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Wikipattaya underway
Master of Ceremonies Judith Edmonds welcomed everyone to
the Pattaya City Expat Club meeting at Henry J Beans on Sunday, February 7,
2010. After the usual announcements, she called on fellow member Thor
Halland to bring everyone up to date on his Wikipattaya project. Thor
started by saying he actually had two projects he wanted to discuss.
 Thor
Halland from the UK shares his project ‘WikiPattaya’ with PCEC members.
WikiPattaya is to be the definitive source for all information about Pattaya.
Also, Thor is establishing a group to help control the large numbers of
stray dogs in Pattaya.
The first project named “Pooch” is in process to help control the dog
population in Pattaya. He said that this organization plans to round up
stray female dogs in Pattaya and sterilize them. The group will also provide
treatment for skin diseases. They will be operating with a licensed
veterinarian to oversee the operation.
Thor said they had received donations and are in process of setting up a
kennel. He said they were not in competition with any other group with
similar aims. Rather, their efforts will supplement the work of others. He
asked for volunteers to assist in any capacity, but primarily in tracking
and getting dogs to take to the center.
 David
Garmaise, chairman of the Pattaya Friends of the PDA, advises that it has
now achieved its target of raising 800,000 baht to assist the village Ban
Klok Kang Noi, located in the Buriram District of Issan. The PDA is the
Population and Development Association established by Mechai Viravaidya in
the 1970s to combat the population explosion. After solving that problem, it
was later changed to combat AIDS, using the same method - the condom -
(often called a meechai in Thailand) and now is assisting poor rural
villages through education - the barefoot MBA, and provision of microcredit.
Thor then mentioned that about a year ago he addressed the club on his new
Wikipattaya project. He said that things had gotten off to a slower start
than originally anticipated, partially because of some problems in getting
their preferred domain name. That has now been settled. They will use
www.wikipattaya.com for their website.
He again gave some background on what a “wiki” website is. He noted that it
is not only intended to provide some general information, but also some
useful information such as how to find a handyman or plumber. He also noted
that it is not just for Pattaya, but will also cover the whole Eastern
Seaboard as well.
He said there will be two interlinked websites. One site will be for pages
that anyone can write or edit in the same fashion that can be done for
Wikipedia websites. The other website will be for businesses to announce
their services. The service is free. However, the ability to edit
information will be restricted. Only the business that set up the original
information will be able to edit that information.
 Membership
director Al Serrato advises the location of the next members’ dinner.
For the noncommercial site, anyone can write a page. Once written anyone can
edit the page. This is how Wikipedia operates their online encyclopedia
website. Thor said he expects that there will be no problem with 90 to 95
percent of the information being edited. But, in the event of controversy,
such as someone changing what has been written and then the original writer
coming back and changing it back, it may require his intervention as the
editor in chief. He has the capability to “lock down” a page to prevent
further changes and can work toward a solution.
Thor said that he is seeking contributors to the website. The topic can be
just about anything dealing with the Pattaya area such as how to get a Thai
driving license, how City Hall operates, types of food available,
recommendation for repair shops or how to contact someone to do repairs,
etc. He pointed out that the information that will appear on Wikipattaya is
not copyrighted. It is available for anyone to use. He said that at first
the site may appear chaotic, but as more information is added, he will be
able to channel and structure the sections.
If you visit the site, you will see it is currently categorized into several
areas: (1) Emergency and Medical services, (2) Business Pages, (3) White
pages: People in Pattaya, (4) Going out: restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and
other places of entertainment, (5) Pattaya for Visitors, (6) Hotels, (7)
Sports, leisure, clubs and societies, (8) Media: Newspapers, Radio,
Television and web based, (9) Schools, Colleges and Places of Worship, (10)
Local Government and services, (11) Local History, Geography, and Culture,
and (11) advice on Living in Thailand. So, visit the site, pick a category,
and share your information with the world.
Judith Edmonds then updated everyone on upcoming events and called on
“Hawaii” Bob Sutterfield to conduct the often humorous Open Forum, which is
always informative as everyone has an opportunity to ask and answer
questions about living in Thailand and Pattaya in particular.
Lions bring students to see puppet show
Puppeteers and puppets from the
Joe Louis Puppet
Theatre visit the Lions and students.
Members of the Jomtien Lions recently had the pleasure of
taking the English language students from the Redemption Center to the Joe Louis
Puppet Theatre and Restaurant.
The students enjoyed an excellent buffet and the fabulous dancers and puppets,
who cam e to each of them for a photo.
Center post ceremony performed for Holy Redeemer chapel
The Pornprapa family gathers
around the center post for a photo with Rev. Wanlop Chamnaipol.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Organizers behind the Holy Redeemer Oratory project laid the center post
of the new Roman Catholic church and kindergarten on Soi Siam Country Club.
 Fr.
Wanlop Chamnaipol presided over the Holy Redeemer Oratory (Pattaya) center post
ceremony.
Rev. Wanlop Chamnaipol led the Feb. 4 ceremony that marks the beginning of
construction of the facility on 65 rai of land donated by Pornthep Pornprapa,
managing director of Siam Country Club and his family’s Thaworn-Usa Pornprapa
Foundation. Construction of the chapel, on 21 rai of land, is expected to run
through Oct. 31 and has a budget of 30 million baht donated by Siam Motor Group
Co., Ltd.
Another 30 million baht is needed to fund construction of the classroom,
rectory, staff housing and fencing.
The Thaworn-Usa Pornprapa Foundation, named for its founders, was set up to give
something back to society as thanks for the community’s support of the golf club
and business in 1969.
PILC elects new leadership
Gillian Thom (center) gives her
end of term report,
her last duty as outgoing president.
The Pattaya International Ladies Club (PILC) held its Annual
General Meeting on Tuesday, February 2nd at the Marriott Pattaya Resort and Spa.
In total, there were ninety four ladies present at the meeting to elect a new
president and new board of committee members.
Gillian Thom has been a great president and leader for the last year. She gave
her final address and report to the members of the club, announcing that it had
been a successful year although it had been difficult to raise sponsorship for
the club due to the economic climate.
She also thanked those members not on the committee who had been working
tirelessly, often without appreciation; three in particular, Silvia Muda, Joyce
Aldridge and Peggy Wragge. The remaining members of the committee presented
their reports before the election commenced.
The election was conducted by Angela Poustie, long term member of PILC. The
whole process ran very smoothly with no objections and all positions being
filled.
Anja Schoof was elected the new president, previously on the committee as Trips
and Travel coordinator. Anja has been living in Thailand with her husband, Hans,
for over a year and has been a very active member of the community since she
arrived. One of her aims will be to continue the good work of the PILC and has
every confidence that this year too, will be yet another successful year.
For information on the activities of PILC, please visit the website
www.pattaya-pilc.com.
New President Anja Schoof (center)
and the new committee have every confidence that this year will be another
successful year.
100,000 baht raised
at no charity, no party event
Kavita Lamba
Everybody knows Mary from the Blue’s Factory and for the fourth year
running she organised her very own “No Charity, No Party” birthday bash.
 Sue
joins Mary and her band on stage for a charity performance.
On Monday 1st February, the venue was filled with well wishers to help Mary
celebrate her birthday and instead of receiving presents, Mary organised a huge
lucky draw to raise donations for the Mercy Center and Father Ray foundation.
With the help and support of the Mercy Center, Mary was able to find her bundle
of happiness, Brandon, her son and together with the devotion and of her beloved
husband Agio, they have given him a new life he truly deserves. They never lose
sight of the fact that there are so many underprivileged children in Pattaya and
as children are our future, we all have responsibility in helping out whenever
possible.
 (L
to R) Sue, Opal and Kavita add pulchritude to the proceedings.
The guests were treated to a very special fashion show by Opal fashions and some
of the dresses featured in the lucky draw. Many hotels and restaurants were very
generous in giving vouchers for meals and nights stays.
Special thanks go out to The Bed at the Nova Amari Suites, Royal Cliff Resort,
Cafe New Orleans, Zicos, Alois, Casa Pascal, Montien Hotel, Opal fashions and
Eva Johnson for their contributions to the lucky draw.
The evening raised a huge 100,000 baht in total which will be divided between
both charities equally. Mary certainly knows how to party!
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