Dear members of the Panama community: Like last year, USA Caravana Committee 2010, the American Society of Panama and the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) will join forces to sponsor our II USA Charity Auction. Half of the auction proceeds will go to Caravana de Asistencia Social and the other half will support the schools, charities & scholarships sponsored by the American Society. We take this opportunity to kindly invite you to support our event, through your generous contribution in the form of cash, products, or services; the event will be held on Thursday, April 22, 2010 at the City Club Panama at 6:00 pm. Your contributions last year allowed us to raise over $17,000 which were divided between the two organizations. Lets use this as our goal and strive to surpass our expectations. All donations must be received no later than March 26, 2010. Please respond to this email at american.society.panama@gmail.com or write to USA Auction Committee at usauction2010@yahoo.es to advise us of your donations. All contributions to the II USA Charity Auction sponsored by Caravana de Asistencia Social or the American Society are tax deductible in the Republic of Panama: Caravana de Asistencia Social RUC. 792-373-15198 DV. 09, Resolution Number 260-7260 del 24 de agosto de 1982. American Society of Panama RUC 3482-2-12829 DV 86 Resolution Number 201-108 de 16 Enero de 2006. For more information in regard to your contribution, please contact: usauction2010@yahoo.es american.society.panama@gmail.com dhunt@panamcham.com On behalf of the American Society, USA Caravana Committee 2010 and AMCHAM, we would like to thank you for enabling our community to help those in need in Panama. Tickets may be purchased from any board member of the American Society (See website www.amsoc.org for board member) the USA Caravana Committee (usauction2010@yahoo.es) or the American Chamber of Commerce office (301-3881) or you may respond to this email at american.society.panama@gmail.com and we will facilitate the process. Each ticket is $15.00 and entitles you to a bidding paddle, wine and appetizers, and the chance to win door prizes. Please join us and help us make a difference in Panama. Sincerely, The American Society of Panama.   

The Chinese community in Panama celebrated their new year today, that this time according to the lunar calendar will be under the influence of the tiger. And like every year, with the ritual awakening and lion dance, the Chinese community opened its new year celebration, and this year will be the Year of the Tiger - they say that because of its strong nature and the tenaciousness and aggressiveness of this animal - it means that 2010 will be a difficult year. The Mayor of Panama City, Bosco Vallarino, on behalf of the executive, extended his congratulations to the Chinese community and emphasized their valuable contribution to the country. The main celebration was at the Atlapa Convention Center where there will be festivities related to the Chinese New Year Festival 2010 until Wednesday 17 Feb. Three internationally recognized Chinese musical groups provided entertainment for the event. From today until next Wednesday, the show will be from 12 noon to 8 pm totally free, where one can learn more about this ancient culture. (Source: TVN Reporta)   

We, the St Andrew's Society, are holding our first annual Burn's Night. We will have beautiful sit down dinner at the City Club, with a "side" of Haggis with Whisky sauce! Please join us if you can, tickets are limited because of space. Callfor tickets 6613-2977 or 6449-4445 or email: standrewspanama@gmail.com. St. Andrew's Society's Burns Night, Friday, January 29, 2010 7:30pm, City Club Credicorp Building Calle 50, $50 per person, Dinner, Dance, Open-bar, Dress: Semi-Formal   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Received today via email: "Feliz Ano Nuevo everyone; We hope everyone had a happy and stress free holiday season. Well , the next monthly Expat happy Hour / Dinner Social is coming up soon . And we are trying a new place , although I know many of you have been to this restaurant before , and it is one of my personal favorites . WHEN : Monday , the 11th. of January , starting at 7:00 PM WHERE: The Machu Picchu restaurant . ON Calle Eusubio Morales, right across from the El parador Hotel . Valet parking is available , and drinks are half priced. Remember to look at the website; www.expatsocials.com for pictures of past socials , new menus , and lots of other info you can use . For the committee ............Hall Please Note : This email address is used exclusively for the monthly Expat Social dinner. For event information other than the monthly dinner , please contact admin@expatsinpanama.com . EXPAT SOCIALS & EXPAT EXPLORERS"

Editor's Comment: Note: This article was originally posted with a date of 9 January, but in fact the meeting is on 11 January, Monday.

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Man, talk about barking up the wrong tree. I received the following via email this morning; "Don: Here we are venturing into another stage of our lives by leaving USA and Canada and others of course, and we have a bunch of gun happy gringos with shoot em up mentality infesting our new found haven. They think because they were in the military and a has been cop, and of course carrying with them the mentality of those jobs, coming with their cancerous brains to infest our heavenly country. Wouldn't it be ironic if one of their trainees mistakes them for the enemy and pulls the trigger, oops! human error. Wouldn't it be healthier for the people and the country to install bars and alarms in their homes to prevent problems, rather than shooting the person once they have crossed the threshhold. We all know that once you allow guns into the hands of the public without a competence test, that the power over takes them and they all think they are in the wild west. I hope the government does not allow these gun toteing cowboys to get licences or we are going to have another USA on our hands. Thank you Don: I would like some veiws on this outrageous behaviour. Clifford & Debbie Horsfall." Guys, I disagree with you completely. I personally believe very strongly in the right of the individual to own and bear personal firearms. As long as those lethal weapons are not used to break the law in any way, then an armed citizen can be a significant deterrent to crime. I feel the right should exist, even if any unique individual makes the personal decision not to exercise that right. Meaning, you might not want to have a gun in your house, and that's your personal decision, but please do not try to force your decisions or opinions on me. I've had extensive weapons and firearms training, in everything from slingshots all the way up to heavy military weaponry from around the globe, and I don't consider my "cancerous brain" to be infesting anything. In short, you're really barking up the wrong tree, dude. (See the rest of the article to learn about the free firearms safety seminars being offered in Potrerillos in Chiriqui.) (more)    Click Here To Read The Full Article (1,234 words)

ExPatsWest meets on the 4th Wednesday of each month. We have grown from less than 40 at our first social, to more than 150. We will be gathering on the 25th of November 2009, starting at 5:00pm or whenever you get there. Our get-together will be in Coronado at El Rincon del Chef. Chef Fernando always does something special in honor of the US Thanksgiving which is the following day. To reach the restaurant, turn off the highway at the Coronadoa REY store onto the main road toward the beach. The restaurant is on the right in the Mercado Artesanal de Coronado--a charming little center built in the old Panamanian country style. The little shops around the restaurant have taken to staying open when we are there to pick up some of our business. The restaurant telephone number is 6676-4834. Remember, it is almost always the 4th Wednesday of the month! See you there.    

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Received this morning via email: A couple of days ago I sent out a notification about St. Luke's Episcopal Cathedral Christmas Bazaar, Cerro Ancon but, I forgot to send this notice along with it. Please help them to help others by donating gently used items, clothing, especially children's clothes, shoes and toys. Contact Elizabeth 262-1280 during office hours or Sarah 6670-0794. I called and told them that I would be bringing some donations of gently used items, they asked me to bring them until the 30th of November, incase they have to wash some of the items."

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.    

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Received this afternoon via email: "Hi Don, I certainly do enjoy reading your online newspaper with all the latest stories. Great job, keep up the great writing. Would it be possible to do an article on the Bid 4 Boquete Charity Auction? This is a huge auction on December 6, at 1 p.m. at the feria. The proceeds benefit local charities for the Panamanian people. The charities are Buenas Vecinos, the Handicapped Foundation, Lions and Rotary. Last year they raised $17,000, which is pretty remarkable for such a small community. Here is a link about the auction: http://www.bid4boquete.com/ There are many donations coming from the Panama City area, for instance several nights at resorts, a fishing trip, etc. The Panama City people might like an excuse to come to the mountains for a really fun event. Please let me know what you think, or perhaps I will be surprised when I daily open your site and read about it. If you have any questions my number is 6759-5598. Thank you very much. Sincerely, Kathy Donelson." There you go, Kathy. Good luck.

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.    

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Received today via email: "Don, Thanks for the article on Vets day and the pics. I will use some on our web page. As I told you at the Vets day in Corozal, our post web site is vfw3822.org. Our email address is vfw3822@vfw3822.org. Our department's website is vfwlatam.org, and department email address is vfwlatam@vfwlatam.org. Please send your daily updates to vfwlatam@vfwlatam.org. And again thanks for all your help with us Vets. Floyd Skoubo..." You're welcome, Floyd. I changed the address for the link on the front page to the new address. For any veteran who might be interested in joining, meetings are held the second Thursday of every month at 11am at the post home. Edificio Adventura, Room 303, located in the El Dorado area.