Cheerful GTCC meeting
at Moon River Pub
Peter Nordhues
The German-Thai Chamber of Commerce gathered on July 13 for its regular
meeting at the Moon River Pub, with some 50 people showing up at the Thai
Garden Resort owned restaurant to be heartily welcomed by resort manager
Rene Pisters and guest service manager Brigitta Herkner.
(L
to R) GTCC executive director Dr Paul Strunk is welcomed by Thai Garden
Resort GM Rene Pisters and guest service manager Brigitta Herkner.
There was enough time to enjoy a first glass of beer or wine in an informal
atmosphere before the official opening by GTCC executive director Dr Paul
Strunk.
Dr Strunk said he was pleased to see the large turnout despite the
uninviting weather conditions.
“After a fairly long time, I am finally able to take part at our regular
table at the Moon River Pub again,” he said. “I am happy to see all the
familiar faces from Pattaya, the East Coast and Bangkok again. Let’s hope
the political problems will be sorted out soon, so the economic mood in
Thailand will be as good as ours is right now.”
Dr Strunk wished everyone a joyful and successful night and suggested to get
some tidbits from the sumptuous Moon River Pub buffet. In a trice, the
plates were filled with various delicacies, and the guests continued to talk
business. But the real party wasn’t to start until the in-house Power Jam
Band went on stage to perform their ever-spectacular music show.
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The regular’s table during the
meeting at the Moon River Pub
is cheerful as usual.
DSU-Treff premiers at its new home with lively presentation on cargo industry
Peter Nordhues
The latest DSU-Treff, the German-speaking business meeting took place on July 21
at a new location, Hans - Fine Dining on Third Road. General manager Hans
Spoerri greeted all guests with a cocktail and personally made sure that
everyone was at ease during the entire meeting. The guest speaker was Rainer
Roessler, head of the East-West Air Services Co Ltd office in Pattaya.
DSU-Treff
members pose on the steps of their new home.
DSU chairwoman Elfi Seitz said she was pleased to welcome many new faces at the
new “home” of the event. She introduced her special guest to the gathering.
Rainer Roessler was born in 1966 in Dueren, near Bonn. He is a skilled
industrial clerk who later studied chemistry and subsequently worked as a
software consultant. After his move to Thailand some 10 years ago, Rainer first
worked for various companies before he began at East-West Air Service three
years ago.
Rainer started his lecture with a brief introduction of his employer. East-West
has been in business for 30 years, maintaining offices at all harbors and
airports throughout Thailand. The Pattaya office is new. It offers professional
haulage services for importers and exporters in Thailand.
The company currently employs 200 people who take care of all customer concerns.
With its worldwide network, East-West is permanently linked to all agents inside
and outside of Thailand, therefore offering global logistics. Dispatched goods
can be located at any time. Air and sea freights, customs formalities
(electronically only), packaging, storage and cargo are the services that the
company offers.
Of course, said Rainer, East-West also carries out overland transportation.
Though, due to the poor infrastructure in neighboring countries like Cambodia
and Burma, airfreight is preferred in most cases.
The talk was not only about East-West. Rainer also gave an insight into the
international haulage industry, amusingly illustrated from his laptop. “For the
international haulage industry is not a dry matter,” he added.
The size of the modern cargo industry can be illustrated by two examples. The
Mærsk shipping company owns the largest container ship in the world, the Emma
Mærsk. According to an official statement, it can load 11,000 20-foot standard
containers, including 1,000 ISO reefers. In the air, the An-225 Mriya (also
known as the Cossack) is currently the world’s largest airplane with six
turbofan engines. The maximum freight volume is 1,220 cubic meters with a
maximum takeoff weight of 600 tons.
Rainer had detailed answers to all questions that arose during his talk, and the
event was a lively one. Hans - Fine Dining also contributed to the success of
the evening, and it is clear that the DSU-Treff has truly found a new home.
MICE roar at Hard Rock
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Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya GM
Andrew Khoo (right) and his band recently hosted M.I.C.E. professionals from
India.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya led by its general manager, Andrew Khoo, on July 23
rolled out a Rockin’ cocktail party and set dinner to welcome meetings,
incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) professionals from India.
The event, held at the hotel’s picturesque Sunset Strip and which also
featured select Indian specialties, was held in partnership with Marwin
Tours and the Thailand Exhibition and Convention Bureau India.
In a brief welcome address, Khoo listed the Hard Rock Hotel’s advantages as
a venue for meetings and parties.
Named Hard Rock Hotel of the Year in 2005, the hotel is a four-star
property, rated by the Hotel Standard of Thailand, the Association of Thai
Travel Agents (ATTA) and the Thai Hotels Association (THA). Hard Rock
features 320 musical-themed rooms and suites with 53 rooms on Kings Club
Floors. For families accompanying delegates there is a 2,000-sq meter beach
and sand pool, and a Lil’ Rock Club for kids.
PSC donates 100,000 baht to Fountain of Life
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PSC President Dennis Willet
(2nd right) and PSC Charity Chairman Bernie Tuppin (left) present 100,000
baht to Sister Janyanee Tuanrussamee (2nd left) as Jesters Care for Kids
chairman Lewis “Woody” Underwood (right) looks on.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Pattaya Sports Club recently presented 100,000 baht to Sister Janyanee of
the Fountain of Life in support of the annual Jesters Care for Kids charity
drive.
The donation was made on July 19 at the club by PSC president Dennis Willet
and charity chairman Bernie Tuppin. Jesters Care for Kids chairman Lewis
“Woody” Underwood was on hand to witness the presentation, the funds of
which were presented to one of the Jesters’ main beneficiaries, the Fountain
of Life Center, represented on this occasion by manager Sister Janyanee
Tuanrussamee.
The Fountain of Life Center was established for children from poor families
who cannot support themselves, and for abandoned children, and aims to give
them the practicalities that will help them get started in life.
Located in Naklua Sub-district, the center is currently taking care of about
100 underprivileged children.
Upcoming events announced at PILC July coffee morning at Henry J Beans
Elaine Poole
Summer is when many members return to their home countries to visit family
and friends. Pattaya International Ladies Club (PILC) president, Rosanne
Diamente, was in the United States doing exactly that, so in her absence
Judy Hoppe, vice president, welcomed everyone to the coffee morning.
Judy thanked the Amari for the use of the venue and the coffee and nibbles.
Two important annual major fund raising events are being arranged by the
Special Events Committee; both are being held at the Royal Cliff Hotel.
Plans for the Holiday Bazaar on Saturday 6th October are now well underway.
On November 17th, the 20th Anniversary Gala Ball will be held and this year
it will be a Masquerade Ball.
Volunteers were required to take children to Bangkok Hospital Pattaya for
dental checkups as part of the Dental Programme. Transport is provided by
the Fountain of Life, but the children need accompanying.
PILC then said goodbye to Sharon Adams-Dean. Sharon has been a member of the
club for a year, during which she has been a very active member; using her
artistic skills to design the artwork for the 2006 Around the World Ball;
helping the kids at the Fountain of Life, and not forgetting the Across the
Bay charity swim that she completed with her husband Terry. Sharon now moves
to Bangkok with her husband, and a full time teaching job. PILC thanked
Sharon for all her help and wished her every success and happiness.
If you would like any further information about PILC fund raising events, or
how to become a sponsor, please contact special events chairperson, Cindy
Logue ([email protected]).
Schoolchildren to present traditional music performance for HM the Queen’s birthday
Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
Children from Pattaya’s schools will perform a Thai music celebration show
to honor Her Majesty the Queen’s birthday on August 12.
A meeting of the organizing committee and teachers under the Pattaya City
school system gathered on July 20 to plan the arrangements.
Noppasithcha na Nakorn, acting on behalf of the head of Child and Youth
Activities said the location for the performance would be the park at Bali
Hai Pier in South Pattaya. Nine Pattaya City schools will be represented,
with 230 children playing Thai musical instruments. The event will begin at
4:00 p.m. and finish at 9:00 p.m.
Musical styles will include Homlong and Jomsurang, there will be Sriwichai
and Im-oun dancing, and a Lao Daungdaun Song, a particular favorite of Her
Majesty.
A full rehearsal will be held on August 10 at Pattaya School No 8.
Boyztown party raises
255,000 baht
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Glen Campbell and Madame Jim
(hostess with the mostest for the evening) congratulate the lucky winner of
the motor bike.
The Pattaya Gay Festival sponsored street party on July
26 raised 255,000 baht for the Heartt2000 charity which provides treatment
for AIDS sufferers in the Chonburi area. The first raffle prize of a motor
bike was donated by Dame Ruby with a TV and other electronic equipment
donated by Ambiance Hotel. More than 300 people attended the evening in the
Boyztown soi.
Stars of the evening were the Filipino duo El Duo, but they were ably
supported by regular turns such as Toy from the Cafe Royale and the resort’s
very own Dolly Sisters.
PCEC - expats helping expats
It was a very full house which attended the meeting of
the Pattaya City Expats Club (PCEC) on Sunday July 22nd at Henry J. Bean’s.
The slogan of the club is ‘Expats Helping Expats’ and this week’s meeting
did exactly that.
Dr
Olivier addresses the PCEC.
This week’s MC Gary Brown started the proceedings by welcoming those people
who were attending the PCEC for the fist time. He then introduced the first
of the speakers who was familiar to a number of attendees, that of Dr
Olivier.
Dr Olivier started his talk by stating that the greatest medical advance of
the last century had been that of vaccinations. Vaccinations work by the
introducing a dead or weakened virus to which the body’s immune system
reacts in order to fight the microbe. Immunity fails with time, requiring
renewal.
Dr Olivier then went on to describe those vaccinations which were normally
given to children but still needed to be boosted, normally after ten years.
There are certain vaccinations which are highly recommended for people
living in South East Asia and these included hepatitis A and B and typhoid
fever which should be boosted every three years.
Barry
Kenyon provides updated visa information.
The threat of rabies was discussed and the importance of a course of
vaccinations required in the event of a bite by an animal.
There are also two new vaccinations which have been introduced and which are
available at Bangkok Hospital Pattaya. Full details of all vaccinations
recommended by Dr Olivier can be found on the PCEC website.
The second speaker of the morning was Barry Kenyon, Honorary British Consul
who was making a welcome return visit. Barry informed the attendees that
most embassies were becoming increasingly busy and were also in the process
of installing sophisticated identification technology. He described the new
requirements for obtaining or renewing a visa when using a pension
verification or certification letter from the relevant embassy as proof of
pension income. The new requirement, effective Oct. 1, 2007 for new and
renewal Retirement Visas, requires that the embassy letter verifying pension
income must have an additional stamp from the Thai Ministry of Foreign
Affairs in Bangkok. More information on this requirement can be found on the
PCEC website.
Forthcoming events were announced which included the next club dinner which
is to take place on Thursday August 9th at the Asian Moon restaurant in the
Jomtien Complex.
The PCEC resident computer expert, Richard Silverberg, presented this week’s
‘Website of the Week’. This week it was www.thai-language.com. Richard
described this excellent website as being beneficial to both the casual user
who may want to obtain a translation of a single word and the advanced user
who may want to use the site for more comprehensive research. The PCEC looks
forward to more sites that Richard comes up with.
The regular Open Forum was then underway led by Bob L’Etoile 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, plus the detailed information provided by this week’s
speakers, visit the Club’s website at pattayacityexpatsclub.com.
75-meter cake to highlight charity fundraiser
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From left: and Central
Festival Business Center Pattaya GM Saran Tuntichamnun, Deputy Mayor Ronakit
Ekasingh, Amari Orchid Resort & Tower GM Dominik Stamm, and Bhakanundh
Thanasom, PR director for Amari Orchid Resort & Tower.
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Amari Orchid Resort and Tower and Central Festival Business Center in
Pattaya will be pairing up to create a 75-meter long fruitcake in honor of
Her Majesty the Queen’s 75th Royal Birthday celebrations next weekend.
Chefs at the Amari Orchid Resort and Tower will bake the cake, which will be
sold for charity during celebrations at Central Festival Business Center in
North Pattaya from August 11 - 13. HM the Queen’s birthday is on Sunday,
August 12.
Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh, along with Amari Orchid Resort & Tower GM
Dominik Stamm and Central Festival Business Center Pattaya GM Saran
Tuntichamnun made the announcement on Monday, July 23.
Pieces of the cake will be on sale for 50 baht per slice or 600 baht per
meter, with all profits going to charity. This is the fourth year this
promotion has been held.
Income from sales of the cake, after deducting all expenses, will be donated
to the “Baht for a Better Life” charity project to support children of the
Amari Orchid Resort & Tower with scholarships and educational supplies, and
to help build schools in the countryside. The school receiving the funds
this year will be the police border school in Ban Klongwai, Surat Thani
province.
Also on tap during the celebrations at Central Festival Business Center
Pattaya will be a fashion show and a folk song / acoustic music contest
performed by youngsters less than 15 years of age, who, using a limit of 5
musical instruments, will play HM the King’s “Kanamnom Song”.
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