|
HM King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden visits blind students and inducts new Baden Powell Fellows
His Majesty King Carl XVI
Gustaf of Sweden meets with the children
who were waiting to welcome him at the school.
His Majesty King Carl XVI
Gustaf of Sweden inspects the students’
exhibition at the Pattaya Redemptorist School for the Blind.
At right is Khun Aurora, Director of the School.
His Majesty King Carl XVI
Gustaf of Sweden visits the scout exhibition
at the Woodland Suites Serviced Residences.
His Majesty King Carl XVI
Gustaf of Sweden inscribes his name on a monument commemorating the official
opening of the Woodland Suites Serviced Residences.
His Majesty King Carl XVI
Gustaf of Sweden poses with scouts (right) after their performance of the
“Hymne toThailand and Sweden” written and performed by Trond Myhre. (left
picture)
Vimolrat Singnikorn
His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden visited children with
visual impairment at the Pattaya Redemptorist School for the Blind then went
on to chair the 57th World Scout Foundation in his role as honorary chairman
of the international foundation on February 17.
At 10 a.m. His Majesty arrived at the School for the Blind, which operates
under the Royal Patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri
Sirindhorn. Whilst there, His Majesty visited teachers and children with
visual impairment, accompanied by Sutham Phanthusak, International
Commissioner of the National Scouts Organization of Thailand, and scouting
officials from several countries.
The Royal visitor was welcomed with bouquets of flowers by Father Lawrence
Patin, director of the Father Ray Foundation, Aurora Sribuaphan, director of
the school, Nittaya Patimasongkroh, chairwoman of the YWCA Bangkok-Pattaya
Center, and Sopin Thappajug, managing director of the Diana Group.
Director Aurora outlined the school’s history and showed activities that the
children have been doing.
This was followed by performances by students consisting of Angkalung “Soi
Lampang”, a Thai classical dance by primary school students; “Lao Siang
Thian”, a Thai musical show; chorus, and dancing to the songs “I see the
moon”, “How do you do”, and “You are my sunshine”.
His Majesty the King obviously enjoyed the students’ shows, applauding from
time to time much to the delight of the young performers.
 His
Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden presents
a token of friendship to Sutham Phanthusak.
HM King Carl XVI Gustaf happily posed for a photo with teachers and
employees then chaired the opening of a new Cub Scout group at the school,
personally handing out scout caps and scarves to the children dressed in
their school uniforms.
Before leaving, His Majesty went to the Maha Chakri Sirindhorn construction
site to inspect progress of a new building located opposite the school, to
be used for support and occupational training for the children.
Being built with donations, some 10 million baht more is needed and the
building should be completed in 2010.
On the same busy day, HM King Carl XVI presented pins and honorary
certificates to new Baden Powell Fellows at the 57th World Scout Baden
Powell fellowship at Woodland Suites Serviced Residences in Pattaya.
His Majesty welcomed new foundation members and the establishment of the
foundation’s new branch in Hong Kong. Members who attended the ceremony came
from Denmark, Hong Kong, Korea, Malaysia, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland,
Taiwan, the U.K., the U.S.A., Thailand, Japan, and the Philippines.
In his address Sutham Phanthusak said, “Your Majesty has been always
graciously given an opportunity and priority to Scouting because Your
Majesty believes in the Scouting values which contribute to the physical,
intellectual , emotional, social and spiritual development of young people
so that they will become good citizens of their countries.
I thank all new Baden Powell Fellows, including my family for supporting the
World Scout Foundation even through this global economic downturn. We
realize that the investment of today is the future of the world to keep the
dream of Baden-Powel alive.
“Through the gatherings of the World Baden-Powell Fellowship, we are also
playing a crucial part to support the world’s largest youth movement through
the foundation.”
Before his departure, HM King Carl XVI Gustaf graciously signed his name to
the foundation stone for the official opening of the Woodland Suites
Serviced Residences owned by the Phanthusak family.
|
New members of the
Baden-Powell Fellowship |
Hong Kong
Mr. Charles Wong
Dr. Agnes Lee
Mr. Anthony Chan |
Macau
Mr. Leong Sio Pui |
|
Thailand (Pattaya City) |
Mrs. Orrawon Phanthusak
Miss Alisa Phanthusak
Mr. Ron Paul Fineman
Miss Suthamma Thana
Mr. Chaiyakrit Aamlid
Mrs. Laddawan Hanjitkasem
Mr. Dhavee Surabal
Mr. Alev Targan Yildir |
Miss Darin
Phanthusak
Miss Varassaya Phanthusak
Mr. Thongchai Rochrungrangsee
Mr. Teepat Sutabutra
Mr. Arthithai Aamlid
Mr. Samatcha Hanjitkasem
Mr. Krisada Kaweeyarn |
|
Honours Programme |
|
Hong Kong
Mr. Li Fung Lok
(The Benefactors’ Circle) |
Thailand
Mr. Sutham Phanthusak
(The International Circle) |
Woodland Suites open in grand style
Pratheep S. Malhotra (right),
managing director of Pattaya Mail Publishing presents a bouquet of flowers
to Sutham Phanthusak (2nd left) to congratulate him on the grand opening,
joined by (l-r) Varassaya Phanthusak, Woodlands’ Group Financial Controller,
Alisa Phanthusak, Woodlands’ assistant managing director and Tony Malhotra,
Pattaya Mail director.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Woodland Suites Serviced Residences Pattaya opened more five-star suites,
then celebrated with a dinner party on February 17.
Earlier, His Majesty the King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden graciously signed
the foundation stone during a special ceremony, as Sutham Phanthusak,
managing director of Woodland Hotels and Resorts, looked on with his family
and guests.
 Niti
Kongkrut (left), director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand Pattaya
Office, presents a bouquet of flowers to Alisa Phanthusak during the
celebration.
Captain Phutanet Hongmanop, Pookai Pongsiri Banluewong, Puri Hiranpruk, San
Panomkorn Tangtattasawad, Boat Vibulnan, Tee Tissana Damrongsak, and Poy
Trichada Malayaporn were on the guest list.
Sutham Phanthusak thanked all the guests for coming and talked about the
history of Woodland Hotels and Resorts, which started 15 years ago.
The suites are connected to the original Woodland Resort with natural
decorations of trees and flowers. The area also has a huge swimming pool
nearby.
There are 74 units, the maximum size being 155 square meters. Each has a
homely feel along with the luxury and comfort of a 5-star hotel.
Woodlands Suites Serviced Residences are at 172/3 M.5 Naklua 22, Pattaya
Naklua Road, Chonburi 20150, phone: 038-052-299, fax: 038-052-290.
Orawan Phanthusak (seated)
enjoyed great performances at the grand opening.
Stephane Bringer (left),
General Manager joined the Phanthusak family (l-r) Sutham, Alisa, Lalida and
Varassaya in a toast to officially launch the Woodland Suites.
A grand show was performed for
the opening ceremony.
Guests and close friends
enjoyed the evening terrifically.
Law comes to Pattaya
By a Special Correspondent
Mackenzie Smith Law (MSL) co-sponsored the monthly British Chamber
of Commerce Thailand (BCCT) networking evening at Shenanigans Pattaya last
Friday. Shenanigans were the other co-sponsors. There was an excellent turn
out. Over 70 people came from all over the Eastern Seaboard and Bangkok.
 (L
to R) Simon Matthews, director of British Chamber of Commerce Thailand; and
Joe Barker-Bennett, managing director of JMBB Consulting Co. Ltd.
Greg Pitt, the MD of MSL said he was delighted with the event and one of the
lawyers for MSL, John Lewis, gave an in depth view on Pattaya Mail TV
about the new Product Liability Law that came into force earlier last week.
BCCT board directors Simon Matthews from Manpower and Colin Hastings came
down from Bangkok and were seen in deep discussion with old friend David
“Buster” Williamson who was on a brief trip from his new job in Bahrain.
Accompanying David was his old friend Richard Harvey who has supplied
musical scores to both Naresuan movies as well as such famous films as The
Da Vinci Code and Death of a President. In addition to this he has also been
on such well known films as The Lion King, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of
Azkaban and Enemy of the State.
 (L
to R) Simon Matthews, director of the British Chamber of Commerce Thailand;
Richard Bell, managing director of Cornerstone Management Co., Ltd.; and
Mark Butters, CPFA United Kingdom director of RSM Thailand.
Also from the BCCT were both Greg Watkins and Graham Macdonald who was
manfully trying to fill in for the much missed Dr. Iain Corness who was
suffering from an overdose of bad soup. Graham managed to bumble his way
through a couple of interviews before waving the white flag and returning to
the excellent food laid on by Shenanigans.
The usual stalwarts were in attendance as well. Jack Levy from MLG Insurance
was seen chatting away with Jate Sopitpongstorn, the MD of Horseshoe Point.
Peter Smith from AA Insurance Brokers was in deep discussion with Maurice
Bromley of Go Industries. Maurice’s wife, Renita, was advising everyone what
to do if they were coming to the Chiang Mai Cricket Sixes in early April.
 (L
to R) Carey J. Archer and Johan Ohlsson.
RSM Advisory were well represented by both Gareth Hughes and Mark Butters,
who loves food so much that he also had the beef stew before the free fare
laid on by the sponsors, were seen talking with Chris Thatcher and Colin
Bartlett of the Sutlet Group. Steve Duckworth and John Hamilton of WSM were
having an in depth conversation with Ian Grant from Harrow International
School. Graham Macdonald introduced recently arrived Arran Ayres, the new
sales & marketing manager Europe for PEACH, to as many people as possible.
Arran was saying that PEACH had excellent bookings for this year which can
only be good for Pattaya.
Peter Mewes from the London Consultancy was waxing lyrical about karaoke.
Joe Grunwell, and his lovely wife Bea, were trying to describe where a
lovely restaurant on the cliffs near Ban Amphur actually was. Alan Verstein,
looking very dapper in his smart suit, was seen sneaking a couple of extra
ribs on to his plate and Joe Barker-Bennett from Crestcom expressed his
delight at England not getting completely stuffed by Wales in the Six
Nations Rugby.
In all, an excellent event. Many new contacts were made by various people
from new companies and everyone said it was a great night. The next monthly
networking will be on Friday, 20th March at 6.30p.m. The venue will be
announced in the Pattaya Mail beforehand.
(L to R) Gareth Vaughan
Hughes, managing director of RSM Advisory (Thailand) Limited; Jack Levy,
managing director of MLG Insurance; and Benjamin Marshall, general manager
of Metron Medical Co., Ltd.
(L to R) Simon Dutton,
Shenanigans publican; Alan S. Verstein, managing director of Siam Gazette;
and John Black managing director of Real Estate Magazine Thailand.
(L to R) Graham Macdonald,
vice chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce Thailand interviews Simon
Dutton, Publican of Shenanigans for PMTV.
(L to R) Joe Grunwell,
managing director of Comcon Group and Maurice D. Bromley, president, Go
Industries (Thailand) Limited.
(L to R) Arran Ayres, European
sales & marketing manager for Royal Cliff Beach Resort; Steve Duckworth,
general manager of Waste Management Siam Ltd.; and John L. Hamilton,
director of Transportation & Industrial Services.
(L to R) Peter Smith, director
of AA Insurance Brokers Co., Ltd.; Barry Main, regional director of
marketing for Thai Visa; Matthew Fryar, director of revenue management and
Greg Watkins executive director of the British Chamber of Commerce Thailand.
(L to R) Nanthini Doowa;
Pattaravadee Wangviriyaphan, marketing executive for the Bangkok Hospital
Pattaya’s International Marketing Department; Dr. Salam Amir Hoshang,
managing director of MCS International Network Co., Ltd. and Kelley D.
Ritchey, CFA Department of Finance & Banking, Faculty of Business at Asian
University.
A long way from nowhere
Rotary Club of Taksin Pattaya has new ‘sister club’
After signing the agreement,
members of RC Thun Pha Phum and Rotarians
from Pattaya and Kanchanaburi pose for a souvenir shot.
Nuchwajee, president of RC Thung Pha Phum, informed Bob
Denzel, president of RC Taksin-Pattaya, about the miserable conditions in
her district, especially in Thung Pha Phum and on the remote country side
towards Burma. Many schools are jam-packed and don’t have access to drinking
water, while hospitals lack medical equipment. Local Rotary Clubs don’t have
a big enough budget on hand to help the people in need, most of which are
children.
 President
Nuchwajee hands over a gift to Peter Malhotra, governor of Rotary
International District 3340.
About 30 kilometers south of Sangkhla and 140 kilometers north-east of
Kanchanaburi, to the left of the Vajiralongkorn embankment dam, where there
are no motor-driven vehicles since it can only be reached by boat, circled
by a reservoir, dense jungle and a steep rock face, the small village of
Thung Pha Phum lies only 20 kilometers or so east of the Burmese border.
Bob and some of his active members went there to get a better idea of the
situation. Only a few weeks later, Bernd Fischer, the club’s new service
director, was commissioned to install a drinking water system at Pilok Khi
School. The boat ride to the school takes one hour. There is no other way to
get there. Electricity is provided by solar collectors, donated by the Royal
Household. Within less than 3 days of arduous labor, including driving to
and fro, Fischer, who is recognized for his ambitious efforts, and his team
installed the system. The kids quickly queued up to get a first taste of
fresh, clean water.
 President
Nuchwajee presents a gift to Bernd Fischer.
The drinking water system, donated by RC Taksin, was officially handed over
to the school on January 12, together with clothes, dinnerware and cutlery.
On top of that, President Bob and Vice-President Nom donated plastic bottles
to all of the 380 children.
On the same day, DG Ratmanee, governor of District 3330, and Peter Malhotra,
DG 3340, and the presidents of RC Thung Pha Phum and Taksin-Pattaya, came
together to sign a ‘sister club certificate.’
At the ceremony, the new sister club provided excellent food and drink. DG
Peter Malhotra, DG Ratmanee, President Nuchwajee and Alvi Sinthuvanik, past
president of RC Jomtien, took turns at the microphone.
 One
can only get to Pilok Khi School by boat.
Several joint projects are planned, like donating medical equipment to the
local clinic, installing another drinking water system at a remote school
and upgrading this school.
‘To help, where help is needed’ is the motto of RC Taksin, whose members
meet every Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Amari Orchid Hotel & Tower in Pattaya.
Rotarians and guests are welcome. More information about the club and its
projects can be found on www.rotary-pattaya.org.
Right after installation was
completed,
kids line up to get a first sample of fresh drinking water.
Cobra Gold 09 Technology Experimentation
inspires future operations
Kevin Blankespoor, a robotics
engineer, assists in demonstrating the capabilities of Big Dog, a force
protection technology that addresses the needs of dismounted troops, in
Chiang Mai during the Cobra Gold 09 Technology Experimentation. Big Dog can
travel through rough natural and urban terrain, carry more than 300 pounds
of equipment, provide resupply, and assist with reconnaissance and
targeting. (Photo by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Crista Yazzie)
Staff Sgt. Crista Yazzie
CG09 Combined/Joint Information Bureau Staff Writer
Medics evacuate a casualty up to a flying helicopter, a robotic ruck-sack
with legs carries 400 pounds of equipment through rocky terrain, and
miniature unmanned aerial vehicles patrol the ground at night.
No longer the subject of science fiction, future capabilities such as these
become present-day possibilities for today’s military at the Exercise Cobra
Gold 2009 Technology Experimentation Working Group, which ran from Feb. 4
through 15.
 Barbara
McQuiston, Defense Advance Research Projects Agency strategic technology
office director, and John Flanagan, DARPA support contractor, show Brig.
Gen. Alan Lynn, commanding general, 311th Signal Command (Theater) the
XG-Next Generation Communications System. The XG features Dynamic Spectrum
Access Features, which increase signal capabilities in the field. (Photo by
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Crista Yazzie)
The TEWG, now in its fourth year at Cobra Gold, featured a variety of
approximately 23 static displays and demonstrations. This year’s featured
technologies were command and control communications systems, logistics,
force protection, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance, and machine
language translations.
“Cobra Gold allows us not only the opportunity for feedback from Soldiers
and Marines, but also to expose our technologies so they can understand what
the art of the possible is,” said Jim Rymarcsuk, whose company showcased
several tactical examples of robotics at the expo.
In addition to the static displays and demonstrations in Chiang Mai, the
TEWG will visit the Army, Navy and Marine Corps forces in various locations
throughout Thailand during the exercise. This will enable the training
audience, which spans more than 15 countries, to provide input, said Chris
Breault, the assessment lead for one of the featured companies.
“We hope, in being here, to find what war-fighters need to do their daily
job,” said Rick Sams, from the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific
Experimentation Center. “We’ve got a lot of development here in the science
and technology community, so they can hear directly from the source, what
the user needs,” said Sams.
Some technologies displayed are currently used by the U.S. military, while
others are seeking to generate interest in their concepts. The Atlas Powered
Ascender is one technology introduced in Cobra Gold 2008. It is designed to
quickly move humans and material up vertical steep terrain, ranging in use
from casualty evacuation to search and seizure.
“We actually started about four years ago, when Army Rangers were going into
Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom, and they had a need to help them
search wells for weapons caches,” said Brian Schmid, whose company developed
the ascender.
“We’re trying to expose war-fighters to the technology and trying to get
assessments back from them on their thoughts and how they can use it, or how
we can improve it. The feedback has been very strong and positive.”
During each Cobra Gold exercise, certain technologies are chosen for
operational assessments in a field environment. This year, two versions of
unmanned aerial vehicles and two versions of robots are undergoing
operational assessment.
“We put (the technologies) in the hands of Marines and Soldiers (to) see how
they work and provide that feedback to the developers,” said Breault.
Future plans for the Cobra Gold 2010 TEWG are to incorporate technologies of
other countries.
“Next year we plan to get participation from other nations - from Thailand,
Indonesia, and make it an even bigger event,” said Breault.
|
