Thai Student Association (TSA) University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign Ithipong Billy Assaranurak President of TSA University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign TSA at UIUC Established in the 1970s Promote Thai traditions and cultures Serve as a central resource for Thai members and enthusiasts of Thailand Approximately 100 members
TSA Committee President Ithipong Assaranurak (Senior) Vice President Napat Chutumstid (Junior) Secretary Prin Phanich (Junior) Treasurer Bussaba Amnueypornsakul (Junior) External Coordinator Ploychompoo Pattana Anek (Junior) Internal Coordinator Pakphoom Buabthong (Soph.) Activity Coordinator Tan Nilgianskul (Soph.) Multimedia Specialist Thasphon Chuenchujit (Junior) Problems Obligation and commitment as a member Unity of the club Irregularity of the meeting Involvement of foreigners and publicity
2011 2012 events New Student Welcoming Party (Rub P Rub Nong) Fall Potluck Party Sports Day at Purdue University Flood Relief Fundraising Event Spring Potluck Party Songkran Merit Ceremony Graduation Party 2012 2013 events Fall 2012 Spring 2013 Thai UIUC Alumni Dinner Spring Potluck Party Quad Day New Student Welcoming Party Sports Day at Purdue Fall Potluck Party Southeast Asian Week Thai Night Songkran Merit Ceremony Graduation Party Thai Food Festival Thai Movie Night Bold text: New activities Red text: Activities open for foreigners
Side projects Facebook group for informal meetings and announcements Academic help from both peers and seniors Survival package for new students Flood Relief Fundraising 2011 About 40 volunteers Raised up to about $3500 Donated to Red Cross Thailand and Faculty of Pharmacy, Chulalongkorn University
Fall 2012
Thai UIUC Alumni Dinner 2012 August 18, 2012 A gathering of alumni from 1960s About 150 participants Featured buffet dinner, speeches by several alumni, conservations among alumni and students in the same majors Opportunities: 1) Stronger bonds between alumni and current students 2) Establishment of Thai UIUC alumni association Difficulties: 1) Finding contacts 2) Follow up
Quad Day 2012 August 26, 2012 A gathering of RSOs (Registered Student Organizations) on campus to promote their own clubs and recruit new members About 60 foreigners signed up Opportunities: 1) presented the club 2) made connections with other ASEAN clubs Difficulties: 1) On waitlist 2) table location 3) many people not interested
Quad Day 2012 Quad Day 2012
New Student Welcoming Party Rub P Rub Nong Started last year September 2, 2012 Served as an activity to get everyone not only oriented with the school, but also familiarized with other Thai students, both current and new Scavenger hunt Follow up: Dinner, Facebook Opportunities: Stronger bonds among students Difficulties: 1) Age gap 2) Location New Student Welcoming Party
Fall Potluck Party The first annual gathering of all members September 22, 2012 A performance by every freshman Introduction of the committee and announcement for the TSA events this year Sell ADC Card
Sports Day at Purdue September 8, 2012 A sports competition among Thai students from UIUC, Purdue University, Indiana University, and Chicago areas Feature soccer game, Wing Preaw, Chukkayer, Dinner afterwards Thai Food Festival 2012 November 2012 Was a great success two years ago with participations of many foreign students Spicy eating contest Thai food sale Opportunities: Publicity of the club Difficulties: Public Relations
Thai Movie Night 2012 November 2012 Show Thai movies Thai movies have become very popular recently across Asia, esp romantic comedies and horror movies Opportunities: Promote Thai cultures Difficulties: 1) Copyright 2) Public Relations Spring 2013
Spring Potluck Party February 2, 2012 The first gathering of Spring semester Election for the committees Thai rock band Looking for some other engaging activities TSA Committee Election Committee this year composed of president, vicepresident, secretary, treasurer, multimedia specialist, external, internal, and activity coordinators Democratically voted for every role Voted early in spring but the old committee still keep working until the end of the semester so the new committee can learn the system Mentoring
Southeast Asian Week Held two years ago with a great success Coordination between all the SEA clubs (Burmese, Vietnamese, Singaporean, Indonesia, Malaysian, Filipino clubs) Served as a cultural showcase of SEA cultures Create connections between ASEAN countries
Thai Night Thai Night April 13, 2013 The largest UIUC TSA event opened for foreigners Activities: Muay Thai show, Thai traditional music show, rock band, Ram Thai, and booths (Writing Thai name, taking a picture with a place in Thailand as a background Two years ago, 500 attendees Difficulties: 1) Coordination 2) Public relations
Thai Night Songkran Merit Ceremony April 20, 2013 Tum Boon for Songkran Monks from Wat Phra Sri, Chicago About 50 attendees (all Thais)
Songkran Merit Ceremony Graduation Party Close to the end of the school year Like potluck Speeches by new graduates and continuing students Opportunities: Database for alumni
Graduation Party Quad Day 2012 2013 events Fall 2012 Spring 2013 Spring Potluck Party New Student Welcoming Party Sports Day at Purdue Fall Potluck Party Thai Food Festival Southeast Asian Week Thai Night Songkran Merit Ceremony Graduation Party Thai Movie Night Bold text: New activities Red text: Activities open for foreigners Presentation title, etc.
Side projects Facebook group for informal meetings and announcements Academic help from both peers and seniors Survival package for new students Problems Obligation as a member Unity of the club (cultural difference, age gap, different interests) Irregularity of the meeting Involvement of foreigners and publicity
Solutions Weekly soccer, badminton, basketball, and Muay Thai Informal meetings through Facebook group (dinners, campus festivals, kayak, ski) Expand our activities and collaborate with other students organizations Side projects Facebook group for informal meetings and announcements Academic help from both peers and seniors Survival package for new students