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Rotary Club of Taksin-Pattaya celebrates 1st Anniversary
Ingo G. Rไuber installed as 2nd President of the club
Line
up of the new president and his board of directors, supported by District
Governor Prasert Chaimano and past district governors Premprecha
Dibbayawan and Som Indra-payong.
The founder of Rotary, Paul Harris said a very long
time ago, “As long as grass continues to grow green, as long as water
continues to flow downhill, so long Rotary will continue to worship its
ideal, the ideal of service.”
 Child
prodigy Phuripat Jittiwutthikarn captivated the crowd with his renditions
of classical compositions.
Last Saturday in the ballroom of the Dusit Resort, the
carrying forward of the legend of Rotary and its ideals of service were
ensured for at least one more year, with the pledge and determination to
keep the flames and spirit of ‘Service Above Self’ burning until
eternity. Amidst a crowd of guests, from the Rotary world and members of
the community, a solemn ceremony was performed to install Rotarian Ingo G.
Rไuber as the next president of the Rotary Club of Taksin-Pattaya.
 Nitaya
Patimasongkroh and Premruedee Jittiwutthikarn receive plaques of
recognition for their outstanding service to the community from out going
president Peter Thorand.
In his acceptance speech, President Ingo said, “I
will commit myself to doing my utmost for the continued improvement in the
living conditions of the poor and needy, while supporting the less
fortunate of our community.”
 Prasert
Chaimano, district governor of Rotary District 3340 R.I. installed Ingo Rไuber
as president of the Rotary Club of Taksin-Pattaya for the year 2002-03.
He went on to inspire his members saying, “I pledge
myself to do my best and promise to support all members of this fine
Rotary Club and other service clubs, and most of all the poor and needy of
our society. This is a pledge I do not take lightly, and with the support
of the other club members, we’ll continue to do the good work started by
this club and our charter president, Peter Thorand.”
 The
sexy dancers of the Queen Bee Troupe livened the otherwise serious
occasion.
With the forming of this new club in Pattaya,
underprivileged citizens in dire need of assistance at all times are
ensured of continued benevolent service from members of this great
organization.
Those magnificent men in their flying machines
by Lesley Warner
This past weekend the Charity Balloon Challenge for the
Queen Elizabeth II’s 50th Jubilee was held at the Pattaya Sports Flying
Club on Soi 87 past Lotus.
 It
was fun seeing the balloons from above.
The event featured a competition between Thai hot-air
balloonists and their British counterparts, which the Thai side won with
the aggregate flying time of 70 minutes with 3 flights. The British side
clocked 55 minutes with 2 flights, but managed the longest single flight
time of 45 minutes.
Although the main feature was the “competition”,
there was much more going on, both on the ground and in the air. Thanks to
David and Jim, it was a day I won’t soon forget.
 David
Tuck from the British team set to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s 50th
Jubilee at the Pattaya Sports Flying Club.
I arrived at 4 p.m. and wandered around looking at
aircraft of all shapes, sizes and colours. I sat on the grass and watched
the people, as mixed as the flying machines, tinkering with motors,
filling up gas tanks and struggling with the flailing cloth of their
balloons, and as the first air was blown in by the motorized fan, I
thought “what a life”. Blue sky with cobwebby white clouds and no
wind; it was so peaceful. The scenery was beautiful - lush tropical
vegetation, the hills of Wat Yarn, and the sound of birds, insects and the
occasional motor in the background. As I sat watching a couple of
dragonflies playing tag and looked up at two microlites in the sky, I
think I discovered where the idea for the microlite started.
 Up...
Up...
Before long I was introduced to Jim, who is the ‘main
man’ at the airfield. He sells airplanes and gives lessons and tours. He
showed me a 1941 J3 Piper Cub which was a civil aviation trainer plane in
WW II. As recently as 4 years ago, Harrison Ford used it for training
before he made the movie “6 Days 7 Nights”.
I also met Jakara Tongchim from the Royal Thai Navy,
who instructs his squadron how to fly Harrier jets. His hobby is teaching
microlite flying, which might describe as “from one extreme to the
other”.
 And
Away!
Jim then introduced me to his pride and joy: a small
blue and white aircraft that had two seats close together and no doors. It
was a bit like a microlite but with wings. Jim explained that it’s a
cross between a microlite and a regular aircraft. He flies them and sells
them; 15 hours instruction in this small plane, theoretically, qualifies
you to fly alone.
I first saw David as he was giving some children an
introduction to ballooning, and even though the balloon was firmly
attached to his pick up with a rope, we all stood watching sceptically,
wondering if the little rope would be enough to fulfil its purpose.
 Excuse
me Jim, where’s the door?
When Jim asked if I would like to follow the balloon
race in his plane, I couldn’t believe my luck. I must have looked liked
a kid at Christmas I was so excited. As I got into the small aircraft next
to Jim I felt no sense of fear. It was very small but comfortable, and Jim
gave me a headset to put on with a microphone so we could communicate in
the air.
 The
1941 J3 Piper Cub - where’s Harrison Ford?
As I fastened the seatbelt, I realized that it was all
there was between the ground and me, as the plane had no doors. We slowly
went to the end of the short bumpy runway and turned, and immediately Jim
put his foot down (in a manner of speaking) - within a couple of seconds
we were up, a bit different from a jumbo. It was fantastic; as he swung
round to look for the balloons I was literally staring at the ground about
700 feet below. We were travelling between 75-80 miles an hour, although I
had no feeling of speed. I never really understood why I didn’t fall out
but there was no sensation of falling at any time.
 The
Thai balloonists prepare for their championship day.
It was fun seeing the balloons from above; there were
microlites all around and a small para-motor (a parachute with a motorized
backpack) chasing his shadow across the fields way below us.
After seeing the balloons safely down in adjoining
fields and establishing their position Jim asked if I’d like to see
Jomtien Beach. Naturally I said yes and we flew along the beach and over
my home, I was gutted that my film had run out. As we turned for home the
sun was going down behind the clouds lighting up the sky. Jim pointed out
dark cumulus clouds that looked like they had long grey legs; it was the
rain in the distance.
 Spider
web insides of the magnificent balloon.
We approached the airfield and for the first time I
held onto the handrail, but I needn’t have worried as it was a perfect
landing.
David asked me to send a special thanks to his 25,000
baht sponsor Grampian Foods, Pattaya Flying Club and all his friends that
helped out. The Saijai Thai Veterans Welfare will be grateful for the
donations.
Personally, I would like to give special thanks to
David and Jim for giving me the chance to experience their hobbies and to
those who gave me the opportunity to be there. It was great!
Rotary charity Bowling raises over 160,000 for Children
Plutaluang bowlers win HRH Princess Somsawali Trophy
Early last Saturday morning, hundreds of bowlers and
supporters converged into the PS Bowl at Tops Supermarket to participate
in a day of fun bowling to help raise funds for the Rotary Club of
Jomtien-Pattaya’s Charity project benefiting the young people of our
community.
 Governor
Chadej sounds the Rotary gong declaring the tournament open.
In her report to Chadej Insawang, the governor of
Chonburi Province, Alvi Sinthuvanik, president of the Rotary Club said,
“After the great success of our Rotary Charity Walk last March, we
decided to do another fund raising event in aid of the young people of our
community. This time we decided on holding a bowling tournament. We humbly
requested HRH Princess Somsawali for her kind permission to name the
trophy after her and the princess graciously consented.”
 The
winners of the prized HRH Princess Somsawali Trophy were the team from the
Rotary Club of Plutaluang in Sattahip (L-R) Marupong Supiyawat, Somchai
Ngernyingsook and Viroj Thamarak.
President Alvi went on to say that many bowling teams
from all over the region registered to play and many sponsors also pledged
their financial support for this tournament. She continued her report
saying, “All proceeds from this charity tournament will go towards the
education and development of morals and ethics among the young people in
our community.”
The
Tropic Restaurant grabbed the 2nd Runners Up trophy, (L-R) PDG Premprecha,
President Alvi, Heinz Fritz, PP Erika Keller and Marlies Fritz the
sponsor.
At the end of a hard day’s battle with the bowling
pins, the keglers from the Rotary Club of Plutaluang emerged victorious
and received their much-revered Princess Trophy with pomp and circumstance
befitting the royal nature of the prize.
 The
Terrible Trio a.k.a. the Alcoholics: Jan Olav Aamlid, Jim Montgomery and
Ken Crow were in top form.
Past district governor Premprecha Dibbayawan presented
the other coveted trophies to all the runners up teams and individual
players.
In closing remarks, President Alvi expressed her
sincere gratitude and appreciation to all who had sacrificed their time
and money to make this charity event successful.
 Nic
Demet and his team from Nic Ace were the favorites.
Choked with emotion this gentle person whose great love
and compassion for children knows no bounds said with conviction, “Now
we can fulfill our promise to society and the needy and ensure that our
work to champion against the injustices and deprivation of those children
in need will bear fruit. On behalf of all the children I thank you from
the bottom of my heart. God bless you all.”
 Marlies
Fritz (center) checking on Bruno Keller and Colin Ritchie.
The Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya on behalf of the all
the children of the community wish to thank these sponsors without whose
generous support this event would not have been a success: Dave Diver’s
Den, House of the Golden Coin, Sahib Tailor, Studio Kitchen, swissSiam
Co., Ltd., Thai Sikh Association, View Talay Villas,
 Jan
Olav and his proud team with their 1st runner up team trophies. Jan
received it on behalf of the generous sponsors L. Kim Guan Company, the
oldest existing dealers of stamps and coins in Thailand.
Pattaya Mail, Pattaya People, Pattaya Sports Club,
Alibaba Restaurant, the Captain’s Corner Steak House, Mata Hari
Restaurant, Royal India Restaurant, Tropic Restaurant and the Hard Rock
Hotel.
The
champions of charm, teams from the Lions Club and the YWCA Pattaya
Chapter.
Pol.
Lt. Col. Jirat Pichitpai (L) of the Ban Poosri Drug Rehabilitation Centre
cheered on the Lions Club team comprised of Khun Surat Permsriwanlop (2nd
left); Khun Lamai Piewthong (sitting 2nd right), president of the Lions
Club of Phratamnak; Pol. Maj. Somchai Pongsai (right), chief of the
Pattaya traffic police, and Khun Kanjana Kittiwiroj (standing).
Boutique burgundy wines for the connoisseur
The Royal Cliff Wine Club is hosting another of its now
legendary Winemaker’s Dinners on Saturday June 15th in the Orchid
Ballroom of the Royal Cliff Grand.
Boutique French wines have long been sought after for
their endemic mystic and charm. The very best examples of this style hail
from France’s Holy Grail of wine, Burgundy, where handcrafted examples
rely on texture, finesse, structure and age ability.
Many of Burgundy’s most celebrated wines come from
the prestigious Joseph Drouhin Company. As it is, Maison Joseph Drouhin is
one of the few remaining wineries that uphold the true Burgundian style.
This is due mainly to the Grand Cru classe vineyards’ historic location
deep in the heart of Beaune, size and quality, and an expertise in
cultivating vines and vinification of fine wines carved from years of
experience.
On June 15, wine lovers will have an opportunity to
experience some of Drouhin’s celebrated wines at the French
Winemaker’s Gala Dinner of the Royal Cliff Wine Club.
Wine expert Gerald Uhlen from the Joseph Drouhin winery
will fly in for this special occasion and to present their wines at the
dinner. These wines will complement an impressive menu that will be
prepared by the Royal Cliff Beach Resort’s culinary experts.
Royal Canap้s and Burgundy white wine will
delight diners at the reception. This will be followed by a six-course
gourmet dinner; goose liver parfait with raisin and green peppercorns,
sherry flavoured consomm้ with Burgundy vineyard snails and
vegetable brunoise, seafood souffl้ with poached river prawn on
lobster sauce, tenderloin of whole roasted Charolais beef served on
boulangere potatoes with roasted garlic and sauce Pinot Noir de Bourgogne
(Joseph Drouhin), selection of French farmhouse cheese with fruits, nuts
and home baked mini baguettes, warm pear-tart with Williamine sabayon and
bitter chocolate ice cream, and freshly brewed coffee or tea served with
Royal friandises and pralines.
The all inclusive price for this winemaker’s gala
dinner is 1,500 baht per person including service charge, VAT, pre-dinner
Canap้s, six varieties of fabulous wines and six-course gourmet
dinner.
Limited seating will be offered so it is advisable to
book your table now. For enquiries or reservations, please call the Royal
Cliff Wine Club at (66) 038-250-421 ext. 2782 (from 09:00 to 18:00 hrs) or
guest relations at ext. 2007 or 2037, or email [email protected]
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