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Rotary Foundation Trustee Chairman Bob Scott praises work done by region’s Rotary Clubs
When Rotary Past District Governor Prempreecha
Dibbayawan was informed that Dr Robert Scott would be visiting Thailand,
he immediately invited him for a visit to Pattaya.
Although in May 2006 the Rotary Clubs in Pattaya had the honor of
welcoming Rotary International President Carl-Wilhelm Stenhammer, it is
quite unusual to be visited by senior Rotary International executives.
 Bob
Scott admires the Rotary Peace Monument on top of Pratamnak Hill.
Bob Scott, being the Chair of the Rotary Foundation Trustees and
Chairman of the International PolioPlus Committee, is one such senior
Rotarian.
Bob accepted the invitation, but due to other commitments it could only
be for one day. PDG Prempreecha contacted Rotarians from the six clubs
in Pattaya and formed a committee to organise the program.
On Wednesday morning, April 9, Bob Scott and his entourage arrived at
the Pattaya Orphanage, where he was welcomed by District Governor Elect
Pratheep Malhotra and representatives from the various Rotary Clubs in
and around Pattaya. Bob and his wife Ann spent the morning cuddling and
playing with the children before they all sat down for a special lunch
together.
After lunch the party was whisked off to visit some of the many projects
the Rotary Clubs have implemented in the community. First stop was at
the Pattaya City Peace Monument erected by the Rotary Club Pattaya. Bob
Scott is closely involved with Rotary’s Peace and Conflict Resolution
Studies.
Next on the program was a visit to the Khao Khanthamat School near
Sattahip. The organising committee had selected this school as various
Rotary Clubs in Pattaya had jointly and individually carried out
projects in the health, education and clean water fields.
Charter President Peter Thorand showed the First Aid Room, which was
fitted out by RC Taksin-Pattaya with support from RC Pattaya Marina and
RC Jomtien-Pattaya.
 Bob
Scott presents a Major Donor pin to President Stefan Ryser as his wife
Toy stands proudly by his side.
Next, President Jan Abbink demonstrated the clean water system that was
installed by RC Jomtien-Pattaya with support from Rtn Jan Olav Aamlid
and his Norwegian friends and businessmen who regularly visit Pattaya.
Last but not least, President Steve Ryser spoke about the English
Learning CD project that RC Eastern-Seaboard has initiated at many
schools including the Khao Khanthamat School.
Steve Ryser and Jan Abbink also informed Bob Scott about this year’s
joint Matching Grant project whereby RCJP and RCES will install clean
water systems at 21 schools in the Chonburi and Rayong provinces.
Being the Chairman of the Rotary Foundation Trustees, which supports
such humanitarian projects with matching grants, Bob Scott was pleased
to see that the funds were going to a good cause. He also came with some
good recommendations - not surprising considering his experience of over
two decades in these fields.
During the evening a dinner was hosted at the Sigma Hotel in Jomtien
which was attended by more than 100 Rotarians in the region.
Bob Scott praised the 120 Rotarians at the dinner for the work they were
doing, and reminded them that there was a need for them to continue
their efforts.
He said there were several goals for the year ahead. These included
making the eradication of polio a realistic goal, encouraging every
Rotarian to make a donation every year and keeping in touch with alumni.
“I want to thank you for the good work you have done in the past, I want
to thank you for the good you are doing presently but much more
importantly I thank you for the good that you will do to help make this
world a peaceful place,” he said.
Bob was visiting Thailand for the first time on a four-day trip. The
main purpose was to present certificates in Bangkok to graduates of a
Rotary Peace and Conflict Studies programme.
He has traveled the world seeing the Rotary Foundation’s projects
brought to fruition, and he said he had been impressed by the Pattaya
schemes.
Jan Abbink, President of the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya, said: “It’s
not every day, not even every month or every year, we have such a
distinguished guest like Bob Scott with us.”
The event also saw a surprise US$10,000 donation made by Stefan Ryser,
president of the Rotary Club Eastern Seaboard, to the Rotary Foundation.
Special Paul Harris Recognition Awards were presented to Past President
Max Rommel, President Jan Abbink of the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya
and Past President Somchai Ngernyingsook of the Rotary Club of
Plutaluang.
In addition numerous Rotarians donated the equivalent of US $100 to the
Rotary Foundation, who are working tirelessly to protect our young
children from contracting the dreaded polio virus and to finally
eradicate this horrible disease from the face of the earth.
President Jan Abbink shows
off the water filtration system to the visitors.
Children are always happy
to see visitors at the Pattaya Orphanage.
Offerings made to the guardian
spirits during centuries-old festival
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Naklua residents and visitors gathered at Lan Pho Public Park on
April 19 for the Kong Kao (rice harvest) festival, offering food and sweets
to the spirits in a centuries-old tradition.
Banglamung District Chief Pratheep Chongsubthum opened the festivities,
which in addition to worship and prayers included sports and games
activities, and plenty of enjoyment for people of all ages.
 Banglamung
District Chief Pratheep Chong
subthum presents his opening speech for the Naklua Kong Kao traditional
festival.
Candles and joss sticks were lit and a blessings ceremony held as the food
and sweets were laid out for the spirits and angels. During the afternoon,
visitors enjoyed displays of archery, boxing and sword fighting, and a large
crowd watched spellbound as a pyramid of acrobats swung fiery torches during
the evening. A country music performance rounded off the day’s activities.
And a “Tri Bhumi” performance depicting heaven, earth, and hell delighted
the audience.
No one knows how old the Kong Kao tradition is, but elder citizens say it
was always associated with the Songkran festival and that it was already an
old tradition when they were youngsters.
In times past, villagers believed that guardian spirits and angles watched
over them, and at the time of the New Year they offered food in the belief
that the spirits would be pleased and that happiness and prosperity would be
assured for another year. After the ceremony, food collected was equally
shared among the ceremony attendants.
The large crowd watches
spellbound as a pyramid
of acrobats swing fiery torches during the evening.
People offer meals to appease
the spirits.
Young spirits also get into
the act.
The spirits and angels receive
food and desserts in the belief that they would be pleased and that
happiness and prosperity would be assured for another year.
During the afternoon, visitors
enjoy displays of archery, boxing and sword fighting.
A fire breather keeps the
crowd enthralled.
Residents and visitors at Lan
Pho Public Park offer food and sweets
to the spirits in a centuries-old tradition.
Spirit leadership needs
appeasing, too.
Some spirits enjoy the whisky
more than the food.
Sikhs celebrate Guru Nanak’s Birthday
Pramote Channgam
Pattaya’s Thai-Sikh Community gathered at the Sikh Temple in South
Pattaya during the period April 12 to 14 for Akhand Path, the recitation
without any break of the Guru Granth Sahib, from beginning to end of the
1,430 pages, in celebration of the birthday of Guru Nanak the founder of the
Sikh religion.
 Thai-Sikh
children gather to chant the Akhand Path.
Conducted by a team of readers and lasting 48 hours, this holy practice
brings peace and solace to those attending, and to the community.
After the ceremonies food is provided for the groups of people and the
families who gather at the temple, and the event is one of great spiritual
significance.
During this period, Amrik Singh Kalra, head of the Pattaya Sikh Community
took a donation of food to the inmates at Nong Plalai Prison in Banglamung.
Amrik also requested the prison governor to advise him what other support
might be needed in the way of clothing and supplies.
Thai Sikh men and women listen
to the reading of the Holy Guru Granth Sahib.
BCCT and AmCham break out the brollies
Graham Macdonald, vice
chairman of BCCT; Jenny Howard, John L. Hamilton, director of Transportation
& Industrial Services of Waste Management Siam Ltd.;
and Dr. Iain Corness.
(L to R) Thomas White,
Executive VP & GM of American International Assurance Company, Limited; Judy
Benn, executive director; Dominik Stamm, GM of Amari Orchid Resort & Tower;
David Nardone, president & CEO of Hemaraj Land and Development Public
Company Limited; Graham Macdonald, vice chairman of the BCCT and Stephen K.
Carlisle, president of General Motors Asia Pacific.
Andrew Chesterfield,
engineering AME manager of CSG TRW Chassis Systems Co., Ltd.; George
Strampp, director of Automotive Manufacturing Solutions; Dominik Stamm, GM
of Amari Orchid Resort and Tony Malhotra, Pattaya Mail director.
Staff reporters
The two largest western chambers in Thailand, the British and
American chambers of commerce (BCCT and AmCham) joined forces for the latest
networking evening on the Eastern Seaboard, this time held at the Amari
Resort and Tower last weekend and planned to perfection. Despite the two
counties being on either side of the Atlantic pond, it was agreed that the
event would be held in that wonderful area between the Amari (old building)
and the new Amari Tower, which had been the venue for previously very
successful events.
 Viwatchai
Suthithanakhom, VP of the Corporate Business Department at Bank of Ayudhya
PCL; Thomas White, Executive VP & GM of AIA Co., Ltd.; and Thammasarn
Kongkitkul, senior VP of the Corporate Business Department 7 at Bank of
Ayudhya PCL.
Unfortunately, nobody mentioned this to Hughie (the rain god) and the rain
pelted down all afternoon, making the proposed outdoor area very similar to
the Atlantic Ocean. The Amari people, under the leadership of GM Dominic
Stamm, assisted by the new Mantra man Alexander Parry, were, however, not
fazed at all, moving the catering facilities down the slopes to the bar in
the base of the new tower, and even laying on transport for those chamber
members who had parked outside the old reception area.
 Sue
K from Pattaya Mail TV; Sam Parino, co-CEO of Alliance Refining Co., Ltd.;
and Mari Parino.
As if to make up for the loss of the outdoors, the Amari had a welcoming
committee of several delightful young ladies in red cocktail dresses, a
copious supply of beers and wines, and American jazz singer Ruby Hayes to
give the event a musical glitz. It already had the glamor in the several
delightful young ladies in red! (Somebody should write a song about that.
Oh! They already have!)
The event sponsor was Hemaraj Land and Development, headed by the quiet
American David Nardone, the president of Hemaraj. In an exclusive interview
on Pattaya Mail TV, David shrugged off all fears of business uncertainty,
saying that his group had seen continued growth and sales during the time of
the interim government, and with the new elected government being business
oriented, that growth was accelerating. He said that the automotive business
was continuing, both with manufacturers and the parts industries. Suzuki
Motors have begun building their manufacturing plant for the Eco-Car
project, and David said he expects even more flow-on from this government
backed project.
 Gregory
Pitt, MD of Mackenzie Smith Law; Ian Hamilton, GM Business Development for
Ticon Industrial Construction PCL; and Patima Jeerapaet, MD of Colliers
International (Thailand).
The American contingent was almost instantly recognizable by their business
cards embellished with the stars and stripes. Many of the die-hard Americans
were present, such as Bruce Hoppe (“I’m in both chambers”) with wife Judy
(Emerson Climate Technologies), the sartorially splendid auto man George
Strampp (but lose the explorer’s trousers, George), Kris Olarn (Enki
Technology) who was born in Thailand but went to America for many years so
that he could learn to speak Thai with a Yankee accent, President of AmCham
Thomas J White from American International Assurance, and Alan Verstein
promoting his Wall Street Journal.
 Janya
Rattanliam, international affairs executive, Wararat Sasom and Pattarvadee
Wangviriyaphan, marketing executives of Bangkok Hospital Pattaya.
Die-hard Brits were also there, with Kim Fletcher (Jameson’s Irish Pub and
nosh-house), Kevin (the crane man) Fisher with Peter Smith and Malcolm
Scorer (AA Insurance Brokers), Jenny and Jimmy Howard (“I’m retired and
loving it!”) were there, trying to persuade anyone who would listen that
they should attend next week’s Pattaya Rugby Tens at Horseshoe Point; Peter
Mewes (The London Consultancy) and Scotsman John L Hamilton (Waste
Management Siam); however, the absence of the BCCT’s executive director,
Greg Watkins, and chairman, Rodney Bain, was noticed, despite the local
representative Graham Macdonald attempting to be everywhere.
 Kelley
D. Ritchey, CFA Department of Finance & Banking Faculty of Business of Asian
University; Jitra Wongjuan, director of AA Insurance Brokers and Timothy
Bass, CISSP executive director.
There were even some Australian interlopers such as Glen Butler (Mariani
Premium Dried Fruits) with Suzette, his South African wife, plus Belgian
Alain Durwaerder (Katoen Natie - pronounced ‘Nasee’ for some strange Belgian
reason) and the dark brown voiced Maurice Bromley (Zimbabwe) and his lovely
Filipina wife Renita, back from running the Chiang Mai Sixes. Also David
Ash, a long time resident of the Eastern Seaboard, who has recently joined
McConnell Dowell as a Fabrication Manager. He will set up the new yard for
them near Maptaput.
 Apisak
Kamwan, senior manager, customer development of Hemaraj Land and Development
PCL; Kampone Nuntakwang from Fabrinet Co., and Niwat Lersnimitthum, MD of
Tietex.
The prize for the best name card undoubtedly went to Greg Pitt of McKenzie,
Smith Law. Greg is a big lad and his card was the size of an A4 sheet. At
least it was readable. The same could not be said for Korakot Boonchoo from
Compose design whose card exhorted you to “Just make a call and we’ll handle
the rest.” However, Compose design will have to learn to spell ‘business’
before they get mine!
 Ampawan
Kuhasak, sales manager of Mantra Restaurant & Bar; Hisada Nobuyuki, MD of
Reflex Packaging (Thailand) Co., Ltd.; and Dueanpen Thongsombat, sales
manager of Amari.
As always at these networking evenings, the Bangkok Hospital Pattaya was out
in force, represented by the charming trio of Ann, Nancy and Pik (and no
jokes about taking your pick, thank you), closely followed by the Asian
University folk led by Susan Joyce and Dr Salam Hoshang.
It was an interesting evening which was turned from disaster to success by
the competency of the Amari people. Both chambers should thank you!
The next BCCT event on the Eastern Seaboard will be on Friday, May 9, when
the British Ambassador will be speaking to members of the chamber at a
dinner. The time and venue will be confirmed later.
Jim Howard, consultant for
Milan Crosse Creative; Kim Fletcher,
Landlord of Jameson’s Irish Pub and Kevin (the crane man) Fisher.
Diana Group stages bartender contest
for staff at six properties
Vimolrat Singnikorn
The Diana Group held its annual Bartender Competition on April 18, with six
teams from the properties within the group competing for prizes.
 Mike
Franklin presents the winning prize to the Diana Garden Resort Team.
Held at the Diana Garden Resort, with Diana managing director Sopin
Thappajug and director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand Central Region 3
Office Chaiwat Charoensuk presiding, the competition was in its fourth year.
The Diana Group properties represented were the Diana Dragon, Diana
Millennium, Diana Garden Resort, Diana Garden Lodge and Driving Range, the
Diana Inn, and the Green Bottle Pub.
Group general manager Saming Suebsakul said that the bartender contest had
evolved out of a competition held on April 21, 2005, to find the best coffee
and fruit shake. The contest had aroused a great deal of interest amongst
staff and also amongst hotel guests, and from there it had developed into a
full event.
 Jintana
Waechachot (left), head of the Pattaya City Education Division, presents the
Miss Bartender award to Diana Millennium.
Apart from encouraging creativity and raising standards amongst bar staff,
said Saming, the event encouraged excellent teamwork amongst all staff,
participants and spectators alike, and was greatly enjoyed by hotel guests.
The competition was divided into three categories: Mixed Cocktails, the Miss
Bartender Contest, and the Making Coffee Shakes Dance Performance Contest.
Royal Coffee Co Ltd supported the latter category. Emcees for the event were
Suwanthep Malhotra and Umaporn Ratchatawattanakul.
 Umaporn
Ratchatawattanakul (left) and Suwanthep Malhotra as emcees keep the
proceedings moving at a fun pace.
Other competitions were held alongside the Bartender Competition, including
a pad Thai contest and a skirt-cutting contest, and there was a special
prize for the best cheerleader team.
Diana Garden Resort was announced as winner of the Mixed Cocktails category,
while Diana Millennium received the Miss Bartender award.
To round off the day there was a beer drinking competition, in which
tourists and the media were the eager participants.
Cheering squads provide fun and frivolity during
the competition.
The beer drinking contest draws many
contestants.
Participants in the “Diana Group Bartender
Contest 2008”.
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