ATA Newsletter Spring 2010 1
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Spring 2010
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE:
THIS ISSUE:
Dear ATA members,
President’s Message The year of 2009 has come and gone. We look forward to an eventful 2010. All the functions planned since our last newsletter went ahead well except for the 2009 New Upcoming Events Year's Eve party which was cancelled at the last minute due to some misunderstanding with the venue's booking office. News and Announcements The ATA would like to thank the Thai Student Association for preparing the DVD of H.M. Bhumibol’s life at his birthday celebration on December 13, 2009. Many Alberta Thai Recent Activities Association and Thai Student Association members attended that birthday celebration. The 2010 Songkran Party will be held at Parkview Community Hall on April 17, 2010. The Special Article Party will include a buffet dinner, cultural show and live band. The 2010 Edmonton Heritage Festival application, phrase one and two, have been submitted by Jim Syms. Thanks to Bua Thai Restaurant and Jim Syms for getting this done ahead of time. This year the Festival will be held on July 31, August 1 &2. The final 2009-2010 Board of Directors planning for the 2010 Festival is underway. All necessary fees have been paid. Once again President: Ngamta (Eed) we will need a number of volunteers to make this annual event a success. If you would like Tekauyporn-Winner to participate, please call me or one of the other Board of Directors. The Festival has been Vice-President Melissa Davis a very successful fund raising event because of the support given by our members in the Secretary Thosaphol (Tommy) past. Harnvivattanakit Treasurer Clarence Preitz At the January meeting, the board approved a membership fee schedule which will allow members the choice of paying their membership fees in one to three year intervals with Directors some discount for multiple year memberships (see article later in this issue). I hope many Information Norideen Kitchell members will take advantage of this discount. Activities Roslin Gidzinski Fundraising Jim Syms The ATA Annual General Meeting will be held on June 13, 2010. Since this is my last term as a President, a new President and Secretary will be elected. Nominations for these Chairpersons positions will be gladly accepted. Please let the ATA know of your desire to fill either Performing Arts Chalinee Klassen position. Catering Somkit Syms Webmaster Darek Kominek In closing, I would like to congratulate Consul General Kosit Chatpaiboon on his promotion Membership Tommy Harn as Ambassador to Kenya, and to extend condolences of the Association to the Gidzinski's family on the death of James's father. Editorial Board Norideen Kitchel Wanna Saksaranrome I appreciate the support the membership and the board have given me during my time as Jitra Kriangkum President. I will continue to value your friendship for many years to come. Hope that one day we will joint hands to celebrate the opening of the “Alberta Thai Centre". Advisory Council Boon Gosinet Anan Kaewmongkol Buncha Ooraikul Dom Kriangkum Maurice Rousseau Sue Thomas Ngamta Tekauyporn Winner Jitra Kriangkum ATA President
Alberta Thai Association P.O. Box 66034, Heritage Postal Outlet, Edmonton AB Canada T6J 6T4 Tel. 780 908 1282 www.thaiassociation.ab.ca 2 ATA Newsletter Spring 2010
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ATA Newsletter Spring 2010 3 UPCOMING EVENTS
April 17, 2010 (Sat) Songkran Gala at Parkview Community Hall (9135 146 Street, Edmonton)
Buffet donner, live band, Thai dance, door prizes, and cash bar Doors open at 5:30 PM Dinner starts at 7:00 PM Tickets: Adult $25, Under 16 $10, Under 5 Free To order you tickets, please contact Ngamta (Eed) Winner (780 463 5479) or Melissa Davis (780 448 9387) or Chalinee (On) Klassen (780 973 5882) All proceeds dedicated to Thai Centre Fund
June 13, 2010 (Sun) ATA Annual General Meeting and Elections Day at North Millbourne Community Hall (980 Millbourne Road East, Edmonton)
Hall opens at 3:00 PM Meeting starts at 4:00 PM Potluck dinner to follow
Positions to be elected: President and Secretary for 2010-2012
Only paid ATA members are eligible to vote or to run for office. Please send your nomination to the Association by mail to PO Box 66034, Heritage Postal Outlet, Edmonton AB T6J 6T4.
June 27, 2010 (Sun) ATA Potluck Picnic at Emily Murphy Park site#1 starts at 2:00 PM
Bring your family, friends and favourite dishes to share.
Future Calendar of Events for July-December 2010
July 31-August 2, 2010 (Sat-Mon) Heritage Festival at William Hawrelak Park August 15, 2010 (Sun) Volunteer Appreciation Party December 5, 2010 (Sun) A Celebration of H.M.the King of Thailand's Birthday at North Millbourne Community League Hall December 31, 2010 (Fri) ATA New Year's Eve Party at Parkview Community League Hall
Information about these events will be provided in a future newsletter.
4 ATA Newsletter Spring 2010
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ATA Newsletter Spring 2010 5 NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Thai Dancing
A dance teacher from the Khangkoi school in Saraburi province will be in Edmonton from April 1 to May 10.
Anyone interested in learning Thai dance can contact Chalinee (On) Klassen at 780 973 5882.
New Membership Scales The Alberta Thai Association Board had agreed to establish a new membership scale which makes it more convenient for members when they join or renew their membership as well as saving members' money.
The proposal was presented by ATA advisor Maurice Rousseau to the Board that would give members the option of joining or renewing their membership for one year, two years or three years - with discounts available for longer terms.
"We think that is a good idea suggested by Maurice because many of our members forget to renew their membership or do not like going through the hassle of it every year," said ATA president Eed Winner.
" Now they can do it once every two or three years and there are also discounts. We are hoping our members will take advantage of this more convenient arrangement and we can enlarge our membership base as well."
Single year membership for individuals will remain at $15 while fees for two years will be $25 and three years will be $35. Family membership will be retained at $25 for one year, $45 for two years and $60 for three years.
TSA Skating Day Thirteen Thai Student Association members and ATA president Eed Winner attended the Silver Skate Winter Festival at the William Hawrelak Park on February 21, 2010.
The festivities -- featuring skating and ice carving competitions as well as free fun skating for those who are not into competition – attracted huge crowds as families came out in force on the warm and sunny day.
Some of the Thai students skated while others who are not proficient in the winter pastime just enjoyed a leisurely time at the park.
Afterwards the group viewed the ice carving competition and was amazed by the quality of the sculptures that were on display.
The half-day outing ended with lunch at a Chinese restaurant.
Vancouver Consul General Kosit Chatpaiboon visited with student, worker, and local Thai representatives at Pad Thai Restaurant on January 24, 2010. CG Kosit was on mission with the Alberta Government in order to promote hiring of Thai workers in Alberta. # 1 "C 7D5- 0 42 @ *3 ,6 + #: #, ( :+ (1( 6 )') ,' 24 .. 2010 2 " # ) q # 1 "C 6 ,6 ,r" )'#+1 #* : ",*/ #&6 6 ATA Newsletter Spring 2010
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ATA Newsletter Spring 2010 7
RECENT ACTIVITIES:
Casino Fundraiser The Alberta Thai Association’s first ever casino fundraiser went ahead very smoothly at the Palace Casino in the West Edmonton Mall last October – thanks to the efforts of 22 volunteers who contributed their time for the two-day event.
Many of the volunteers worked on both days to fill the 40 shifts required in the function, which is certain to be the most successful fundraiser to date in the history of the ATA.
Full credit must be given to Maurice Rousseau to make it all happen because the former ATA Director of Fundraising had painstakingly prepared and submitted our casino application several times before it was finally accepted by the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission.
“Funds from the casino are expected to be deposited into the Association’s casino account by the end of February,” said Sue Thomas, an advisor on the ATA board of directors who coordinated the event.
“Conservatively speaking, the casino fundraiser should net us a minimum of $60,000 every couple of years and we would appreciate if more members are willing to contribute their time at our next casino so volunteers do not have to work double shifts.”
The casino monies will be a tremendous boost to the ATA, allowing the Association to engage in new initiatives that continue to bring us in line with our objectives to have funding for cultural, educational, recreational and social activities and to secure and maintain a Thai Centre.
It will also enable the Association to provide charitable and social services for our members as well as to our international community.
Volunteers were Al Mort, Annie Ooraikul, Barb Anderson, Brian Massie, Buncha Ooraikul, Chuck Mackay, Clarence Preitz, Darek Kominek, Dennis Anderson, Eed Winner, Gary Repchuk, Glenn Winner, James Gidzinski, Jim Syms, Jitra Kriangkum, Kay Kovithavongs, Mary-Jane Saunders, Norideen Kitchell, Noy Maber, Ray Thomas, Romeo Bruneau, Sue Thomas and Wayne Miller.
Former ATA president Jim Syms had taken over from Sue Thomas and will be in charge of the Association’s casino affairs.
King's Birthday Celebration The Alberta Thai Association held a potluck party to celebrate H.M. King Bhumibol’s 82 nd birthday on December 13, 2009 at the North Millbourne Community Hall.
About 50 members from the ATA and the Thai Student Association attended the function highlighted by a DVD presentation on H.M. King Bhumibol’s life that was produced by the post-graduate students.
ATA vice president Melissa Davis provided the Baisri (Thai floral arrangement) that was present to the King’s portrait.
Also at the event were Honorary Consul General of Thailand Dennis Anderson and Vice- Consul Dennis Laliberte . The king left hospital to grant an audience at the royal palace (BBC News)
Cont. page 9 8 ATA Newsletter Spring 2010
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9 ATA Newsletter Spring 2010 9
RECENT ACTIVITIES: (cont.)
New Year’s Eve Party Sorry!!! that the 2009 New Year’s Eve party had to be cancelled at the eleventh hour after it was learnt that the Association had failed to secure the Parkview Community League hall due to a misunderstanding with new booking staff there.
The ATA had been using the west-end hall for several years but a change of booking staff caused a communication breakdown and the hall was rented out to another organization instead.
ATA president said: “It was with regret that we had to call off the party but this won’t happen again as we had cleared up the problem with the Parkview management and booked the hall for the 2010 New Year’s eve party.”
Family Skiing Day Seven families came out for the Family Day skiing outing at Tawatinaw Valley Alpine and Nordic Centre that were hosted by former ATA President Dom Kriangkum, who provided free lunch.
“It was a good turnout considering that the outing was on a holiday and also the day immediately after Valentine’s Day, and many of our members do not ski nor are they involved in winter sports,” said Dom.
It was a splendid day – warm and sunny – and everybody had a great time, including the younger kids who certainly enjoyed the horse drawn sleigh ride.
The town site of Tawatinaw is about an hour’s drive from Edmonton and Dom is also building a gymnastic camp, which he hopes will be selected to become one of the Photo gallery - page 11 Canadian national gymnastics team’s official training venues.
Although four families still live in the town site, there is a ski hill which is operated by the Westlock county.
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ATA Skiing Day, February 15, 2010 at Tawatinaw Ski hill, AB 12 ATA Newsletter Spring 2010
SPECIAL ARTICLE
MMMajor Tasks of the Royal Thai Consulate General in Vancouver by Mr. Kosit Chatpaiboon, Consul General
Royal Thai Consulate General 1040 Burrard Street Vancouver, British Columbia
Dear fellow Thais in Edmonton , experiencing a surplus of these types of workers. In light of this situation, the Thai Ministry of Labour Affairs is of the opinion that Dr. Jitra Kriangkum from the Alberta Thai Association (ATA) Canada, and Alberta in particular, is a unique market for foreign kindly requested that I write an article for ATA Newsletter as I will workers. The Alberta labour market offers a high wage rate and a soon complete my term as Consul General of Thailand in high standard of treatment and rights for foreign workers. As a Vancouver. I will leave Vancouver in mid – March to assume my result, foreign workers are considered equal to Canadian workers new assignment as Ambassador to the Republic of Kenya. I and receive equal treatment to Canadian workers by Albertan wholeheartedly accepted this kind request. employers. Therefore, the Thai Ministry of Labour Affairs has The jurisdiction of the Royal Thai Consulate General in Vancouver currently initiated discussions with Alberta’s Ministry of covers the provinces of British Columbia and Alberta, as well as Employment and Immigration in order to strengthen cooperation Yukon Territory. During my tenure of the past 3 years, I have regarding foreign workers in Alberta and to expand opportunities attached great importance to 5 major tasks as follows: for Thai workers.
1. To promote cooperation in the areas of trade , investment and 3. Cooperation on Education tourism between Thailand and Canada Canada has a high standard of education. Many universities in Cooperation in these areas has expanded rapidly as a result of the Canada, including those in Alberta and British Columbia, have Asia – Pacific Initiative, an earnest policy implemented by the cooperated closely with Thai universities, through the exchange of Canadian federal government with British Columbia serving as the lecturers and students and the creation of joint research programs. Asia-Pacific Gateway. The provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, The number of Thai students in universities in Alberta and British Saskatchewan, and Manitoba have subsequently formed the Columbia has increased significantly in recent years. Western Canada Development Region. Moreover, more and more Thai parents are interested in sending As far as cooperation between Thailand and Alberta is concerned, their children to attend schools in Alberta and British Columbia Thailand has become a traditional energy market of Alberta and from the primary level and up. These students will greatly many Alberta companies have currently invested and set up offices contribute to relations between Canada and Thailand in the future. in Bangkok. The Honourable Stockwell Day, President of the Treasury Board 4. Taking care of Thai people residing in Canada and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, and former Minister for International Trade, for the Canadian federal government, led a The Royal Thai Government, through the Ministry of Foreign business delegation to Bangkok last November, which included Affairs, the Embassy and the Consulate General offices, attach five companies from Alberta. Following talks with the Thai great importance to the task of taking care of Thai citizens residing authorities concerned, the Action Plan on Thai - Canada Strategic abroad. Emergency Partnership is being developed. Minister Day will again visit Bangkok in March to conclude the development of the According to the Canadian Census in 2006, there were Action Plan with the Thai government. approximately 10,000 Thai immigrants living in Canada, of which over 3,000 and 1,200 resided in British Columbia and Alberta In addition, the Honourable Iris Evans, recently appointed Minister respectively. At present, the number of Thai immigrants is of International and Intergovernmental Relations for the province increasing rapidly. It is estimated that in British Columbia alone, of Alberta, has been in communication with me and our two there are now around 5,000 Thai immigrants. Moreover, a large Honourary Royal Thai Consulates General in Alberta, expressing number of Thai students, business persons, and workers have come her wish to further strengthen business relations with Thailand. to live in Canada. In addition to various consular services given to Thai people in Canada, including the issuance of passports, birth certificates, 2. Cooperation on Workers marriage certificates, and other governmental documents, the Royal As you may well be aware, Canada has experienced a large Thai Consulate General in Vancouver has a duty to care for Thai shortage of workers in many areas, including agricultural, unskilled people and provide them with advice to help solve any problems and low-skilled, as well as skilled workers. Canada’s shortage of they may experience. workers will continue into the next decade, while Thailand is ATA Newsletter Spring 2010 13 Major Tasks …, cont.
It should be noted that during early August of each year, the Royal The political disturbances that have arisen in Thailand in recent Thai Consulate General in Vancouver sets up a Consular Mobility years have drawn the attention of the Canadian media. There have Unit at Khun Udomdej Kriangkum in Edmonton to provide been many mistaken reports and criticism regarding democracy in consular services to Thai people there. The Royal Thai Consulate Thailand. Our highest beloved monarchy has frequently been General in Vancouver also participates in the Edmonton Heritage abused. The Royal Thai Consulate General in Vancouver has Festival to promote Thai products, art, culture, and traditions, in followed this matter closely, and has worked hard to provide the coordination with the ATA and the Edmonton Thai Student genuine facts to the Canadian public through the provincial Association. authorities concerned as well as the universities and consular corps in British Columbia.
What I briefly mentioned above are the major tasks of the Royal 5. To promote the good image of Thailand Thai Consulate General in Vancouver. We could not succeed at Following the Canadian Asia – Pacific Initiative policy, media in these tasks without the full cooperation and support from ATA and western Canada, and in particular media in British Columbia and the Thai community. I therefore wish to take this opportunity to Alberta, have become more focused on issues in the Asia – Pacific express my sincere thanks and appreciation to them. region. For instance, the Vancouver Sun newspaper has established an Asia – Pacific Section and many colleges and universities in British Columbia and Alberta have created Asian Study centres.