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Background of Rotary Club of Bangkok East. Goto TOP |
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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. |
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In 1931 there were 8 Rotary Clubs in this "Golden Peninsula" region. They were |
grouped together and designated as "Provisional District B" |
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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. |
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In 1948 as a result of the worldwide rearrangement, "District 80" was renumbered as |
"District 46" |
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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. |
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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". |
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In 1958 the second Rotary Club in Thailand was born with Phya Mahai-Sawan as |
elected Charter Prisident. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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