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Pattaya personnel managers join in a ‘Jeans Night’ party
Suchada Tupchai
Happy to shed their coats, ties and power suits,
personnel managers from various companies in and around the Eastern Seaboard
recently got together to relieve their tensions and kick around some ideas
within a fun atmosphere at the annual Pattaya Personnel Managers Club party,
held at the Hard Rock Hotel.
 Surapol
Lertmetta, president of the Pattaya Personnel Managers Club, addresses the
party, suggesting that everyone have a good time.
The cocktail party included many fun games and prizes
throughout the night, as well as a special visit from Virawit
Wiwattanvanich, Chonburi deputy governor, and members of the Department of
Labor and Department of Social Welfare.
Execs let their hair down and relaxed in the cool sea breeze in
preparation for the year ahead.
Bob Lee elected new president of the Skal Club of Pattaya and the East
The dynamic tourism professional group, the Skal Club of Pattaya and the
East is continuing to grow as Pattaya begins to make ready for the influx of
the cream of the world’s tourism movers and shakers attending the Skal
World Congress in 2006.
 Skal
Club of Pattaya and the East’s committee for 2004: (L to R) Past-President
Murray Hertz, new President Bob Lee, Max Foster, David Smith, Chatchawal
Supachayanont, Secretary Ingo Rauber, Treasurer Deborah Bundityanond and
Vice-President Andrew Khoo.
The selection of Pattaya as the world congress venue came
after the hard work put in by the previous committee members of the local
club who both formed the club and then swayed the rest of the world to agree
to come to Thailand for the international event. Foremost amongst these was
Andrew Wood, then the GM at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort (now at Chao Phaya
Park Hotel Bangkok) and Murray Hertz, both previously members of the
international Skal organization.
Since then, the local club has continued to grow, now
having over thirty members, and the long preparation for the 2006 World
Congress begins in earnest.
At the last meeting held at the Woodlands Resort, the new
committee members for 2004 were elected, with the new president being Bob
Lee and his vice-president Andrew Khoo (GM Hard Rock Hotel). Others include
secretary Ingo Rauber (GM Pinnacle Resort), treasurer Deborah Bundityanond
(MD Rabbit Resort), past-president Murray Hertz, Chatchawal Supachayanont
(GM Dusit Resort), Max Foster (GM Adventure SCUBA) and David Smith.
Monthly meetings of this active organization take the form of networking
evenings and further details can be obtained from President Bob Lee, email
[email protected]
GTCC comes together for the first Eastern Seaboard “Stammtisch for 2004”
Brendan Richards
Members and guests of the German Thai Chamber of Commerce
(GTCC) converged on the Moon River Pub at the Thai Garden Resort for their
first networking night in 2004. A slow start to evening saw an intimate
crowd gather, but as the night progressed so did the numbers.
 Alfred
Reichert (left) and Stefan Brkle (2nd left) talk shop with Rene
Pisters (2nd right), GM Thai Garden Resort and Gerrit Niehaus (far right),
director of the hotel. Janine Tillmanns (center), as always, takes good care
of the guests in the Moon River Pub.
Stefan Buerkle, chief of the Business Economics and
Advisory Division, made his way to the stage to welcome everyone, saying
that he initially was going to let everyone relax but that he’d better say
something for the benefit of the press - a standing joke between Stefan and
I.
However, he continued, “First of all, a Happy New Year
to all of you. I think 2004 is going to be a great year, since we have had
good growth in Thailand’s economy in the last quarter of 2003, and I think
we can see that improve this year.”
At the end of the very brief formalities the buffet was
declared open as everyone gravitated towards the beautiful spread laid out
by the Thai Garden and Moon River Pub team.
Regular Stammtisch stalwarts such as Hans Deiter Westphal
were seen lurking about with Hans feeling the trials of a successful
business early in the New Year. Alfred Reichert, third secretary of Economic
Affairs at the German Embassy was also present as he discussed the current
trade import-export climate.
Meanwhile, Rene Pisters, Thai Garden GM and Janine
Tilllmans, guest service manager graciously entertained guests, including
Geerit Niehaus, one of the Thai Garden’s owners, as well as German chamber
staff.
Later in the evening Stefan revealed that 2004 would
indeed be a big year for the GTCC, as Thailand has been selected to host the
regional 10th Asia-Pacific Conference of German Industry and Trade in the
region. The conference, scheduled for November, will see leading businesses
and chamber figureheads attending the 3-day event in Bangkok’s Shangri La
Hotel with a keynote address from central government officials and key
executives in German industry within the Asia Pacific region. Further
details on the conference are available at: www.apk-bangkok.org
Many Stammtisch attendees stayed on well into the night
to listen the Moon River’s house band, ‘In-Xchange’.
The GTCC has been very successful in hosting networking
nights, allowing the German-speaking business sector to gather and exchange
ideas and experiences from working in all regions of Thailand. Membership
stands at around 500 and growing. They regularly hold networking nights in
Bangkok and every second month here on the Eastern Seaboard. The Stammtisch
is open to all attendees regardless of nationality and is an ideal function
to reach a different range of business people.
YWCA Bangkok-Pattaya to organize charitable event on Valentines Day
Suchada Tupchai
Last week, Nitaya Patimasongkroh, president of the YWCA
Bangkok-Pattaya, chaired the local chapter’s first meeting of the year at
the Diana Inn, Pattaya Second Road. A review of recent projects topped the
meeting’s agenda, including scholarship presentation, the Lunch for Kids
program, the success of the SOS Rice project and other special events
organized for children in Pattaya.
 Nitaya
Patimasongkroh (standing), president of the YWCA Bangkok-Pattaya, addresses
members of the local chapter at their first meeting of the year, held at the
Diana Inn.
The YWCA Bangkok-Pattaya is now planning a special
charity event on Valentines Day, February 14. The “Rosen Ball” will be
organized in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Taksin-Pattaya to raise
funds to aid the Happy Family Project and numerous other schemes designed to
help needy schoolchildren.
The event will be a gala dinner and dance. The Royal Thai
Navy Orchestra and the Philippines Modern Band will entertain attendees on
the night. The event will be held at A-One Hotel at the Royal Cruise Hall.
To make reservations call Nitaya at 06-3365022, and 038-716316.
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