The March Luncheon of the Pattaya International Ladies Club was held at Pan Pan Restaurant on Thappraya Road. Fifty-six members were in attendance for a delicious meal provided by Pan Pan staff and management. Children from the Fountain of Life were also in attendance selling hand-made greeting cards, and Moya Hand was promoting St. Patrick’s Day through the sale of leprechaun t-shirts and green umbrellas. Proceeds from the sale and from the St. Patrick’s Day Parade all go to the Father Ray Foundation and the Fountain of Life.
President Ann Winfield made a number of announcements before introducing the luncheon speaker, Linda Cruse, an internationally known disaster relief worker. Linda shared with the audience details of her work in Thailand during the aftermath of the tsunami and her work in Pakistan and other countries. She gave an extremely inspirational presentation on her philosophy of “The Power of One,” and spoke passionately about the difference that one determined person can make in the world, giving an example of a woman in Afghanistan who, within the strictures of her religion, made a huge difference in the lives of other women in her village.
PILC members Angela Proustie and Anja Schoof in deep discussion at the March luncheon.
Linda had been just another worker ant in the marketing department of a huge drug manufacturing firm when she became temporarily blind while driving home on the motorway. By sheer luck, she was able to pull over without being hit by a truck or car. This brush with blindness and death made her look at her life with a new perspective.
Internationally acclaimed disaster relief and aid worker, Linda Cruse, makes a presentation to the members of PILC at their March Luncheon.
She set out to provide assistance to people in the most troubled parts of the world. Trained as a nurse, Linda learned, in these living hells, that being an aid worker is not for the faint-hearted. She discovered that she was, in fact, quite strong-hearted, and she has risen to become an acknowledged expert on aid and disaster relief.
In addition to her aid work, she also has a book coming out shortly. Entitled “Cake and Kalashnikovs: A Call to Arms, 16 countries, 3 continents, 12 years and one suitcase. One woman’s quest to help disaster-stricken communities back on their feet,” the book talks about her work in some of the world’s worst disaster areas. Linda kept members on the edge of their seats with her dramatic and moving talk. We are all most grateful that she came to our lunch to talk for us. Linda Cruse is an embodiment of what the “Power of One” can achieve.
Children from the Fountain of Life Center sell their home-made greeting cards to raise funds for the Center.
The Ladies Club will hold their April luncheon at Benihana Restaurant, and the speaker will be Pichada Rajavechpisal, talking about some of the lesser known aspects of Songkran.
The Pattaya International Ladies Club started 25 years ago with 30 members and has grown to almost 250. The Club is a non-profit, non-political club formed to support international women in developing friendships and opportunities for social, cultural, and charitable endeavors. Contact [email protected] for more information.
Members listen with interest to the presentation given by Linda Cruse.
