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Cataract patients screened ready for free operations
Residents and doctors
attending
this first screening pose with organizing officials.
Pramote Channgam
Bangkok Hospital Pattaya is working with Banglamung District to screen
cataract patients from eight sub-districts in order to arrange free
operations for them.
This stage of the cataract operations project, which was initiated in honor
of His Majesty the King’s 80th birthday, began on the morning of August 15
at the Prachakhom Hall in Banglamung District Office.
 Patients
undertake the screening process.
Presiding over the opening ceremony were Bangkok Hospital Pattaya director
Dr Phichit Kangwonkit, Banglamung District Chief Mongkol Thamkittikun, Mayor
Itthipol Khunplome, and Dr Thawan Poblab of the Chonburi Province Public
Health Office.
The project is designed to provide free cataract operations for low-income
people in Banglamung, Sattahip, and the border area between Chonburi and
Rayong provinces.
Attending this first screening were residents of Naklua, Khao Maikaew, Pong,
Huay Yai, Banglamung, Takian Tia, and Nong Plalai.
Dr Phichit said that cataracts usually occur in the elderly, and the
condition if not treated could lead to serious visual impairment and even
blindness. The hospital therefore wanted to make a contribution, and is
assembling a team of specialists for the operations.
The cataract program is organized jointly by Chonburi Red Cross, Chonburi
Public Heath Office, Chonburi Hospital Ophthalmology Association, Bangkok
Hospital Pattaya, Somdej na Sriracha Hospital, Samidhivej Sriracha Hospital,
Phayathai Hospital Sriracha, and International Rotary District 3340 together
with all the Rotary Clubs in Chonburi Province.
Burapha and BHP sign
joint education agreement
(L to R) Dr. Pichit Kangwonkit,
director of Bangkok Hospital Pattaya; Dr. Kritawit Lertusahakun, chairman of the
administrative group at Bangkok Hospital Pattaya; Prof. Dr. Jiroj Suchato,
chairman of the Committee at Bangkok Hospital Pattaya; Dr. Suchart Upatham,
chancellor of Burapha University; Dr. Wanna Unakun, dean of the Faculty of
Medicine; Dr. Pisith Piriyapan, director of the Health Science Center; and Asst.
Prof. Dr. Ratchaneeporn Sapkanon, dean of the Faculty of Nursing at the academic
cooperation agreement signing.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Burapha University has signed an agreement with Bangkok Hospital Pattaya
to operate a joint program for the education and development of medical
personnel.
The signing of the agreement, which is for a three-year period, took place on
August 18, with the group from Bangkok Hospital Pattaya including Prof Dr Jiroj
Suchato, chairman of the organizing committee, Dr Kritawit Lertusahakun,
chairman of the administrative group at the hospital, and hospital director Dr
Pichit Kangwonkit.
The group of representatives from Burapha University included university
chancellor Prof Dr Suchart Upatham, Dr Wanna Unakun, dean of the Faculty of
Medicine, Dr Pisith Piriyapan, director of the Health Science Center, and Asst
Prof Dr Ratchaneeporn Sapkanon, dean of the Faculty of Nursing.
Prof Dr Jiroj said that the agreement covered the development of medical
personnel, including those in the nursing services and in medical and public
health science.
Cross Bay Swim 2008 - Make Dreams Real
Jan Abbink
The Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya proudly presents the 5th Annual Cross Bay
Swim, which will be held on Sunday, 12th October 2008.
 Presidents
Urisa Sriphayungchan (RC Rayong), Brendan Kelly (RC Jomtien-Pattaya) and Toy
Ryser (RC Eastern Seaboard) sharing some clean drinking water with the children
at Wat Pala School in Ban Chang.
Two years ago there were only 16 swimmers and just one long 3.5 km swim, but
last year marked the launch of an additional short swim of 1.1 Km and a total of
59 people took part. The 2007 swim was highly successful in the ways of “Fun,
Fellowship and Finances”. There were many familiar faces as well as newcomers -
mostly students from The Regents School - all doing their bit by swimming for
charity.
The short swim was won by Nancy Ellis and the fastest long swimmer was Nick
Wilson, a tri-athlete from Pattana School in Bangkok. Regent School students and
teachers made up for most of the swimmers and between them, they alone raised
sponsorship of over 110,000 baht. Thanks to them and the many local sponsors the
target of 500,000 baht was reached.
This year more international schools are expected to submit teams for the short
swim and most likely there will be up to 100 swimmers participating.
Once again the Hard Rock Hotel will provide welcome drinks at the start of the
short swim and Dusit Thani will host a buffet for the all swimmers at the
finish.
Whereas all the costs of organsing the event are covered, Rotary Club of Jomtien
Pattaya is looking for sponsors to fund their many humanitarian projects. This
year the Rotary International theme is “Make Dreams Real” and their main goal is
to decrease child mortality.
What better cause could you find for a swimming event where privileged and
healthy children (and young adults) are swimming to help the underprivileged
children?
When you are asked to give money for charity you may rightfully ask “how much of
my money will go to the cause and how will it be spent”.
Rotary prefers to present itself as a “humanitarian” organisation and not just a
“charity club”. What’s the difference? Rotarians offer their time, money and
knowledge for free - the expenses of running a club are covered by members’
contribution fees. For that matter the whole Rotary International Organisation
is funded by club members world-wide.
Also Rotary never just hands over the money. They research, plan and supervise
each and every project, obtaining competitive estimates for work to be carried
out and only upon satisfactory completion the invoices are paid.
In their humanitarian efforts Rotary also aims to provide long term solutions.
A good example is the Clean Water Projects, which was the main cause for the
funds raised at last year’s Cross Bay Swim. Thanks to the swimmers and the many
local supporters and sponsors the Rotary Club of Jomtien Pattaya was able to
raise well over 500,000 baht.
RC Eastern Seaboard and Dutch RC Pijnacker - Nootdorp invited RC Jomtien -
Pattaya to be a partner in their Rotary Matching Grant project for Clean Water.
With the support from Vigilant Technologies and a grant from Rotary
International they jointly will, by the end of this year, have installed Lomatec
H2O water filtration units at 24 schools in Chonburi and Rayong provinces. The
total project value is well over 2 million baht and at current two schools in
Sattahip, two in Rayong, two in Ban Chang, two in Bo Thong, two in Huay Yai and
one in Pong districts have been completed.
Two further schools in Bang Saray and Ban Ampur will be ready in September and
there are more schools lined up in the Laem Chabang and Sriracha districts. All
these projects are done in cooperation with the many local Rotary Clubs in the
district.
The Clean Water Projects will be continued over the next years, but this year
many other projects such as providing scholarships and school uniforms for
underprivileged children and providing swimming lessons for children at
Children’s Homes are planned.
Rotary Shares to Make Dreams Real!
For further information please contact: Jan Abbink, Chairman of the Cross Bay
Swim Committee, Rotary Club Jomtien - Pattaya, e-mail: [email protected]
PSC donates 120,000 baht to YWCA school lunch fund
Pattaya Sports Club’s President
Dennis Willet (seated left) and Charity Chairman Bernie Tuppin (seated right)
donate 120,000 baht to YWCA chairwoman Nittaya Patimasongkroh for the YWCA
Bangkok-Pattaya Center’s School Lunch Project. Nonglak Fakruek (behind Dennis)
makes a personal donation of 18,000 baht.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Pattaya Sports Club has contributed 120,000 baht to the YWCA
Bangkok-Pattaya Center’s School Lunch Project.
The presentation was made on August 19 by PSC President Dennis Willet and the
club’s Charity Chairman Bernie Tuppin, during a ceremony at the Diana Garden
Resort.
YWCA chairwoman Nittaya Patimasongkroh received the funds, which go towards
providing school lunches for underprivileged students.
Nittaya also thanked Nonglak Fakruek, deputy chairwoman of the YWCA
Bangkok-Pattaya Center for her private donation of 18,000 baht, which was added
to the YWCA Warm Family Project that distributes scholarships to needy students.
Charity Club of Pattaya sends rice to the rice farmers
Nit buying rice on behalf of the
Charity Club of Pattaya.
Mrs Bunlam receives rice for her
and her family from the Charity Club of Pattaya.
Peter Rottmann, the Charity Club’s representative in Buriram
informed Malcolm and Christina Boden that rice farmers and their families were
finding life difficult due to the rising cost of rice.
So, Malcolm and Christina popped in to the club’s adopted home and raided the
club’s charity box which is left at the Queen Victoria Inn for anyone to drop
loose change or spare cash into!
They took 6,000 baht out and told Peter to buy and distribute the rice to the
most needy and they would work on obtaining more food. So he sent wife Nit off
to the market to haggle for as much rice as she could with the money!
Things that have
changed history
The regular Sunday meeting of the Pattaya City Expats Club
got underway at the Amari’s Henry J. Beans Restaurant on Sunday, August 3rd when
MC Stuart Saunders introduced Mike Hanlon. Mike is from Australia and during his
career has been a journalist, feature writer, editor and publisher. Mike started
his presentation by mentioning a significant event in history - the invention of
the Gutenberg Press in the 1400’s. He noted that the invention of this press was
a changing point in history. Previously, there were a limited number of books
available. Invention of the printing press allowed for the mass distribution of
printed information across boundaries. Mike opined that if the words of Martin
Luther had not been so circulated, the world would probably not be what it is
today.
 Mike
Hanlon, managing editor of Gizmag.com, shares with PCEC members his views of the
rise of technology and the acceleration of history, and the inevitable question
“where do we go from here?”
However, Mike thinks that the world is now in the midst of another significant
changing point in history. Up and until the advent of the computer and the
Internet, the method of mass communication was primarily by television, radio,
and print media. He noted that prior to 1995, if you used the Internet, you were
probably an academic or military person. Today, using the Internet is a way of
life for many and has changed how people obtain information.
But, Mike believes the main invention that will change history is the cellular
telephone. With the increase in computing power and advances in technology, the
telephone has become more than just a device used to communicate with others. As
technology continues to advance, the mobile phone will become an essential item
for use in everyday life. Not only are mobile telephones being connected to the
Internet for instant access to information and communication, they are also
being GPS enabled (Global Positioning System). Thus, your phone can tell you not
only where you are, but also what shops, businesses, offices, or other places of
interest are in your immediate vicinity.
Mike mentioned that multimedia has changed things and continues to change the
way he does business. He currently is the managing editor of a web based
magazine - www.gizmag.com. The magazine has numerous articles on inventions,
innovations, and emerging technologies. He said he is no longer tied to any
physical location. He has no requirement for storage or distribution facilities.
His writers can be anywhere in the world. Further, the information on the
website can be updated within minutes. Mike pointed out that most people under
25 are more conversant with this technology and how to use it.
He believes in 10 years time, the way people do business will be drastically
changed. His advice for businesses is to do 3 things. First, one should drop the
old concept that “if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it” and adopt one that says, “if
it isn’t broke, break it.” Second, hire someone less than 25 years of age to be
your mentor on technology. Third, buy an I Phone, which has just had its 2nd
generation go on the market. He said the I Phone’s capabilities is the
forerunner of the future and to succeed in that future, you should start
developing your skills now.
There were many questions and a member in the audience that had an I Phone
willingly showed some of its features, which were visible to all on Henry J.
Beans large screen televisions - it was “awesome!”
MC Stuart Saunders then brought everyone up to date on upcoming events. Richard
Silverberg, the Club’s computer guru, provided information on an interesting
website. This site, resnooze.com, is a site that provides email reminders of
events that can be set up. These reminders can be daily, weekly, monthly, etc.
Although some people may have software on their computer, they may be traveling
without it. Since many hotels offer Internet access or one can gain it at a
nearby Internet shop, one can ensure they get their email reminders when
traveling.
Following Richard’s presentation, the Open Forum began with the introduction of
a new face. “Hawaii Bob” Sutterfield joined “Sig” Sigworth in conducting the
Open Forum. As always, the Open Forum provided answers to questions from the
members and guests about living here in Thailand as well as a bit of humor - as
everyone knows, laughter is the best medicine.
All white on the night
Elfi Seitz
On July 27, dressed in white and with a bouquet in her hands, Joan B Mondido
celebrated her 21st birthday and her marriage to Dr William van Ewijk.
 The
newly wedded couple poses for photographers.
The beautiful Filipina and her husband had married recently and invited friends
to their home to share their joy with them. All of the guests were also dressed
in white, following the bride and groom’s request.
The attendees were amazed from the very beginning, when numerous paragliders
sailed through the sky in a spectacular aerial display.
The newly wedded couple received lots of presents and best wishes from their
guests, while the sumptuous buffet, a variety of drinks, a group of jesters and
several interludes featuring katoey dancers kept the crowd entertained.
A highlight was the cutting of Joan’s birthday cake, followed later by a
magnificent fireworks display that marked the culmination of the romantic night.
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