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YWCA takes part
in Khao Yai workshop
Elfi Seitz
The YWCA Center Bangkok organized a thank-you for members at its various
branches by inviting them to a two-day workshop at the Wanree Resort, at
Khao Yai.
Bangkok headquarters was represented by its president, Dr Charid, treasurer
Wantanee, executive secretary Noorirat, and board member Samornjit. Chitra
Wanasin, YWCA president Chonburi, brought numerous members with her, while
Pattaya was represented by YWCA president Nittaya Patimasongkroh and four
members.
 Not
scared of big animals: (L to R) Nittaya, Jang, and Elfi.
The workshop started right upon arrival, although it wasn’t all work, for
games and a Valentine’s Day party were also high on the agenda. The party,
with members dressed in pink, was an especial success, with dance
performances and other amusements such as your correspondent showering
Nittaya and Jang with blossoms while the two Pattaya Dance Studio members
swayed to the rhythms of Hawaiian music. Unfortunately, we were not declared
winners.
The next day saw the seminar continuation that lasted until the late
afternoon. Eventually all the YWCA members set off for home with their minds
enriched by many new ideas and ideals.
Some cute Valentine’s bunnies
from Chonburi.
Mercy Center launches Capital Campaign
Dianne Doell from Mercy Center
announces the center’s year-long Capital Campaign to help the needy.
The charitable organization, Mercy Center, held a luncheon on
Monday, February 26, to announce the launch of a year-long Capital Campaign to
raise 15 million baht. The funds raised will be used to purchase a permanent
home for the children and projects of the Mercy Center.
The luncheon was held at the Mercy Center, located at 7/11 Moo 11 Nong Yai Soi
8, Sukhumvit.
The Mercy Center was founded in 2000 by Fred and Dianne Doell and is an
authorized charity project of the Thailand registered Goodwill foundation. The
Center strives to help provide educational, moral, social and spiritual training
for Pattaya’s most destitute residents and to bring hope to those in need.
Center projects include providing shelter for children at risk; providing
scholarships for children needing educational support; and single parent support
for women with children at risk. In addition, the Center also provides food and
staples to residents of the city’s chum chon (slum) areas, and to the
incarcerated.
“In January 2006 we were extremely fortunate to find a property that is perfect
to carry on the work of Mercy,” said international directors and founders, Fred
and Dianne Doell. “This new facility provides a large home for the more than 20
children we presently care for, plus it has room for many more to come.”
The property also contains a large factory building that is being renovated to
house the many other projects that operate under the umbrella of the Center,
added Ms. Doell. “We have the opportunity to purchase this property and we are
calling on all the friends of Mercy through the Capital Campaign to help us make
this dream a reality.”
If you would like to find out more about the Mercy Center and how you can help,
please email doell@loxinfo. co.th, or go the website at www.mercypattaya.org
PCEC learn about the Buddy system
Linda Crone addresses the
PCEC.
A busy programme was presented at this week’s meeting of
the Pattaya City Expats Club (PCEC) on Sunday March 4th at Henry J. Bean’s.
The morning got underway with this week’s MC Roger Fox who welcomed the
morning’s main speaker, Linda Crone. Linda is an American with degrees in
finance and theology. She has worked in financial planning and investments
and as a teacher of social issues and world religions. Lynda came to
Thailand a few years ago with an extensive background in working with
support groups. She initially focused her support group’s help on the needs
of Thai women but soon discovered that foreign men were often in need of
similar support.
Linda understood that an expat, on leaving the home country and taking up
residency in Thailand, will have gone through a major life change. The
purpose of the move may have been to look for something or to leave
something behind, or both. She saw the need for community support and
established the Buddy project during July 2006 specifically dealing with
men’s issues.
Discussion Items on the Buddy agenda have included ageing, emotions,
masculinity, sexuality, love, family and suicidal tendencies. Two PCEC
members in attendance highly recommended the Buddy project.
The group meets each Wednesday evening at the Redemptorist Centre at 7 pm.
The evening is divided into two 45 sessions. There is no charge but a
donation is appreciated.
Drew Noyes provided details of a 2 day, 1 night TAT sponsored trip to Korat
to take place on 11-12 March. Details of the trip can be obtained from PAPPA
company, telephone 038 301048.
PCEC Chairman Andre Michelsen then made a very special announcement. As a
result of the successful recent visit of the governor of Chonburi to the
club and the accompanying high ranking military officers, it had been able
to arrange a visit later in the month to a Royal Thai Navy aircraft carrier
at Sattahip. Andre explained that this was a unique and very rare
opportunity as such visits were not normally permitted. The visit would be
limited to 40 people and all places were immediately snapped up!
Marjorie Blissett then announced the many forthcoming events. The regular
Open Forum was then underway led by Richard Silverberg and this proved to be
the usual lively and entertaining session.
For more information regarding not only PCEC Sunday meetings but also the
varied mid week activities, please see the Community Happenings section of
Pattaya Mail or, for more details, visit the Club’s website at
pattayacityexpatsclub.com
Bangsarae begins
anti-rabies program
People brought in their dogs
for rabies vaccinations and sterilization to reduce the population of dogs.
Patcharapol Panrak
An anti-rabies program began at Bangsarae Municipality on February 24, with
residents also invited to have their dogs and cats sterilized free of
charge.
Bangsarae Deputy Mayor Sutat Tantisaraporn officially opened the program,
which is being operated by the Public Health Administration Unit of the
Public Health Department.
Head of the unit Mrs Ketsara Punsiri said that statistics issued by the
Bangsarae Community Healthy Center showed that there were 223 cases of
people being bitten by dogs and cats in 2006. This figure was cause for
concern, because most of the cases related to stray dogs and cats that
hadn’t had a rabies vaccination.
Thailand’s Future in Colour
PILC Charity Exhibition of Children’s Art
Elaine Poole PILC
Gallery Opium in Thepprasit Road, Pattaya, is hosting a special Pattaya
International Ladies Club charity event, an Exhibition of Children’s Art.
The artwork has been created by underprivileged children from five different
schools and children’s homes in the Pattaya area. The children have been
busily painting for the last four weeks and have created some interesting
and noteworthy works. According to the staff at the schools and the PILC
welfare team, the children have been very excited about this whole event.
They are eagerly waiting to see if their piece of work is included in the
exhibition.
All artworks will be presented for judging and the best pieces in the
opinion of the judges will be framed and exhibited. Judging was scheduled to
take place on 6th March, supervised by Alan Kirkland-Roath of Gallery Opium.
Liam O’Keefe, of Liam’s Gallery, Pattaya, agreed to help with the judging,
and two more judges have volunteered their artistic-eye and expertise,
namely Nikom, a well-known artist and member of the Thailand Watercolour
Society, and Art Critic, Michael Bulley.
There are four categories, under 6 years, 6 to 9 years, 10 to 13 years, and
14 -17 years. Prizes will be awarded for first and second in each category
and the winning children will receive prizes on the night.
The exhibition will be officially opened on Saturday 28th April at 7 p.m.
PILC is delighted to announce that Mechai Viravaidya, founder and chairman
of the Population and Community Development Association (PDA), the largest
NGO in Thailand, has agreed to open this special charity event. Also the
founder of the Cabbages and Condoms restaurants and resorts, the profits
from which are used to support development activities, Mechai is a well
known public figure who has worked for over 30 years to improve the quality
of life for Thailand’s underprivileged. PILC is most grateful to Mechai for
his participation in this event.
After the official opening, members of the public will be invited to view
the paintings, all of which will be for sale. The proceeds from all
paintings sold will be given back to the respective school to help improve
conditions or buy new equipment to benefit all the children. This is a
wonderful way to make a donation to charity and the opportunity to own an
exclusive piece of artwork produced by a very special child.
This event is kindly being sponsored by Linda Lyen and Alan Kirkland-Roath
of Gallery Opium, All Seasons Travel Ltd. and two generous members of PILC.
If you would like information on how to become a sponsor of this event or
future events and project, please contact Rosanne Diamente, President, tel.
0818650714.
Dieter Floeth deceased
In the early hours of March 4, Dieter Floeth lost his
life in a car collision. He died instantly.
Dieter Floeth was the well-known and beloved owner of Deutsches Haus
restaurant in Pattaya and Old Germany restaurant in Maptaput. He also served
as press spokesman and secretary of the German-Swiss Golf Club.
 Dieter
Floeth
Dieter’s body is being kept at Wat Chonglom (Banglamung, Sukhumvit Road, 500
m past police station) until March 11. Prayers are being held daily at 8
p.m.
On Sunday March 11, a Catholic priest will give a prayer service from 14:30
to 16:00; then the Buddhist monks will chant until approximately 16:30,
followed by a bathing ceremony where holy water is poured over his hand by
family and friends. The cremation will take place shortly after.
A get together with food and drinks will be held for family and friends at
Deutsches Haus in memory of Dieter.
May his soul rest in peace.
Ed’s note: We will have an obituary for Dieter Floeth in our next edition.
Directions to the temple.
‘Insight’ - with Peter Cummins
Mike Franklin
Surrounded by sailing memorabilia and his latest book ‘A Sailing Legacy’,
Peter Cummins spoke freely about his interesting background and career.
Since retiring in 1995 at the age of sixty, Peter still enjoys working as a
journalist and especially when under pressure.
 Local
sailing legend Peter Cummins is the subject of this week’s ‘Insight’ show on
PMTV.
His early days were somewhat ‘nomadic’ giving him a broad experience of life
in different parts of the world, before working with the United Nations for
more than thirty years up to retirement.
Sailing was, and is, his passion. A former Commodore of the Royal Varuna
Yacht club, he was recognized at retirement by having a race inaugurated in
his name. The ‘PC Classic’, an event that has gone from strength to
strength, and is now in its 13th Year as the Pattaya Mail PC Classic.
Generous sponsorship by ESC Security Concepts, the Royal Cliff Beach Resort
and many other donors, guarantees substantial funds being raised for
Children’s Charity projects under the care of Rotary Clubs in Thailand.
This year’s event on March 24th is in celebration of His Majesty the King’s
80th Birthday.
Much more about Peter Cummins and his fascinating life, including the
occasion when he sailed with His Majesty the King in a regatta at Hua Hin,
can be seen on PMTV’s Insight with Peter Cummins.
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