June 2015 - American Society of São Paulo

FORUM
Save the Date
June 24th – Happy Hour
June 27th – 4th of July Celebration
November 14th – Angel Party
In This Issue
Alice in Wonderland
Page 7: Alice Kelly da Silva
impressed everyone at the AGM with
her poise and eloquence at just 16
years old. Her mentors, Simone and
Jason Bermingham share the story of
how they took her under their wings.
2015 Gala Photos
Pages 8 & 9: Check out some of our
favorite shots from our annual Gala
benefitting local childrens’ charities.
They are all available online at
http://flavianovaz.com.br/area-docliente/american-society
Annual General Meeting
Pages 10 & 11: Mira Hankins and
Consul General Dennis Hankins
hosted a lovely evening at their home
for a special annual AmSoc gathering.
Our Mission
The American Society of São Paulo
promotes friendship by organizing social,
cultural, and athletic events for its diverse
membership; encourages integration
with the Brazilian society; and supports
the American traditions of education,
philanthropy, and volunteerism.
Monthly Newsletter
June 2015
www.AmSoc.com.br
A
Marine’s
Sacrifice
Sgt. Robert Hatch, U.S. Marine, Receives Purple Heart
By Richard Wegman, AmSoc Board President
Veteran, U.S. Army 2nd Lieutenant
On Wednesday May 13 th , on the
invitation of Consul General Dennis
Hankins, I participated in the presentation
of a Purple Heart Medal to one of the
Marines stationed at the U.S. Consulate
General here in São Paulo. Sgt. Robert
Hatch received this distinguished award
for his service in Afghanistan.
The entire Consulate staff gathered at
11:30 a.m. to observe this special ceremony
– one that even most longtime diplomats,
including Consul General Hankins, had never
witnessed before. It was a moving event
honoring Sgt. Hatch’s special commitment
to our nation made even more poignant by
the fact that his parents were able to witness
the ceremony from their home in the U.S.
and offer words of support and admiration
over the loudspeaker.
Some may wonder about the origins of
the Purple Heart:
In 1782 General George Washington
saw the need to recognize certain Army
soldiers for their heroism, bravery and
inspiration. He signed executive orders
that created a number of different medals,
including one now known as the Purple
Heart. However, it was General Douglas
MacArthur who actually submitted the
medal to Congress and received approval
in 1932. Incidentally, the medal was
announced on the 200th anniversary of
Washington’s birth to Honor the Father
of Our Country, the man who established
our first military medals.
The Army quickly embraced the Purple
Heart, authorizing its presentation to
soldiers whose wounds resulted from action
with an enemy and required treatment by
a medical officer. The award itself was
made retroactive, allowing World War
I veterans who were wounded in action
to receive this distinction as well. Later,
President Franklin D. Roosevelt expanded
the award to include the Navy and Marines,
allowing servicemen killed or wounded in
action at Pearl Harbor to be awarded the
At top, Sgt. Robert Hatch is awarded the Purple Heart Medal by U.S. Consul
General Dennis Hankins on May 13, 2015, at the U.S. Consulate São Paulo.
Above, AmSoc Board President Richard Wegman, right, thanks Sgt. Hatch
for his service and his sacrifice.
Purple Heart. President Truman extended
that authorization retroactively to April 5,
1917, so that all World War I and II sailors
and marines would be eligible to receive it.
Today the Purple Heart is one of the most
widely recognized and respected medals
awarded within our Armed Services by the
population in general. It cannot be earned
by courage or by exceptional service or
achievement. The Purple Heart signifies
one thing: SACRIFICE. Whenever you
see a Purple Heart, know that it represents
either a combat death or a combat wound.
It represents the blood that has been shed
in the defense of liberty.
Please join me in offering a silent thank
you to Sgt. Robert Hatch, U.S. Marine, for
his continued service in defense of our liberty.
It was an honor for me to represent our
American Society Veterans group. I was
joined by Ted Resener who is likewise a
recipient of the Purple Heart.
President’s Page
I
humbly and respectfully accept the
position of President of The American
Society of São Paulo and all the
responsibilities associated with this Office.
These were my words at our Annual
General Membership meeting held on
April 29th. I know that some of you were
present; for the rest, I want share with
you some of what was said:
I have been a member of the Board
of Governors for seven years and I am
TOTALLY EXCITED about our future
and working with this new Board!
Tuesday, May 5th, marked the start of
our 65th year of service here in São Paulo.
We are poised and ready to take the next
step in alignment with our four pillars and
our mission statement. The four pillars
are: 1) American Traditions and Local
Culture, 2) Charity, 3) Member Resources,
and 4) Social and Business Networking.
You can expect to see continued focus of
our efforts in all these areas.
We will be implementing a mentorship
program for new Board members so
that they will better understand their
AmSoc leadership roles and feel more
comfortable in a much shorter timeframe.
We want to support each of them to be
successful contributors to our future.
We’ll be working more closely with
the American Chamber of Commerce
to explore the possibility of extending
our support to companies who desire
to implement social responsibility
programs by working through our
Community Action Committee.
These were the words; now I invite
each of you to become part of the action. I
was fun, relaxed, beautiful and successful.
Frank was presented a plaque on behalf of
the American Society membership with the
inscription as follows:
The American Society of São Paulo
expresses its sincere gratitude
to President Frank Pierce for his
outstanding and dedicated work
accomplished from 2013 to 2015.
Frank surmounted pressing challenges
and established new goals, allowing
AmSoc to better serve the American
community and the AmSoc-supported
charities of São Paulo.
Incoming Board President Richard Wegman, right, presents outgoing
Board President Frank Pierce, left, with a commemorative plaque at the
Annual General Meeting on April 29, 2015.
challenge each member to find a way to add
to the best of what AmSoc is today, thereby
contributing to our future. Come and enjoy
our events, give us your ideas, let us know
what you want more of or things you would
prefer that we stop doing. I ask you to invite
one family to join AmSoc, just one family
each... you can do it! We are your Board;
without you we are not necessary, so help us
serve you better. Thank you in advance for
actively making AmSoc the organization
that you are proud to be a part of.
I want to acknowledge and thank Frank
Pierce, our retiring President whose tireless
support of AmSoc and direct leadership
moved the entire organization to a new
level. Anyone who attended this year’s Gala
felt the impact of our movement… the Gala
About Forum
Forum is published monthly, with
the exception of January and July, by
2
The American Society of São Paulo
Rua da Paz, 1431 | 04713-001 São Paulo, SP
Tel: (11) 5182-2074 Fax: (11) 5182-9155
e-mail the editor: forum@amsoc.com.br
FORUM
His exceptional care and commitment
will be fondly remembered by the
American Society of Sao Paulo.
April 2015
In closing, I want to thank everyone
involved in our very successful Gala. This
includes our corporate sponsors, people
who made donations and contributions;
people who bid on the prizes, our many
volunteers…each and every one of you
make this success possible.
Of course, thank yous are in order
for our Gala team that organized this
fantastic event for us all to enjoy. You
made our 65th Anniversary Gala the best
we’ve ever had. Your care for each detail
made the event truly special.
Into the Future Together,
Richard Wegman
Ysa Rivera,
editor and layout
Forum is printed by EGB.
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Views expressed in Forum do
not necessarily reflect those of
the American Society board of
governors, members, or staff.
Forum reserves the right to edit
content for brevity and/or clarity.
Ads appearing in Forum do not
constitute an endorsement of the
respective product or service by the
American Society of São Paulo.
June
The American Society
of São Paulo
BOARD MEMBERS
President
Richard Wegman
richweg@uol.com.br
Vice-President
Judy Zanchi
judyzanchi21@gmail.com
Treasurer
Luis Boldizsar
luisboldizsar@gmail.com
Secretary
Kaitlin Weatherly
mkraney@gmail.com
Community Action Committee
Eileen Tasso
eileentasso@gmail.com
Dan Cubbin
djcubbin@gmail.com
Sponsorship & Fundraising
Luis Barros
luis.f.barros@live.com
Michael Raney
mkraney@gmail.com
Ricky Rubeiz
rrubeizjr@terra.com.br
Communications
Ana Magalhaes
acc.magalhaes@hotmail.com
Welcoming & Membership
Sean Hutchinson
seanphutch@gmail.com
Sports
John Kennedy
john@kennedy-partners.com
Social
Isabel Franco
ifranco@klalaw.com.br
Caitlin Nagel
caitlin.jarvi@gmail.com
Lucy Nunes
lnunes@chapelschool.com
Marlene Rubeiz
mrubeiz@uol.com.br
Joe Sherman
jsherman@amcham.com.br
2015
Members Recommend
This month, Jen Conway has a few
fantastic recommendations she thinks
you need to know about:
Being in Brasil with three teenaged
kids has had me scrambling on more than
one occasion for
that last minute
something. “Mom,
I need a white shirt
for my choir concert
tomorrow… Mom,
I need a quinze
ano birthday gift
for the party this
weekend… Mom, I
need a trifold poster
board for science…” are just some of the
requests I have received (usually at around 11
p.m.) needed for the next day. When it comes
to parties and events where my kids need
to look one step up from than their usual
shorts and t-shirt attire, we have a couple
of favorites for clothes that are reasonable,
well made and tasteful, yet still teenager
approved. When my daughter needs a nice
dress, we head to Costume, a boutique
found in many of the malls that offers a wide
array of clothes from casual to dressy. Their
prices are reasonable and their clothes are
“mother approved.”When my son needed
a suit and dress shirt, we headed to Via
Vennetto at Shopping Morumbi. They
offered a wide variety of suits to choose from,
and sizes for boys that aren’t small kids, yet
not full grown men.
Teenagers have a mind of their own
and rarely do they agree with their
siblings. So, whenever we ask where they
want to go to dinner, we usually get three
different answers. Recently however, we
have found one that they all agreed on.
After our beloved BOS BBQ shut its doors,
we were once again scrambling to find a
decent pulled pork sandwich. We found it
at Butcher’s Market, Rua Bandeira
Paulista 164. In addition to the pulled
pork and mac and cheese sandwich, they
offer an excellent burger and a taco salad.
It’s not a light meal when you order the
thick onion rings the size of your hand,
or the seasoned fries, but make sure you
save room for the toasted marshmallow
milkshake. That alone is worth the trip.
When we are feeling a little healthier
we head to Frutaria São Paulo, Av.
Helio Pelegrino 100. This wonderful juice
bar and restaurant is close to Ibirapuera
park and is often crowded with health and
fitness buffs who have just finished strolling
the park. My kids love the smoothies, as
they were the closest to the ones we enjoy
in the States, and the acai the best. The
restaurant is complete with an outdoor
section for people who have been walking
the park with their dog. The outdoor patio
has large tables with cushioned chairs
where you can eat outside with your furry
friend: each table is equipped with a water
bowl for the dog. Not only will you be
refreshed, but Fido will stay hydrated, too.
Finally, one of our favorite things to do
in Brasil is to expose our kids to the culture
and customs of this wonderful country. Of
course there are many beautiful beaches in
this country, but one of our more recent trips
(and definitely one of our favorites) was to
Chapada Diamantina National
Park. Located in the state of Bahia near the
city of Lencois, 400 kilometers inland from
Salvador, the area is typified by mountains,
valleys, monoliths, waterfalls and caves. We
stayed in a fabulous pousada called Hotel
Canto das Aguas. With a huge river
running behind the hotel, the “singing of
the waters”hotel is located within walking
distance to town. An English speaking guide
took us to many blue hole caves which are
truly breathtaking and some are swimmable.
If you enjoy hiking, start with Morro do
Pai Inacio. A short (slightly steep but easy)
hike that will offer you a view of the entire
valley. For the more adventurist, take the
day long trek to Cachoeira da Fumacinha.
Well worth the sore legs and 12 km getting
there and back. The view from the top is
spectacular. If you need something milder,
but still spectacular try the Mosquito Falls
trail. Go early when it is not crowded and you
will have the whole place to yourself. It is a
great waterfall that you can soak in, with not
a mosquito in sight! This park is a must see
while in Brasil. And this is one thing all three
of my teenagers agreed on!
Want to be featured next month?
Send your recommendations to
forum@amsoc.com.br
FORUM
3
Consulate Corner: Plan Ahead for Summer Travel
By Devin Kennington, Vice Consul, U.S. Consulate General, São Paulo
S
ummer is a busy time for travel
and demand for passport and visa
services is high. It is essential
that all travelers plan ahead to ensure
their travel documents are current.
Appointments are required for passport
services, and during the summer season
the wait for an appointment is often
longer than other times of the year.
While the consulate can, in limited
circumstances, produce emergency
passports on an expedited basis, poor
planning or a failed attempt to travel
with an expired passport are seldom
Wednesday,
June 24th at 6 p.m.
Location TBD
Your first drink is on AmSoc!
considered emergencies for this purpose.
Therefore, it is important to check
passport validity before purchasing a
plane ticket.
Federal law requires all U.S. citizens
to enter and exit the United States on
a valid U.S. passport, even if they are
also citizens of another country. U.S.
citizens may not enter the United States
on an expired passport, naturalization
certificate, birth certificate, or a passport
issued by another country. There is
no way to extend the validity of an
expired passport, nor is there a letter the
consulate can provide to allow travel by
citizens who do not have U.S. passports.
In order to avoid delays, please be
sure that all required documents, fees
and photos are prepared prior to your
passport appointment. All requirements
for passport applications should be
reviewed at http://travel.state.gov before
applying. Note that all applicants under
the age of 16 must be physically present
when the application is submitted. The
appearance or consent of both parents
must also be provided. Parents living
abroad may sign a notarized consent
form if they cannot be present at the
time of application.
The Department of State has
proposed discontinuing the consular
service of adding additional visa pages
to U.S. passports beginning January 1,
2016. The U.S. Consulate General in
São Paulo aims to lessen the burden
that may be placed on frequent travelers
who need more pages by now routinely
issuing 52-page passports.
Once a passport application has been
approved, it takes approximately 10
business days for a passport application
submitted in São Paulo to be processed.
This processing time is much quicker
than the expedited service available
in the United States, and can rarely be
further expedited.
Please take advantage of our Smart
Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)
where you can register your presence in
Brazil and receive emergency updates
from the U.S. Consulate in São Paulo.
To register for this free service, please
log on to step.state.gov/step and click
the create account tab.
Tr a v e l e r s c a n a l s o c o n s i d e r
in enrolling in the Department of
Homeland Security’s Global Entry
Program, which grants U.S. citizens and
Lawful Permanent Residents expedited
clearance through immigration and
customs upon arrival in the United
States.
To find out more about the Global
Entry program and how to apply, visit
www.cbp.gov/global-entry/about.
Register at amsoc.com.br
Saturday, June 27th
4
FORUM
June
The American Society
of São Paulo
To Our New Members: Welcome!
We are very grateful for the support of those who recently joined AmSoc – please encourage others to sign up, too!
Name
Spouse
Madeleine Blankenstein
Colleen Coimbra
Paulo Coimbra
James Eberts
Rebecca Fernandes
Alexandre Fernandes
Paul Malicki
Nationality
Neighborhood
E-mail Address
Brazilian/Dutch
Bom Retiro
madeblank@gmail.com
American
Itaim Bibi
colleenmyron@gmail.com
American
Vila Progredior
james.eberts@live.com
American
Cerqueira Cesar
beccamarcus@gmail.com
Polish
Vila Ipoujuca
paul.malicki@gmail.com
Glen Roscoe
Michelle Roscoe
American
Pinheiros
roscoegp@gwu.edu
Custodio Toledo
Ana Paula Toledo
Brazilian/American
Campo Belo
custodio@mytoledo.net
Jackie Wyant
João Marcelo Pereira Alves
American
Vila Indiana
jackie@lotuskey.com
GET TO KNOW ONE OF OUR NEWEST MEMBERS
Favorite place to hang out?
Parque do Povo
Places you want to visit?
The coast and other areas of South America
Surprising fun facts about yourself? I teach
fitness classes in English like barre and Zumba!
VOLUNTEER OF
THE MONTH:
DANA DENISSEL
Other overseas assignments you have been
on? I have lived in Sydney, Australia and
New York, NY
What do you like to do in your free time?
I love playing tennis or cycling with my
husband, eating out, wine tasting and playing
with my son.
BRITTANY BENDALL
Where were you born?
Richland, WA
Length of Time in Brazil?
3 months
Family with you? Or at home?
My husband, Pete, and our 5 month-old son,
Cooper
What do you find great about Brazil?
I love the atmosphere, the weather, the active
lifestyle and how everyone here just loves babies.
2015
What has surprised you the most about
São Paulo and/or Brazil?
How much there is to explore in the city.
When I visited previously, I had no idea where
to go and basically only saw rows and rows of
apartment buildings.
What part of town/neighborhood will you
be living? Jardim Europa
Contact info: britt217@gmail.com
Biggest question you have today to ask
a Brazilian: Where on earth can I get my
pictures printed and framed?
The Annual General Meeting was
a great success! Thank you for
organizing this outstanding event!
To nominate next month’s
Volunteer of the Month,
e-mail FORUM@amsoc.com.
FORUM
5
CONSULAR COMMENTARY
EducationUSA Helps Students Return to U.S. for College
By Chad Roedemeier, Vice Consul, U.S. Consulate General, São Paulo
I
t is hard enough to figure out how
to apply for college and pay tuition.
But it can be even more difficult for
American high school students who
live abroad and want to return to the
United States for college.
After all, campus visits aren’t so
simple when you live in Brazil, more
than 4,000 miles away from the nearest
American university.
But there is a resource close by that
can help: EducationUSA, a network of
college advising centers supported by
the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau
of Education and Cultural Affairs. There
are hundreds of advising centers around
the world, including one in São Paulo.
The EducationUSAAdvising Center at
Associação Alumni, located in Morumbi
near the Morumbi Bridge, offers sound
advice and up-to-date information about
what it takes to enroll in American
schools and universities. It is open from
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays.
“We’re here to help anyone who
wants to attend college in the United
States,” said Cristina Tavares, supervisor
for Alumni Advising-EducationUSA in
São Paulo. “Whether it’s international
students or American students living
abroad, EducationUSA is here in Brazil
as a resource for everyone.”
In effect, EducationUSA brings
American universities here to visit you
in São Paulo.
Angel Party
EducationUSA
Advising Center
Associação Alumni
Rua George Eastman 98
Morumbi, São Paulo
Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays
(11) 3759-3216
advising@alumni.org.br
Blog:
https://eduusaalumni.wordpress.com/
Website:
www.educationusa.state.gov/centers/
associacao-alumni-sao-paulo
Every month, representatives from a
number of universities visit the office in
Morumbi and offer information sessions.
It is a great way for students to learn
about academic programs and connect
with admissions officers. August and
September are particularly busy months
for visits, so students should keep an
eye out for events and dates posted on
EducationUSA’s Facebook page and blog.
The advising center, in conjunction with
Mission Brazil, also organizes an annual
EducationUSA Fair, which last year brought
representatives from 90 U.S. universities to
São Paulo. The 2015 fair will be September
23 at the Hotel Intercontinental at Alameda
Santos in Jardins. Information on how
to register will be available at a later date
through social media and the blog.
The advising center also offers advice at
any time for high school students looking
at college, or for more advanced students
looking at graduate school.
Advisers can help with building a
list of potential colleges, writing the allimportant college essays, and reviewing
your applications. They can also do
certified translations of your academic
records, if those records are in Portuguese.
The center offers plenty of free
information and advice, but there are
fees for the individual, personalized
services. The hourly rate in São Paulo
is R$160 for a private session, but there
are discounts for students who want a
package of multiple sessions. Advising
sessions can be in person or via Skype;
students and their parents are welcome.
It is also good to remember that
EducationUSA has 28 other advising
centers spread out across Brazil, from
Manaus in the Amazon, to Porto Alegre in
the South, all offering a range of services.
EducationUSA also has advising centers
in more than 170 countries, so no matter
where you move next — within Brazil
or to another country — EducationUSA
likely has an office close by. You can find
locations at educationusa.state.gov.
Planning for college may never be easy,
but it is good to have help close at hand.
Dental Care
Dr. Karen Bygdal Andreasen
CROSP 47616
Partner of American Society for 12 years
English, Danish and Portuguese spoken!!
General Practice – Adults and Children:
Functional Jaw Orthopedics Specialist
November 14, 2015
at Chapel School
If you’re interested in sponsoring a child, contact
Sue Banman Sileci at sue@sileci.com
6
FORUM
R. Vieira de Morais, 420 - cj. 32 - Campo Belo - São Paulo
Tel (11)5531-4698 • Emergencies: (11) 9.9811-6172
bygdal@globo.com
June
COMMUNITY ACTION COMMITTEE
The American Society
of São Paulo
HELEN DREXEL
Alice’sNight
at the AGM
By Jason Bermingham, AmSoc Member
Many American Society members
met 16-year-old Alice Kelly da
Silva at this year’s Annual General
Meeting, where she spoke briefly about
Associação Helen Drexel — one of
a handful of non-profit organizations
AmSoc supports. To follow up, I would Alice Kelly da Silva, center, addresses the crowd in attendance at our Annual General meeting held April 29, 2015, at the U.S. Consul General.
like to share the story of how Alice
met that evening. “Eu quero agradecer
entered our lives and tell Forum readers and three or four other children.
Alice recently turned 16, which tudo que vocês fizeram para mim,” she
how much that exceptional evening
means she will be leaving the shelter wrote. “Só tenho que agradecer.”
meant to her.
If you were at the AGM, you saw
Simone and I were introduced in two years. She will rely on an
to Alice at the AmSoc Angel Party inadequate public-school education and first-hand what Helen Drexel does for
has no immediate children who have been separated from
at Chapel School
family help her in their families by state mandates. The
seven or eight
the transition to association provides shelter, nutrition,
years ago, when we
Eu quero agradecer tudo
adult responsibility. education, and discipline until the
were just starting
out as volunteers.
que vocês fizeram para mim. The professionals at children return to their families — or
Helen Drexel will until the children become adults, if a
Alice impressed us
help Alice find a return is not possible. And without the
with her empathy
Só tenho que agradecer.
house and a job, but financial support of institutions like the
and leadership. She
her fate will depend American Society, Helen Drexel would
always seemed more
~Alice Kelly da Silva
mostly on her own not be able to operate.
worried about the
Like all the kids at the house where
ability to adapt to life
other kids in her
she lives, Alice has an uncertain future.
beyond the shelter.
group than herself.
When Simone and I accompanied But her chances of achieving financial
And she was the person the other kids
turned to when something got lost or Alice to the AGM, our goal was to help independence through a stable livelihood
her gain confidence in formal situations. are improved with the support this
when a question needed an answer.
The following year we chose Alice She was nervous at first, but her voice association has given her. If you would
as the recipient of our gift bag and from didn’t waver as she told her story at like to learn more about volunteering at
that point on our bond grew stronger. the podium in front of a room full of Helen Drexel, please contact Angélica
Simone and I started visiting Alice at the English-speaking strangers. Alice sent at voluntariado@helendrexel.org.br. For
home where she lives in the Santo Amaro us a message a few days ago, asking questions about donations, contact the
neighborhood with her brother and sister that we pass it along to everybody she AmSoc office at contact@amsoc.com.br.
“
”
50/50 Raffle
Thanks to everyone who donated cash on the spot at
the Gala to benefit the charities that AmSoc supports.
The 50/50 raffle raised R$6,000 in just 2 hours!
Congratulations to Paul Malicki, who won R$3,000. “I
have never won anything before,” said Paul. As seen in
the photo at right, he seemed thrilled with his prize!
Casa Limiar and Vida Jovem will each receive R$1,500
in addition to the proceeds generated by the Gala.
2015
FORUM
7
Gala 2015
It was a night to
remember!
There was great
food, good company,
beautiful people,
lively auctions,
dancing, and
fantastic prizes
...all to benefit
Casa LimIar,
Vida Jovem &
AmSoc Activities
Wellington Nogueira
was our special
guest and made
for a spectacular
auctioneer!
8
FORUM
June
The American Society
of São Paulo
Thank You,
Gala Sponsors
for your generous support!
2015
Aecio Sarti, artist • American Airlines •
Resorts • Kaa Restaurant • Karen Bydal
Andrea Pronotti • Aprenda2 • Arte da
Andreasen DDS • Kerocolo • La Bottega
Costura • Aspen Ski Company • Atlantica
Restaurant • La Mar Cevicheria •
Hotels • Azul Airlines • Bagatelle
L’Amite Restaurant • Lara Matana, artist
Restaurant • Barra do Sahy Beach
• LeiaSgro • Lineth Veilleux • L-officiel
Rental • Charlie Garcia • Belmond Hotel
Romana Hair Salon • Luiz Gustavo
das Cataratas • Beth Householder • Bia
Massola, artist • Mark Abrams • Marriott
Doria, artist • Bistro de Paris Restaurant
Hotels & Resorts • Marriott Executive
• Boakye Family • Bodytech • Cantaloup
Apartments • Modas Fillity • Monica
Restaurant • Carlos Yamassaki • Casa de
de Godoi, artist • Nara Coló Rosetto •
Shows Terra da Garoa Ltda. • Christie
Nespresso • Ornato Presentes • Oster •
Helm, artist • Claudia Kiatake, artist •
Pearls of Wisdom • Arlene Bassett • Pop
Courtyard by Marriott • David Dalmau
Art Pipocas Gourmet • Port of Virginia
Barrus, artist • Delta Airlines • EcoTravel
• LATAM • Prime Burger Restaurant
Agency • Elon Brasil, artist • Fairfield Inn
• Prosa • Protea Hotel • Quinta de
and Suites by Marriott • Fast Forward
Baroneza Golf Club • Radisson Villa
Language Institute • Fazenda Bela Vista
Olympia • Raquel Taborelli, artist
• Four Points by Sheraton, Curitiba •
• Red Sushi Restaurant • Regina
Fogo do Chão Restaurant • GOL Linhas
Alcântara, decorator • Renaissance
Aereas • Grand Hyatt • Gregory Fink,
Hotels & Resorts • Renaissance Sao
artist • Guarapiranga Golf Course
Paulo Hotel Spa • Ritz Carlton Hotels
• Havanna • Helena Mottin Moda •
& Resorts • Santa Clara Eco Resort •
Hertz Rental Car • Hotel Fazenda Dona
São Paulo Futebol Club • Single Malt
Carolina • Hotel Frontenac • Hotel
Tasting Club of São Paulo • Solange
Nau Royal • Hotel Shangrila • IN THE
Catarina, arquitect • Spa Med Sorocaba
KNOW • Iovanaldo Veloso de Melo,
• Spazio Bella • Speranze Restaurant
artist • Irene Lamadrid • Isabel Franco
• Studio Gabriela Rossi • Sushi Koba
• Italy Restaurant • Jennifer Conway •
Restaurant • Swarovski • The 1661
Joselyn Andueza • Josinaldo Ferreira
Inn & Hotel Manisses • Transamerica
Barbosa, artist • Juma Amazona Lodge
Comandatuba • Twin Flames • Vila
• Justin Abrahms • JW Marriott Hotels &
Chocolat • WellClinic • Yoga Flow
FORUM
9
Annual General M
at the U.S. Consul General’s ho
Joe Sherman & Alan Blau
Previous Poliak Award Winners
David Warren
David Ivy, Jr., Fuad Gattaz, Julie Gattaz & Ruth Hollard
Victoria Schulsinger, Isabel Badra, & Alice Kelly da Silva
The Rubeiz Family
10
FORUM
Mira Hankins and Sharon Knode
Frank Pierce and Richard Wegman
June
The American Society
of São Paulo
Meeting
ome on April 29th
Rya Freitas & Friend
U.S. Consul General Dennis
Hankins and his wife, Mira,
generously opened their home to
host this annual event wherein our
general membership is present at
a monthly meeting of the Board so
as to formally elect new officers
and acknowledge the dedication
of outgoing officers.
After some amusing remarks
and a blessing from Pastor
Richard Solbert, Former Board
President Frank Pierce returned
to São Paulo from his new
home in Phoenix, Arizona, and
in his comments stressed the
importance of helping children
here. He also noted that while
corporate support has shifted
in this economic environment,
membership is growing and our
youth sports programs are more
active than ever.
The first formal order of business
was the approval of Board officers
and new members, which were
unanimously approved by many
members in attendance. With
that, current Board President
Richard Wegman took the helm;
his speech is recapped on page 2.
As Jason Birmingham noted on
page 7, a particularly special guest
this year was Alice Kelly da Silva,
a young lady who has benefitted
greatly from personal relationships
with AmSoc members and from
the philanthropic aspects of our
organization, as she is a resident
at the Helen Drexel Home. Having
her there was a great reminder of
what an impact AmSoc’s charitable
aspects have on the daily lives of
so many in this community.
To close the meeting, Board
Member Marlene Rubeiz talked
briefly about the Erik Poliak award
and invited all former recipients
of that honor before announcing
the newest member of their ranks,
Kelly Maurice. Since Kelly was
out of the country, her husband
John O’Brien, accepted on behalf,
noting, “Kelly is like a bird that
sings and she doesn’t know it
makes everyone else happy.”
On that note, everyone at the
event surely had a lovely evening
thanks in large part to AmSoc
member Dana Denissel, who
expertly organized the elegant
and memorable affair.
Hely Villaça
Lucila Monteiro, a friend of AmSoc, and Beatriz Nascimento
2015
FORUM
11
ATHLETICS
BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
COUGARS
ARE BACK
ON TOP
By John Kennedy, Sports Chairman
On May 9th at the Graded School in
Morumbi, AmSoc hosted its annual Adult
Basketball Tournament. Eight teams
entered this year, the most ever and 4
were first-time entrants. The games were
comprised of two 12-minute halves of
demanding 5 on 5 full court basketball,
with Brazilian league referees calling the
fouls and managing the clock. It started at
10 a.m. with each team playing three games
decided by a random draw. Then the four
best records after 3 games went on to play
in the semi-finals and then the final.
This year´s first seed entering the
playoffs was determined by just 1 point,
and it was new entrant Underdogs beating
out former champion Cougars for the top
spot. The other two seeds in the playoffs
were past year´s finalists, White Cats and
PACA, who beat out another new entrant
DCL by just a few points for the fourth
seed. And the semifinals proved to be
every bit exciting and hard fought that
they were supposed to, with the White
Cats seeking revenge against the Cougars
for their OT loss in the 2011 finals. And
a running, gunning and tournament highscoring PACA team seeking revenge for
a first round loss to the Underdogs.
In the tournament´s highest scoring
game, PACA just ran out of gas since
their team had whittled down to 6 players
due to injuries. In the end, it was the
Cougars’ solid defense and rebounding
that earned the championship, their
second in 5 years.
2015 Basketbal Tournament winning Cougars team takes the championship for a second time in 5 years on May 9, 2015.
2015 Basketbal Tournament winning Cougars tip off in the final round
against the Underdogs on May 9, 2015.
12
FORUM
June
The American Society
of São Paulo
EVENTS
4th of July Picnic Celebrates AmSoc’s 65th Anniversary
By Lucy Nunes, Independence Day Party Chair
On Saturday June 27th, we will host
our Annual Independence Day Picnic
at the U.S. Consulate. We want to
especially thank Consul General Dennis
Hankins for co-hosting this event in the
recreational area which is perfect for our
kids’ games and picnic lunch.
The gates will open at 2 p.m. so
we can all enjoy the fireworks after
dark (around 6:30 p.m.). We’ll use the
entrance on Henri Dunant side again
this year. Our opening ceremonies will
include the Marine Color Guard, and
President Obama’s welcome message
to us all.
We will be presenting checks to Vida
Jovem to build a cover over their outside
classroom and Casa Limiar to remodel
their kitchen. These proceeds were
generated at our Annual Gala.
A typical picnic lunch will be served
complete with hot dogs, hamburgers,
fixings, and YOUR homemade salads
and desserts. The U.S. Marines will be
serving beer and maybe carparinhas
to help cover the cost of their annual
Marine Ball held every November in
São Paulo.
We’ll be entertained with some great
music and Curumim party organizers
will host the children’s activities with
monitors and face painters.
Here’s what you have to do participate
in this important and entertaining event:
• Call the American Society
Office at 5182-2074 – First-come firstserve basis (no reservations after June
22nd due to guest security clearance
activities)
• Make your reservation – Please
furnish names of all attendees including
babas, document ID numbers, and ages
of all children.
• Sign-up for salad or dessert –
Making the event as homey as possible,
we ask each family to bring along a
HOMEMADE dish of your favorite
recipe. Our office will tell you what
type of dish we need at the time of your
reservation.
•
This is a members only function
(except Consulate staff) – JOIN NOW
on-line by clicking the link on our site
at www.amsoc.com.br
Sampagram
Recognize
this spot in
São Paulo?
e-mail the location to
FORUM@amsoc.com.br
If answered correctly
we’ll announce a
prize winner in next
month’s Forum!
May Sampagram:
Jardim Botanico
Congratulations to Mark Mueller, who was the first to name last month’s location!
He will receive a delicious gift basket of pães de mel from Honey Bee.
Honorable mention goes to Jim Wattengel who also guessed correctly!
2015
• We could use some volunteers
to help things go smoothly, just let
the office know if you can help with
decorations and set up in the morning
or putting out the salads and desserts
during the picnic or with taking down
the tables and chairs after the Fireworks.
Since we’ll be inside the Consulate
gates, we’ll need to conform to the strict
security regulations, so if you don’t have
a reservation you will not be allowed
past security. You will be allowed to
enter with cell phones and cameras,
but nothing that would normally be
considered a security issue or risk.
Here’s what you have to do to enter
the Consulate compound:
• You must present a valid photo
ID for each person attending the event.
It can be a passport, RG, RNE, etc.
• No cars will be allowed inside
the compound, but on Saturdays it is
easier to park and we will be making
arrangements with a parking lot for
those interested (we will post the address
on the website before the event).
Come prepared for good food, good
friends, good weather and a fantastic event!
Farewell,
Victoria!
By Richard Wegman, Board President
Victoria Schulsinger, AmSoc’s
wonderful Office Manager, is leaving
to follow her dreams within the legal
field. We want to
extend to Victoria
our gratitude for
bringing new
energy into our
organization and
the office, training
our new staff and
her commitment
to excellence.
We will miss
your “can do”
attitude and
forthright behavior. Thank you, Victoria,
for all you have given. We look forward to
seeing you at many of our upcoming events.
On behalf of the Board, good luck in
all that you do!
FORUM
13
CLASSIFIEDS
I will come to your home, office or
workout facility and create an exercise
and fitness program tailored to your health
concerns, fitness goals, and schedule. For
adults and children, individuals or groups.
Sessions conducted in English, Spanish
or Portuguese. For more information
please contact Daniela Franco at
(11) 99739-6191 or dsf29@hotmail.com
Dawn Morelli, LCSW
Licensed American Therapist
and Counselor
My expertise includes mood, anxiety,
cultural issues, relationship and family
concerns, self-esteem, trauma and
personal growth. I have strong skills
in assessment/evaluation which allow
to identify the best and most effective
treatment. I work with individuals,
families and children. Contact me at
98963-2871 or dawnmorell@yahoo.com.br
Fernando Knijnik has been offering tutoring
services for over 25 years. Physics, math
and chemistry are taught for all levels,
including IB, SAT, ACT, AP, GMAT and
Brazilian vestibular, to name a few. Mr.
Knijnik has worked for several years in
the international schools of SP. For more
info, please call (11) 991346700 or e-mail
fernandoknijnik@hotmail.com
Place a
Classified
Personal Trainer
Math and Science Tutor
A monthly classified ad of up to
350 characters costs R$80 for
AmSoc members and R$90 for nonmembers. A discount is available
for placing ads for more than one
month. To place a classified, call our
office at (11) 5182-2074 between
10 a.m. and 3 p.m., or send an e-mail
to assistant@AmSoc.com.br
A Note to
Our Readers
S ervices
Neither Forum or AmSoc confirm or
verify the information offered as
a convenience to our readers by
advertisers or fellow members
appearing in this newsletter. We
gladlypromotetheseoffers;however,
we urge you thoroughly check prices
and services prior to finalizing any
purchase agreements.
Intercultural Life Coach
Are you wanting to do something
meaningful in your new life in São Paulo,
but don’t know where to start from? Would
you like to do something different but
don’t know what that is yet? Or do you
know exactly what to do, but just can’t
find the motivation? Beta Raffaelli is an
Intercultural, Leadership and Life Coaches
specialized in working with expats and
spouses. Please contact her at roberta@
transitioncoaching.com.br.
Face-to-face
and virtual sessions.
Housing
Family Dentistry
Vila Nova Conceição – São Paulo´s
Best Place to Live
Dental care you can trust for your whole family.
We want to make sure you are comfortable
and confident in our care. We work only with
the highest quality products and equipment,
bringing specialists to you so that you don’t
have to face traffic and providing you with
clear information to make the dental decisions
that are right for you. Native English.
(11) 3044-3111; www.familydentistry.com.br.
Near Ibirapuera Park. Modern building, with
all sports facilities, pool, gym, play room,
barbecue and sports court. 130 m2, 3 br
(1 suite), living room with terrace, complete
kitchen, big service area, two parking spaces.
Fully furnished with all appliances. Contact
AnaBeatriz(11)996266229or(11)38497085–
anabeatriz@caboverde.com.br
TREATMENT FOR LEARNING
DIFFERENCES WITH
IN-HOME SUPPORT
Specializing in sensory cognitive
treatment for Dyslexia, Autism
Spectrum Disorders, AD/HD, Learning
and Communication Disorders, and
Behavior Modification.
Comprehensive Learning Evaluation
In-depth pre- and post testing for:
•
•
•
•
•
Expressive Language
Mathematics
Phonology
Reading
Written Expression
Team Consultations include:
• Identification of strengths and
areas for improvement
• Recommendations for follow-up
treatment and/or support
• Homeschooling available
Dr. Wendy M. Smith
Licensed Learning Specialist
55 (11) 3885.7256 [office]
55 (11) 9.9236.5267 [mobile]
The International Dyslexia Association
{Provider Directory/Description of Professional Services}
www.interdys.org
Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/
Hyperactivity Disorder
{Resource Directory/Description of Services and Licenses}
www.chadd.org
14
FORUM
June
The American Society
of São Paulo
CALENDAR
June 2015
Learn more about this month’s AmSoc events at www.AmSoc.com.br.
Important Dates: JUNE 4TH is CORPUS CHRISTI DAY & JUNE 12TH is LOVER’S DAY in brazil
3
Wednesday
Deadline to register for the
Foreign Service Officer Test
Have you ever wanted to become a diplomat for the U.S. government? Come take
the first step towards a great opportunity. During the month of June, the Foreign
Service Officer Test will be offered in São Paulo, Brasilia, and Rio de Janeiro. There is
no fee to take the test. For information on test dates and exact locations, visit the test
administrator Pearson VUE website at www.pearsonvue.com/fsot
24
Wednesday
Happy Hour
Starting at 6 p.m.
Location to be determined: Stay tuned on our Facebook page
Your first drink is on AmSoc!
27
Saturday
Annual 4th of July Celebration
2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
U.S. Consulate: Rua Henri Dunant, 500 - Chácara Santo Antônio
For more information, visit the AmSoc website at www.amsoc.com.br
Seeking Volunteers
The best way to meet new people
and have fun is to get involved! As
it happens, we need volunteers in
many of our committees!
E-mail judyzanchi21@gmail.com
if you can help in any of these roles:
1. Forum Editor: Edit the
content, design the pages, and
manage advertising for the Forum
on a monthly basis. Familiarity with
Adobe InDesign (or an ability to
learn how to use it) is a plus.
2. Forum Liaison: work with the
Editor on each issue to be sure she
has the required articles, graphic
elements, photos, articles, new
member Q&As, board member
bios, and travel photos on time and
to help her find guest writers and
generate story ideas.
3. 4th of July Party on June 27th:
Event chairwoman Lucy Nunes
needs someone to coordinate
decorations.
4. Membership Committee: New
Board member Sean Hutchinson is
going to get membership rolling!
This includes reviewing renewal
materials, our welcoming process,
attendance at events, ans seeing
how we can generate an increase
in membership.
5. VIP Cocktail Party coming
up in September: Is someone
willing to plan and organize this
event for about 150 people?
6. Kids’ Halloween Party: Kaitlin
Weatherly will chair the event, but
2015
she needs an assistant.
7. Little League Youth Sports:
Paul Groom runs the program, but he
needs a“Team Mom”(or Dad!) to help
him with the paperwork. Our big sign
up day is in August at Graded School.
8. Community Action
Committee Chairperson: Are
you looking for a valuable project?
Volunteer with CAC. We have 9
awesome charities we work with
throughout the year. We also host
the Angel Party and Children’s
Field Day.
Chairperson duties include
coordinating the regular group
meeting, documenting donations
made to the charities, coordinating
the Helps Hands Funds
dispersement to the charities,
coordinating and documenting
other cash and in kind donations,
assisting with choosing the Gala
beneficiaries, and communicating
current happenings to the Amsoc
Board.
9. CAC Liaison: We also need a
liaison for one of our Charities. This
includes maintaining a relationship
with head of the charities, assessing
the needs of the charity, bringing
the needs to the CAC meeting,
and coordinating the charity
involvement in the Angel Party
and Children’s Field Day.
Please contact Eileen Tasso at
eileentasso@gmail.com if you want
more information about CAC.
Held Wednesday, May 20th
James Eberts
& Mark Mueller
Sante Bar
owner, Chris,
& Tom Hanson
Ruth Hollard, Judy Zanchi, & Irmgard Ambrelen
FORUM
15
Blog of the Month: Biscoito Globo Originated in São Paulo?!?
Every month, Forum’s last page will introduce you to a blog from the English speaking community. This month, we feature a post from
Discovering São Paulo, written by European mathematician turned marketeer Pierre Larose and German business owner Albert Knuth.
Visit their frequently updated, always interesting page at www.discoveringsaopaulo.com/
D
on’t tell the Cariocas but the
much loved, iconic and super
famous Biscoito Globo is
actually originally from São Paulo.
It’s a little known fact but the story
goes like this. Back in 1953 three
brothers from
a São Paulo
family left their
parental home
after a bitter
separation
and went to
live with their
cousin in
the Ipiranga
neighborhood.
Milton, Jaime
and João
Ponce’s cousin
owned a local
bakery so
amongst other recipes they learned to
make biscoitos de polvilho (manioc
starch flour biscuits).
A year later in 1954 Rio de Janeiro
hosted a large religious gathering
and, sensing an opportunity, the
Ponce brothers decided to travel to
Rio to sell biscoitos in the capital of
the neighboring state.
They were a huge success. So much
so, that the Ponces decided to move
to Rio where they were “discovered”
by the Globo bakery in Botafogo. And
the rest, as they say, is history.
There are now two variants, the
traditional savory one and the sweet
one distinguished by the color of the
packaging (green for savory and red
for sweet) so as to help non-literate
street sellers tell the difference. And
to this day 150,000 Biscoito Globos
are churned out on a daily basis and
every single one of them still comes
from a single factory in Rio.
Let it be known, however, that the
first biscoito, however, came from
São Paulo.