Thai Journal #2

This morning I was able to catch up on emails and University business online, as well as to visit our sponsorees. After lunch David Bell took me into Chiang Mai, and I booked into the Galare Guest House for the next 2 days. It is quite nice; right on the river and one block from the famous night market.

I just returned from the meeting of Rotary of Chiang Mai. Rotary of Walla Walla works in conjunction with this Rotary Club in its outreach to the LaWa Hostel. As chair of the International Service Committee of the WW club, I led out a couple years ago in writing a matching grant of $14,000.00 for the purchase of computers and furnishing for the computer room, and beds for the LaWa children in the hostel. This year we partnered with the Tempe club of Arizona for another grant of $14,000.00 for a sanitary water system. As you can see from the photos that I just put up (http://www.wallawalla.edu/campus-life/spiritual-life/gallery/thailand07), they had an official presentation of the Grant. Incidentally, when I was asked to address the club earlier, I gave a rousing speech, encouraging the visiting clubs to take advantage of the Matching Grant program of Rotary International. It did not fall on deaf ears! The subsequent applause demonstrated that!

I should mention that this club meeting was exceptional. There were more visitors than members; and it was the first time that it was done in English (rather than Thai). There was an exchange student from Germany (with banners and pins all over her); there were Friendship Exchange Rotarians from a couple 3 clubs from Australia; members from a club in Japan; visitors from 2 clubs in Chiang Mai (who were also hosting some of the FE visitors) – one of the local clubs (the all ladies club) I visited a few years ago and exchanged banners. Both the clubs from Australia and Japan, mentioned in their public speech that they are going to take up my challenge to write matching grants. The Japan club has already built 3 schools in Cambodia and is building 4 more. They will be seeking Matching Grants in order to do even more.

The children from the Hostel came and sang a number of Rotary songs (I didn’t know that Rotary had songs. This clubs even had their own printed songbook at each table! We usually just sing American patriotic songs for our Rotary meetings). That was so very well received. I should have mentioned that our Walla Walla club gives an annual scholarship of $500.00 (which goes a long way) to a student from the hostel to attend University.

Tomorrow they will take me to the Village from which most of the children originate. Check my blog and photos in 24 hours.