Community Service Projects-Final Report (more a personal statement)

 

Rotary Motto “Service above Self”.

At a personal level I have gained so much from all the people whom I have met, and particularly all the young who have gained a little bit of something from our projects.

 

One’s heart fills to overwhelming when you see a child read, drink clean water, clean their teeth, put on a helmet or even learn to swim. That really is Rotary in Action

 

The CSP has worked on a three year cycle.

1 Developing a project

2 implementing a project

3 implementing over time (i.e. “Making a Difference”)

 

From its inception, the club has had a focus on children and basic literacy, and the Tsunami response enabled community restructuring and support for children and families and the provision of scholarships.

The club has initiated in the Four Key areas of Rotary International. Supporting Education, Fighting Disease, Saving Mothers and Children, Building Community and is setting the foundations for “New Generations”

 

The RCoPB has repositioned the club with a greater commitment to the Patong area, sought sustainability in both the environment and social cohesion and engaged with very fine international Rotary partners, International clubs and Rotary International, which with the support of our District 3330, have made many our projects possible.

The RCoPB acknowledges the help and support of the Directors and staff of many institutions (some 15 in number) who are our partners and who carry out the many day today responsibilities of our projects. To them we owe a huge debt and they deserve recognition.

 

As for our little team that makes these projects real, I can but say thank you. Debra and Jimmie whose dynamic enthusiasm has taken us to places we never dared to go. Denis the keeper of quality reporting whose dedicated service ensures that the projects get recorded and promoted with accuracy

 

To all of those who have given wise counsel, uplifting exhortations (OB),dynamic leadership, method to my poor accounting, fund raising in local pubs, support of projects when needed, and raised money in the strangest of places, again my sincerest thanks.

 

This year has seen the agreement on a Strategic Plan, and it is the new board with a new team that will develop the future priorities.

In a sense nothing is completely new, as projects have to operate within a Rotary International Framework, which builds on the past but forges into the future.

As an expat club with limited connections to the Thai culture, the means by which we hear what Thai people want, becomes an issue.

 

I have experienced tensions between what I think is just and fair (equality of women), and what the domestic culture presents. How to listen?  That is why I strongly support the appointment of more Thais to the club and the appointment of Thai staff to assist with communication.

 

With the turnaround of key positions in the club, some projects which need to be sustained over time, have to be managed to ensure the full benefit of the project is secured.

 

The Reverse Osmosis Water machines have a guaranteed life of three years and a potential life of six.                    Whilst service agreements have to be checked, and the responsibility for checking has been transferred to the Patong Council, there is no certainty that will happen and somehow our management systems need to be in place to handle it.   This also applies to the Water Filters and the Hospital equipment.

 

A matter which has created much debate is the paying of a per diem for a Thai translator. This will vary from year to year, depending on the Thai connections and the resources of the Chair. There is a clear need to have a Thai speaker to communicate on projects and the issue of payment is not easily resolved. In Cambodia the Rotary Water and Sanitation is managed by a separate Cambodian (with local trainees).

 

The RCoPB is, in many ways, a well-resourced and fortunate club, as it has been a recipients of significant overseas donations since the Tsunami, has generous benefactors, and a Bulletin that communicates with 150 overseas and some energized fund raisers. Water Machines (Hokkaido),Banya (German French and Austrian),Scholarships Hong Kong, including the recent post graduate programs) the hospital donation (Shouson Hill and Germany), Dental Mission (Newport Sunrise)The maintaining of this profile in a new world may require a complete rethinking of the financing model with a focus on corporate donors.

 

The club has always had a focus on children and young people and the club may be ready to appoint a Chair of the New Generations Committee. There is the potential to bring together all our projects under that heading.

The club has limited involvement in RYLA, which could be expanded, has 10 undergraduate students at PSU, and is located next to the Baan Siam yen School, which potentially could be a Rotaract Club. This project could be funded by recent fund raising for youth.

 

As I first mentioned, the Rotary Club of Patong Beach was formed to create service projects. It would be remiss of me to state that in our move to improve our corporate style, we must ensure that Community Service projects remain at the heart of the club, and that may mean providing the projects with a vote on the board (PS I can’t stop trying on this matter!!)

 

I am very mindful that if there is a lack of clarity or communication, that it creates a tension between members, which no one wants. In a visit to three other clubs recently they all devoted significant time at their meeting to the organising of projects. That may be worthy of consideration

 

I think the RCoPB & CSP is making a fantastic contribution to the community, and I very much appreciate having been part of it.

 

Rtn Peter Harris