Mayhem in Thailand gets relief from
Swedish Rotarians!
Everyone can
make a difference
Sweden was the third hardest hit country in the world by the
tsunami disaster in relationship to its
population size only behind Sri Lanka and Indonesia. Many Swedes
were in Thailand on vacation during the tsunami.
There are currently 796 Swedes reported dead or missing in a
population of 8.9 million people. It is proportionately like as if
there were 26,000 American dead or missing. Only Sri Lanka and
Indonesia were harder hit. Sri Lanka has an estimated number of
victims of 38,000 in a population of 19.9 million. That is
proportionately like there were 560,000 American victims. Indonesia
has an estimated number of victims of 160,000 in a population of
238.5 million. That is proportionately like there were 197,000
American victims.
Rotarians in Sweden have formed a partnership with the Rotary Club
of Patong Beach in Phuket, Thailand, which is an English speaking
Rotary Club. You can read more about the Rotary Club of Patong Beach
on our website at
www.rotarypatong.org.
The Swedish Thai Rotary Partnership was initiated by Swedish Rotarian Tord Elfwendahl, who is also
known for his website with a library of Rotary Graphics, which he
has made
available to Rotary Clubs and other Rotary Organizations around the
world. You can find this website at
www.elfco.se/rotary/grafik.html.
Tord sent this message to us:
I received a phone call early morning on 26 December from my sister
had watching the BBC on cable and saw news that a Tsunami had, among
other places struck Sri Lanka. Her immediate reaction had been to
call up one of her old friends who run a small hotel business on the
island to see if all was well. The friend had had a near brush with
death and nearly lost a son to the water surge, but had been
fortunate. During the course of that single call she began to
understand that this wave of destruction was probably going to lead
to worse stories than the one she had just heard. I spent all day
that day trying to access damages.
I tried to see if Rotary was reacting and how. I read ROTI and every
conceivable piece of news that was available on countless news sites
and towards the end of that day to my great joy Australian Rotarians
were already moving towards action.
Monday morning brought in more horrific stories and the death toll
was beginning to climb. News broadcasts told of relief efforts being
initiated and the inadequacies in effort logistics. The package tour
operators took control of the situation and spearheaded the first
relief attempts and at the end of this second day I was still
wondering what Rotary was doing amidst all this horrendous turmoil.
RIBI Rotary seemed to be targeting Sri Lanka and India seemed to be
coping quite well. Aussie Rotary Clubs were focusing on Indonesia as
I saw things which now put Thailand into my focus. That evening I
mailed Rotary Clubs in the effected areas of Thailand and very
quickly established contact with the Rotary Club of Patong Beach in
Phuket. (This English speaking Rotary Club I was later to learn, had
a very good reputation of getting things done). I asked how we might
help and very quickly Hari Bedi, Vice President of the Thai Club
replied with suggestions how we could turn thoughts and
contributions into action and relief.
Tuesday, 28 December, I called Rotary Club of Stockholm Strand
President Folke Gerhardt and asked him if he had any objections if I
used the Club's account for funds and told him I was immediately
initiating a drive to collect funds in support of relief efforts in
Thailand, channeled through Stockholm Strand Rotary Club and at the
receiving end coordinated by the Rotary Club of Patong Beach. I also
informed ADG Sigbjorn Olofsson and DG Ingemar Widegren and
immediately received their full support and willingness to help in
getting the word out to all ten Rotary Districts in Sweden and their
subsequent Clubs.
The following day the appeal went out on the Stockholm Strand Rotary
Club web site, the District 2350 web site and was emailed to as many
as we could reach hoping that every recipient would pass it on. The
news from Thailand continued to bring more nightmare stories of
Swedish holidaymakers that had lost friends and eye witness accounts
of entire families swept out to sea or crushed under the pounding
waves.
Thursday 30 December
At last.
The word was out and pledges began flowing from Swedish Rotarians,
Rotary Clubs and Districts to support the Thai relief efforts now
being coordinated through the Rotary Club of Stockholm Strand. Thank
you.
It took four days to (at last) get out of the starting blocks.
I know that the Rotary Club of Patong Beach in Phuket is doing
exhausting work from the reports sent me by President Sam Fauma and
we are all in very much debt to him and all Rotarians involved.
On 4 January, Nina Brunstedt, immediate Part President of Stockholm
Strand RC, in Phuket on behalf of the Swedish Office of Foreign
Affairs, attended the Patong Beach Rotary Club weekly meeting and
added some valuable fellowship to our Swedish - Thai friendship and
teamwork, reassuring us afterwards of the valuable contribution our
effort is making to the relief work.
For me it's been a reward to know I helped make a difference, and
that Rotary Clubs can be just as much a relief effort resource, with
very, very little, if any, overhead costs.
Yours very much in Rotary
Tord Elfwendahl, PHF
Past President (2000-01) Rotary Club of Stockholm Strand
Honorary Member of the Rotary Club of Stockholm International
To read more:
www.rotarypatong.org
Rotary Club of Stockholm
Strand President Folke Gerhardt (left) together with
Tord Elfwendahl (right).
This is the call for help that Tord Elfwendahl sent to the Swedish Rotarians:
Dear Fellow Rotarians,
As a result of the tragic events around the Indian Ocean I did not
see that Rotary International was acting as hastily as I had hoped
in all areas. Rotarians i Australia combined there efforts to
support Indonesia, and in the UK the focus was on Sri Lanka and
India.
I therefore contacted Rotary Clubs in the effected areas of Thailand
and very quickly established contact with the Rotary Club of Patong
Beach in Phuket, an international Rotary Club with a reputation of
getting things done. I asked how we might help and very quickly Hari
Bedi, Vice President of the Thai Club and could turn our thoughts
into action.
There is now a nationwide appeal out to all Rotarians and Rotary
Clubs in Sweden to support the Rotary Club of Patong Beach's Relief
projects which include emergency efforts, caring for orphans and
taking steps to counsel the many women previously employed at
numerous Hotels an resorts, now left without an income on which, in
several cases, many were dependent.
The collected funds are being channeled through the Rotary Club of
Stockholm Strand and all contributions should be made to Bankgiro
account 5389-7229. All payments marked "Phuket".
The District Governors of all ten Swedish Rotary Districts all
unanimously support this Rotary effort, and it is my hope that we
can all help make a difference and show that Rotary cares.
With wishes for a better New Year
Yours in Rotary
Tord Elfwendahl, PHF
Hon Member, Stockholm Intl Rotary Club
Rotary Club of Stockholm Strand