US Ambassador casts an eye on Rayong
Herman
G. Rowland, the great, great grandson of the founder of Jelly Belly, and
Ambassador Kenney talk about how Jelly Belly’s are made.
Paul Strachan
At the start of this year’s CARAT exercises, the recently
appointed U.S. Ambassador to Thailand Kristie Kenney took some time away
from the capital and visited the Rayong area.
Her motorcade first arrived May 19 at 8:30 a.m. at the Chuksamet Pier in
Sattahip to board the USS Tortuga where she was given a tour of the ship
which has just returned from assisting with humanitarian operations in Japan
following the recent earthquake.
Her Excellency spoke with many of the crew and thanked them for their
continuing efforts.
Next the Ambassador and her aides made their way to a nearby community where
she was given an insight into the relationship between the US military and
Thai citizens.
Troops were putting the finishing touches to a basketball court that needed
a bit of weeding, a new paint job and new nets. This is done as part of the
US Navy’s Comrel (Community Relations) and it’s an opportunity for them to
become closer to the needs of Thai people. This in turn builds a bond
between them.
A brass band played, “When the Saints go Marching In” to welcome the
Ambassador, who handed out basketballs to many of the children. She was then
shown how the military assists with medical checkups and eye tests, and were
giving away spectacles to those in need who lived locally.
From here the delegation were transported to the new Ford manufacturing
plant.
This facility, due to open next year, is a testament to the benefits of
doing business in Thailand. Ford will use a mix of foreign experts and
managers, along with a vital Thai workforce and robots.
It will have an initial capacity of 150,000 cars a year, the first of which
will be the Ford Focus, and will create 2,200 jobs at the plant which sits
on about 70 acres.
The Ambassador was given an overview of the new plant and she said that Ford
was now a truly global company, bringing in the best from all over the world
to make a product that was once regarded as an American icon.
After a brief tour the ambassador was taken for a demonstration on the
parking system in one of the Fords on a specially designed area.
The Ambassador finished her day with some desserts at the Jelly Belly
factory where again she was given the hands on tour prior to her heading
back to Bangkok.
American citizens should note that the US Embassy will hold a consular day
in Pattaya on June 1st at the Dusit Thani hotel from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Consular services available will include Notarial Services and Certified
Copies, passport renewal applications, extra visa pages and questions
regarding social security, VA, or other federal benefits.
Ambassador Kenney meets the
troops aboard the USS Tortuga.
Sailors help Ambassador Kenney
distribute sports equipment to local students.
The US Ambassador to Thailand
cheers on the folks at the Ford factory in Rayong.
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PCEC does the Boogie Woogie
PCEC member Dennis Loeser introduces Frank Chase,
his long time friend and a piano bar entertainer, who had graciously agreed to
entertain the Club with a little Boogie Woogie, some Jazz, and other popular
tunes.
A little Boogie Woogie, some Jazz, and popular tunes were
heard coming from the Amari’s Tavern by the Sea Restaurant on Sunday May 15.
Also, was that Fats Domino, Ray Charles, and Louis Armstrong playing piano and
singing? No, it wasn’t the restaurant’s evening entertainment or famous
personalities; it was Frank Chase entertaining the Pattaya City Expats Club
members at their regular Sunday meeting. Frank has an extensive repertoire and
can play and sing in the styles of some very famous entertainers.
PCEC
members were happy to have member John Lyneham back from the UK for a short
visit. John kindly offered to MC for our meeting on the 15th of May.
To start things off, Master of Ceremonies John Lynham called
on fellow member Dennis Loeser to introduce Frank, his long time friend and
piano bar entertainer, who had graciously agreed to entertain the Club while
visiting Dennis here in Pattaya. Dennis, who previously owned a piano bar on the
island of Texel in the Netherlands, said that Frank was always a popular
attraction there and they had formed a good friendship that has lasted some 20
years. Dennis said Frank is a piano bar entertainer extraordinaire who has
played at many resort areas in the USA as well as in Europe, such as Amsterdam,
Switzerland, Italy, Denmark, England, and Scotland.
According to Frank’s biographical information, he started his piano bar playing
in the Northeastern USA at the age of 15. At 18 he studied at the Piano
Technical school in Columbus, Georgia, where he studied under Chris Christian, a
local Jazz and Blues pianist. From there, it was on to New Orleans where he
studied under Snookum Kussel, a great Bourbon Street Jazz & Boogie Woogie
player. While there he also started playing at Bonaparte’s Retreat, a small
blues bar in the French Quarter for wages of 10 cents for every drink sold plus
tips and free beer. In the 70’s, Frank toured with several rock bands, deciding
to play only solo piano in 1974. Since then, he has played in many piano bars in
New York, Vermont, and resorts in New England and as Dennis mentioned, he also
has entertained in several European countries.
Frank
gets ‘down and dirty’ with numbers by Fats Domino, Ray Charles, and Louis
Armstrong. Frank matched his extensive repertoire with lots of vocal effects
that made you think you were listening the ‘real deal’ - be it Fats, Ray or
Louis.
His biographical sketch was right on the money and he did not disappoint. Frank
didn’t waste any time, sitting down and immediately began with that well known
song “I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter.” This was followed by
many more, several that Frank humorously introduced, such as asking the audience
if any had been to the New Orleans Mardi Gras where “our ladyboys are in jock
straps and feathers” before singing “Mardi Gras Mambo.” Frank has mastered the
style of many world famous singers and he included several such as Louis
Armstrong (“What a Wonderful World”), Fats Domino (“Blueberry Hill”), Ray
Charles (“Hit the Road Jack”), and many more. He announced that he would
conclude with a song from the Wizard of Oz, which turned out to be the “Good Bye
Song,” to which Frank finished by saying, “You all thought it was going to be
‘Over the Rainbow,’ didn’t you?”
John Lynham finished up the meeting with upcoming events and calling on Hawaii
Bob Sutterfield to conduct the Open Forum. The Forum is where everyone has an
opportunity to ask questions and get answers, or offer comments that range from
recommending good restaurants to their fellow expats or saying what they thought
of the latest movies playing at the Pattaya theaters.
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PSC donates 300 bags of rice to disabled people in Nongprue
Sam and William prepare to
distribute the rice.
Pattaya Sports Club Charity Update
Nongprue Municipality officials have recently moved into
large, modern offices and are proud to call Nongprue a city. The council
covers a larger area than Pattaya City and, as a consequence, have
responsibilities to many disabled Thais in the area, for they need all the
help and guidance available.
That is why, attended by the Mayor of Nongprue, his deputy and many other
council officers, they held a meeting in the office grounds, for up to 300
disabled people with the intention of broadening their horizons and helping
them focus on the coming years.
The aim of the meeting was to:
1. Assure the rights of those with disabilities according to the law of
Thailand.
2. Assess the need for vocational training.
3. Plan for the years 2012 - 2016.
It was a long day but everyone took something from day’s activities and,
perhaps, information that will help them have a better life in the coming
years.
Pattaya Sports Club was approached and asked if we could provide a bag of
rice to each individual. Always willing to help, the decision was an easy
one for the committee to make and 300 bags of rice were delivered for those
attending.
All the officials in
attendance.
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