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Carrefour Management Training Center opens
Carrefour, one of Thailand’s leading retailers,
recently opened its ‘Management Training Center’ (CMC) at its
hypermarket in Lad Prao. Comprised of an office center, canteen area and 8
training rooms spread over 1200 sq. meters the CMC will provide the company
with a central location for internal meetings, seminars and employee
training. This year, Carrefour expects to train 1,500 employees over 64
sessions.
 Pictured
from left to right from Carrefour are: Laurent Hamelet, merchandise
director; Luc Dayot, managing director; Prapapan Ploysaeng-Ngam,
organization and system manager; Hubert Ivey, regional director; Anoma
Paksutti, human resources manager and Thanapon Thangkananan, development
director.
The CMC will also be used to meet with hundreds of its
Thai suppliers. It affords the retailer the ability to pass along important
supplier information, all under one roof at one central location.
Carrefour envisions the facility becoming a focal point
for universities that teach courses pertaining to retailing and commercial
activities. CMC also has the ability to host small to medium-sized seminars
and conventions for private groups seeking a location that is convenient,
affordable and fully equipped with the latest AV equipment.
Luc Dayot, Carrefour’s managing director said, “Today, Carrefour in
Thailand has nearly 7000 employees. The Carrefour Management Center has been
built to become their home for learning. This center will ensure that
Carrefour’s leadership values, principles and best practices will become
instilled in every employee throughout our company.”
Pattaya Bike & Car
weekend next week
Aficionados to get Valentines Day treat with 3-day festival
Suchada Tupchai
The sound of motorcycles and classic cars are set to
rumble through the streets of Pattaya over the Valentines Day weekend as the
Burapha Motorcycle Club celebrates their anniversary joined by other
motoring enthusiasts from the American Classic Cars Club, Classic Old Bike
Club and the Cowboy Club Thailand.
 Prasarn
Nikarji (left), president of the Burapha Motorcycle Club discusses the Bike
Weekend details with city officials at city hall.
During a meeting at city hall last week organizers met
with city administrators and relevant law enforcement authorities to discuss
the details of the three-day festival scheduled from February 13 to 15.
Prasarn Nikarji, president of the Burapha Motorcycle Club
said the festival was organized to promote tourism, peace among the
community, care for the environment and celebrate the 7th anniversary of the
Burapha Motorcycle Club.
Prasarn said, “We expect more than 1,000 people from
around the globe to attend the event including those on large motorcycles,
classic cars and bikes. We also aim to promote road safety by wearing our
helmets and turning on our headlights to show that even those of us on large
bikes are adhering to the laws. Money raised from the event will also be
donated toward scholarship funding and sports equipment for Pattaya
schools.”
“In many countries around the world motorcycle clubs
have a less than favorable image, but here in Thailand we intend to promote
the opposite. We are a group of business people who have a love for big
bikes, want to help the community and intend to promote a new style of
tourism,” said Prasarn.
Details of the event include a convoy along Sukhumvit
Road to the Najomtien location where the festivities will take place and the
bikes will be on display. Other highlights will include Jet Ski shows, a
Paratmotor show and pageants featuring Miss Chopper, Mr. and Miss Cowboy and
other activities featuring the large two wheelers on Friday, January 13.
On Saturday the Burapha Motorcycle Club will celebrate
their 7th anniversary with more games and activities as well as a special
concert by Tom Dundee and anniversary celebrations.
Pol. Lt. Col. Somchai Phongsai, traffic superintendent
commented on the event saying that he could not see any major problems with
the festivities with the exception of the evening concert, which could be
potentially dangerous with the addition of outsiders and more specifically
local youths causing problems.
Prasarn interjected, “The event is to show solidarity
among attendees and specifically bike owners and let people know that we
want to help the community at large and not create any wars. As such we want
as many people to attend the festival as possible. I would ask that police
check all youths that enter the event to avoid any problems.”
At the end of the meeting the finer details of the 3-day
festival were left to be sorted out by city management and event organizers,
but according to sources within the group, the event will go ahead as
planned with a strong message of public safety in mind.
Pigeon One-Loft-Racing near Rayong
Willi Netzer
Former and active pigeon fanciers or any vacationer
looking for a good reason to spend their next holiday in Pattaya now have a
chance to take part in an annual international pigeon race.
One of the biggest names in this sport for the last 40
years, Tana Dhammajiva, winner of a Kings Cup and countless other trophies,
has organized a One-Loft-Race at his lakeside estate. Located 10 km to the
south from Pluak Deng, opposite the Great Lake golf course, a non-polluted,
sparsely populated environment, offers ideal conditions to train and prepare
young birds from all over the world for a series of races.
One to three months old pigeons will be collected from
Thailand and other countries. Besides their customary local identification
ring, an electronic ring will be fitted, to collect data of the birds racing
results. Paying an entry fee will give the bird access to a training course
and finally to compete in the actual races for the trophy and prize money.
People interested but not actually owning any birds can
still take part at these races. There are several well performing lofts
ready to supply from their best offspring. These lofts will have the right
to any of the proceedings should the bird get auctioned off after the races.
This year’s entries will be accepted from February 1st
to May 15th. Five entries will give you the right to include a spare entry
bird. This bird can replace another bird not later than May 15th or June 1st
if an additional entry fee is paid. Entry fees are 5000 baht for all three
races and 2000 baht for birds taking part at the final 600km race only.
Racing schedule
1st Pre-Race: Nakhon Sawan - Rayong 319 km. November 19
2nd Pre-Race: Phitsanulok - Rayong 444 km. December 03.
3rd Main Race: Lampang - Rayong 600 km. December 18.
For further information, contact Tana Dhammajiva at 01-9326434.
Navy hosts media for dinner in thanks for service well performed
Boonlua Chatree
Members of the regional media were invited to the
Sattahip Naval Base by Vice Admiral Viraphant Ngokngarm, Sattahip Navy
Commandant, as part of a thank-you party for their tireless efforts and
service to naval forces in the region and to further good relations between
the media and the naval command.
 Vice
Admiral Viraphant said, “Whilst I have only been here since October 1,
2003, I have witnessed and learned a great deal from the media and have seen
their willingness to provide information to the public through the various
mediums. Your work is of great help to the navy and also benefits the public
by keeping them informed of our actions. Without your help we would not be
able to carry out many of our projects.”
The naval commandant went on to promise further
cooperation and the provision of fast and accurate information where
possible to the media to expedite better community relations. “I thank you
for your efforts,” concluded the vice admiral.
The naval base put on a lavish spread for the media with
vast amounts of food and refreshments available throughout the evening as
everyone enjoyed the band and the relaxed atmosphere throughout the night.
The Pit Stop Diner opens on Thappraya Road
Great new restaurant with artistic ambience
Damri Muangkaew
The Pit Stop Diner recently opened their doors for
business offering an alternative dining experience for those on the run and
looking for a place to sit down anytime day or night, since it is open 24/7.
 Primprao
Somsri (left), representing the Pattaya Mail congratulates Marc Routley and
Patsuda Kawarkat on the opening night.
The Pit Stop Diner is managed by Marc Routley and Patsuda
Kawarkat and both were on hand the first day of business make sure things
went off to everybody’s liking. They also revealed that their new venture
has over 50 paintings adorning the walls, created by two in-house
professional artists; all paintings are for sale at wide range of prices.
The new restaurant is conveniently located on Thappraya
Road on the way to Jomtien and is easily accessible by the flurry of baht
buses as well as plenty of parking for customers with their own transport.
The restaurant offers fast and friendly service, so make a Pit Stop on
you way to Jomtien and back or call 091 101 441, 097 487 867 for more
details.
Local journos to receive
free English language training
Ekachai Kamolsri
Chonburi and Pattaya’s Thai journalists are set to
receive free English language training from the provincial authorities to
enable them to communicate better with the region’s international
community.
With the advent of the Eastern Seaboard’s rapid growth
and the increasing number of investors and tourists arriving from all
corners of the globe, communication is more vital than ever. But locals and
foreigners often run up against language problems in many critical areas.
Since the English language has more or less become a
neutral form of communication, the provincial administration has seen the
need for local news reporters to improve their language skills when dealing
with the foreign community.
Many local journalists, while masters in their own
language, often lack the time to brush up on other languages, in this case
English. Due to their hectic lifestyle and constant battle to meet
deadlines, they are falling behind in the international stakes when dealing
with the foreign community - quite often missing important information
through communication difficulties.
Chonburi’s deputy governor Virawit Wiwatanvanich
announced the new project at a meeting involving local media organizations
and the Burapha University. English language courses have been implemented
for the Thai media to brush up on their skills as part of the provincial
government’s effort to enable newshounds to converse in a second language.
The free program stipulates that attendees must reach 80
percent attendance with varying course times to enable participants to learn
while balancing their busy schedules. Details of class schedules have yet to
be finalized, but the course will go ahead at the designated location -
Princess Sirindhorn Vocational College in Banglamung.
Pattaya Gay Festival - 3rd annual report shows over 10 million baht raised since its inception
Michael Burchall, chairman of the Pattaya Gay Festival,
said in his annual report to the sponsors on January 13 that since the
festival was founded at the end of the year 2000 over 10 million baht had
been raised to primarily support the work of HEARTT 2000 but also helping
the Naklua Drug Rehabilitation Unit, SOS Rice and other local charities.
As time has gone on so the organization of events has
developed and in 2003 the organizing committee initiated an approach whereby
sponsors were encouraged to arrange and hold fund-raising events themselves
rather than have the PGF committee arrange everything. This worked well,
contributing some 25% of the total funds raised.
The chairman thanked all the sponsors and hoped that they
would continue their support through the next year.
As awareness of the non-selective nature of AIDS and HIV
increased and people realised that it is not a “gay-only” affliction;
when people have seen that Dr. Philippe Soer works with any and ALL who are
directed to him and that PGF is helping Pattaya’s less fortunate as and
when it can, so sponsorships and donations have been received from several
non-gay oriented businesses and individuals which is a trend that it is
hoped will increase in future years.
Pattaya Gay Festival is unique in that it holds events
throughout the year culminating in a final four-day climax from November 29
to December 2 every year so that this encompasses World Aids Day on December
1.
The chairman went on to say that the PGF sought no
accolades for the help it is able to give, but only the continued and much
appreciated support in the fight against a terrible life-threatening
disease. As members of the Pattaya City business and social community we
can, together, play a part in saying “thank you” for the pleasure we
enjoy through living here. He concluded by saying that it behooves each of
us to ensure the continued cooperation to maintain the success of the
festival that provides entertainment for all taking part and a reasonable
future for the less fortunate.
The honorary treasurer presented his report and detailed
analysis of accounts which showed the income from last year exceeding the
target of 2.4 million baht set by the committee but less than the previous
year by some 950,000 baht. The main reason being a private donation last
year of 440,000 baht and this year SARS, the war in Iraq and a reduced level
of activity in committee-arranged events. Also because of the reduced
activity the sponsors were only asked to pay 5,000 baht each.
The new committee was elected and met for the first time
on January 15 to decide the program of events for 2004 and the new sponsor
donation and package.
Any business or individual who wishes to register as a
sponsor of the PGF should either contact the treasurer direct or e-mail the
secretary on [email protected] for details.
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