Presidents 2002-2003
Profile of Tony de St Dalmas, President of RIBI 2002-2003
The Rotary Club of Southgate, London
Tony de St Dalmas, of the Rotary Club of Southgate in London, is President of Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland for the 2002-03 Rotary year.
Although his home is in London Tony was born in Wales. He was educated at West Monmouth School where he played cricket and rugby. He is a graduate of the University of Wales with a degree in Law and where he played cricket and hockey.
After National Service in the Army in Whitehall he joined Barclays Bank as a graduate trainee. He left the bank to be articled and to qualify as a Solicitor. He is now a practising Consultant for his former firm, of which he was a Senior Partner, a Freeman of the City of London and Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Bankers.
Tony has been a Rotarian since 1972, is a Past President of the Rotary Club of Southgate and has served his District in many capacities including Representative to the Council on Legislation on three occasions and Chairman of Committees, International Service, Constitution and Resolutions Committee and Executive Committee.
He has served Rotary International as District Governor and is currently a Task Force Member and Polio Plus National Advocacy Advisor for the UK. He has previously been a member of the Polio Plus Task Force for Great Britain & Ireland, International Assembly Discussion Leader twice and Representative of the President of RI to District Conferences on six occasions. He is a Paul Harris Fellow, Foundation Benefactor and the recipient of the Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service and the International Service Award for a Polio Free World.
President of Rotary International.
Bhichai Ratakul
The Rotary Club of Dhonburi, Bangkok Thailand
This year's annual theme: "Sow the Seeds of Love"
Bhichai Rattakul, of the Rotary Club of Dhonburi, Bangkok, Thailand, is President of RI for the 2002-03 Rotary year.
A nine-term member of the Thai Parliament, Rattakul also served his country as leader of the Democratic Party, as foreign minister in 1975-76, as deputy prime minister for 10 years, and as chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. As a cabinet member of the Royal Thai Government, he was vice chairman of the National Security Council and chairman of the Counter Corruption Commission and the Narcotics Control Board.
Before entering government, Rattakul was president of the Thai Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Association and Director of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Thai Industries.
Rattakul has received many awards and decorations from Their Majesties, the King of Thailand and the Emperor of Japan, and the presidents of the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Austria, and Nicaragua. He has led many Thai delegations to the United Nations General Assembly.
Since becoming a charter member of the Rotary Club of Dhonburi in 1958, Rattakul has served RI as district governor, International Assembly discussion leader, committee member and chairman, Foundation trustee, and director and chairman of the Executive Committee of the Board. Currently, he is the chairman of the 2000-01 Diplomatic Relations Task Force.
Rattakul has received The Rotary Foundation's Distinguished Service Award and Citation for Meritorious Service for his support of its international humanitarian and educational programs.
