His Majesty's Celebration

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Dear Fellow Presidents and community leaders,

The Rotary Club of Koh Samui has been nominated to mobilize as many farlangs as possible on the island to join in the official celebrations in Samui of His Majesty, King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 60th reign of the country, the longest reigning monarch in the world. We will try to encourage all farlangs, including tourists and people working and living here, to join in the ceremony at Nathon, highlight of which is the presentation of special ornaments/offerings to pay homage to the King on stage by the various individuals and organizations, and the lighting of candles at around 7.00 pm. The programme starts at 6.00 pm and finishes at 8.00 pm, ending with Thai dancing.

The Samui F & B Association has been asked to make available food and drinks at special prices for the public. Entertainment will be on the whole evening, including large TV screens to view the start of the World Cup. Location of the event will be at the open space near the pier.

Khun Decha, the Chief District Officer, suggested the farlangs wear their national dress that evening. There will be a dedicated area for farlangs. As reported in the Samui Express of 19 May 2006, under the headline of “Farlangs mobilized for HM’s jubilee rite” it was pointed out that we should rally behind the Thais to show the world “we are also from Samui and that like them we wish to pay respect to the longest reigning monarch in the world”. Khun Decha has accepted the fact we are now part of Samui community and the same sentiment has been echoed by Pol Col Chakkrit, Chief of Police, Samui and Khun Warakorn Rattanarak, Mayor of Samui, whom we (Ken Chung, Paul Hawkins and myself) had meeting with last night. As Ken has said, that this is a sort of, “pay-back time for the opportunity the island has given us to live and work here.” He added, “This is the opportunity for the farlang community to thank the local people, to show them we truly care for the values they hold dear and make them feel we too are part of the Samui community”.

In acknowledging the occasion, it has been suggested that farlangs, individuals or corporations, contribute to building a monument, such as a sizeable fountain, with a plaque appropriately worded, as a permanent reminder that we are part of Samui’s community. All contributions should be sent to the Rotary Club of Koh Samui, with the specific direction it is for the Farlang’s Fountain Project. We intend to make a CD of the event and acknowledge all the contributions, with the contributors’ names and present it to the King. The Mayor has promised to find a suitable design of the fountain and to find the best location to place it.

We realize the fountain will not be ready by 9th June but we can announce the intention that evening. In order to allow the opportunity for as many farlangs as possible to contribute towards the project we set a time limit of two months from now for all contributions to come in.

It is a very worthwhile project, one that has been long overdue and on this very special occasion of acknowledging HM the King’s 60th reign on the throne, the time is just right. The main celebrations are in Bangkok, where amongst the dignitaries arriving to pay homage to His Majesty, are 29 royalties from around the world.

PLEASE INFORM ALL YOUR MEMBERS, BY E-MAIL ETC. THE 9TH IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER. SAMUI EXPRESS HAS TAKEN THE TASK TO HIGHTLIGHT THE EVENT IN THEIR NEXT ISSUE ON 2 JUNE 2006.

With kind regards,

Paul Watson

President

Rotary Club of Koh Samui