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Rotary goes ‘bookish’
The Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya was very pleased to
invite Pattaya’s newest author, and one of the oldest honorary members of
their club, to address their weekly meeting last week.
 (L
to R) Jan Abbink, RC Jomtien-Pattaya president receives money raised at the
charity auction of Dr Iain’s book, with the winning bid coming from Rotarian
Steve Ryser.
Dr. Iain Corness spoke to the club on how he became an author, going back
over 40 years to when he was an undergraduate and lived with two cadet
journalists. His tale of how they managed to get 10,000 people in Brisbane
Australia to look for a non-existent ghost showed what Dr. Iain called “the
power of the written word”.
He sold his first story when he was practicing in Gibraltar during the
Spanish blockade in 1967 and continued to write professionally from then,
and has been one of the more prolific writers for the Pattaya Mail, and is
also the technical editor of ASEAN Autobiz.
However, he says that his new book, “Farang, Thailand through the eyes of an
expat” has taken him from being a writer to being an author. He has been
thrilled at the response to the new book, which is already the best seller
in the local Bookazines. The popularity was such that the booksellers ran
out of copies after two weeks of it being on sale, and further copies had to
be flown in from the UK publishers.
At the end of the evening, a personally signed copy was auctioned for
charity, with Rotarian Steve Ryser making the winning bid.
The new stocks are in Pattaya and the book can be purchased from Bookazine
and Asia Books outlets.
Villa Market makes first move
into provinces with Pattaya outlet
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Villa Market has made its first move into the provinces by opening a store in
Pattaya, open 24 hours a day and geared up to meet the demands of foreign
visitors and residents in addition to the Thai population that has acquired a
taste for overseas produce.
 Surapong
Poosanakhom (right), chairman and chief executive officer, and Pisit Poosanakhom
(left), chief operations officer cut the ribbon to officially open Villa
Market’s Pattaya Branch.
The official opening by Villa Market JP Co Ltd took place on October 6, and it
marks the 12th branch by the company in its 33 years of history as well as the
first outside of Bangkok.
Villa Market Pattaya occupies an area of 2,000 sq m on Pattaya Avenue, Second
Road.
Pisit Poosanakom, general manager of Villa Market JP Co said that the company,
in addition to providing quality products, had a policy of closely following the
trends inside its carefully defined target markets.
The company has a program of opening outlets in the large provinces and the
tourism destinations in Thailand, and Pattaya is regarded as being an important
model for the ventures that are to follow. Each outlet will be a “stand-alone”
branch, with 30 to 40 million baht invested.
Villa has defined its markets as being foreign customers and Thais from the
newly educated generation, who have money to spend and who are aware of healthy
living and environmental concerns.
Pisit says that although attitudes towards a healthy lifestyle are permeating
all parts of Thailand, the company has to start first in the tourism towns
because the potential for volume sales is there. He said that the produce on
sale would be the same as in the Bangkok outlets, with an emphasis on organic
products and quality brand names.
Villa Market also has a policy of supplying cloth bags to customers who make
large purchases, as a way of reducing plastic garbage. Pisit says that the
company has been doing this for 10 years as part of its own environmental
conservation program.
On opening day at Pattaya, Villa Market made a donation to the Pattaya
International Ladies Club and the American Women’s Club for use in their own
charitable activities.
German-speaking Rotary Club to be formed in Pattaya
DG Dr. Arnon examines the
documents presented by (l-r) Elfi Seitz, Dieter H. Précourt, Stephan
Heynert, Trutz Fiddikow and Jürgen Kluding (inset) to oragnise a new Rotary
Club. Looking over the proceedings is DGE Peter Malhotra (standing 2nd left)
who is also the District Governor’s special representative to help form the
new club.
Peter Nordhues
Rotary is a worldwide organization of business and professional
leaders that provides humanitarian service, encourages high ethical
standards in all vocations, and helps build goodwill and peace in the world.
Approximately 1.2 million Rotarians belong to more than 32,000 clubs in more
than 200 countries and geographical areas.
September 17, 1930, is a date of great significance to the nation of
Thailand and to Thai Rotarians in particular. It mark the day in history
when Rotary International officially entered this country, and it also
represents a milestone in Thailand’s integration into the world at large.
Rotarian James W. Davidson of the Rotary Club of Calgary, Canada, was
appointed by Rotary International as General Commissioner for the formation
of Rotary Club in Asia.
During an audience with His Royal Highness Prince Purachatra, Davidson was
able to discuss the concept of establishing a Rotary club in Bangkok,
Thailand. H.R.H. Prince Purachatra was impressed with Rotary’s ideals and
proceeded to found, on September 17, 1930, Thailand’s first Rotary club, the
Rotary Club of Bangkok, an English-speaking club of 69 charter members from
15 nations.
To celebrate the Rotary Club of Bangkok’s Silver Anniversary in 1955, His
Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej (King Rama IX) graciously consented to honor
Rotary by becoming the Royal Patron of Rotary in Thailand.
There are now almost 300 clubs in Thailand, where meetings are conducted in
Thai, English, Japanese, Chinese and even French.
In Pattaya alone there are 5 Rotary clubs, comprising of a community of more
than 30 nationalities. Pattaya can also boast to have the first and only
French speaking Rotary club in South East Asia.
Seeing the need to advance the Rotary movement in Thailand and wanting to
invite in an even more diverse group of service minded people into the
organisation, a group of Rotarians have embarked on a campaign to form a
German-speaking Rotary Club.
The organizing committee is comprised of Past Assistant District Governor
Dieter H Précourt, Past President Stephan Heynert, Trutz Fiddikow, Jürgen
Kluding and Elfi Seitz who held several meetings to get the ball rolling.
Having completed a survey of the area to determine the feasibility of
another Rotary Club in Pattaya, they received the blessings of District
Governor Dr. Arnon Chirajavala to take the process one step further. To help
the ambitious project of the enthusiastic Rotarians, he appointed District
Governor Elect Peter Malhotra as his special representative to assist them
in their noble endeavour.
The French speaking Rotary Club Pattaya Marina staunchly lent their support
and agreed to become the sponsor club.
At their first organising meeting the plucky pioneers proudly proclaimed
that their new club, subject to approval of Rotary International, would be
called the Rotary Club Phönix Pattaya.
An information meeting is scheduled for October 30, at the Montien Hotel
starting at 18.30 hrs. The organising committee cordially invites German
speaking members of the public of any nationality who are interested to
learn more about Rotary and who may wish to join this amazing service
organization, to attend this get-together.
There are only three German-speaking Rotary Clubs outside German. They are
located in Moscow, Cairo and Prague. If all goes well, the Rotary Club
Phönix Pattaya will be the fourth, and the very first in all of Asia.
Information about Rotary Club Phönix Pattaya can be obtained by contacting:
Stephan Heynert, info@ stephanheynert.de, Tel. 081 510 7075; Dieter H.
Précourt, [email protected], Tel. 081 843 8278; and Trutz Fiddikow,
[email protected], Tel. 081 194 9141.
PCEC members enjoy Tropical Lifestyle
Alexander Valentine addresses
the PCEC.
The Pattaya City Expats Club (PCEC) meeting on Sunday
October 7th at Henry J. Bean’s comprised of another typically full and
interesting Sunday morning.
MC Richard Silverberg commenced the proceedings, introducing this week’s
main speaker who was TV producer Alexander Valentine. Alexander provided
information regarding the new TV programme he has produced entitled Tropical
Lifestyle.
He provided details of the structure of the programme and its objectives
which were to provide a variety of topics every week. Viewers are being
actively encouraged to make suggestions for contributions and even to appear
in the programme itself. The programme is of course financed by advertising
and this was discussed and various promotional offers were made available.
Tropical Lifestyle started on September 29th and is shown from 6pm until 7pm
every evening on the Sophon English Movie Channel (Channel 41, 9, or 28
depending on the tuning of your own televisions). Alexander concluded his
talk with some hilarious video clips.
Further information, including previous documentaries which have appeared on
Tropical Lifestyle can be found on the website, www. tropical-lifestyle.com.
These documentaries will be added to the website each week, one week after
being shown on television and can be found under their appropriate headings
on the Menu Bar.
The meeting resumed with Chairman Richard Smith making a number of
announcements. Firstly, preliminary details of the club trip to Cambodia
were announced with various options mentioned. Next, the very successful
first aid courses will be continuing with the third course arranged for
Saturday 13th from 8.30 am to 4 pm. The course will be adapted for both
English and Thai speakers.
Richard reported that the recent visit to the Remand Centre had been an
enlightening experience. Video clips of this visit and that to the new
tourist attraction Wonderland would be appearing soon on Tropical Lifestyle.
A VIP trip to see the Chonburi Buffalo Racing had been organised for the
24th October. Finally, the latest of a large number of weekday activities
was announced in the form of the Photography Club, the inaugural meeting
taking place at the Markland Hotel on Monday 8th at 1 pm.
Board member Michel de Goumois reported that the latest club dinner at La
Arcate restaurant had been very successful. The owner had made the attendees
most welcome and La Arcate is now a featured restaurant, offering a discount
on production of a PCEC card. The PCEC certainly looks forward to the next
monthly dinner.
MC Richard Silverberg returned but this time with his Internet Guru hat on
to provide his Website of the Week. This week it was a website which
provides rudimentary translation from Thai to English. The website separates
Thai script into individual words which are then able to be translated. The
URL is www.thai2english.com.
The regular Open Forum was conducted by the PCEC’s own dynamic comedy duo of
Bob L’Etoile and Sig Sigworth. Although done with much laughter and clowning
around, this last meeting item always proves beneficial as it is an
opportunity for questions about living in Thailand with an emphasis on
Pattaya to be asked. As always the Open Forum 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.
Queen Victoria antes up Platinum sponsorship
The Charity Club of Pattaya meets most Sundays at the
Queen Victoria Inn Soi 6 catching up with friends and supporters of the Club
for drinks and of course to enjoy the Queen Victoria’s Sunday Carvery (340
baht for 3 courses). Not sitting around for too long, members took the
opportunity to collect the Platinum Sponsorship off Vic’s wife Jane.
 Malcolm
collects the Platinum Sponsorship from Vic King’s wife Jane.
The Queen Victoria is the Charity Club’s home because the Queen Vic has been
a staunch supporter of the Charity Club since the formation of the club, now
in its fourth year. Vic King is also the treasurer for the club, so Malcolm
didn’t keep hold of that for long!
Draw tickets and dinner tickets for the Charity Club’s Gala Dinner are now
on sale at 1,300 baht, which includes entertainment, free flow Singha beer,
red and white wine and soft drinks.
For more information, contact Malcolm on 0897441040, Christina on 0895454185
or email charityclubofpattaya @yahoo.com On the other hand, call in the
Queen Victoria Inn Soi 6 for a drink and ask Vic King for tickets or call
Vic on 0860606210.
On the web: www.charityclub ofpattaya. bravehost.com
Fun and games for staff during Royal Cruise Hotel sports day
The Royal Cruise Hotel Pattaya
organized fun games to enhance team spirit amongst employees.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
A-One The Royal Cruise Hotel held a sports day for its employees on
October 2, opening the event with a grand parade along Pattaya Beach Road,
First Road and Second Road, participants dressing to represent the four
regions of Thailand.
Managing director Somkiet Ratanapoth opened the event, which was the third
annual sports day held by the hotel.
Games were held in the hotel pool, and during the afternoon events were held
on the beach. There was a sack race and a tug-o-war, and a game in which
blindfolded competitors had to hit an egg thrown at them.
Other contests involved local Thai games, the objective being to enhance
team spirit amongst employees, and to ensure everyone relaxed during a day
of good fun and high spirits. A party was held during the evening, with a
stage show organized by staff members.
The Royal Cruise Hotel Pattaya
Sport’s Day opened with a grand parade along Pattaya Beach Road, First Road
and Second Road, with participants dressing to represent the four regions of
Thailand.
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