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Charity Club of Pattaya donates to 2007 Poppy Day appeal
Even though the Charity Club of Pattaya is busy with last
minute preparations for the Charity Gala Dinner, they found time to meet
with Middy Campbell, chairman of the British Legion Chonburi Branch and vice
chairman and Poppy Day organiser, Bob Myers, to donate 10,000 baht to help
with the first Poppy Day appeal held in Pattaya.
 (L
to R) Bob Myers, Christina Boden, Vic King and Middy Campbell.
They met at the Charity Club’s home, the Queen Victoria Inn in Soi 6, where
Middy and Bob were delighted to receive the donation from the Charity Club.
At the last count the first Poppy Day Appeal had raised 121,514 baht.
Don’t forget your tickets for the Charity Gala Dinner Saturday 15th
December. Draw tickets (100 baht) and dinner tickets are still available at
only 1,300 baht, which includes live entertainment from Pop’s Pattaya All
Stars, Thai & international buffet, free flow Singha & Heineken beer, red
and white wine and soft drinks. Contact: Malcolm on 0897441040, Christina on
0895454185 , or charityclu [email protected]
PCEC members enjoy another Bangkok Hospital Pattaya monthly talk
Dr Manoon addresses the PCEC about
Peripheral Artery Disease.
Yet another busy programme was presented at the Pattaya City
Expats Club (PCEC) meeting on Sunday November 18th at Henry J. Bean’s.
The morning got underway with the week’s MC Richard Silverberg welcoming the
first speaker, the familiar figure of Dr Manoon Somranthin. The PCEC is always
appreciative of the Bangkok Hospital Pattaya’s regular monthly talks and this
morning’s was no exception. Accompanying Dr Manoon were hospital personnel who
were providing free blood pressure tests and a limited number, due to time
restrictions, of ankle-brachial index (ABI) tests.
The subject of Dr Manoon’s talk was Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD). This is
caused by the hardening and narrowing of the main arteries by cholesterol
plaque. It is most common in older people and it is estimated that by the age of
70, 25% of the population will experience PAD. Those at high risk include
smokers, diabetics, those with high blood pressure and high levels of LDL
cholesterol.
Symptoms of PAD include leg pains which do not go away with exercise; gangrene;
foot or toe wounds which do not heal as expected; cramping, pain or stiffness
while walking or climbing stairs.
The condition is diagnosed using Doppler or ultrasound imaging. Initially a
brachial index can be obtained painlessly and inexpensively to determine whether
further exploratory diagnostics should be carried out, such as Magnetic
Resonance Angiography (MRA). Dr Manoon suggested that the messages that he would
like to put across are that in 75% of PAD cases no symptoms are present,
symptoms are often mistaken for other conditions and can go undiagnosed, the
risk to health can be higher than that of a heart attack or stroke, but in most
cases PAD can be successfully managed.
Board member Stuart Saunders made the reminder that the proposed visit to
Metalex, the metal processing exhibition at the Bitec Centre, Bangkok, would be
leaving as planned following the meeting.
Chairman Richard Smith reported on the highly successful PCEC trip to the Surin
elephant round up. He also announced that the next Photography Group meeting
will be on December 10th when a photography expert will be on hand to give
advice. Richard was also pleased to announce that the Bangkok Hospital Pattaya,
in recognition of HM the King’s birthday, will again be offering special
discounts on medical packages at the hospital.
A further announcement was made regarding a generous offer from the Phyathai
Hospital, Sriracha. The hospital was offering flu vaccinations using the latest
2008 vaccine for 550 baht. The hospital would provide free transportation to the
hospital if 8 or more members wished to travel to the hospital for the
vaccination. Alternatively, a nurse would attend a Sunday morning PCEC meeting
and administer the vaccine for an attendance fee of 1000 baht to be shared
amongst the ‘patients’.
Sermsekdi introduced Pattara Bryden from Golden Orchid Healthcare. The company
provides a range of services including specialist care services for the elderly
or for those with special needs.
Richard Silverberg then introduced his much anticipated Website of the Week.
This week Richard provided a very comprehensive account of the communication
facilities offered by Skype. He commented that the quality of Voice Over
Internet Protocol (VOIP) had increased dramatically over recent years and the
service which Skype provided had benefited greatly from this. Skype can be found
at www.skype.com.
The conductors of the regular Open Forum were at full strength as both Bob
L’Etoile and Sig Sigworth were on hand to take their fair share of the jokes and
jibes! As always it provided an opportunity for questions about living in
Thailand with an emphasis on Pattaya to be asked. 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.
Educationalist speaks on problems of recruiting Thai technical expertise
Michael C. Usher (standing)
addresses the DSU-Treff meeting
at Hans - Fine Dining.
Peter Nordhues
At the latest DSU-Treff meeting for the German-speaking business
community, on November 10, chairwoman Elfi Seitz introduced the relatively
new managing director of the TGI-ITS, Michael C. Usher as the guest speaker.
The meeting took place at DSU-Treff’s favorite venue, Hans - Fine Dining,
located on Third Road, where Usher gave a talk on the subject of Thai-German
cooperation in educational matters.
Michael Usher was born in London, Elfi Seitz said as she introduced him.
After leaving school, he completed a five-year training program to become an
engineering draftsman for machine tools, and finished his studies as a
mechanical engineer.
In 1970, Usher moved to Southern Germany where he worked as an engineering
draftsman for a manufacturer of earth working machinery for a year and a
half before he was transferred to the export department. Initially
responsible for technical services, he soon moved up the ladder to become
the regional sales manager. After 10 years of successful work, Usher decided
to switch to another major manufacturer of construction machinery. He
started as regional sales manager and was soon promoted to be the director
of exports.
Later, Usher decided to become his own boss, working as a management
consultant. In 1995, he moved to Thailand and helped foreign companies to
gain a foothold in the kingdom. Since early 2006, Usher has been employed at
TGI-ITS where he succeeded fondly remembered Walter Kretschmar.
Besides his work at the TGI-ITS, Usher is also deputy German director of the
Thai-German Graduate School (TGGS). Due to the close cooperation between
TGI-ITS and TGGS, educational courses ranging from a technician at TGI to a
certified engineering scientist at TGGS are provided for.
In his illustrated talk, Usher explained the structure and the goals of both
establishments. While TGI-ITS is located at the Amata Nakhon industrial
estate, TGGS is part of the King Mongkut Institute of Technology in Bangkok.
TGI-ITS views itself as an industrial service bureau and development center
with its focus on practical experience. TGGS offers thermochemistry,
metallurgy and high temperature metalworking courses, all based on the
principles of the engineer training system at RWTH Aachen. Both
establishments also have a close relationship to the private and
governmental sector, promoting the student’s individual responsibility and
autonomous learning.
Analyzing the Thai education system, Usher said: “Schools and universities
still hold on to the out-of-date way of learning by memorizing. New ways of
problem solving are seldom demonstrated. The hierarchic system of education
is outmoded, and this is why companies have problems finding qualified
employees. TGI-ITS and TGGS try hard to better this situation by offering
these courses.”
Unfortunately, Thai enterprises seldom pay well-educated engineers wages
that correspond to their level of knowledge. The consequence is that experts
migrate to foreign countries, leaving behind a huge gap in this economic
sector.
The subsequent discussion revealed that there are numerous local
entrepreneurs who have been faced with this problem. One attendee said that
at a parents’ meeting a school director confessed to the Thai education
system being antiquated and needing urgent opening to the Western model.
Facilities like TGI-ITS and TGGS take up a major role in changing the
educational system in Thailand. Therefore, it is hoped for that they will be
successful in their objective to serve as an example for
politico-educational institutions.
When less is More?
Miss Terry Diner
Keen observers will have noticed several large trucks taking away
bags of debris for the past few weeks from the old Shenanigans pub site
beneath the Marriott Resort and Spa Garden Café. Was the Marriott digging a
secret tunnel to China? Had they discovered oil? Last weekend, however, the
secret was out. The venue is still a pub, but is ‘more’ than that, it is now
a sports bar and grill.
 Dr
Iain interviews Hans Van Steertegem (right) and Luis Zamora (left).
The décor features minimalism, with concrete blocks sweeping up from the
floor to become benches and tables. Several large screen television sets are
dotted around the bar, so that you can follow your favorite sport, be that a
night of football or three months of tortoise racing from the Galapagos
Islands. The lighting is also minimal, with subdued neon throughout, other
than in one corner where there are pool tables and darts boards. Yes, a
sports bar where you can play sports.
The Belgian director of operations, Hans Van Steertegem, was very proud to
present this latest addition to the Marriott Resort and Spa to the folk in
Pattaya, ably assisted by his Australian head chef Luis Zamora. Whilst the
fare might have the Marriott flair to it, a quick perusal of the menu showed
that the vast majority of the items are under the 200 baht barrier, so to
have a sports evening at the More bar and grill, will probably cost less,
rather than ‘more’.
On the soft opening evening, the local Rotary Clubs used the venue to meet
and mingle with the local Jesters Motorcycle Club, organizations that have
been involved in several charity projects over the years, and there was no
doubt about the conviviality of the evening, and the venue.
More is open daily from 12 noon until 2 a.m. which will cover most sports
telecasts. Will More give you ‘more’? Try for yourselves! By the way, they
have a membership program offering discounts on food and beverages and 25
percent off on your birthday if you bring along another seven friends to
celebrate with you. So it can cost you less at More.
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