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PILC receive stunning view during coffee morning at Sheraton
Elaine Poole
The view across the bay of Pattaya was stunning on the morning of 18th
December, as 93 ladies arrived for the last meeting of 2007 of the Pattaya
International Ladies Club.
 PILC
President Rosanne Diamente (left) speaks for the entire club when she says a
fond farewell to Special Events Chairperson Cindy Logue.
The Sheraton Hotel staff foamed up delicious cappuccino coffee, and around
the restaurant several food stations had been set up; Italian canapés,
Chinese dim sum, mini Thai spicy treats and a wonderful array of
profiteroles and cakes. A cascading hot white chocolate fountain with
enticing marshmallows and chocolate brownies waiting to be dipped tested
even the strong willed. Never mind, diets can begin in the New Year!
Rosanne Diamente, PILC president, thanked the staff of the Sheraton Hotel
for hosting the coffee morning in their fabulous restaurant. She reminded
members that there is an Annual General Meeting in February and that this
year’s committee would be stepping down and nominations for positions on the
2008 committee were still being accepted.
Club membership seems to grow and grow, and Rosanne welcomed four new
members, Doreen Czerniejewski and Lauren Davidson from the U.S.A., Maureen
Jenkner from Germany and Carol Reid from Australia. Rosanne reminded members
to renew their subscription for 2008; this year still only 800 baht.
The Club is always happy to welcome members, but sad to lose them. Cindy
Logue was Special Events Chairperson and organized the 20th Anniversary
Masquerade Ball, which raised the record sum of over 1 million baht. Sadly,
Cindy will be leaving Thailand in January. She has worked so hard for PILC
during the year and she will be missed. Rosanne presented Cindy with a
keepsake from PILC.
Rosanne reminded members that volunteers were needed on 10th and 16th
January. Children from the Baan Jing Jai Orphanage and the Street Kids Home
will be taken shopping to buy clothes – in total over 200 children.
Finally, Sue K. of Pattaya Mail presented Rosanne with DVD’s of its coverage
of the PILC 20th Anniversary Masquerade Ball. Pattaya Mail donated the
DVD’s, which will be sold to PILC members. All proceeds will go to the
charities supported by the PILC.
Sue then presented members with copies of the commemorative magazine it had
produced to celebrate H.M. The King’s 80th Birthday. Thank you Peter
Malhotra, Sue and all the staff at Pattaya Mail for your continued support.
After attentively listening the members needed more coffee and an intake of
something sweet - so it was back to the chocolate fountain.
The PILC would like to wish all its members, sponsors and friends a very
Happy Christmas.
Five hundred teddies on parade
Shown in the photo are David
Kerridge (holding a bear aloft)
and other supporters of the scheme.
A charity raising collection produced 500 cuddly teddy bears
to be distributed to the kids at several orphanages and special schools
including Jing Jai. Panorama Bar and Oscars, both of Boyztown, Balcony Bar in
Bangkok and Thais 4 Life charity organization joined together to canvass
supporters and friends to donate the furry animals.
Organising chairman David Kerridge said, “We were absolutely delighted with the
success of the 2007 appeal which exceeded all our expectations.” Additionally,
there were gifts of food and other essential living items to the value of
100,000 baht distributed to hundreds of needy children in the area.
Another busy programme at PCEC meeting
Another busy programme was presented at the Pattaya City
Expats Club (PCEC) meeting on Sunday December 16th at Henry J. Bean’s.
The morning started with the week’s MC Roger Fox announcing that the annual
Christmas appeal was underway and toys and monetary contributions should be
donated at next week’s meeting. The beneficiary of this year’s appeal is the
Mission House orphanage.
 Dr
Renu Kitttisarapong, a Dermatologist from Bangkok Hospital Pattaya, advises
PCEC members on skin care to delay ageing, and treatments available when the
inevitable occurs.
The PCEC continues to show appreciation of the Bangkok Hospital Pattaya’s
regular monthly talks and this morning’s was no exception. This morning the
speaker was Dr. Renu Kitttisarapong, a Dermatologist. The topic of Dr Renu
talk was “Aging Change” as it relates to the skin. Accompanying Dr Renu were
hospital personnel who were providing free skin checkups.
Dr Renu provided illustrations as to how the skin ages over the years,
specifically illustrated by examples during the 20s, 40s and finally in the
80s. The condition of the skin over advancing years is determined by
genetics and also by environmental factors such as the intake of food,
drugs, alcohol, smoking and exposure to sunlight.
Dr Renu described the conditions of intrinsic or natural aging of the skin
and also extrinsic aging which could be treated. Specific skin conditions
and methods of remedying them at various ages such as under 20, under 30,
middle age and older were described.
Anti aging treatments include the application of sun screen of at least SPF
30 in Pattaya’s strong sunlight, antioxidant treatment, topical creams and
chemical agents. Cosmetic surgery should always be considered a last resort.
Dr Renu described the Thermage treatment which is a non invasive procedure
which generally requires only a single treatment to show benefits.
 Skin
checkups underway at the PCEC.
PCEC member Bob Bisighini is currently talking with plant officials to
arrange a date for a visit to the Chevrolet car manufacturing plant. This
will probably be taking place after the New Year. However, Bob reported that
36 people had already signed up for the visit.
Richard Silverberg then introduced his much anticipated Website of the Week.
This week Richard provided a comprehensive account of the Google News reader
which can be used to access RSS feeds. The reader can be used to subscribe
to websites and topics of interest. It enables all selected information to
be in one place for easy and convenient access. For example, feeds from
favourite newspapers or sports can be subscribed to. The news reader is
available at www.google.com/reader
Sally Techasopon was back by popular demand to give a brief Thai language
lesson each Sunday with a useful word or phrase or word to be learnt on the
day. PCEC Chairman Richard Smith reported that the PCEC had participated in
the Bangkok Hospital Pattaya’s Charity Sale and although the takings and
PCEC contribution had not been as high as expected it had been a very
enjoyable experience.
The conductors of the regular Open Forum, Bob L’Etoile and Sig Sigworth,
recently returned from their trip to the Philippines, described how much
they had enjoyed their visit. As always it provided an opportunity for
questions about living in Thailand with an emphasis on Pattaya to be asked.
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.
Lions make donation to Mae Hong Son
Captain Chaiwat Pitiwan (3rd
left), receives the donation from Rewat Chiangchin and members of the Lions
Club of Pratamnak Pattaya.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
The Lions Club of Pratamnak made a donation on December 13 of essential
goods to tribes people in Mae Hong Son, in Northern Thailand, under a Royal
Project to improve the quality of life in the hill tribe areas.
Rewat Chiangchin, president of the Pratamnak Lions Club presented the goods
to Captain Chaiwat Pitiwan, who heads the project in Mae Hong Son.
Amongst the items presented were winter clothes, sanitary supplies, soccer
balls and computers.
Captain Chaiwat said that Mae Hong Son is a province that shares a border
with Burma. Most of the area is mountainous, and most of the inhabitants
belong to hill tribes such as the Mong, Lisor, Karen, Lawah, Tai Yai and
Haw, the latter being a Chinese hill tribe, the descendents of National
China Troop 93.
The main occupations of these hill tribes are crop rotation, the breeding of
animals, rummaging through the forest for food, and employment in the
transportation of narcotics, food, and weapons for many groups of rebels in
Burma.
His Majesty the King is very concerned about the people in Mae Hong Son
Province, and he wishes to develop the occupations of the people in this
area for them to have a better quality of life.
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