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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.
Taken from Rotary News Basket No. 765 - 3 July 2002
Date Posted: July 8, 2002
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