Rotarian Frank Crocker - The Rotary Club of Bangkok South

President Andrew MacPherson ● President Elect/Membership Mark ButtersImmediate Past President John Quarmby ● Vice President Prasobsook ThawilvejjakulVice President Manu Mekdhanasarn ● Secretary Nick Pisalyaput ● Rotary Foundation Leo AlexandersenFund Raising Mike Ellis ● Communications Gareth Marshall ● Administration Michael Doyle ● ServiceTreasurer Jon Plate ● Projects Rudy van der Hoeven ● Sergeant-at-arms Thanakorn TelanNo 3379Today: Rotarian Frank Crocker - Clean Drinking Water SchoolsNext Week’s Program: Constitution Day = No Meetingrotarybangkoksouth.org 03 December 2010HE Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty India AmbassadorIndia, pluralist ethos and its imprintHis Excellency, Pinak RanjanChakravarty graced our annualIndian Luncheon and mesmerizedthose lucky enough tohear his talk with a fascinatingaccount of India’s colorful historynow reflected in its pluralistethos and the imprint this ismaking in South East Asia.Beginning his talk, His Excellencystated quite clearlythat pluralism is one of theleading defining characteristicof the Indian nation and the Indiansociety. “Pluralism,” he stated, “isan acknowledgement of diversity.We can say it is the guiding principlewhich permits the peacefulcoexistence of different interests,convictions and lifestyles.”His Excellency then skillfullyled us through 5,000 years of Indianhistory, beginning with earlierwaves of peoples coming into India,including the Greeks, Kushans,Hun, Arabs, Persian, Turksand Mongols, who over time lostcontact with their places of originand underwent an extensive processof indigenizationwhich hasbroughtabout India’scharacteristicdiversityand compositeculturaltraditions.Turning toreligion, HisExcellencydiscussed how it is also part of thenation’s cultural landscape andidentity, not only as the birthplaceof some of the world’s great religions,Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainismand Sikhism, but its long historyas a home to every major religion.From Judaism, which arrivedover 2,000 years ago, to Christianitythought to have arrived withSaint Thomas in 52 AD India haswelcomed every religion to reachits shores. This he added includedthe Zoroastrians or Parsis some1,000 years ago followed by Islam700 years ago brought to itsshores by Arab traders.Moving from religion, he continuedhis illustrations with a briefnote about the “staggering arrayof ethnicities, tribe and communitiesin India,” running into a 40-volume anthology and reflected inthe 17 languages found on an Indianbanknote. Also touching onpolitics, he provided more examplesof India’s incredible plurality.In drawing his talk to a close,he concluded his remarks with hisobservations that the landscape ofASEAN is always evolving and isan on-going experiment in pluralismas the many and differentpeoples of the region continue toconsider and successfully meetchallenges as natural partners in acommon quest.Although a complex topic, HisExcellency, with his obvious lovefor his topic, eloquent manner andcarefully crafted and presentedspeech, proved to be an intriguinginsight into a fascinating nationfrom a new and fresh perspective.

◄P Andrewand RtnVolkertradingsecrets...Ask Rtn Ron...◄PN Mark Butters,Rtn Junior,P Andrewand Rtn Ravi,this week’sCosmos winnergettingready forsome greatIndian foodRtn Geoffry and his Ann►CosmosAcademy,Khun Pooh...Yet another good day for Banners...

Rotary Club of Bangkok SouthNominations for the Board of Directors 2011/2012PresidentMark ButtersPresident NomineeNick PisalyaputIPPAndrew MacPhersonVice PresidentMichael DoyleVice PresidentPrasert MangkornkarnSecretaryDana CaronTreasurerAdrian TophamSergeant at ArmsRudy van der HoevenDirectorDavid RecordDirectorDean OutersonDirectorJon PlateDirectorDougie RiachDirectorDavid Armstrong

Khun Prakai’s Club AlmanacNo 3379 3 December 2010Happy BirthdaysManu MekdhanasarnPrasob Snongjati(11 December)(15 December)Wedding Anniversary GreetingsGeoffrey Carter (02 December)Rakesh Sodhia (02 December)David Record(06 December)Michael Doyle(07 December)Attendance for 26 November 2010: 46%Present 25, Make-up 13, Absent 41, Leave 4, Exemption 27:Total 110Visiting on 26 November 2010From AbroadShajimon StephenInvited guestsGareth KnightVasukiMichael WelterAlexandraMake-up Credit(Koothattukulam Central, India)Introduced byTim CornwallPE Mark ButtersPE Mark ButtersRon LivingstonClub History 25/11/10: PP Maarten Worp, PE Mark Butters,Dean OutersonSouth Wind Editorial TeamTim Cornwall (Editor), Jim Fowler, David Armstrong, GaryWhite, Jamie Cummiskey, Gareth MarshallSuggestions, comments or content tosouthwind@rotarybangkoksouth.orgClub Calendar10 December 2010 (Friday)Constitution DayNo Meeting17 December 2010 (Friday)Ladies Day/Sister LouiseNick HenleyCreating insanely greatcustomer experiences22 December 2010 (Wednesday)Christmas DinnerDusit Thani Hotel24 December 2010 (Friday)Christmas EveNo Meeting31 December 2010 (Friday)New Years EveNo Meeting07 January 2011 (Friday Lunch)PP John QuarmbyNew Year’s Predictions2010-2011 RCBS Delegation VisitsThursday, 24 February 2011 @ NoonRC Bangkok @ Grand Hyatt ErawanThursday, 28 April 2011@ 19.30RC Sathorn @ Holiday Inn Hotel, Silom RoadTuesday, 24 May 2011 @ NoonRC Bangkapi @ Grand Hyatt ErawanBiggest lies ever told…I'll respect you in the morning.You get this one, I'll pay next time.My wife doesn't understand me.Trust me, I'll take care of everything.Drinking? Why, no, Officer.It's not the money, it's the principle...I am getting a divorce.I never inhaled.SouthMouthI'll call you later.It's only a cold sore.Of course I love you.I never watch television except for PBS....but we can still be good friends.She means nothing to me.I gave at the office.Don't worry, he's never bitten anyone.Upgrade by the end of the year.I've never done anything like this before.Now, I'm going to tell you the truth.It's supposed to make that noise.