Circular No 848 Extra

Newsletter for alumni of The Abbey School, Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.

Caracas, 1 of February 2018 No. 848 extra

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Dear Friends,

Emails follow.

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Subject: Transfers from the US and Canada

Thanks/ Gracias Gabriel. Good to know.

Jorge: Can this also be done with euros, pound sterling, etc. from European accounts?

Thanks to all of you for making a significant difference in the lives of our Venezuelan brothers with needs,

George 

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On Sunday, January 21, 2018 9:14 AM,

Gabriel Faria <gabefaria@yahoo.com> wrote:

Just did the same thing on my TD Canada.

It also allows you to send money to anyone just by using their email address just like in the US ( a US tel # is also an option in the US) but they must have an account in Canada.

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George Mickiewicz <amickiew@att.net>

Jan 21 at 5:09 PM

Gracias.....it expands the opportunities for other oldboys in that part of the world to help too if they might be so inclined.

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On Jan 21, 2018, at 2:48 PM,

Jorge Iwaszkiewicz <jjmiwaszkiewicz@hotmail.com> wrote:

You should be able to do the same from Europe but you need to check which bank account you have.

There is also a limit & a small fee for such transfers.

Hope this helps

Jorge 

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On Jan 20, 2018, at 12:40 PM,

Joseph Berment-McDowald <bermentmcdowald@yahoo.com> wrote:

If anyone wants to make a contribution now let me know and I will send you Gabriel Faria's US ($) account information.

Thank you,

Joe

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On Sat, 20 Jan 2018 at 10:19 a.m.,

ANTONI MICKIEWICZ <amickiew@att.net> wrote:

Hi Joe

Please send me a short summary of what and how the ASAA is helping our brothers in need in Venezuela. 

Need it for the experiment that I am going to try on my own as mentioned in my earlier note.

Thanks,

George

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Mitchell <idmitch@anguillanet.com>

Jan 22 at 9:49 AM

Hi, Gabe,

[I have been trying to send this by clicking “Reply all”, but our bandwidth is so strangled I cannot get it to send. So, I am putting it in a new email with limited addressees. If you reply, please add the others, as I don’t seem to have a problem receiving emails.]

Just a few thoughts.

When you send a wire transfer from Anguilla, and are over the age of retirement, the transfer is free of all charges at any branch of an international bank such as FCIB or Scotia. One of the perks of being retired. I can’t imagine this is a local Anguillian bank rule. It must be true everywhere. So, once the bank customer over whatever the age is, probably 65, all international wire transfers (and purchases of bank drafts) are free.

The real problem with wire transfers (in Anguilla, at least) is that due to the anti-money laundering regulations, you have to attend in person and fill out a very complicated form before you can persuade the bank to engage in an international transfer of US funds. 

Doing a wire transfer from your computer using an “App” must be very convenient as an alternative. 

However, you are not likely to get any Old Boy of my age willing even to try to learn how to use something as ghastly alien as that :-)

Now, if only one could send money by cable or telex :-)

Don

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George Mickiewicz <amickiew@att.net>

Feb 24 at 4:55 PM

Thanks, Joe, for your wisdom and valuable advice

Transparency and honesty are Core Values that I try to abide by. So on my part so far I have personally donated US$500 to Ladislao for Central Venezuela and have collected US$495 from family and friends......of which US$300 have already been sent to Gabriel’s account and I still have US$200 to distribute per Ladislao and your guidance.

May God continue to guide and help us in our work for the Venezuelan old boys,

George 

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Joseph Berment-McDowald  <bermentmcdowald@yahoo.com>

Feb 24 at 4:15 PM

George,

Good evening! I think that the most equitable thing is to have one pot (i.e. for all contributions to be fully disclosed) and divide all contributions for all sectors in proportion to the number of people being served. 

The information that I shared with you recently indicates that we are serving (more correctly ought to serve ) 12 thru Adolfo's good offices, whilst in reality what we last provided was assumed to be for 5 at that time. It can't be that they can have (would have had) enough at this time. 

It would be sensible to target Roberto from Colombia, if he is isolated and receiving no other assistance.  

I can't comment anymore than I have. Possibly, Ladislao can help?

Yours in service,

Joe

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ANTONI MICKIEWICZ <amickiew@att.net>

Feb 24 at 9:34 AM

Some thoughts and ideas that came to mind as I prayerfully read the referenced Circular.

Hi Ladislao

How many oldboys were you able to assist with the money deposited in your Miami account in December?

High Protein Supplement - are you able to get it from Miami via the door-to-door service and using any remaining funds from December?

Please send pertinent information regarding the Miami service in case we need to use it.

Hi Joe et ASAA

Have not been able to send the US$200 as of this morning due to weekly limits by me bank. Will probably be able to send next week as the remittance of $300 was sent over the last weekend.

Hi Joe, Ladislao and Luis - Roberto Bodington in Maracaibo & others in West Venezuela

Would like to consider using the remaining US$200 to help Roberto and any others who need the help in West Venezuela.....the only area that we seem unable to help today.

Using the kind offer that we received from Luis Guio in Colombia a few weeks ago:

Dear George, JBM and friends,

I regret to hear that customs has taken a share, although it is not surprising to me.  

As some of you know, I still have family in Venezuela, one Ant and cousins to whom I send regularly money, groceries and medication in small packages from Colombia via "Maicao - Colombia - Paraguachón - Venezuela" north of Maracaibo, west of Venezuela.

Needless to say, my courier system is smuggling with a friend on the border. I am ashamed to resort to such means. Of course I would like to use formal channels but they do not work. Via smuggling, by sending US $30 dollars + 2 pennies I can provide a month food supplies for one person in Venezuela. 

This channel is at your service.  

Keep in mind that the methodology is "Smurfing", i.e. tiny packages regularly across the border.  

Fortunately, in result terms and unfortunately in moral terms, the current Venezuelan officials when they see a minor package they let it slide, for just a couple of pennies on the dollar.

Should any one need this channel, please let me know. 

I am there to help. 

Luis

Another idea came to mind as I read the Circular....please say a prayer that it might materialize.

May God bless us all as we continue trying to meet the needs of our Venezuelan brothers in dire need by using the bounty that Our Lord has granted each one of us who are living in free societies, have medicines, do not go to bed hungry and enjoy our last years; all privileges that ,Venezuela and Venezuelans do not have today.

George/Jorge/Yury/Shish - AB/MSB 1956-1962

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ANTONI MICKIEWICZ <amickiew@att.net>

Feb 18 at 7:05 AM

Please confirm that yesterday's and today's $ have been received.....thanks

Still dealing with limits....will try to send $195 balance tomorrow.

General Questions: 

At this point, how many oldboys have contributed to the cause?...names not needed

How much money total?

What are the plans to obtain future contributions?

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Joseph Berment-McDowald <bermentmcdowald@yahoo.com>

Feb 18 at 8:51 AM

Dear George,

Information on the names and number of Old Boys who contributed to the alumni in Eastern Venezuela and the amount of money received and what was spent (more than the receipts) for the first cycle is detailed in the WhatsApp Chat emailed to you. Information for the next cycle will be provided in the identical manner. 

So far we have received two more donations and two more are on their way. I have received three additional pledges, which will all together should hopefully make a pot of around $2,000 US. 

We will soon be having an ASAA executive committee meeting for the specific purpose of planning and approving a more effective response, each attendee will be expected (required) to walk with his cash contribution.

I can only speak about what I have been asked to manage by Ladislao namely the efforts which are being made on relation to the Eastern Old Boys.

When we do hold our delayed meeting, within a week or two, hopefully there will be more to report. 

Please let me know if I can provide any further information. 

Yours sincerely,

Joe

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George Mickiewicz <amickiew@att.net>

Feb 18 at 9:11 AM

Thanks, Joe

Will not share any names.  

Will respect their privacy.

Great news that oldboys continue to contribute to this great cause.  

US$2000 is a significant number and will go a long way.

Wishing the ASAA a successful and productive upcoming meeting,

George

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Gabriel Faria <gabefaria@yahoo.com>

Feb 18 at 9:15 AM

Antoni,

See image of the amounts which are showing as processing I assume they will go through on Monday.

So 305.00 in total.

I then go to the bank here in Trinidad and get US cash which I will pass to Joe.

I received one other contribution of 500.00 which was converted here in Trinidad already.

I am not sure what else was sent through other channels.

Joe can provide details on what has been sent out.

Regards

Gabe

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Joseph Berment-McDowald <bermentmcdowald@yahoo.com>

Feb 18 at 9:25 AM

Thank you: A privilege to serve.

Sincerely,

JBM

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George Mickiewicz <amickiew@att.net>

Feb 18 at 9:31 AM

Thanks, Gabe.

Hopefully I can transfer the rest tomorrow.

Very glad, thankful and proud of the value adding role that you are playing,

George 

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Joseph Berment-McDowald <bermentmcdowald@yahoo.com>

Feb 18 at 10:48 AM

George,

I forgot to mention that we (have) will be serving four more Old Boy families for a total of nine.

Sincerely,

JBM

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EDITED by Ladislao Kertesz,  kertesz11@yahoo.com,  if you would like to be in the circular’s mailing list or any old boy that you would like to include.

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Photos:

08DM0212REUNION2008, Don Mitchell

08KA0020REUNION2008, Kenneth Austin, Don Mitchell, unknowns

61LK0102SPORTSDAY, Invitation card for parents,

60LK0015BOOK, Visual English

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