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Colin Jarvis - 25 October 2026

Combating Forced Criminality

the fastest growing form of Human Trafficking

Forced Criminality is a new and, fastest-growing, form of Human Trafficking. Young people, often newly graduated, are persuaded to accept, what appears to be an attractive a job, but is in fact enslavement, in very harsh conditions. These victims are forced to scam innocent people, throughout the world, in order to steal their money. If these young people do not achieve their financial targets they are beaten, starved, or punished in other extremely unpleasant ways.

This terrible experience usually ends in either a dangerous escape or death.

The various scams that are used are devised by highly competent planners using the most modern computerised, artificially intelligent technology. Thus, the people who suffer are not just the trafficked but, also the innocent people they target.

The money and resources that are currently available for combating these evil schemes is minuscule compared to the billions of dollars in profits that are achieved by the organisers of this vile activity.

In this presentation Colin will propose a new project to be undertaken by Chiang Mai Wattana Rotary Club to combat Forced Criminality. It is hoped that this project will grow from its conception in Chiang Mai to a worldwide operation utilising the strength of Rotary International.

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Sylvia Yu Friedman - 8 November 2026

Sylvia Yu Friedman will be our featured speaker at our meeting on 8 November 2026. The meeting will be on Zoom and is open to all Rotarian's, Rotaractor's, Rotary Peace Fellows, and invited guests. For your invitation to this very special ocassion, please contact president@rotaryclubchiangmaiwattana.org/

Sylvia is a bestselling Penguin Random House Author, Inspirational Speaker and Advisor to Ultra High Net Worth families. She is ranked as the #1 Top Voice in Hong Kong and the top 1% globally by Favikon. Her influence and inspiration are showcased on the Favikon Top 200 Global LinkedIn Creators list, which features the most influential personalities from around the world.

Since 2005, Sylvia has spearheaded philanthropic initiatives for some of the world’s wealthiest families, making a significant impact on countless lives while shining a light on the worst human rights abuses of our time.

Her pioneering investigations into the dark underworld of sex trafficking and modern-day slavery for two decades – often at risk to her own life – have shattered barriers and charted a course for a new generation of philanthropists and activists.

In Hollywood, a producing team was developing a TV series inspired by Sylvia's life and memoir, "A Long Road to Justice." She also hosts the digital interview show "Inspiring YOU with Sylvia Yu" on LinkedIn, spotlighting remarkable individuals. Additionally, she is a Luminary Thinker for the RedBoxMe ideas platform, a collaboration with Cartier.

An accomplished author, Sylvia has written 5 books and edited a 6th book. Her books include "A Long Road to Justice: Stories from the Frontlines in Asia" and "Silenced No More: Voices of Comfort Women," the only journalistic account of historical Japanese military sex slavery during WWII, with a call to healing the wounds of history and racial reconciliation.

"Fearless: A Guide to Freedom and Fulfilling Your Fullest Potential," was released in Dec 2024 by Penguin Random House. Her novel, “Butterflies,” was published in January 2026.

Sylvia also leads Epic Tales Media, a publishing and media company specializing in biography writing and dedicated to transforming ideas into captivating books, TV and films that change the world.

A former TV anchor, Sylvia was honored with the Global Top 50 Women In Sustainability Awards 2022 by The SustainabilityX® Magazine. In 2017, she was also listed among the Top 100 Human Trafficking & Slavery Influence Leaders and received the International Human Rights Press Award in 2013 for her documentary series on trafficking.

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Faron Barr - 19 November 2026

PDG Faron Barr – Global Grants Presentation

The Rotary Club of Chiang Mai Wattana and SEATECT have the honor of hosting PDG Faron Barr’s presentation on Global Grants. The meeting will be at 20:00 (8:00 p.m.) on Thursday 19 November 2026. Contact President@rotaryclubchiangmaiwattana.org for your invitation.

Faron Barr has been a financial advisor with T& M Financial, Inc. in Topeka, Ks for the last 23 years. He develops individual and small business financial plans. Faron has earned the following designations in his career: Chartered Financial Consultant, Chartered Life Underwriter, and Certified Financial Planner®. He has helped a wide variety of individuals with their personal financial issues. Debt restructuring, tax planning, budgeting, insurance, investments, tax shelters, retirement planning, and planning for major purchases are just a few of the areas where Faron works with his clients to develop solutions to help them achieve their goals.

Faron is a current board director with the Rotary Action Group Against Slavery (RAGAS) serving a three-year term. He is a charter member of the Empowering Girls Rotary Action Group. He is also a current member of the Annual Fund subcommittee chair for District 5710.

Faron is a Past District Governor (2020-2021) and past District Rotary Foundation Chair (2022-2025) for District 5710. During his year as District Governor Elect, Faron helped establish the End Human Trafficking (EHT) district committee which led to an EHT Rotary club being formed and was chartered during Faron’s term as District Governor. This committee and club are responsible for four successful global grants that are currently being implemented in District 5710. Faron was one of the primary contacts on a global grant implemented in Guatemala focusing on Disease Prevention and Treatment. He is also involved in several other global grants that are in various stages of implementation.

He is a Major Donor, a Paul Harris Society member, a Bequest Society member, and a recipient of the Citation for Meritorious Service. Faron is also the committee chair for the annual Gathering For Good Rotary Foundation event which was started during his term as District Governor. This event is a fundraiser that has generated over $175,000 for The Rotary Foundation so far.

Faron is a Past President of the Topeka South Rotary club and served as the District 5710 RYLA Chairperson from 2016-2018. Faron was the race director for Topeka South’s annual Pumpkin Run from 2016-2018, which raised over $20,000 for Polio Plus. He has traveled to Central America several times on Rotary service projects leading volunteers who help communities with water filters, cook stoves, medical checkups, shoes, beds, etc. During his membership at Topeka South, Faron coordinated one of their monthly projects for three years which prepared and served food for the local homeless population. He has participated in almost every project Topeka South has planned. He was also a member of Toastmasters International for nine years where he served as Division Governor for two years and earned his Distinguished Toastmaster award.

Faron and his wife, Ann, have been married for 35 years. Faron’s family has lived in Topeka for 29 years. Ann is a retired case manager who helped people with developmental disabilities and is now volunteering at the YWCA Center for Safety and Empowerment in Topeka. Faron is originally from Missouri, and his wife is from Texas. Faron is a dedicated Kansas City Chiefs fan and has held season tickets for the last 20 years.

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Prevention of Sexual Abuse in Chiang Mai

Project: Anti-Human Trafficking Training by Pongsawart Niyomca and Rotary Club of Chiang Mai Wattana D. 3360 on the topic of How to Avoid Being Trafficked.

Objective: to train the attendants to be aware of human trafficking in the present world and be able to teach other community members to prevent themselves and their loved ones from being trafficked, held on 17 August 2025, at Suandok Community, Chiang Mai for 30 minute training. Participants were Suandok Community Committee and Community Health Volunteer. Number of participants were 36 persons. Output from the training/orientation: the participants learned many things they had never known before. They learned how to prevent themselves from being lured and will be more alert and be closer to their loved ones.

Project: Life skills development to increase youth awareness (Student Planner) by Pongsawart Niyomca and Rotary Club of Chiang Mai Wattana D. 3360 on the topic of Personality Development. Objective: To enable students to learn how to have the appropriate internal and external personality, held on the 1st September 2025, at the Baan Poang School, San Sai District, Chiang Mai Province. There were 132 students attended. Topics of the training were as follows:

1) physical personality (body care and appearance),

2) verbal and communication personality (words and body language),

3) emotional and mental personality (emotional control, stability), and

4) intellectual personality (thinking, analyzing, and decision-making).

Life skills development to increase youth awareness

Story by: Maruek Charnsungnern, Rotary Club of Chiang Mai Wattana / SEATECT

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Last Update

This site was last updated on 23 October 2026

Service Above Self

We meet In Person

Sundays at 1:30 PM

RC CM Wattana

139 Nantaram Rd, Tambon Hai Ya
Mueang Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai 50100
Thailand

We meet on Zoom on the 2nd Sunday of each month at 1:30 p.m. (UTC+7). On the 4th Sunday of each month we meet at Tulou Restaurant at 12:30 for lunch followed by the meeting. Contact president@rotaryclubchiangmaiwattana.org for your invitation

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Jerry Nelson

We start Rotary Year 2026-2027 as a very small club with huge ambitions. The hope is that we grow our active membership from 7 to 27 and add at least 10 associate members. Associate members must be active members of another club. We also are intent on establishing a sister club relationship with the Rotary Club to End Human Trafficking. We aim to be the first cause based club in Southeast Asia to combat the horrors of human trafficking!

In December we will participate in the Salvation Army's Asia Youth Leadership Summit-Chiang Mai