|
Rotary Peace Students visit Pattaya
From left to right: PP Renato Porzio,
student Fr. Giovanni Contarin, Rotarian Wendy Lickacz from Canada, DGN
Peter Malhotra and Martin Brands at the Rotary Center in Bangkok during
the Rotary Orientation Day for Peace and Conflict Resolution students on
January 7.
Accompanied by his fellow students, Dunesh
Gankanda (a Member of Parliament from Sri Lanka) poses with a lovely
‘lady-performer’ from the Alcazar Show.
Honorary Rotarian Elfi Seitz (2nd left) of
Pattaya Mail and Pattaya Blatt says goodbye to the group before they
went up to Pratamnak Hill and over to X-Zyte disco.
Charter President Martin Brands,
Rotary Club Eastern Seaboard
One of the prime objectives of Rotary International and its 1.3 million
members around the world is the advancement of international
understanding, goodwill and peace. This can be found in the many
international activities of Rotary, such as the thousands of
international projects carried out by Rotarians each year, often funded
in part by the Rotary Foundation.
With active participation of Rotarians during the founding of the United
Nations Organization in 1945, the Rotary Foundation of Rotary
International stood model for establishing UNESCO, the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
As one of many activities to further the ideals of international
understanding, goodwill and peace, the Rotary Foundation has established
a 2-year Peace Scholarship program at seven universities around the
world and a 3-months Peace and Conflict Resolution Course at
Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. This course is for senior and
middle-level participants from around the world. Our students attend the
January-March 2007 course.
Like many other Rotary clubs, the Rotary Club Eastern Seaboard is active
with international projects. Since its founding in June 2004 it has been
and is carrying out humanitarian and educational projects that have
reached a total value of more than 30 million baht. Of this amount, 95%
was received from generous sponsors outside Thailand, often increased by
subsidies from the Rotary Foundation from worldwide contributions made
by Rotarians.
We believe that we are the most active club in Thailand with
international projects and we are one of few clubs that carry out these
activities in all parts of the country. This included and includes
medical projects (reconstructive surgery for more than 1,400 children,
cataract surgery for nearly 1,400 elderly people and complex medical
treatment for 22 children, of which 17 are Burmese, including 15 kids
that need heart surgery), educational projects (190 three-year
scholarships for Primary and Secondary school children, 30 three-year
scholarships for Vocational College students plus ‘our’ 3 Peace and
Conflict Resolution students) and several important tsunami-related
projects in South-West Thailand.
RC Eastern Seaboard is also proud to enable the participation of 3 of
the 17 students of the January-March Peace and Conflict Resolution
Course in Bangkok: Fr. Giovanni Contarin (from the Camillian Social
Center in Rayong; he could not be present because of Children’s Day
festivities at the center), Supatra Supchukul and Savath Meas. We are
the ‘Club Sponsor’ of Fr. Giovanni and Savath and received a generous
contribution from the Embassy of Switzerland in Thailand for the
participation of Supatra and Savath.
Thanks to the initiative of student Supatra ‘Patti’ Supchukul (lecturer
and head of the Sociology Department of Burapha University), a
delegation of 7 students visited Pattaya on Saturday January 13, where
they were received by Rotarians and treated to a ‘Welcome Dinner’ at
Pattaya Marriott Resort & Spa and a visit to the famous Alcazar Show.
Their visit was concluded by a visit to X-Zyte disco with very good (and
very loud) live music and dancers.
The 7 students loved their stay in Pattaya so much that they will come
back next month with all 17 of them! Hopefully they will give us a
little more time than the 3 days we had this time ... We thank Patti and
her colleagues for being with us, Rotarian Somsak Tanruengsri (general
manager of the Pattaya Marriott Resort & Spa), for arranging a perfect
welcome, and PDG Premprecha Dibbayawan for his kind assistance and warm
hospitality! Next time we also would like to see Prem performing his
famous classical Thai dances!
We also thank Elfi Seitz for a Pattaya Mail TV interview, and the
other Rotarians present. My apologies for accidentally erasing the
picture with all of them ... This picture also showed Asanee of the
Marriott Resort who will participate later this year in a Group Study
Exchange visit to Nevada, USA, another great educational program of the
Rotary Foundation!
Kop Khun Khrup to all of you, the Rotary Foundation and the Embassy of
Switzerland!
Ecky the Clown visits a young cleft lip
patient in Khon Kaen Hospital, one of 9 hospitals where reconstructive
surgery such as this is performed.
Cataract Surgeons in Yasothorn provide new
quality of life to some of the 1,363 people treated in the North-East
and North of Thailand.
RC Eastern Seaboard hands over the first of
22 new, fully equipped fishing boats during the Rotary’s tsunami
assistance program.
Two of 24 fully restored fishing boats restored
during the Rotary’s tsunami assistance program. Rotary also repaired
engines & marine radios and provided new ones.
Seven of the 17 Rotary-Chulalongkorn Peace
and Conflict Resolution Course students, from left: Savath Meas
(Cambodia), Krishna Adikari (Nepal), Belle Abarin (Philippines), Saran
Koy (Cambodia), Dunesh Gankanda (Sri Lanka), Martin Brands, PDG
Premprecha, Supatra Supchukul (Thailand) and Jarod Pepper (USA).
Seven of the 17 Rotary-Chulalongkorn Peace
and Conflict Resolution Course students, from left: Saran Koy
(Cambodia), Belle Abarin (Philippines), Krishna Adikari (Nepal), Savath
Meas (Cambodia), Rotarian Somsak Tanruengsri (general manager of the
Pattaya Marriott Resort & Spa), Supatra Supchukul (Thailand), Jarod
Pepper (USA) and Dunesh Gankanda (Sri Lanka).
3,000 youngsters gather for Youth Fellowship Camp
IYF organizer: ‘Thai students gave us a warm welcome and worked hard to make us feel at home’
Ock Soo Park, chief advisor for the
International Youth Fellowship, and Paiboon Wattanasiri, Minister of
Social Development and Human Security arrive at the opening ceremony.
Staff Reporters
Over 3,000 children attended the 3rd IYF Global Camp at Ambassador City
Hotel, which had its official opening on January 16.
Minister of Social Development and Human Security Paiboon Wattanasiri
declared the International Youth Fellowship, IYF, open in the presence
of Kim Hak Soo, chairman of the United Nations Economic and Social
Commission for Asia and the Pacific, UNESCAP, and Ock Soo Pak, chief
advisor of the International Youth Fellowship.
 (From
left) Kim Bo Eun from the Office of the International Youth Fellowship
Chairman, Ock Soo Park, chief advisor of International Youth Fellowship,
and Kamolthep Malhotra, general manager of Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.,
Ltd., pose for a photo after finishing the interview about the 3rd IYF
Global Camp in Pattaya City.
The Global Camp, which had more than 3,000 children of 20 different
nationalities taking part, was organized to promote understanding
between the youth of different cultures and was held over the 10-day
period January 16 to 25.
The IYF Camp has been organized twice before. The first occasion was in
Australia, with 1,800 youngsters taking part, and the second was in
Hawaii, with 2,200 children.
Thailand was selected as the third host country, and 500 of the 3,000
taking part were Thai.
 Children
of different nationalities put on cultural performances at Bali Hai
pier.
The camp was divided into four large groups of at least 700 each, so the
children could travel to different places each day. Amongst the
attractions on the itinerary were Underwater World, Nong Nooch Tropical
Garden, Sriracha Tiger Zoo, Crocodile Farm and Million Years Stone Park.
Ock Soo Park, chief advisor of International Youth Fellowship, expressed
his thanks to the organizers of the Pattaya Global Camp.
“Many wished to organize the event in Bangkok, but we had already agreed
hold it in Pattaya City,” he said. “In the beginning we worried about
tourism locations and lodging, because there were 3,000 students.
However, we received good support from the cabinet, the president of the
Chonburi Provincial Administration, and the mayor of Pattaya City.
 The
IYF female receptionist students pose in their national dress at the 3rd
“IYF Global Camp” closing ceremony.
“Our students were very happy with the hospitality of the Thai people,
the ocean is beautiful, and the weather has been good. Everyone
especially loved the fruit, such as coconuts and durian. We don’t have
these in Korea, so this was a first tasting for most of the youngsters.
Furthermore, the food at the Ambassador City Jomtien was also very good.
The students were happy and would like to come back here again.”
Park said that the Thai students had been extremely welcoming to
everyone, and had worked hard to ensure that the visitors were
comfortable and happy. He said that some of them had been so busy,
especially in preparing the show, that he was worried they hadn’t had
enough sleep.
Regarding the organizing of the next Global Camp, Park said that several
countries had expressed a firm interest and that IYF officers were
currently inspecting the facilities in both Mexico and the Philippines.
No decision has yet been made, he added.
“The purpose of IYF is to help bring children away from the problems
they have at home, and to develop their ideas through this Christian
association. The IYF program is held annually in Korea, and the Global
Camp is organized for students to go overseas so they can get to know
other students in different cultures.”
Park said that the two previous Global Camps, organized in Australia and
Hawaii, had been different in that the number of students attending had
been less than the event in Thailand. He said that the support of the
Thai students had been especially important because of the large numbers
attending. Park added that the tourism venues had also been especially
welcoming.
“Thailand is in our minds as we take leave,” he said. “The IYF would
like to thank everyone.”
Youths who attended the 3rd IYF Global Camp
visited the beautiful sea life at Underwater World in Pattaya.
Over 3,000 children from all over the world
participate in the International Youth Fellowship at Ambassador City
Hotel.
House warming and birthday rolled into one celebration
.jpg)
Amorn and Amornrat cut the
birthday cake together.
.jpg)
Big brother Peter gives
his blessings to the young birthday boy.
.jpg)
Kannikar and Ib Ottesen
came by to say hello to their old friend.
.jpg)
Pol.Maj. Bunrod Angkab,
eastern region investigations inspector, Pol. Col. Thanankit Bunyasing,
Superindent of Sub-Division 2, Tourist Police, and Pol. Maj. Thanomsak
Intharabutra Inspector Tourist Police Northeast Region based in Nakhon
Ratchasima gathered together to wish Amorn many happy returns.
.jpg)
Amorn incessantly on the
job has a picture taken with Korn Kitcha Amorn, Pakpoom and Nanthicha
Mehra and Savitree Asawalanond.
Amornrat receives a gift
from Rattana and Manmohan Singh Chawla, as Pol. Col. Supathee Bunkrong
and Amorn look on.
Staff reporter
Amorn Malhotra, the MD of Thoss One-Stop-Service where all your business
worries can be solved under one roof and more recently branched out into
the car rental service celebrated his 51st birthday at his brand new
residence at Baan Natcha on January 8.
Amorn is a past chairman of the Tourist Police Volunteers group of
Thailand and continues to work closely with the authorities in serving
the community.
Amorn is known for his prowess in protecting people’s rights not only
when it comes to the injustices that may befall an innocent victim, but
also vigorously pursues those who unfairly persecute others for their
own gain.
Amorn started his career in Pattaya as managing editor of the Pattaya
Mail and when opportunity arose spread his wings and started his own
business 7 years ago.
He is married to the charming Amornrat who through her dedication and
keen business acumen has kept Amorn toeing the line.
Family, friends and associates attended the party to bring him good
wishes of continued success in business and happiness in his new home.
Amorn thanked his guests saying, ‘After having gone through a trying
period these last couple of years, I thank you all for your moral
support but most of all I touch my head at the feet of His Holiness Sri
Satguru Jagjit Singh Ji, the spiritual leader of the Namdharis, who has
blessed me and given me a new life.”
Making new business contacts is as easy as ABC
(L to R) Helmut Buchberger
and Rainer Tesch enjoy a pint, as Karl Mack enjoys a good cigar.
Nilnapha (left) and
Tiwaporn Timted (right) talk business at the event.
Woodlands Resort Pattaya
present a delicious spread for the business club networkers.
Helmut Buchberger organized the third Networking
Night of the Asian Business Club (ABC) at Woodlands Resort Pattaya on
January 23. With around 60 members and guests attending, the ABC
chairman was happy with the way the news about the club is spreading.
Entrepreneurs of small and medium-sized companies eagerly exchanged
business cards and socialized with like-minded attendees. Again there
were many new faces among the participants with all being welcomed by
ABC secretary Pauline de Grand.
Buchberger was delighted to see the interest of members old and new,
saying that ABC is there for those who wish to meet others in the
business sector and forge new contacts.
After his brief welcome speech, the chairman declared the buffet open.
ABC currently has almost 50 members of 20 different nationalities. They
meet every other Tuesday at 07:30 p.m. at Woodlands Resort to exchange
experiences, information and news. Interested businessmen and women are
welcome to attend any meeting.
ABC can be found at www.asian-business-club.org.
With around 60 members and
guests attending the event, the ABC chairman was happy with the way the
news about the club is spreading.
PILC drop in at the Drop In Centre, Pattaya
The PILC Welfare team also
donates kitchen equipment and beds to help improve the living conditions
at the centre.
Elaine Poole, PILC
On 22nd January, the Pattaya International Ladies Club Welfare Team
“dropped in” at the Drop In Centre in Central Pattaya to hand over water
pumps, kitchen equipment and beds. This is a new project that PILC
started helping at the end of 2006.
 The
PILC Welfare team, headed by Rosanne Diamente (2nd left), hands over a
water pump to try and deal with the flooding problem at the Drop In
Centre.
The Redemptorist Drop-In Center is a temporary shelter for abused and
needy children ranging from 5 to 18, from a variety of backgrounds. It
is a safe haven where children who have run away from abusive families,
who have been trafficked, or who are trying to find work, can come.
Children living at the Drop-In Center are only allowed to stay for three
months, during which time they are assisted in finding a more permanent
home, and if old enough, employment. The center also provides meals and
medical care to 10-50 children on a daily basis, as well as providing
educational assistance and family mediation. At any given time, the
center can house up to 35 children.
 Children
at the center learn crafts and activities to help them better their lot
in life.
The center has experienced problems with recurrent flooding. This is due
to its low-lying situation between higher buildings on either side, and
during 2006 the centre continually suffered from excessive water
run-off, especially during heavy rains. There has been routine flooding
throughout the common areas and kitchen.
The PILC Welfare team, headed by Rosanne Diamente, handed over a water
pump to try and deal with the flooding problem, and kitchen equipment
and beds to help improve the living conditions at the centre.
The next project to be embarked upon is the roof over the dormitory,
which is leaking and is causing significant damage to all subsequent
floors. For health and safety reasons, it is hoped to start this project
as soon as possible.
This is only one of the many projects run by the PILC Welfare team, and
is an example of how the money raised throughout the year by the PILC is
used to directly benefit under-privileged children in our area.
If you would like more information about PILC Welfare projects for 2007,
how you can volunteer to help or maybe sponsor financially a specific
project, please contact Rosanne Diamente, 0818650714.
For more information about PILC membership and social activities, please
contact Gillian Thom, President, 081 7626003.
A touch of magic for the elderly
at Banglamung Home for the Aged
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Taksin-Pattaya Rotary Club organized a treat for the residents of the
Ban Banglamung Social Welfare Development Center for older persons on
January 21, with a special performance by a professional magician to
entertain them, and coffee, tea and snacks laid on.
 A
grandmother at Ban Banglamung joins the magic show presented by Henk
Romeijn, a professional magician from the Netherlands.
Peter Thorand, former assistant district governor from 2005-2006, hosted
the event.
As the residents tucked into their cakes, donuts, pastries and ice
cream, Henk Romeijn from the Netherlands amazed them with his magic.
“I am glad to make the elderly people here happy,” said Henk. “I shall
be elderly myself one day, and I hope to have a happy old age when the
time comes.”
Wanphen Wachan, administrative official at Ban Banglamung, said that
this retirement home has 290 elderly men and women. Many of them suffer
from the afflictions of old age, including high blood pressure, diabetes
and cardiovascular disease.
The home takes care of accommodation, food, clothing and medical care.
There are three nurses on duty at all times. In the event of any serious
illness, the resident will be immediately transferred to nearby
Banglamung Hospital.
Wanphen said that the home is always in need of funds, because some of
the residents don’t receive any support from their families and they
don’t have the money to buy things when they need them.
Anyone wishing to donate can contact the Social Welfare Development
Center for the Elderly at Ban Banglamung. The home is located in an area
of 280 rai at No 40, Village No 4, Sukhumvit Road, Banglamung
Sub-district, Banglamung District, Chonburi Province 20150. Tel. 03824
1121, 0-3824-1759, Fax 03824 1759 or visit
www.banglamunghome.org
Who wants to assist in
this trick? The elderly people enjoy the magic show.
A heart-rending visit to the slums
Elfi Seitz
Members of the German-speaking women’s club Plauderstunde on January 15
met up with Sanay Srisa-ard, a Thai priest of the Pattaya Full Gospel
Church to visit one of the numerous slums within the city limits.
 Their
mother committed suicide just hours before.
I had already joined Pastor Sanay and Bernie Tuppin, chairman of Pattaya
Sports Club Charity, on a visit to two other slums. The conditions there
agitated me, and I decided to do all I could to help these people.
Though our friend Bernie was waiting at the agreed venue, he was not
able to join us this time as he had suffered injuries from a motorcycle
accident and had to see a doctor.
We were not alone, however, for some young people from overseas were
here on a Christian mission. We set off for a slum in North Pattaya,
well hidden behind an old, abandoned Chinese cemetery. About a hundred
families live there in beggarly circumstances. The young and the old,
the healthy and the sick are forced to stay together in self-made huts
built from timber, cardboard and a few old clay bricks. We immediately
noticed the acrid reek coming from some huts; the smell of disease and
poverty.
Leprosy in Thailand is officially announced extinct, but here it still
can be found amongst a few people. Missing noses, fingers and toes
provide enough proof. There are also many people here who have
contracted HIV. Surrounded by all this misery, the children play in the
dirt, as there is nothing else to play with. Their eyes already reflect
the same hopelessness as their elders.
 This
man is forced to crawl.
Many of the people here work as ragmen or street vendors to make a
pitiable income. One might think that they should be able to find better
work, but can they really? The fear of AIDS remains at a high level in
our community, and people are closely eyeballed when they apply for a
job.
Many of the slum residents have never seen a school from the inside.
They have no one to tell them the dos and don’ts of society, and their
life is dominated by the pure will to survive somehow.
Monika Podleska, her friend Mona and I brought clothes, cakes and other
sweets, towels and bed sheets with us. The two big stuffed cardboard
boxes were instantly sacked, and the eyes of the ones who could scavenge
something at last lit up. What made these people happier was not
necessarily the gifts they received but the attention, and finally not
being considered scum.
Pastor Sanay provided food products that were fairly distributed to all
inhabitants. There was no argument about who receives what. I guess
people in greatest poverty have to stick together.
Pastor Sanay explained that on the day of our visit two of the residents
had died of AIDS and that as their bodies had been taken to the temple
there were less people visible in this community than usual.
Nothing shook us more that day than the story of two young girls whose
29-year-old mother had committed suicide that very same morning. Not
able to bear a life of such hardship, she had hung herself. She was
found by her little ones.
We collected money to help them pay for the costs of the funeral. Once
more, no words could tell the appreciation in the eyes of the girls and
their grandmother. Now, she will have to take care of them.
What will the future bring for these young sisters? What will happen to
all the other children that are forced to grow up in such conditions? I
think it is time to take steps to better this situation.
Slum inhabitants gather
with their visitors for a picture.
“Most important meeting in the PCEC’s six year history”
It was a packed house which attended this week’s
meeting of the Pattaya City Expats Club (PCEC) on Sunday January 21st at
Henry J. Bean’s - and for a very good reason. This week saw what was
considered to be the most important meeting in the PCEC’s six year
history.
 Chonburi
Governor Pracha Taerat addresses the club.
Chairman Andre Machielsen opened the meeting stating that the PCEC was
honoured that some of the highest ranking Thai dignitaries had taken an
interest in, and chosen to attend the club’s meeting. The PCEC was also
privileged to host such an auspicious assembly of officials at one time,
who were: Chonburi Governor Pracha Taerat, Rear Admiral Chanchai
Charoensuwan, commander of Sattahip Naval Base, Army Major General
Ekanan Rattanasopha, commander of Army forces in Chonburi Province,
Pattaya Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn, Suthin Suppuang, deputy police
commander of Chonburi Province, and Pratip Chongsubthum, Banglamung
chief district officer.
Governor Pracha kindly addressed the club, stating that he considered
the safety and security of residents and tourists to be at the top of
his agenda and this was the reason that he was attending the PCEC today.
He was most concerned that criminals had chosen to prey on short term
tourists. He had recently reinforced local police with military
personnel and encouraged help from the local community. Since the
introduction of the military it has been estimated that the level of
crime has dipped 60%; the target is 80%.
Governor Pracha informed the club that the website www.chonburi.go.th is
available and regularly accessed by himself.
Details of the 1337 Pattaya Call Centre were then announced which
provides practical solutions to Governor Pracha’s concerns.
Governor Pracha recognised that the PCEC was the ideal way to help
publicise the 1337 service and to make direct contact with the expat
community.
The Call Centre is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and provides
not only an emergency hotline with direct links to emergency services,
but also provides information on local events and facilities such as
accommodation and restaurants. Chairman Andre Machielsen confirmed that
the control room is one of the best equipped that he had seen. It is
simply necessary to dial 1337 to contact the Call Centre.
Full details of the 1337 Pattaya Call Centre can be found on the PCEC
website, pattayacityexpatsclub.com, under the topic ‘Emergency Numbers’.
The PCEC was then pleased to welcome back Pravit Pukasem, vice president
of Bangkok Bank and his staff. Pravit has always provided invaluable
advice in the area of finance and banking and today was no exception. He
provided a handout which summarised ‘The Reserve Requirements on Short
Term Capital Inflows’. He also provided the latest information regarding
the opening of bank accounts and how to prevent credit card fraud,
particularly when using ATMs. He was also able to answer many questions
put to him by the attendees.
The regular Open Forum was then underway and this proved to be the usual
lively and entertaining session. For more information regarding, not
only PCEC Sunday meetings but also the varied mid week activities,
please see the Community Happenings section of Pattaya Mail or, for more
details, visit the club’s website at pattayacityexpatsclub.com
The VIP guests are
welcomed to the gathering of PCEC members.
Andre Machielsen, (left)
Chairman PCEC, greets Pol. Col. Suthin Sappuang, (4th left)
Superintendent of Pattaya Police Station) Mrs. Paranee and Rear Admiral
Chanchai Charoensuwan, (center) Commander of Sattahip Naval Base and
Army Major General Ekanan Rattanasopha, Commander of Army Forces in
Chonburi Province.
|
