PILC elects 2011 committee

Pattaya International Ladies Club’s 2011-2012 committee.

On Tuesday, February 1, 2011, the Pattaya International Ladies Club held their AGM lunch at the Hilton Hotel Pattaya. During the meeting, a new committee was elected for the 2011-2012 year.

New President Bea Grunwell was introduced by the Election Committee Chairman Mrs. Angela Poustie to over 100 ladies present.

Further positions include Anja Schoof and Ann Winfield as Vice Presidents, Laure Close Treasurer, Gillian Thom Welfare, Alvi Sinthuvanik Hospitality, Denise Bowles Newsletter, Sandra Schonherr Special Events, Peggy Wragge Trips an Activities, and Eva Johnson Secretary.

The plans are getting in place to welcome many new members to PILC, have a fun year and in the meantime raise money for local charitable projects.

The ladies were treated to a superb buffet lunch and our thanks go to the Hilton and their team.

Honda LPGA tourney golfers plant trees to battle global warming

Golfers, sponsors and promoters pose
 for a commemorative photo during the tree planting event.

Phasakorn Channgam

Organizers and players with this week’s Honda LPGA Thailand 2011 golf tournament planted trees to combat global warning before hitting the links at Siam Country Club in Pattaya.

Atsushi Fujimoto, president of Honda Automotive (Thailand), and Wittaya Kunplome, head of the Chonburi Administrative Organization, joined Miss Thailand Universe 2010, television actors and the director of Channel 7 television at Nongprue Public Park Feb. 7 to plan several Golden Shower trees.

Channel 7 Managing Director Surang Prempree said the 1.3 million baht project begun in 2010 has already seen the planting of 999 trees at the entrance of Khao Chichan. Trees are being planted in five Pattaya-area parks.

He said the program was started to fulfill Honda’s wish to support the golf tournament’s host province. It’s hoped the trees both battle global warming and enhance the scenery of the Pattaya area.

Fujimoto said Honda takes global warming seriously and has set up an environmental committee to run projects aimed at preserving the environment.

The Feb. 17-20 tournament drew 50 top golfers for a 72-hole shootout with a purse of $1.45 million.

PCEC goes to school

Dr. Robert Brewitt, Superintendent of the International School Eastern Seaboard has a Doctor of Education degree from WSU, and a lengthy background in providing education in International Schools.

Master of Ceremonies Richard Silverberg welcomed everyone to the regular Sunday meeting of the Pattaya City Expats Club on February 6, 2011 at Amari Resort’s Tavern by the Sea. After the usual opening announcements, he introduced Dr. Robert Brewitt, Superintendent of the International School Eastern Seaboard. Rob has a Doctor of Education degree from Washington State University, USA, and a lengthy background in providing education in international schools. Rob first came to Thailand in 1983 and except for two brief (2 year) absences, has worked in Thailand. Rob has been the Superintendent of the International School Eastern Seaboard since 2006.

Rob said he initially started in Thailand with the International School Bangkok (ISB), which was one of only five licensed international schools in Thailand. These schools were either nonprofit or government sponsored. ISB was sponsored by the American Government; Patana was sponsored by the British Government, and Ruamrudee sponsored by the Thai Foreign Ministry who contracted with Jesuits to operate the school. These three and a fourth sponsored by the Thai Japanese Association were located in Bangkok. The fifth school was in Chiang Mai and was sponsored by Christian missionaries. Also, at that time, Thai children were not allowed to attend international schools.

He said that things began to change after the 1980 boom years resulted in an influx of many foreigners and their families. Soon, the existing international schools were at capacity. As a result, the government relaxed their restrictions and licensed more international schools as well as permitting Thai children to attend them.

Currently there are 122 international schools in Thailand with 21,000 students in Bangkok and another 9,900 in other parts of Thailand. There are about 4,000 non-Thai teachers employed by these schools. Also, there are two types of licenses for international schools; one is for schools that teach in English, but also have Thai language courses for their Thai students and the other is for schools that are bilingual with courses taught in Thai and English. Rob pointed out that if you are looking for an international school for your children, an important consideration is whether the curriculum is in English or is bilingual. Rob said that most of the international schools teach an American curriculum; but there are also schools that teach a British curriculum as well as some that have curriculums for Australia, Singapore, etc.

The demand for international schools outside of Bangkok came about when the Bureau of Investment (BOI) established incentives for businesses to develop outside of Bangkok. The BOI established 3 zones for businesses, the first being Bangkok which receive no incentives, the second being areas that border on Bangkok, including Chonburi Province, which receive some incentives, and the third being the rest of Thailand that receive all available incentives. Rob said that many may not be aware of why the driveway from Highway 331 to the Eastern Seaboard Industrial area is 7 km long. The reason is that the exit from Highway 331 is in Chonburi Province (Zone 2) and it is 7 km to the border with Rayong Province (Zone 3) where the industrial plants have located to get the BOI’s full incentives.

As a result of the buildup of industries in the Eastern Seaboard, the need for international schools increased. Thus schools such as the International School Eastern Seaboard (ISE), along with St. Andrews, Regents School, and others have begun operating. Most of these later international schools are private for profit schools.

Rob noted that one of the problems international schools have in Thailand is that one law governs all private schools. Consequently, academic schools are treated the same as a beauty school or a driving school with restrictions imposed, such as not being able to own the buildings where the school is located. Presently, the International Schools Association of Thailand is working with the Ministry of Education to change the law so international schools are treated differently from these other types of schools.

Rob concluded by mentioning several factors that a parent should consider in choosing an international school besides tuition, such as location, curriculum, extracurricular activities, and language.

After Rob answered many questions from the audience, Richard Silverberg updated everyone on upcoming events and called on Judith Edmonds to conduct the always informative and sometimes humorous Open Forum, where questions about living in Thailand and Pattaya in particular are asked and answered.

Rocking in the New Year on Serenity 71

Friends turn up in force to help celebrate.

Sue K

On the 6th of February, Tana and Jean Marie Obry celebrated the New Year and Jean’s birthday on their own Serenity, happily jointed in by their friends and families.

This Serenity is a 71 meter luxury cruise catamaran which is also available for commercial charter sailing off daily from Ocean Marina.

The boat took the party to several islands off the Pattaya coast, including Monkey Island where snorkelers explored the reefs and fish, while those who stayed on board enjoyed food and wine all day long.

By sunset, all were delivered safely back to the Ocean Marina pier which ended a lovely Sunday in the week of the Chinese New Year.

Happy Birthday Jean Marie.