Friday, July 19, 2013

Communique from the Superintendent's Office July 18, 2013

July 18, 2013


Dear GIS community,

On Tuesday several leaders traveled to Bangkok to meet with the school's attorneys.  The sensitive nature of some matters raised in this meeting means we cannot disclose all the details you might like at this moment.  We hope that as you've been part of the GIS community, seen our hearts, and experienced the effects of a quality Christian education, we've earned your trust for these times.  When we're able to share, we will faithfully communicate what we can. 

We can pass along these points out of Tuesday's meeting:

·         We have options we can pursue.
·         We're hopeful about possible outcomes.
·         A team is working to explore options.
·         The next 30 days is a crucial work period for the legal team.
·         The school will continue.

We understand that this communiqué will generate lots of questions.  To help address some of those questions, we'll hold two community forums, one on August 9 at 7 p.m. in the multi-purpose room in the main building, and August 13 at 10 a.m. in the admin house conference room to give you any updates and make every effort to answer your questions.  Especially in these early days some answers just aren't available; some may require further investigation.   We're committed to being as open as we can through this journey.  Living overseas, most of us are acquainted with the reality of living with ambiguity.   This is one of those times.  

We want to reiterate our confidence that we will continue to provide students with the great education both you and they have come to expect during the 2013-14 school year.   Also, be assured we are updating our contingency plans to be prepared should something unexpected arise in our present context.

Please continue to pray for: 
·         our legal counsel as they handle our case, and
·         for the financial resources to build the secondary and middle school buildings before the end of 2013.

For those who want to help:
To build the middle and high school buildings in Phase 1A and the covered multi-use open-air space in Phase 1B (see second page) we need to raise 4.5 million USD.  If God's people can provide the 4.5 million USD in the next four months we can begin construction of Phase One.  Presently we have $5,000 USD in the bank for these phases of construction.  An example of gifts that would make a BIG difference to complete Phase 1A: 

150 gifts of $3,625                         40 gifts of $7,250
  30 gifts of $18,125                       18 gifts of $30,208 
  12 gifts of $45,313                         6 gifts of $90,625 
    3 gifts of $181,250                       3 gifts of $362,500

Of the 19,725,000 USD for the total project (all phases) $1,725,000 has been raised so far.  We are truly grateful for your partnership in prayer and giving.

Sincerely,
Don Williams for the leadership team of Grace International School





-- 
Don Williams
Superintendent
Grace International School






Grace International Educational Foundation Communique



























GIEF-GIS header by Katie 
  
Grace International School
New Campus - COURT UPDATE


The drive to construct the new campus for GIS just took on far greater URGENCY!


BACKGROUND:

  • In 2008, a small group of residents in the Chiang Mai homeowners association sued GIS to take over the 'Worldclub sports complex' that is home to the GIS secondary campus (which GIS had legally purchased several years earlier from the local land developer).
  • The court ruled in favor of the association in 2009. GIS appealed the decision.
  • July 9, 2013, the Thailand Appellate Court issued its opinion, essentially upholding the lower court ruling that GIS will be evicted from the school quickly (without compensation) and must pay to return the facility to its original design as a sports complex.

CALL TO ACTION:  

Please CLICK on the link to view this 3-1/2 minute video from GIS Superintendent Don Williams. Then come back to this page and read on: CALLING ONE AND ALL 
NEXT STEP:
Don ended with a call to action for prayer and involvement. Everybody can pray,and everybody can get involved. Will you JOIN us?
To operate a campaign to raise funds to get the new school open by 2014, we need your active engagement in one or more of these campaign divisions:
  • Lead and Major Donors
  • Foundations
  • Churches, Universities & Schools
  • Businesses
  • Mission Agencies
  • Events
  • PR and Communication
  • Prayer
  • Countries beyond USA
  
Please CLICK to send a quick e-mail to MATT or TOM to let us know in which area you desire to help, and we will respond to you with ways you can assist GIS.
Thank you!
  
  
 THE STUDENTS ARE READY AND WILLING! ARE YOU?
Kids on tiger truck Dec 2012
GIS Students celebrate reaching Tiger Trucks goal!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF GRACE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL!

Contact
Tom Matyas, GIEF President
214.206.1989
Click HERE to donate financially
GIEF logo 

This email was sent to super@gisthailand.org by info@gracefndn.org  

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