PP Andrew MacPherson introduced our guest speaker P Vasana Mututanont of Rotary Club of Bangkok as a highly accomplished executive with 36 years work experience in Board of Investment in Thailand (BOI ). She retired as Deputy Director General including 13 years in 2 separate periods in BOI, New York.

P Vasana started by saying she had previously visited our club only once out of curiosity as our club only had men as members !

She now celebrates her birthday on 9/11 as that day in 2001 she got a new lease in life having been treated and cured for 40 pct third degree burns on her body. Both her husband and she worked in the twin towers. She was on the 37th floor in North Tower and experienced the catastrophy first-hand. At 8.44 am she entered the building and walked towards the elevators. She felt as if the building was shaking slightly but that did not alarm her as this was quite normal until she saw thick black smoke coming towards her. She ran towards the exit and felt a sudden push of hot air on her back and landed face down in a bush near the ramp of the North Tower. She looked around and wanted to stand up but could not. At that point she thought she was going to die and the first thought that came to her mind was who would look after her parents. She prayed to God and made a promise that if she survived, she would look after her parents very well. Seems her prayers were answered because at that time she heard someone calling out her name. It was her husband who had not entered the building as he would everyday but not that day as he had some errand to do. He helped her to get up and move further away from the building. It was then a man came over and offered her his shirt to cover her body. All this while she was in some kind of shock and has no clear recollection of what was happening. 

The police had arrived and questioned all who were outside. She insisted on moving away from the North Tower to a building across the road. She did not panic and kept thinking on what to do next. Both of them were taken to a hospital. And then the treatment began. After 18 hours of initial treatment in that hospital, she was sent to a specialized hospital for burn patients. After 4 weeks of skin grafting and physiotherapy she began to recover very slowly. She spent her time speaking to donors , TV and press both in USA and Asia recounting her experience. 

After 2 months in the second hospital she returned to Bangkok. She was very frustrated as all her personal work had to be done by her husband who was cook, nurse, etc. During this period she never cried and was advised to see a psychiatrist. At the first session she cried her heart out for 45 minutes ! After about 10 sessions with the psychiatrist she began to feel better. In December 2001 she went back to New York and rented a new office and apartment in the same area as rentals had dropped 50 pct. 

She learnt 3 lessons from this incident.
1. Never give up and always try your best.
2. Be mindful. Focus everytime. Anything can happen anytime.
3. Love your family.       

She also learnt there are many good people, generous people in this world. When you need help, even strangers come forward to help you. This is the main reason why she joined Rotary. 

Rtn Rakesh Sodhia thanked the speaker for the moving and emotional recount of the incidents of 9/11 and how it must have pained our speaker to relive those moments once again. For most of us listening to this talk, it was the first time we had heard personal experience from one of the victims of 9/11.

Rtn Sanjeev Chowdhury honoring Rtn Chip Bowness for 10 years club membership

Our guest speaker P Vasana Mututanont

PP Andrew MacPherson introducing the guest speaker

Rtn Rakesh Sodhia giving the Vote of Thanks on behalf of the club

Ladies Day guests

Lucky winner Rtn Jan Cederwall

Rtn John Fotiadis relating his own experience of 9/11

AG Santi Chartterjee attentively listening to the proceedings

Gang of 3 : Rtn Mark Wolf, Rtn Mark Shaw and Rtn Aaron Henry

Visiting Rotarians

Hat competition !