PEC Program 31 Dec / Report for 24 Dec 2006

Meeting Programme for Sunday, 31 December, 2006:

Thor Halland will be our guest speaker this Sunday, and will give us a talk on the History of Christmas. Thor was born in 1967, just outside of London, England. He attended Public school and The University of London. Thor served briefly with the Scots Guards, managed his own property company for 10 years, and retired at 35.

Danny Williams from the Bristol Music Bar will bring us an audio visual presentation of the 'Sunday Unplugged' Jam Sessions, which take place at the Bristol Music Bar, Soi 6, Jomtien, every Sunday 1900-2300. Danny has been in Pattaya for three years, and managing the Music Bar for one year. Every Sunday evening, all musicians & vocalists are welcome to join in the jam session. The proceeds help to support The Camillion Society of Rayong, which manages six projects for HIV positive children and adults. For more info call Danny at 08-471-21819.

Our Master of Ceremonies this Sunday will be Bob Sutterfield, and Alexander Valentine will host our Open Microphone Forum, so come and listen in at 2nd Rd's Grand Sole Hotel, and participate with questions and answers about nearly everything for living safely and legally in Pattaya !

The PEC is starting a DVD and Book Swap. Bring in those books and DVD's that you've already perused, and swap them out for some new ones! We will place boxes in the outer lobby for the swaps.

MEMBERSHIP NOTE: The PEC committee has reduced the cost of short term memberships, which all expire 31 December 2007, to 200 Baht for the year.

Events Around Town:
NEW YEAR PARTY - ROTARY CLUB OF PATTAYA: On Saturday 30. December, 19.00 pm. at Town-in-Town Hotel on Pattaya Central Road. Fantastic International entertainment with Elvis impersonators, Magicians, singers, dancers and much more. Tickets only 500 baht inc. buffet dinner. Tickets can be bought at the Pattaya People Office in Soi Day-Night, South Pattaya. Tel.: 0-3842-7585 or 0-3842-0707.
ROTARY CHARITY LAS VEGAS SHOW on 30th December at 18.30 at Town In Town Hotel, off Central Road. Telephone: 081-815-4580.

VEGETARIAN CLUB OF PATTAYA Vegetarian Adventure Buffet only 99 Baht. Every 2nd Tuesday of month. Next 9th January at 18.00 Cafe New Orleans, Soi Pattayaland 2. Everyone welcome. Also non vegetarians. Limited seating so reservations required.
Tel: 081-815-4580, or 038-71-0805(Mikey)
www.pattaya-cityguide.com/vegetarianclub

Like to play Bridge? All card players are welcome at the Bridge Club on Monday, Wednesday & Friday, at 13:00, at the Mercure Hotel, Pattaya 2nd Road, Soi 15. Players of all abilities are welcome. Thanks to members Rose Marie and Peter for this.

A new venture for golfers is a twice weekly friendly event starting from Globetrotters off Soi 7. Sign up at Globetrotters by 1500 two days before.

Bowlers Wanted! Dutch bowler Khun Leen Schaap, a newcomer to our city, would like to organize a weekly bowling session with other bowlers. Can be simply social, or perhaps a team. Contact Leen at: jschaap@zeelandnet.nl or lschaap@zeelandnet.nl. Leen can also be reached at: 081-150-1276.

'Sunday Unplugged' Jam Sessions
At the Bristol Music, Bar Soi 6, Jomtien, every Sunday 1900-2300. All musicians & vocalists are welcome - proceeds help to support The Camillion Society of Rayong, which manages six projects for HIV positive children and adults. For more info call Danny at 08-471-21819.

BUDDIE meetings at Redemptorist Centre of Thailand, Sukhumvit Road, every Wednesday at 7.00pm. Contact Lynda 0841327086 or
lbcrone@hotmail.com

After our members Open Forum, we also have Lucky Draw prizes of dinners for two at fine restaurants around the city, such as Jameson's and The Globetrotter, another great reason to be a member and to come into the Pattaya Expats Club this Sunday 11:30 am at The Grand Sole Hotel, 2nd Rd.

We will have our late-morning start time of speakers programme from 11:30 am, with the optional brunch from about 10:30 am till after 12 noon. The meeting entry cost is 80 Baht and for non-members 100 Baht. For that, we enjoy the excellent technical presentation facilities of the Grand Sole Hotel conference room.

Our foyer exhibition displays, throughout the meeting period from 10:30, are worth a visit for practical advice from experts. In the club's greeting, programme and memberships area you can get Club memberships at only 300 Baht, expiring 31 Dec 2007, or 600 Baht for Life Membership. (Bring two very small 'visa' photos and your card is laminated and ready at the same meeting.)

Display tables have in-depth information from regular expert contributors in their field. Our Microphone announcement at 11:10am confirms who is available to consult free of charge. For example, The Pattaya International Hospital table usually includes regular FREE testing of blood groups, blood sugar, blood pressure and lung function to help you stay healthy.

Advice on insurance policies is available from AA Insurance - including the club member's own low cost 'group' health policy, now in its second year, with a premium at under 11,000 B - please show your member's card to apply. They also have a range of Insurances such as property, house contents and motor cover available.

Club sponsor Key Visa Co Ltd, represented by Darren McGarry and Stephen Wilson, offer our members free advice, in the club house foyer, on personal Thai visa and immigration queries - please show your members card.

Plus, our large take-away information point, with leaflets and publications from hundreds of member to member services available in Pattaya, is open until the end of the meeting.

Tickets are sold from 10:30 AM when hall doors open for seating. The table plan is usually in friendly format tables for eight or ten - so please allow the 'gaps' to be filled by new arrivals at your table.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

And here is the report of the Meeting 24 December 2006 -

Hi, I'm Brian, an MC at the Sunday meetings of PEC
To contact the Pattaya Expats Club email: (webhits2000@yahoo.com)

Programme Manager:- Loran Davidson.
Meeting Managers:- Richard Ravensdale & enRico Nestler.
Brian Maxey was our MC today, with Bob4You as Open-Forum Moderator.

Please think about helping out at the Pattaya Expats Club Meetings, or in the background during the week. A lot of preparation needs to go into one of these Meetings. You would be welcome, and you can determine your own level of assistance. Please contact a 'Maroon Jacket' member at any meeting.

We remembered all the names on our list of helpers: Niels, Pete, Richard, Loran, enRico, 2 Pauls, Michael, 2 Williams, Colin, 2 Bobs, Alex, Gary, Alf, Arvid, Erwin, Jahir, Steen, Laddawan, Brian.

This was our - Christmas Special Meeting, and the Speaker today was Pastor Fred Doell, and Diane Doell. They help run the Mercy Mission, just inland of Sukhumvit Road between Pattaya North & Central Road. This safe house caters to children who are not cared for by adequate family. Fred spoke of the need, the care, the assistance, and the finances of running such an establishment, and he made the point that regular small donations of food or help far outweigh the occasional large burst of charitable feeling. We had collected small gifts over the last few weeks to take to this children's 'safe house'. A group of about 20 members visited the centre after the Meeting and presented the gifts to the children. We were rewarded by their obvious enjoyment, lots of smiles, and a variety of songs. We stayed on to play with the children and talk to the staff, and I for one left feeling somewhat inadequate.

Steve Wilson again charmed the Thai speakers with a Thai language love-song. This told the story of lady choosing between two guys, and Steve's song was the song of the lost love. Broken hearts everywhere! He's braver than me - singing in Thai to a Thai audience.

Mary-Lou Sanviotores - a regular singer at the Blues Factory here in Pattaya, delighted us with a selection of festive style songs & carols. She is a very powerful singer, and invited a couple of people from the audience to join her on stage in leading the songs. A beautiful addition to any sing-a-long.

Steve from Pizzas-R-Us arrived with 20-something large pizzas, enough for all. A glass of sherry completed the meal. We're not sure exactly which sherry is the etiquette for pizza, but it went well on the pallet.

27 years ago, I sat in the sunshine in Shorts & a Tee-shirt on Christmas Day. It was so different from my previous UK life. I've tried to do it ever since - I did it recently. It makes me appreciate where I am, and how well I live.

Ask all those questions on living in Thailand - here at the Meeting - during the Open Forum. This feature occurs each week - come and ask the expat experts! :)

A discussion commenced on the recent changes to bringing foreign currency into Thailand, but we had to admit we didn't know enough yet to advise one way or the other. Another question asked the limits that apply to travelling internationally with cash. Just how much is legal? If you can answer this - please do.

Yet again the topic of 30-day entry stamps arose, and we learnt that the date is fast approaching when border runners will find out how they will actually be treated - because of, or despite, the rules.

The British Embassy has a Pattaya Office local representative for emergencies. He is Barry Kenyon. Contact 081 782 7363. Barry can authenticate your UK pension or UK bank statements for Immigration purposes if you can show proof.

US Embassy local Pattaya representative for emergencies is Gary Hacker. Contact 089 803 0388.

Please help our Meeting organisers by suggesting 'Speakers' for our weekly (Sunday) Meetings. Tell us a subject you wish to hear of by suggesting a competent speaker. There are vacancies in January, onwards. Please come up with some ideas and contact Loran our current Program/Speakers Manager. Give her your suggestions and let her arrange the details. Please do not fix dates in advance.

Contact: Loran Davidson.

Why not come along next Sunday morning 10:30am (11:30 program start) to the Grand Solé Hotel (in the Theppraya Room, up on the Mezzanine level), 370 Pattaya 2nd Road (north), near the Pattaya Mail Office. Hotel tel: 038 427 555 Fax: 038 427 550. Half way between TOPS supermarket & BIG-C supermarket - bring a friend.

For location - link to: (http://www.grandsolepattaya.com/location.htm)

PEC website:- (http://pattayaexpatsclub.com)
PEC Blogg:- (http://pattayaexpatsclub.blogspot.com)