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Over 1500 people attend the Emerson-Thailand Open House and Family Day
Karen Roy
Emerson-Thailand held its second Open House and Family
Day on Saturday August 21, at their Rayong plant in the Eastern Seaboard
Industrial Estate.
 We
are as white as snow.
Emerson-Thailand was established eight years ago as a
manufacturing facility for the Asia Pacific operations of Copeland
Corporation, a division of Emerson Climate Technologies, Emerson Electric
Corporation. In Thailand, the company manufactures Copeland Scroll
compressors for air-conditioning and refrigeration systems in Asia, US and
Europe.
The Emerson-Thailand Open House and Family Day gives
employees the chance to show their family and friends the Rayong facility.
The company’s goal is to communicate to the employees’ family members
that Emerson-Thailand is a great place to work. And with that knowledge,
the company hopes that family members will encourage Emerson employees to
stay with the company for a long time.
We all
want a picture with uncle Bruce.
The Open House Day started at 7 a.m. with registration
and souvenir picture-taking with family members. A sumptuous breakfast
spread was served for all the guests. In the meantime, the management team
gathered at the Buddhist spirit house to offer food and flowers in
remembrance of their ancestors.
 Can
you guess if she’s my mommy?
The program formally started at 9 a.m. when Bruce
Hoppe, managing director for Emerson Electric-Thailand, officially opened
the day’s activities. Hoppe said, “I am very pleased to see so many
people here today. We are very proud of our factory and I expect you will
be impressed when you tour the plant. When you leave this afternoon, I
expect you will be happy that your family member or friend works at
Emerson. This is the second time that we have held an open house. Everyone
should see and learn a lot about where your husband, wife, son, daughter,
parent, or friend works. And you should have plenty to eat, have fun
playing games, and enjoy the entertainment, too. I welcome all of you to
the Emerson-Thailand family.”
 Help!
I’m trapped!
The employees and their guests were then escorted to
the factory floor. They watched a corporate video featuring the history of
Copeland, its products and more importantly, the fun working atmosphere in
the company. They were then given a plant tour, giving the employees an
opportunity for them to show their exact place of work.
After the plant tour, the employees and their guests
were led to the parking area where entertainment was staged for their
enjoyment. The show featured live music from the “The Cloner” band.
Famous TV stars Ping Lumprapueng and Pajeera hosted the event. Agareeya, a
famous Thai singer, performed a few songs. Everyone enjoyed the special
“Pong Lang Sa-On” show. The management team also had a chance to get
on stage by participating in a powder game with the employees.
A fun area was created for small children, where they
played in the ball house and the gigantic slider. Bozo the clown also made
a special appearance for the kids. A day care area was also set up for
babies and toddlers, which gave their parents a chance to have fun with
some activities as well. A rock-climbing wall was set up for everyone to
try. Food and refreshments were served all day.
Bruce Hoppe spoke to the Pattaya Mail saying, “Today there
must be at least 1500 people on our grounds having fun. We’ve spared no
expense in making this a memorable day for our employees, their families
and friends. This is the second time we’ve organized such an event. We
hope to create an understanding for the families, so that they may
appreciate more what their spouses are doing at Copeland. The second
Emerson Electric-Thailand Open House and Family Day is a great success. It
further builds the sense of belonging among the people. It strengthens the
Thailand plant culture and most importantly, gives the employees a chance
to show their family members that Emerson-Thailand is a great place to
work.”
(L to
R) Peter Malhotra, Bruce and Judy Hoppe, Tom Zofkie, Aldrin Uy and Kosin
Lerdsatayathorn grab a little shade on a beautiful, sunny day.
Hurry
up with the picture, I want to play now!
Whoa!
I jumped too soon!
I will
grow up to be an actress like you one day.
Come
here! Come and join us!
Where
did they go? How come they didn’t invite me?
Oh,
she’s so pretty... When we grow up, we want to be just as pretty.
Papa,
be careful with what you see ... Mommy is watching you.
I
think I am more handsome than my father ... oops! I mean my brother.
Ha!
Ha! Ha! ... That was really funny!
Local Rotarians join forces to welcome new Rotary Club in Pattaya
Oui, mon ami! New French-speaking club raises over 70,000 baht at first fund-raising event
by Mike Nelson
Viva la Rotary! Pattaya recently launched a
French-speaking Rotary Club, which amassed over 70,000 baht at its first
fundraiser on September 22 to assist the city’s underprivileged.
 Nic
Demet assisted by a charming lady cuts his birthday cake.
About 100 Rotarians from Pattaya’s four other Rotary
clubs and friends joined the new Rotary Club l้ Pattaya Marina at a
charity dinner and auction at Pan Pan Restaurant.
Provisional president Nic Demet said he had long dreamt
of a club for French-speaking expats in Pattaya, which was awaiting
approval for the charter of the club from Rotary International with
headquarters in Illinois in the United States.
 An
emotional moment. Nic greets old friend Krisda as M.L.P.Malakul looks on.
“We already have French-speaking members from France,
Belgium, Canada and other countries, and have been meeting for two
months,” an excited Demet said. “Of course, we will have translators
available for English-speaking visitors.”
 Susiree
Chanchailert (right) president and Ponthep Werachon (2nd right), secretary
of the Rotary Club of Pattaya with other Rotarians.
The Rotary Club Pattaya Marina meets weekly at the Le
Petit Li้geois Restaurant.
“Starting as a small branch, we initially will have
small projects, planning to begin to help the poor of Jomtien-Pattaya who
cannot afford medical treatment,” Demet said.
 (l-r)
President Martin Brands (Eastern Seaboard), Marles Fritz (Taksin Pattaya)
and Heinz Fritz.
At the auction last week, a variety of coveted items
including hand-made porcelain, DVDs and framed paintings went under the
hammer, with biddings energetically encouraged in French, Thai and
English.
 The
evening was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Jomtien Pattaya, of which
Demet is still a member and which he led as president in 1991. He first
joined Rotary in Bangkok 21 years ago.
Rotary Club of Jomtien Pattaya immediate past
president, Peter Malhotra, on behalf of the club’s president, Judy
Hoppe, praised and thanked Nic for his devotion to Rotary.
 He
gave a special welcome to Dr Krisda Arunwongse Na Ayudhya, past district
governor (PDG) and former Rotary governor of Bangkok; PDG Premprecha
Dibbayawan, District 3340 Rotary International; District Governor-Elect
Jin Srikasikorn, District 3340 Rotary International; Susiree Chanchailert,
president of the Rotary Club of Pattaya; Chris Gibbins, president-elect of
the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya; Marlies Fritz, president of the Rotary
Club of Taksin-Pattaya; and Martin Brands, president of the Rotary Club
Eastern Seaboard.
 “Now
that Pattaya has five clubs, we hope to be able to serve the community
even more,” said Malhotra.
Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders
providing humanitarian service. The clubs strive to build goodwill and
peace worldwide. Rotary celebrates its centennial in February next year.
(above)
Auction action, delicious food and great fellowship.
(l-r)
PP Kees Peperkamp, PDG Krisda Arunvongse Na Ayudhya, PP Peter Malhotra, PP
P. Malakul, DGE Jin Srikasikorn and PP Nic Demet.
Katoen Natie SembCorp (Thailand) Ltd.,
inaugurates new petrochemical logistics center in Rayong
Thomas Sassen
The new petrochemical logistics center, Katoen Natie
SembCorp (Thailand) Ltd., was officially inaugurated on Friday, September
17 at Maptaput Industrial Estate in Rayong.
The
new logistics center is enormous.
In his opening speech, the company’s chairman, Dirk
Lannoo gave a brief history of the company and explained the structure of
the new venture. “Katoen Natie SembCorp is a joint venture between the
Belgian logistics company Katoen Natie, founded in 1855, and SembCorp
Logistics from Singapore. Katoen Natie, SembCorp and their subsidiaries
are operating from 85 platforms in 22 countries worldwide with a total
workforce of 6,500 people. That makes the venture one of the world’s
leading logistics operators.
(From
left to right) Dirk Lannoo, vice-president of Katoen Natie Group; James E.
Howard, MD of Katoen Natie Sembcorp (Thailand); Prof. Dr. Sakarindr
Bhumitratana, president of National Science & Technology Development (NSTDA)
- representative from the Ministry of Science & Technology; and Dr.
Pailin Chuchottaworn, MD of Bangkok Polyethylene Public Co.
“The Thai branch of the company specializes in
logistics for handling of all kinds of fluid and bulk products from the
petrochemical industry. So the area of Rayong and the Maptaput industrial
estate were the ideal location to build the new plant because it is
centrally located in the heart of the Thai petrochemical industry. With
the inauguration of our new center we will provide a complete, tailor-made
and cost-effective supply chain logistics solution to our customers. We
provide fully integrated services such as packaging, bulk handling,
blending, sieving, transport, order processing, forwarding and customs
clearance. We built a logistics chain from one end to the other, from the
manufacturers to the receivers worldwide. That way our customers can
concentrate on their core business, secure in the knowledge that the
underlying logistics are as efficient and cost-effective as possible. One
hundred and seventy people are working in the new logistics center,”
Lannoo said.
Dr. Sakarindr Bhumitratana, president of the National
Science & Technology Development Agency and representative from the
Ministry of Science & Technology also gave a welcome speech. He
welcomed the new logistics center into the circle of industrial companies
in the region and highlighted the importance of the logistic services
which Katoen Natie SembCorp will offer to the Thai petrochemical industry.
He said, “Thailand welcomes the engagement of foreign companies in the
kingdom, as the domestic business will benefit from such good
cooperation.”
Dr. Pailin Chuchottaworn, managing director of Bangkok
Polyethylene Public Co. Ltd. held a dissertation on the situation and the
development of the Thai petrochemical industry, aided by a large screen,
multi-media display. He particularly pointed out the development of
exports.
Dr. Pailin said, “At the beginning of the 90s the
trade balance was clearly negative. Around 1996 the break-even point was
reached, and since then exports have grown rapidly, while imports are
nearly stagnating. In 2002 the imports of petrochemical goods were about
one million tons, but the exports nearly four million tons. The most
important trade partner is China, the receiver of about 43% of Thai
petrochemical exports. Nevertheless, the supplies from Thailand are worth
just 6% of the Chinese imports, while about 50% comes from Japan, South
Korea and Taiwan.”
Dr. Pailin said, “Thailand and especially the
industrial area around Rayong which is not far from the Laem Chabang Port,
has a big advantage over competitors.” Pointing to a map on the screen,
he illustrated, “Here you can see the two biggest markets in eastern
Asia; China and India, and Thailand is placed directly in the middle
between them. Going northwards from Rayong, it is just 1,000 kilometers to
the Chinese industrial city of Kunming, and when the work on the
trans-national route No. 9 through Laos, the transport over land will run
seamlessly. From the big harbors in Vietnam it is twice the distance, and
the mountain chain of Indochina is placed between.”
After the speeches all dignitaries went to the podium
and celebrated the official inauguration ceremony, removed a curtain in
front of a memorial tablet with the company’s logo and shook hands.
Vitreous dragon models were handed out as souvenirs to the two guest
speakers.
Following the inauguration ceremony, the 300 guests and
journalists were invited to tour the premises and the warehouses.
The logistics center offers a total area of 90,000 sq.
meters of six giant warehouses with a total of 50,000 sq. meters of first
class storage, 36 huge silos for fluid and bulk products (24 of them with
a load capacity of 360 tons, the others 180 tons), more than 40 truck
loading docks - 18 with fully automatic loading equipment - plus space for
the logistics of petrochemical goods requiring special equipment, i.e.
facilities for drumming, sieving and blending.
One of the warehouses specializes in the handling of
liquid chemicals; another is equipped with a fully automatic, computerized
FF&S packaging line.
Bulk goods are taken out of a silo directly into a
machine where it is filled with sacks of 25 kilograms each and the sacks
are closed by welding.
From the machine, the filled sacks go on a conveyor
belt where they are precisely adjusted. After passing a scale for final
weight control the sacks run up to another machine where they are, layer
by layer, turned by 90 degrees and stacked on standard palettes. After
stacking, each palette contains 40 sacks in 8 layers into a net weight of
one ton.
The ready-packed palette rolls over another conveyor
belt to the next machine where it is wrapped with plastic. From here a
forklift takes the palette and carries it to the proper location in the
warehouse.
The first machine in the line has an output of about
one sack per second, thus about every 40 seconds one ton of bulk goods is
ready-packed.
After the tour an excellent buffet was offered, and the guests were
served with coffee and soft drinks. Many business people were standing
together in groups, discussing and appreciating the new logistics center
of the Katoen Natie SembCorp (Thailand) Ltd. At the end of the event every
guest received a farewell present.
Pattaya Skalleagues meet at Neverland
Bob Lee
No, the Skal Pattaya members did not fly out to that
“other” fantasyland that was made popular by Michael Jackson, but
rather visited and met up at Pattaya’s own Neverland Function Room
situated at the Hard Rock Hotel on Third Road. What a brilliant venue for
an informal networking evening.
The
Professionals in Tourism and guests pose for a group picture.
The International Skal Club of Pattaya & East
Thailand (Club 439) - the hosts for the Skal International World Congress
during October 2006 - where more than 1 500 tourism VIP’s will be
attending this 5 day conference and who will enjoy all of what Pattaya has
to offer – met last Thursday for their September monthly meeting.
 President
Robert Lee makes his announcements.
The event was well attended and a warm Thailand welcome
was endowed on Skal visitors from Germany, Australia and Bangkok. Even
Horst Hornung from Samui, that “island surrounded by water”, so he
says, joined us again.
The meeting got underway with President Bob Lee passing
around the microphone, giving all present the opportunity to introduce
themselves and say a few words about the club they are from and the type
of work they undertake.
 Peter
Malhotra speaks about Skal and Tourism in Pattaya.
The official Skal toast of good health, friendship,
long life and happiness was then celebrated with beverages kindly
sponsored by Ken Whitty and Mrs. P from that lovely broth brauhaus
Paulaner Beer.
Bob brought all the members up to date on what the club
was up to in the international and local arena.
Bob and three other members from the club, Max Foster,
Andrew Khoo and Michael Swart from the Royal Cliff are soon to jet off to
South Africa where the Skal World Congress takes place this year. They
will be there to promote Pattaya and Thailand and the 2006 event. Malai,
the international councilor for Thailand who is also the president of the
National Committee will also be in attendance. The Congress in Durban runs
from October 24-29. Hopefully they will return home with the coveted
International Eco-Tourism Award. The club’s project was submitted to the
judges in July for consideration of this award and the international
recognition it brings with it.
(l-r)
David Holden, Deborah Bundityanond, David Zlatarich (Cairns) and Jeremy
Colson (TTG).
President Bob announced that he was leaving for the
Philippines on Sunday, September 26 and will be visiting the 4 clubs that
are located there, namely Makati, Manila, Davao and Cebu. The reason for
his visit is to drum up their support of attendance for our 2006 congress.
He will be meeting up with all 4 clubs and their presidents.
The podium and microphone was then handed over to Peter
Malhotra (MD of Pattaya Mail) who is on the executive board as PR director
for the 2006 Skal International World Congress Organizing Committee. Peter
was one of the founding members of the Pattaya Club. Who else would know
the history of our local club better than he?
Members and guests were enraptured by Peter’s
passionate words about Pattaya and the Worldwide Skal Association, whose
headquarters are based in Spain. Peter explained what “Skal is all
about” and how this association can help market any city and country
(and your hospitality business) on the planet through its global network
consisting of 23,000 members in 82 countries with 652 clubs. Local members
should take real advantage of this fact.
We were then taken back in time to the days when a few
hospitality personnel got together at the Varuna Yacht Club in April 2000
to reform the club that had been dormant due to lack of members, and the
rest is even newer history. The first elected president was Wicha Han.
Peter then went on to add how important such an
organization is in the tourism industry and the role it plays regarding
the cities and countries where these clubs are located. He took us back to
the early days of Pattaya and then concluded his talk by describing what
the city is today - an international player in the global tourism market.
After Peter’s most interesting and knowledgeable
talk, the floor was handed over to Malcolm Boden, the chairman of the
newly formed Charity Club of Pattaya. Malcolm explained the importance
that one person can make in another’s unfortunate circumstances through
one’s generosity and goodwill. Malcolm and his wife Christina have been
instrumental over the years in raising large amounts of funds for the many
charities in Pattaya.
Max Foster, a Skal member (director of memberships) and
MD of Scuba Adventures donated a prize for the monthly draw of a day of
diving and snorkeling with lunch for 2 persons. This prize is valued at
2,000 baht. Thanks Max! Your support and hard work is always appreciated.
And the snorkel apparatus goes to Janine from the Thai
Garden Resort. Congratulations Janine! Enjoy your day aboard the MV Saifon
with Max and his lively but very experienced crew.
Andrew Khoo, GM of the Hard Rock Hotel, along with his
chefs and able staff really cooked up a storm. The eats were many, varied
and of great quality. The atmosphere, service and camaraderie were
fantastic. A truly good night was had by all.
Skal meetings take place on the third Thursday evening of every month
at various members’ establishments. Please contact the secretary
–Deborah Bundityanond (MD - Rabbit Resort) at [email protected] or
telephone 038 303303 for more information. Information may also be gleaned
by clicking on our website: www. skalpattaya.org or the international
website www.skal.org
Charity Club of Pattaya’s first event raises 62,300 baht
The first charity event of the Charity Club of Pattaya
was in conjunction with the Queen Victoria Inn on Soi 6.
 The
Tribal Elder's Corner seemed cosy if not large enough.
The theme of the evening was a Hawaiian night with most
people joining in the fun wearing the most colourful shirts and shorts
imaginable. Many expats from the U.K. Club and the Expats Club were on
hand to give support to Christina and Malcolm’s “coming out” event.
 The
staff wahines dressed up in Hawaiian outfits were a pretty sight.
The girls in the Queen Vic also donned coloured shirts
and were kept very busy making sure the packed venue of 80+ people were
never without a drink.
Alun attended, representing the children from the Deaf
School and the headmaster came from Wat Pong School.
 Alan
Jones from Pattaya Orphanage talks about the School for the Deaf, and says
“Mahalo” for the help.
The Queen Victoria Inn supplied a wonderful buffet of
all things Hawaiian with a Thai twist! Enough of the ticket price was left
over to add to the charity coffers.
 Everyone
joined in the spirit of Aloha.
Prizes for the raffle were plentiful with Guinness
providing a lot of the spot prizes.
Additional prizes were donated by Heineken, Simple
Simon, Queen Victoria Inn, Curry House, The Raj, Tequila Reef and Jungle
Bungee Jump Jomtien.
 George
and the Wat Pong school teachers enjoy the Luau, Queen Vic style.
Alan Bolton of Pattaya Reality donated 10,000 baht and
Kevin and Som (rocket woman) Fisher were kind enough to donate a 21” JVC
colour TV for auction which went to the highest bidder Georgios Joannou,
adding 14,000 baht to the evening’s total, bringing the First Charity
Club of Pattaya’s event to the grand total of 62,300 baht.
Bert
Elson (left) and Vic King (right) congratulate Georgios Joannou (2nd
right) for his winning bid on the 21” colour TV.
Many thanks to everyone who supported and donated to
the evening.
The next event is a Charity Dinner and Prize Draw which
will be held at Casa Pascal on 2nd Road on Saturday November 13 at 7 p.m.
Contact [email protected] for more information
Christina
and Malcolm Boden and members of the CCP present a donation of 31,150 baht
to Mr. Manon Kaewrung, headmaster of the Wat Pong School.
School
children thank the kind-hearted people for their kindness before eating
their lunch.
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