February 2018 FORUM

February 2018 

The American Society of São Paulo 

Honoring the Givers 

by Marlene Rubeiz, AmSoc Member 

Each year, select members of the American 

Society meet behind closed doors, as part 

of a special committee. Their purpose 

is to choose one member of our community 

who has gone far and beyond, unselfishly 

contributing time and effort for the good of 

the entire São Paulo community. We then 

present this person with the Eric Poliak Award 

for Community Service. 

Established in 1984 to honor the memory 

of Eric Poliak, past president and leader of 

the community, this award is the highest 

honor given by our organization for an 

American in São Paulo. There are many who 

dedicate themselves to our organization, the 

charities which we support, and the general 

the FORUM 

monthly newsletter 

community-in-need around us here in Brazil. 

But there is usually one person that stands 

out among the rest. 

We start the award process by asking the 

general membership to nominate a person 

whom they feel has been outstanding in the 

community. We typically have around six to 

eight nominations. A committee composed 

of past winners of the award, as well as other 

leaders of AmSoc, meet to examine these 

nominations. This is not an easy task! 

The decision is kept in strict secrecy until the 

Annual General Meeting (AGM), which will be 

held on Thursday, April 12 th this year. During 

continued on page 5 

SAVE THE DATE 

Feb 03 Youth Sports Registration 

Feb 04 Super Bowl Party 

Mar 14 Happy Hour 

Mar 17 St. Patrick's Day Party 

Apr 12 Annual General Meeting 

May 04 Annual Gala 

Every Gift Counts! 

by Amy Brammer, CAC Chairperson 

Thank you all for your generous donations 

of milk during December and January! 

Also, thank you for the wonderful towels 

donated at the AmSoc Holiday Party. Four of 

our organizations took home some muchneeded 

and appreciated gifts of milk and 

towels in December. 

The next big event for the Community Action 

Committee is Children’s Field Day! It will 

be held on April 14 th at the US Consulate. 

We invite 150 children from our charity 

organizations and have a day of swimming, 

sports/games, crafts, and food! However, we 

need your help in creating this wonderful day. 

We need sponsors for the children at R$40/ 

child, and volunteers to help with the day! 

Watch your e-mail and AmSoc’s Facebook for 

sponsorship information! § 

Richard Wegman (right) receiving the Eric Poliak Award at the 2017 Annual General Meeting 

Cover image: Ponte Estaiada 

Courtesy of: Ike D. Leo


Another Year Already?? 

by Richard Wegman 

It seems like I just finished writing my article 

for the start of 2017… where did the year 

go? I want to acknowledge and thank all of 

our new members and volunteers throughout 

2017, who made a tremendous positive impact 

on AmSoc’s accomplishments. You bring 

new ideas and energy to us all. AmSoc is a 

place where new members and established 

members come together for the greater 

good, to continue to support our American 

community and traditions. 

In 2017, James Bond delivered a fantastic Gala 

fundraiser; both martinis and dancers were 

“shaken, not stirred”! Our 2018 theme will be the 

Roaring Twenties as represented by The Great 

Gatsby. On Friday, May 4 th , the Jockey Club will be 

our mansion to complete our fantasy of bygone 

music and times. We will have the opportunity 

to enjoy an action-packed evening and raise 

money for our charities. AmSoc member special 

ticket prices are R$4.500 for a table of 10 or 

R$475 per seat. You must buy your tickets in 

February to get this special pricing! Look for 

details to come soon on Facebook and via email. 

As I write this, 15 of our Youth Sports Program 

(YSP) children are enjoying the last days of 

one of our newest events, Sailing Camp, in 

Interlagos. The Sailing Camp was created for 

our kids to participate in during summer break, 

by our Youth Sports Athletics Coordinator, John 

Mota. John wanted to add something new and 

different to YSP in 2018. The pictures on our 

website show gray skies, but happy faces. John 

also oversees our seasonal weekend YSP session, 

which will restart in February. Signups are open 

now, and we need a Team Mom to help out 

during the season. 

The Abacaxi Bowl is the AmSoc version of the 

Super Bowl. It happens annually, the day before 

Super Bowl Sunday. We may even have a Super 

Bowl party at a local pub; watch your weekly 

emails for details. You can come and watch the 

excitement, without having to play. Cheering is 

fun, too! 

Road trip! - to the St. Patrick’s Day Party in 

Campinas, on St. Patrick’s Day, Saturday, March 

17 th at the Victoria Hotel. The Party Bus will 

pick up people in São Paulo, with refreshments 

and libations to be served during the round trip 

service. We’ll join our AmSoc Campinas friends, 

dressed in green, to enjoy live Irish music, an 

Irish dance show, and Irish food and drinks, all 

included in one price. 

The St. Patrick’s Day Party is also our annual 

fundraiser for our Campinas charity, Grupo 

Primavera, where 450 children are fed and 

schooled daily while their parents are working. 

Grupo offers art, music, and drama classes, to 

encourage the children to expand their horizons. 

Your support of the St. Patrick’s Day Party will 

help make it all possible. 

Your Board wants to hear your ideas and 

feedback. Send us a quick note at contact@ 

amsoc.com.br with your input! Let us know if you 

are getting what you expect from your AmSoc 

membership; let us know how the events meet 

or don’t meet your needs; let us know if you’d 

like to see changes or additions. This is your 

organization. We, the Board, are the caretakers 

of your AmSoc home and family; together, we 

make it great. 

ENJOY SÃO PAULO IN 2018! CARNAVAL, ST. PATRICK’S 

DAY, AND THE GREAT GATSBY GALA! 

Sincerely, 

Into the Future, Together! 

PRESIDENT'S LETTER 

OUR MISSION: The American Society of São Paulo (AmSoc) 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. 

Rua da Paz, 1431, Chácara Santo Antonio, 04713-001, São Paulo, SP 

Tel: (11) 5182-2074 / Fax: (11) 5182-9155 / www.amsoc.com.br 

Board of Governors 

President 

Richard Wegman 

president@amsoc.com.br 

Vice President 

Judy Zanchi 

vp@amsoc.com.br 

Treasurer 

Alan Blau 

treasurer@amsoc.com.br 

Secretary 

Ariane Cartwright 

secretary@amsoc.com.br 

Campinas Chapter 

Malcolm Macdonald 

campinas@amsoc.com.br 

Annual Gala 

Ruth Hollard 

gala@amsoc.com.br 

Athletics 

John Kennedy 

athletics@amsoc.com.br 

John Mota 

ysp@amsoc.com.br 

Business Networking 

Elias Gedeon 

Fernanda Gedeon 

networking@amsoc.com.br 

Communications 

communications@amsoc.com.br 

Community Action Committee 

charity@amsoc.com.br 

Corporate Sponsorship 

Isabel Franco 

Ricky Rubeiz 

sponsorships@amsoc.com.br 

Membership Team 

Patrick Trierweiler 

Brian Wilson 

members@amsoc.com.br 

Social 

Kelly Maurice 

Lucy Nunes 

Lynda Perdigon 

social@amsoc.com.br 

Welcoming 

Melinda Brenninkmeyer 

welcoming@amsoc.com.br 

2 

The American Society of São Paulo FORUM Newsletter


Welcome To Our New Members 

We thank all of our new members for their support. Not a member? Join today! Visit amsoc.com.br/joinnow 

NAME PARTNER NATL. AREA COMPANY EMAIL ADDRESS 

Bruno Forissier Carolina Belmar French Alphaville Veolia bruno.forissier@veolia.com 

Gustavo Bermagaschi Amanda Ribeiro Brazilian Jardim Portão Vermelho GPA 

gustavo_bergamaschi@hotmail. 

com 

John Berman 

Lilian Maria 

Candalaft 

American Pinheiros gringojkb@yahoo.com 

Kevin Ylitalo Patricia Ylitalo American Chácara Inglesa Ylitalo Design pg1903@gmail.com 

Lisa Doeden Mike Doeden American Santo Amaro ljdoeden@gmail.com 

Mark Pack Luzikelly Pack American Vila Galvão Oracle markapack@gmail.com 

Robson Luiz Ramos Brazilian Bosque Global Sustainable rob.ram@hotmail.com 

Rose Sabina Freifeld American Perdizes rosefrei.rf@gmail.com 

Susan Canavarro Marcio Canavarro American Real Parque susanxcanavarro@gmail.com 

Thomas Bakeman Angela Bakeman American Brooklin Paulista Archer Daniels Midland tom.bakeman@adm.com 

Victoria Olsa Aaron Olsa American Morumbi US Consulate victoriaolsa@yahoo.com 

Helping Hands Member 

C 

Campinas Member 

Meet New Member Victoria Olsa! 

Where were you born? I am originally from 

Moscow, Russia. I have 3 children who were born 

in the U.S. but they don’t always understand 

the question "Where are you from?" correctly 

because we move all the time. 

What has surprised you about São Paulo/ 

Brazil? Lots of hills, especially in Morumbi 

where I live. Another big thing is the weather in 

São Paulo is very unpredictable, and you cannot 

always rely on the forecast. 

Prior overseas assignments? Although 

home is in the US, we've also lived in Riga, Latvia; 

Tashkent, Uzbekistan; Brasilia, Brazil; Podgorica, 

Montenegro; and Nairobi, Kenya. 

What do you find great about Brazil? 

Beautiful nature, friendly people, colorful culture, 

delicious food, and the diversity overall. 

Recommendations? I really liked my recent 

visit to MASP, the art museum. Definitely a nice 

place to visit. Another is Vila Madalena and Beco 

do Batman, which is a nice area to hang out and 

stay for lunch or drinks. I am still discovering 

places, and without question São Paulo has a lot 

to offer. 

The American Society of São Paulo FORUM Newsletter 

3


2018 Winter Olympic Games 

by Todd Belmear 

It should be no surprise that the Winter 

Olympic Games are not nearly as popular 

in Brazil as the summer games. Brazil 

has few winter sports athletes, and no 

significant fan base for the Nordic sports 

that are popular in colder climates. It is 

unlikely that you will find many Brazilians 

watching hockey matches or following 

speed skating while at Carnaval or on the 

beach! But for expats from colder climates 

and those who love winter sports, the 2018 

Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, 

South Korea will be a welcome respite from 

the hot Brazilian summer. 

CONSULATE CORNER 

4 

The modern Olympic Games were founded in 

1894 with an ideal that “sport can contribute 

to peace and to the harmonious development 

of humankind.” This contribution to the 

worldwide peace process has long been 

recognized by the United Nations, making 

their historic collaboration with the 

International Olympic Committee a high 

priority. As in previous Olympic Games, 

2018 has the potential to bring nations 

together as they unite in the shared pursuit 

of athletic excellence and in the fellowship 

of sportsmanship and friendly competition. 

For many people, the Olympics are more than 

merely cheering for your country’s team to 

be on the medals podium and hearing your 

national anthem played. It is inspirational to 

watch athletes, some of whom have trained 

their entire lives for this moment, pursuing 

their dreams with all of their effort. With 

every Olympics, we are inspired by stories of 

athletes who overcome tremendous odds to 

excel at the highest level of their sport. No 

example of this is greater than the athletic 

achievements seen in the Paralympic Games 

that follow the regular Winter Games. The 

games have the potential to inspire us all as 

to what is possible in human achievement. 

For those following the 2018 games, there 

should be plenty of excitement this year. 

Team USA Figure Skating will be led by 

newcomer Bradie Tennell and the veteran 

Nathan Chen, who is favored to win the 

Pyeongchang, Gangwon - winter is cold but relatively dry, with clear blue skies 

men’s title with his explosive quadruple 

jumps. Siblings Erik and Sadie Bjornsen 

both qualified for Team USA in cross country 

skiing. Men’s hockey teams will not have 

any active players from the National Hockey 

League this year, but the U.S. team is 

loaded with former NHL players and several 

university standouts. In the bobsleigh event, 

be sure to follow the Nigerian women’s 

team. They are not only the first team from 

Nigeria to qualify, but are the first bobsleigh 

team, male or female, to qualify from the 

entire African continent! 

Expats living in Brazil are encouraged to 

invite Brazilian friends to watch the games 

One of the venues that will be used for the 2018 Winter 

Olympics (taken in 2013) 

together. Nineteen-year-old Brazilian skier 

Michel Macedo is a favorite in the slalom 

and giant slalom events. Brazilian figure 

skater, Isadora Williams, will be competing 

in her first Olympics in a highly competitive 

field. The Brazilian Bobsleigh Team has 

also been training hard and is hopeful for 

Olympic medals in Pyeongchang. Watching 

the Winter Olympic Games in Brazil may 

be tricky. It is unclear if any Brazilian cable 

networks will carry the games. NBC will be 

broadcasting the events online, which is 

likely the best option for viewers abroad. The 

2018 Winter Olympic Games are February 

9-25, 2018, and the Paralympic Games will 

take place March 8-18, 2018. § 

US Citizen Contacts 

Emergencies: (11) 3250-5373 

(incarceration, detainment, evacuation, health) 

Non-Emergencies: (11) 3250-5000 (from 

1-2pm daily) or saopauloacs@state.gov 

(lost passports, reparation of remains, Social 

Security, minor health issues) 

@USCitsBrazil 

The official U.S. Embassy Twitter 

account for American citizens in Brazil. The 

English feed features daily tips and news 

for the expat community. 


Honoring the Givers 

continued from page 1 

the AGM, the chosen Eric Poliak Award winner 

is presented with a beautiful bronze statue, 

engraved with their name. Their name is also 

engraved on the AmSoc plaque displayed in 

our office, and at various events. 

Even if someone was nominated and not 

chosen as the winner, their name will remain 

on the list for future consideration. 

We have started this year’s process of selecting 

the person who has served our community 

above and beyond the call of duty! Send your 

nominations, with a short synopsis explaining 

what this person has done to deserve the 

honor, to Marlene Rubiez at mrubeiz@uol.com. 

br. These submissions are kept strictly private, 

but must be received before March 1 st ! 

There are many around us whose dedication to 

the community deserves recognition, and the 

Eric Poliak Award is given to only one nominee. 

Help us today to honor that special person! § 

Generous volunteers at the 2017 Angel Party 

Previous Award Winners 

2016 Judy Zanchi 

2015 Kelly Maurice 

2014 T. David Warren 

2013 Eileen Tasso 

2012 Marlene Rubeiz 

2010 Sister Angela Mary 

2009 Theresa Mary White 

2008 Sonya Querido 

2007 Bert Frost 

2006 Susan Banman Sileci 

2005 Alan Blau 

2004 Mark Abrams 

2003 Deborah Riveros 

2002 Jean Smith 

2001 Father Thomas Brown 

2000 Marilyn Mangels 

2000 Delora B. Tuthill 

1999 Jane Hayes 

1998 Jo Ann Ivy 

1997 Eric Street 

1996 Jose M. Arana 

1995 Cathy Koepke 

1994 Lynne S. Couri 

1993 Steve Hanson 

1992 R. Christopher Lund 

1991 Alonzo B. Shattuck 

1990 John E. Burns 

1989 Carmen Kennedy Lund 

1988 Anne F. Pereira 

1997 Frances Van de Putte 

1986 David E. Ivy 

1985 Mary Clifford Poor 

The Eric Poliak Award 

Nominate a Hero! 


Do you know someone who has 

unselfishly contributed his or her time 

and effort for the good of the entire 

community? Submit your nomination 

for the next winner of the Eric Poliak 

Award! All submissions should be sent to 

Marlene Rubiez (mrubeiz@uol.com) and 

must be received by March 1 st . 

To find out more about the Eric Poliak 

Award for Community Service, visit 

amsoc.com.br/eric-poliak-award/. 


5


CEAGESP: Beauty & Economy 

by Alain Carriço, AmSoc Member 

I 

was born and raised in a small town in the 

state of Bahia. Since I was a teenager, I 

always enjoyed going to the farmer’s market 

on Saturdays to get some fruits, vegetables, 

etc. with my mom. Back then, going to that 

place was such a big attraction to many of us. 

MEMBERS RECOMMEND 

Currently, I’m living just a few minutes away 

from the CEAGESP (Company of Warehouses 

and General Warehouses of São Paulo, also 

known as CEASA West; www.ceagesp.gov.br). 

I really love going there, especially on Sunday 

mornings, for several reasons. Of course, my 

first stop is to get a cup of cane juice (calda de 

cana) and a delicious fair pie (pastel de feira). 

However, besides getting some fruits, tofu, 

and fresh coconut, what I really like the most 

is making friends with the grocers (many of 

them of Japanese descent) and learning from 

them some secrets on how to take care of my 

vegetable garden. 

CEAGESP is a public company linked to the 

Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Supply, 

and is also the country's largest wholesale 

marketing center. About 1,200 grocers meet 

there during the early morning hours, 4 days 

a week. Despite the unusual schedule (on 

Tuesdays & Fridays from midnight to 8:30am, 

and Mondays & Thursdays from 2am to 2pm), 

an average of 5,000 people pass through 

CEAGESP every night. 

The many colors of CEAGESP 

In addition to flowers, foliage, and plants, there 

is a section dedicated to pots, packs, and other 

paraphernalia. The prices are very attractive: 

there are bouquets of 20 roses or Rain of Gold 

orchids for R$20, and seedlings of herbs and 

seasonings for just R$1 each. 

Want to visit, or interested in buying some 

flowers, plants, and more at CEAGESP? Maybe 

you need some help translating, or some tips on 

how to start a small vegetable garden? Please 

drop me, Alain Carriço, a line at alaincarrico@ 

gmail.com. I would be happy to help out my 

fellow AmSoc members. § 

Submit Your Content 

What discoveries have you made in São 

Paulo city and the surrounding area? 

We'd like to hear from you! 

To be featured in our next Members 

Recommend, send an email to forum@ 

amsoc.com.br with your personal 

recommendations on how to enjoy all 

that São Paulo (and Brazil!) has to offer. 

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MORE INFORMATION 

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6 



Another Chance to Dance the Night Away 

compiled by Jackie Wyant, Managing Editor 

We know quite a few dads and their 

daughters were looking forward to 

attending our second hosting of the 

Daddy-Daughter Dance (DDD) on November 

11 th , 2017. Sadly, we had to cancel/postpone 

the dance, as we simply didn’t have enough 

people sign up to support the cost of 

hosting the event. The following is a note 

we received from Gregory Ptolemy, who had 

planned on attending the 2017 DDD with his 

two daughters: 

"My daughters and I were anxious to 

participate in the Daddy-Daughter Dance this 

year, and so the girls got fancied up. When we 

heard the event was cancelled, we decided to 

make a night out of it anyway. Our outing was 

likely not as elegant as the AmSoc party would 

have been, but we went and had a nice dinner 

and still made it an occasion. Hopefully there 

will be more interest in the event for 2018; 

regardless, I think we will make our ‘fancy 

night’ a regular event in our household." 

A Daddy-Daughter Dance strengthens the 

bond between a father and his daughter, 

creates lifelong memories and, perhaps most 

importantly, teaches girls that they need to be 

treated with kindness and respect by the men 

in their lives. The AmSoc Board would love to 

see this event happen in 2018. Any volunteers 

ready to try again? Send an email to vp@ 

amsoc.com.br. § 

Daughters Kaitlyn and Addison, dressed up for the dance & out enjoying their special time with their father 

Fathers and their daughters enjoying the 2016 Daddy-Daughter Dance 

Dr. Fabiana Olmos Brooks 

Appointments at the Halpern Clinic 

in Pinheiros or House Calls 

Endocrinology – General Practice 

Diabetes | Weight Loss | Metabolic Disorders 

Decade of Experience 

Fluent English | USP and U.S. Trained 

(11) 9-9699-8323 Tel. (11) 3063-0063 

(Portuguese-only receptionist) 

Individual income 

tax preparation 

and consulting 

• Tax planning 

• Estimated taxes 

• US Federal tax returns 

• Brazilian tax returns 

• Tax equalization 

Marcelo Calvoso 

Tel 55 11 5572 5411 

Cel 55 11 99121 8811 

mcalvoso@uol.com.br 


7


Take a (Boat) Ride to the Wild Side 

by Malcolm Macdonald, Campinas Chapter Leader 

End of December and beginning of January 

are the very busiest times for tourism. In 

Florianopolis, Santa Catarina state, it is no 

different. For this reason, when approached by 

some fellow AmSoc members for a suggestion 

of something to do without being 'one of the 

masses', we came up with the following plan. 

We took a boat trip across the Florianopolis 

famous lagoon (Lagoa da Conceição) to 

explore the wild side where the mountains 

drop straight into the water and no roads are 

possible. Only foot trails, small fishermen’s 

houses, and a few seafood shacks. 

AMSOC-CAMPINAS 

Campinas Chapter 

Leadership Team 

Chapter Leader 

Malcolm Macdonald 

campinas@amsoc.com.br 

Community Action 

CAC.campinas@amsoc.com.br 

Events 

Manu Moreno 

events.campinas@amsoc.com.br 

Marketing & Graphics 

Jennifer Licko 

marketing.campinas@amsoc.com.br 

Meeting up with the gang at the dock on the 

northeast coast of the lagoon is already quite 

a treat. The warm lagoon water is shallow for 

several hundred yards out from the beach. 

Little fish swim amongst your feet as you wade 

out whilst waiting for your crossing boat. 

When the boat arrives, it is no modern ferry, 

but a converted, handmade wooden fishing 

boat powered by a hand-cranked diesel engine. 

Though fully equipped with life preservers, one 

has quite a good feeling of what it must be like 

on a working boat as it chugs across the lagoon. 

Arriving at the opposite coast, life takes on a 

distinctly slower pace. Gone are the cars and 

the horns and the bustle of a capital city on 

vacation, and now chirping birds and insects 

intermingle with singing and local music. 

Stepping off the boat, we begin to climb, 

immediately passing a small local chapel used 

by fisherfolk. Behind the chapel is a footpath, 

which leads along the coast all the way to 

town, about 10 km away. 

First stop is the waterfall (cachoeira), which is 

a quite steep climb up the hill in the midst of 

pristine Atlantic Rainforest. After a while, a low 

stone dam can be spotted in a clearing, and 

a small waterfall cascades down damp, black 

rocks into the resulting pool. On a hot summer’s 

day, it's quite fantastic to clamber into the very 

cool water for a refreshing mineral water dip 

amid the trees. 

After this short refreshment, its back down the 

hill, onto the foot trail heading south to our 

destination restaurant. It’s only a 15-minute 

walk, but the surroundings are wonderful; 

tropical flowers and fruit trees, intermingled 

with local houses, mostly very simple, but 

some stand-out refurbishments nestled 

amongst them. 

Walking back down the hill to the 

Coração da Mãe restaurant (www. 

restaurantecoracaodemae.com.br), the smell 

of seafood starts taking hold of our senses. 

Arriving at our destination, we are offered a 

table under a web of vines and several cold 

beers and soft drinks appear for our party, as 

if by magic. We order from a fish- and shrimpheavy 

menu, and when the food arrives it 

covers the table and tastes of home cooking. 

Members of our party hailing from New 

Orleans find that the Shrimp Moqueca tastes 

surprisingly like home. 

Due to the cost and “hassle” of crossing the 

lagoon, the restaurant has no waiting list 

and is just full enough to be buzzing without 

being overcrowded. It is right on the beach, 

and the kids enjoy swimming and playing 

on the grounds. The adults chat and lounge 

on reclining chairs, sipping on caipirinhas 

and discussing ways and means of never recrossing 

the lagoon again… Life is good. § 

8 


AMSOC-CAMPINAS 


Save the Date: CamSoc’s St. Patrick’s Day Event is Coming! 

by AmSoc Campinas Chapter 

Ladies and Gentlemen, fair warning for a 

special save the date. Saturday, the 17 th 

of March is St. Patrick’s Day, and also on 

that very day CamSoc is organizing the second 

edition of our most popular inaugural event. 

St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated in many parts of 

the world, especially by Irish communities and 

other English-speaking organizations. Many 

people wear an item of green clothing on the 

day. Parties featuring Irish food and drinks, 

which are dyed with green food coloring, 

are part of this celebration. It is a time when 

children can indulge in sweets, and adults can 

enjoy a pint or two of beer. Included in the 

ticket price will be an Irish menu, designed by 

the award-winning executive chef of the Hotel 

Vitoria in Campinas. 

This is the perfect opportunity to gather 

around a table of green chopp and Guinness 

(hopefully), to celebrate friendship and helping 

hands, and generally share the craic. 

We are hoping to see all of our close-knit 

Campinas Chapter there, and would like to 

take the opportunity to invite our fellow 

members from São Paulo to this event. It will 

be held at the Hotel Vitoria’s IFF Bar, which will 

close for the evening just for ticket holders. 

For our São Paulo members, lookout for 

updates in the coming weeks regarding 

possible group transport to and from the 

event, and a possible day trip to a local 

treasure. Why not make a getaway weekend 

out of this? 

Looking forward to seeing you all there. Ticket 

sales will begin soon. § 

American Society of São Paulo - Campinas Chapter presents 

St. Patrick s Day Party 

Saturday, March 17 

IFF Bar at the Vitoria Hotel 

CAMPINAS 

doors open at 9:00 pm 

visit amsoc.com.br/campinas for more info 

Irish Food 

Live Irish Music 

Irish Dancers 

Irish Drink 


9


Successful Ends, New Beginnings 

by Amy Brammer, CAC Chairperson 

Happy New Year to you all!! Twentyseventeen 

was an amazing year for the 

Committee Action Committee (CAC), and 

we look forward to an exciting 2018. With your 

help and support, we were able to touch a lot 

of lives this year! 

Look at some of the amazing things we 

accomplished together: 

COMMUNITY ACTION COMMITTEE 

• Through your donations at events, you all 

provided over R$300.000 in much needed 

in-kind donations such as milk, towels, and 

cleaning supplies. 

• We collected over R$100.000 in monetary 

donations. 

• Offered thousands of volunteer hours for 

our charities. 

• Angel Party: a wonderful day of food, fun, 

and love for 240 children from our charities. 

• Children’s Field Day: a day of swimming, 

BBQ, and outdoor fun for some 150 children 

from our charities. 

• Annual Gala: a marvelous evening of 

camaraderie, dinner, dancing, and 

entertainment that in 2017 raised over 

R$100.000 for our charities. 

It is with a heavy heart that I announce I will 

no longer be able to Chair the CAC. We are 

unexpectedly moving back to the US after a 

quick year in Brazil. These past few months, it 

has been an honor and a pleasure to be involved 

Helen Drexel receiving much-needed milk donations during our recent charity drive 

with this committee, and with AmSoc for the 

past year. Even during my brief time with CAC, 

my heart has been touched for a lifetime. 

I highly encourage anyone interested in 

helping the children of our supported 9 

charitable organizations to volunteer and 

get involved! We need a new CAC Chair! 

It’s a position that is rewarding in so many 

ways, and will leave a mark forever on your 

heart. Please contact vp@amsoc.com.br if 

interested in learning more about the CAC 

and how you can get involved! You can do 

a little or a lot. There is something to fit 

any schedule; from planning or organizing 

events, to day-of volunteers! § 

Sister Angela at Projeto Sol 

This is amonthly volunteering opportunity connecting AmSoc members 

with kids at our sponsored charities through fun and engaging activities. 

Each month, a group of volunteers participates in apre-planned event. 

Here’s what you can do: 

Help plan events: AmSoc knows the kids and organizations, but we need 

dedicated volunteers to help plan the logistics of the actual events. 

From things like buying nail polish for a salon day, to securing tickets to 

a soccer game, we need people to help organize. 

Volunteer at the events: Make note of our upcoming events, and 

when the reminder comes out, commit to volunteering. Then just 

show up and participate. It’s as simple as that! 

email volunteers@amsoc.com.br andcomeSMILEwithus! 

10 


COMMUNITY ACTION COMMITTEE 

Gala Returns to the Jockey Club With Glitz & Glamour 

by Sherry Esteves, Gala Marketing Committee 

The American Society of São Paulo is 

thrilled to take you back to the Roaring 

20s - the decade of jazz, feathers, and 

cabaret - for a stylish evening of glitz and 

glamour: our 2018 Annual Gala, The Great 

Gatsby. The Gala will be held on Friday, May 

4 th , at the beautiful Jockey Club of São Paulo. 

Proceeds from the evening will benefit 

two of our charity partners, Casa Limiar 

and Associação Criança Brasil (ACB), as 

well as AmSoc activities. We will have both 

a live and silent auction during the Gala. 

Throughout the evening guests will have 

a chance to bid on unique items ranging 

from hotel stays and airline tickets to 

jewelry and art! 

Pull out your pearls and get your best 

Gatsby attire ready to make this a great 

evening of fun, dancing, and fabulous 

fashion! We will have a specialty wine bar 

and cigar bar for guests to enjoy. Get your 

tickets early; it's going to be a spectacular 

event! AmSoc members can buy their 

tickets at a discounted price during the 

month of February only. 

In the words of F. Scott Fitzgerald, "A little 

party never hurt nobody." § 

The American Society of São Paulo Annual Gala 

Jockey Club of São Paulo | Friday, May 4, 2018 

AmSoc Members Special Pricing Available 

from February 1 st to March 1 st 

Tables R$4.500 (10 seats) / Individuals R$475 

after March 1 st 

Tables R$4.750 (10 seats) 

Individuals R$500 

amsoc.com.br | gala@amsoc.com.br 


The beautiful (and theme-appropriate) venue of the Jockey Club of São Paulo, built in 1875 & renovated in the 1920s 

In-depth pre- and post testing for: 

• Expressive Language 

• Mathematics 

• Phonology 

• Reading 

• Written Expression 

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 

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 & Adults with AD/HD 

{Resource Directory/Description of Services and Licenses} 

www.chadd.org 

American Society of São Paulo’s Welcoming Committee present 

New 

Member 

Coffee 

Thursday, March 8 th 

@ 2:00pm 

Location provided upon RSVP 

Come meet other new members & learn 

how you can get involved with AmSoc! 

RSVP by noon, Mar. 5 th 

welcoming@amsoc.com.br 


11


Summer is now in full swing here, south 

of the equator, and we have already 

had our first of several annual sports 

tournaments, the Abacaxi Bowl, which 

was on February 3 rd . But that shouldn’t 

stop you from getting started on your 2018 

resolutions. Be more active and make new 

friends by participating in some of these 

upcoming Adult Athletic activities! 

Basketball Tournament 

AmSoc will host its basketball tournament in 

March or April depending on the school’s court 

availability. It will be a 1-day tournament 

starting at 10am and going until midafternoon. 

Two groups play a round-robin 

within their group. The first place teams in 

their group play the second place teams in the 

other group; the other teams are eliminated. 

The winners of the semi-finals go on to the 

final. There is a minimum of 7 players per 

team, to avoid injury. 

ATHLETICS 

Want to Stick to Your New Year’s Resolutions? 

by John Kennedy, Athletics Chairman 

CEUB-CHR: 2017 Basketball Tournament Champions 

AmSoc: 2016 Softball Tournament Champions 

PAST SOFTBALL CHAMPIONS 

2015 AmSoc 

2014 Cougars 

2013 Cougars 

2012 Cougars 

Softball Tournament 

AmSoc will host its annual softball 

tournament in April or May, also depending 

on the school’s field availability. Usually 

about 6 teams participate, coming from 

both the American and Brazilian community. 

Just like the basketball tournament, we play 

a round-robin of games which determine 

the four best teams that then play in the 

semis, and then a final game to determine 

the champion. 

Munro Cup Golf Tournament 

This charity golf challenge originated 13 

years ago, as AmSoc’s version of the Ryder 

Cup. The Munro Cup is a golf match between 

AmSoc: 2017 Munro Cup Champions 

PAST MUNRO CUP CHAMPIONS 

2015 St. Andrew Society 

2014 American Society 



Americans and the Scottish community in 

São Paulo. 

Last year, the Amsoc team won its 6 th Cup at 

the São Fernando Golf Course, home of the 

St. Andrews Society players. This year, the 

American Society will host the match, most 

likely in May, at a course to be determined. 

To prepare for our Munro Cup defense, 

John Kennedy will be organizing several 

golf outings in March and April. The plan 

is to have a friendly game, and enjoy some 

cocktails afterwards. Keep an eye on our 

website (amsoc.com.br) for details on dates 

and locations. § 

Editor, Illustrator & 

Print Designer 

Jackie Wyant 

Multi-page layouts & publications 

Promotional materials 

Text editing & proofing 

{ Free consulations & job estimates } 

(11) 99568.9605 

artist@saltandunicorns.com 

www.saltandunicorns.com 

Advertise with us! 

Interested in purchasing a print ad 

or classified space? AmSoc has many 

advertising packages available, including 

exposure on our website & private 

Facebook Group. Special rates offered for 

our Annual Directory advertisers. 

Call the office at (11) 5182-2074 

between the hours of 10AM and 3PM, 

Monday through Friday, or send an 

email to sales@amsoc.com.br for full 

details and rates. 

12 


Our AmSoc Youth Sports Program (YSP) 

committee came up with something 

different for our kids to do during the 

Brazilian summer vacation this January. 

American schools in São Paulo typically break 

for the holidays starting the week of Christmas, 

through the following three weeks of January, 

which means the kids usually have a full month 

at home. The schools in the US resume January 

2 nd , but it's winter-time there and summer time 

here in Brazil. Some families go to the US for 

Christmas, but usually fly back right after that 

week is over, since they want to enjoy vacation 

in June/July, when it is summer in the USA. 

ATHLETICS 

YSP Sailing: From Stem To Stern 

by John Mota, Athletics Coordinator 


With that scenario in mind, John Mota decided 

to speak with the British Sailing Club in São 

Paulo (at the São Paulo Yacht Club) aiming to 

provide AmSoc families with an English-only, 

week-long sailing camp for children ages 8 to 

15. The camp was nicely located within the city 

of São Paulo, at the shore of the Guarapiranga 

water reservoir, a 15-minute drive from Chapel 

school. We had to limit the open spots to 15, 

to guarantee that all 3 coaches (2 Englishspeaking 

sailors and 1 assistant) were able 

to attend to all the kids, regardless of their 

differing ages and needs. We sold out in 

December, in less than 3 weeks! 

Parents received a handbook filled with 

information, and a WhatsApp group 

was created to share pictures and camp 

information on a daily basis. John Mota, 

AmSoc’s Athletics Coordinator, was at the 

camp every day, all day, from 9am to 5pm. 

Sailing Camp wasn’t only boats on the water. The 

children also participated in paddleboarding, 

wake surfing (on a board pulled by a boat), 

swimming at the club’s pools, and playing 

games on the sand. Over the course of the 

camp, the kids learned not only how to ride in 

a sailboat, but also how to maneuver it. Boats 

were tipped on purpose so campers could learn 

how to upright them again and get back inside. 

The coaches even sailed with the campers to a 

fire department on the lake shore. Sailing took 

place during each camp day. 

On the very last day, the weather was favorable 

enough that campers sailed to Monkey Island, 

to feed the monkeys in their habitat. They also 

sailed to Treasure Island and back; a long way 

through the water reservoir, bordering the 

mountains that lead to the ocean. The final day 

was celebrated with cake and soda, provided by 

John. It was obvious the campers had an excellent 

time, judging by the smiles on their faces! 

YSP 2018 - 1st Season 

Our registration date for the 1 st season of 2018 

has been set! If you missed the February 3 rd 

event at Graded School, you can always register 

on the AmSoc website (amsoc.com.br), which 

also has the most up-to-date information. You 

can also send an email to John at ysp@amsoc. 

com.br or send message via WhatsApp to (11) 

99622-2177. § 

The majority of the campers already knew 

each other from other YSP sessions, so they 

felt very comfortable as soon as they arrived. 

Warm-up games and sailing theory took 

place that morning, which was followed 

by lunch and an afternoon of real sailing 

introduction with boats on the water. The 

idea of the camp was to provide kids with 

a week of fun doing something unusual and 

different in a city like São Paulo. There were 

no TV screens or video games at the camp; 

this was a week focused on an active, fun 

learning experience! 


All Youth Sports photos courtesy of John 

Mota, Athletics Coordinator. Thank you! 

13


MEMBER HIGHLIGHTS 

Astrid Rizzi: Never Give Up, Always Do Your Best 


I 

was born in Egypt on May 19 th , 1938, as 

Astrid Leonard. When I was eight years 

old, my father decided it was time to leave 

Egypt, since he had been a volunteer with the 

Intelligence Service of the Allies and his life 

was in danger. In São Paulo, I first studied at 

Graded and later on St. George's School, both 

of which gave me a very Anglo-American 

education and background. 

At the age of seventeen, I took on a 

temporary job to act as interpreter for a 

Canadian executive who was facing great 

difficulties in starting a company in Brazil, 

American Flange & Manufacturing Company. 

Due to my extreme dedication and goodwill, 

Mr. Marchyn decided to cancel an executive 

secretary from Ford he had hired, and that 

is where I learned the importance of making 

myself as useful as possible. 

After this first job experience, I had the 

opportunity of working six more times for 

American companies starting up in Brazil, 

such as Bankers Trust, Baker McKenzie, and 

the last one, Young & Rubicam (Y&R). I knew 

all the ropes and frustrations of starting a 

company from scratch. After working out of 

a crowded living room with children running 

around, or in a hotel lobby, I dreamt of setting 

up a company where I would offer temporary 

office space, fully equipped with a telex 

machine, IBM typewriters, Xerox machines, 

etc., with all the secretarial and consulting 

help necessary to foreign companies starting 

up. And since I was getting involved with the 

wives of my clients, I decided to join AmSoc 

and International Newcomers Club, so that 

I could help introduce the foreign families 

to Brazil. This company was initially called 

Great Start Executive Offices & Services Ltda., 

and became so well known that my name 

appeared in Who’s Who in the World. 

On a more personal side of my life, at the age 

of nineteen I became a mother to Roberto 

Rizzi, who now is a well known gastro surgeon 

running four clinics in São Paulo. My second 

husband was an American, Victor Pike, who 

had been Man of the Year when he was 

Chrysler's first president in Brazil. Due to his 

marketing expertise, when I would mention 

my dream of temporary offices, he would not 

let me give up until I borrowed the money to 

start my company at the Praça da Republica. In 

1974, Brazil had never heard of such a service, 

and to this day, I still help the occasional foreign 

company start-up by becoming their legal 

representative and offering a legal address. 

However, as of 1980, I moved to Rua Santo 

Arcadio, 469, Brooklin, where I could no 

longer offer temporary offices, but the service 

I had already become well known for, placing 

top-level executive secretaries in the startup 

companies at Great Start, led me to specialize 

in recruitment and placement in this particular 

area, where, once again, I was the first person 

to specialize in this service. The secret to my 

success was that I insisted on interviewing the 

boss, so that, based on all the details of his 

requirements, I would be able to place the ideal 

person. I was fortunate to have the support 

of Korn Ferry's David Ivy and Robert Wong, 

who introduced me to their clients in need 

of efficient and fluent-in-English assistance; 

companies such as Cargill, Federal Express, 

Mastercard, and even Mr. Henrique Meirelles 

of Bank of Boston. I also was helped by the 

American and British Chambers of Commerce, 

not forgetting the Hilton Hotel and Price 

Waterhouse round the corner from my offices. 

Volunteer of the Month 

The amazing volunteer of the month for 

February is Jordan Monson! 

Jordan Monson 

Jordan is a fantastic Youth Sports Program 

(YSP) coach, who has been working with our 

enthusiastic young athletes for 4 seasons. 

Terrific with kids, he has shown patience and 

commitment while coaching both football 

and basketball sessions over the years. 

Thank you, Jordan, for helping make our YSP 

program a success! 

To nominate the next Volunteer of the Month, email forum@amsoc.com.br 

14 


MEMBER HIGHLIGHTS 


In 1982, I founded the Great Start Super 

Secretary Club, where we reached as many 

as seventy members, most of whom work for 

CEOs of multinational companies. One of the 

projects of this Club was Social Welfare, since 

I encouraged the members to speak to their 

respective companies regarding donations 

which we could then take to orphanages, 

homes for the elderly, and even favelas. Kibon, 

Anderson Clayton, Henkel, Sanbra, Cargill and 

others were generous in their donations for our 

project. The movement grew, and very soon 

we were joined by the American Society and 

International Newcomers, and we all ended up 

helping an orphanage known as Carinho de Pai. 

Al Shattuck and Eric Street represented AmSoc 

and also received donations which were taken 

to the orphanage. 

As Victor and I visited the Carinho de Pai home 

at least twice a week, we ended up becoming 

parents once again, at the age of sixty and fortyfive 

respectively. Unfortunately, Vic passed away 

in 1995, but I decided to carry on with my work 

helping companies and secretaries (now known 

as administrative professionals) not only with 

recruitment but also with workshops, coaching, 

outplacement, etc. For more information, I have 

two websites: www.greatstartinbrazil.com and 

www.greatstart.com.br. 

I was brought up in a multicultural family of 

Jewish background and Anglophile philosophy. 

My father taught me the importance of 

keeping my good name, never giving up, 

and always doing my best. This was also 

deeply ingrained in my mind at the English 

school where I graduated after receiving the 

Certificate of Education Entrance Examination 

to the University of London. Unfortunately, I 

could not continue my studies, and at the age 

of seventeen started to work. From then on, I 

was responsible for looking after my parents 

and making sure I could give the best education 

to my children. 

My parents taught me how rewarding life can 

be if one learns to give freely and help every 

humble neighbor. I suppose this is why I still 

enjoy working in spite of the fact that Brazil has 

gone through several crises. I still keep going! 

Money is not all to me. I take pleasure in more 

humanitarian achievements, and look back 

on my life in Brazil as highly rewarding in 

many other ways. I am also thankful to my 

last boss at Y&R, John Paré, who, when he 

heard of my project as a dream for creating 

temporary offices, told me “Astrid, go ahead. 

If anyone can make a success of this business, 

it's you. Y&R owes a lot to you for your help, 

especially offering to guarantee us in rentals 

and media for our clients.” 

The same little house I offered to guarantee 

Y&R is now the offices of Great Start, where 

clients such as Renault, Mastercard, and 

many others, quietly came to meet my 

candidates and select their right-arms to 

help them start-up in Brazil. I also receive 

secretaries day or night, weekday or 

weekends, to listen to their stories, and offer 

coaching and support when needed. 

I guess I am most known for finding and placing 

the right person for the right job, within days. 

This makes me very proud to be in Brazil and 

offer this sort of assistance, which I am not yet 

ready to give up! § 

Great Start's Praça da República office in 1974 

Nominate a member 

Do you know an AmSoc member who 

has an excellent story to tell about how 

they've made a difference in our greater 

community? Nominate someone else, or 

nominate yourself! 

Our Managing Editor would love to hear 

from you and publish your story. Send an 

email to forum@amsoc.com.br with the 

positive impact you've made in São Paulo 

(and Brazil!) and look to be featured in an 

upcoming FORUM issue! 


15


Wrapping Up 2017 With Good Will & Cheer 

by Carolyn Wong, AmSoc Member 

The end-of-year members-only Holiday 

Party took place on December 9, 2017, at 

8pm in Chácara Flora. Perfectly clear and 

balmy night skies permitted guests to enjoy 

the outdoor gardens throughout the evening. 

Many thanks to member Marlene Rubeiz, for 

helping to plan the party, lending decorations, 

and preparing her family eggnog recipe for 

everyone, as well as to the FORUM’s Managing 

Editor, Jackie Wyant, who came early to help out! 

16 

A "pre-party" began at 3pm, when volunteers 

gathered to decorate and prepare for the 

evening’s festivities. Isabel Franco, our 

generous hostess for a second year in a row, was 

there to oversee setup, taking time out of her 

busy schedule. Isabel, a top-ranked attorney, 

has been a dedicated Board Member for over 

5 years. All of the guests appreciated her warm 

welcome to celebrate the holidays together 

in her lovely home, and her enthusiastic 

participation and encouragement of the crowd 

in signing traditional Christmas carols. Richard 

Wegman, AmSoc's President, assisted Isabel in 

welcoming guests and lending his fine voice to 

the carols! Other board members were also on 

hand to greet guests upon their arrival. 

A highlight of this year's party was a 

performance by member Kathryn Owens. A 

past American Idol contestant, performer, 

and teacher, Kathryn delighted the crowd 

with her rendition of the American Christmas 

tune 'Santa Baby', a song originally recorded 

by African-American singer Eartha Mae Kitt 

in 1953. Kathryn beautifully led everyone in 

caroling other holiday favorites. 

Many members answered the call for 

donations to youth organizations served by 

AmSoc, bringing much needed towel and milk 

donations to the party. The organizations were 

very grateful to receive these items. 

As usual, the Julieta Zaccaro Band put 

on a wonderful performance in a diverse 

combination of musical styles, including a 

tango and ‘The Girl from Ipanema’. Glasses 

were kept filled and guests were treated 

to innovative dishes by Julio Perinetto 

Gastronomy. 

The party is such a special annual event due to 

the teamwork of the Board, volunteers, office 

staff, and members. Thank you to Isabel and 

to everyone who participated. We hope to see 

you at the next Holiday party! § 

All Holiday Party photos courtesy of 

Vasco J. Rodgrigues. Thank you! 

For more photos of the event, visit our 

website at amsoc.com.br/photo-gallery. 

Who is going to win the Oscar for Best Picture in 2018? 

And the nominees are... 

Will it be The Post or Lady Bird? Best Picture 

nominations will soon be announced, and 

our Cinema Clube will gather here in São 

Paulo to see them! 

To subscribe to our group mailing list, 

email cinemaclube@amsoc.com.br. You 

will receive date and time options. Join us 

for the movies you are interested in! 



The Biggest Thanksgiving Dinner Yet! 

by Cricket Stickney, AmSoc Member 

We had a great turnout at our 

annual Thanksgiving dinner. Our 

celebration brought together over 

100 guests, including family visiting from 

abroad, expats, and our welcoming Brazilian 

friends. Many thanks to the Renaissance 

Hotel for accommodating our growing party. 

Thanksgiving was filled with a bountiful 

buffet of delicious food, shared with friends 

and family. The venue was festive and full 

of life. The evening truly felt like home away 

from home. We hope to share this experience 

with even more of you next time! Welcome 

to our new members who joined us for the 

celebration. See you all at our next AmSoc 

Thanksgiving dinner! § 

Thanksgiving Beyond the Holiday 

by Marilyn Diggs, AmSoc Member 

Although Thanksgiving Day was three 

days earlier, that didn't diminish 

its inspiring commemoration at 

Fellowship Community Church on November 

26, 2017. It gave us an opportunity to reflect, 

as American Society President and co-host, 

Richard Wegman, asked us, “How did you 

spend the holiday?” He challenged us to be 

happy now, help others, do the right thing, 

dream, love friends and family… have a 

good life. Richard then singled out event 

organizer David Warren, and praised him 

for setting an example of a life well-lived, 

for his untiring service and endless giving 

to his community. 

The US Consul General Mr. Ricardo Zuniga read 

President Trump's Proclamation. Next, Rev. 

Joseph Cullen Rast II delivered a meditation 

on the Importance of Thanksgiving. 

Marilyn Mangels, accompanied by the 

talented musician Sergio de Souza, led the 

renowned Fellowship Community Choir 

and congregation in seasonal hymns. As 

an added attraction this year, the FCC 

Ladies´ Choir touched us with its harmonic 

messages. No Thanksgiving Worship Service 

is complete without the American National 

Anthem, sung vigorously by those present. 

Afterwards, we gathered for refreshment 

time in the adjacent meeting hall. Roasted 

turkey sandwiches with cranberry relish, 

crudités, homemade desserts, sodas and 

prosecco added the finishing touches to yet 

another well-attended event, co-sponsored 

by the American Society and Fellowship 

Community Church. 

Although Thanksgiving Day and our special 

commemorative worship service have passed, 

its grateful spirit lives on. There are no time 

restrictions on giving thanks. § 

Discount parking near-by 

Close to Brigadeiro Metro 

For more photos of the Thanksgiving 

events, visit the Photo Gallery on our 

website at amsoc.com.br/photo-gallery. 

Fellowship Community 

Church 

The Welcoming Place since 1921 

International Christian Church 

www.fellowshipchurchinbrazil.com 

SUNDAYS 

09:00 am - Bible Study Class 

10:30 am - Worship Service 

Rua Carlos Sampaio, 107 

Bela Vista, SP 

Child care available 

Tel: (11) 3253-7609 


17


Classifieds 

APARTMENT FOR RENT 

Excellent Opportunity for Family w/ Kids 

going to Graded School, located in front of 

main entrance! Luxurious Apt with 400 square 

meters, 4 bedroom suites, 360 view, 20th floor, 

5 car space parking, Indoor and Outdoor pool, 

Tennis court, Fully equipped gym. Please call 

Jack at 95316-6888 or email h9doral@gmail. 

com for more info. 

DAWN MORELLI, LCSW 

LICENSED AMERICAN THERAPIST AND COUNSELOR 

My expertise includes mood, anxiety, cultural 

issues, relationship and family concerns, selfesteem, 

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. 

PLACE YOUR OWN CLASSIFIED 

The Classifieds are a simple and easy way to 

reach your special target market. For only R$80 

per issue, you receive 350 characters-worth 

of space to promote your own business, real 

estate sale, private tutoring, or other services. 

Contact Cari Smelan today at sales@amsoc. 

com.br to place your classified now! 

A New Smile at AmSoc 


Filipe Perfetto started at The 

American Society this January, 

and is very excited about the 

work he is doing. He is in his second 

year of International Relations 

at Pontifical Catholic University 

(PUC-SP) and is our new intern. His 

favorite subjects are History, and 

culture in general. 

American Society is his first job, but Filipe 

spent a year as an exchange student in the 

United States, which helped him develop a 

CONTACT AMSOC OFFICE STAFF 

Our office staff is composed of talented, hard-working people, who get their job done between 

the hours of 10am and 3pm, Monday through Friday (excluding holidays). In these limited hours, 

they not only keep our various internal processes running smoothly, but also support our many 

volunteers, helping make the American Society what it is today. 

JOB TITLE NAME EMAIL ADDRESS 

Bookkeeper Intern Paula Bon accounting@amsoc.com.br 

Communications Coordinator Amanda Ariela communications@amsoc.com.br 

Intern Filipe Perfetto intern@amsoc.com.br 

taste for learning other cultures 

and helping immigrants to 

settle in. 

Filipe is very active at the 

university. He is a member of 

the Athletic Association, and 

practices three sports: volleyball, 

basketball, and swimming. In his 

spare time, he likes to hang out with his 

friends, play video games, and play some 

football, basketball, or soccer. § 

Office Assistant Carol Matos assistant@amsoc.com.br 

Office Manager Andrea Berce officemanager@amsoc.com.br 

The American Society 

of São Paulo 

Membership Directory 

& Resource Guide 2018 

The AmSoc 2018 

Membership Directory 

& Resource Guide 

has arrived! 

A huge thanks goes to Galeria Face Arte & Taro 

Kaneko, for the generous donation of his artwork for the 

2018 cover, and to our advertisers for their support, 

which makes this publication possible. 

All current members should receive a free copy delivered 

with their February FORUM. If you did not receive yours, 

please contact our office at contact@amsoc.com.br. 

Brazilfallsback 1 hour 

USA springsforward 1 hour 

18 



Explore Local & National Areas 

by Deborah Neale, AmSoc Member 

The AmSoc Travel Club has been restyled 

as the Outings & Travel Club! Ideally, 

we would arrange one event a month, 

alternating activities in São Paulo itself, day 

trips, and trips a little further afield. Some of 

these might be weekday outings targeting 

the non-working ladies, some might be family 

outings, and some might be adult-oriented. 

Take part by sending us your views on the 

subject. Feel free to contact me at travelclub@ 

amsoc.com.br, or Whatsapp (11) 97672-5027, 

with your suggestions for outings, trips, special 

restaurant visits, etc. I look forward to hearing 

from you, and am sure we can all have lots of 

interesting and fun times together! § 

Kinkaku-Ji temple at Itapecerica da Serra 

Jardims Qui Falam at Campos do Jordão 

Leopoldo Santos MD 

Dermatologist 

Hair & Scalp Disorders 

Boa Viagem! 

Rua Mato Grosso 306 . Conj 501 

Higienópolis . São Paulo . SP 01239-040 

Tel +55 11 3259 5055 

+55 11 96255 5055 

www.leopoldosantos.com 


Alan Blau w/ grandchildren 

Raleigh, North Carolina, USA 

Traveling soon? Take a photo with your 

FORUM, email it to forum@amsoc.com.br 

19

COMMUNITY CALENDAR 


Learn more about upcoming American Society events at www.amsoc.com.br 

03 Saturday 

9AM to 12PM 

AmSoc Youth Sports Program 

registration day! 

Location: Graded School (Av. José Galante, 425) 

Information: www.amsoc.com.br/youthsports 

For details, see article on page 13 

03 Saturday 

9PM to 1PM 

AmSoc Abacaxi Bowl 

20th annual flag football tournament 

Location: PACA - Pan American Christian Academy (R. Cássio de 

Campos Nogueira, 393) 

Information: www.amsoc.com.br/adultsports 

04 Sunday 

9PM 

AmSoc Super Bowl LII 

join AmSoc friends and watch the New England 

Patriots versus the Philadelphia Eagles 

Location: TGI Friday's (Av. Cidade Jardim, 56) 

Information: www.amsoc.com.br 

07 Wednesday 

8AM to 10:30AM 

International Newcomers Club 

monthly meetup 

Location: Empório Moema (Av. Macuco, 218) 

Information: www.newcomers-sp.com.br 

09 Saturday 

8AM 

Carnaval Begins 

10 Saturday 

5:30PM 

International Newcomers Club 

see the best Samba schools of São Paulo in action! 

Location: Anhembi Sambadrome (Av. Olavo Fontoura, 1209) 

Information: vpevents@newcomers-sp.com.br 

14 Wednesday 

2PM 

Carnaval Ends 

18 12AM Brazil Daylight Saving Time Ends 

clocks move back 1 hour 

 

For details, see ad on page 18 

TBD 

AmSoc Cinema Clube 

Who is going to win the Oscar for Best Picture 

in 2018? Join members to watch and discuss the 

nominated movies. 

Location: Various theatres on various days in São Paulo 

Information: cinemaclube@amsoc.com.br 

For details, see ad on page 16 

About FORUM 

Managing Editor Jackie Wyant (forum@amsoc.com.br) 

Advertising Sales Cari Smelan (sales@amsoc.com.br) 

Layout by Salt&Unicorns (www.saltandunicorns.com) 

Printed by EGB (egb.com.br) 

FORUM is published monthly (excluding January and July) in print and 

online (amsoc.com.br/forum). Views expressed in FORUM do not reflect 

those of AmSoc members or staff. Ads appearing in FORUM do not 

constitute an endorsement of products or services.

February 2018 FORUM

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