Combined Chambers take on charity angle thanks to CanCham

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The Thai Canadian Chamber of Commerce kicked of the annual Beaver Invitational Charity Golf Tournament with a networking event, bringing golfers and benefactors together to raise money for the People Eye Care Foundation (P.E.C.F.) of Thailand.

This combined chamber of commerce event in April was a little out of sync as it was only two weeks after the previous one, but this was due to the fact that it was actually placed to coincide with the Beaver Invitational Charity Golf Tournament, which was hosted by the Thai Canadian Chamber of Commerce (CanCham).

Canadian Ambassador to Thailand H.E. Philip Calvert (second left) hands the Ambassador’s Cup to Duff Sobey (middle) at the Award banquet for the Beaver Invitational Charity Golf Tournament held at the Amari Orchid hotel.

The networking took place on Friday the 1st of April at the Amari Pattaya’s Tavern By the Sea, and had a distinctly casual feel to it as most of the attendees had golf as opposed to networking on their minds. The event also was mostly made up of CanCham members.

However, there was a fair smattering of many of the familiar faces that attend the combined chambers, including Simon Mathews from Manpower services, Kevin Fisher from CEA logistics, Peter Malhotra from Pattaya Mail, Frank Holzer Mhg Thailand, and of course the general manager of the Amari Pattaya, Rob Rijinders along with Resident Manager Richard Gamlin.

Salinthip Rodtassana, executive assistant at the Belgian-Luxembourg/Thai Chamber of Commerce and Melinee Khienkhaugplu.

The venue was very well attended and the staff were constantly refilling glasses of beer or wine, and a good selection of snacks and ribs kept the bellies full.

Four young ‘pretties’ were seen selling raffle tickets which would be drawn the following evening after the golf.

The Beaver Invitational Charity Golf Tournament sees the Thai Canadian Chamber of Commerce once again joining forces with the Flying Farangs Hockey Club and the next day 150 golfers took to the greens at Phoenix golf course to enjoy a game of golf in aid of charity.

Scott Finsten, harbor master at Ocean Marina Yacht Club chats to Richard Gamlin, resident manager at Amari Pattaya.

The golf was a great success raising approximately 100,000 baht for charity and the prize giving once again took place at the Tavern by the Sea.

This year the funds would go to the People Eye Care Foundation (P.E.C.F.) of Thailand, a volunteer medical outreach organization that travels to rural community hospitals each month, performing cataract eye surgery on those who could not otherwise afford this important medical help.

Kevin Fisher, managing director at CEA Project Logistics, Rob Rijnders, general manager at Amari Pattaya, and Peter Malhotra, managing director at the Pattaya Mail Media Group.

It involves a dedicated team of 2-3 ophthalmologist surgeons, 6-10 nurses, auxiliary staff and volunteers who donate their time to carry out weekend Eye Missions, restoring sight to anywhere between 100 – 150 patients blinded by cataracts. The dust and sun from working long hours in the fields in rural areas of Thailand can cause the early development of serious cataracts.

The next combined chamber will be held at the Centara Grand Mirage on Friday the 22nd of April. Full details will be in the Community Happenings pages of the Pattaya Mail.

John Steven, vice president at the CanCham gives a welcoming speech to the audience.

Attractive ladies from Hooters Pattaya selling raffle tickets.

Simon Matthews from Manpower, Chatchada Howard, Jim Howard and Pichaya Nitikarn, PR manager at Amari Pattaya.

Simon Matthews from Manpower, Duenpen Poolsukkho, director of sales at Holiday Inn, Unchalee Chamnithurakarn, senior sales manager at Holiday Inn, Kelly Gailes, executive director at CanCham and Jay Suksamarn, manager-sales at Amari Pattaya.

Les Walsh, managing director at Ministry of Golf, Michael White, director at CanCham, Kelly Gailes, executive director at CanCham, John Stevens, vice president at CanCham, Ron Livingston, John Casella, Rob Rijinders, general manager at Amari Pattaya, and Oh Look Soon, chairman at the Singapore-Thai Chamber of Commerce.