Home Page : News: Reunion Information: 2008 Erawan Reunion Last Updated Wednesday, 17-Sep-2008 09:23:40 CDT 2008 Erawan Reunion The Erawan Group held it's first annual reunion at the Gold Coast Hotel/Casino on September 12 and 13th. The Erawan Group is inspired by the AESEA organization which held a reunion in Bangkok in 2006. Ms. Kym Ennis is a former USAID/RO employee in Vientiane, Laos. She was the reunion organizer. All former USAID/RO, IVS, AA, CASI, employees were invited. The hospitality room was opened Friday 9:00am September 12, 2008. Local Buddhist monks blessed the event and a Baci Soukhone Ceremony was held that afternoon and early evening. Close to 60 persons attended. Saturday evening the banquet was opened with the pledge of Allegiance and opening remarks by L. Michael Kandt who represented the Air America Association and acted as the English Master of Ceremonies for the evening. Ms Ennis was the Lao language MC, and during an excellent buffet dinner, she introduced several Lao classical dancers who entertained with typical Lao grace and precision. Galen Beery was the first of three speakers. Mr Beery served with USAID/IVS from 1962 to 1972, His command of the Lao language, and the stories he related of the era, were appreciated the mostly Lao audience. Wes Tribble who served USAID/RO form 1964 to 1971 and became deputy Chief, gave an historical background of the Requirement Office section of Lao USAID. Finally Mr. John Tucker who served USAID spoke of his work in refugee relief in Savannkhet and Pakse from 1972 to 1975. He later interviewed Laotian refugees in the Thailand camps from 1975 to 1980 for resettlement in the United States of America. There were over 100 guests at the banquet. A Lao Karaoke DJ provided entertainment for the rest of the evening. Mr. Beery and Mr. Tribble entertained the guests by singing a traditional Lao song to the great appreciation of the Lao speakers. Naturally the Lamvong was danced very often during the evening. A plan to create a permanent web site for the Erawan Group is being developed. Reported by Mike Kandt |
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