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Rotary welcomes in new Rotary presidents for Eastern Seaboard and Marina

Casa Pascal floors the Chaine with food, wine and flowers

Rotary Club of Jomtien Pattaya and the Pattaya Mail PC Classic Royal Cliff Beach Resort International Regatta promote ‘Happiness for kids through teachers’

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.