President Bhichai Rattakul's Nov 12, 2002 Speech in Rome, NY

RIP Bhichai Rattakul began his presentation to District 7150 Rotarians by expressing that, "In our lives, words are inadequate to express feelings of the heart. I am honored to be asked to be here." District 7150 has "sown many seeds of love". Through the Gift of Life program, "You have given life to a child born to die. He will live to the future."

During his year in office RIP Rattakul plans to start no new programs. In his words there are so many good programs already in existence. Each club must decide for itself where to put its efforts. An important focus is member development and member retention. Each club must set its own goals, proceed at its own pace, not to simply create numbers, but to attract quality people who keep in mind the philosophy of Rotary and live by that philosophy.

He shared with us the successes of the Polio Plus Program. In 1985, there were 400,000 victims of polio in 121 countries. Now there are only 6 countries left reporting 600 cases in one year. The task is 92% complete. He expressed his gratitude for the pledge presented this evening.
He feels that in many parts of the world the Four Way Test has been forgotten - the best principles forgotten. Club service is the "heart and soul" of Rotary. We value vocational service and speak of the ethics, but many do not practice the ethical standards that are so important. "We are different." There is a difference between "purse service and personal service."

RIP Rattakul shared a personal story he has told many times, one that exemplifies what it means to be a Rotarian. During his first two years in Rotary, he avoided a personal service commitment. He was contacted one evening to be a substitute chaperone for a group of young boys going on a trip to the beach. A few days before he had chosen not to respond to a plea for volunteers but without his help, the trip would have to be compromised. He agreed so that the club "would not lose face." He took an immediate dislike to one small child who seemed to be disliked by everyone. This child chose to attach himself to RIP Rattakul who could not understand why this particular child needed him. He overcame his "selfishness" by reasoning that, "if one life is changed, the world is changed". He found ways to help this youngster have a wonderful day and found himself wishing it would never end. As the day came to completion and the group returned home, this child wrapped his little arms around Bhichai's legs and said, "I wish you were my Dad."

The best leaders lead by example. "My life was changed 43 years ago by one little child who awakened the heart of a selfish man." Support direct involvement. "I am indebted to the club president who called me that night. Without his persistence I might not be here today. There is no way to change the past. There are endless ways to change the future. Someone needs you."

Clubs must portray the correct image. This comes from the "grass roots", a "bottoms up" approach, not from the "top down." The RIP closed with a poem that is worthy of print.

And God Said No! by Claudia Minden Welsz
I asked God to take away my pride,
And God said, "No."
He said it was not for Him to take away,
But for me to give up.
I asked God to make my handicapped child whole,
And God said, "No."
He said her spirit is whole.
Her body is only temporary.
I asked God to grant me patience,
And God said, "No."
He said patience is a by-product of tribulation.
It isn't granted, it is earned.
I asked God to give me happiness,
And God said, "No."
He said He gives blessings,
Happiness is up to me.
I asked God to spare me pain,
And God said, "No."
He said, "Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares
And brings you closer to Me."
I asked God to make my spirit grow,
And God said, "No."
He said I must grow on my own,
But he will prune me to make it fruitful.
I asked God to help me love others
As much as He loves me,
And God said,
"Ah finally, you have the idea."
RIP Rattakul completed his remarks by noting the strength that can be seen by watching Rotary in action. "Julius Caesar' famous words were, 'I came. I saw. I conquered.' I will change that to say, you have conquered my heart."

to the top

11/02 Press Release: President Bhichai Rattakul (pronounced 'Bee-chi Rat-a-kul') will visit the Rome Rotary and District 7150 November 11-13.

"President Bhichai" will be keynote speaker at a dinner in his honor at The Beeches in Rome on Monday, November 12, at 7:00 p.m. A social hour will precede the event and at 6:45 p.m. he will be available to talk with representatives of the news media. Invited guests include a number of prominent elected officials.
The 75-year-old Rattakul is a citizen of Thailand, where he served as Foreign Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and President of Parliament, as well as leader of many Thai delegations to the United Nations. He is a recipient of The Rotary Foundation's Distinguished Service Award and of its Citation for Meritorious Service.
The theme of his Rotary year is "Sow the Seeds of Love," and during Bhichai Rattakul's presidential year Rotarians are being asked to do just that - Rotarians will attempt to raise $80 million to help eradicate polio worldwide by the target date of 2005. A copy of Rattakul's full itinerary for his local visit follows.

10/25/02: "Tickets for the dinner are sold out. I have some that are out that have not been paid for, but until I get an accurate count of them, I dare not sell any more. In order to get put on a waiting list, you need to contact Dave Kobernuss. If there is room, we will deal with those on the list after Monday, Nov. 4th".

Directions: The Beeches Restaurant & Conference Center, located at 7800 Turin Road, Rome, NY, 13440, is just off NYS Route 26. (print maps and directions showing how to get to Rome from various points in the state). As you go North on Rte 26 you will pass the old high school building on the right, with a football stadium immediately after the school building. After the stadium there is a signal at Jervis Avenue, and another one at Chestnut Street. After that Gillette's Big M Market is on the right. Next comes Anken's farm (and large red barn). Then there is a driveway with The Beeches sign. Either go in there for the rear entrance, or go to Potter Road at the top of the hill and turn right, then the first driveway on the right is the front entrance. Tel: 315-336-7600.

to the top

Itinerary for RI President Rattakul's Visit to the
Rome Rotary Club and District 7150 of New York

Aide to the President: Don Schlueter
Alternate Aide to the President: David Kobernuss
District Governor, District 7150: Don Reese

Tuesday, November 12, 2002

11:00 A.M.: Visit to and presentation of Paul Harris Fellow to a surgeon at Upstate Medical Center, Syracuse, press conference or interviews, and tour of facility. This facility partners with Rotary in its "Gift of Life" outreaches. Likely attendees include the President of Syracuse University, Dean of the Medical School, Hospital Director President, medical staff, home volunteers District Governor and local Rotarians.

Tuesday Evening Activities at the Beeches, Rome, New York

5:30 P.M.: Present Paul Harris Fellow Awards, club photos with President Bhichai Rattakul. To date there have been a total of five request for Awarding Paul Harris Fellow Awards and pictures. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

6:00 P.M.: Cocktails & Social Hour RIP socializes with district Rotarians, 620 sold.

6:45 Press interview opportunity with President Bhichai

7:00 P.M.: Program & Dinner

Program
Welcome: Donna Schonewetter, President Rome Rotary Club
Pledge & Patriotic Song
Introduction of D7150 Past District Governors: Engelmann & Fiore
Invocation: Rev. Robert O'Meara, Rome Rotarian

Dinner
50/50 Winner Announced (Club Proceeds to Polio Eradication)
Special Music: Andrea DelPiano
Recognition of Gift of Life Child & Mother: PDG Michael Occhipinti, Rome
Introduction of Speaker: 7150 District Governor, Donald Reese & Rome
Rotarian, Donald Schlueter
Speaker: Bhichai Rattakul, Rotary International President
Benediction: Rev. Leslie Strader, Rome Rotarian (or Father Hearn an Honorary Rome Rotarian)
Four-Way Test & Adjournment: Donna Schonewetter

Wednesday, November 13

9:30 A.M.: Meet with Rome Rotary EarlyAct Club at Ridge Mills Elementary School. Early Act hopes to have raised enough to award a Paul Harris Fellow to their school Principal and a wheel chair to a polio victim. Attendees will be fourth, fifth and sixth graders, parents and teachers, the Rome Schools Superintendent, local school board members and District Rotarians.

1030 A.M.: Visit Rome City Fire Department for demonstration of thermal imaging device and Bike Patrol bicycles equipment donated by Rome Rotary to the Police and fire departments. Attendees may include the Mayor of Rome, Chief of Police, Fire Department Chief, Rotary District Governor, Rotarians, Fireman and Policemen.

11:30 A.M.: Depart for airport, accompanied by District Governor Don Reese, Rome Rotary President Donna Schonewetter and Rotarian Don Schlueter

President Bhichai has specifically request that there should no gifts for him. He has requested that in lieu of a gift that Rotarians give to the Polio Eradication or a book to a library in his name.

to the top

Bhichai Rattakul, 2002-2003 Rotary International President

RI President spells out Rotary's mission in 2002-03

RI President Bhichai Rattakul took office on 1 July with a call to Rotarians to grow the organization through a renewed commitment to the four Avenues of Service — especially vocational service — and a return to the grassroots values that will empower clubs "to chart their own course, set their own goals, and fulfill their own dreams."

"By going back to the basics, we respect the initiative and autonomy of Rotary clubs," he said. "While drawing strength from our vision of a world in which international understanding and peace replace the wilderness of wars and tensions, we will all listen intently to the heartbeat of Rotary, which is club service. I am convinced that active club service leads to vital clubs with active members, and it is this vitality and the practice of our ideals that will inspire the new generation to join and invest in Rotary."

In keeping with the 2002-03 Rotary theme, "Sow the Seeds of Love," this year, Rotarians will devote their professional and business skills to rediscovering the timeless principles that enabled Paul Harris and co-founders to build a dynamic new movement based on the human desire to share and serve.

Three RI presidential conferences are planned for the 2002-03 Rotary year in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 9-11 August 2002; Nairobi, Kenya, on 21-23 February 2003; and Panama City, Panama, on 20-22 March 2003. The meetings are based respectively on the main themes of peace and conflict resolution and the Rotary Centers for International Studies; health and development issues, including AIDS and polio; and vocational education and micro-enterprise projects.

Rattakul is the Thailand Goodwill Representative for International Cooperation. He was a member of the Thai parliament from 1969 until he retired in November 2000. During those years, he served as leader of the Democratic Party, foreign minister, deputy prime minister, speaker of the House of Representatives, and president of the Parliament. He also served as chairman of several commissions and honorary vice-president of the Thai Scout Council. An accomplished diplomat, he has been awarded the highest decorations by King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, the emperor of Japan, and the presidents of the Philippines, Korea, Austria, and Nicaragua.

A charter member of the Rotary Club of Dhonburi, Bangkok, Thailand, since 1958, Rattakul has served RI as district governor, international assembly group discussion leader, member and chairman of numerous committees, trustee of the Rotary Foundation, director, and chairman of the Executive Committee of Rotary International. He is the recipient of The Rotary Foundation's Distinguished Service Award and Citation for Meritorious Service for his support of its international humanitarian and educational programs.

Also assuming office on 1 July were the 2002-03 chairman of The Rotary Foundation Trustees, Past RI President Glen W. Kinross of the Rotary Club of Hamilton, Brisbane, Australia; RI vice president James R. Shamblin of the Rotary Club of South Shreveport, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA; and treasurer Dong-Kurn Lee of the Rotary Club of Seoul Hangang, Seoul, Korea.

September 11, 2000: Bhichai Rattakul was nominated for president of RI, 2002-03. At the 2001 Convention, he was elected.

Bhichai Rattakul, Rotary Club of Dhonburi, Bangkok, Thailand President-nominee, Rotary International for 2002-03 Director, Rotary International, 1990-92 Trustee, The Rotary Foundation, 1985-86 Bhichai Rattakul served as a member of Parliament of Thailand for nine terms. During his long career in government, he also served his country as leader of the Democratic Party, as foreign minister in 1975-76, as deputy prime minister for 10 years, and as chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

As a cabinet member of the Royal Thai Government, Mr. Rattakul was vice chairman of the National Security Council and chairman of the Counter Corruption Commission and the Narcotics Control Board. Before entering government, he was president of the Thai Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Association and Director of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Thai Industries. Mr. Rattakul has received many awards and decorations from the Their Majesties, The King of Thailand and the Emperor of Japan and the presidents of the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Austria, and Nicaragua. He has led many Thai delegations to the United Nations General Assembly.

Since becoming a charter member of the Rotary Club of Dhonburi in 1958, Mr. Rattakul has served RI as district governor, International Assembly discussion leader, committee member and chairman, Foundation trustee, and director and chairman of the Executive Committee of the Board. Currently, he is a member of the 2000-01 Diplomatic Relations Task Force. Mr. Rattakul has received The Rotary Foundation’s Distinguished Service Award and Citation for Meritorious Service for his support of its international humanitarian and educational programs.

to the top

This page was last updated:

This web site was designed and is maintained by Marlene B. Brown, PP, B, PHF
D7150 Webmeister, Internet Communications Officer, Centennial Committee Chair
©1997 - 2002 All Rights Reserved * Email: marlene@technotouch.com

The Rotary name and logo are the exclusive property of Rotary International and are
used here in accordance with Rotary International Internet Policy Guidelines