goodwill, and peace in the world."

The Leading Light of Thai Rotarians

 In 1955, on the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Bangkok Rotary club. His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej was gracious enough to agree to be Honorary Patron of the Thai Rotarians.

This act of beneficence by His Majesty represents the highest imaginable favor for Thailand's Rotarians. Even after placing the Rotary clubs under His Royal Patronage, His Majesty has continued to take an active and positive interest in the club's activities, based on his deep understanding of the principles of Rotary. The Honorable Speaker of the House PRID Bhichai Rattakul, the official nominee for R.I. president in 2002-03, is one Rotarian of distinction who had this to say about His Majesty the King:

"As Rotarians, particularly our newer members, we are not always aware of how involved His Majesty is in our activities. During the past 20 to 30 years, whenever the Rotary International President has visited Thailand, we have requested an audience with His Majesty and have never been refused. Each time the Rotary International President and His Majesty have had long conversations in which the King would discuss Rotarian ideas as if he were a member himself."

One Rotary International President who became especially close to His Majesty was 1959-60 R.I. President Clifford A. Randal. An attorney, Cliff was entrusted with protecting the copyrights and royalties for His Majesty's songs and musical compositions in the United States of America.

His Majesty the King's thorough understanding and approval of the Rotarian ideology and activities is evident in the speeches and addresses He has delivered to Rotarians on various occasions. One such occasion was His Royal Address at an Inter-City meeting of Rotary clubs in Thailand on 9 November 1970. The text of his speech was as follows:

 "Historically, the first goal of Rotary was to provide an opportunity for men of different professions to meet and recreate a communal atmosphere of friendliness and comradeship."

 "This objective is the prime solution to a major trend in this modem world: our way of life, traditionally guided by common sense, is being destroyed and replaced by a savage, almost primitive struggle know as the survival of the fittest. Moral values are being swept aside. It is Rotarians who are trying to stop this trend and contribute to the improvement of the community they live and to the promotion of international understanding. To achieve this goal, acquaintance among Rotarians is an essential precondition; ideas cannot be exchanged otherwise. By combining your knowledge and efforts you enhance the great potential of Rotary.

 "But there is more to it than that. If you aim to serve the community, you must increase your potential to full strength. Your acquaintance must be enlarged to at least two other groups of people outside your own circle, namely those who you wish to help and those who can assist you in your worthy endeavor. This second group is especially important. It consists of individuals whose position and experience enable them to put the ideals of Rotary into action and make your dreams before reality. Their cooperation is vital and must be sought. But such persons may shy away and refuse to help because they misunderstand some aspects of Rotary."

We can see from this address that His Majesty stressed the importance of seeking partners who can ensure that our work in benefiting society proceeds smoothly and attains success. This idea accords well with that of Past R.I. President Frank J. Devlyn, who has also encouraged us to forge alliances with other, organisations so that our efforts achieve fruition.

Beside demonstrating His profound understanding of the Rotarian mission. His Majesty has supported Thai Rotarians when they pooled their resources for a common cause, namely to alleviate rural poverty. One such program was the Ban Nem Dindaeng Development Project in Prachuap Kirikan Province. This project contributed much to the quality of life of the villages living there.

Once again, we are reminded of how great His Majesty's benevolence has been for Rotarians and the people of Thailand. His concern for this has been during the recent economic difficulties. His Majesty has diligently promoted the theory and practice of the "self-sufficient economy" as the most effective solution. His desire is that his People be self-reliant and economically secure, insulted from the constant change in the global economy.

Above all else, Thais and Rotarians, in particular, are as one in testifying to the incredible diligence which His Majesty King Bhumibol the Great devotes to relieving the plight of the poor. The fatigue and difficulty His Majesty endures in this effort admirably exemplify the Rotarian motto of "Service Above Self." For this reason, Thai Rotarians take His Majesty to be their model and paragon in service to society and the community. He is their leading light, showing the way forward to a better future for our world.