Rotary welcomes in new Rotary presidents for Eastern Seaboard and Marina
Elfi Seitz
Saturday June 25 saw the Rotary Clubs of Eastern
Seaboard and Pattaya Marina jointly hold their installation night for new
presidents and boards. The event was held at Casa Pascal in an atmosphere
of good fellowship and cheer.
Pierre-Yves
Eraud (left) and Renato Porzio (right) are installed by PDG Premprecha
Dibbayawan as presidents of their respective clubs.
Charter president of the Rotary Club Eastern Seaboard,
Martin Brands, presented a silk embroidered club flag to charter president
Nic Demet and incoming president Pierre-Yves Eraud of the Rotary Club
Pattaya Marina. All other members of the first French language club in
Asia received a “Welcome on Board” clock.
Guests of honor included delegates of the Darasamutr
Business Administration College, Chonburi, Father Somchit Phuenghassaporn,
director, Father Anek Thammanit, student affairs, Master Surayuth
Changroe, organization and public relations, and students Tiyawan
Wanarong, Warita Kaewmanee and Phanitphicha Wattanapoksin. Present also
was past district governor Premprecha Dibbayawan and his wife, and
Rotarians from Taksin-Pattaya, Jomtien-Pattaya, Krasang-Buriram and guests
from overseas.
Renato Porzio
Martin Brands presented beautiful silver plates
specially made in Chiang Mai to the following members, contributors and
supporters of the club: Renato Porzio, Marliese Fritz, Jan van Velthoven,
Joop van Zantvoort, Yuparpak (Yui) Jankhiew, Somsak Tanruengsri, Andries
Grabowsky, Ferenc Fricsay, Hans-Guenther Mueller, Hans-Peter Mack,
Kamoldej (Giovanni) Sanguankeo, Preeda Sirtarnkul, Parinya (Nhum)
Pan-u-rung, Piyanuch (Ying) Pimtrup, Stefan Ryser, Elfi Seitz, Premprecha
Dibbayawan, Nic Demet, Pierre-Yves Eraud, Heinz Fritz, Peter Rottmann,
Gerard Lemmers, Frans Kouwenhoven, Stephan Heynert and Heinz Minten.
Paul Harris Fellowships were presented to many members
of the Eastern Seaboard, and to members of other clubs for their support
and hard work for Rotary. The recipients were: Premprecha Dibbayawan, Nic
Demet, Pierre-Yves Eraud, Heinz Fritz, Martin Brands, Renato Porzio,
Marliese Fritz, Joop van Zantvoort, Yuparpak (Yui) Jankhiew, Hans-Guenther
Mueller, Jan van Velthoven, Ferenc Fricsay, Marc Faber, Hans-Peter Mack,
Kamoldej (Giovanni) Sanguankeo, Somsak Tanruengsri and Stefan Ryser.
Paul
Harris Fellows gather for a photograph.
Finally, Elfi Seitz was pinned as honorary member of RC
Eastern Seaboard for great service to the community and to Rotary, in
particular to the Eastern Seaboard Club.
Past district governor Premprecha Dibbayawan mentioned
in his speech that in all his many years of service he now has received
his third Paul Harris Fellowship thanks to the generosity of RC Eastern
Seaboard, while Martin received his ninth Paul Harris Fellowship today.
Martin
Brands and Renato Porzio, Nic Demet and Pierre-Yves Eraud admire the
exquisitely embroidered Rotary banner.
“This is no surprise, as Martin has raised more money
than anyone else, and he did so mostly with international matching grants
projects. In just one year the RC Eastern Seaboard raised the astounding
amount of 24 million baht for a variety of projects to benefit the
disadvantaged in all regions of Thailand,” he said.
As the last official part of the event, the
installation of the new presidents and their boards took place.
Rotarians
and members of the public were recognized for their contributions to
Rotary and through them to the community, pose for a photograph with
students from the Darasamut Business Administration College.
The new board of Rotary Club Pattaya Marina comprises:
Pierre-Yves Eraud, president; Charter President Nic Demet as immediate
past president and director of community service; Michel Charvolin,
secretary; Serge Dagnas, vice president; Dr Olivier Meyer, president-elect
2006-2007; Yves Echement, treasurer; Lorenzo Lachcar, director of club
service and sergeant-at-arms; Pierre de Fraissinette, director of
international service; and Bruno Wagner, director of vocational service.
President
Renato Porzio with members of his executive board.
The new board of the Rotary Club Eastern Seaboard
comprises: Renato Porzio, president 2005-2006; Charter President Martin
Brands as immediate past president, secretary and director of
international service; Joop van Zantvoort, vice president; Jan van
Velthoven, treasurer; Stefan Ryser, director of club service and
sergeant-at-arms; Marliese Fritz, director of community service and
president-elect 2006-2007; and Kamoldej “Giovanni” Sanguankeo;
director of vocational service.
PP Nic
Demet presents Pierre-Yves Eraud and his new board of directors.
Both clubs gave a special thanks and a gift to host Pascal Schnyder for
the beautiful preparation of the event and the excellent food. At the same
time they sent their best wishes for a fast recovery to Pascal’s wife,
Kim, who is still in hospital.
Casa Pascal floors the Chaine with food, wine and flowers
Miss Terry Diner
The Chaine des R๔tisseurs is the world’s oldest
and most prestigious gourmet group in the world, having started in 1248
AD. Though none of the original members are around, despite eating well,
the Chaine has a tradition that is followed religiously, including the
provision of no condiments at the table, as the chef has seasoned the
food, and it needs nothing more. The members also wear “chaines” of
office, showing whether they are restaurateurs, chefs, oenologists and the
like. (Miss Terry, being a food scribbler has one with linked biro pens on
a purple printer’s ink background.)
(L
to R) Hugh Millar and Louis Noll thank Pascal Schnyder for an outstanding
meal.
However, a gala dinner is an opportunity for all
restaurateurs and chefs to show their capabilities, and even just to hold
a gala dinner is a great honour. The latest dinner was held at Casa
Pascal, with chef and owner, Pascal Schnyder, eager to show the merits of
his culinary team. He also decided to decorate the restaurant for the
event, turning it into a veritable floral garden, with reeds and roses
around the columns and huge bouquets everywhere. Quite spectacular.
Chaine
des R๔tisseurs Pattaya Bailli Louis Noll presents a certificate of
appreciation to headwaiter Nikhom Untiew (above) and Chef Porntip
Thongsarat (below) for outstanding services rendered to the Bailliage de
Pattaya.
The pre-dinner conviviality included a wide range of
tapas with a very appropriate Sangria Catalana, or a Jerez blanco de la
Frontera. The cheese fanatics were seen at one end of the table, while the
tapas enthusiasts, such as guests Pat and Ian Dixon, were hovering at the
other.
With the local Bailli, Louis Noll (the ebullient) of
Mata Hari, welcoming everyone, it was up to MC Hugh Millar (now also of
Mata Hari, but soon to be called the Zest! Restaurant) to run through the
delights that had been concocted by Pascal, and the wines chosen to
accompany each course.
The
first course (of seven – eight if you count the final coffee and
pralines) was a “Marble traditionelle d’oie press้e en gel้e
et sa toure des d่lices du f๔ret” as the French
traditionalists in the Chaine des R๔tisseurs would have it,
otherwise known as pressed marble of goose liver delicacies and treasures
of the forests, they were certainly some well fed geese that had donated
their livers for this dish. Beautiful.
The wine chosen to go with the first two courses was a
Pinot Grigio Il Pal๚, Friuli Grave, Italy, 2003 with the crispness
needed to ‘cut’ the heavy nature of the goose liver and the following
course of cepes mushroom essence with palm hearts, which was one of the
most delightful soups I have had this year. Bravo Pascal!
The next course was Truffled Perigeux Egg in its
jus, which Hugh Millar described as “comfort food with a touch of
class.” Mixed reception for this one, though for Bailli Louis, it was
the dish of the evening. Not for me I am afraid, but the second wine, the
Sicilian Chiaramonte Catarratto, 2003, at a hefty 14 percent, more than
made up for it. Great flavours!
Chaine
banquets bring together people with the same passion for excellent cuisine
and top quality wines.
The evening continued with more delicately prepared and
cooked food, with the main course, which by tradition has to be a roast,
being roasted rack of baby veal flavoured with fourteen spices, served
with a butter enriched jus emulsion. This was superb, with the spices
lifting the veal roast to new heights, in my opinion.
To accompany this, Pascal opened a bottle (a very large
12 litre bottle), being a Double Imperial of Chโteau Clos –
Mignon, C๔te du Frontonnais, France, 1995. A superb wine, to go with
the superb veal.
The
Sea Breeze Choir (Ben, Ursula, Pat, Sue, John and Tana) enchanted the
guests with their melodious tunes.
As an additional digestive break, the Chaine des R๔tisseurs
was entertained by a local ladies singing group (plus a couple of
gentlemen), but then it was back into cheeses and desserts, and more wine,
and more conviviality, and perhaps even some more wine. A 12 litre bottle
takes some finishing after all!
The only sad note in the evening was the absence of
Pascal’s wife Kim, who had been hospitalized, but whose hopes for a
rapid recovery were the subject of a standing toast by the members and
guests.
It had been a spectacular gala dinner, and one that successive Chaine
members will have to try and emulate at forthcoming dinners this year.
Rotary Club of Jomtien Pattaya and the Pattaya Mail
PC Classic Royal Cliff Beach Resort International Regatta promote ‘Happiness for kids through teachers’
Suchada Tupchai
A training seminar for local teachers entitled
“Happiness for kids through teachers” organised under the auspices of
Pattaya education development advisor Kasemsook Bhamornsatit and sponsored
by the Rotary Club of Jomtien Pattaya was staged at the main meeting room
of Nong Nooch Gardens on June 20.
Pres.
Judy Hoppe, deputy mayor Wattana Chantanawaranont and Past President Alvi
Sinthuvanik attended the fun yet educational programme.
Deputy Mayor Wattana Chantaworanont opened the session
and was joined by Judy Hoppe and Alvi Sithuvanik, Rotary Club of Jomtien
Pattaya past presidents, and Wannapa Wannasri, Pattaya City education
supervisor.
The aim of the two-day training seminar for teachers
from Pattaya Schools No 1 and No 10 was to improve their own sense of well
being and happiness through a variety self-realisation and meditative
exercises, with the goal of passing that knowledge and motivation on to
their students.
Kasemsook
Bhamornsatit ‘Aunty Sai’ lady with a golden heart.
The course curriculum was developed by the Mathura
Human Society, run by Kasemsook Bhamornsatit, also affectionately known as
“Aunty Sai”, and focuses on self-awareness, the power of positive
thinking and the Kasemsook Movement, which utilises meditation techniques
similar to yoga and tai chi.
“This project is at the very source of developing
education resources by enhancing teachers’ perceptions and allowing them
to develop their full potential as human beings in today’s society. I
believe that this project will help all teachers deal with the stress and
responsibility of teaching our youth and enable them to be happier members
of society. This in turn can then be handed down to the children in
teaching them to realise their potential and become valuable members of
society,” said the deputy mayor during his opening speech.
This worthwhile programme was made possible with the help of funds from
generous sponsors of the Pattaya Mail PC Classic Royal Cliff Beach Resort
International Regatta 2005 held on March 26, this year.
Wannapa
Wannasri (center) leads the teachers in various happiness activities.
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