Monthly Newsletter June 2010www.amsoc.com.br

FORUM

In This IssueIn This Issue

World Cup advice

Page 8 & 16:

Your

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rst WorldCup in Brazil? We’ve got youcovered, with two advice articlesinside.

Corporate Sponsornews

Page 9:

New corporations arestepping up every month to aidAmSoc in its charitable goals.Will your employer be next?

Page 11:

Learn a bit about thehistory of one of Brazil’s mostunique and treasured traditions.

Festa Junina thismonthRunnin’ rapid recap

Page 13:

Hear from a youngGraded School student on hiswhitewater rafting experiencewith Outward Bound.

60th Anniversary: a sparklingdiamond o an event

40 guests attended the AmericanSociety’s 60th Anniversary Party,making it one of the largest eventsever organized by AmSoc. In keepingwith the diamond theme, appropriate fora 60th anniversary, it was a glittering,multi-faceted gem of a night.Violins serenaded guests as theyarrived at Buffet Torres in Moema.Elegance and style werein abundance, with menwearing black ties withdinner jackets or dark suitsand the women in their bestparty dresses.The evening started withcocktails and “mysteryboxes” – on sale for R$50,R$100 or R$200, containingdonated gifts guaranteed tobe worth more than the saleprice. There was also timeto make bids on items forsilent auction, which provedenormously popular. The items includedweekends away in resorts, bicycles,pieces of art and many other items.Sitting down to a gorgeous meal,which included filet mignon stuffedwith wild mushrooms, Australian ra-violi and Asiatic pears with caramelsauce, the highlight of the

(Continued on page 4)(Continued on page 6)

The American Society of São Paulopromotes friendship by organizingsocial, cultural and athletic events forits diverse membership; encouragesintegration with the Brazilian society;and supports the American traditionsof education, philanthropy andvolunteerism.

Our Mission

Richard Wegman

and

Alan Blau

, AmSoc board membersBy

Simon Tharby

, staf writer

In a beautiful home in Chacara Flora,AmSoc will be hosting a family picnicfor all its members to honor the traditionalIndependence Day outings in the UnitedStates. The day begins at noon on July3, with lots of games, prizes, specialmonitored activities, rides, face-paintingand more for the kids. We’ll also keepthem busy with hot dogs and cake toeat, and of course ending the day withsparklers and smiles.We also thought about the adults andfamily games, which could include anold-fashioned egg toss or three-leggedrace in order to get your blood

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owing.

Independence Day Party on July 3

Of course, for adults we have beers as wellas sodas, hamburgers with all the

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xings(even a little chili); hot dogs and chickenskewers with BBQ sauce.World Cup watchers, we’ve got youcovered. We’ll be installing a large

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atscreen TV and sound system so that youcan enjoy the picnic and the games at thesame time. We understand that if the starsalign as expected, Brazil will be playing at3 pm. This area will be inside so you canstand and cheer until your voice is gone.The Consul General will be presentand after the Marines present our

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ag, hewill present the “President’s

Name:

EduardoEstrada

Origin, time here:

Born in Guatemala,I lived in GuatemalaCity, but I also livedin the States for nineyears (California,San Luis Obispo andSanta Cruz) beforemoving to Sao Paulo;six years.

Why Sao Paulo?:

I came because of my work with Syngenta Multinational,working with crop protection. Nowadays,I am president of DSM Latin America, aDutch company working in life sciencesand material sciences. Before coming here,I used to say “I will never go to Sao Paulo,”but my CEO insisted, saying it was a careeropportunity. I fell in love with the city andthe culture.

Best things so far:

The professional “cando” attitude of the Brazilian businesscommunity and the growth opportunities.The Brazilians’ passion for their countryand enjoyment of life. Family-wise, theculture is very rich. The school my fourkids go to, Graded, is excellent.

Early frustrations:

The phrase “ficatranquilo” – I found the negotiating tacticshere are quite different to those I wasused to. Mastering the traf

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c was also achallenge.

Have ‘saudade’ for anything backhome?:

My kids all have things they wantme to bring them when I travel to the States,Guatemala or Colombia. For me it’s hotpeppers from Guatemala. I also, of course,miss my family: I have seven sisters and 38nephews. I miss the organized chaos back home with so many women around!

Progress with Portuguese:

Very good. My

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rst boss here didn’t speak any English orSpanish so I had to learn pretty fast. Myaccent still gives me away most of the time,though sometimes people think that maybeI am from the south of Brazil.

Favorite place to hang out:

Vila Madelena– plenty of places there, the beautiful stores,great discos, and the food in Vila Madelenain general. My favorite is a botequa namedSalve Jorgé – a good sports bar with good,typically Brazilian food.

Newcomerprofle

The President’s Corner

What are youlooking forwardto this summer?Or should I saywinter?About nowyou have beenwearing a sweat-er for a coupleweeks and be-gun to pile on theblankets at night. It is always a littleconfusing this time of year to be mak-ing the annual summer plans for a trekup to the northern hemisphere whilepreparing here in Sao Paulo for coolerweather. Some of you will be headingout to various places. Before you go,I hope you have a chance to take partin a traditional Brazilian festival, theFesta Junina.The festival is sometimes referredto as Festa São João and gives thanksto São João for the rain (he shouldfeel well appreciated this year). It isalso a festival to celebrate rural lifeand participants dress with straw hats,farmer’s clothes and painted gap teeth.Bon

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res are a traditional part of thefestival as is the quadrilha (squaredance).When you get back to São Paulo,the American Society will be kickingoff the second half of the year witha welcome back event, invitingmembers and non-members for a

Tim Scott

, AmSoc president

FORUM

June

pancake breakfast together withour Little League sign-up. Be sureto invite new people to the event;the American Society hopes to helpall, especially those just arriving toget connected into a community of people. Getting connected is thebest recipe for a successful start ina new city.The American Society had afantastic 60th Anniversary Party, Ihope you were able to join us. Wecelebrated in style and were proudto do so while emphasizing oneof our long-standing values; thatof philanthropic support for ourpartner organizations.The Associação BeneficenteVivenda da Criança in Parelheiros,a community center and orphanage,was the principle bene

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ciary fromour event.For 60 years, the AmericanSociety has been a part of thecommunity here in São Paulo.We have received much from thiswonderful city and I hope youwould agree that we have givenmuch to help enrich the lives of AmSoc members and São Paulocitizens.While much has changed in60 years, we look forward tocontinuing to serve our communityand members for many more yearsto come.

Bob Moser

editor

Simon Tharby

staff writer

141 Preview,

layout

Beatriz Salgado,

editorialassistant Forum

is printed by EGB.(http://www.egb.com.br)Views expressed in

Forum

donot necessarily re

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ect those of the American Society board of governors, members, or staff.

Forum

reserves the right to editcontent for brevity and/or clarity.

The American Society of São Paulo

Rua da Paz, 1431

04713-001 São Paulo, SPTel: (11) 5182-2074

Fax: (11) 5182-9155

forum@amsoc.com.br

Forum

is published monthly, withthe exception of January and July, by

A b o u t

F o r u m

The American Societyof São Paulo

FORUM

2010

When you see our new members,please take some time to get toknow them personally. Rememberwhen you were new to AmSoc, and

The Forum’s paid editor position willopen up this month, and a new editorwill take over production of the monthlynewsletter in July for the August issue.A native English speaker is preferred,as well as someone with a

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rm graspof proofreading, editing and media, if possible.If you are interested, please contact theof

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ce as soon as possible at 5182-2074to share your resume. This can beconsidered a part-time job that you canmanage from home, and

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t around yourexisting schedule. The monthly salary isR$800, with opportunity for additionalincome for writing stories not taken onby the staff writer. The editor coordinatesthe planning of each issue, works withcontributors from the AmSoc Board anda staff writer to generate content, editsthat content and works with an outsidedesign company that lays out the issue.After layout is approved, the editor helpsensure the printing company delivers theForum on time to readers.

In the story “AGM on April 14, a greatnight for members to gather,” foundon page 9 of the May Forum, AmSocBoard Member Aline Ricardo’s wordswere taken out of context, regardingcomparison between this year’s foodand entertainment, and last years.Catering companies BeebysGourmet and Deborah Dayan areboth valued friends of AmSoc, andhave aided the society in throwingterri

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c parties over the years. Specialrecognition should be given toentertainers from both years as well,including Meredith White on piano.

Welcome new members rom AprilApply orForumeditor jobClarifcation

NameMembership TypeCitizenshipCompany or Profession

Soraia LozanoSingleBrazilianUnifesp e Consultório MedicoRobson RosaSingleBrazilianTeleperformance BrasilSteven & Diane BarryFamily PatronAmericanBristol-Myers SquibbFeriale & Hadi El-KhouriFamilyAmericann/aRafael & Katja PitaHelping HandsAmericann/aDave & Luiza WolaverFamilyAmericann/aMatthew & Jayne ReinhartFamily PatronAmericanDuPontViktor & Luciana AndradeFamilyAmericanErnst & Young

the difference a warm welcome canmake.We want to personally inviteall new members to come to ourIndependence Day Celebration onSaturday, July 3. It is sure to be a blastwith something for everyone.