Rotary Internatinal
Rotary in Thailand
Rotary Club of Bangkok East
A brief history
Rotary's first day and the years that followed...
.
February 23, 1905. The airplane had yet to stay aloft more than a few minutes. The
first motion picture theater had not yet opened. Norway and Sweden were peacefully
terminating their union. On this particular day, a Chicago lawyer, Paul P. Harris, called
three friends to a meeting. What he had in mind was a club that would kindle
fellowship among members of the business community. It was an idea that grew from
his desire to find within the large city the kind of friendly spirit that he knew in the
villages where he had grown up.
.
The four businessmen didn't decide then and there to
call themselves a Rotary club, but their get-together
was, in fact, the first meeting of the world's first Rotary
club. As they continued to meet, adding others to the
group, they rotated their meetings among the
members' places of business, hence the name. Soon
after the club name was agreed upon, one of the new
members suggested a wagon wheel design as the club emblem. It was the
precursor of the familiar cogwheel emblem now worn by Rotarians around the world.
By the end of 1905, the club had 30 members.
.
.
The second Rotary club was formed in 1908 half a continent away from Chicago in
San Francisco, California. It was a much shorter leap across San Francisco Bay to
Oakland, California, where the third club was formed. Others followed in Seattle,
Washington, Los Angeles, California, and New York City, New York. Rotary became
international in 1910 when a club was formed in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. By
1921 the organization was represented on every continent, and the name Rotary
International was adopted in 1922.
.
.
Background of Rotary in Thailand Goto TOP
.
Rotary Organization was founded in Chicago, U.S.A. on 23 February 1905 (B.E.2448)
by Paul P. Harris, and was later brought to Thailand through Rotarian, James W.
Davidson of the Rotary Club of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, who was appointed by
Rotary International as General Commissioner for the formation of Ratary Clubs in
the Orient. Rotarian James W. Davidson had been granted an audience with His
Royal Highness Prince Purachatra in Bangkok to seek his permission to discuss the
possibility in forming a Rotary Club in Thailand. His Excellency Prince Purachatra
was impressed with the ideal of Rotary, and thus the first Rotary Club was founded by
him on 17 September 1930, namely: "Rotary Club of Bangkok" (an English speaking
club) with 69 founding members of 15 different nationalities. The Charter Presentation
Ceremony was held at Phayathai Palance (now becomes Phra Mongkut Army
Hospital, Rajvithee Rd.), whereas H.R.H. Prince Purachatra was installed as Charter
President.
.
In 1931 there were 8 Rotary Clubs in this "Golden Peninsula" region. They were
grouped together and designated as "Provisional District B"
.
In 1935 Rotary International had included all Rotary Clubs in the French Indo-China
region in the same Provisional District B whose designation was later changed to
"District 80", whereupon H.S.H. Prince Purachatra became the first District Governor.
.
In 1948 as a result of the worldwide rearrangement, "District 80" was renumbered as
"District 46"
.
In 1955 on the occasion of the Silver Anniversary Celebration of the founding Rotary
Club of Bangkok, His Majesty King Bhumipol Aduldej (King Rama IX) graciously
consented to honor Rotary by becoming "Patron of Rotary in Thailand". It was noted
that the Constitution and By-laws of Rotary International was translated into Thai for
the first time by Past President Luang Sitsayamkarn of RC Bangkok who later
became a charter member of the second Rotary Club in Thailand, namely : Rotary
Club of Dhonburi, which is a Thai speaking club.
.
In 1957 the total number of Rotary Clubs became enormous, the District numbers
were re-numbered in three digits world wide. Effective 1 July 1957 District 46 was
changed to "District 330".
.
In 1958 the second Rotary Club in Thailand was born with Phya Mahai-Sawan as
elected Charter Prisident.
.
In 1980 as of 23 February 1980 which marked the 75th anniverasry of Rotary
International, there were 48 Rotary Club in Thailand. At the 45th conference of District
330 during 22-24th February 1980, it was resolved to re-district District 330 into two
districts, whereby a new District 335 comprised of all Rotary Clubs in Thailand as of
1st July 1982 was headed by PP Rojvit Pereira of RC Bangkok South as the first
District Governor. Number of Rotary Clubs in Thailand was increasedto 69 during
that year.
.
In 1983 the first issue of Rotary Magazine in Thai language was published on 1st July
1983 and was approved as the official Regional Rotary Magazine for Thailand on
1st July 1985. PP Dr.Sumin Prurgsiganont of RC. Chiangmai North was the first Editor.
.
In 1985, as the number of Rotary Clubs in Thailand was fast growing, Rotary
International approved the split of District 335 into two districts: District 335 and District
336, on 4 June 1985, and became effective on 1 July 1985.
.
In1992 R.I. approved District 335 & 336 to split into 4 districts, namely : Districts 3330,
3340, 3350, and 3360 to be effective as from 1 July 1992 onward.
.
.
Background of Rotary Club of Bangkok East. Goto TOP
.
Rotary Organization was founded in Chicago, U.S.A. on 23 February 1905 (B.E.2448)
by Paul P. Harris, and was later brought to Thailand through Rotarian, James W.
Davidson of the Rotary Club of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, who was appointed by
Rotary International as General Commissioner for the formation of Ratary Clubs in
the Orient. Rotarian James W. Davidson had been granted an audience with His
Royal Highness Prince Purachatra in Bangkok to seek his permission to discuss the
possibility in forming a Rotary Club in Thailand. His Excellency Prince Purachatra
was impressed with the ideal of Rotary, and thus the first Rotary Club was founded by
him on 17 September 1930, namely: "Rotary Club of Bangkok" (an English speaking
club) with 69 founding members of 15 different nationalities. The Charter Presentation
Ceremony was held at Phayathai Palance (now becomes Phra Mongkut Army
Hospital, Rajvithee Rd.), whereas H.R.H. Prince Purachatra was installed as Charter
President.
.
In 1931 there were 8 Rotary Clubs in this "Golden Peninsula" region. They were
grouped together and designated as "Provisional District B"
.
In 1935 Rotary International had included all Rotary Clubs in the French Indo-China
region in the same Provisional District B whose designation was later changed to
"District 80", whereupon H.S.H. Prince Purachatra became the first District Governor.
.
In 1948 as a result of the worldwide rearrangement, "District 80" was renumbered as
"District 46"
.
In 1955 on the occasion of the Silver Anniversary Celebration of the founding Rotary
Club of Bangkok, His Majesty King Bhumipol Aduldej (King Rama IX) graciously
consented to honor Rotary by becoming "Patron of Rotary in Thailand". It was noted
that the Constitution and By-laws of Rotary International was translated into Thai for
the first time by Past President Luang Sitsayamkarn of RC Bangkok who later
became a charter member of the second Rotary Club in Thailand, namely : Rotary
Club of Dhonburi, which is a Thai speaking club.
.
In 1957 the total number of Rotary Clubs became enormous, the District numbers
were re-numbered in three digits world wide. Effective 1 July 1957 District 46 was
changed to "District 330".
.
In 1958 the second Rotary Club in Thailand was born with Phya Mahai-Sawan as
elected Charter Prisident.
.
In 1980 as of 23 February 1980 which marked the 75th anniverasry of Rotary
International, there were 48 Rotary Club in Thailand. At the 45th conference of District
330 during 22-24th February 1980, it was resolved to re-district District 330 into two
districts, whereby a new District 335 comprised of all Rotary Clubs in Thailand as of
1st July 1982 was headed by PP Rojvit Pereira of RC Bangkok South as the first
District Governor. Number of Rotary Clubs in Thailand was increasedto 69 during
that year.
.
In 1983 the first issue of Rotary Magazine in Thai language was published on 1st July
1983 and was approved as the official Regional Rotary Magazine for Thailand on
1st July 1985. PP Dr.Sumin Prurgsiganont of RC. Chiangmai North was the first Editor.
.
In 1985, as the number of Rotary Clubs in Thailand was fast growing, Rotary
International approved the split of District 335 into two districts: District 335 and District
336, on 4 June 1985, and became effective on 1 July 1985.
.
In1992 R.I. approved District 335 & 336 to split into 4 districts, namely : Districts 3330,
3340, 3350, and 3360 to be effective as from 1 July 1992 onward.