Memorial Day ceremony at the Corozal American Cemetery

From the email box:

Please join us Monday morning at the Memorial Day ceremony at the Corozal American Cemetery to honor and give thanks to all our service men and women who died while serving in the armed forces of United States. These brave service men and women made the ultimate sacrifice to our Country and for us.  Lets join together and honor their dedication, service and memory.

Nicholas Polit

President 

The American Society of Panama

Good morning,  

A quick note to invite you, and ask for your participation

on Memorial Day.  The ceremony will take place at Corozal American Cemetery, at 0900, on Monday, 25 May. 

A few changes for this year's Memorial Day:  The MC, or Announcer will be a Naval Attaché, and active duty service members will participate in the wreath laying ceremony.  

Best regards, 

Juan C. Gutierrez

Superintendent  

American Battle Monuments Commission

Corozal American Cemetery 

9100 Panama City Pl.| Washington, D.C. 20521-9100 | T 011 507 317 6034 | Mobile: 011 507 6614 7510

www.abmc.gov | Join us on Facebook

American Citizen Services (ACS) Unit at the U.S. Embassy in Panama will be visiting David, Chiriqui

From email:

Message for U.S. Citizens: Outreach in David, Chiriqui June 2015

The American Citizen Services (ACS) Unit at the U.S. Embassy in Panama would like to inform U.S. citizens in Western Panama that we will be visiting David, Chiriqui on Wednesday, June 17, 2015 to provide consular services to U.S. citizens.

We will be at the Hotel Ciudad de David in David, Chiriqui from 9:00a.m. to 3:00p.m. on Wednesday, June 17, 2015.  We will offer the following services:

-           Applications for U.S. passports (these services will be processed in Panama)

-           Passport Renewal (adults and minors)

-           Lost or Stolen Passports

-           Notarizations

-           Voting Registration (Please print and complete the form at: http://registertovote.org/index.html)

IMPORTANT NOTICE

1.         Please bring photocopies of all documents to be submitted.

2.         Please bring the exact cash amount to pay for the service.

3.         Please bring completed forms.  Please access the following link for information on fees, and forms you need to download, complete and bring:  http://panama.usembassy.gov/service.html


A representative from the Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) will be offering the following services:

-           Complete proof of life forms (copy of current passport or cedula will be required)

-           Medicare enrollment/cancellation (copy of current passport or cedula will be required)

-           Application for SS replacement cards (copy of current US Passport)

-           Application for new SS card for children under age 12 (copy of US Passport for one of the parents, the child’s copia integra and passport)

-           Change of address/residence (copy of current passport or cedula will be required)

-           General inquiries

News from the American Society in Panama

News from the American Society in Panama:

From the President of The American Society of Panama: My Last President's Message: 20 May, 2015

My Last President’s Message: May 20, 2015

On May 22nd you will have a new President, Nicholas W. Polit, who is going to take you to even newer heights.  He is a dynamic leader.  The program for Installation Dinner is amazing.  Mark Scheinbaum is our MC - one of the best.  Two international singers will be leading us in our national anthems.  Doctor Rene Torres, a tenor who has sung in leading roles with opera and zarzuela companies in New York, Tokyo, Washington, D.C., Long Beach, and Puerto Rico and in concerts at Carnegie Hall, will lead us in our U.S. national anthem.  Idania Dowman known as the premier female jazz singer in Panama will lead us in the Panamanian national anthem.  Internationally, Idania has performed amongst others, with Herbier Hancock and locally with Carlos Garnett, Jazz Effects, and Danilova Perez.  Idania will also be entertaining us with two additional songs.  

We will have the honor of having His Excellency, Jonathan D. Farrar the United States Ambassador to Panama and Mrs. Farrar join us for their fourth year at our installation dinner.  They have opened their home and hearts to us and all the Panamanian community -- we hope that we have opened our hearts to them.   We wish them the very best. This is our opportunity to thank them personally for their unending support they gave to the Community in so many forms.   

This is also a recognition ceremony honoring well deserving members of The American Society of Panama for their numerous continuous years of service with a Life Service Award.    

It is interesting to reflect back over the past two years and see how many very memorable times we have had together. We faced our challenges and grew.  We worked, we laughed, we had fun, and we experienced new beginnings, and most importantly made lasting friendships.   Thanks to an amazing board who supported me. They were always there for you and me.  Your loyalty and dedication to The American Society of Panama is commendable.  Thanks also to all the members for your participation giving the momentum and desire to help us thrive moving the American Society of Panama forward; the sponsors through your generous donations made it possible to award 20 scholarships this year and support our Charity programs; and thanks to all the hotels and restaurants who welcomed us.  

Congratulations to the New Board!  They are enthusiastic, motivated and dedicated. Please continue to give them the same support you gave to the current board.  

 Someone once said “Always leave a place better than you found it.”   What if we walked into every conversation, every lunch date, and every party with that attitude?  What if we sought to leave people better than we found them?  We could seek to leave people happier and more hopeful than they were before we showed up.  So many of you have made me a happier person by being a part of my life and making me a better person. Thank you for the memories that I will always treasure as your President of The American Society of Panama.    God Bless you all.

Charlotte R. Pierce, Proud to be your President 2013 – 2015

-- 

The American Society of Panama

"Americans and Friends United Abroad"

www.amsoc.org

ASSOCIATION OF RETIREES FROM THE PANAMA CANAL AREA AJAC NOTIFICATION

ASSOCIATION OF RETIREES FROM THE PANAMA CANAL AREA
AJAC
NOTIFICATION
The Association of Retirees from the Panama Canal Area (AJAC), invite members to attend their INFORMATIONAL MEETING to be held on Saturday, May 23, 2015 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Vasco Núñez de Balboa Auditorium at El Panamá Hotel.
Additionally, interested persons are informed that questions and queries may be sent to the following emails:
theassn1@cableonda.net
jbrown@ajacpma.org

View from Balboa Yacht Club (located in Amador by the TGI Friday & Country Inn & Suites). Great for sunset cocktails.

U.S. Panama Navy League meeting announcement

Panama Navy League meeting:

Next Navy League Dinner with Sean Sirker
Hello,

Pleased to have the US Embassy's Regional Security Officer visit with us next Tuesday for our May dinner.

Sean's focus will be on the Middle East and dealing with non-state actors such as ISIL. 

His background includes serving as a Scout Sniper in Desert Storm with career stops along the way as a Special Forces Engineer with the 20th Special Forces Group; US Border Patrol Agent; Division Chief for Regional Operations --
U.S. Embassy Kabul, Afghanistan to his recent role as the Deputy Regional Security Officer for Transition, Regional Operations and Anti terrorism Assistance
U.S. Embassy Kabul, Afghanistan.

In other words, his insights are sure to be of interest given current events in the Middle East.

Please join us next Tuesday, May 12th.

Time: 7:00pm
Place: Hotel Le Meridien
Price: $30 including glass of wine

Confirmations by noon Monday to navy.league.panama@gmail.com

Kind regards,

Hunter Schultz
President
Navy League Panama Foundation

STRONG 15.1 feet waves swept over some sections of Panama

Photo of Santa Clara Beach.

From the internet:

15.1 Ft. Waves Hit Cinta Costera 

STRONG 15.1 feet waves swept over some sections of Panama City’s Cinta Costera,, flooding cycling and jogging paths and even reached the highway carrying vehicles to Paitilla on Sunday afternoon, May 3.

Meanwhile further along the coasts the waves were affecting Decameron hotel, and Bijao Buenaventura, Farallon and Rio Hato, but some surfers were ignoring warnings issued by Panama’s Civil Defense authority (Sinaproc) who had earlier evacuated 57 from homes near Cocle beaches.

SINAPROC director general, José Donderis, has called on the population to stay away from these areas through May 5.

Photo of Coronado Beach.

Panama’s Geisha Coffees Set For World’s Highest Prices

Photo of the Geisha coffee bean.

From the internet:

Panama’s Geisha Coffees Set For World’s Highest Prices

PANAMA’S crop of specialty coffees this year is "spectacular" compared with previous years says a team of 15 international judges who on Sunday, May 3, named Panama’s top coffees expected to fetch the world’s highest prices.

After four days of tasting at the 10th annual Best of Panama coffee tasting, in Boquete, natural geisha Jaramillo of the Peterson family took first place in the exotic natural category while Jumix geisha of José Gallardo of Renacimiento took the exotic cleaned category.

Boquete farmer Wilford Lamastus was named producer of the year. Wilford Lamastus Jr. received the award on behalf of his father.

Ricardo Koyner, president of the Association of Producers of Specialty Coffee in Panama, said that this year the competition was very tough, given the high quality of the crops.

More than 30 specialty coffees of Panama will participate in an on line auction on June 23, when they are expected to fetch some of the highest prices in the world.