Sermsakdi, Richard Silverberg (MC), Michel, Max, Sithisin Ramyarupa, Senior
Vice President of Bangkok Bank, Pravit, Manager of Bangkok Bank on Second
Road, Elfi Seitz, editor of Pattaya Blatt, Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome,
Drew, Preben and Richard pose for posterity.
The Sunday, March 27, 2011 meeting at the Amari’s Tavern
by the Sea was a special day for the Pattaya City Expats Club. The club was
celebrating its 10th Anniversary. There were several distinguished guests in
attendance to offer their congratulations and well wishes.
Needless to say, there was a bit of reminiscing about the
start of the club in March 2001 and its history over the past 10 years from
two of the founding members and several past chairmen of the Board of
Governors. The formalities ended after the audience was entertained by some
lovely children from the Pattaya Orphanage and a ceremonial cutting of the
cake that was provided in honor of the occasion by the Amari Resort.
Max
Rommel, founding member and former Pattaya City Expats Club Chairman,
current Board member, and the Club Historian, spoke of the beginnings of the
club one decade ago.
To start things off, Master of Ceremonies Richard
Silverberg called on Michel de Goumois, current chairman of the club’s Board
of Governors, to say a few words and introduce the distinguished guests and
past club chairmen.
Michel thanked everyone for coming to this 10th
Anniversary celebration and mentioned that he became a member of the Club in
2003. He said what he really liked about the club was its free and easy
environment, the opportunity to meet and make friends with so many people
from many countries, and it’s Open Forum where anyone was free to make
comments or ask questions. Michel also acknowledged the work of many others
who currently or over the years gave of their time, money, and effort to
make the club a success.
He first called on long time member, former board
chairman, and current board member Richard Smith. Michel said the club
really owed a lot of its success to him as he was for several years the
person who did just about everything to keep the club going and growing.
Pattaya
City Expats was fortunate that Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome was able to take
some time from his busy schedule to congratulate the club.
Richard led off the reminiscing by mentioning that he
joined the club in 2002 and has been involved in all aspects of its earlier
years - getting speakers for the weekly meetings, writing the weekly
Newsletter, and running the club’s first website. He briefly commented on
his experience with the club and why he enjoyed being a member. One aspect
of the club’s success is that others have stepped into the duties that in
the earlier years consumed so much of his time.
Michel then called on Max Rommel, a founding member,
former club chairman, current board member, and the club’ historian to say a
few words. Max spoke of the beginnings of the club and how it was started by
a few individuals that saw the need for an organization of expats that could
help each other by sharing their experiences. From its first meeting with
only a few individuals, it quickly outgrew its initial meeting place and
about 8 years ago started meeting at the present location. Max said that he
has kept records and mementos since the club’s inception and is in the
process of developing a commemorative book celebrating the club’s first 10
years, which will be available in the near future.
Preben
Hansen, also a founding member, shares the club’s early history with
members.
Michel then asked local businessman and former chairman
Drew Noyes to say a few words. Drew described how the club developed its
first governing documents, necessary for acceptance by the Provincial
governor so that expats could meet together as the Pattaya Expats Club, the
reasons for its later name change to the Pattaya City Expats Club, and how
it survived a significant difference of opinion on whether it should become
a commercial organization or continue as a social organization. He said
these difficulties were overcome and the club has continued to be a social
organization whose primary purpose is for expats to continue to help their
fellow expats. Drew concluded by highlighting several notable events in the
club’s history.
Founding member Preben Hanson was also in attendance for
this great occasion and he also reminisced on the founding of the club and
the events surrounding its early years.
Long
time friend of PCEC members, Pravit, manager of Bangkok Bank on Second Road,
wishes the club all the best for the future.
The celebration concluded with Toy from the Pattaya
Orphanage thanking the club for its friendship and assistance to the
orphanage and in return, wanted to participate by having several of their
young charges perform a couple of dance routines in front of a banner they
had made congratulating the club on its 10th Anniversary.
Amari’s resident manager, Max Sieracki also offered his
congratulatory message as he presented the cake donated by the Amari, which
was ceremoniously cut by Michel with the assistance of the founding members
and former club chairmen.
Also, during the celebration, congratulatory messages
were provided by distinguished guests Mongol Thamakittikhun, Banglamung
District Chief; Itthiphol Kunplome, Pattaya City Mayor; Sithisin Ramyarupa,
Senior Vice President & Manager, Central Region 1 - Provincial Area for
Bangkok Bank; Pravit Pukasem, Vice President & Manager of Bangkok Bank’s
Pattaya 2nd Road Branch; and Elsie Seitz, Executive Editor of Pattaya Blatt
Newspaper.
Nai
Amphur (District Chief) of Banglamung, Mongol Thammakittikhun, congratulates
the club on its achievements, including the Cross Culture Programme
providing free English lessons for Thai staff in Pattaya government offices
& businesses, and to Royal Thai Navy at Sattahip.
Also on display were congratulatory letters received from
Mongkol, Itthiphol, Toy, and Sermsakdi, who were in attendance, as well as
from the Governor of Chonburi Province, the Deputy Governor of Trat
Province, the Photographer to the King, the President of the Pattaya
Business & Tourism Association, the Executive Director of Bangkok Hospital
Pattaya, the Executive Director of Phyathai Sriracha Hospital, and Vice
President Karen Campbell of the Bangkok Bank.
At the conclusion of the celebration, Richard Silverberg
then updated everyone on upcoming events and conducted the club’s popular
Open Forum, which is always informative; where questions are asked and
answered about living in Thailand, Pattaya in particular.
Toy’s
“Angels”, otherwise known as the delightful children from Pattaya Orphanage,
perform a traditional Thai dance to help PCEC members celebrate its ten
years.
Founding member Preben, Michel de Goumis (Current Chairman), and former
Chairmen Drew Noyes and Richard Smith make short work of blowing out the
candles.
Drew
presents Sermsakdi with the first piece of tenth birthday cake, recognising
all he has done for PCEC, especially in regards to cultural issues and
government liaison.
Toy
(rear, 2nd from left) and staff of Pattaya Orphanage pose with the their
‘angels’.
