The Pattaya International Ladies Club (PILC) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Cape Dara Hotel in Naklua on Tuesday, February 5. At the AGM, outgoing president Ann Winfield gave a report of the affairs of the Club, each committee gave a report of the past year’s business, other matters pertaining to the Club were discussed, and a new President and General Committee were elected.
Over 70 members were in attendance at the beautiful Cape Dara Hotel. The hotel provided the Club with a delicious international buffet lunch, and the staff was most professional, attentive and friendly.
2013 president, Helle Rantsen, addresses the membership.
As the meeting was called to order, outgoing president Ann Winfield thanked the membership for their great support during the past year and said how much she had enjoyed the responsibilities of the presidency. In addition, Ann praised the members of the General Committee for their hard work and the success that work had produced for the Club during the year.
Member Angela Poustie, standing in for Roseanne Diamente, chair of the nominating committee, thanked Ann and her committee for their hard work last year and presented each retiring chairperson with beautiful crystal glasses as a token of thanks from the Club. She then welcomed in the new committee chair persons, calling each member to the podium and reading a short biography of each person as they stepped up.
Incoming General Committee for 2013.
The new PILC president for 2013 will be Helle Rantsen, born and raised in Denmark. This is Helle’s second stint living in Pattaya with her husband and two children. She returned from Oman two years ago, and last year served as PILC’s Vice President and Welfare Chair. Joyce Aldridge, from England, is the new Vice President; Nicole Taylor, also from England was elected Secretary; Anja Schoof-Hertroys from Holland has taken over as Special Events Chair; Mary Pierce, from Ireland, was named as Welfare Chair; known local resident, Alvi Sinthuvanik, from Thailand remains as Hospitality Chair; American Anita Laurila has taken over as Newsletter Editor; and Christine Ross, from Great Britain, will stay on as Membership Chair.
The 2012 General Committee thanks the membership for their support.
Incoming president, Helle Rantsen, thanked the outgoing committee for all their hard work, and said that she looked forward to continuing the smooth running of the Club. “I want to thank you all for your nomination and vote of confidence,” she told the membership. “I am especially proud,” she said, “to become the very first president of PILC who is Danish.”
Helle went on to say that she saw PILC as being a social and networking club for expat women, but one that had a conscience. “The Pattaya International Ladies Club is involved in many important projects helping and supporting the population of the Eastern Seaboard, and I see the philanthropic arm of the Club as being of significant importance,” she said. “In addition,” she went on, “I want to make sure that the PILC remains a fun, social, and friendly organization for all members, old and new.”
Outgoing president, Ann Winfield, accepts a thank-you gift from Kirsten Lillelund.
Helle also pointed out that more and more younger women were joining the organization as the economy picks up on the Eastern Seaboard and foreign companies again have started transferring their experienced administrators here to oversee production.
The new committee, said Helle, is very enthusiastic about the year to come and have already been brainstorming ways to improve on the already strong administrative structure of the 250 member-organization. They all agree that they plan to work hard to improve and build on the many functions, activities, and welfare projects the Club organizes and runs for members and the community at large.
The new president then thanked the members again and said she faced the coming year with excitement and enthusiasm.
The PILC has been in existence for 25 years in Pattaya and is made up of almost 250 members from all walks of life, aged from early twenties to mid-eighties, and drawn from 34 countries.
PILC is collaborating its’ 25th Silver Anniversary on February 23 with an elegant Gala Dinner Dance at the Royal Cliff Hotel. All are welcome! Email [email protected] for more information.
The Club offers all sorts of social and community opportunities for women who are living here long-term or for a short while. Please go to www.pilc-pattaya.com for find out more about the Pattaya International Ladies Club.
PILC Annual General Meeting was held at the Cape Dara Hotel.
