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).