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Skål International picks Casa Pascal’s Schlemmer Menu
Dr. Iain Corness
The June meeting for Skål International Pattaya and East
Thailand saw the Skålleague and friends choosing the all-inclusive (schlemmer)
food and wine menu at the Casa Pascal restaurant. At B. 790+ with a free
flow of wine, this presents the ideal opportunity for clubs and associations
to enjoy a four course wine and dine evening with a cap on expenditure.
H.E. Nabil H. Ashri (left), Charge d’Affairs of the
Embassy of Saudi Arabia, meets and greets Niti Kongrut (right), director of
the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Pattaya office.
The principal guest was introduced by the local Skål
International President Ingo Raeuber, and was H.E. Nabil H Ashri, the
extremely affable Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of Saudi Arabia and the
30+ members and guests were most interested in his talk. The extended
question and answer time showed both the interest in Saudi Arabia and our
general lack of up to date or detailed knowledge of this interesting
country.
Skål Thailand Director for Public Relations Tom Aikins announces to Skålleagues
that the club’s digital directory is coming out next year.
Skål Thailand Director for Public Relations Tom Aikins
addressed the Skålleagues and spoke on the digital directory which is coming
out next year in March that will cover 2011. Advertising will be priced low
(3,000 baht for a full page, A4), which gives all the members the
opportunity to advise other members of their goods and services. With the
Skål International motto being ‘doing business among friends’, this concept
of a digital directory fits in very well.
As the dinner unfolded, world famous magician Howard
Posener went around the tables stunning the diners with his incredible table
magic. Howard, of course, was also telling everyone about his recent
SuperSight surgery at the Bangkok Hospital Pattaya and how he no longer
needs glasses to seamlessly change an ace of hearts into a four of spades as
you watch! Local TAT head Nitti Kongrut was so stunned and impressed that he
immediately wanted to open a casino (in another country of course) and
employ Howard as his head croupier!
The Skål International Pattaya and East Thailand dinner at Casa Pascal
was indeed a memorable one (and very inexpensive as well)!
H.E. Nabil H. Ashri (left), Charge d’Affairs of the
Embassy of Saudi Arabia,
meets restaurant owner Pascal Schnyder (right) as
local Skål International
President Ingo Raeuber (center) looks on.
(L to R) H.E. Nabil H. Ashri, Charge d’Affairs of the
Embassy of Saudi Arabia,
Som Corness and Sue K smile for the camera after
the latter learned fascinating facts about Saudi Arabia from the former.
Pick a card, any card… Illusionist Howard Posener
performs a trick at Niti Kongrut’s table.
(L to R) Pratheep Malhotra, Malvinder Malhotra, Dharamjeet Malhotra, and Elfi Seitz line up for a group photo after a delicious meal at Casa Pascal
restaurant.
(L to R) Neil Maniquiz, Sue K, Neeran Sirisamphan,
Rungratee Thongsai,
Nittaya Patimasongkroh, and Elfi Seitz, with Howard
Posener in back looking
over their shoulder, line up for a Hollywood chorus
type commemorative photo.
BCCT Goes to Bowin
Pattaya Mail Special
Correspondent
The British Chamber of Commerce Thailand (BCCT) held its
monthly Networking Evening at the Hemaraj Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate
(ESIE) on Friday, June 18. The whole day was hosted by Alain Deurwaerder and
his very capable team at Katoen Natie.
The day started at 3.30 with a tour of the plant where
the visitors were shown exactly what goes into making a successful logistics
operation. As Alain said, “It is all about the people; our staff are
tremendous. It also helps having the centre of the operation based on the
Eastern Seaboard because if a customer has a problem we can be there in half
an hour to fix it.”
The completion of the tour led straight into the
Automotive Focus Group (AFG) which held its monthly meeting just prior the
Networking Evening. This was very well attended and everyone said it was
well worthwhile coming out to the ESIE for it.
Katoen Natie were also the sponsors of the Chamber’s
Networking Evening which was well attended by over 35 guests. Graham
Macdonald, vice chairman of the BCCT said, “It is very important to the
Chamber that we do not just limit our networking evenings to Pattaya. We are
fully aware that a large percentage of our members on the Eastern Seaboard
both work and live away from the city. It is only fair to them to bring
networking evenings to them sometimes as opposed to always expecting people
to travel into Pattaya. We are very grateful to Alain and Katoen Natie for
giving us the opportunity to do this and there will definitely be more of
these types of events to come.”
Many of the people there were from the automotive
business - either directly or indirectly. Craig Donnelly, an old stalwart of
the Eastern Seaboard, was there representing Faurecia who are experts in
emission control technology. Also in attendance was Varadan Devanathan, MD
of Visteon (Thailand) Ltd., who have now been on the ESIE for well over ten
years. Philip Cook from Thai Summit Harness was also there as was Jaap
Bruining of CEVA. However, it was not all car people. Chris Thatcher made
the journey down from Bangkok and Steve Graham, from European Safety
Concepts, was seen in conversation with Maurice Bromley and his lovely wife
Renita.
The whole evening was a great success and many people
said the Chamber should do more of this kind of event. The next BCCT
Networking Evening will be on Friday, July 16. Details will appear in the
Pattaya Mail closer to the time.
Cranes & Equipment Asia and Lodge Pattaya West Winds become Platinum sponsors
Malcolm and office manager Jack (Centre) with Cranes & Equipment Asia
office staff.
Christina Boden
Malcolm Boden from the Charity Club of Pattaya went along
to the Cranes and Equipment Asia offices recently to collect the Platinum
Sponsorship from Office Manager Jack, as M.D. Kevin Fisher was away on one
of his many business trips.
A Thai scene is depicted in the painting Malcolm Glenny
has donated to the Charity Gala Dinner Auction.
This will be the fourth year that Managing Director Kevin
Fisher has supported the Charity Club as a Platinum Sponsor.
Lodge Pattaya West Winds
1803 SC
The Free Masons Lodge Pattaya West Winds 1803 SC have
long been supporters of the Charity Club of Pattaya and with the new Grand
Worshipful Master settled into office they became the seventh Platinum
Sponsor for the Charity Clubs Charity Gala Dinner.
Christina Boden (right) collects Platinum sponsorship
from Malcolm Glenny.
Christina met Malcolm Glenny at his home to receive the
sponsorship, and to view one of the paintings that talented Malcolm is
painting for the auction.
This is the first year that Lodge Pattaya West Winds 1803
SC have been a Platinum Sponsor and hopefully it won’t be the last!
Tickets for the Charity Gala Dinner for Saturday October 30, 2010 at the
All Season’s Hotel Pattaya are on sale now, contact [email protected]
Huay Yai students plant trees, treated to lunch by Y.W.C.A.
Some of the students pose near the newly planted trees
with thei8r sponsors.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Students from Huay Yai’s Thungklorn School planted trees
and enjoyed spaghetti and ice cream as part of a full day of healthy
activities sponsored by the Y.W.C.A. Bangkok-Pattaya Center and Pattaya
Christians Club.
The children planted 30 plumeria, tamarind and nim trees
as part of the Y.W.C.A.’s environmental-protection program to reduce global
warming. They then enjoyed a lunch provided by the sponsors, who they
entertained with a tom-tom parade.
Y.W.C.A. Chairwoman Nittaya Patimasongkroh said the
center reaches out to area schools with its lunch program and wanted to
expand its activities given the current worries over global warming.
Principal Pramot Ngernthong said the school already has
recognized the environmental problem and has allocated land to set up a
plant nursery and garden in which students can plant trees and grow
vegetables.
Caring for blind kids too
Jesters Care for Kids Charity Drive 2010 Sponsored by
Glencore International and Canadian Jackalope Open
(L to R) Father Michael Pichan, Dr. Jakrapong Suwanrasmi,
deputy director of the Education Department Region 3 Chonburi, Aurora
Sribuaphan, director of the Redemptorist School for the Blind, Lewis
Underwood, Bernie Tuppin, Father Peter Srivorakul and Father Worawut
Saraphan pose in front of the new office.
Lewis Underwood
Last Thursday, June 24th, was Wai Khru Day at the Pattaya
Redemptorist Blind School, which involved a delightful ceremony when
students entertain and honor their teachers. We, too, were invited as they
also show their appreciation for their benefactors, or organizations that
assist the school each year.
The Redemptorists assert that over 96% of the blind
people in Thailand are not given the opportunity to get an education.
However, the School for the Blind in Naklua is one institution that not only
offers them education, but also vocational training, boarding and special
care for ones with other handicaps too. These children and young adults are
also taught music, dance and sports, which are popular activities for them.
Principal Aurora, who is also blind, has a master’s
degree in special education for the visually handicapped and helped initiate
the School for the Blind with the late Father Ray Brennan back in 1986.
Presently the School for the Blind is under the Father
Ray Foundation (www.fr-ray.org) which also includes the School for the
Disabled, Children’s Home, Outreach Work Center, Children’s Village and Day
Care Center.
Aurora makes it perfectly clear that their goal is to
educate blind kids so that they are not ‘a burden on society’. While some
blind students aspire to go to university, many are content with just a high
school education so they can earn a basic living.
She adds that blind persons can work in the hotel
industry answering phones, making bookings, translating languages, etc.,
while partially blind individuals can be porters, waiters/waitresses and/or
work in laundry. Moreover, one of the biggest demands for blind people is in
the capacity of masseurs or masseuses, who are also qualified to diagnose
ailments through this art of touch.
The Jesters Care for Kids has been assisting the Blind
School since 2002, through the provision of educational aids, furnishings
for classrooms and dormitories; sports equipment, uniforms and musical
instruments for local and national events; kitchen appliances, tables,
chairs and protein supplements; as well as a heavy duty water system for the
entire premises.
Over the years, we have also made structural repairs to
the buildings, including, most recently, the new construction of an office
by the front entrance, so the old location can be used for more classrooms.
In the 8 years since we have been involved with them we have donated over
1.8 million baht for the above improvements.
If you would like to help us continue to help the blind
children, please visit our website at www.care4kids.info. You might also
want to visit this project and see where your past donations have gone. They
are located in Naklua on Soi 16 about a half kilometer off the
Pattaya-Naklua Road going towards the beach. Look for the new traffic
lights!
You will also be able to see the blind children perform
on stage at our Children’s Fair this year on Sunday, September 12th at the
Diana Garden Resort and Driving Range in north Pattaya. We hope to see you
there too!
Bernie Tuppin receives offerings from blind students
during the Wai Khru ceremony.
Hard Rock Pattaya celebrates 39th Founders Day
Chatchanan Boonnak
Pattaya’s Hard Rock Hotel celebrated the 39th anniversary
of the first-ever Hard Rock Cafe with a three-day party that benefitted the
environment, Pattaya school children and hamburger lovers.
Black Head performs at the Hard Rock Founders Day celebration.
Festivities kicked off June 12 as the Melisa Cosgrove
Foundation and about 80 students from Ban Amphor School joined Hard Rock
staff in cleaning up a kilometer of Pattaya Beach. That activity was
followed by a party and dinner for the kids at the hotel.
The next night the Hard Rock Cafe hosted a concert by top
Thai band “Black Head,” which drew a lot of interest from cafe customers.
The big bash came June 14, the day of the first Hard Rock
Cafe’s opening, with a giant hamburger eating contest. The winner was
Suwasan Kantaanataporn, who received a souvenir from the Hard Rock Cafe.
Further activities were led by General Manager Jorge Carlos Smith, who cut
the anniversary cake.
Hard Rock Cafe was first established in London on June
14, 1971, by Peter Morton and Isaac Tigrett. There are 130 branches of the
Hard Rock Cafe - three in Thailand - and 10 Hard Rock Hotels.
Suwasan Kantaanataporn won the hamburger eating contest.
Hard Rock staff serves ice cream to the children from
the
Melisa Cosgrove Foundation and Ban Amphor School.
The race is on! Who can eat their hamburger the fastest?
General Manager Jorge Carlos Smith and friends cut the
anniversary cake.
The Melisa Cosgrove Foundation and about 80 students from Ban Amphor
School join Hard Rock staff in cleaning up a kilometer of Pattaya Beach.
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