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Chiang Mai Cultural Council organizes a Lanna group wedding
Nopniwat Krailerg and Preeyanoot Jittawong
 Dr.
Chao Duangduan Na Chiangmai, Chiang Mai Cultural Council president puts the
garlands on the brides and grooms.
A Lanna group wedding was held recently in Chiang Mai,
the ninth since September, 2005, when seven couples that had prepared
themselves for married life, and had sought the advice of Dr. Chao Duangduan
Na Chiangmai, Chiang Mai Cultural Council president, who counseled them
about marriage principles and Lanna culture.
The Lanna wedding “Khoo Kaew Wattanatham Muang” was
arranged by Chiang Mai Cultural council and was held at the Central
Duangtawan Hotel on January 21. Suwat Tantipat, Chiang Mai Governor together
with his wife, Ornadda Tantipat, Dr. Chao Duangduan Na Chiangmai, together
with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) representative joined the
wedding cere-mony.
The objectives of this pro-ject were to show the importance in Lanna
culture that is attached to the couple’s preparation for marriage with
them being ready in body and mind before marriage including being prepared
to carry on the Lanna traditions and culture.
Suwat
Tantipat, Chiang Mai Governor together (right) with his wife, Ornadda
Tantipat (left) and Dr. Chao Duangduan Na Chiangmai, Chiang Mai Cultural
Council president (center) with the happy couples at their wedding.
Skål Club in Chiang Mai celebrates first anniversary
Reinhard Hohler
Photos: Michael Vogt
 President
of Skål International Chiang Mai and North Thailand, Sun Suebsaeng
from the Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi Resort proposed the Skal toast.
Thirty-five members and guests gathered in the Payorn
room at the Amari Rincome Hotel on 26 January 2006 to celebrate their first
meeting of January 2005 and one year of successful operation. President Sun
Suebsaeng from the Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi Resort proposed the toast
to the four Skål principles of happiness, good health, friendship and
good life.
High on the agenda was the election of the Skål
International Chiang Mai and North Thailand board members, whose
nominations were all unanimously confirmed by the attending members.
From a modest 15 Skål members, the group has grown
up to 30 over within the last year. New faces attending the meeting
included the new General Manager Mark S. Bradford from the Mandarin
Oriental Dhara Dhevi Resort; and also new in town Edward Wateridge, General
Manager of the Amora Chiangmai Hotel; and the re-joining Margaret
Bhadungzong, Past President of the original Skål Club Chiang Mai.
 Old
and new faces (from left) Wim Fagel (GM Amari Rincome Hotel); Natalia
Kortchouganova (Jirung Resort); Asdang Sukwises (GM River House Resort and
Spa Chiang Rai) and Mark S. Bradford (GM of Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi
Resort).
Other executive members returned included Treasurer
Michael Vogt, Managing
Director of Chiangmai Mail, and Secretary Eleanor Hardy, General
Manager from the new Chedi Hotel in Chiang Mai; Director of Public
Relations and Communications David Thomas, Wanna Tours in Chiang Mai; and
Director Marc H. Dumur, General Manager from The Legend Hotel in Chiang
Rai. Newly admitted as Director of Social Events was Lilly Saxer, General
Manager of Impulse Tourism Chiang Mai.
 A
fun night for (from left) Wanida Jamieson, (Diethelm Travel); David Thomas
(Wanna Tours); Edward Wateridge, (GM Amora Chiangmai Hotel) and Sureetip
Guntawong (No. 1 Tours)
The next Skål meeting will be at the Mae Sa
Elephant Camp, which is outside in Mae Rim District and some 20km north of
Chiang Mai. For that event, Skål members and guests can expect an
outstanding and unforgettable experience to be a real “mahout” to ride
on an elephant. There will be a special Palong Hill Tribe Dance Show. The
Guest of Honor will be Junnapong Saranak, Director of the Tourism Authority
of Thailand (TAT), Northern Office Region 1, who will give a presentation
about the growing importance of the tourism in-dustry in Chiang Mai and
Northern Thailand.
For visitors, who are interested to join this exciting
outdoor Skål meeting on February 23, at starting at 4.30 p.m., please
contact Michael Vogt by e-mail michael@chiangmai-mail.com.
Elephant’s paintings auctioned for Kids Ark Foundation
Preeyanoot Jittawong
 (From
left) Anchalee Kalmapijit, Operation Director of Maesa Elephant Camp, Jonas
Hafstrom, Swedish ambassador in Thailand and Rita Holm, founder of the Kids
Ark Foundation.
Kids Ark Foundation organized an auction of pictures
painted by the elephants of Maesa Elephant Camp, at The House restaurant on
January 21, with the proceeds going to support needy children of the Kids
Ark Foundation and children who are orphaned because of AIDS.
Jonas Hafstrom, Swedish ambassador in Thailand presided
over this charity auction and Anchalee Kalmapijit, Operation Director of
Maesa Elephant Camp, on behalf of the committee of Kids Ark Foundation,
spoke on the fact that Rita Holm and Allan Gustafsson had established the
foundation.
The foundation has helped more than 300 children since its inception,
however, many more still need help, hence the auction of elephant
paintings. Host Hans B. Christensen from The House Restaurant treated 36
guests to dinner before inviting them to open their hearts and wallets and
bid for the paintings to help needy children.
CMIS teacher has showbiz in her blood
Nicki Gamble
 Suwanee
Eubank
Suwannee Eubank has performed in many diverse and
fascinating venues in her musical career. At the age of eight, she enjoyed
the rare privilege of singing at an informal gathering of the Thai Royal
Family and their close friends. As a college student in Texas, she won
highlighted roles in several big American musicals including Oklahoma,
Cabaret, and Fiddler on the Roof.
After college graduation, Sue taught school for a time
in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico where she was invited to sing the American
national anthem at a Thai kickboxing championship – a surreal experience
for a girl who was born and raised in Thailand.
Sue followed up a degree in Fine Arts with teaching
certification, professional acting courses, solo and ensemble choral work,
and directing and acting in many dramas and musicals in Thailand, Malaysia,
Mexico, and the United States. This wide array of
experiences has resulted in a rich professional resume for Suwannee, and
many interesting stories for her to share.
CMIS is delighted to have Sue on staff where she is
applying her creativity to the instruction of elementary art. By the same
token, Sue is very happy to have returned to the school she attended from
Kindergarten through Grade 7 – a place for which she has
always nurtured a deep and abiding affection. Recently, Suwannee has been
balancing a full teaching load with a demanding schedule of rehearsals for
her pivotal role of Narrator in the upcoming Voice Studio production of
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
CMIS wishes Suwannee Eubank, together with the other CMIS students who
are appearing in Joseph, Leah Ward (Grade 10), Burapath (Frankie)
Saengangsumalee (Grade 5), and Patomporn (Pene) Gair (Grade 4), and the
entire cast and crew of the production, great success in their February 4
and 5, 2006 performances at the Kad Theater.
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