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PP. Busabong Jamroendararasame, Ph. Dr., Rotary Club of Phayao

“As you get to know and understand about The Rotary Foundation, you’ll see how much your contributions benefits the mankind.”

The Rotary Foundation Month

The Rotary Foundation is 12 years younger than Rotary International. Currently, Rotary members in Thailand are in favor of recognizing the anniversary of RI as their own “class” (the year they become club presidents) The club presidents of this year is class 117th same as Rotary’s 117th anniversary. To remember TRF birth simply minus 12 from RI anniversary which will be 105 years old.

TRF is the backbone of RI. For the ideal of Rotary is Service Above Self. Rotary is a service organization which renders several kinds of humanitarian service. Rotarians are ready to contribute to help in their communities. Each one can give according to their favorite cause. Many donors would like to be recognized while others donate anonymously.

One of the Rotarians saw a disabled man with no legs and tried to get help from Rotary’s wheelchair project for him. The Rotarian was filled with joy when she was successful in helping him. Later she met a patient with burns all over the body, so tried her best to provide service by getting more information, asking others for help. In the meantime, she understood more of life, thus inspiring her to do good even more. Helping others, no matter by faith or financial capability, one can be filled with joy after succeeding in providing help.

As a Rotarian, one may have a chance to become a president, past president, or assistant district governor, one will get to know more of how to do good, get to know more to do service by contributing to TRF and later get funding from the SHARE system. One will also learn about EREY, PHF, MPHF, Major Donor and more. Eventually, one will learn about DDF, and using DDF with fellow Rotarians around the globe whom each have never known before to donate an ICU to a local hospital.

All one needs is an effort and patience to overcome any obstacles. AG Sirimon Sukawatt, the charter president of the Rotary Club of Khanu Woralaksaburi has a lot of experience in Rotary, and a lot to tell. She is one of the many role models in Rotary for doing good.

TRF has many ways to contribute and get recognition. Only the interest earned will be used for gifts to the permanent fund. Specific contributions can be made to the PolioPlus Fund. Contributions to the Annual Fund will be returned in the form of DDF for funding projects. Donors are recognized according to their contributions.

Service projects can be implemented by inviting Rotarians to join hands, or planning small scale project using District Grant through DDF. Or the large-scale projects (Global Grants) that may need a large sum of money to implement. When you get to know, learn and understand about TRF, there is no limit in helping others through the Rotary Foundation.

November is designated as TRF month. Please try to get to know and understand about The Rotary Foundation, you’ll see how much your contributions benefit each community. Learn more from Rotary Thailand magazine and other documents.