Steve Bender Leads another Dental team @ Patong Beach Hospital April 17 – 20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All of the 27 people present at Friday’s meeting shot their hands up. Not really

 

But they were interested in what Rotarian Nils, a modestly self-confessed “multi-millionaire” at aged 30, had to say about how to play the stock market.
It was a pretty good turnout so people must have been interested in augmenting their meagre pensions or stock portfolios.

 

 

 

 

 

There were 12 members and 16 guests plus Khun Bier, a total of 29. Best turnout this year.
They came from around the world. From Germany, Canada, Luxenberg, New Zealand, Thailand, Holland, Scotland, Italy and yes, it’s true, the Vatican City.
We welcomed a valued old friend and former three time treasurer Bruce Conrad back as a guest.

Two late comers were from the Rotary Club of Bellinzona in Switzerland club 1980.

Acting president Walter exchanged pennants with Fiorento Gioli in some language nobody else could understand (maybe Sergio) as it was Italian.
Walter and Alastair represented the “B-team”, conducting the meeting as acting president and honorary sergeant at arms.
Poor Gary, our super-efficient regular sergeant at arms was struck down with a virus, so secretary Karen was also absent, as were Andy and Sam. Talk about going down the list!

 

 

But things went along pretty swimmingly with the Millennium hotel staff doing a sterling job of replenishing the food bins as the unexpected larger numbers threatened a food crisis of massive proportions.

 

Nils’s presentation was all about Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and how to use your money to make yourself filthy rich like him. There were many questions. Nils did a good job and seemed to enjoy the limelight. In the end nobody is likely to join the current 2000 billionaires in the world, but were rich in experience and good food.

 

 

Walter wrapped it up and Johan collected so much money from the Happy Hundred, the Treasurer was positively delighted. All over by 2pm.
Michael Massey, fresh from a swift trip to The Land of the Long White Cloud (New Zealand) who was present, would have been pleased.

 

Reporter: Alastair Carthew - Photographer: Walter Wyler

Thank you, ed Denis

 

 

 

A special birthday for P. Andy
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I used to eat a lot of natural foods until I learned that most people die of natural causes.

Can you cry under water?

How important does a person have to be before they are considered assassinated instead of just murdered?

Why do you have to "put your two cents in"... but it's only a "penny for your thoughts"? Where's that extra penny going? (taxes)

Once you're in heaven, do you get stuck wearing the clothes you were buried in for eternity?

 

What disease did cured ham actually have?

 

How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?

 

Why is it that people say they "slept like a baby" when babies wake up like every two hours?

 

If a deaf person has to go to court, is it still called a hearing?
Why are you IN a movie, but you’re ON TV?

Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in binoculars to look at things on the ground?

Why do doctors leave the room while you change? They're going to see you naked anyway.

Why is “bra" singular and "panties" plural?

Why do toasters always have a setting that burns the toast to a horrible crisp, which no decent human being would eat?

Can a hearse carrying a corpse drive in the carpool lane?

If the professor on Gilligan's Island can make a radio out of a coconut, why can’t he fix a hole in a boat?

If corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable oil is made from vegetables, what is baby oil made from?

If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons?

Why do the Alphabet song and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star have the same tune?
Why did you just try singing the two songs above?

Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog's face, he gets mad at you, but when you take him for a car ride, he sticks his head out the window?

 

We had a visit to a Buddhist temple when a young man became a monk for a short period. A few photos of the day.

 

 

 

I have fed many different native species, however this was the first to a Turtle. LOL

 

 

 

 

 

We fed the turtles cucumber

 

 

The entertainment

 

 

 

 

 

1 foreigner
ME

 

 

When I became president of my club, I shared a dream with some of the officers that the club could have a hundred members. But how? We had only 31 as of 1 July, 2016. I faced challenges on two fronts.

 

I had to make every meeting lively and enjoyable. And I had to make ours the club of choice for those who were looking for a worthy organization to join.

On the first front, I had to restructure our meetings from the usual drab, formal discussions to a fellowship where a member could really feel “at home.” Even new members could, in a relaxed manner, contribute to the free flow of ideas. Everyone was encouraged to present opinions on every issue. I gave responsibilities to every member, and even assigned project chairmanships to new ones. I tapped the expertise of the past presidents who gladly became advisers and confidantes.

Soon, the members started to feel the camaraderie and enjoyment of being a Rotarian. The last meeting of the month became our fellowship parties, hosted by the birthday celebrators for that particular month. Themes were selected and food and drinks were abundant. These fellowship parties became much-anticipated affairs, boosting morale for everyone.

 

As a result, it became easy for us to embark on big projects. We even partnered with the local government and other organizations on a lot of projects. Even Lions International became an ally.

 

I made sure that this change of strategy and the renewed vigor that followed were communicated to the public and even among clubs and Rotarians in District 3790 by way of social media and the local paper, as well as banners and streamers announcing our projects. I also made sure that public image was given much emphasis.

Attacking the second front had now become easier with the favourable image we had created from the first. It became a natural task of each Rotarian to attract other members. More than twenty of our members brought in friends who also became motivated members.

 

We may not have achieved our goal of a hundred members. But we ended up with 80, making our club the biggest in our district.