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History of Boston University Alumni Association in Thailand
Prior to 1979, Boston University had sent a team to work with the staff of the American University Alumni Association (A.U.A.A) in Bangkok every year in recruiting students for their enrollment in various Schools. However, in 1979 Ms. Carol Paolozzi, the then Director of B.U. Alumni Organization had contacted 2 B.U. alumni in Bangkok, namely : Luang Thavil Srethpanichkarn (Thavil Kuptarak, SMG’32), and M.R. Ophas Kanchanavijaya (SMG’60, GSM’61) to invite alumni from B.U. from the name list given by her for a get-together party at the Siam Inter-Continental Hotel, Bangkok. The party took place at the end of 1980 and about 20 alumni were present. That was the first meeting of the Boston University Alumni in Thailand.

Establishment of Boston University Alumni Association in Thailand

Since then, Luang Thavil had started to organise the B.U. Alumni Chapter in Thailand by contacting the B.U. Official and drafted the Constitution and By-laws based on those of B.U. General Alumni Association and B.U. Alumni Chapter in Japan. Unfortunately, Luang Thavil passed away in 1981 H.E. Pong Sarasin (SMG’51) had, therefore, contacted Mr. & Mrs. Charles Gorden to help in completing the unfinished draft and submitted to the National Culture Commission of the Ministry of Education and the Police Department, and Boston University Alumni Association in Thailand was officially instituted on 17 November, 1983 (Permit No. 570/2526). The 3 original organizers registered therein were :
1. H.E. Pong Sarasin
2. Mr. Pandit Bunyapana
3. M.R. Ophas Kanchanavijaya
H.E. Pong Sarasin was elected Founding President of the Association and was re-elected consecutively 5 terms (of 2 years each) from 1983 through 1993. Mr. Pandit Bunyapana (SMG’57) was the second President (1994-1995). Sadly, he passed away before the end of his term ; then, H.E. Arsa Sarasin (SMG’59) continued to fill up the term. M.R. Ophas Kanchanavijaya (SMG’60, GSM’61) was the fifth President during the term of 1996-1997 and H.E. Nissai Vejjajava was elected as President 1997-1999, while the incumbent President Mrs. Somnual Laohaprasit was elected in 1999-2000.
The 1st Association Committees were :
President H.E. Pong Sarasin
Vice President Mr. Pandit Bunyapana
Secretary M.R. Ophas Kanchanavijaya
Assistant Secretary Mom Bongkoj-Priya Yugala
Treasurer Mr. Udom Vichayabhai
Assistant Treasurer Mrs. Somnual Laohaprasit
Social Activities Mr. Angkhani Vorasaph
Registrar Mr. Vuttichai Wanglee
Public Relations Mr. Chanin Donavanik
Assistant Public Relations Mr. Tira Sirikiatsoong
Committee Members-at-large Dr. Suvit Yodmani
Miss Supari Varasumanta
Mr. Visid Wongboonchuoichai
Mr. Dejphol Phisanbut
Mr. Varavut Pachimsawat
Mr. Nisan Prathanrasnikom
Mr. Jersi Ting
At present, B.U. Alumni Association in Thailand has a total of over 300 registered members. In 1994, Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhon (the youngest daughter of H.M. the King of Thailand) has graciously accepted to become Honorary Member of the Association as she had been taking up some courses during summer sessions at B.U. while studying for her Ph.D. degree.
Two of our distinguished alumni have been bestowed with B.U. Alumni Awards for the merits they have rendered to the society. They are : H.E. Pong Sarasin, the then deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, received B.U. Alumni Award for “Distinguished Service to the Community” in 1984, while M.R. Ophas Kanchanavijaya received B.U. Alumni Award for “Distinguished Service to Alma Mater” in 1986. In 1993, H.E. Pong Sarasin was elected Trustee of Boston University. M.R. Ophas Kanchanivijaya was also elected member of the Boston University SMG Alumni Association Board of Directors in 1992.

Our Activities :

The Association activities included a gala dinner and entertainment following the General Annual Meeting with election of President and Committees every other year. During the course of the year, the Association is conducting some cultural tours around Thailand for its members.
Toward the end of 1986, President John Silber and Trustee Daniel J. Finn came to visit Thailand and had an opportunity to join our Annual General Meeting and met with local alumni. On that occasion, Trustee Dan Finn had given a symbolic trophy of B.U. annual golf tournament to be presented to the winner. While, President Jon Westling has been visiting Thailand and has opportunities to meet B.U. alumni in Bangkok on different occasions in the past few years.
From 1988, B.U. Alumni Association in Thailand has the honor to arrange for various field studies of Thai economy, industries, and trade by touring various manufacturing industrial companies and factories for graduate students from B.U. Graduate School of Management under the tutelage of prof. Y.S. Chang.
Recently the Association donated to trust funds of recognized foundations such as “Princess Chulabhon Foundation” for Baht 50,000.- “Chaipatana Foundation” for Baht 100,000.-. These funds are from the proceeds of Fellowship Golf Tournaments and dinners organized by the Association.
Apart from the above activities, the Association also arranged for our members to tour Petchaburi and Prachuabkirikhan provinces in the South of Thailand, in addition to the study tour and pleasure trip to Zinc mining of Padaeng Industries Public Co., Ltd. in the northern province of Tak, where the Association had given scholarships and stationery to needy students in remote areas.
The Association has been periodically engaging in various fund-raising activities with good causes such as dinner with shows, dinner-dance, golf & bowling tournaments, seminars and in-house publication etc.
Those social events have been very active with voluntary participation by local B.U. alumni in a pure spirit to serve our Alma Mater, and the Thai society as a whole.