Pattaya Expats Club Meeting of April 2, 2005

Pattaya Expats Club
Saturday meeting April 2, 2005 at the GRAND SOLE HOTEL.

www.pattayaexpatsclub.com
Founder of Association of Thailand Expats Clubs (A.T.E.C)

E NEWSLETTER 6 April 2005

Dear Pattaya Expats Club Members & Friends

SATURDAYS at 1100 A.M. PATTAYA EXPATS CLUB Presents
SATURDAY LUNCHTIME KEYNOTE SPEAKERS & CONVERSATION for 9 April 2005.

For all Pattaya s Expats, come and join us at our new venue at THE GRAND SOLE HOTEL, Second Road, Pattaya. (Mid-way between Central Road and North Road, on the right hand side going towards the Dolphin roundabout.

GUEST SPEAKERS LINE UP April 9, 2005. Supplied by Denis Laurin

German Born Monica Rottman will be the guest speaker this coming Saturday.
She is from the BANGKOK PATTAYA HOSPITAL and instead of speaking to us about
the disciplines of Health, she will be talking from the Administrative standpoint being
with the International Department where her function is helping expats with Health
Insurances. In other words, any insurance you may have from whatever country you
may be from, she will help you with it and she will be able to answers questions
pertaining to this important health matter. The questions that have burned your lips for
answers, now will be the time to ask them.

Another first at the PATTAYA EXPATS CLUB. One of our members, Roger Carino
was at the Bangkok Pattaya Hospital and had some trouble to get a discount with
his PEC Card. You will now be able to overcome these annoyances because he was
told that as of this Saturday, you will be able to fill in a form from the Hospital that will
be permanent in your hospital records. The form will be available this Saturday for
you to fill out. Do Not FORGET you BPH Card with your Hospital Record
Number you will need this in order to fill in this form this properly. BPH working hand in hand with your PEC.


On our Weekly Draw, we will have three prizes for you. We have a dinner for two from
Khun Roger from House of Munchen located in Naklua. Mr. Roger was kind enough to
bring the vouchers himself to our meeting at the Grand Sole. Thanks Roger.

We also have Andy Fricker from Subway in Carrefour located in Pattaya Klang that will
offer us a couple free subs at this busy store.

Finally but not the least, we will have 2 vouchers for 2 persons to see the ALANGKARN
EXTRAVAGANZA SHOW. Presenting a first ever modern and fully equipped
Performance Theater in Pattaya with 70 meters in length, plus multiple special effects
from lighting, color, surround sound and fireworks, all combined to create greatness
of an unimaginable magnitude. Simply magnificent.


REPORT MEETING PATTAYA EXPATS CLUB of April 2-2005

Many attendants again in the Grand Sole hotel, who all got the 2nd Expats Information bulletin, 11 pages of info about what s going on in the Expats Club, upcoming events and activities, MC Brian Maxey welcomed the newcomers and mentioned that Singha Gold is added to the bar stock. From now on there s only one buffet breakfast-entry ticket at 75 baht and only at 65 bath for members, whose ticket numbers also participate in the lucky draw. Brian asked everybody to silence their mobile phones, while meeting manager Denis Laurin showed off the stylish wine red shirts with the Expats Club-logo that the production team now wears. No national remembrance day in the world this week, but he put forward some interesting upcoming Thai events, prior to a cry out for volunteers, enabling rotation so the ones who sell tickets etc, get informed first hand and can socialize properly, and that s exactly why they became a member in the first place.

After dance and show last week, now psychology after breakfast, because the guest speaker was UK born James Lane, creator of the What If personal development program. He explained how the fear of failure can make life hard for us. Because no schools teach children how to deal with life, which James regrets as children are our future, many people cannot handle feelings like worry, frustration, confusion or stress; the latter can be a killer. Actually they re all thoughts in our subconscious minds. If you try to find the essence behind these thoughts, try to deal with your emotions, they can become facts that you are aware of in the left side of your brain, where the conscious mind, the logic, resides. Then you can learn to improve the things that cause your fears. He also talked about this subject when having a relationship, especially a Thai-Farang one. It s important to listen to one another and understand each other s thoughts. As a result of a different history and culture, Thai brains are not less clever, but far less divided in a right and left side, which makes it harder to be on the same level. Then he introduced Khun Sombat, who studied, worked and lived in England for over 15 years and is able to analyse the differences between the two cultures even better. With some funny but appealing examples he made us clear that the language-barrier makes understanding so much more difficult, that we must try hard to get to know what a partner really wants and realize that Thai people are very devoted to their family and (maybe) because of the climate-differences, have warmer social hearts than most farang. Then both men answered the questions from the crowd and we learned that when your lady says up to you, that does not necessarily have to mean she is indifferent or servile. If you are able to decode the tone of the words it might as well mean, yes darling I would love to, or damn it, not that boring bar again. If you need help or advice from this speaker, call the free What If help line: 0-1398-7346 or e-mail james@whatifudo.com.

Sad news. Bill, the owner of Rosie O Grady in Soi 7 recently passed away.

The ladies now formed a group and are getting going. Their get together starts at 12.00 after they have enjoyed breakfast. They challenge the men to join them in a hill run they have organized on Mondays and Thursdays between 5-6 PM at the steep hill in South Pattaya, near Pratamnak and Thappraya road. .

Many winners in the lucky draw. Rudy, the owner of Opsinjoor was there to offer a dinner for 2 in his cozy, comfortable restaurant in Soi Day & Night and also 2 free cocktails for other winners. Above that 2 valuable tickets (1000 bath each) to the magnificent Alangkarn-show were up for grabs. Next 4 meetings there will be 2 tickets to Alangkarn to win again each week!

After Club President Niels Colov reminded us of the fact that the 600 baht-tickets for the unique bilingual dinner with the Pattaya police chief-event on Sunday April 24 at 18.30 (in this room) have to be bought in advance quickly because only 250 people can join, the meeting was wrapped up with the Open Microphone Forum. Many questions and vital answers were flying through the room. Among the items: electroplating, bank account demands for residents, what if you lose documents to ownership, what if a person that signed such a document dies, is an international driving license valid, can you get a visa for an emergency-surgery abroad and we even got some useful visa-advice that came in by e-mail from overseas. SEE YOU!
Peter Visser

OUR CLUBHOUSE THAI LAWYER and.Pattaya lawyer Khun Ponthep Werachon is a Board Member of Pattaya Expats Club, and attends regularly in the Saturday Club Meetings to give advice and answer general questions on Law. Khun Ponthep also appears on the weekly news programme Legal Vision on Pattaya People Television on Sophon Cable TV and has valuable information about Thail laws.

WEEKLY EMCEE
Hi, I'm Brian Maxey (kop1bj-pecmc@yahoo.com)
~ 2 April meeting - Bubbly meeting today, had the feeling something was going to happen - and it did!
Psychology with humour - and new jackets - sorry for the poor sound, it will improve.

~ We introduced the 'new' tickets - had a couple of 'teething' problems, but all in all they worked like a dream. You get to leave with a small ad in your pocket, so the next time there's a gap in the conversation you can produce this and say "Have you seen this?" - All your friends can ask what it is.

~ Don't forget to retain the large part of your entry ticket as your proof of purchase & verification for the Lucky Draw Winner to claim the prize (please have your membership card handy).
Ticket prices are 65 baht for members (on production of a current PEC membership card), 75 baht for non-members, and include the buffet and tea & coffee. There is a Bar with 'Happy Hour' prices (60 baht for Heineken, 25 baht for Chang).

~ A lucky winner received free dinner tickets to a restaurant - another won tickets to Alangkarn Super-show - yet two more won free cocktails at a restaurant - more prizes next week! See details elsewhere in this newsletter.

~ If you feel you would like to offer your services, and 'volunteer' to assist our Club in any way you choose, please tell us what you feel you could offer, or just help out in general. We need at least a second person for each of the many aspects you see at the meeting, and many more in the background. It may only be a couple of hours a week - please come forward. Don't let it all stagger to a halt, it's too good to lose!! Denis is desperate for an assistant. The boys & girls outside the meeting room need a chance to catch up on a meeting too - why not stand in for them for a day - what a nice gesture. Come on, this is our club - please help oil the wheels (email Denis: djlauri@loxinfo.co.th). Right now we are looking for a couple of people to help Niels with the MC slot while I holiday. Just a few minutes, handling one of the many aspects of the MC job - it's great fun, believe me! The audience is always friendly.

~ Greg, of the Sunset Café, right next to the Grand Solé Hotel, has offered a 15% discount to members who can show a current card. Thanks Greg.

~ This Newsletter is always available on our website http://www.pattayaexpatsclub.com/newsletter.htm, and is also available as a 'BLOG' on http://pattayaexpatsclub.blogspot.com which you can access direct.

~ The Club's 'Chat Forum' link is: http://s8.invisionfree.com/expats/index.php? You will need to set up a username the first time you visit, but the forum is an excellent place to 'talk' to people worldwide about anything you want to know - try it.

~ The 'Open Microphone Forum' had time for the varied subjects covered this week. We again launched the 'formal' notices a little before 11:30, which allowed for a full & busy event from 1130 onwards, and although we always have to cut short the Q&A we covered a wide variety of topics.
Those attending certainly come for the entertainment, they also come for the social aspects of 100+ expats gathering in one place, but they tell us that they especially come to have their questions asked & answered, and I hate to have to cut-short a good Q&A session.
(Please note the German speaking group will follow us at 1315)
If you attend both events, you only need ONE ticket.

~ We get far fewer questions relating to visas these days. Many folks comment that the website - visa section - answers many of their questions - if only you have the time to read it carefully a couple of times.
http://www.pattayaexpatsclub.com/visa_help.htm
The Thai Consulate in Hull (UK) has recently updated their website of very helpful information on obtaining various visas. Those in UK can download forms for application. (http://www.thaiconsul-uk.com)

~ A 'left-over' question from the meeting. Where can one get 'electro-plating' done? A member has an old metal object he wants re-plating.

~ Also, is there someone who could help an inexperienced computer user with his software problem? He has repeated problems with "Your IE has run into a small problem and will shut down, do you wish it to restart? If this continues please inform Microsoft". Microsoft haven't been able to help him. If you are prepared to spend 30 minutes looking at the problem, he would be very grateful.

~ (email from a member) Thought you might like to know how things work at the Bangkok Immigration, Philip.
Got my new 1yr Visa extension Friday no problems, good until March 2006& the ONLY papers I showed was from HSBC Bank, 800,000 baht on a 5yr fixed deposit + a 'new' medical Certificate + a certificate from City Hall stating I own a house.
I asked the officer after getting the Visa about the need to bring in more money. She said that because I brought in 4.5 million (for house etc), that would be looked back on, and would qualify for at least 6 years.

~ Our webmaster tells me that the 'new' email newsletter delivery program has shown up some interesting results. The program lists 'failed deliveries'. The 3 email handlers with the most 'failures' on our system are AOL, Hotmail, and Loxinfo. The suggestion is that these handlers have VERY strong 'filtering programs', and block many of your 'normal' emails. Note that both Yahoo and Google offer free email with 2 Gb storage. Alternatively, if you place info@pattayaexpatsclub.com in the address book of your email service, it will help.

~ We went through the collective exercise of 'turning off our mobile phones' at the beginning of the meeting this week. Only heard one during the event, and I couldn't actually find the culprit!

~ Please remember, the hotel cannot serve Decaffeinated Coffee at the meeting, although they do provide 'low-fat' & 'low-calorie' sweetener. Hot water is available for your own sachets of choice.

~ There is NO SMOKING anywhere in the Auditorium. There are two balconies available for smoking, private conversations, and telephone calls.

~ Keep the emails coming, tell us what you think of our club & it's many aspects, in it's new venue. Tell us what you like, tell us what you think is missing, tell us anything you want - always happy to know someone's listening.

~ Songkran starts soon! Whoopee!

~ Plenty of 'parking' at the Grand Solé.

~ See you next Saturday 11:00am (1130 program start) at the Grand Solé Hotel, 2nd Road (north) (between Tops & Big C supermarkets) - introduce a friend.
Brian. (kop1bj-pecmc@yahoo.com)



The Pattaya Expats Club is honoured to have the following:

HONORARY BOARD ADVISORS:

General Chatchai Tammaraksah, Personal General to His Majesty the King
Khunying Tidarat Tammaraksah, Assistant to Her Majesty the Queen
Khun Niran Wattanasasatorn, Mayor of Pattaya City
Khun Chanyut Hengtrakool, Member of Parliament
Pol. Col. Somnuk Changate, Superintendent of Pattaya Police Station
Khun Sansak Ngampiches, Owner of Grand Sole Hotel and senior politician in Pattaya
Khun Revat Pholookin, Senior politician in Pattaya
Khun Sanga Kitsamrej, Owner of the SK Group of companies and President of UPE
Khun Surat Mekavarakul, Owner of Mike business group
Khun Somchai Manothavorn, Advisor to the Mayor of Pattaya
Khun Sopin Theppajug, Owner of Diana Group of companies
Dr. Prasan Stianrapapongs, Specialist in Preventative Medicine at Bangkok Pattaya Hospital
Kru Yodthong Senanan, Most respected teacher of Thai Boxing
Khun Porramate Inthornchumnom, Prosecutor at Pattaya Court
Khun Paisan Bundityanon, Owner of Rabbit Resort Pattaya
Khun Suttikorn Jearpaitoon, Owner of Alangkarn Pattaya

CLUB BOARD MEMBERS

Club President & CEO, Niels Colov
Club Founder & Web-Master, Pete Mills.
Honorary Co-Founder, Preben Hansen
Club Vice Presidents, Pete Mills & Richard Ravensdale
Club Secretary (Memberships & Speakers), Denis Laurin
Board Secretary & Newsletter Editor, Bernard Leach
Club Treasurers, Michael Mayne & Paul Sinclair.
Board Members Herman van Gucht, William Hurndell, Colin de Jong, Brian Maxey, Peter B. Piedferme, Khun Ponthep Werachon, and Khun Laddawan Yingyong.
DIRECTORS OF P.E.C.CO.LTD.
F. Moret, M. Withers

Here is a calendar of World Events.

~ Tue-12-Apr-05 THE VEGETARIAN CLUB OF PATTAYA - 2nd Tuesday of the month 1800. Cost 99b For further information call: Niels Colov: 01-8154580
~ Wed-13-Apr-05 Songkran - Thailand's traditional New Year 'cleaning festival'
~ Fri-22-Apr-05 International Earth Day: April 22
~ Sat-23-Apr-05 St George Day - England, Portugal, Germany, Aragon, Genoa and Venice
~ Mon-25-Apr-05 Australia's ANZAC Remembrance Day
~ Sun-01-May-05 Visakha Bucha. Important Buddhist festival - Thailand
~ Sun-01-May-05 Labour day - worldwide
~ Mon-02-May-05substitute Labour day - worldwide
~ Thu-05-May-05 Coronation Day - Thailand
~ Sat-07-May-05 Royal Ploughing day
~ Sun-08-May-05 Mother's Day: Sunday, May 8
~ Tue-17-May-05 Norway's National day & Children's day
~ Sun-22-May-05 Visakha Bucha Day Public Holiday - important Buddha day
~ Mon-23-May-05 substitute Vasakha Bucha day
~ Mon-30-May-05 UK Public Holiday
~ Mon-30-May-05 USA Memorial Day
~ Tue-31-May-05 Earliest sunrise in Pattaya for the year
REGULAR MEETINGS OF GROUPS IN PATTAYA
Saturday - The Pattaya Expats Club - meet every Saturday morning 11:00am (start 11:30), at the "Grand Solé Hotel" (in the Teppraya Room, up on the Mezzanine level), 370 Pattaya 2nd Road (north), near the Tourist Police office. PEC information call (in Thailand) 0 1815 4580.

Saturday - UK Club of Pattaya meet each week at a different location at 1:00pm (1300). Call 038-426098 for venue

Saturday - The PRILL (a classical music trio) will be performing in the Lobby of the Bangkok/Pattaya Hospital 10:30am to mid-day (1030-1200). Performances every 1st Saturday of the month in the Lobby.

Saturday - Free Masons, Lodge Pattaya West Winds. Every 2nd Sat of the month. Call Jon Morgan 012999574

Sunday - The Scandinavian Expats of Pattaya - meet at Soi 4 Tower Condo every second Sun. Call John 015236080 or Per 070833834.

Monday - Rotary Club of Pattaya - meet at Town in Town hotel each Monday from 7:00pm (1900). Contact: 018154580.

Monday - Pattaya International Ladies Club (PILC) Special meeting for 'newcomers' 4th Monday of each month. Contact Patricia Cromwell email PILC262@yahoo.com

Monday - Pattaya Bridge Club. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 13.00 pm Diana Inn, Second Road, between Soi 11 and 12. Contact janchris@ji-net.com

Tuesday - Pattaya International Ladies Club (PILC) Morning coffee meeting every 3rd Tuesday of the month. Also PILC Lunch meeting every 1st Tuesday of the month. Special meeting for 'newcomers' 4th Monday of each month. Contact Patricia Cromwell for locations and speakers, or email PILC262@yahoo.com

Tuesday - Lions Club of Naklua Pattaya, meet Green Park Hotel 4th Tuesday of the month. Contact Sathawat Senapan 038222288

Wednesday - Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya, Royal Cliff Grand from 1830. Call Judy Hoppe 099302004

Wednesday - Lions Club of Jomtien - meet at Town in Town hotel each 2nd Wednesday of the month. Call Peter 038303072.

Thursday - Rotary Club of Taksin-Pattaya meet each week at Woodlands Resort 1900. email tropicfr@gmx.ch

Thursday - Lions Club of Pattaya meet each 3rd Thursday of the month at A-One Cruise hotel. Contact Yongwith Kiewthong 038249162

Thursday - Lions Club of Phratamnak meet each 2nd Thursday of the month at A-One Cruise hotel. Contact Surat Permwallop 038421782

Thursday - Computer Club meet at DCO shop Central Road 1600. Contact email psca@Loxinfo.co.th

Friday - Dutch Expats Club meet last Fri of every month at Sea Breeze Hotel Jomtien Beach Road (near Soi 10), email koger@Loxinfo.co.th

Friday Night - The Pattaya Motorcycle Club meets at the "Old Speckled Hen" pub, Soi 9, Jomtien Beach from 8 p.m. Meet new friends and enjoy "Bike Club Happy Hours" 8 till 10 with 10 baht off all beers and soft drinks and 15 baht off all spirits. New runs to be organized from day trips to the beach to 2, 3 or 4 day tours to?? Contact Martin 09 9909342 or Az 09 9356011

Every Day - Alcoholics Anonymous meet every day of the week 1900 at Soi Skaw Beach. Call Jim 038303285, Craig 019967852, Tony 068403055, Hanns 019849501, Christain (German) 018634581
Every Day - Pattaya Sports Club meets at 3rd Road clubhouse every day 0900-1800. contact 038361167.
Nordic Society Pattaya - all Nordic citizens welcome. Contact Ingemar 098244997.

CONTACTS & CONTRIBUTIONS to our weekly E NEWSLETTER. Bernard Leach is the editor of our Club Newsletter, members with NEWS OR ANNOUNCEMENTS should email in by WEDNESDAY 12 NOON at bernjill@hotmail.com. Club Members seeking advice on practical topics such as Visas, work permits or services needed, please send an email direct to our MC and Open Microphone Forum specialist Brian Maxey at kop1bj-pecmc@yahoo.com. If Brian cannot answer your question from his own knowledge of Pattaya he'll forward on to someone who can. Member's emails on club business and policy issues please send to either Club President, Niels Colov dragone@loxinfo.co.th. Club Founder & Vice President Pete Mills on info@pattayaexpatsclub.com or Vice President Richard Ravensdale richardexpatsclub@yahoo.co.uk

ADVANCE SPEAKERS PROGRAMME. Please think of offering the Club a speaker of your choice on a theme you think members may find interesting. Contact Pattaya Expats Club Secretary, Denis Laurin djlauri@loxinfo.co.th with the details.

MEMBERSHIP CARDS. We produce our Club's laminated photo ID cards in just a few minutes at the same Saturday meeting in which you join or renew your membership. So if you are a past Pattaya Expats Club member and you can bring in a past ID card with the words 'Pattaya Expats Club' on you will get a new membership FREE of charge to expire 31 Dec 2005. The cards identify our members to staff at many shops and businesses around Pattaya where Club Members can claim our discounts. There are two membership options one expiring 31 December 2005 for 150 Baht or a Life Membership for 600 Baht. To get a new card please bring in two small driving licence style photos and see Paul Sinclair, Michael Mayne or Denis Laurin
PATTAYA EXPATS CLUB &.ON SOPHON CABLE TV. 5 times per day. Watch Club news during the week. President of the Club, Niels Colov, who is the Chief Executive of 'Pattaya People News Channel' on Sophon Cable, Pattaya City's cable TV operator, has very kindly provided a regular segment of each show, devoted to Pattaya Expats Club news. This is a wonderful regular 'free gift' to our Club of highly valuable TV time! This is a 60 minute local News bulletin five times per day at the following times:
On Cable Channel 5 showing at 0800 hrs and 1200 noon.
On cable Channel 2 at 1600hrs and 2400 midnight.
Plus peak evening bulletin at 2000hrs on Cable Channel 4.
(These are the channels which show English language movies on Sophon Cable.)
Best Regards to all
From Pattaya Expats Club