APRIL 2011 A publication of the Thai-Canadian Chamber of Commerce

04 / 2011

A Celebration of Canadian & Thai Business Achievements

2010 TCCC Business Excellence Awards

Wednesday, May 25, 2011 Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit

Corporate
Premier Sponsors

Partnership

Executive Sponsors

Calendar

Calendar of events:
2011/2012 TCCC Executives
His Excellency Ambassador Ron Hoffmann President John Casella Vice President Ali Fancy Vice President John Stevens Secretary Dr. Tim Cornwall Treasurer Michael Howard John Casella Sranyoo Chanate Neil Chiu Dr. Tim Cornwall Ali Fancy Michael Howard Ron Livingston Geoff McIntyre Alan Ng Sukanya Rattanavadee John Stevens Derek van Pelt

TCCC

Patron:

WHEN: WHAT: WHERE: PRICE: WHEN: WHAT:

Wednesday, May 25, 2011; 6:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. 15th Annual Business Excellence Awards (BEA) Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit Ballroom Individual Price: Early Bird - 1,500 baht; Std.-1,750 baht Corp. Package Price: Early Bird -13,500 baht; Std.-15,000 baht

Executive Board:

Wednesday, May 11, 2011; Noon 1:45 pm TCCC Speaker Luncheon (sponsored by Piyavat Hospital): Attack the heart before the heart attacks you!!! with Dr. Tanyarat Aramsareewong of Piyavate Hospital. WHERE: Conrad Hotel PRICE: 700 baht - Members; 850 baht - Non Members WHEN: WHAT: WHERE: PRICE: Wednesday, May 18, 2011; 6:30 pm 8:30 pm Canuck Connections Networking Night The Treasury - 5th floor Gaysorn Plaza 200 baht - Members; 400 baht - Non Members.

Upcoming events in the region:

Hong Kong: www.cancham.org WHEN: Thursday, May 12, 2011; 6:30pm-8:30pm WHAT: Financial Independence through an Entrepreneurial Journey WHERE: The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, 1301 Kinwick Centre, 32 Hollywood Road, Central PRICE: HK$150 for members, HK$200 for non-members China: www.ccbc.com WHEN: Saturday, May 20, 2011; 6:00pm onward WHAT: The 24th Annual Canadian Charity Ball WHERE: The Renaissance Beijing Capital Hotel PRICE: please visit www.ccbc.com for further details Singapore: www.cancham.org.sg WHEN: Friday, May 20, 2011; shotgun start: 12.30 PM WHAT: Manulife Golf Challenge 2011 WHERE: Warren Golf & Country Club PRICE: SG$ 325 for individual, SG$ 1,500 for group of 4

CCBA

Embassy Representative:
Ping Kitnikone

Raymond Bodemer Sam Cohen Surachit Chanovan Zoltan Kosa Don Lavoie Niccolo Sozzi Picharn Sukparangsee Michael White

Advisors:

Executive Director:
Randy Shockley

Thai-Canadian Chamber of Commerce

139 Pan Road, Sethiwan Tower 9th floor, Bangkok 10500 Tel: +66(0) 2266-6085-6 Fax: +66(0) 2266-6087 Email: tccc@loxinfo.co.th Website: www.tccc.or.th

THE THAI-CANADIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS PROUD TO PRESENT THE 15TH BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2010

The Voyageur is the monthly magazine of the Thai-Canadian Chamber of Commerce, covering all Thai-Canadian business, legal and social news of interest to the members and others who are active in expanding Thai-Canadian bilateral trade. Editor: Randy Shockley, Executive Director, Thai-Canadian Chamber of Commerce Publisher: Scand-Media Corp., Ltd. 4/41-2 Moo 3, Thanyakarn Village, Ramintra Soi 14, Bangkok 10230 Tel: +66(0) 2943-7166-8 Fax: +66(0) 2943-7169 Design: Disraporn Yatprom Email: disraporn@scandmedia.com Advertising Contact: Mr. Finn Balslev, Marketing Director Scand-Media Corp., Ltd. Tel: +66(0) 2943-7166 ext.151 or 08-1866-2577 Email: finn@scandmedia.com

he Thai-Canadian Chamber of Commerce cordially invites you to attend its BEA gala to honor the winners of the 2010 business awards. This event recognizes excellence, innovation and success within the Chambers Thai and Canadian business community and provides an opportunity for winners to showcase their achievements. All attendees also receive a chance to win 2 round trip tickets to Canada ! Wednesday, May 25, 2011 Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit Ballroom 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (Awards Ceremony: 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.) DRESS: Business Attire FORMAT: The BEA ceremony offers a great evening of recognition and business networking opportunities; event also features great jazz, free drinks (beer, wine & mixed drinks) and wide array of heavy appetizers. PRICE: Individual Price: Early Bird - 1,500 baht; Std.-1,750 baht Corp. Package Price: Early Bird -13,500 baht; Std.-15,000 baht Corporate Package includes10 tickets, 2 bottles of wine and reserved seating. DATE: VENUE: TIME:

Please purchase your tickets by Friday, May 13th to take advantage of this years Early Bird price.

Chamber Activity

March was All Business.

arch marks the traditional kick-off the Chambers new business cycle and leading the way was the TCCCs 21st Annual General Meeting and Executive Board election on Wednesday March 16th at the Grand Millennium Sukhumvit. We thank Ambassador Ron Hoffmann and Mr. Mechai Viravaidya, founder of the VDP, for taking time out of their busy schedules to support this key annual meeting. Quick on the heels of the AGM followed the Chambers Meet the New Board Night hosted by the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit on Wednesday, March 23rd and the Executive Boards Annual Business Planning Retreat on Sunday, March 27, 2011 at Courtyard by Marriott. The latter event involved a full days focus on assessing the risks and opportunities in the Chambers business plan as well as looking at opportunities to raise the Chambers profile with its existing and prospective members. We thank the new 2010/2011TCCC Executive Board for their support: Mr. John Casella - Director, Baker Tilly (Thailand) Limited (Returning TCCC President) Mr. Sranyoo Chanate - CEO, Kluaynamthai (Returning TCCC Director) Mr. Neil Chiu - GM, Allied Pickfords Thailand (Returning TCCC Director) Dr. Tim Cornwall - Managing Consultant, Speech Work Consultancy Co. Ltd. (Returning TCCC Secretary) Mr. Ali Fancy - General Manager, Jelly Belly Candy Co.- Thailand (Returning TCCC Vice President) Mr. Michael Howard - Partner, KPMG (Returning TCCC Treasurer) Mr. Ron Livingston - President & CEO, International Environmental Management Co., Ltd. (Returning TCCC Director) Mr. Geoff McIntyre - M.D., Geotai Exploration & Mining Co. Ltd. (New TCCC Director) Mr. Alan Ng - President & CEO, Manulife Insurance (Thailand) PCL (New TCCC Director) Ms. Sukanya Rattanavadee - GM, Thaiphum Skylights Co., Ltd, GSA of Air Canada in Thailand (Returning TCCC Director) Mr. John Stevens - Group Managing Director, Point of View (POV) Media Group Co., Ltd. (Returning TCCC Director and New TCCC Vice President) Mr. Derek van Pelt - MD, Siam Wheels Co., Ltd. (Returning TCCC Director) TCCC Board and Advisors participating in the Annual Business Planning Retreat TCCC Board Members at the Meet the New Board Night (L-R: Sranyoo Chanate, Neil Chiu, John Casella, Alan Ng, Sukanya Rattanavadee and John Stevens)

AGM participants listening to the Presidents Report provided by Mr. John Casella

Khun Mechai expressing his gratitude for the Canadian Embassys 100,000 baht contribution to the VDP fund (L-R: Mr. Michael Howard - TCCC Treasurer, Mr. Mechai Viravaidya - Founder of the VDP, H. E. Ron Hoffmann - Ambassador of Canada to Thailand and Mr. John Casella - TCCC President

Chamber Activity

CANADIAN COMPANIES EYE CAMBODIA

By Mark Browne / Economics Today

While Canadian companies generally haven't had a huge presence in Cambodia, that's about to change following Canada's trade and investment mission to the Kingdom in February.
he Canadian Trade and Investment mission had several straightforward objectives, and they were all solidly met," Canadian Ambassador to Cambodia and Thailand Ron Hoffman told Economics Today in an email interview. "We aimed to gain a better understanding of the business environment, including government policy directions, economic development plans and the legal-regulatory context for foreign companies, and to do so by speaking with a range of experts from within and outside of government." Hoffman, who is based in Bangkok following the closure of the Canadian Embassy in 2009, and representatives from Canadian companies met with Cambodian officials including Deputy Prime Minister Sok An during the two-day trade and investment mission. Canada believes that responsible and targeted foreign investment can play a tangible and significant role in contributing to Cambodia's national development and help to advance the well-being of the Cambodian people by creating jobs and by transferring technology, skills and capital, Hoffman said. I believe Canadian companies bring a sophisticated sense of corporate social responsibility and have a solid track record in bringing business best practices to bear when investing or trading in developing countries. Bombardier, the Montreal based aircraft manufacturer, and Research in Motion, the company that makes BlackBerry smartphones, were among the companies from Canada that took part in the mission. While some Canadian companies are still waiting to bring their products to Cambodia, the BlackBerry is no stranger to the Kingdom. With our growth plans for Cambodia, we believe immersing ourselves in the community and involving ourselves in the trade mission was a good way to ensure that the BlackBerry platform meets the needs of local customers. John Leung, director of Emerging Markets in Southeast Asia, which is part of Research In Motion, said in an email. The BlackBerry is a good fit for ordinary Cambodians as well as people involved in business, he said, The multibillion dollar NASAQ-Iisted company has been working with its parners in Cambodia to promote its BlackBerry Smartphone and the new Black-

"T

Minister of Commerce Cham Prasidh meets with Canadian Ambassador to Cambodia Ron Hoffman during Canada's trade and investment mission

Canada believes that responsible and targeted foreign investment can play a tangible and signicant role in contributing to Cambodia's national development and to helping to advance the wellbeing of the Cambodian people by creating jobs and by transferring technology, skills and capital.
Berry PlayBook. As internet access is on a steady increase in Cambodia, Leung said apps such as the BlackBerry Messenger are well-suited for Cambodians. Cambodia is a great country with lots of opportunity, so we are keen to empower individuals and businesses with the mobile technology that they need to access the

information, people and tools that they want, wherever they are, he said. We have been working with our partners in Cambodia for several years and we know that the BlackBerry solution fits well with the requirements many Cambodian's have, especially thanks to the BlackBerry platform's strong affiliation with mobile social networking. The investment climate in Cambodia is complex and uneven, but that's expected given the country's history of economic and political development, Hoffman said. At the same time, Cambodia's legal and regulatory environment is getting stronger, he said. The biggest concern is the level of corruption companies can still encounter, but even here the experience is and uneven one. The Cambodian judiciary is underdeveloped, which is a constraint, but there are efforts to improve it, Hoffman said. Our companies also pay close attention to issues of human rights and democratic development, as these are important barometers of governance trends and the kind of society Cambodia may become in the future. The Canadian business representatives were impressed with Cambodia's entrepreneurial energy while paying particular attention to the fact that Cambodia is located in the heart of Asia, the continent that will be the world's economic engine in the 21st century, Hoffman said. They also felt that the Cambodian government was determined to diversify the Kingdom's economic base to help improve Cambodians' living standards, he said. Canada is in a good position to meet Cambodias needs in various areas, including in natural resources development, infrastructure, information technologies, telecommunications, transport equipment and services, Hoffman pointed out. As well, Canada has become Cambodia's fifth biggest export market with two-way trade reaching almost CDN$300 million. This peak indicates the enormous growth of the last decade and the scope of the trade relationship is only set to widen. I'm confident that Canadian companies have an expanded role to play in Cambodia in the months and years ahead.

April 2011

Chamber Activity

Building a Strong & Democratic

Recently, Thailands Ministry of Foreign Affairs extended an invitation to the TCCC to participate in its March 31st forum on Building a Strong Democratic Thailand: A Thailand U.S./Canada Forum on Democracy and Good Governance.
Photos by Disraporn Yatprom

Session I: Enhancing Civic Participation and Local Governance for Democratic Strength Session II: Corporate Social Responsibility for Democratic Building and Sustainable Development Session III: Government Accountability and Good Governance Session IV: Development and Strengthening of Political Institutions Representing the TCCC at the Ministrys forum were Executive Board members Messrs. Michael Howard and Derek van Pelt with Derek serving as the TCCCs featured panelist in Session IIs discussions on Corporate Social Responsibility for Democratic Building and Sustainable Development. Dereks presentation focused on the Chambers new Village Development Partnership (VDP) initiative. To provide follow-up coverage of this event, we are pleased to provide you with the following text of Dereks presentation. I want to thank the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for giving the Thai-Canadian Chamber of Commerce the opportunity to join this important forum today. We congratulate the Ministry for its forward thinking of bringing together such an eclectic mix of public servants and private sector representatives, from Thailand, from the United States and from Canada. I am joined today by Mr. Michael Howard, the Treasurer and fellow Director of TCCC. I note that my fellow panelists this morning include representatives from two prestigious corporations from the Thailand SCG and the US - Chevron. I am well aware that both companies have earned significant accolades for their accomplishments in corporate social responsibility and sustainable development. Let me give some background on the Thai-Canadian Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber was officially registered in 1991, with four objectives in its charter: 1.) To promote closer relations between Canada and Thailand. 2.) To provide a business forum for increasing the knowledge of developments in Canada and Thailand. 3.) To provide advice, ideas, and suggestions for Canadian business interests in Thailand. 4.) To promote and organize any activities for assisting worthy causes as approved by the Chamber. Today we have approximately 130 members, both corporate and individuals. We have Canadian companies operating in Thailand, Thai companies reaching out for business opportunities with Canadians, retired Canadian businessmen living in Thailand, Canadian teachers and so on. What drawn us together is the belief that the chamber can be a force for positive change, for the companies that employ us, and for us as individuals. Which brings me to why we are here today. The fourth objective in our charter talks about assisting worthy causes. The current Board of the Chamber has been debating whether we as a chamber - are doing enough to meet that objective in the current environment of the heightened awareness of the importance of corporate governance, CSR and sustainable development. We note that many of our corporate members espouse these principles, but is that enough? We have concluded that No, its not enough the Chamber itself, independent of our members has to step up to the plate. As Canadians, as successful businesspeople in the community, and as a chamber, we must care about creating opportunities for the less fortunate. We must search for constructive, meaningful and sustainable ways in which to offer our help. It is not just about finding ways to give money away; but its important that we look for a way in which we, as a community living in Thailand, can make our presence felt, to be a force for positive change. In this debate we have been joined by the officials from Canadian Embassy in Bangkok. One of the messages that Ambassador Ron Hoffman has been focusing on since his arrival in Thailand is the deepening of Thai - Canadian ties and of increasing Canadas profile in the Kingdom of Thailand. He believes that the Embassy, working in partnership with the Chamber, not only increases the impact that the Canadian community has in Thailand, but also encourages the private sector to get involved in local projects that support some of the essential Canadian values of charity, social awareness, and corporate responsibility. With this lengthy preamble in mind, let me present some of the concrete steps that the Chamber has recently taken to meet our responsibilities to the community in which we live. We have accepted a proposal from the Population and Community Development Association, which you will all recognize as the NGO founded by Khun Mechai Viravaidya, to participate in a Village Development Partnership project. The chamber has agreed to sponsor the village of Baan Nong Phai, a village of about 400 people

ith an audience of approximately 150 attendees, the forum featured U.S., Canadian and Thai panelists discussing 4 main topics:

6 Voyageur

Chamber Activity

Thailand
located in Northeastern Thailands Buriram province. The villagers need a sponsorship of 2 million baht to launch the program so that they can ensure sustainable development in the village through a variety of programs in the areas of community empowerment, income generation, health, environment, and education. To the 2 million baht, the Chamber added 500,000 baht to provide for flood relief, totaling a total ask of 2.5 million baht. The Chamber is now reaching out to all of its members, and beyond, to raise the 2.5 million baht. In so doing, we are offering the employees of our corporate members, and our individual members, the chance to participate in a variety of CSR activities in the village, from tree planting to training. Our fund raising activities began about two months ago. The fund raising letter to our members pointed out that, if we were to succeed in our efforts, we will be collectively responsible for pulling the 400 villagers of Baan Nong Phai out of the quicksand of debt and helping them to stand on their feet with hope and purpose. I am very happy to report that even before the letter went out, we had received our first donation of 100,000 baht, from the Canadian Embassy! To date, we have raised about 800,000 baht, in all. So we are just about for the Chamber to put our collective shoulder to the wheel. Our third initiative relates to our annual Business Excellence Awards, in which we recognize the various accomplishments of our members: Best Exporter, Best Entrepreneur, Best Manufacturer and so on. This year we are creating new category of excellence and we will present an award at our dinner of May 25th to recognize one of our Best CSR Practitioners. The last initiative I want to report to you is in the field of communication. We publish a monthly magazine Voyageur which contains articles of general interest to our members. We now realize that the magazine provides us with a unique platform to build awareness of CSR actions and opportunities and sets out the principles that underlie these important projects. We are initiating a monthly feature in Voyageur that will highlight the CSR activities of our members and of the Chamber itself and in so doing, set a standard for action against which to measure our own commitment to CSR and hopefully, act as a stimulant for all us. The TCCC thanks Mr. Michael Howard and Mr. Derek van Pelt for taking time to provide the TCCC with excellent representation at this important Ministry event.

1/3th of the way to our goal and we are just getting started. A second initiative that we are embarking on is working, in partnership with the Canadian Embassy, at such events as the YWCA annual international bazaar and the Red Cross Diplomatic Bazaar. These highly successful events support a variety of charitable causes in Thailand and provide another way

April 2011

April 2011

British Club Clubhouse c

Bangkoks British Club has long been called a green oasis in the heart of the city. Its also been a favourite haunt for many TCCC members over the years as everything from Canada Day to TCCC networking nights have been staged there. And its the only place that stages regular ball hockey matches in the city (held every Saturday on the new court, at the back of the clubhouse.)
he British Club is 107 years old, its clubhouse a century old. The land was originally a gift from the Thai crown to the British Community, and funny enough, although today the Club is located in the heart of Silom Road in downtown Bangkok, back then the Club was considered to be in the boonies. In 1919, the Club doubled its size by purchasing the Siam Electricity Companys Tennis Club directly across from the clubhouse. That land is now home to a 25 metre-swimming pool, a childrens pool and play area, 4 floodlit tennis courts, 3 squash courts, a fitness centre, a sports shop and massage service Its also home to the Suriwongse Sala, next to the tennis courts, and the Silom Sala, next to the childrens pool. Both salas offer

Member Profile

Thai, British and international food as well a range of beers, soft drinks and ice cream. The Suriwongse Sala also houses a small publications shop to buy weekly magazines, etc. Both salas have a TV screen to show sports and as with the entire Club they are wired up for Wi-Fi. Ironically, though the British Club is host to so many activities what it might be best known for is its food and catering, both on and off premises. Theres also an exquisite fine dining menu with a focus on Mediterranean fusion cuisine. And theres an extensive selection of Thai cuisine, which makes up about 30% of the BC menu. And its not just Royal cuisine, but food from the four main regions in Thailand. The Verandah is the BCs casual bar & restaurant. It opens on to the back lawn, and

The Clubs patio overlooking the back lawn

10 Voyageur

celebrates its Centenary

is a great spot for families to dine. It features regular buffets, carveries and themed food nights for members enjoyment. There is an extensive cocktail and wine list available, including the BCs six house wines. The Verandah also hosts a media bar, which sees weekly delivery of The Globe & Mail. The Churchill Bar provides members with an authentic English pub atmosphere. It includes a central horseshoe bar as well as cozy sofas and table seating for groups or couples. The bar boasts six draught beers plus a wide range of whiskies and variety of other spirits. British pub fare, like bangers and mash, is the bars strength but you can also order international and Thai food as well dishes directly from the grill. A daily special is displayed on a blackboard in the bar together with this months recommendations UK (St. Andrew, St. David, St. George & St. Patrick). In total,. It holds over 150 special buffets and parties over a calendar year, the biggest being its Guy Fawkes Day celebration. The British Club acts as a de facto community center. For an expat family new to Thailand, its a perfect way to make friends and social contacts. And the Club can meet the needs of the whole family, e.g., if mom and dad want to get in a game of tennis, the kids can go swimming. Another benefit of British Club membership is it allows you access to 158 similar member clubs all over the world. Theres also a snooker room and three function rooms all with full audio and visual facilities including a big screen TV with satellite channels. And the Clubs office can provide services in much the same as that of a business centre in a hotel can. Sports wise theres tennis, squash, badminton, swimming, aqua aerobics, yoga, cricket, rugby, ball hockey - no lack of activities to take part in. Theres even the occasional croquet game, but no lawn bowling (as yet) though Jesper is working on getting electronic golf. The Club has its own fitness trainer, Anant Saklebradu, who can put you through the paces and give you a personal training regimen as well as put you on a fitball course. Ruengrit Turiwong gives swimming lessons to both adults and children. Theres even circuit training, Thai boxing lessons and Thai massage as well. The Fitness Centre is open to anyone over 14. Youth membership to the Club (under 30) starts with a Bt33,000 lifetime entrance fee, then theres a Bt1,000 monthly (subscription fee) for a family, or a Bt500 subscription fee for a single member. An adult membership (30+) requires a lifetime entrance fee of Bt66,000 with a subscription fee of Bt2,000 monthly for a family, or Bt1,000 for a single member. To attract members who will not be staying in Thailand for a long time, the club now is offering one-year adult membership for Bt15,000, with a monthly Bt1,000 fee, and one-year youth membership for Bt7,500 fee, with an accompanying monthly Bt500 fee. You can also purchase a day pass for Bt400. The Club is open from 6am-11pm every day and only shuts down for one day a year for a staff party. Summing up the Club Jesper puts it best, The British Club aims to be a social, sports, and cultural centre for the international and British community in Bangkok offering professionals, business people and their families Continued on page 13 April 2011

Mr. Jesper Ole Dopping, The British Clubs General Manager from Khun Laak, the BCs executive chef. The Clubs professional catering service for members offers a wide variety of menus for office parties, home parties, barbecues, Christmas parties, etc. The BC delivers everything: food, drink, tables, carvery as required, and its staff can provide waiting service if required. Jesper Doepping is the general manager of the Club. Hes held the post for almost a year now, and surprisingly enough, hes not British, but Danish. He hadnt even heard of the British Club until he was approached by a headhunter as his tenure as GM with Ansar Technologies in Bangkok was winding down. Hes currently working on a 7-year refurbishment of the Club, constantly seeking ways to upgrade it. In the early days, Thais werent allowed membership into the British Club, but times have changed, membership is now open to all nationalities, but there is a screening system Jesper says, which entails sponsorship from two active club members. But what hasnt changed is that the club is still geared to expats and the lingua franca is English. So the Thais that do join tend to be very Westernized, or have spent time studying, working or living in the West for an extended period of time. There are approximately 1,200 members from 40 countries. The Club stages wine tastings, quiz nights, poolside BBQs, movie, comedy and music nights as well as author nights. Balut (dice games) and bridge games every Sunday are also regular features. Other events include a Childrens Christmas ball (No Parents allowed), the Childrens Christmas party, Fireworks Night, Loy Krathong evening, and the New Years dinner cruise. The BC also celebrates the four patron saint days in the

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12 Voyageur

Member Profile

Front view of The British Club and friends facilities that appeal to both their professional, social and family life. The club offers a strong British culture and ambience in its sports, business, professional and family activities and facilities. Snippets of BC History The British Club Bangkok was founded on 23rd April (St.Georges Day) 1903 by a small group of British businessmen and diplomatic civil servants, in order to create a social club in the style enjoyed by their peers in the British Colonies throughout Asia. The founding fathers, as it was solely a male preserve, were drawn from the British Diplomatic Mission and various companies like The Borneo Company, Louis T. Leonowens, The Anglo-Thai Company and Tilleke & Gibbins, the latter of which would play a significant role in the later years of club history as well. It was initially set up as a debenture membership and was restricted only to the directors and senior managers of those companies, other minions only allowed in as guests. British interests in Siam and thus those of the club were cut short in December 1941 when the Japanese invaded Siam and The British Club Bangkok ceased operation until 1946. The Club was turned into an Officers mess and those members who had been unable to escape were interned in one of a number of camps set up in and around Bangkok. Although British and US bombers did bomb Bangkok, there was no report of the club ever being hit, however the departing army in 1945 did excessive damage to the fabric of the property. The Club was lucky in one aspect; its two land leases were mortgaged to the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank thus survived the war and enabled The Club to eventually claim back the property afterward. After the end of the Second World War, there was some local confusion over the ownpaid by the Siam Ministry of the Interior to the Club, the Club imported two Billiards tables made by Mssrs W. Jelks & Son of Holloway, London for the grand cost of 528 5s 6d. The club has always been conscious of its being part of the greater community within Bangkok thus in 1948 The British Club Bangkok was the major organizer of a Joint Charity Fair for British, US, Dutch and Scandinavian residents to raise funds of Thai causes. This event was held frequently over the next decade and became known as The Ploenchit Fair when in 1957 it moved to its second home of the British Embassy grounds in Withayu Road. The Ploenchit Fair continues to this day but, sadly, no longer in the Embassy Grounds, which have themselves been largely sold off. The club membership was also changing: the club was refounded after the war with only four nationalities allowed membership the core nationalities of British, Australian, New Zealand and Canadian. In the seventies, this was changed to allow a limited number of other nationalities to join as Associate members. In addition, the eighties saw women being allowed to have membership in their own right and children became an everyday part of the club the days of the British male bastion were gone, forever! In 2005, the Club saw the election of a woman as the Clubs chairman the first in 102 years something the founders would never have envisaged in their just post Victorian world and in 2007 the BC elected its first Australian chairman. (For more history on the British Club, see its Centenary Book, which was written by local author and club member, John Hoskins. It not only covers the first 100 years of the clubs history but also takes a look at British interests in Siam since the early traders landed here in 1612.) April 2011

Celebrating Canada Day at the British Club ership of premises, which was initially given to the YMCA. It took a number of months but eventually one Brigadier Victor Jacques obtained the leases from the bank and ownership was restored. Victor Jacques was a retired military man from the First World War who was a partner at Tilleke & Gibbins. At the start of the war in Asia he rejoined the British Army in India and was attached to the Free Thai Movement. After the liberation of Bangkok, he became British Commander here and then rejoined Tilleke & Gibbins. Upon returning to civilian life he called together as many past club members as he could and set about re-establishing it. He also wrote the first post-war Constitution, served as Chairman until 1947 and set the club on track to its first century. As part of the War reparations

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Internship Program World of Work

ISB is seeking internships for students grades 10-12 (age 16-18) from June 6-15 (8 working days) in all areas of work. Students will sign up to work according to their preferences; we hope to satisfy a variety of expectations for students from engineering to NGO work to journalism to hospitality management really our students are interested in all areas! Students will do sessions on resumewriting and interview skills, and all those that are placed with an internship will do a skype interview, a phone interview, or a face-to-face interview with their sponsoring company. All students will be expected to conduct themselves in a most professional manner while performing their internships, observing standards of conduct appropriate both to ISB as well as the company at which they do their internships. Ideally we will place two or more students in each company with which we work, although we understand that there will be exceptions. We will do our best to match students interests with the appropriate internship, making it an enjoyable and productive experience for both the intern and the company. Students do not receive pay for their work during the internship, although you may wish to hire them at a later date as a result of their work during the internship! Students and parents also sign a release of liability form so that their own insurer is responsible in the unlikely event of any possible accidents that may occur on the way to or at the jobsite. Finding meaningful work for interns may or may not be difficult depending on the company and industry. A really helpful and interesting article on how to utilize interns successfully can be accessed at http://www.internships. com/employer/resources/program/typesofwork I hope that you find it informative, and that it can help you to engage our students in a fantastic internship at your company. Please email me at the address below to offer our kids a chance to experience the world of work, or for more information. Thanks very much. Sincerely,

Kevin Callahan International School of Bangkok, High School Counselor kevinc@isb.ac.th

39/7 Soi Nichada Thani, Samakee Road, Amphur Pakkret, Nonthaburi 11120, Thailand. Tel: (662) 963-5800 Fax: (662) 960-4115

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since 1951. www.isb.ac.th