IBAP Regular Monthly Membership Meetings & Programs for 2008

This fun evening is our annual year end Christmas Party.

Bundle up the kids and join us for an evening with Santa and Santa's helpers.

There will be gifts for the little ones and smiles for everyone.

Patong deputy mayor Chairat Sukban will be speaking about the many challenges facing the Patong Beach municipality along with some of the changes in the works and plans on the books.

Traffic flow on the beach road, tuk-tuks, the Patong tunnel project, water and electric supply, waste and waste water management, security and the new closed-circuit television (CCTV) public security system are but a few of the challenges facing Patong's leaders.

Do you have a question you'd like to ask deputy mayor Chairat? Send us your question and we'll try to get it in the list.

This will be the 5th year that we present this program, and with all the changes that have taken place in this last year this program is certain to be more popular than ever.

Come and enjoy this fascinating world we live in looking from the sea that we came from. Dive into the ocean with marine biologist and filmmaker Mark Wunsch from the Phuket Aquarium, look and listen to some fascinating stories from Thailand's coral reefs and shores and how they may relate to your business! The ocean and the coast of the Andaman Sea are Phuket's greatest resources and driving most of the tourism in the region. But rapid development and increasing pressure put these assets at risk. Education is certainly one key to more understanding and essential for the establishment of more sustainability. The Phuket Aquarium is currently pursuing major efforts to become an edutainment center for the coastal and marine environment. Mark will introduce us to the new concepts, progress and need for cooperation with the private sector. Visit the Phuket Aquarium website About Mark Wunsch: Mark Wunsch is currently advising the Phuket Aquarium in organizational and exhibition development, media production, public relations and fundraising. He trains staff in the use of digital photography, videography and editing at Phuket Aquarium. Mark accepted the 2 year assignment with the Phuket Aquarium/Phuket Marine Biological Center in the framework of a Post Tsunami project from the German government in September 2006. Mark holds a master degree in biology and communication and studied the ecology of coral reefs in the Red Sea. During the mid 90s he started working for television and educational institutions as a producer and filmmaker and as a consultant for environmental communication out of Germany. Mark has a deep interest in developing and communicating sustainability at all levels. He has lectured about environmental communication for the UNESCO and has been supporting the evelopment of science communication in Thailand. Mark gets his inspirations from the outdoors - in and underwater, on foot or bike and by visiting different cultures. Learn more about Mark Wunsch »

Khun Woody will give us his "State of the Internet Address" with an update on some worthwhile Internet access technology that's coming down the pike.

If you've ever experienced computer frustration or rage, and found yourself somehow lacking the right words, Woody can help beef up your vocabulary and put a grin on your face at the same time.

Woody has spent much of the last 20 years writing mostly about Windows and Microsoft office. Most of us have come across his yellow & black "For Dummies" books, the latest is Windows Vista Timesaving Techniques For Dummies, and Windows Home Server For Dummies is coming soon. Woody writes informatively, usefully and amusingly. Take a few moments to learn more about Woody and his books at his personal KhunWoody.com website, Amazon Books and through the recent Of Microsoft and muffins article in Phuket magazine.

The June membership meeting is intended as a supplement to the May meeting that addressed a few visa questions and issues.

Tonight's presentation will be lead by Khun Janya Yingyong, Labor Technician Level 6, and 3 of her staff including her translator Somkiat Baiadul, one of the senior in-processing staff within her department. Anyone having a work permit here in Phuket will certainly recognize these people. Accompanying Khun Janya will be Labor Department Chief Khun Nattaya Anudit.

We have asked our speaker to address the most common Work Permit issues they encounter as well as providing answers to the questions posted here on our website.

We expect this to be a full-on evening so the best way to have your question or concern addressed is to submit it using our handy online form. This gives the Employment Office staff a bit of lead time to prepare the best answer.

A common denominator for all of us living here is that we are required to hold a current and valid VISA.

Finding reliable answers to the various VISA qualification requirements, then going through the process of obtaining or renewing a VISA can be very frustrating to say the least.

What are the consequences resulting from an overstay, insufficient business income, not employing enough staff, or even being hospitalized and unable to go to immigration. Are there answers? solutions?

This evening's presentation will be by the knowledgeable members of Bangkok Legal Service, experienced in guiding their clients through the necessary steps to obtaining and renewing all VISA types.

Bangkok Legal Services offers nearly 30 years of experience serving the business community of Thailand.

Learn more about » Bangkok Legal Service.

New York City Native, passed both the New York State and California State Bar Exams. Worked with Baker & Mckenzie in Bangkok, Khattar Wong & partners in Singapore, and Kallan & Torchio in NY City.

Moved on from just practicing law, to doing both law and business.

Became Product Development Manager for multi-national firm, doing business through-out Southern Asia and the Far East. Set up Joint Ventures and supply partnerships across the globe.

Became a Partner in an Architectural Design / Build Firm, consulting Fortune 500 Cos. in NYC. Implemented Facility programmes in New York City, Paris and Chicago.

Thailand - First came to Thailand in 1985 as a AFS Exchange Student. Spent one year living with Thai family in Phattalung. Returned to SE Asia frequently, completing graduate programmes at the National University of Singapore and Chulalongkorn University. Fluent in spoken Thai, working on my reading and writing.

Returned to Thailand this year and have business with Bangkok Legal Services, consulting both Foreign and Thai Nationals on business and legal issues.

Security is no longer only a topic of casual conversation, it's a growing issue of concern for all residents, visitors, businesses owners and residential developers here in Phuket.

We all love living in Thailand, and as everywhere we prefer to think there are no problems here. The sad reality is that the more successful, the more affluent and the more prominent you are, the more you and your family become targets. Serious and potentially dangerous crime has come to Thailand. Violent crime especially has increased astronomically in the past few years.

Is your home secure, is your office secure, are you secure? Our program this Friday will provide useful information including 10 basic tips you can put into effect right now at your home or office to improve your "security score."

We have two program speakers this evening. Speaking about security issues related to property will be Elliot Klein, Director of Operations for the Maximum Security Division of Saen Yim Co. Ltd. His extensive experience in security analysis in Pattaya, Bangkok and here in Phuket will certainly provide an interesting and informative viewpoint.

IBAP Board Member and Karate Teacher Darren Brinkman will offer some tips on personal security and help us understand what are some of the options available to us here in Phuket.

March is our Annual Meeting and a changing of the guard so to speak. We'll be thanking the outgoing Officers and Trustees and welcoming in the new.

We would like you to take the time to speak with the incoming trustees to learn more of what projects they're taking on and ideas they're developing. Support these leaders with your thoughts and a bit of your time.

And tonight is our 1st Annual Business Awards Night. We've done it again. We've made it through yet another year of business adventures here in Phuket and we need to celebrate. Come and enjoy the "roasting" of some of our "survivors." There is sure to be some fun.

Tonight we will be honoring a few of our members with some very special awards and we'd like you to be there to contribute with your applause.

Regular Meeting February 08th, 2008

Each time that IBAP presents our "Legal Eagle" night the response is overwhelming asking that we schedule it again, so here it is. The program is especially interesting this year as Thailand enters into a new phase of government leadership.

This evening our panel will be addressing some of the issues they find most impacting on businesses here in Phuket:

Friedrich 'Sam' Fauma is the founder, director and shareholder in International Law Office, Patong Beach. International Law Office is a registered Law Firm with Bars Association of Thailand having 5 Thai Lawyers and Notary Public as well 2 foreign lawyers (members of the International Bar Association) working as advisors for the firm.

Sam is long recognized for his in depth understanding of the legal scene here in Phuket. Sam's skills at speaking, reading and writing Thai give him interesting perspectives on how the law works here in Phuket

For nearly 20 years Sam has been consulting local individuals and businesses. As the laws and their interpretations have changed so has our need for adaptive methodology for finding workable solutions to our ever changing situations...
 More about International Law »

"Belmont Limcharoen is a full service international law firm headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand. We provide the highest quality legal advice and representation to clients from around the world. Our firm defines itself by the success of our client relationships and the notable business and litigation accomplishments we help effect.

Our practice is organised into three major groups:

as well as a number of specialist groups. We have three offices in Thailand: Bangkok, Phuket and Samui, and affiliate offices and links to advisers throughout South East Asia."   More about Belmont Limcharoen »

Members and Friends of IBAP are invited to a presentation by the Board featuring the draft Business Plan and Objectives of IBAP this year.

The presentation will be interactive, and we will be seeking feedback from you on a broad range of issues including:

The recent Board meeting uncovered new and revisited older ideas and concepts for IBAP - and in the interests of a healthy and congruent association we want to be sure that the Board's vision for IBAP reflects the desires and involvement of the members and supporters. Lets have a great turnout this Friday and a lively robust discussion on what is best for IBAP and its members as we move into 2008.