December 2018 FORUM

December2018/January2019 

TheAmericanSocietyofSãoPaulo 

SAVETHEDATE 

theFORUM 

monthly newsletter 

HowDoYouCelebratetheHolidays? 

ByKellyMaurice,BoardMember 

Dec 04 WomenWork 

Dec 08 AngelParty 

Dec 09 HolidayParty 

Jan 8-11 YSPSailingCamp 

Jan 16 HappyHour 

Feb 02 AbacaxiBowl 

TheGiftofGiving 

BySueBanmanSileci,Member 

We all have activities that help us 

getintotheholidayspirit,which 

hold different meanings for 

each of us. For some people, attending 

a religious service is of pinnacle 

importance; for others, exchanging 

gifts and seeing a loved one’s face light 

up with surprise and appreciation. 

Whether you find the meaning and joy 

of the holidays in helping others, 

listening to classic Christmas music, or 

simply enjoying a much-controversial 

pumpkin spice latte, we each have our 

owntraditionswhenitcomestoend-ofthe-yearcelebrations. 

Most of our members are far from 

home,whichcanmakefeelingthespirit 

of the season all the more challenging. 

But December in São Paulo is just as 

much a time for celebration as it is in 

the northern hemisphere. And while 

the days may be longer, the weather 

warmer, and the snow and ice lacking, 

the American Society of São Paulo still 

knows how to throw an excellent 

HolidayParty! 

Good tidings (and festive holiday 

decorations!) we bring to a spectacular 

homeinChácaraFlora,providedbyone 

of our most generous and festive 

members. There, we will enjoy a starlit 

evening, mingling poolside and in the 

great yard, surrounded by friends and 

family, with Christmas music wafting 

pastonthesummereveningbreeze. 

The first thing you should do when you 

get there is hunt down the table with 

Marlene Rubeiz' famous eggnog. It’s 

s we charge towards the 

holiday season at full tilt, is 

there someone on your list 

that is difficult to find the perfect 

gift for? Start a tradition that 

reinforcestheimportanceofgiving 

this Christmas; give a present so 

grand that it can touch more than 

one person. Consider making a 

contribution in that hard-to-shopfor 

person’s name to one of the 

charitable institutions that the 

AmericanSocietysupports. 

Does your husband love sports? 

Buy soccer balls in his name for 

CasaLimiar.Doesyourchildloveto 

read? Buy books for the children at 

ABBA. 

If you’d like to make a contribution 

in someone else’s name, we can 

facilitate this for you. We’ll even 

sendyouaChristmaslettertoprint 

out and place under the tree that 

explains the gift to your loved one. 

Contact Kristy Miranda, head of 

AmSoc’s Community Action 

Committee, to find out how to get 

started:charity@amsoc.com.br.§ 

Courtesyof:RenatoAlvesdaCosta 

Coverimage:MorrodeSãoPaulo,BA


SharingtheHolidaySpirit 

ByArianeCartwright 

It has been a busy 

month with public 

holidays here in 

Brazil,providingsome 

well-deserved long 

weekends and trips to 

the beach. As we move into December 

and full holiday season, we also move 

into summertime. The days are longer 

and certainly hotter. And Christmas 

decorations are going up all over 

town, reminding us of how little time 

is left in 2018. 

LivinginBrazilatthistimeofyearmeans 

we get to enjoy fantastic new traditions, 

suchasChristmaspartiesbythepooland 

NewYear’s on the beach.The weather is 

warm and beautiful, and São Paulo is 

abuzz with activity, with folks from all 

over the region pouring into the city to 

buypresentsfortheirfriendsandfamilies. 

Once again this year we have the 

wonderful privilege of being able to 

celebrate our AmSoc Holiday Party 

together at the beautiful home of board 

member Isabel Franco. Join us as we 

gatheronSunday,December9 th ,toenjoy 

amealtogether,singcarols,drink,andbe 

merry! Thank you Isabel for your 

generosity in hosting us again this year, 

andtoKellyMauricefororganizingwhat 

I’msurewillbeablastofaparty. 

The day before, on Saturday, December 

8 th , Kristy Miranda and Sue Sileci are 

leading an army of volunteers to throw 

AmSoc’s charity party of the year—our 

annual Angel Party. This year we will 

bring together over 200 children and 

youth from our 9 partner charities for a 

day of fun, love, and celebration at 

GradedSchool,astheyhavethepartyof 

their dreams. The day ends with Santa 

distributing bags of presents, specially 

picked-outandpurchasedforeachofthe 

kids by their sponsors (or dedicated 

AmSocvolunteers). 

My husband and I sponsored two teens 

this year and I had a blast shopping for 

thesegirls.ItriedtoimaginewhatIloved 

at that age, and what would be stylish 

and cool for these girls in this day and 

age. Glitter was a must, as were pink 

sneakersandcoolbackpacks.Ultimately, 

what would make these girls jump up 

anddownlikehappybansheeswaswhat 

I was looking for. I hope they love what 

we picked out and know through this 

smallgesturefromusthattheyareloved. 

ToKristy,Sue,andthewholeAngelParty 

team—a huge hug of thanks for 

everything that you have done for the 

last 6 months (and more!) to make this 

partyareality.Youaresuperstarsandare 

makingdreamscometrueforthesekids. 

Whetheryouaretravellingbackhomeor 

staying in São Paulo, I hope your holiday 

seasonisfilledwithjoyandlove,fromour 

family to yours. Merry Christmas, Happy 

Hanukkah,andHappyNewYear! 

Abraços, 

PRESIDENT’SLETTER 

OURMISSION:TheAmericanSocietyofSãoPaulo(AmSoc)promotesfriendship 

byorganizingsocial,cultural,andathleticeventsforitsdiversemembership; 

encouragesintegrationwiththeBraziliansociety;andsupportstheAmerican 

traditionsofeducation,philanthropy,andvolunteerism. 

RuadaPaz,1431,ChácaraSantoAntonio,04713-001,SãoPaulo,SP 

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

BoardofGovernors 

President 

ArianeCartwright 

president@amsoc.com.br 

VicePresident 

JudyZanchi 

vp@amsoc.com.br 

Treasurer 

AlanBlau 

treasurer@amsoc.com.br 

Secretary 

BrianWilson 

secretary@amsoc.com.br 

CampinasChapter 

MalcolmMacDonald 

campinas@amsoc.com.br 

AnnualGala 

RuthHollard 

galachair@amsoc.com.br 

Athletics 

athletics@amsoc.com.br 

JohnMota 

ysp@amsoc.com.br 

BusinessNetworking 

IsabelFranco 

EliasGedeon 

FernandaGedeon 

StephenPenney 

networking@amsoc.com.br 

Communications 

CricketStickney 

marketing@amsoc.com.br 

CommunityActionCommittee 

KristyMiranda 

charity@amsoc.com.br 

CorporateSponsorship 

MelindaBrenninkmeyer 

SeanHutchinson 

sponsorships@amsoc.com.br 

MembershipTeam 

SherryEsteves 

members@amsoc.com.br 

Social 

KellyMaurice 

LucyNunes 

LyndaPerdigon 

contact@amsoc.com.br 

Welcoming 

StewartRagar 

welcoming@amsoc.com.br 

2 

TheAmericanSocietyofSãoPauloFORUMNewsletter

NEWMEMBERS 


WelcometoOurNewMembers 

Wethankallofournewmembersfortheirsupport.Notamember?Jointoday!Visitamsoc.com.br/joinnow 

MeetNewMemberMariaFernandaTeixeira! 

Familymembers?Twowonderfulkids,Erikand 

Natalia(themainreasonofmyhappylife) 

Wherewereyouborn?IwasborninPortugal, 

inasmallcitycalledGuarda,closetoPortocity. 

How long have you lived in Brazil? I have 

been here for a long time. I came as a migrant 

fromPortugalwhenIwas7yearsold. 

Prior overseas assignments? I was lucky to 

have the opportunity to have many overseas 

assignments:USA,Mexico,Argentina,Colombia, 

andChile.Myprofessionalandpersonallearning 

wasreallyacceleratedwiththoseexperiencesin 

differentandbeautifulcultures. 

Favorite place to hang out in São Paulo? 

WalkingonVilaNovaConceição,aplacethatisstill 

like old small cities where you can go to the 

supermarket,torestaurants,tothebrasseries;all 

withinwalkingdistanceandsafe. 

Email:ferena.fernanda@gmail.com 

MeetMemberMariaAugustadeMelloSaraiva! 

Where were you born? In the capital of São 

Paulo. 

HowlongdidyouliveintheUSA?Overten 

years(studyingandworking). 

What do you find great about Brazil? Our 

varietyofbananas,cheapfresh-squeezedorange 

juice,andtheBrazilianpeople"joiedevivre"(a 

cheerfulenjoymentoflife!). 

Recommendations?Florianópolis(whereIwas 

raised),RiodeJaneiro,andJoãoPessoa. 

Favorite place to hang out in São Paulo? 

TheViewBar(AlamedaSantos). 

Surprisingfunfactaboutyourself?Havinga 

choice,IprefertowriteinEnglish. 

Quotethatinspiresyou:Ifyoucannotdogreat 

things,dosmallthingsinagreatway.Napoleon 

Hill(1883-1970)--Americanwriter 

Email:gutamellosaraiva@gmail.com 

TheAmericanSocietyofSãoPauloFORUMNewsletter 3


TravelSafefortheHolidays! 

ByConsularStaff 

Travel to a foreign country for the 

holidays can be exciting and at the 

same time a source of worry. The 

mission of the Department of State’s 

BureauofConsularAffairsistoprotectthe 

livesandservetheinterestsofU.S.citizens 

abroad. For many years, the Bureau of 

Consular Affairs has provided travel 

advisories for those going abroad. While 

the analysis of threats to travelers has not 

changed, the way this information is 

provided to travelers is now presented 

differently. At www.travel.state.gov the 

State Department provides travel 

advisories for every country in four colorcodedlevels.Thesenewtiersmakeiteasier 

fortravelerstogetclear,timely,andreliable 

safety and security information about 

every country in the world. Travelers can 

access it at home or on the go via the 

Bureau of Consular Affairs’mobile-friendly 

website, allowing them to better 

understandtherisksassociatedwithtravel 

toparticularcountries.Thefourtiersare: 

Level1 

ExerciseNormalPrecautions(BLUE) 

This is the lowest advisory level for safety 

and security risk.There is some risk in any 

international travel. Conditions in other 

countries may differ from those in the 

UnitedStatesandmaychangeatanytime. 

Level2 

ExerciseIncreasedCaution(YELLOW) 

Beawareofheightenedriskstosafetyand 

security. The Department of State 

provides additional advice for travelers in 

these areas in the Travel Advisory. 

Conditions in any country may change at 

anytime. 

Level3 

ReconsiderTravel(ORANGE) 

Avoidtravelduetoseriousriskstosafety 

and security. The Department of State 

providesadditionaladvicefortravelersin 

these areas in the Travel Advisory. 

Conditionsinanycountrymaychangeat 

anytime. 

CONSULATECORNER 

Level4 

DoNotTravel(RED) 

This is the highest advisory level due to 

greater likelihood of life-threatening 

risks. During an emergency, the U.S. 

government may have very limited 

ability to provide assistance. The 

Department of State advises that U.S. 

citizens not travel to the country or to 

leave as soon as it is safe to do so. The 

Department of State provides additional 

advice for travelers in these areas in the 

Travel Advisory. Conditions in any 

countrymaychangeatanytime. 

Note that advisories within countries 

mayvaryfromtheoverallTravelAdvisory 

level for a country as a whole. For 

instance, we may advise U.S. citizens to 

“Exerciseincreasedcaution”(Level2)ina 

country, but to“Reconsider travel”(Level 

3)toaparticularareawithinthatcountry. 

Each country information page contains 

a Travel Advisory, Alerts, and other 

importantdetailsspecifictothatcountry 

that could affect you. Travelers should 

pay close attention to the entry and exit 

requirements, local laws and customs, 

health conditions, and other details to 

decidewhethertravelingtothatcountry 

is right for you. You will also find the 

address and phone number of the 

nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. It is 

advisable to print out and take those 

withyouincaseofanemergency. 

Additionally, travelers are encouraged to 

enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment 

Program(STEP)priortotripsabroad.This 

is a free service to U.S. Citizens and 

Nationals. The STEP Program enables 

travelerstoreceiveimportantinformation 

from the Embassy about safety 

conditionsinyourdestinationcountry.It 

alsohelpstheU.S.Embassycontactyouin 

a crisis, whether natural disaster, civil 

unrest,orfamilyemergency.Travelerscan 

enrollinSTEPatstep.state.gov/step.§ 

USCitizenContacts 

Emergencies:(11)3250-5373 

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

1-2pmdaily)orsaopauloacs@state.gov 

@USCitsBrazil 

TheofficialU.S.EmbassyTwitter 

account for American citizens in Brazil. 

TheEnglishfeedfeaturesdailytipsand 

newsfortheexpatcommunity. 

4 



CelebratetheHolidays 

continuedfrompage1 

delicious,alltheregularsknowthis,and 

the supply is limited, so it goes fast! 

Grab a glass of‘nogg (or two) and join 

us in a toast to good cheer! After 

thoroughly reminiscing over the past 

year’s many happenings, we’ll descend 

onascrumptiousholidaydinnerwithall 

the traditional trimmings. Sated and 

feeling thoroughly festive, this is when 

thecarolingwillbegin! 

As the festive sounds of classic holiday 

carol favorites bring our AmSoc family 

andfriendstogetherinonelarge,happy, 

and festive bunch, we close out 2018 

remembering how blessed we are with 

theopportunitytocelebratetheholidays 

andhowmuchwehavebeenabletogive 

to others over the course of the year. 

Afterall,thisiswhattheAmericanSociety 

is all about—celebrating our common 

heritage, our culture, and our desire to 

helpotherswhoarelessfortunate. 

Hope to see you all at our final (and 

festive!) American Society event of the 

year! RSVP by December 4 th at 

amsocholiday2018.eventbrite.com.§ 

All photos courtesy of Vasco J. 

Rodrigues.Forphotosofpastevents, 

visitamsoc.com.br/photo-gallery. 



MEMBERSRECOMMEND 

InstitutoButantanOffersFamilyFun 

ByGiselleFouyer,Member 

Every time I want to have some fun in 

acalmplaceinSãoPauloIgowithmy 

familytoInstitutoButantan. 

It is a very important place for Brazil, 

where serious research has come. (They 

host the main production of 

immunobiological products in Brazil.) Its 

buildings, some of which are historic, 

housealibraryandmuseumsfocusedon 

educationalandculturalactivities. 

What calls my family’s attention is that it 

isacalmplacewhereyoucanwalkorride 

bikes, skateboard, or roller skate around 

its beautiful avenues with rare trees and 

many,manybirds.Itsgreatgreenlawnis 

perfect to be included on your list of 

places to picnic or for an outdoor 

birthday party. Public bathrooms are 

besidetheBiologicalMuseum. 

Themuseumsaresmallenoughnottobe 

tiresomeandfullenoughforthekids,who 

generally love them. Tickets acquired at 

the park ticket office grant admission to 

theButantan'sthreemuseums. 

In addition to the museums there is the 

Serpentarium (where the snakes are in a 

placesimilartotheirhabitat,intheopen). 

My daughter, who is 4 years old, loves 

visiting all the museums: the Biological 

Museum(whichisanenclosedsitewhere 

snakes of various species are exposed to 

the public), Museum of Microbiology 

(where visitors can learn a little more 

about using microscopes and even 

observe live microorganisms), the 

Historical Museum (which stores objects 

used in the production of serums and 

vaccines and a little of the history of the 

Institute,foundedin1901)andtheStreet 

Museum (with panels that show the 

trajectory of Butantan in its more than 

100yearsofexistence). 

Besides all that, in January and July, 

Butantan Institute generally offers 

InstitutoButantan(PhotocourtesyofWikimedia) 

"Holidays at the Butantan Institute," 

activities that provide contact with 

nature and Brazilian culture. All 

programming is free and aimed at 

children,youngpeople,andadults. 

It is an excellent option, especially if you 

want to break the working/studying 

week routine to enjoy the park, because 

it operates every day from 7am to 5pm. 

Entrance is free, as is parking for 

automobiles. In order to visit the 

museums you should pay attention to 

days and time (check the website 

www.butantan.gov.br with an option to 

readinEnglish).§ 

Familyfuntime!(PhotocourtesyofGiselleFouyer) 

MicrobiologyMuseum (PhotocourtesyofWikimedia) 

Serpentarium(PhotocourtesyofWikimedia) 

SubmitYourContent 

What discoveries have you made in 

São Paulo city and the surrounding 

area?We'dliketohearfromyou! 

To be featured in a future 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. Don’t forget to 

include photos of your personal 

experience getting to know the 

manyamazingplacesinBrazil! 

6 



ChristmasShoppinginBrazil 

ByJessicaJurkowski 

It’s the most wonderful time of the 

year…for shopping! If you’re like me, 

the expat lifestyle usually means one 

thingthistimeofyear—theneedtofind 

‘exotic’ gifts for family and friends that 

represent the Brazilian culture we 

experienceonadailybasis.Thefirstyear 

is always easy—you hop in your car or 

taxi and head to Oscar Freire to the 

flagship Havaianas store. Three hours 

later everyone on your list from age 1 to 

100 has the coolest style of flip flops 

known to man. (Who cares if they are 

currently battling snow in the Midwest? 

You get to nonchalantly remind them 

you are enjoying on the 

beach!) But what happens when you’ve 

exhausted the Havaianas option? Here 

are some additional ideas for people on 

yourgiftlist. 

Nothing represents Brazil more than a 

handmadehammock.(1)Fromhomesof 

the rich or poor, riverboats to the beach, 

the hammock can be found anywhere 

people want to enjoy the laid-back 

Brazilianlifestyle.Becauseofthis,itisnot 

difficult to find one. However, I say make 

a day of it and travel to the historic 

cobblestone streets of Embu das Artes 

(less than an hour outside of the city of 

SãoPaulo).Duringtheweekend,youcan 

enjoy the lively arts and crafts market 

and find numerous vendors selling 

hammocksatgreatpricesandinamyriad 

of colors and designs. Most even come 

with pouches that double as a great 

substitute for wrapping paper.Tie a bow 

on the drawstring bag and you’ve got a 

Christmas present that Santa and his 

hardworkingelveswillbejealousof. 

willrejoiceatthesimplistic,yetromantic 

notion of it. Combine it will a bag of 

flavorful Brazilian coffee (2) and your 

loved one will be singing Fa-la-la-la-la 

fromtherooftops.Irecommendenjoying 

some and an espresso of 

your own as you shop at Lá daVenda (R. 

Harmonia, 161, Vila Madalena; www. 

ladavenda.com.br). The charming cafe 

and specialty store boasts a delightful 

mix of arts and household goods, 

includingthepopularcoffeepotset,and 

has a menu created by Le Cordon Bleu 

trainedchefandauthorHeloisaBarcellar. 

If specialty stores are up your alley, then 

you will also want to check out Ponto 

Solidario(R.JoséMariaLisboa,838,Jardim 

Paulista; www.pontosolidario.org.br). This 

store has an amazing sampling of 

indigenous and sustainable gifts, at 

remarkable prices. It is quite possible to 

findtheperfectgiftforeveryoneonyour 

list,allinonestop(andIdareyoutoleave 

without rewarding your good behavior 

as well).Too lazy to venture out into the 

hustle and bustle of the holidays? You 

caneasilyshopfromthecomfortofyour 

homeviatheironlinestore. 

Fortheluckyladiesonyourlist,youcan’t 

gowrongwithatraditional (beach 

sarong). These traditional wraps scream 

“I’m ready for the beach”but can also be 

usedtodecorateandlivenupahomeas 

well. I recommend hitting the hectic 

streets of Rua 25 de Março. Smile as you 

soak up the craziness of shoppers 

navigating the narrow streets and 

overloaded stores. Several carry cangas, 

sotakeyourtimefindingtheperfectone. 

Foraddedgiftappeal,rollthecanga,tieit 

withfestiveribbon,andattacha‘Howto’ 

guide to tying techniques for different 

wearing options. (Google ‘how to tie a 

sarong’andprintoutyourfavorite.) 

Brazil sells the best. A great location to 

find a large variety of brands is Mercado 

Municipal (R. Da Cantareira, 306, Centro; 

www.oportaldomercadao.com.br). 

Combine the bottle with a 

recipe book from a local bookstore and 

he will be toasting you the entire 

holidayseason. 

But, what about you? After all that 

shopping for others, you deserve to 

brighten your own holidays - with some 

flowers!ABeladoDia(R.MouratoCoelho, 

1003, Pinheiros; www.abeladodia.com) 

delivers beautiful bouquets by bike in 

several neighborhoods. The mission 

behindtheuniqueandcharmingbusiness 

is to bring the beauty of flowers to your 

home on a daily basis—not just special 

occasions. However, I can’t think of a 

betteroccasionthantotreatyourself! 

1 

2 

3 

Another favorite gift that represents 

traditional Brazil is the countrysideinspired 

coffee pot set. Caffeine lovers 

Doyouhaveapickyfellaonyourlist?Well, 

Ihaven’tmetagentlemanyetthatdoesn’t 

enjoy a good bottle of (3), and 

HappyShoppingandHappyHolidays!§ 



AMSOC-CAMPINAS 

KeepThoseSmilesShiningBright! 

ByManuMoreno,CampinasCACmember 

We recently lunched with the 

children of Grupo Primavera and 

realized that the vast majority did 

not brush their teeth after eating, or used 

their fingers to brush their teeth. Lack of 

education about the importance of oral 

hygiene,aswellasthecostofatoothbrush 

for each family member, are the main 

causesofthisproblem. 

Wedecidedtolaunchacampaignamong 

our members and volunteers, which we 

called ‘Toothfaries’, and collected 290 

toothbrushes and tubes of toothpaste. 

With the help of a volunteer dentist, we 

talked about the importance of our teeth 

and about the ‘Keep Our Mouth Clean’ 

initiative for children ages 5 to 13. For the 

younger children, the dentist inspected 

eachchild'smouth,notingthosewhoneed 

treatment for cavities or orthodontics, 

directingthesechildrenthroughthesocial 

workerstothehealthclinictotakecareof 

theirteethandtheirsmile. 

Theideaistohavethedentistvisitevery 

6months,whenthetoothbrushesshould 

be replaced. Let’s help the children keep 

their smiles, their windows to the world! 

WeareespeciallygratefultoDr.YaraLido 

and all the volunteers who have worked 

hardtomeetthisneedforthechildrenof 

GrupoPrimavera.§ 

CampinasChapter 

LeadershipTeam 

ChapterLeader/Events 

MalcolmMacDonald 

campinas@amsoc.com.br 

CommunityAction 

ManuMoreno 

cac.campinas@amsoc.com.br 

EACCommunityActionLiason 

SophieKerrAzevedo 

eac.cac.campinas@amsoc.com.br 

Marketing&Graphics 

JenniferLicko 

marketing.campinas@amsoc.com.br 

8 





COMMUNITYACTIONCOMMITTEE 

TimetoEarnThoseWings! 

BySueBanmanSileci,Member 

The nineteenth annual American 

Society Angel Party is just around 

the corner, on December 8 th at 

GradedSchool. 

Party planning is under control—we’re a 

weekawaysoitbetterbe!—butwe’dlove 

financialhelpinseveralareas: 

We still need back-up sponsors 

because we have new kids arriving as 

old kids leave.You can help by agreeing 

to sponsor one of our last children or 

being placed on the waiting list to be a 

“super shopper” (lots of shopping in a 

shorttime). 

YoucanalsocontributeR$550sowe 

candotheshoppingforyou. 

Other donations would be spent 

covering the costs of buses for the 

children, the show, extra refreshments, 

andprizesforthegames. 

Pleaseconsiderhelpinginthisway.Todo 

so,sendanemailtoSueBanmanSileciat 

angelparty.sponsors@amsoc.com.br. 

We usually have between 120 and 160 

volunteersonthedayoftheparty.These 

spots may have been filled but if you’re 

interested in helping out, by all means 

contact Ivete Rodrigues via email at 

ivete.rodrigues@terra.com.br. 

And,ofcourse,ifyou’dliketocometothe 

partytomeetthechildyousponsoredor 

see what it’s about, don’t hesitate to 

contact Ivete about that too. (You can’t 

just show up. Security regulations at 

Graded School require that we know in 

advance who is coming. Please let Ivete 

know and fill out our fancy form, here: 

amsoc.com.br/angel-party) 

Thankyouforallyourhelpsofar,andwe 

look forward to a great party on 

December8 th !§ 

CricketStickney 

DecemberVolunteeroftheMonth 

Cricket Stickney has headed up 

Thanksgiving dinner for the past 2 

years,whichisataskuntoitself!Yetour 

tireless volunteer also pitched in for 

the annual Halloween party, and most 

recentlytookonthetaskofheadingup 

AmSoc Communications. She has a 

grace and kindness in working with 

othersthatcanmakethemoststressful 

situation seem like a breeze, and her 

smile alone inspires others to do the 

same. Thanks for being such an 

enthusiasticvolunteer,Cricket! 

TonominatethenextVolunteerofthe 

Month,emailforum@amsoc.com.br 

10 


COMMUNITYACTIONCOMMITTEE 


TwoHeartsReunited 

ByKristyMiranda,CACChairperson 

InAugust,ImetastrangerwithwhomI 

laughed, cried, and facilitated a family 

reunionI’llneverforget. 

Rodney was adopted in 1996, through 

the Casa Limiar Organization at the age 

oftwo,andwastakentoCanadatostart 

his new life. He contacted me because 

he was returning to Brazil and needed 

my help. He had already contacted his 

two biological brothers and his birth 

father, but he still didn’t know much 

more about his history. There were 

language constraints and they didn’t 

know all of the story either. Rodney was 

missing the link to his birth mother and 

hoped she could help him understand 

why he, the youngest of the three boys, 

was the only one who had been 

adopted. Since he couldn’t speak 

Portuguese,heneededhelp. 

Together, we called the only phone 

number Rodney’s biological father had 

for his mother and, after asking a few 

questions, realized we were indeed 

talking to Rodney’s biological mother. 

Excited, but at the same time scared, 

Rodney scheduled a time to meet with 

her the following week at a shopping 

mall near her home. He spent the 

weekend worrying and thinking about 

all the possible scenarios that could 

happen when they meet. Would there 

be a connection? Would there be 

bitterness,anger?Wouldshereallyshow 

up? He couldn’t sleep well because of 

theanticipation. 

“Shevisitedhimwhenshe 

could,untilonedayshewas 

toldhehadbeenadopted.” 

The day finally arrived; Rodney was 

extremely quiet during the drive. We 

went to the food court at the mall 

becausewewantedtobeinapublicarea 

in case the meeting didn’t go well. 

However, there was no need to worry; 

the two had an instant connection. As 

soon as they saw one another, they 

embraced in a long hug, cried, stared at 

each other, and hugged again. They sat 

across from each other while we visited 

so they could see each other better.Two 

hearts were reunited. It took all morning 

for her to tell the entire story of her 

difficult life and the unfortunate 

circumstances that led to all three boys 

being taken away from her. She 

explained that she had never wanted to 

give Rodney up, but she was simply too 

young and couldn’t care for any of her 

threekids.Shewas15yearsoldwhenher 

first son was born and was involved in 

drugs. She couldn’t take care of herself, 

let alone three little boys.When Rodney 

wastwomonthsold,hewasplacedinan 

orphanage. She visited him when she 

could, until one day she was told he had 

been adopted. She was devastated and 

herheartwastorntoshreds.Shehadlost 

herpreciousbabyforever. 

Since losing Rodney, his biological 

mother quit using drugs, finished her 

high school education, and has even 

taken some college courses. She had no 

idea where Rodney had gone, or if his 

name had been changed, but she knew 

apieceofherheartwasmissingandshe 

wanted to find it. She bought a 

computer and tried to find him without 

success. This day in August 2018, her 

dreamcametrue. 

Rodney was raised by loving parents in 

Canadaandhestressesthatnoonecould 

ever replace his adopted parents. They 

hadraisedhimtobethemanheistoday. 

However, after connecting with his 

biological father and brothers and 

meeting his mother, Rodney finally 

knows where he came from and is 

overjoyed to have a bonus family in 

Brazil. He looks forward to getting to 

knowthembetterovertime.§ 



SpookyTimesforKidsandAdultsAlike 

ByLauraRosso,Member 

This year we had the AmSoc 

Halloween Party at São Paulo Yacht 

Club (SPYC), who were wonderful 

hosts in preparing a spooky afternoon 

with decoration, drinks, food, and a 

cemetery! Children and adults were able 

to play many games, including a 

broomstick race, pin the wart on the 

witch, putt putt golf, and the monster 

lab.Wealsohadtheopportunitytohave 

two fortune tellers who read palms and 

toldmanyoftheirfutures.Therewasface 

painting, a crafts and drawing table, and 

the photo booth where many took 

pictures individually, with friends, and 

with family, getting dressed up and 

lookingscary,creepy,andfunny! 

our wonderful volunteers in fun 

costumes handed out candy to 1- to 13- 

year-olds. As usual, we had lots of 

American candy—that is the big 

attractionforourkids! 

Wewouldliketosendaspecialthankyou 

to our many volunteers who were there. 

Theeventwouldnothavebeenpossible 

withoutthem.ThanksaswelltoSPYC,for 

providing a great space for our annual 

event. It was great to be there and catch 

up with friends while the kids played, as 

well as meet new people and form new 

friendships.Don’tmissoutonthespooky 

funnextyear!§ 

There were some great costumes, 

individual and family ones, skeletons, 

bananas, zombies, guitar players, 

vampires,witches,princesses,pumpkins, 

Scotsmen, pirates... you name it! 

Everyonegotintothespirit!Andwealso 

had many newcomers to our event, as 

well as babies celebrating their first 

Halloweenever! 

The trick-or-treating attracted many; 

even the adults were “stealing” candy 

from their children, including me! The 

children got to make the rounds of 

several stations (more than once) where 

We had 325 attendees (moms, dads, 

kids,volunteers,andbabies)whohad 

a wonderful time at the Halloween 

party. Thanks to Marc Menden and 

family for participating with the 

cotton candy. What a huge hit! Your 

generosity in donating your time as 

wellasthetreatsistrulyappreciated! 

For more photos of the event, visit 

the Photo Gallery on our website at 

amsoc.com.br/photo-gallery. 

12 


ATHLETICS 


Sailinginto2019 

ByJohnMota,AthleticsCoordinator 

Toallouryouthsportsparticipantsthis 

season: Merry Christmas and a Happy 

New Year! We have great news: our 

SailingCampisback!AmSocishappytobe 

able to offer this event once again, which 

takesplaceatSãoPauloYachtClub(SPYC), 

a British sailing club located at the 

lakeshore of the Guarapiranga water 

reservoirjust15minutesawayfromChapel 

School and 20 minutes from the US 

Consulate.(www.spyc.com.br) 

When: The camp starts Tuesday, January 

8 th and ends Friday, January 11 th , running 

from 9amanduntilaround5pmeachday. 

Ages:8to15yearsold 

Activities:Kidsandteenswillparticipate 

in paddle boarding, kayaking, sailing 

(boats), and other water sports-related 

activities.Therewillalsobeswimmingat 

theclub’sswimmingpool. 

Coaches:Theleadcoachisaprofessional 

sailor, father, and carries a Physical 

Educationbackground. 

Available Spots: As it is hard to find the 

mix of sailor/coach/English-speaker 

here in São Paulo, we are limiting this 

camp to 15 kids only! For more 

information and registration visit 

yspsailingcamp.eventbrite.com. 

FAQ 

Q The kids will be staying at the camp 

from9amto5pm,right? 

A Yes, drop off time is 9am and pickup 

timeisbetween4pmand5pm. 

Q Is lunch at the Club included in the 

priceofclasses? 

ALunchwillnotbeprovided.Kidsshould 

packlunchbags. 

Q Do kids need to know how to swim in 

ordertotakethelessons? 

A Yes, kids need to know how to swim 

butdon'tneedtoberegularswimmers. 

Q Does my child need to have prior 

sailingexperience? 

ANopreviousexperiencerequired. 

QHowmanycoachesarethere? 

ATwotothree,allfluentinEnglish. 

QIsthereadressrequirement? 

A Kids must wear swimming shorts, a t- 

shirt,araincoat,andsandalslikeKeensor 

Crocs.Flip-flopsareokforrestingbutnot 

for activities. Sneakers (with flat rubber 

soles) that can get wet are also OK. Kids 

shouldbringsunscreenandanymedicine 

theyneedtotake. 

QCantheyshowerthere? 

A Yes. They have dressing rooms with 

showers.Yourkidcanbringatowelanda 

setofclothesfortheridebackhome.This 

isoptional. 

QWhathappensifitrains? 

A There are theory classes and indoor 

activities planned for rainy hours. At this 

timeoftheyear,itusuallyrainsaround4 

or5pm. 

QWhowillbeourAmSoccontactthere? 

A JohnTerrell Mota will be your contact. 

You’ll be able to reach out to him by 

phone or WhatsApp. He will be there 

everycampday.§ 

MONTH DAY 

TIMESLOT 

9AM 

10:30AM 

2018SEASON2SCHEDULE 

to 

9:30AM to 

10:30AM 

10:30AM 

to12PM 

2018SEASON2CALENDAR 

Dec 01 Graded 

Dec 08 Canceled 

SPORT 

Soccer,Girls 

Soccer,Boys 

LOCATION 

Basketball,Coed 

Baseball,Coed 

FlagFootball,Coed 

Volleyball,Coed 

WeNeedSportsEnthusiasts! 

If you'd like to volunteer to help 

coach or assist, contact our Athletics 

Coordinator, John Mota, at 

ysp@amsoc.com.br or WhatsApp 

+55(11)99622-2177. 



NETWORKING 

TheFutureofLet’sConnectin2019 

ByMadeleineBlankenstein,Let’sConnectCommitteemember 

December is the month when we 

normally review what happened 

during the last year, and plan for 

the year to come. At Let's Connect, we 

can look back at interesting and 

informative meetings, where you have 

had the chance to meet new and old 

friends, and learn something about the 

Brazilianbusinessenvironment. 

On the 26 th of November, we heard 

from Mark Copman, President of 3M in 

Brazil, one of the most innovative 

companies in the world. Innovation, 

creativity, diversity, and digital 

transformation are buzzwords that we 

will keep talking about in 2019, as they 

are part of the framework used by 

international and Brazilian companies 

to be competitive and grow. 

A question that may be going through 

yourmind:WillIbereplacedbyarobotin 

thenearfuture?Maybeyouarealawyer, 

asurgeon,ajournalist,anaccountant,or 

an engineer. We would say that the 

answeris“notnecessarily.” 

It is true that repetitive and 

administrative tasks normally performed 

manually, using Excel spreadsheets, will 

be replaced by a robot either at a large 

corporation or a provider of RPA (Robot 

Process Automation). It is also true that 

withtheuseofAI(ArtificialIntelligence) 

we will be able to analyze information 

with more agility, creativity, and 

accuracy. However, processes need to 

be somewhat standardized, otherwise 

the cost of using such technology will 

be prohibitive. 

It is also true that machines can learn, 

and the Internet of Things (IOT) may 

expedite the use of AI. However, it is 

not cheap, and companies need to 

evaluate the cost effectiveness of its 

use. Moreover, there is a lack of talent 

to make it possible for companies to 

be digital. 

Companies still need people to teach 

machines, to create, imagine, organize, 

and analyze data. We cannot be 

replaced. But we need to learn new 

skills in order to survive in this new 

environment. 

Happy Holidays, and see you all at the 

Let'sConnectmeetingsin2019.Thanks 

for your support and ideas! Let's keep 

connecting!!! § 

Wanttoseeaspecifictopicexplored 

at our next event? Drop us a line at 

networking@amsoc.com.br and tell 

usaboutyourideas! 

For photos of previous events, visit 

amsoc.com.br/photo-gallery. 

We advise expatriate individualand corporate clients in key areas, such as: 

Tax return preparation and planning for the USA and Brazil; 

Paralegal and advisory services for M&A’s in Brazil and the States; 

Foreign currency exchange services (Fast and Reliable); 

On-going accounting, payroll, and IT outsourcing services (USA and Brazil). 

Excellent value delivered by our Certified Public Accountants (Brazilian and USA). Our high 

quality, fast friendly service takes the guess work and confusion out of your tax filings. 

AmSoc members win an extra 15% discount on all our services. So, call now to get started. 

Alvin Hommerding 

Managing Partner 

ahommerding@hglobaladvisors.com 

+55 -11-97669-8896 

Rua Helena, 335 – Conj. 82 

04552-050 – Vila Olimpia – São Paulo/SP 

www.hglobaladvisors.com 

14 


NETWORKING 


CelebratingaGreatYear&StartingaNewOne 

ByJackieWyant,WomenWorkcommitteemember 

While our lives seem increasingly 

busy, without enough hours in a 

day, we should still celebrate our 

accomplishments—goals met both big 

and small. Let’s get together and 

celebrateoursuccesses!Severalamazing 

women have been our guest speakers 

over the course of the year, and these 

same women have generously made a 

donationtowardsaspecialraffledrawing 

to be held at our very first WomenWork 

Happy Hour event on December 4 th . All 

proceeds from the raffle ticket sales will 

kick-start our charity drive for 2019— 

helpingthegirlsoftodaygrowtobethe 

womenoftomorrow! 

Whetherornotyoualreadyhaveplansfor 

the end of the year, mark your 2019 

calendar to participate in our fifth 

WomenWorkevent,tobeheldonTuesday, 

February12 th ,at7pm.Cateto,locatedonR. 

Francisco Leitão, 272, in Pinheiros, is 

graciouslyprovidingustheirupstairsspace 

forourevent.Spaceislimited,sobesureto 

RSVPatamsoc.com.br/womenworkbefore 

February11 th . 

TheWomenofMeritspeakerforFebruary 

is Marília Gessa, Development Senior 

Manager at WorldFund (worldfund.org). 

Conducting Social and Educational 

Programs in São Paulo slums since 2006, 

MaríliajoinedEducandobyWorldFundin 

2014. Fluent in Portuguese, French, and 

English, she holds a Master’s Degree in 

Linguistics from the State University of 

Campinas (Unicamp), and is a Brown 

University fellow. As the STEM Program 

Coordinator, she has helped start and 

support programs that impact over three 

million children in Brazil and Mexico. 

Working extensively with international 

partnership development, fundraising, 

and program management, she is 

passionateaboutprovidingorganizations 

with the means to develop and bring 

together talented people. In her spare 

time, she volunteers for Instituto Periferia 

Ativa, helping raise funds for small NGOs 

locatedintheslumsofSãoPaulo. 

There will be a short Q&A after Marília's 

presentation, followed by networking, 

socializing, and a tasty drink or two to 

closeouttheevening! 

At WomenWork, we encourage social 

responsibility, sharing knowledge & 

experience for a better future, and the 

importanceofanyemployment,whether 

paidorvolunteer.Sincethelaunchofour 

event in May 2018, attendees have 

helped raise R$1.100 to sponsor two 

girls—Ana Carolina & Geovana—at the 

2018 Angel Party. If you’d like to find out 

more about this charitable event or any 

of the other charitable organizations the 

American Society of São Paulo supports, 

visitamsoc.com.br/how-to-help. 

Want to make a difference? Share your 

journeywithus!§ 

Have a specific topic you'd like us to 

cover? Interested in joining our 

committee to help with future 

WomenWork events? Drop us a line 

atwomenwork@amsoc.com.br. 

For photos of previous events visit 

amsoc.com.br/photo-gallery 



16 



AmSocScene:2018YearInReview 

Wereyouthere?Momentsyoumighthavemissedfromthepastyear. 

TheAnnualGeneralMeeting 

TheGreatGatsbyGala 

TheSt.Patrick’sDayPartyinCampinas 

TheAbacaxiBowl 

TheIndependenceDayCelebration 

TheEasterEggHunt&FamilyDay 



Classifieds 

APARTMENTFORRENT 

ExcellentOpportunityforFamilyw/Kidsgoingto 

GradedSchool,locatedinfrontofmainentrance! 

LuxuriousAptwith400squaremeters,4bedroom 

suites,360view,20thfloor,5carspaceparking, 

Indoor and Outdoor pool, Tennis court, Fully 

equippedgym.PleasecallJackat95316-6888or 

emailh9doral@gmail.comformoreinfo. 

DAWNMORELLI,LCSW 

LICENSEDAMERICANTHERAPIST&COUNSELOR 

My expertise includes mood, anxiety, cultural 

issues, relationship and family concerns, selfesteem,traumaandpersonalgrowth.Ihavestrong 

skills in assessment/evaluation which allow to 

identify the best and most effective treatment. I 

workwithindividuals,familiesandchildren.Contact 

meat98963-2871ordawnmorell@yahoo.com. 

CLASSIFIEDS 

CONTACTAMSOCOFFICESTAFF 

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).Intheselimitedhours,theynotonlykeepourvariousinternalprocesses 

running smoothly, but also support our many volunteers, helping make the 

AmericanSocietywhatitistoday. 

JOBTITLE NAME EMAILADDRESS 

OfficeManager AndreaBerce officemanager@amsoc.com.br 

OfficeAssistant CarolMatos assistant@amsoc.com.br 

Communications 

Coordinator 

CarolMatos 

communications@amsoc.com.br 

Intern FilipePerfetto intern@amsoc.com.br 

Bookkeeper MateusSampaio accounting@amsoc.com.br 

BoaViagem! 

KellyMaurice 

Washington,D.C. 

Travelingsoon?TakeaphotowithyourFORUM 

andemailittoforum@amsoc.com.br 

Advertisewithus! 

Interested in purchasing a print ad 

or classified space? Advertise in the 

next issue of the FORUM newsletter 

for as little as R$90 per issue, 

including exposure on our website 

& social media, plus our private 

Facebook Group. Special rates 

offered for our Annual Directory 

advertisers. 

CallAndreaBerceat(11)991642634or 

send an email to sales@amsoc.com.br 

forfulldetailsandrates. 

18 


MEMBERSHIPBENEFITSPROGRAM 


Asamember,youcannowaccesstheAmericanSocietyofSãoPaulo’sMembershipBenefitsProgram,whichincludesdiscountsand 

promotionaloffersinmanyofSãoPaulo’sbestrestaurants,hotels,spas,medicalservices,andmore.Pleaseseethismonth’shighlighted 

offersbelow.Ourfulllistofparticipatingorganizationsisalwaysavailableonlinehere:amsoc.com.br/membership-benefits 

MembersOnly 

AmSocHolidayParty 

ArtBioGarden 

CasaDiPaolo 

6pmonSunday,December9,2018 

Anawesomeeventtobringanonperishabledonation,singcarols,and 

enjoyaholidaydinnerandambiance 

withotherAmSocmembers. 

Discountoffer: 

MEMBERS 

ONLY 

True natural ecosystems on a reduced 

scale.Idealforpeoplewholikenaturewith 

little time for maintenance. Known as 

Terrariums or Lilliputian Gardens, these 

uniqueandvibrantgiftsareawaytoinject 

alittlegreenintoeveryenvironment. 


10% discount on total 

valueofmini-forests 

Cozy,convenientrestaurantspecializing 

in Italian cuisine. Nice private dining 

room. 


10%offbuffetprice 

DrosophylaBar 

HommerdingAdvisors 

OtimizaDesign 

Bar located in a historical-registered 

house, dating back to the 1920s. Fully 

restored, this charming bar is in the 

citycenterwithaparkinglot. 


1freedrink(caipirinha 

w/cachaçaorvodka) 

+freeentrance 

(exceptonLiveBand 

Thursdays) 

Professional solutions firm with offices 

inBrazil&theUSA.Wehaveapassionfor 

creatingvalueforourclientsbysolving 

their toughest problems—accounting, 

tax,payroll,paralegal,IT—plusadvisory 

solutionsforindividualsandcompanies. 


15%discountonall 

servicesandadvisory 

solutions 

Otimiza Design provides environmental 

organizationservices(personalorganizer). 

We organize the whole house, including 

documents and paperwork, and also 

provide organizational training for the 

employeesofthehouse. 


10% discount on total 

valueofservices 

RenaissanceHotel&Spa 

TandoorIndianRestaurant 

TivoliMofarrej 

LuxuryhotellocatedindowntownSão 

Paulo, just a few steps away from the 

iconic Paulista Avenue. Excellent spa 

with outdoor pool, lobby bar & 2 

restaurants. 


20% off your final bill 

for food, beverage, & 

spatreatments 

Delicious, authentic Indian cuisine 

dishes brought over 25 years ago by 

Mumbai founders. Specialties range 

fromvegetariantogrilleddishes;various 

chicken, lamb, and lobster curry dishes; 

andthefamousnaanbreadandsamosa 

pastries.Namaste! 


10% off food & drinks 

(servicenotincluded) 

MustBarfeaturesjazz,craftdrinks,and 

a Mediterranean menu. Anantara Spa 

restoresbalanceandharmonybetween 

body and mind in an oasis of beauty, 

grace,andtranquility. 


15% off food & drinks 

atMustBar 

20% off all treatments 

atAnantaraSpa 


COMMUNITYCALENDAR 

December2018 

LearnmoreaboutupcomingAmericanSocietyeventsatwww.amsoc.com.br 

01 Saturday 

9AMto12PM 

AmSocYouthSportsProgram 

Location:GradedSchool(Av.JoséGalante,425) 

Information:www.amsoc.com.br/youthsports 

04 Tuesday 

7PM 

05 Wednesday 

8AMto10:30AM 

AmSocWomenWorkHappyHour 

InternationalNewcomersClub 

Location:CatetoPinheiros(R.FranciscoLeitão,272) 

Information:www.amsoc.com.br 

Fordetails,seearticleonpage15 

Location:EmpórioMoema(Av.Macuco,218) 

Information:www.newcomers-sp.com.br 

05 Wednesday 

10:30AMto1PM 

08 Saturday 

1PMto5PM 

09 Sunday 

10:30AM 

09 Sunday 

6PM 

AmSocMemberCoffee 

AmSocAngelParty 

FellowshipCommunityChurch 

AmSocHolidayParty 

Location:ProvideduponRSVP 

Information:welcoming@amsoc.com.br 

Fordetails,seeadonpage16 




Location:FellowshipCommunityChurch 

(R.CarlosSampaio,107) 

Information:www.fellowshipchurchinbrazil.com 




11 Tuesday 

7PMto10PM 

21 Friday 

3PM 

24 Monday 

7:30PM 

January2019 

02 Wednesday 

10AM 

AmSocHappyHour 

AmSocofficeclosedfortheholidays 

FellowshipCommunityChurch 

AmSocofficereopens 

Location:Drosophyla(R.NestorPestana,163) 


Fordetails,seeadonpage14 

Location:FellowshipCommunityChurch 

(R.CarlosSampaio,107) 

Information:www.fellowshipchurchinbrazil.com 

08- 

11 

Tuesday-Friday 

9AMto5PM 

AmSocSailingCamp 

Location:SãoPauloYachtClub(R.FranciscodeSeixas,225) 



16 Wednesday 

7PMto10PM 

AmSocHappyHour 

Location:GuilhotinaBar(R.CostaCarvalho,84) 


Wouldyouliketoseeyourcommunityeventfeaturedonourcalendar?SendanemailtotheManagingEditoratforum@amsoc.com.brwiththedetailsofyour 

event.Allentriesmustbereceivednolaterthan21daysbeforethefirstdayofthemonthinwhichtheeventoccurs. 

AboutFORUM 

EditorinChief:AnjeeDiSanto(editor@amsoc.com.br) 

ManagingEditor:JackieWyant(forum@amsoc.com.br) 

Publisher:JudyZanchi(vp@amsoc.com.br) 

AdvertisingSales:AndreaBerce(sales@amsoc.com.br) 

LayoutbySalt&Unicorns(www.saltandunicorns.com) 

PrintedbyEGB(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 

productsorservices.

December 2018 FORUM

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