Should A Woman Be Allowed to hold the office of President of the USA?

[Rinrada]

last week roundup from Pats Expat...good read and information.

I will be back around October and looking forward to Toast and Jam....Lots more info***********

PATTAYA CITY EXPATS CLUB NEWSLETTER – for Aug. 10, 2003

Dear Pattaya City Expats Club Member -

WE MEET EVERY SUNDAY at 'HENRY J BEANS' Bar & Grill, at the AMARI ORCHID RESORT, at the north end of Beach Road.  A Buffet is available from 9.30 AM.  We start our Meetings at 10:30 AM, and try to finish the meeting by 12:00 noon. There is parking - the entrance to the parking area and to Henry J. Beans is on the left side just after the turn on Beach Rd., across from the beach.  

NEXT SUNDAY'S FEATURED SPEAKER – August 17, 2003 Mark Garregos

Mark is the Oncology Division manager and clinical consultant for Syncor International, a large American medical company specializing in non-invasive procedures for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, and is the market leader in this field in the U.S.  

The procedure is now available at major medical centers in Thailand, and is performed by physicians who underwent specialized training in the U.S. at the Seattle Prostate Institute.  ********

ANNOUNCEMENTS –

COMPUTER VIRUS ALERT - Tens of thousands of companies, government departments and home computer users across North America, Europe and Asia without virus protection were infected by an internet worm, which uses the names "LovSan", "MSBlast" and "Blaster".  The virus attacks a deficiency in the Windows systems, with Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows NT and Windows Server 2003 the most vulnerable.  *******

MORE WARNINGS FROM THE USA EMBASSY – Last week it was a warning to be careful of traveling to Laos after three bombings there - this week we

If you are not signed up with the US Embassy, or the Embassy for your home country.......*****

THAILAND’S NEW ANTI-TERRORIST LAW - Thailand has enacted its first anti-terrorist law to deal with potential current threats, and to prepare for an Asia-Pacific summit to be held in Bangkok in October. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said the law, which was enacted by a cabinet decree on the same day as the Jakarta bombing last week, was intended to prevent Thailand being used as a haven for terrorists.

"We need a law that is adequate for deterring terrorist acts. If we don't have it, Thailand can become a safe haven for international terrorists, something we don't want to see," Thaksin said. Under the new law, terrorism is defined as an act against persons, public infrastructure and governments "with the intention of causing extensive damage or unrest or public panic".  The maximum penalty is death.

war on lewdness, striptease - Patrons all low - class, miserly, not wanted - Deputy Interior Minister Pracha Maleenont used these words to declare war on obscene shows and striptease at entertainment venues across the country.

The authorities will ferret out those venues providing explicit sex shows and other indecent performances, particularly at Bangkok's nightstrips in Patpong, soi Nana, soi Cowboy and Sutthisan road, and in Pattaya, Koh Samui, Hat Yai and Phuket.

Mr. Pracha said he was not worried that tighter controls on obscene shows would affect tourism. Tourists visiting places providing indecent shows were of low-quality and Thailand did not welcome such visitors, he said.

He gave police and the Klong Toey district office one week to get all operators at Nana Plaza to obey the law.  Mr. Pracha said he would also ask the Excise Department to use tax measures to bring traditional massage parlors back into line.

ON A HAPPIER NOTE – Our first Board dinner was a fun and food filled success. ...suggestions?******

NEW VISA FEES – BEGIN AUG. 26, 2003

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has advised all Royal Thai Embassies and Royal Thai Consulate Generals to begin charging the new visa rates beginning August 26, 2003.

Transit Visa US$20.00,

Tourist Visa US$25.00

Non-Immigrant Visas: Single Entry US$50.00, ******

Approval of a residence permit (payable on receipt of residence book) - 191,400 baht;  Approval of a residence permit (payable on receipt of residence book) for a foreigner married to a Thai, the spouse of a resident, and any of their children who have not reached the status of a Thai juristic person (i.e., unmarried children aged below 20 years of age) – 95,700 baht.

In a related action, the Immigration Bureau has approved a new regulation governing the requirements for qualifying for extensions of visas. It is planned to implement this regulation in July 2004.  

A list of the new Visa fees is also available our www.pattayaexpats.com website.

WINE TASTING AT THE ROYAL CLIFFF – Saturday, Sept. 6, at 6:00 PM, in the Grand Ballroom.  The announcement states that

SPECIAL DINNER AT BRUNO’S RESTAURANT – On Sunday, August 17, 2003 Bruno’s Restaurant will host the Chaine des Rotissseur’s  August dinner “A journey through Italy”. now open to Pattaya City Expats Club members and guests.  Attendees are expected to wear Lounge Suits or better, and ladies dress appropriately.  The dinner starts at 7:30 PM.  The cost is 3,800 baht per person.  Call Bruno’s at 038-424292 for reservations.

WWW.PATTAYAEXPATS.COM - Our local website at www.pattayaexpats.com can help you if you have trouble receiving the Newsletter. You can go to the website, click on Topics, scroll down to the Newsletters, select ******

DID SOMETHING ODD – STRANGE – OR FUNNY happen to you in our little corner of Paradise this week? For those living in Pattaya, or anywhere in Thailand - we would like to hear from you about the odd, strange or interesting things you see or that happen (or have happened) to you while living here.  We’ll talk about them in the Open Forum at our Sunday meeting (leaving out your name if you wish), and reprint those that are entertaining, informative or whatever.

FATHER BRENNAN - Father Brennan, Founder of the Redemptorist Center, the School for the Blind, the Streets Kids home (one for girls, one for boys), the School for the Disabled, and more, in Pattaya – voted by the residents of Pattaya as the Man of the Century for Pattaya for the 2002 century - is very sick in hospital.

OUR MC – Drew Noyes will not be with us this Sunday, he is in the USA helping with a death in the family.  Al Caudullo will be with us to present our speaker for the day and link the meeting together.

LAST MEETING SUMMARY - Sunday, Aug 10, 2003 Two physicians specializing in treating AIDS patients.

The official estimate is that there are over one million people with AIDS in Thailand.  About 50,000 people die from AIDS each year in Thailand.  

The good news is - there are, now, drugs which can provide prevention from or a cure for most of the diseases HIV causes.  

This was one of the most unexpectedly inspiring talks ever to come to the Club.  The two doctors were so unassuming, and so willing to talk, so knowledgeable and informative, and obviously such wonderful people – they and their presentation were very special.  We had to stop their talk at 11:55 for one or two questions in the Open Forum, and close.*****

Hearitt 2000 is Dr. Jureerat’s Foundation. Money for it goes directly to her AIDS program for medicines for those not able to pay.    

OPEN FORUM – with Al Caudullo, with 5 minutes remaining.

YOUR BOARDING PASS STUB – May be necessary when you pass through Immigration. If you leave it on the airplane, or do not have it when you go through Immigration, you may need to show proof that you did have a seat on the airplane. Without it you will be referred to a special desk just behind Immigration, and requested to provide proof. Your ticket copy seems to be good enough, if you have it.  ******

[email protected]

(with thanks from Rick at Pats Ex)

:cool:  

[Rinrada]

So much to do,so little time to do it......

PATTAYA CITY EXPATS CLUB - Newsletter for Oct.5, 2003

Guide -

1. SUNDAY'S SPEAKERS

2. VISA NEWS

3.RESTAURANTs

4. YELLOW BUSINESS DIRECTORY

5. COMING EVENTS 6. OUR WEBSITE

7.  SEND NEWSLETTER 9. PRINTED COPIES 10.OUR MC, 11. LAST SUNDAY’S MEETING SUMMARY 12. OPEN FORUM

13. A SHOPPERS REVIEW OF BANGKOK CRIME 13. FEATURED RESTAURANT LIST 14. CONTRIBUTORS

WE MEET EVERY SUNDAY at 'HENRY J BEANS' Bar & Grill, at the AMARI  Meetings at 10:30 AM, and try to finish by 12:00

1. NEXT SUNDAY'S FEATURED SPEAKERS - Oct. 12, 2003 – Khun Pitichok,Advisor to the Mayor for the Loy Krathong Festival, will talk about the Pattaya City governments desire to extend a welcome to the foreigners in Pattaya by

recognizing the various countries represented in the foreign

residents >>>>>

Drew Noyes will talk about his experience with the new rules for those with Business Visa’s, those with a Thai spouse, the new work permit rules,and the effect these changes have made to the opportunities the Treaty of Amity offers, and how all of this is related to Thailand’s entrance into the WTO>>>

2. VISA NEWS – There are reports that Immigration at Don Muang International Airport is putting departing individuals who have overstayed their Visa in jail overnight. It is not widely reported in the Thai newspapers, but has been reported in newspapers in the USA. This is an abrupt change in

policy -normally, with an overstay, if it was not excessive, you could pay the fine at the airport >>>>

We have two members, over 50, who have applied for and received Retirement O-A visa’s in their home country. They had to show proof (a bank statement)>>>>

There are two significant benefits to doing this in your home country you do not need to have a bank account in Thailand, and >>>likely to be increases in the requirements for

Retirement O-A Visa’s

For married couples, the spouse automatically meets the requirements for a Retirement O-A visa when the husband qualifies - she should apply when the

husband does, with a copy of the marriage license, and will receive an O-A visa with the same dates as the husband. >>

4. YELLOW BUSINESS DIRECTORY – the yellow Business Directory, with hundreds of phone numbers, addresses and some Internet addresses is on sale in Pattaya for 250 baht/  special discount price of 200 baht for members at PCEC

5. COMING EVENTS –

October and November are busy months.

Oct. 12 to 18 – World Youth and Student Travel Conference Oct. 15         - Hard Rock Café 2nd anniversary

Oct. 17 to 21 – APEC meeting, Bangkok

Oct 18 & 19   - Grand Touring car races at Bira Circuit

Oct. 20 - Hearitt 2000/Pattaya Gay Festival kick-off dinner at Casa Pascal, 990 baht

Oct. 25 - UK Club Charity Gala Dinner at Marriott hotel  

Oct. 31 - Halloween Costume Party at Throb, Pattayaland 3, benefit for Somborn

Nov. 1 – Henry J. Beans’ 6th anniversary, free buffet outdoors, live band, MC’s Nov. 7, 8, & 9 – Loy Krathong Festival Oct 17 to 21 - APEC meeting schedule is as follows - Ministers meeting Oct.

17 & 18 at the Queen Sirikit Center near Sukhumvit – and the

Presidents and Prime Ministers summit Oct. 18 to 21 at the Shangri-la and the Sheraton Royal Orchid Hotels by the river.

October 31 - Halloween costume party and show at Throb in Pattayaland 3 in honor of David in Pattaya, with proceeds to go to Somborn for his kidney anti-rejection medications. Festivities will start about 9:00 PM –

Nov.1 – Henry J. Beans 6th Anniversary – all you can eat free buffetin front of HJB, a well known Thai show band, a show with a local celebrity asMC. Nov. 7 & 8 - Conference on "Legal

Guidance for Foreigners"at the DusitThani Hotel, Bangkok, on Nov. 7 and 8, Friday and Saturday.

Information is available from http://www.dpu.ac.th/law, or by e-mail to: [email protected]

or

at [email protected].

6. OUR WEBSITE at http://www.pattayaexpats.com

11. LAST SUNDAY’S MEETING  Oct. 5, 2003.  Professor Ron Drennan, Director, Empresarial Extension, Bangkok, talked about the new educational programs being developed by the Thai Government.The government wants to set up 50,000 Learning Centers in Thailand using 3 satellites now in place.

There are between 30,000 and 40,000 Thai students studying overseasat any one time. 16,000 new Thai students went overseas in 2002. It costs a Thai student about $48,000 for four years University education in the USA.

The reason for Thai students going overseas is job related - with a degree from a foreign university they can command higher salary, and they are reasonably fluent in English.>>

Professor Ron Drennan can be contacted in Bangkok at 02-728-6534 and by email at [email protected].

12. OPEN FORUM

A member needs some storage locally.

Ans – Four Winds International Moving,

038-306330, email [email protected]

or Gerhard, KR, 038-733562 may beable to help.

What are the best Internet Service providers?

ANS - Loxinfo is the most expensive, it’s hard to get the cost below 10 baht per hour for their regular connection, but you can buy access to them using a 1222 number for much less. Use the 1222 connection to surf the Internet and download

your email, or access your hotmail, yahoo, or other Internet mail programs to send mail. T

here are several companies - Pacific Internet, KSC, ego4you -

that offer these unlimited use cards – if you shop for them, you will find some very low hourly rates. They are usually good for a specified numbers of days, allow continuous connection, are available at the Internet Café

on the 2nd floor of Big C, some bookstores, and a small DVD & software shop on the Bay side of 2nd Road, just up from Pattaya Tai.

If you want to teach in Thailand, you will need a TEFL certificate.There are two courses starting up soon, they are 6 weeks long, cost about $1000

There was a request that we have a speaker to talk about Taxes in Thailand. ....We are looking for such a speaker.

13. A SHOPPERS REVIEW OF BANGKOK CRIME: Con artists are lurking in big shopping centers >>

13. FEATURED RESTAURANT LIST ON OUR WEBSITE – >>>>Members Discounts.

 :cool:

[Rinrada]

This ones late but theres always next week...highlighted...

NEWSLETTER 7 – 14 MARCH and on

WE MEET EVERY SUNDAY AT HENRY J. BEAN’S RESTAURANT at the AMARI

ORCHID RESORT, at the North end of Beach Road. A Buffet Breakfast is

available from 9.30 am. The meeting starts at 10.30 am. and finishes

about 12.00 noon. There is ample parking available in the parking

area across from the beach and next to Henry J. Bean’s on the left

side of Beach Road, just after the turn coming from the round-about

at North Pattaya Road (Pattaya Nua).

“Guide to Newsletter –

1. NEXT FEATURED SPEAKER – March 14h 2004. (ignore now)

2. FORTHCOMING EVENTS

3.MEMBER’S DINNER - IDEAS FOR APRIL.

4. LAST SUNDAY’S MEETING SUMMARY

5.MEMENTO PHOTOGRAPH WITH PHRA NICHOLAS AVAILABLE

6.WEBSITE

7.RECOMMENDED PLACES

8.CONTRIBUTIONS

FRIDAY/SATURDAY/SUNDAY MARCH 19-21st Pattaya Music Festival

SATURDAY MARCH 20th: Wrangler arm-wrestling contest noon-6pm Royal

Garden Plaza

SATURDAY MARCH 20th : Finals of POLO matches from 3pm presentation of

prizes 6pm

SUNDAY MARCH 21st: Pattaya City Expats Club meets at Henry J. Bean’s

Restaurant – buffet breakfast from 9.30 am. Meeting from 10.30am.

SUNDAY MARCH 28th: Pattaya City Expats Club meets at Henry J. Bean’s

Restaurant – buffet breakfast from 9.30 am. Meeting from 10.30am.

SUNDAY MARCH 28th: Charity International Paintball Competition,

Jomtien Beach

3. MEMBER’S DINNER – ideas for April

This month some 29 members went to the Rabbit Resort for a slightly

different style of Dinner.

The first Thursday in APRIL happens to be the 1st and we would like

to try somewhere new.

If anyone has suggestions please let Allan know by e-mailing [email protected]

Already we have suggestions for AMOR ( European) , QUEEN VICTORIA

(English), and LA PIOLA (Italian) A further suggestion was the new

Indian on Thappraya Road near Bruno’s.

4. LAST SUNDAY’S MEETING SUMMARY

Last week we had Mr. Sifu McInnes, MD of the ISS Group of Companies, who

talked about the need for using due diligence and research before

taking action and to always remember, unless you are born a Thai, you

are a guest in this wonderful country. Under the usual superb

guidance of our MC Drew Noyes members were able to ask questions that

could not have been asked anywhere else and to receive informed

answers from Sifu who has lived and worked here, with and alongside

many Thai business and local government officers for many years. The

basic message that was constantly repeated was that any foreigner who

wishes to live here must recognize that they are a guest in a foreign

country and no matter how much they may think they could “improve”

the system they must learn to live with the Thai way as the norm.

5. MEMENTO PHOTOGRAPH WITH PHRA NICHOLAS AVAILABLE

Anyone wishing a copy of the photo taken on the steps of Henry J.

Bean’s after the meeting on 29th February contact Allan on [email protected]

to get a hard copy at this week’s meeting or one sent over the

internet.

6. WEBSITE AND NEWSLETTER

The website is constantly being updated with useful and interesting

information from many sources to help us live better and safer in

Thailand and especially Pattaya.

Go to http://www.pattayaexpats.com.

and look at the various topics.

The “Newsletter” is posted on the website first each week – there you

can read or choose to download it, or parts of it, to your computer.

You are also free to copy any of the articles from the “Topics” on

the website.

If anyone is not receiving the newsletter please contact Allan at [email protected]

Also check your spam filter setting, it has been found that the spam

blocker with several ISP’s can be set to various levels – for example

an e-mail subject that is all capital letters is likely to be

filtered out as spam by hotmail.

7. RECOMMENDED PLACES

In line with our charter statement of EXPATS HELPING EXPATS we are

always interested to receive any recommendations about good places

that provide any services. We have a list of Restaurants and other

places that have agreed to give discounts on the Website under the

Topic “Members Discounts” but we seek to widen the scope of the

places recommended to include garages, cleaners, inter-flora shops,

carpenters etc….. These need only be good recommendations not

necessarily places willing to give discounts.

One recent such place – “Proshop fire extinguisher” shop. Jeep

reported: It is on North Road heading toward the bus station from the

3rd Road Intersection. Just past the petrol sation with the green

leaf on the left side of the road, there is a noodle shop and then

the Fire Extinguisher place. You have to drive slowly to see the

shop. If you look closely you will see some fire extinguishers

stacked up. The owner’s name is Thongchai Jumsrithong. Phone numbers:

01.628.4581, or 06.377.6223. The address is 159/45 Tanong Pattaya

Nua. It costs around 400 baht for a refill. He gives you a

replacement extinguisher until about a week or two later when your

old extinguisher is refilled. Then you just trade his loaner back to

him for your old extinguisher. He also sells the fire extinguishers

at the shop.

8. CONTRIBUTIONS

We are always happy to receive your comments and contributions. For

all questions, suggestions, comments, address changes or removal from

the mailing list, please email Richard E. Smith at [email protected].

IRS TAXPAYER SPECIALIST TO VISIT BANGKOK

A tax assistor from the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will be in

Bangkok from Tuesday March 16th till Friday March 26th

The IRS representative can answer your federal income tax questions,

help with account and refund problems, and assist in the preparation

of your tax returns. He will particularly try to address some of the

unusual issues that tax payers living overseas may encounter.

To read the full text go to our Website at www.pattayaexpats.com

A MESSAGE FROM RICHARD BURK AT AMOR

To help celebrate AMOR’s TENTH Birthday

I extend a special invitation to members of

PATTAYA CITY EXPATS CLUB

To dine at AMOR RESTAURANT

From April 3rd – 12th.

On production of their PCEC card

members will receive an EXTRA 10% discount.

Something for the weekend

[tuky]

Do we have any members here?

[manfromoz]

yes there are many members here.

Not sure if they are actual members of this forum, but many people read it anyway.

[Up2U]

My member is a member

[Rinrada]

PATTAYA’S OLDEST AND LARGEST EXPAT CLUB

Guide to Newsletter

1. FEATURED SPEAKER – March 21st 2004

2. FORTHCOMING EVENTS

3 .MEMBERS’ DINNER - APRIL 1st

4. CONGRATULATIONS TO POLICE COLONEL KAMOLCHAI’S SON

5. NERN PLUB WAAN SCHOOL CHARITY PROJECT UPDATE

6. WEBSITE AND NEWSLETTER DEVELOPMENT IDEAS

7. TOPICS AND SPEAKERS

8. LAST SUNDAY’S MEETING SUMMARY

9 .YOUR IDEAS FOR RECOMMENDED PLACES TO CLUB MEMEBRS

10. CONTRIBUTIONS TO IMPROVE PATTAYA CITY EXPATS CLUB SERVICES & MEETINGS

and lots moreeeeeeeeee

[email protected]>

[Phil Conners]

Don't forget our website www.pattayaexpats.com has its own forum as well...

[flyingfox]

Today's speaker is an auctioneer. Should be interesting.

[neilf]

well you got off to a good start---------------------you meet a henry j beans------------i dont think so its gone !!

[Rimmer]

2003 Thread

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