Sister Club Agreement with the Rotary Club Krasang - Buriram on February 16, 2006  

The RCES has established a sister club relation with the Rotary Club Krasang Buriram (RCK) in the spring of 2006 with Peter Rottmann, at the time the President of RCK (and a former RC Jomtien Pattaya Rotarian).

Pres. P. Rottmann came to visits to our Club to pledge for minimal help on several occasions in 2005. His pleas included, e.g. a wheel chair, blankets, desks and paint for the school (the kids were doing classes sitting on floor mats), and much more. There are simply no funds for such basic needs in Krasang. We fulfilled from Club funds and impromptu donations in cash during the visit by Peter during our meetings.

The facts and figures about Krasang – Thailand
About 2’000 Inhabitants - Location: 460 km from Pattaya, towards the Cambodian border – Climate is very, very hot during 4/5th of the year; 1/5th of the year their habitat, land and roads is inundated by heavy monsoon rains. Occupation: limited farming, handicrafts making, weaving, there is no industry. Annual earnings per family around US$ 100,-; Education ~US$ 2.75 per trimester (no spelling error); 90 village kids, 1 school, 2 teachers; limited government support, if any.

Projects in Krasang:
The RCES have an MG No. 59295 active together with the RC Krasang Buriram and the Main Sponsor Club RC Southborough from District 7910 USA, going for Scholarship over 3 years for 190 children.
RCES completed installing 2 water pumps with back flush filtering system in the school; cleared the water well from sand and mud to deliver clean and potable water for free to kids, elder and underprivileged. We provided 45 bikes, allowing kids with long distances to attend school regularly (there is no such thing as school buses). Monthly food packet donations are regularly distributed from funds the RCES received from the now defunct Sauber F1 Club Pattaya, through Stefan Ryser, their founding Club President.
Stefan is RCES President for 2007/8.

Conclusion:
For someone who has not been Thailand and if so, has not seen and traveled the back-yard of the Kingdom will never understand neither who these people are, nor how they live and think. Our “comprador” Peter lives on their doorsteps and understands! He is patient and considered, a kind of good uncle; “maybe he is sent from heaven to Krasang”.

The engagement for the RCES and PP Rottmann go on! Maybe your club can help too in future