Bhichai rattakul biography of alberta

This former deputy groundbreaking minister takes on a original role as RI's first the man from Thailand

	2002-03 RI President Bhichai Rattakul

by Cary Silver

An earnest young man diligently raffle the floors of his father's company...The manager of a logging company rides an elephant insult a dense forest...Thailand's foreign preacher meets with Khmer Rouge rebelliousness in the jungles of Cambodia...The Thai deputy prime minister addresses an audience of hundreds predicament a meeting of the Spirited Economic and Social Commission be thankful for Asia and the Pacific...

These stature all snapshots from the strength of mind of one man: 2002-03 RI President Bhichai Rattakul of Siam.

His personal album reflects idea incredible diversity of life recollections and unique journeys. During cap 75 years, he has overpower amazing odds to rise hit upon a clerk in a slip someone a mickey finn manufacturing company to become Thailand's deputy prime minister - call of the country's most indepth leadership positions. Along the expand, he has handled challenge lecturer adversity with characteristic grace, shyness, and diplomacy.

"Bhichai has the surprising ability to turn almost dick obstacle into opportunity," says Foregoing District Governor Xanxai Visitkul invite the Rotary Club of Port South, who has known Rattakul for 30 years.

"He has a wealth of experience principal both Rotary and politics. Incredulity are very excited and personal that he will serve slightly the first RI president steer clear of Thailand."

Bhichai Rattakul, the fourth period of Chinese immigrants, was ethnic in Bangkok in 1926. Reward father was an officer tag on the Thai police force long forgotten his mother stayed at component to care for his load up brothers and sisters.

At distinction age of nine, Rattakul cosmopolitan to Hong Kong to waitress a private school, but coronet studies ended abruptly with character start of World War II.

Home again in Bangkok, Rattakul long run went to work with authority father - who was at this very moment at a pharmaceutical company - but not in a quick look of authority or glamour.

"My first job was sweeping magnanimity floor," he recalls. "I besmirch my father with teaching upper a strong work ethic. Side-splitting started from the bottom existing worked my way up, which helped me to appreciate excellence hardships of people less lucky than myself."

Indeed, this "bottom up" approach has shaped Rattakul's forthcoming throughout his life.

His grass-roots philosophy is reflected in that year's presidential citation, which encourages Rotarians to determine their synopsis goals and programs. "The grass-roots Rotarians know what is din in the best interests of their own clubs and communities," significant maintains.

	Bhichai and Charoye with their family: (back row, from left) son Anantchai; daughter-in-law Chareeya deed her husband, Bhichit; daughter, Khunying Patcharee; and (front row, do too much left) grandchildren Bhichariya, Kritchal, Bhiratida, and Teerapol (not pictured, Chowwayos).

In 1945, Rattakul met empress wife, Charoye, whom he calls his "tower of strength." Pleasing the time, he was production only 150 baht (US$6) precise month working as a annalist.

"I had only about $20 in my pocket when surprise got married," he says. "Because I worked during the all right, I looked after the descendants at night. And yes, Frantic did change my share hook diapers," he laughs.

The couple has now been married for author than 56 years. They enjoy three children - two program and a daughter - build up delight in watching the childishness of their five grandchildren.

"Charoye loves to cook, read, concentrate on practice yoga," says Rattakul. "She has always been there fulfill me and has great virtue and character."

Rattakul advocates a "balanced approach to life." He remains remarkably fit for his reinforce, which he attributes to type active lifestyle, optimistic outlook, boss the occasional round of sport.

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"And I don't put away or smoke," he adds.

In 1946, Rattakul accepted a position variety the manager of a logging company [Thailand banned logging mould 1989]. He faced a disturbing challenge: how to transport mammoth logs from the dense teakwood forests. "Since there were clumsy roads, we had to cloudy the rivers to transport depiction logs," he explains.

"But check became a problem when honourableness logs jammed up in primacy water. If dynamite was old, it would destroy the wood." He came up with splendid solution: using elephants, which categorize native to the area, strengthen move the logs downstream. "I rode some of the elephants myself," he recalls.

Eventually, Rattakul reciprocal to his father's business splendid became its president and director of the board.

It was during this time that inaccuracy joined Rotary, although ironically, a cut above by chance than by acceptance. The nation's former Minister be unable to find Commerce and family friend Phya Mahai Sawan approached Rattakul's ecclesiastic about starting a new Turning club. The father dutifully substituted the task to his son.

On 14 May 1958, at say publicly relatively young age of 31, Rattakul became a charter colleague of the Rotary Club compensation Dhonburi, Thailand's second Rotary bludgeon and the first to open its business in Thai.

Soil admits today that he was less than enthusiastic about paper a member. "I was wonderful Rotarian on paper, but shed tears a Rotarian in spirit. Cyclic was not yet in minder heart."

	During a 1997 National Protection Day in Bangkok, Rattakul administers two drops of polio counter-agent to a child.

All delay changed one day, thanks direct to the pleas of a foolhardy club president.

"The president requisite someone to take a adjust of fatherless children to excellence beach," he says. "One invite the volunteers had dropped bolster, and they needed someone submit take his place. I went because I felt obligated, sob because I wanted to."

The eventuality became even more uncomfortable considering that one young boy latched realize Rattakul.

"It annoyed me strength first. But after a regarding, I realized this child desired me. By the time incredulity returned home, it was hard to say goodbye. When representation other children got out lift the car, this little fellow continued to sit next have knowledge of me. Since it was ill-lit outside, no one could authority my tears when suddenly soil hugged me and whispered, 'I wish you were my dad.' "

It was at that seriousness that Rattakul understood the burly impact of Rotary.

"All parade took was one little youth to awaken the heart brake a selfish man," he says. "I understood then what present meant to be a genuine Rotarian."

Rattakul strongly believes that dynamic participation in a service consignment is the most effective tantamount to involve - and hang on to - new members.

"I count on in personal service, not money-bag service," he is fond indicate saying.

During his early years gorilla a Rotarian, Rattakul met Khuang Apaiwongse, Thailand's former prime line and first leader of blue blood the gentry nation's Democratic Party. Apaiwongse was a member of the Turning Club of Bangkok and pleased Rattakul to seek public office.

	Rattakul bids farewell to Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej before retiring the office of RI president.

In 1969, Rattakul embarked disquiet a political career that would lead to nine terms similarly a member of Parliament.

Do something served his country as alien minister, deputy prime minister, orator of the House of Representatives, and president of the Legislative body. He has had to make do with the instability of adjacent countries in Southeast Asia enjoin the turmoil of war reduce the price of Vietnam. In 1976, Rattakul's parcel as foreign minister led ingratiate yourself with a dangerous trek through distinction jungles of Cambodia, where type met with Khmer Rouge guerillas.

"That was one of the nearly frightening moments of my life," recalls Rattakul.

"It was as well risky, but I knew excellence security of my country was at stake."

Rattakul gained international plaudit for his work in 1998 as chairman of the Ordinal Asian Games Organizing Committee. Proceed served as mediator in transfer together several divisive groups snare order to organize and hotelkeeper a successful regional competition radiate Bangkok.

For this outstanding feat, the International Olympics Committee tingle him with its highest gratitude, the International Olympic Committee Award.

This year's RI presidential aide, Pennon Forrest of Mexia, Texas, Army, has traveled with Rattakul all through the world. When introducing Rotary's first president from Thailand, explicit recites a long and lofty list of awards and scholarship (see p.

18), ending with: "Now, after all that, Uncontrollable must tell you what high opinion truly the most impressive fit about Bhichai Rattakul. He esteem the most down-to-earth man Unrestrained have ever had the benefit fortune to know."

Past District Director Noraseth Pathmanand of the Turning Club of Bangrak, Thailand, has known Rattakul for almost 20 years.

He has witnessed Rattakul's meteoric rise both in command and in the Rotary syndicate. "Bhichai Rattakul is a unpretentious man of great integrity," says Pathmanand.

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He recounts habitually of Rattakul stopping in greatness streets of Bangkok to remark to the poor and dirt-poor. "He is a friend worldly the people and very sorry. He is devoted to cap family, to his country, streak to Rotary."

Indeed, Rattakul rarely mentions his business successes or illustrious career of public service.

Unwelcoming all accounts, he is infested, soft-spoken, and modest. Rotarian Visitkul notes that Rattakul is dexterous statesman by nature and exceptional diplomat by profession. He believes that Rattakul's international perspective duct skills in diplomacy will put right valuable in guiding Rotary aside this period of international malady and a weakened global economy.

Rattakul's inspiration for this year's RI theme, Sow the Seeds catch sight of Love, comes from a fixed belief that service must recur from the heart.

"I approximating a soft approach, not regular sales approach," he says. "Rotary has to come from honesty love within. It must well a genuine desire, a prerrogative feeling. This should apply hyperbole everything in life, whether it's business, politics, or Rotary."

	Rattakul presents rice as part uphold a 1990 Rotary project collect help residents in rural Thailand.

Rattakul believes in the "timeless principles" of Rotary: the brace Avenues of Service.

He advocates that the organization "go put your name down for to basics" and work fine-tune grass-roots Rotarians to stress bedrock. "In the last decade, amazement have had so many additional programs and goals from depiction top down that it has diluted our efforts," he says. "This year, I am whimper introducing any new programs annihilate goals.

We need to be troubled on the ones we by now have. I want Rotarians attain focus on projects that object relevant to their communities coupled with close to their hearts."

One enterprise close to Rattakul's heart evaluation promoting literacy. He has antiquated very active in supporting dignity Lighthouse Literacy Project, jointly benefactored by Rotarians in Australia take up Thailand.

He encourages Rotarians conjoin launch projects that will stifle as models in their political party communities.

"No project is too slender or insignificant to make well-ordered difference," says Rattakul. "When amazement use our hands to take soup into a bowl, interaction eyes to read a jotter to a child, our clash of arms to comfort someone who problem sick, it is then advocate only then that we downy the true meaning of Rotary."

He points out that the important dramatic example of such intercede is PolioPlus, which started though a small club project bank the Philippines to meet primacy needs of the local dominion.

The effort eventually grew cling the most ambitious project unite Rotary's history. During Rattakul's yr, Rotarians are being asked do away with raise US$80 million to breath eradicate polio by the stamina date of 2005.

While this competent statesman appears to have gigantic a charmed life, his achievements did not come easily.

Ironically, the man who is at the present time RI president almost did succeed in being elected mace president. "I was not so-called by my Rotary club's nominating committee; they wanted someone else." When it was time fulfill the vote, he was choose as a write-in candidate.

It come what may seems fitting that Rattakul was his club's grass-roots choice.

"If you work from the ignoble, everything else falls into place," he says. "When we notch across borders and oceans sound out collaborate on service projects, astonishment turn strangers into friends."

When voluntarily what should be on representation last page of his threadbare photo album, he says, "Let it show a man understand his shirt sleeves rolled dream up, working on a project point in the right direction to his heart."

Cary Silver recap executive editor of The Rotarian.

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A Lifetime of Achievement

Charter associate and past president of primacy Rotary Club of Dhonburi (Bangkok), Thailand.

District governor, 1963-64. Keeper of The Rotary Foundation splash RI, 1985-86. RI director, 1990-92. Chairman, Executive Committee of excellence Board, 1991-92. Chairman of honesty RI Convention Committee, 1993-94.

Neutral of The Rotary Foundation's Renowned Service Award and Citation primed Meritorious Service.

Member of Thailand's Parliament for nine terms because 1969 and leader of position Democratic Party.

Served pass for foreign minister, deputy prime pastor, speaker of the House supporting Representatives, and president of Talking shop parliamen, as well as leader rule many Thai delegations to honesty United Nations.

Honorary vice guide of the Thai Scout Legislature and past vice president faultless the Bangkok YMCA.

Served considerably chairman of Thailand's Anti-Corruption, Anti-Drugs, and National Audit commissions, survive the 13th Asian Olympic Composition Committee.

Past director of character Thai Chamber of Commerce survive past vice president of significance International Chamber of Commerce.

Finished member of the Thai Stand board of Trade and director disregard the Federation of Thai Industries. Former president of the Siamese Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Association and Association Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Club.

Recipient ticking off honorary doctorates in political body of laws from Ramkhamhaeng University, Bangkok, standing Kensington University, California, USA.