The Rotary club of Patong Beach was founded by businessmen in and around Patong Beach to promote more understanding within the society. Phuket is an international city and many Rotarians come to Phuket for vacation. Rotary club of Patong Beach is the right place for Rotarians to make-up as it is the first English speaking rotary club in the South of Thailand.

It certainly works. Rotary club of Patong Beach has had visiting Rotarians almost every week. We create more understanding by inviting guest speakers most weeks from both the private sector as well as government sector. We all enjoy the atmosphere of understanding and friendship within the club and the Phuket people.

Our club has helped the tourist police to serve the Patong society by donating bicycles and computers. We have also raised substantial funds to help the American Chamber of Commerce build a playground for a local school. Other well-deserving causes have also benefited from the hard work and generosity of our members.

Thanks to the Rotary club of Phuket and the Rotarians from the rotary club of Phuket, we successfully founded the rotary club of Patong Beach. Also special thanks to Khun Surasak Chaiyanopong, who has devoted a great deal of his efforts to help our club through its first year.

Last but not least, special thanks to all the Rotarians to make the success of Rotary club of Patong Beach.
Rotary yours,


Paiboon Upatising
Charter President

Paiboon Upatising, Charter President of the Rotary Club of Patong Beach was the first person to be elected as a Senator from Phuket.

He hails from an illustrious Phuket family. His grandfather was an accountant by profession. When he moved his family to Phuket from Fujian Province in China, he managed the accounts of many local businesses. Later he became an agent for rice, matches and milk, which at that time were imported from Penang.

Senator Paiboon's father continued the family business, gradually expanding and diversifying it with time. The company began exporting tin and rubber and importing Honda motorcycles to Phuket.Senator Paiboon graduated from the Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, and was awarded a masters degree in Management at Frostburg State College in Maryland, USA. After he returned to Phuket from his studies in America, he worked in the family business for five years and got involved in community welfare groups. In 1986, he was elected as the President of Phuket Rotary Club, the youngest person to hold this office.

The following year he bought land in Sam Kong and developed Phuket Villa 1 and spent the next ten years developing a variety of building projects, including shopping centres as well as creating additional Phuket Villa projects.

He is also a partner with Robert Iwamoto, Jr., Hawaii's largest tour operator - in the 120-room Aloha Villa in Patong where the Rotary Club of Patong Beach meets every Tuesday at 7 PM.

In 1997, he was elected as President of the Phuket Chamber of Commerce for a two-year term. "But I wanted to be more involved in the decision-making process affecting not only Phuket but the whole country;' he says explaining his move to become a Senator.

The last Senate elections were a departure from the previous system, whereby senators were appointed. Phuket people voted for the candidate who best knows the island and who has a proven track record of accomplishments.

"I hope that during my six-year term the country will develop a better political environment," says Senator Paiboon. "Thailand is becoming more democratic, with power and control of policy and finances being given to local regions. I want to support this process".

Even though his work is not directly connected with the daily issues of Phuket, but with more national priorities, Senator Paiboon says he plans to be available and responsive to the local people and their needs.