More Out of Rotary

I know that you were thinking that you were going to go a week without hearing from me.  I missed you all last week, but I am planning on getting my Rotary fill Thursday, Friday and Saturday.  I want to thank Michael Williams for filling in last week and getting it done.  Hope to see everyone tomorrow.

Want to get more out of Rotary.... Here are three things that you can do to enhance your Rotary experience.

1)  Sit with someone that you don't know at our regular meeting.  This goes for both new and older members.  Everyone must understand that it can be challenging to break into a group that always sits together each week.  The thing that I find about Rotarians is that we each have a common background and have a lot to talk about.

2)  Visit another club.  All clubs are not created equal.  Visiting another club will help you appreciate your home club and will introduce you to others in Rotary and other Rotary ideas.  There are three other clubs in the county.  You can visit our District website for more information about local clubs.  You can visit the website for times and locations of meetings.

3)  Participate in a District or International Conference.  This weekend will be District 6560's 2012-2013 District Conference.  We will have speakers from Pakistan, the "Bug" Man (Tom Turpin) and Purdue's Head of Nutrition Science, Connie Weaver, Ph.D.  There will be breakout sessions with topics ranging from Social Media to Water Projects to Disaster Response.  These are things that each Rotarian should experience once.  If you have not attended a District Conference, you should set a goal that in the next two years you should plan on attending.  You also get to meet other Rotarians from other clubs with out having to travel to each individual clubs.

Each of these are ways to deepen your Rotary experience.  It is a step out of your comfort zone, but it is well wirth the step.  See you soon.   

House of Friendship

At our District 6560 conference and the Rotary International Convention, we have a House of Friendship.  At the international conference the HOF has booths, food, internet cafe's, entertainment, and things to inspire.

Rotary clubs from around the world would set up booths to make people aware of their projects and look for support.  This is a great way to make connections with other clubs.  There are also Rotary Fellowships.  These fellowships are Rotarians that share a common interest.  For example; Biking, Yachting, Doctors, and Bird Watching are just a few fellowships that were represented.  The HOF was open each day and in between breakout sessions and plenary sessions we were free to browse the booths. 

At the end of each day there would be a band, kariokee it a dance troupe to entertain us. 

My big take away was from the booths that demonstrated clean water systems and a club that is pushing for Rotary to attack MS after we have stamped out Polio.

One Bhat, Two Bhat, Three Baht....

One Bhat equals $0.032.  The Thai currency is all in even numbers.   Meaning that there is no cents.  Small currency coinage is 1, 2, 5 and 10 Bhat.  Paper currency run 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000.  Prices here are mostly inexpensive.

As we explored Thai food, we found most meals were about 150 Bhat or $4.50.  Food from the street vendors was even cheaper and it was good.  A cab ride around town would range from 100 to 300 Bhat.  That is between 3 and 9 dollars.  Clothing was cheap.  The Thai economy is doing really well, and we were told that because of this prices were high.  Coming from the US, things seemed cheaper. 

I found that some goods would swing wildly in price.  For example a diet coke would be 30 bhat one place and 120 somewhere else.  But beer was consistant between 85 and 100 bhat.

Several Rotarians spent time before the conference in southern Thailand.  They reported that prices outside of Bangkok was even cheaper.  I found condos on the beach for about $40 US per night from a quick Google search.  Thailand can be a great vacation spot that is inexpensive.  Flights are about $1500 per person round trip. 

Observations

There are things that we just don't think of or thing that we think are normal.  Hence, we take for granted.

Yesterday, while in Dubai, Dusti and I went to McDonald's for a drink.  I am happy to report that Diet Coke tastes the same in Dubai as it does at home.Most of you know this is a big deal for me since I don't drink coffee. LOL.However, the real observation was over hearing a conversation that a man, probably in he's late 20s, was having in line with his friends.  He said, "I have never eaten at McDonald's before". 

Next, I once read that Nickolas Tesla said that Thomas Edison's DC current needs so much wire that in some places it actually blocks out the sun.  Electricity here seems to be an after thought.  See picture.

Final observation for the day.  A stranger in Rotary is just a Rotary friend you have not meet yet.  When we got off the plane there was a welcome rotary sign.  Dusti suggested that I get my picture taken with it.  As you can see from the picture, how happy I was to complete a 26 hour flight.  Well, when we took this picture we drew a crowd of 10 men from India.  They were all from the same Rotary club in India.  They took their picture by the banner also.  We ended up talking with them all the way through customs.  Friends I had never met before.

Props to Emirates Airlines

Well there are no props, at least on the plane, but those are some huge planes.  Emirates does a great job making flying a great experience.  Great food, huge seats and entertainment on demand.  A tech junkie like me was happy. 

We made it to Dubai as you were all ending Rotary today.  However it is 9pm local.  While we wait for our next leg we are people watching in the Dubai airport.  Things are a bit different but still the same. 

This is my first time across the Atlantic.  I thought that I would have landed in Europe first before the Middle East.  I must say that it is difficult to think that I just flew over Iran and the Caspian Sea.

Our flight to Bangkok leaves in 2 hours.  More to come from Bangkok.