Reconstitution
JT Warring, from the Rotary Club Los Angeles (LA5), USA, started the Water for Life project which was sponsored initially by his club. In response to seeing the 2004 tsunami He has worked with 22 private orphanages to establish water systems in all these locations, and is dedicated to providing ten more systems.
While working in Myanmar, he saw the need to have Rotary Club established again in the country and set about finding ways to do this. He identified U Moe Kyaw, one of Myanmar’s leading business men, as the best person to spearhead the effort. Having seen the benefits that Rotary brings to people, U Moe Kyaw readily accepted the challenge, gathered his closet friends to become the founders, and held a dinner to raise awareness about Rotary and to gain members. Numerous members of the business community supported the concept of reconstitution, as Rotary was well known in their parents’ generation.
International Rotary Sponsors
As part of the ongoing RCY effort, a visit was arranged to host John Hewko, Rotary International CEO and Kalyan Banarjee, Past President of Rotary International. This February 2013 photo depicts a meeting with Daw Aung San Su Kyi.
Following Rotary International regulations, the revived Rotary Club of Yangon required a sponsor to help us through the Charter process. Sponsors and regional district chapters have changed considerably since 1974, and RCY is now included in District 3350. The Rotary Clubs of Bangkok and Bangkok South readily agreed, and have, along with JT Warring, given enthusiastic support to the reconstitution of RCY throughout many meetings, and planning sessions. In the run up to our Club being Chartered, we were also honoured with the visits from John Hewko, Rotary International CEO, and Kalyan Banarjee, Past President of Rotary International. Both met with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, together with U Moe Kyaw, to brief her on the plans for Rotary to be reconstituted in Myanmar.
We are in daily contact with our sponsors, and are being supported closely by District Governor Surachet, PDG Alex Mavro (who has been appointed as District Governor Special Representative), PP Ateeb Maskati (Assistant Governor), PP Santi Chatterjee, and Jean-Pierre Verbiest.
Becoming Chartered
RCY officially signed the Charter Documents in 10 May 2014 in Bangkok, and we received a letter from the Past President Ron D. Burton on the 16th May 2014 accepting us intothe Rotary International Family.
Rotary International Convention
On June 4, 2014 at the Rotary International Conference in Sydney, Australia, we were honoured to be announced as a new Club and our flag was proudly displayed. Our Charter Rotarians, Ma Myat Thet Saw (Shweye) and Mr Ian Sinclair Glover, proudly attended the conference.
