UDON THANI EXPATS CLUB
MINUTES OF MEMBER MEETING
| Meeting number: |
MOMM 0026 |
| Location: | Bangkok Hospital Udon |
| Date: | Sunday, September 28, 2014. |
| Subject: | See Agenda (Distributed by e-mail and shown on the website) |
| Participants: | See attendance list (For Administration only) |
| Secretary: | J.J. van Spaandonk |
1. Peter Edwards opened the meeting at about 14.15 hours.
2. Administrative issues:
– 27 members, 2 Sponsors and 2 guests attended the meeting.
– 9 members notified that they would not be able to attend.
– At present, the Club has 63 members of whom; 22 members have been absent > 3 meetings. Of those 22; 8 members are pending renewal. (A reminder to be send).
– Quorum requires >40% of (63 minus 22) 41 is >16 members present. Quorum is OK.
– The minutes of the August 31, 2014 member meeting have been approved. No comments.
3. New Members, Visitors and Sponsors;
* Two (2) visitors; Mr. Ulrich Schubert and Mr. E Sukudom (Nut) attended the meeting.
* The Club’s sponsors Bangkok Bank PCL (3 persons) and Boutique Hotel Much che Manta (3 persons) attended the meeting. The Club welcomes them all with much pleasure.
4. Sponsors
Bangkok Bank PCL
As the representatives of our new sponsor Bangkok Bank PCL, Ms. Pichamon Chaleetham accompanied by Ms. Pornprapa Pinatsattan and Ms. Phatchraphan Chapakdee of Bangkok Bank’s Udon Thani Branch office on 134 Prajak Road (Close to the Clock Circle, opposite the Landmark) attended the meeting.
Ms. Pichamon presented in a charming, professional and firm way, the Bank’s services and actual promotions. Especial the interest rates of 2% up to 2.8% for deposits (in accordance with certain requirements of Immigration) could be of an interest.
Also the Bank’s new Debit Card, with an embedded chip for optimal safety, is now available for the Bank’s present and new customers. You may exchange your present card, free of charge.
The most recent promotion relates to the Deposit Account in Foreign Currency for Foreigners.
For details see next link;
In addition, she informed about the upcoming Money-Expo, from 17/10 – 19/10-2014 at Central Plaza. Among other Banks, Bangkok Bank will be present and have a stand where all bank related info will be available.
She continued and completed her presentation with a well used Q&A.
Boutique Hotel, Much che Manta
The Staff of the Boutique Hotel, at the occasion of the renewal of their sponsorship, attended the meeting and took the opportunity to treat the membership and all guests on a selection of cup-cakes.
The cup-cakes are produced by their own bakery using quality ingredients for fancy composed recipes and applying a carefully controlled baking process.
5. Coffee Break
At the Coffee Break we enjoyed the delicious cup-cakes, well-known by their regular customers, and much appreciated by all.
In case you like to learn more about the Boutique Hotel, just click their logo on the Club’s website for detailed info about location and accommodations.
6. Guest Speaker; Mrs. Kamol Tangrukmuang
Mrs. Kamol or Baitoei informed she is a Master Degree Graduate of Chulalongkorn University in Nursing Administration. At present, she works for the Udonthani Municipality at the Mayor’s office at the City Hall. She is in charge for the Promotion of Public Health and the Protection of the Public for Health Hazards.
The emphasis of her programs is the urgency to have the people understand the dangers resulting from the habits of Smoking, Drinking and using Drugs. And, after they understand those dangers, to persuade them to quit and adapt a healthier lifestyle.
She enlivened her presentation with some awesome pictures of the devastation, the use of those unhealthy stimulants create in one’s body. Shown on the projector screen and by leaflets.
For a better understanding of the various aspects related to the Health issue, Mrs. Kamol distributed some relevant articles of the Government Gazette. Especially the regulations about Smoking are highlighted such as the designation of NON-SMOKING areas and the penalties that could be imposed.
In addition, the health dangers caused by Air-pollution, Noise-pollution, poor Garbage- and Waste-control were discussed.
In particular the fact that every Billboard-Truck, that roams the streets of Udon, need a permission of the Municipality that clearly states the allowable Sound-Pressure-Level, was surprising. Unfortunately, the drivers do not respect these conditions of the permit and increase their sound level soon after they received their permit and start their tour.
But, fortunately, Udon Thani has a counter, at the Municipality building 1stfloor, where the community of Tambon Mak-Khaeng (The area within the ring road) can register a complaint. In person or by telephone (042-325176). Apart from the Health Dangers, all other kinds of complains may be filed at that office.
All other areas should visit their own Tetsaban, Municipality’s office, to file and counter this problems.
At the fifth’s floor of the Tetsaban, Municipality Building, is a counter where a water-sample can be tested on quality. They can perform a standard D.O. test only, that proves if the water is of drinking quality or not. For a B.O.D. test you should go to the Medical Science Center in Nong Sun.
7. Announcements
* Upon the inquiry in having a guest speaker on the newly enacted FATCA (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act) legislation in the US, we received mixed reactions. We will contact the guest-speaker on how to continue.
** Resulting from the Seminar “Meeting the Governor” last August, we continued the discussions with the Governor’s office in a small committee.
We first concentrated on the issue about the “Paper-work” concerning an “Expat-Volunteer” who would like to contribute in person to the Community of Udon Thani.
We are pleased to inform that there is realistic possibility to work as a “Short-Term-Expat-Volunteer” at a Government Institution (Authority, Department, Office, Foundation, etcetera) only. Also the discussion regarding the problematic that the average Expat is not allowed to work in Thailand, is coming to a mutual UNDERSTANDING. Details will be communicated at a later stage.
In order to continue and to make the discussions more realistic, we now arrived at the point that we (upon such a request) should indicate the disciplines, experiences, intellectual knowledge and know-how, the Club could provide.
In short; Who is willing to be an Expat-Volunteer and what would you like to contribute.
Those who are interested to join the Team are kindly requested to send an e-mail with, in short, their expertise to [email protected]
8. Open Forum
* Kurt informed; that the Hospital is in the process to issue new Membership-cards for their various discount programs. The first batch of cards have been issued.
Resulting our polite requests, we like to thank Bangkok Hospital for their kind gesture that; Until the end of this year, direct family-members (Spouse and own children) are included for the programs too. For next year the benefits will be re-discussed.
Those members who are interested should, if they did not do that already, send their birthday and year to [email protected] or [email protected] for further processing.
9. Closing
The meeting was closed by Peter at about 16.00 hrs. Last attendees left at about 17.15 hrs.
Next meeting will be on Sunday, October 26, 2014. Please check at www.udonexpatsclub.com for possible changes and / or further information.
September 30, 2014.
Joop J. van Spaandonk
