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BCCT braves the Mezz
Dr. Iain Corness
The British Chamber of Commerce Thailand (BCCT) had much
to talk about at the latest networking evening held on the “Mezz” above the
Hard Rock Café on Beach Road.
Graham Macdonald BCCT Chairman.
The evening was sponsored by Steve Graham’s ESC group,
represented that night by Lenny Holden, an American, but made welcome by the
Brits. (People who supply alcohol to gatherings are always welcomed!) The
other sponsor was the Hard Rock people who supplied a range of finger food,
though the baguettes for the very nice ham did run out too soon!
There were several new faces at this networking evening,
including Joe Cox, Pattaya’s newest ‘dog man’ running the Defence
International Security Services, promising protection and safe conduct. All
this was on his business card in such microscopic type face that I defy
anyone to be able to read it after sundown without a magnifying glass! New
cards before the next meeting, Joe.
Some old faces had new cards, including Peter Mewes now
representing the HBS Law Firm and Consultant in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
However, with his propensity for breaking bones, he has tickets ready for
aerial ambulance medivac to the helipad on top of the Bangkok Hospital
Pattaya.
(L to R) Michael Walls, business development director for
G4S Security Services (Thailand) Limited; Stephen Frost, director of the
British Chamber of Commerce Thailand; and David Quine from YES Technologies.
The lovely ladies in attendance included the Bangkok
Hospital Pattaya’s international marketing executive Natt Pungkaew, the
Marriott’s sales coordinator Kaneungnuch Kongsub, Angela Whittaker from
Premier Pension solutions and Tooie Pangtao from the Northern Thai Group’s
insurance division.
Not just the Brits were in attendance, with the French
Connection being represented by Geoffroy Bousselin, the MD of Inergy
Automotive Systems and Damien Kerneis from Geodis Wilson. Having escaped the
guillotine after Bastille Day earlier that week, they were also there to
celebrate.
(L to R) Abhisit Pimaneekul, tax manager for KPMG
Phoomchai Tax Ltd.; and Chatchai Wiriyatammakul, plant manager of TRW
Steering & Suspension Co., Ltd.
Amongst the Bangkokians who come down regularly to
Pattaya was Colin Hastings, MD of the Big Chilli magazine. Several people
are saving money to present him with a razor for his birthday, as his
designer stubble clashes dreadfully with his taste in shirts.
Other regulars included Peter Smith from AA Insurance
Brokers, Mark Butters from RSM, Seth Effrikkan Maurice Bromley (Automotive
Focus Group) with his delightful Filipina wife Renita, Scotsman John L
Hamilton (Waste Management Siam), Kuwaiti Dr. Salam Hoshang (Asian
University), Paul (I can move anything) Wilkinson (AGS Four Winds), and Greg
Watkins the executive director of the BCCT.
(L to R) Peter Smith, director of AA Insurance Brokers
Co., Ltd.; Barry Main, sales & marketing director of Thaivisa.com; and
Jeffrey Burrows, Water Mark senior partner.
But the networking event did have much to celebrate,
including the election of local expat Graham Macdonald to the position of
Chairman of the BCCT, after the incumbent Mark Devadason, CEO of Standard
Chartered Bank Thailand, was transferred to Hong Kong. Graham, a long time
member of the BCCT, has been Vice Chairman since 2005.
Graham, who lists among his achievements being born in
Birmingham (and survived), has lived in Thailand for 16 years, and was a
co-founder of MBMG in 1995. He opened the Pattaya office later that year.
(L to R) Mark Bowling, sales manager for Colliers
International; and Mike Davey from Mermaid Offshore Services Ltd.
Graham is also chairman of the BCCT Eastern Seaboard
division and chairman of the BCCT Charity Group. He is well known for his
active support of charities, including Care for Kids where Graham has been
directly responsible for raising tens of millions of baht for the benefit of
underprivileged children.
He is also President of the Thailand branch of the Royal
British Legion Thailand and has been directly responsible for helping to
raise funds for veterans based in this country.
Graham is an avid lover of sport, and he recently toured
with the British Lions in South Africa, and is involved with the Panthers
Rugby Club on the Eastern Seaboard. He also enjoys the study of history,
literature, classical music, travel and movies.
(L to R) Lenny Holden, client liaison officer with
European Safety Concepts (Thailand) Company Limited; and Jorge Carlos Smith,
general manager of the Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya.
On taking over in the arduous position in the BCCT,
Graham said, “It is a great honor to become Chairman of the BCCT although I
do feel a bit like Mr. Chips. Needless to say, I will strive to look after
the members as best as I can for the rest of the year and I do not forget
that the Board is there to serve the membership at all times.”
It was a well attended evening, so much so that the beer
and wine supplies were temporarily embarrassed, but our new BCCT Chairman,
Graham Macdonald soon righted the situation, saying that this was his first
official duty as Chairman, and remembering his words that the “Board is
there to serve the membership at all times,” the libations resumed. Welcome
Chairman Graham Macdonald!
(L to R) Joe Cox, Defence International Security Services; Judy Hoppe,
Louis J. Van den Bergh, CEO 4A Properties; Michael Madigan, PE project
manager in the Program Management Office at Emerson.
(L to R) Armin Walter, production manager of EFTEC
(Thailand) Co., Ltd.; Chutima Konfai, director of sales for Holiday Inn
Pattaya; Unchulee Meesri, secretary to the director of sales at Amari Orchid
Pattaya; and Jiraporn Charoenpan, sales manager of Fraser Resort Pattaya.
Year 13 GIS students achieve outstanding
results in IB examinations
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Jaemin Shin. |
Stian Jonsgard. |
Mr. Ian Fraser
IB Coordinator, GIS
It has been another banner year for Garden International
School, Rayong with the release of IB subject examination results on July
6th. 14 students nervously awaited these results after completing final
examinations for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in May
2010.
Tanya Sookmanus.
The top three students at GIS - Tanya Sookmanus, Jaemin
Shin and Stian Jonsgard - achieved IB Diplomas with superb scores of 40, 39
and 37 out of a maximum possible total of 45 points. This total is based on
6 subjects as well as overall performance in the IB Extended Essay and
Theory of Knowledge components.
Other students gained excellent total scores, with the
overall average being 33 points, one of our highest ever. 13 students
obtained full IB Diplomas giving GIS a pass rate of 93%!
GIS has proudly offered the well respected and
internationally recognised IB Diploma programme since 1997. In that time we
have had over 50 successful graduates who have carried the GIS flag at
international students at many prestigious universities worldwide.
The Diploma Programme is a challenging and stressful two
year course but the rewards are worth it. You will gain an international
perspective to your studies, learn to think critically, be able to question
all forms of knowledge with Theory of Knowledge lessons and, at the end of
two years, be able to open doors to some of the world’s finest universities
with an IB Diploma.
Well done to all the Year 13 IB students and their
teachers for producing these fantastic results. We now eagerly await results
for our next graduating class in 2011.
Well done to all the Year 13 IB students
and their teachers for producing fantastic results.
Jesters Journal - “We care for kids”
Jesters Care for Kids Charity Drive 2010 sponsored by Glencore International, Canadian Jackalope Open and Devil Creek Development Project
Lewis Underwood
Independence charity fest at Richman Poorman goes huge for the kids
Earlier this month, Richman Poorman Guesthouse on Soi 9
in Jomtien hosted a 3-day event that spanned Canada Day and American
Independence Day with a golf tournament in between. The organizers of this
fest were Eddie Behr, Steve Gray and George Knickerbocker.
Tres amigos - Eddie Behr, Steve Gray and George Knickerbocker.
Last year on this same occasion, these same 3 guys threw
together a hastily organized event and raised 50,000 baht for the Jesters
Care for Kids Charity Drive. This year they vowed to go bigger and did they
ever!
This time their goal was 100,000 baht, which they not
only realized but also surpassed with 135,500 baht in at last count!
Kudos and gratitude to Eddie, Steve, George, and all
those who donated funds, sponsored food, event shirts, raffle prizes and
bought raffle tickets. The hard-working staff at Richman Poorman also helped
ensure the success of the event.
Canadian Jackalope Open is coming up fast on Friday,
August 6th!
One of the main sponsors for our charity drive once again
is the Canadian Jackalope Open. They have been Diamond Sponsors (400,000
baht donors) for the last 3 consecutive years and are currently in the final
phase of planning for their 12th annual charity golf tournament. All
proceeds go to the Camillian Social Center, specifically kids who are living
with not only HIV but also disabilities. For more information, please see
their website: http://jackalopeopen.awardspace.com.
Jesters Children’s Fair is only 51 days away on Sunday, September 12th!
That’s right our annual family outing is coming up
unbelievably fast and the fair grounds are looking better than ever. The
conference hall at the Diana Garden Resort and Driving Range is now complete
and offers more access, shady sitting and space than before. We already have
new activities and games planned, including a new bouncy castle.
In addition, the ever popular Pop’s Cool Zone for budding
musicians sponsored by Rick Bryant will be happening again, as will the
Clough/Geckotech climbing wall and Horseshoe Point extravaganza. GMM Grammy
has also promised some new, up and rising stars to headline our event.
Jesters Party Night is 57
days away on Saturday, September 18th!
Yeah, and don’t forget our final event 6 days after the
Fair, which is an evening at Jameson’s Irish Pub with auction biddings,
raffle drawings and entertainment. Our top GR prizes, include Honda Scoopy-i,
Qcars rental voucher (value 30,000 baht), 2 night stay in Rachamankha Hotel
in Chiang Mai, Southern Star Resort (one month stay voucher) and more stay
vouchers for Marriot Bangkok and Hua Hin, Centara Grand Mirage in Naklua,
Pinnacle Hotel in Jomtien, Bangkok and Samui, and Anantara Hotel in Hua Hin
and Si Kao.
GR tickets are on sale now at Jameson’s and many other
outlets.
If you visit our website, you can also make bids on
auction items now, as well as access more information. Please visit our
website at www.care4 kids.info, or send us an email at
[email protected].
Veterans
remember the missing during the Canadian
and American day festivities at
Richman Poorman.
German ambassador marks 20 years of reunification
Ambassador Hanns Schumacher delivers his opening speech.
Elfi Seitz
German Ambassador Hanns Schumacher marked 20 years since
the reunification of East and West Germany with a “Unity, Justice, Liberty”
exhibition in Bangkok and the debut of the documentary “Skytrain to Siam.”
In his opening speech, Schumacher stressed the important
role reconciliation - a term much heard in Thailand these days - in healing
the divide in German society two decades ago.
The exhibition, in the lobby of the German embassy,
highlights photographs and text about the rejoining of the democratic and
communist nations after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
The ambassador then joined about 150 others in watching
the documentary, which illustrated the 150 years of political economic ties
between German and Thai states.
Free falling for charity
Paul Strachan
There is no getting away from it, Tracy Cosgrove is a
formidable woman, a woman who manages to touch the lives of others with the
work she does here in Thailand and in Myanmar helping children and even the
elderly. She also has a major influence on those who hear about the work
that she does.
It had been18 years since John Howarth’s last jump, but
he took to it like a duck to water.
So, could you imagine that a casual chat over a beer
would lead to you jumping out of a perfectly good airplane? Well, that’s
what happened on Saturday the 10th of July at an airfield not far from Laem
Chabang.
John Howarth, along with Tracy’s son Paul and his friend
Nathan and two guys from the Hard Rock Hotel here in Pattaya, wanted to get
some thrills and do their bit to help Tracy’s projects working with the
Melissa Cosgrove Children’s Foundation. So they contacted Thaiskydive
Adventures and set up a parachute jump for charity.
Thaiskydive Adventures has been running now for about
eight months and has quickly become the premier sky-diving facility in
Thailand. And John Howarth is no stranger to extreme sports having done
hundreds of jumps. However, he hadn’t done any in about 18 years, so a nice
way of getting back in the saddle, or rather harness, was to do a tandem
jump, and this again is one of the specialties of Thaiskydive Adventures.
John Howarth receives a trophy for his fund raising
efforts from Tracy Cosgrove (left) and a youngster from the Melisa Cosgrove
Foundation.
John has been campaigning for sponsorship for the last
month or so and managed to raise 110,000 baht. This is a fantastic effort,
especially in these hard times, but John was relentless. Perhaps Tracy’s
enthusiasm rubbed off on him.
It was a busy day at the airfield and because of the
numbers, John went from doing his dive at 11 a.m. to a re-scheduled 1:30
p.m. This might have put others on edge, but John was raring to go.
Paul and Nathan were first to take to the skies. This was
the first time either of them had tried anything like this and there was a
mix of eager anticipation and jitters as they received there safety briefing
from the Thaiskydive Adventures team.
After landing safely, Paul, Kawee and Promporg each
receive medals from a child looked after by the Melisa Cosgrove Foundation.
However, any trepidation was soon forgotten, and
afterwards they both exclaimed they thoroughly enjoyed the experience. In
fact Paul insisted that he do some somersaults just as they jumped out of
the plane.
Next it was the turn of Kawee Suwanchartphan and Promporg
Pimaiklang from the Hard Rock. Kawee had raised 18,000 baht and Promporg
20,000 from kind guests at the hotel. Again they were both virgins when it
came to skydiving but they both had a great time. Kawee was positively
buzzing when he touched down.
Then it was John, the oldest but the most experienced by
far. He was given his briefing then he was off, or rather up and away.
Although it had been a long time since John had done
anything like this, he took it in his stride, as it must be like riding a
bike but no, that’s not why they call it tandem skydiving.
He had a great time, indeed they all did. They each
received a DVD of their jump and Pattaya Mail Television was there to
capture the day.
A video showing the whole thing is now available on
YouTube - just go to the Pattaya Mail profile on YouTube to see the
buzz that John and the guys got from this exiting day.
There is a rumor that another jump will be arranged in
December and perhaps even I will take part, all to help Tracy and the
Melissa Cosgrove Children’s Foundation.
If you would like to know more about the foundation
please go online to: www.mccf.uk.com
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