|
About us and our
Charities
Thanks for dropping by our web site. Pattaya for many
years has deservedly had the reputation of being something of a gay
Mecca for tourists from all over the world. Also, events such
as street parties, gay sports days, football and Mr & Miss Contests
have long been a popular tradition here. In November 2000,
following the initiative of local businessman
Jim Lumsden, a committee began
the mammoth task of organizing the First Pattaya Gay Festival in
which all gay and gay friendly businesses could be as involved as
they wished. Now
seven years
on and with nearly
20 million baht
raised
that little initiative has grown out of all proportion and
the reputation of quality PGF Events, from dinners to street parties, means
it has become a 'must do' in most Asian Gay Travellers diary.
Luckily for them, there are Events throughout the year and they are
listed on this site either as PGF Committee or Member sponsored Events, all are great fun and worthy of consideration.
The year long party culminates around
December
1st, World Aids Day.
with a huge program of
Final
Events
over a three day period each year. From the 20 million
baht raised to date the main benefactor has been the
Heartt 2000
Charity, an HIV/AIDS related organisation here in Pattaya
getting medications to patients in need, as well as other well known local
Charities. One of the most satisfying aspects of the fund raising
has been how both gay and non-gay people work together to improve
the life chances of many Thai sufferers in the locality.
The volunteers and participants also have a great deal of fun along
the way at high quality social events.
This year once again the nominated charities are Heartt 2000 and
other local charities. Incidentally, Heartt 2000 (Help Ensure Aids
Rescue In Thailand Together) is run by French
Doctor Philippe Seur
and he has already helped hundreds of HIV/AIDS sufferers, principally by
diagnosing and purchasing, as cheaply as possible, the life saving
drugs which people in the western world would take for granted.
Many of us who knows Dr Philippe's work will confirm the
tremendous value of Heartt 2000's contribution to the health of the
community, this has now becoming widely acknowledged by The City
Council, Rotary and many more. This web site will be actively
updated so look in on us often.
Finally, please don't forget that the
Pattaya Gay Festival 2007
is already
underway BUT we still need Sponsor Members.
You can help by clicking on the Support PGF link above, or by attending PGF Events
and buying the Lucky Numbers. Events are held throughout the year to raise funds for the charities
but large or small Donations are always welcome, see a Committee Member
or email us direct.
Enjoy the year
safely & actively for a good cause!
PGF
Committee Report for 2006
We are
pleased to report that 2006 proved to be another hugely successful
year for the Pattaya Gay Festival. As will be seen from the accounts
being presented by the Treasurer, a net income of 3.7 million baht
was achieved – only some 0.1 million baht short of 2005’s record
breaking 3.8 million. The whole of this sum was available for
charitable donations and 3.6 million baht was duly donated to Heartt
2000 during the year.
This money
was raised from a series of PGF organized events held during the
year plus a number of additional events run by individual
members/sponsors of the PGF. These events included – as in previous
years – a number of dinners, competitions, and this year produced
what is arguably the most memorable Boyz Town Street Party held to
date. No one who attended this “:Christmas Cracker” party on
December 2nd is likely to forget such a fun evening which
saw “Madame Jim” stripped of his jewelry (and some of his clothing!)
by charitable bribes from the audience, and then engage in a cash
raising exchange of attire on stage with a good humored Mick
Cockcroft from the Café Royale. This most enjoyable of evenings was
rounded off by a magnificent individual cash donation of 350,000
baht from the 85 year old Archie Dunlop.
Over the 6
years of our existence, we have now managed to raise just short of
20 million baht – a staggering sum – for our charitable donations,
and we have given over 15.5 million of this to Heartt 2000 which has
remained as the prime recipient of PGF cash. For at least the second
successive year H2K has, in fact, been the only PGF beneficiary –
but it is to be stressed that we continue to be willing to consider
requests made from other local charities when approached. The funds
that we have been able to pass on to Dr Philippe Seur and H2K during
the year have helped him to continue with his so much needed and
valuable work in saving lives and providing drugs and treatment for
those suffering from the HIV/AIDS virus.
Thanks are
due to our Treasurer for his usual meticulous handling of our
finances, to our Vice Chairman Jim Lumsden without who there would
simply not be a Pattaya Gay Festival at all, and of course, to Brian
Wrigley who continues to maintain our website to such a high
standard.
Our
Chairman for the entire 6 years of our existence, Michael Burchall,
retired during the year to live in the UK. We owe a debt of
gratitude to Michael for all the work he has put in over such a long
period, and we wish him well in his retirement. It was good to see
him back in Pattaya on holiday over the Christmas/New Year period.
We mourned
the death early in 2006 of former Committee member David Martin. As
reported last year David retired from the Committee at the end of
2005, but sadly died after only a very short time into his
retirement to Sri Sa Ket.
We now
look forward to the challenge of making 2007 live up to the very
high standards of the past few years. Much work is required, and in
thanking all of our members, friends and supporters for their
tremendous support in 2006 we also have to ask for this support to
continue in the coming year. We rely on it!
Financial
Report here
Committee
2006:
Michael J Burchall (Chairman)
Jim Lumsden (Deputy Chairman) John Nichol
(Treasurer)
Barry Kenyon (Minutes Secretary) John Bryan
Thomas Kalb Stephen Dickens
Phil Graham Richard Burk
Committee Elected for 2007
Richard Burk (Chairman) John Nichol (Treasurer) Barry Kenyon
(Minutes Secretary) Glen Campbell (Events co-ordinator)
Steve Dickens (Membership) John Coughtrie (Fundraising)
John Bryan Phil Graham Peter Storrow Chris Munnery
Jim Lumsden has stood down for this year but will be an Advisor as required. |
