A ‘full house’ for the Chiang Mai Friends’ Group’s first anniversary party

Elena Edwards
After a tremendously successful first year, during which Chiang Mai Friends’ Group formed relationships with many Thai organisations including the municipality, the immigration department, the local police, and Dr. Duentemduang na Chiengmai, the city’s Mayor, it was time to celebrate their achievements at a very special first anniversary party.

The cutest little girl at the party performs a traditional dance for the guests.
The venue was JJ Markets - with tables set up, a stage, a jazz band, and more tables loaded with wine and delicious food, all provided by local businesses and the members themselves - what a great party it was!
The guests of honour included the Mayor, the US honorary consul, Michael Morrow, with his beautiful wife Shannon, the director of the northern office of the Tourist Authority of Thailand, Chalermsak Suranant, even NBC was there to record the occasion, as were the local paparazzi. Dr. Hans van Santen, the Dutch Embassy’s head of the economics department and Rubert Konjin, the Embassy’s counsellor for agriculture, nature and food, are now Chiang Mai Friends’ Group’s newest members - we hope we see them often.
Michael Morrow told the Chiang Mai Mail, “I remember the Friends’ opening night, and have followed its growth throughout the year - it is incredible the amount that has been achieved. It is important to build on the community spirit, as both Thais and Farangs should not take all the wonderful things Chiang Mai has to offer for granted. My family and I have lived here for one and a half years and consider ourselves friends of Chiang Mai. I encourage all expats to do likewise.”

The Mayor of Chiang Mai, Dr. Duentemduang na Chieng Mai, with Shannon Morrow, wife of the honorary US consul in Chiang Mai, Michael Morrow.
Chalermsak added that, “I am pleased to have been invited to join in this anniversary celebration. TAT is happy to work with the group and all expats to promote Chiang Mai as a great place to live. There should be cultural exchanges both ways - this will end up as a win-win situation.”
The celebrations began early at 5.30 p.m., and soon after the area was full of smiling people, both Thai and foreign residents, all congratulating the president of Chiang Mai Friends’ Group, Duenpen Chaladlam (Boong), whose birthday it also was. They also congratulated each other on a great year of working together for integration between the two communities and on the environmental needs of the city.

Revellers having fun at the CM Friends’ party.
After the meeting and greeting and the speeches, the entertainment began, featuring traditional dances by beautifully dressed youngsters, and a fascinating puppet show, again totally traditional, and enormously enjoyed by the crowd. Eating, drinking, talking, listening, making new friends and catching up with old ones - with a few, including Shannon Morrow, even dancing when the band struck up after the entertainment had finished and the anniversary cake had been cut with due ceremony.
An evening which truly mirrored the aims and objectives of the Friends, who are looking forward to the following year and the achievements which will come about, all of which will be celebrated at next year’s party!

A traditional puppet show delighted guests at the Chiang Mai Friends’ Group anniversary party.
Chiang Mai Friends’ Group is, quite simply, a group of caring people - an eclectic mix of Thai and foreigners - that like to meet, talk and share information. Its main purpose is to exchange interests between cultures as well as making integration a great deal easier for foreigners who come to live in Chiang Mai. The transition between one’s country of origin and Thailand can be difficult - the group helps to ease the process, with both foreigners and Thai people helping newcomers to adjust and settle down.
The group is unique in its aims, with only its members benefiting from its activities, which, in turn, benefit the Chiang Mai community itself by cross-cultural understanding and the protection and improvement of the environment.
The Chiang Mai Mail would like to offer its congratulations to Boong on both the group’s anniversary and her birthday, and looks forward enormously to the Friends’ forthcoming year, and to its new website, now under construction. For now, information on Chiang Mai Friends can be found at www.retireinchiangmai.com.

Three beautifully dressed young traditional dancers entertain guests at the party.

Guests of honour crowd round to witness the cutting of the anniversary cake.

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December 08 Newsletter
CHIANGMAI FRIENDS GROUP

“A group of positive & good hearted people,
Expats & Thais, who all share a genuine love
for Chiang Mai City”

   
Dear Members and Friends

 The coming Chiang Mai Friends Group will be on Tuesday 23rd December 08 at JJ Market. It is located on 45 Assadathon Rd. T.Patun  (Please view the attached map ). There is ample car parking, and easy to find.

We start as usual with our Friends dinner at 5.30 p.m. Excellent Christmas menu along with Darling Wine Bar provide Special price 100 Baht per glass quality wine.

The Dinner and meeting is 250 baht & meeting fee 80 baht.

Please confirm your reservation with us by December 20th, 2008

Agenda:

1. Northern Thai classical dancing by talent kids

- The show performed by Nong Plum. She is six years old.

- In addition, she is very talent in Thai classical dancing. She started to dance since she was 2 years old. She prepare unforgettable performance for everyone

2. Special guests and new members welcomed

3. A very short report on the last meeting and associated events  since that meeting

- Khun Calore Beauclerk exchanged and shared experience of culture shock and culture difference.

- Invitation from Deputy Head of Mission and Head of Economic and Culture Affairs at the Embassy of the kingdom of the Netherlands for participated in the official re-opening of Royal Flora Ratchaphreuk on 1st December 08.

- Chiang Mai Friends Member card, we will produce only 1,000 cards each year. Card will valid 2 year. And this card can get a special deal from our sponsorship.

- MPlus Thailand presentation, give us briefly about their mission. And their goal to give a knowledge about HIV/AIDS to youth group. However, they need a support from everyone to make it accomplish.

4. Eskimo Friends talk

  Joe and Martha, who are from Alaska, are presenting a lap-top slide presentation of their home state Promises to be of great interest as Martha has an Eskimo background.

5. Friends share experiences and impressions of Chiang Mai

An informal open forum which can be a question and answer type session or just members sharing their ideas and views and helping others.  A good opportunity to network for the benefit of everyone. Bring your business card. We want to involve all members of the Chiang Mai Friends Group. We are all part of the Chiang Mai community

6. Friends News

 The Chiang Mai Municipality is arranging a New Year Countdown from 26th - 31st Dec 08 at Thapae Gate, and have asked our group to take part. They are inviting people from all walks of life to join the event and promote Green Chiang Mai.

Chiang Mai Friends Group will participate with this event by presenting a slide show of what foreigners living in Chiang Mai City do to enhance the city.

Please could you send your photos to me as soon as possible, with a description.

If you would like to participate in the event on the 26th with songs / dance please let me know. I am trying to get the Spirit House Singers to sing 3 or 4 songs.
Any advice is welcome.

More friend news, please send it to us by December 20, 2008

7. Next Meeting 

Our next meeting is on January 22, 2008. We will have a potluck party. If you want to bring any sweet or drink, please inform us before January 14, 2009.

Thursday, 22nd of January will be our 1st anniversary!!!  You are invited to join our evening celebration. We have arranged a special evening of events for you

Chiang Mai Friends Group
44/3 Sridonchai Rd., T. Haiya, A. Muang, Chiang Mai, 50100 THAILAND
    Tel/Fax:  +66 (0) 53 206 121 Mobile: +66 (0) 89 433 4926
            Email: info@retireinchiangmai.com
 Website: www.retireinchiangmai.com
 
We are grateful to www.retireinchiangmai.com for allowing us use of their website to inform the people of Chiang Mai of our activities. Please visit it to find out more and email info@retireinchiangmai.com to book your places for 23 December 2008