The bulk of material in this blog comes from the most recent issues of Forum, the monthly newsletter of AmSoc. Scroll down to see the first few paragraphs of each story, and click the blue “read more” links if you are interested in, well, reading more.
Along the right side of the blog should be a series of topical categories. There you can quickly sort these blog posts to find those specifically about, say, AmSoc sports or Traditional Events.
From the April issue of Forum
By Kim Beecheno, staff writer
For the child in all of us, Easter is one of the most enjoyable holidays of the year. We find chocolates and painted eggs around the house and garden, make a mess of the fake grass in our baskets, and get the chance to finally meet the big Bunny and pull its tail when mom isn’t looking.
On April 5 from 3-5 p.m. at Chapel School, AmSoc will hold its annual Easter Party. Tickets for members are R$30 per child or R$60 per family, and for non-members R$50 per child and R$90 per family.
“It’s a great, American traditional Easter Party, reminiscent of the ones I attended in the U.S. as a child,” said Felicia Smith, organizer of this year’s event. “The kids simply love it.”
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From the April issue of Forum
By Kim Beecheno, staff writer
Part of the American Society’s purpose is to keep the U.S. cultural heritage alive through celebrations of traditional holidays such as the Fourth of July, Halloween, Easter and Thanksgiving, as well as offering assistance and information to Americans in Brazil. But another very American tradition is the desire to help, whether it be through funding local charities or the sweat and effort of our own members. This is where AmSoc needs financial assistance, and Corporate Donations each year make up a big chunk of that.
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From the April issue of Forum
By Kim Beecheno, staff writer
“Good food, great company, a lovely atmosphere…” These are just some of the words AmSoc members have used to describe the Annual General Meeting, which takes place this year on May 12 at the Consul General’s residence.
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From the April issue of Forum
As a warm-up for the annual Challenge Cup, AmSoc members can hit the links together Friday, April 17, at Guarapiranga Golf and Country Club.
It is a great chance to whip your game into shape, with plenty of water hazards and challenging holes. All adult members are invited to attend. The day starts at 11 a.m., and the cost is R$100 per person.
Call the AmSoc office at 5184-2074 to reserve your spot today.
From the April issue of Forum
By Richard Wegman, AmSoc board member
The AmSoc Membership Game completed at the end of February, and the winner with 36 points is Humberto Izidoro. Humberto wins two tickets on GOL to anywhere in South America that the airline flies.
He pulled out the victory by concentrating his efforts in bringing in new Helping Hands members, as well as Patron members (high-level membership fees). Overall, our new member campaign was very successful, with 14 contributors helping to enroll 106 new members, boosting the AmSoc membership to 437. Congratulations to everyone who participated.
Our runners up were: Fifth Place — David Warren with 19 points, Fourth Place — John Kennedy with 25 points, Third Place — Mark Abrams with 28 points, and Second Place — Richard Wegman with 33 points.
From the April issue of Forum
It’s with great sadness that the American Society bids farewell to Paul Levison, who died peacefully in his home in Sarasota, Fla., on March 14, 2009 after a long bout with cancer.
A long-term resident of Brazil, Paul was active in American community activities in São Paulo, where he served many terms on the AmSoc Board of Governors and was twice its President, in 1978 and 1997-1998. He was an outstanding person and wonderful friend of many in the community, and will be greatly missed.
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From the April issue of Forum
By Jacques Vaney, AmSoc board member
For Americans living abroad in any country, getting a decent burger is a real challenge.
The first burgers I sampled in Brazil tasted more like sausage patties than ground beef. Over the past few years the burgers have improved a lot in São Paulo, and a number of new restaurants have opened and even expanded into good chains. But some strange burger-traits remain, particularly the ubiquitous green mayonnaise, funny retro waiter uniforms, and serving them in a paper wrapper even while inside the restaurant.
Now Brazil has the definitive, authentic Grade-A U.S. burger, offered in Itaim Bibi at P.J. Clarke’s.
One of many hamburger variations available at P.J. Clarke's in Sao Paulo, this one lathered in onions and mussarella.
From the April issue of Forum
Name, age: Katie Kittredge, 34 Katie Kittredge
Origin, time here: San Francisco, Calif., five months
Profession: For the past four years I’ve been working in Napa, Calif., in various corporate finance roles with Diageo’s U.S. wine business. I took a leave of absence when we moved to São Paulo, and am now transferring to Diageo’s São Paulo office in a regional finance role for Latin America.
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From the April issue of Forum
By Elizabeth Sunday, vice consul, American Citizen Services, U.S. Consulate General in São Paulo
The Consulate receives regular inquiries about emergency services available to Americans. Here are some frequently-asked questions.
If I am arrested, will the U.S. Consulate provide an attorney? (more…)