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NewsLady

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  1. View this email in your browser Monthly Meeting Wednesday Oct 11th 10-11am Animales Event Center Directions to Animales Electricity is essential to our health and well-being. Electricity keeps our medication’s cool. Electricity allows for oxygen concentrators and crap machines to work. Electricity allows us to communicate with each other. Electricity provides light for safe neighborhoods and allows us to navigate our house in the dark without falling. Electricity allows hospitals to function. Electricity is incredibly important to our well-being. Electricity is incredibly important to our lives, yet most people hardly know anything about it. It’s a mystery and magical. What to do when the power goes out? Will explore the mystery. Learn Discover in simple easy to understand terms what watts, amps, volts, volt amps and ac/dc mean. And how they work together. Lear all about solar, hydro and wind systems for your house. 4 different types of generators Learn how to size systems for your needs. Learn the basics of storage systems. How they work. This knowledge will let you step out of the dark and into the light of understanding and thus be able to make informed decisions about your choice of what to do when the lights go out. If you’re a DYI person this lecture will set you on the path. Take the mystery out of electricity. Make informed choices about what to do when the power goes out. Learn about all available options for when the power goes out. Oil Lamps, rechargeable lamps Uninterrupted power supplies 4 different types of generators Battery storage Solar Power Hydro Power Wind Power Take the mystery out of Electricity in easy to understand terms learn all about Watts, Amps, Volt, VoltAmps, AC/DC With the knowledge you gain you will be able to make intelligent choices so you are prepared when the power goes out and you will not be left in the dark.
  2. But What do your mind & body reveal when you slow down and relax? Do you want to avoid what you discover & become numb to the pain or discomfort by taking a drug? Or do you opt to see someone to have more pain inflicted on you to fix what's wrong? Or ...Do You choose to listen to what your body and nervous system are telling you? Do their messages motivate you to take greater responsibility for your health and well-being by choosing behaviors which will ultimately help you feel better? Such as working on your diet and improving your digestion, reducing sources of stress & tension, & reducing your alcohol intake if you're a drinker? And taking the time to exercise & move & relax & sleep? Deep down inside we all know what we each need to do. We just need to slow down, listen to ourselves and do it. About Clare Somatics- Life is movement. All living beings move. And I don't mean just walking and/or hiking, but learning and experiencing how all parts of your body interact & are designed to move. Your feet, knees, lower & upper legs, lower back and hips. Your core, spine, lhe entirety of the front and back of your lower. middle and upper torso, And Your shoulders, arms, head and neck. Look at a dog or a cat when it wakes up- it stretches long and s-l-o-w the full length of its body. And if it has freedom [meaning it isn't tied up] it joyfully moves and plays. Recognize- No one else can move for you to retrain and repattern your nervous system. And a drug, or some type of forceful hands-on therapy can make you feel better & reduce your pain for a while, but is not a lasting solution, for You haven't formed any new patterns. The Good News is someone can show and teach you how the body is built to move. When you move naturally you experience how all the components of You are interconnected, You replace how you're moving [or not moving] with natural, flowing, graceful whole body movement. There is no other way to restore your innate ease of being than to take steps to do it Yourself. CranioSacral Therapy- Also works with the Central Nervous System. It initiates you in the process of meeting what's inside you. And if you listen and discover what your body is telling you, it leads you forward toward greater health and well-being. But Beware! It isn't going to Do the Work for You. The Good News is if you choose to honor what your body has to say, you will progress on the path toward greater health and well-being. And...CST, Clare Somatics and your nervous system will give you great support in doing so. The main difference between Clare Somatics and CranioSacral Therapy is that the first is active on the part of the recipient whereas the latter is passive. Their commonality is that both are gentle and work slowly and non-violently to produce a state of deep relaxation with a balanced mind and body. Both naturally produce a meditative state. The first through the breath & movement. The second through deep relaxation into stillness. About the Instructor/Therapist- Suzanna Clare, M.A. - Creator of Clare Somatics. Somatic Movement, Yoga and Pilates Instructor, prior Personal Trainer and former licensed Massage Therapist in the State of Florida for 30 years. Certified to perform the 10 Step Protocol.of the John Upledger, D.O., CranioSacral Therapy System. Also having a Master's Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling with a Certification in Gerontology- The Psychology of Old Age, *If you're motivated to do something to improve your health, I strongly suggest you learn Clare Somatics. You can practice it anytime and aren't dependent on making an appointment with someone to help you feel better. It's very empowering. And once you get a routine, you can continually & creatively add to it for more diversity. Having a personal instructor who walks her talk and is trained in multiple modalities over many years is a great way to go." - Suzanna Clare Session Fees- One Clare Somatics session weekly- $40 a session. 2 sessions weekly- $60. For the reduced 2nd session, the full $60 is to be paid at the end of the first session. Do note- CranioSacral Therapy is available to students of Clare Somatics at the discounted fee of $40 for a 75 minute session. To receive the discount, both therapies must be experienced within the month. For more information about CranioSacral Therapy please inquire. To schedule an appointment or to inquire about either therapy contact Suzanna at suzeclare@gmail.com And do know email is Ms. Clare's preferred and sole method of communication. "Looking forward to Meeting and Working with You Soon!"- Suzanna
  3. To make a reservation go to eventsboquete.org/reservations
  4. Learning Spanish can be Fun with me! Hi! My name is Judy Tovar. I am a bilingual Panamanian, and I have been giving Spanish classes in the Boquete area for more than 3 years. I am now offering personalized Spanish tutoring/Conversational Spanish classes “via Zoom”. I will customize your Spanish classes to whatever level you need, from beginners to Conversational level. During our time together we will speak in Spanish as much as possible. This way you will feel more comfortable speaking our native language. My classes are intense, but fun! We can meet once a week (or more if you desire) via Zoom. NOTE: Occasionally I have openings for in-person classes at your home (if you are in the Boquete area). ADDITIONAL NOTE: If you desire to speak to some of my current or previous clients, please let me know. I am happy to share references with you. How you can contact me: whatsapp: 6617-4122 e-mail: easytravelpanama01@gmail.com
  5. In October, classical music is knocking at your door and we cordially invite you to come to the concert hall of the Boquete Library on Sunday, October 22, starting at 4:00 p.m. and, in the prodigious hands of David García, join us to enjoy an unforgettable piano recital. Buy your ticket, at B/.15.00, at the Boquete Library or at Mail Boxes Etc. and enjoy all the magic that this month has for you. Your support is very important to continue with the music programs. ¡We are waiting for you! Links: https://davidgarciapianist.com/ https://www.facebook.com/davidjgarcia07/?ref=bookmarks https://www.instagram.com/davidgarciapianist/
  6. Sign up for the Blood Drive Matching Fund or Donate Blood and get your priority Card. View this email in your browser Contents – October Newsletter, 2023 Our Mission Statement Calendar of Events President's Letter Update to Communicable Diseases Policy Donate to BHH Via Visa and Mastercard October General Meeting – Chris McCall Presents "What to Do When the Lights Go Out: Don’t be Left in the Dark" Donate Blood on October 21 and be a Hero! BHH Graduates Largest New Volunteer Class Ever The "Earle-y" Years of BHH Thanks to September Speaker Dr. Sunny Roe Farewell from Craig Gatrel and John Ferguson Trivia Night Gains $355 for Portable Oxygen Concentrators Volunteer and Help Your Community! The Magic of Music Educational Videos Medical Equipment The Tree of Life Donor Recognition Make a Donation Council Business Contact Us Our Mission Statement Our mission is to inform and promote community health. To support people with health and wellness needs by providing information, equipment, and volunteer services. To provide palliative (hospice) care for the terminally ill in order that they may experience death with dignity and limited pain. Calendar of Events October 4 – Council Meeting, 10am (Big Daddy's and via Zoom) October 11 – General Meeting, 10am (Animales Event Center, Alto Boquete) – Chris McCall Presents "What to Do When the Lights Go Out: Don’t be Left in the Dark" October 11 – CPR Training, noon (Animales Event Center, Alto Boquete) – registration is closed; watch this space for future classes October 21 – Blood Drive, 7am-noon (Animales Event Center, Alto Boquete) – preregistration recommended October 25-26 – New Volunteer Orientation (Animales Event Center, Alto Boquete) – preregistration required November 1 – Council Meeting, 10am (Big Daddy's and via Zoom) November 8 – General Meeting, 10am (Animales Event Center, Alto Boquete) – Panel Discussion of "Botanical Remedies Combined with CBD Oil" presented by Cloud Forest Botanicals Co-founders Elizabeth Worley and Diane Zap and Advisory Board Members Dr. Sunny Roe and Dr. Rod Gottula December 13 – Volunteer Appreciation Lunch PLEASE NOTE: General meetings are held in person at the Animales Event Center in Alto Boquete. Council meetings will be held at Big Daddy's and via Zoom for the rest of the year. President's Letter Dear Volunteers, At Boquete Health & Hospice we believe in the power of compassion and community. We have been providing essential healthcare-related and support services to those in need for years, thanks to our incredible team of volunteers. But now, we want to do even more, and we need your help! This month, we're introducing our "Each One, Reach One" campaign—an opportunity for YOU to make a difference and expand our impact. We are calling upon each of our current volunteers to take up the challenge and inspire one more person to join our mission of providing compassionate care, education, and related services to our community. Why Should You Help? By recruiting just one more volunteer, you amplify the positive change we can create together. Imagine the difference we can make when our united efforts double! By inviting someone you know, you strengthen the bond within our volunteer family, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment. By reaching out to one person, you pass on the gift of service, creating a legacy of compassion for future generations. Every volunteer we add to our organization extends the ripple effect of our work. How Can You Get Involved? Identify Potential Volunteers: Think of friends, family members, colleagues, or neighbors who might share our passion for making a positive impact. Spread the Word: Share our mission, success stories, and the benefits of joining our team. Be a Mentor: Offer guidance and support to the new volunteer you recruit. Show them the ropes, introduce them to fellow volunteers, and help them feel welcome and valued. I hope you'll take this opportunity to reach out to your friends and neighbors and inspire them to help us serve the community. Together, let's expand the reach of Boquete Health & Hospice! Please refer interested volunteers to visit our website and complete the Volunteer Application form there, or call or text us at +507-6781-9250 for more information on how to get involved. Sincerely, Roderic Gottula, MD Update on Communicable Diseases Policy On September 6, 2023, the Boquete Health & Hospice Council discussed an update to our Communicable Diseases policy. After discussion it was decided that the mask policy needed to be revised. The following changes were voted on and unanimously approved by the voting members of the Council: Any volunteer member that interacts with a patient must wear an N95 or KN95 mask. This applies to Patient Care Coordinators, Hospice and Home Care team members, and Meal team members who deliver meals to the patients. (SLIGHT CHANGE – masks had formerly been required when dealing with a patient’s family members or friends.) Equipment team members no longer need to wear masks when loaning out equipment. (CHANGE – masks had formerly been required.) The remainder of the policy remains the same: At BHH classes and events where social distancing is possible, masks are now optional. It is still recommended that masks be worn. A mask is mandatory for anyone attending a BHH class or event where social distancing is not maintainable. For example: CPR class where people are working on manikins and are less than one foot apart from each other. Any volunteer member that is going into patients’ homes must (a) be fully vaccinated AND (b) wear an N95 or KN95 mask. Fully vaccinated means having two shots of Pfizer or Moderna, or one of Johnson and Johnson. (This is MINSA’s definition of “fully vaccinated.”) You Can Now Donate to BHH Via Visa and MasterCard! Your continued support can make an incredible difference in the lives of those we serve. As the end of the year approaches and we set our goals for 2024, we kindly invite you to consider contributing to Boquete Health & Hospice to support the vital programs and services we provide the community. Every donation, no matter the size, brings us one step closer to our goal. You can now make donations via our website with Visa and MasterCard, using their credit or debit cards, or by clicking on the button below. Please Donate October General Meeting Chris McCall Presents "What to Do When the Lights Go Out: Don’t be Left in the Dark—Illuminate Your World!" Join us Wednesday, October 11, from 10-11am at the Animales Event Center in Alto Boquete. Preregistration is not required and this event is free, though donations to support our work are gratefully accepted. When the lights go out, will you be ready? Join us for an enlightening lecture on “What to Do When the Lights Go Out: Don’t Be Left in the Dark." Discover a world beyond traditional lighting. Learn about diverse methods of illumination, from the rustic charm of oil lamps and candles, to the modern efficiency of generators, Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems, batteries, and even solar power. The information provided will help you select the best solution for your budget and lifestyle. Demystify the world of electricity with a simple explanation of AC/DC, volts, amps, and watts. Learn how to size your own systems to ensure you’re never left in the dark. But it’s not just about seeing in the dark. Light plays a crucial role in our well-being and health. Explore the importance of light beyond mere illumination. Join us and step into the light! With two decades of experience in off-grid systems, BHH volunteer and Technology Team Lead Chris McCall is a seasoned expert based in Chiriqui. His portfolio boasts the design of an impressive off-grid system for Rancho de Caldera, which includes 70 solar panels and a micro-hydro system. In addition, he has brought sustainable energy to four homes in Chiriqui, demonstrating his commitment to green living. Chris’s expertise extends beyond solar, encompassing generators, micro-hydro, and wind energy systems. His personal commitment to sustainable energy is evident in his own lifestyle, as he currently resides in a solar-powered home. Now retired, Chris shares his knowledge and experience without any commercial intent. His contributions to the field of off-grid systems continue to illuminate lives, one panel at a time. ACT NOW AND BE A HERO! Join our next Blood Drive on Saturday, October 21 and help us beat the record we set in June, when we collected 102 pints of blood, an all-time high for any blood drive in Panama! The blood drive will be held from 7am to noon at the Animales Event Center in Alto Boquete. Preregistration is strongly recommended. If you're interested in participating in the Blood Drive and/or joining the Matching Fund, please click the links below to sign up. For more information, contact blood@boquetehealth.org or send a WhatsApp text to the BHH blood line at 6590-2000. THANK YOU for giving the gift of life! Sign Up for the Blood Drive – English Sign Up for the Blood Drive – Spanish Sign Up for the Matching Fund October 21 Blood Drive BHH Celebrates these BLOOD DONOR HEROES! Why They Donated Blood at Our Last 8 Blood Drives As we lead up to the event, we're featuring individuals who have donated blood multiple times. In this issue, we'll share the stories of Carlos Kattengell and Chris Young. "I am grateful to God who has given me the opportunity to be a blood donor and to be able to help others. Besides, my blood type is not very common.” ~Carlos Kattengell It’s always great to see the community come together and donate blood, or those who aren’t eligible due to travel or age donate funds to keep it going! One blood donation has the potential of saving many lives.” ~Chris Young "Giving blood serves a lot of purposes! My main reason for doing so is it saves lives and allows me to give back to people who really need it. Imagine having one of the worst days of your life, being in a hospital, having everything available to survive your trauma except blood, and the stress of making phone calls, posting on social media and going through all that so you can find blood. The blood banks often are dry and this is the process many face to survive. There are other benefits; donating blood is very healthy, it’s like changing your oil in your car. It’s a silly analogy, but it’s true! And finally, my family and I are on the priority list to receive blood, if we ever need it. If you are eligible, I highly recommend it." ~Chris Young Watch this video about the upcoming Blood Drive on October 21 – English version. Watch this video about the upcoming Blood Drive on October 21 – Spanish version. Students and presenters from August 29-30 New Volunteer Orientation class (right to left): Dyana Fruto, Alain Antonio, Natalie Kelly, Maria Young, Meg Wilson, David Young, Daniel Gallagher, Jane Keener-Quiat, Kat McKay, Michael Polacek, Maria Pitti, Michael Kelly, Jeri Siegel, Rhonda Morrissette, and Liz Baze. Not shown: Sharon Spalding and Maxine Wolfe. BHH Graduates Largest New Volunteer Class Ever! The largest BHH New Volunteer Orientation Class ever was held on August 29-30. The newly redesigned and streamlined training afforded new volunteers the opportunity to learn more about our organization and the services that it provides so they can choose a team that will offer a rewarding volunteer experience. Participants also met team leaders and Council members and got to know their fellow new volunteers. Kudos to Max Wolfe, our Training Team Leader, and Kat McKay, VP – Operations, as well as several others, for their excellent work revising the program. And to our newest volunteers, a heartfelt THANK YOU for your dedication to helping others. Boquete Health & Hospice continues to grow and provide more services to the Boquete community, and as we do, more volunteers are needed. BHH is comprised of a diverse group of people of many ages and backgrounds who want to serve the community, use their skills, and meet new and interesting people. Our next New Volunteer Orientation is October 25-26. If you’d like to become a volunteer and attend the class, please complete a membership application here. We will contact you within a few days to discuss your interests and how we can work together. The “Earle-y” Years of BHH: John and Babbie Earle and Sixteen Years of Innovation in Community-Based Healthcare When John Earle stepped down as our President earlier this year to become President Emeritus, it marked the end of BHH’s first era, which might be called the “Earle-y" years. It was John and his wife Babbie who in the mid-2000s decided to form a hospice in Boquete. John and Babbie had been hospice volunteers and committee members in Vermont and New Hampshire (at one of the very first hospices in the US) for three decades. They were firm believers in death with dignity and the importance of palliative care for the dying. They were soon joined in their mission by friends Jerry Hedrick and Mary Feldbrugge, and together these four founded the Boquete Health and Hospice Foundation (BHHF). Mary was a lawyer and Jerry was also very helpful with the complicated legal aspects of setting up the foundation. “The Panamanian government had, and still has on the books, the National Palliative Care Resolution #499, which states that every province must have a palliative care center,” remembers Babbie. “We worked hard for years trying to find someone who knew about this law. It had not been implemented, and there was not even much knowledge about what palliative care was.” John says the concept of health support was added to the mission because there were many in the community who had little or no family in Boquete and who would need support on a temporary basis when ill or post-operative. “In this way Boquete Hospice and Health Foundation was created with two care missions,” says John. It didn’t take long for the founders to realize just how difficult it was going to be to establish a hospice in Panamá. It was a country where they were all living as foreigners, and where there was virtually no hospice tradition. Just conforming the concept to Panamanian law was a gigantic undertaking. “We arrived in Boquete in 1999,” Babbie recalls, “when there were about 30 expats here and most of us were without extended family and we wanted to support each other. We began researching to learn what customs and beliefs here influenced people’s view of death and dying. We also needed to learn what laws governed the establishment of a hospice here. The Panamanian cultural idea was that suffering in dying was often expected and accepted here. This was a belief that John and I hoped to dispel.” On November 26, 2007, having met all the requirements for legal operation, BHH was born. The fledgling organization’s first steps in early 2008 included identifying trainers; creating written materials and training modules for volunteers, administrators and the public; and raising public awareness of our mission. Early on, it became apparent that our group could also become an important source of information about death and dying in Panamá, as well as related medical and legal matters. Over the years this informational and educational function has only grown in importance. We now serve as a reputable source for the community on many topics. BHH also offers all our systems, knowledge, and written materials to any community in Panamá that wishes to start a hospice. The first training of volunteers was held in May 2008. Mary and the team had painstakingly created a training manual culled largely from generously donated US materials—which Mary had overhauled almost completely to conform to Panamanian law and local standards. They assembled a small team of talented trainers from their then much smaller expat community. John and Babbie supervised an inaugural group of 18 trainers and trainees. Beverly Stearns was our first training coordinator and did this job for many years. “The training attracted many people with backgrounds relevant to hospice. People shared their expertise and everyone learned a lot,” remembers Patient Care Coordinator Bev Tyler. “The plan was that members of the group would hit the ground running to create a home hospice when the need arose.” The group bought a cell phone and Bev began answering it. “One of our nurses knew an English-speaking obstetrician who agreed to be our medical director because he understood that we really needed him.“ As Bev recalls, “Hospice was a very foreign concept in Panamá and our medical director began to introduce it to the local doctors.” At that time, 18 volunteers were enough to attend to the needs of the much smaller expat community, and the organization had not yet begun outreach to the Panamanian population. As of Fall 2023, we have a roster of over 80 fully trained volunteers and we serve the entire greater district of Boquete. It was the decision of the founders to initiate care by focusing on the expat community first. It was simply too much work to replicate everything in Spanish, and John Earle thinks the organization may never have gotten off the ground if we had tried to do that from the start. Now things are quite different and almost everyone, expat or Panamanian, carries a cell phone with a translation app in their pocket or purse. Social media and machine translation have made it much easier for us to reach out to Panamanians in their native language. We’ve also done a better job of targeting our messages to people who don’t know what services we provide, or don’t realize we provide them to ANYONE who lives in our service area. The result of this outreach has been an organic growth in the number of Panamanian callers for our services—currently about half our callers are Panamanians. “We are the only hospice in the country,” John reminds us. “A talented, knowledgeable and devoted group of people have over the years created an organization dedicated to helping their neighbors through education, providing services, and being there to assist during some of the most vulnerable, intimate, and stressful times in life.” BHH’s services have expanded greatly. They now include providing home comfort such as food deliveries, running an informational website and social media pages, working with trained nurses, setting up a library, and purchasing medical equipment and loaning it out. We’ve also established our extremely important blood program, which includes holding two blood drives a year, and providing blood free of charge to all residents of the Boquete District. We’ve added our amazing music team and developed a regular schedule of public speakers and public trainings in CPR, preparing for the end of life, and other topics of interest. To better reflect our array of services, in 2021, the organization started calling itself Boquete Health & Hospice. While the official name remains Boquete Hospice and Health Foundation, we feel the new name is more inclusive of ALL our services. We don’t want people to think we are “only” about hospice. “Babbie and I are ever grateful for all the amazing people, too numerous to list, who have kept Boquete Health & Hospice alive and flourishing,” says John Earle. “Our hearts are filled with appreciation. The work of the organization has fulfilled and surpassed our original vision.” As Babbie says, “Not that we can plan our deaths, but we can all contemplate and incorporate various practices that might make our passing more peaceful for ourselves and our loved ones. John and I both felt it was a privilege to volunteer in hospices for forty years, both on various steering committees and sitting with patients.” John ends his reminiscence by expressing gratitude for all who have helped to implement his and Babbie’s vision. “We are heartened by the continual support of our volunteers, our board members, administrators, nurses, trainers, and donors—all of whom make up this wonderful organization. We are so pleased that BHH continues to make a wonderful, positive contribution to our community.” By Deb Hornstra Thanks to Our September Speaker, Dr. Sunny Roe! Boquete Health & Hospice was delighted to have Dr. Sunny Roe as the special guest speaker for this month’s meeting. Her presentation on “Caring for the Caregiver: What to Do When Overwhelm Takes Over” was very relevant for many of us as we are either caregivers now, have been at one time, or may be at some time in the future. The primary focus of Dr. Sunny's presentation was how to avoid becoming overwhelmed and staying healthy and strong to be able to care for loved ones. She also shared a a handout with important tips for relieving stress and improving mitochondrial health; click below to see it. Dr. Sunny concluded by saying, "Self-care is not optional if you want to have effective caregiving. You've got to put your own mask on and take care of yourself first, and I invite you to be grateful for the experience because there's no greater gift you can give to someone than your heart and your soul. " If you missed the meeting, click the link below to view Dr. Sunny's presentation on YouTube; a transcript is also available in YouTube description. Click for Dr. Sunny's Presentation Video Click for Dr. Sunny's Handout Farewell from Craig Gatrel and John Ferguson The farewell party held in August for Craig and John was packed with well-wishers, friends, and fellow volunteers. We will always be grateful for all Craig and John have done for BHH, and they will always hold a special place in our hearts. John and Craig asked us to share their thanks and it follows here: ¡Gracias por tres años maravillosos! We would like to thank everyone at Boquete Health & Hospice for our terrific going away party! We had such a good time seeing everyone and eating way too much food. It really was a wonderful way to say good-bye to everyone. Thank you for all of the hard work and time you put into making the party a truly memorable event. BHH has been an integral part of our lives while in Boquete, since we first moved here in the fall of 2019. Shortly after our arrival, Covid hit and we were locked down. It could have been a very lonely time as we knew no one. However, joining BHH in January 2020 allowed us develop contacts and make tremendous lasting friendships. Despite the lockdown precautions, we did not feel alone, as we knew we always had our BHH friends. BHH really made us feel like part of the community. BHH provides such a wonderful and much needed service to the local community. It has been exciting to watch it grow both in terms of the services it offers and the family culture it continues to nurture for volunteers. BHH is an amazing organization and family, which we are truly going to miss. We continue to wish BHH all the all the best for its success in the future. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of the BHH family! ¡Hasta luego! John & Craig Trivia Night at Tap Out Gains $355 for Oxygen Concentrators BHH was thrilled to receive the $355 in proceeds from Trivia Night recently for the repair and purchase of portable oxygen concentrators. which are in great demand in our community. We greatly appreciate the generous donations of the Trivia Night participants. And thanks, as always, to Brandy Minori, Trivia Night MC, for her support of BHH and so many other charitable organizations in Boquete! Volunteer and Help Your Community! What better way to learn about your new country and town than volunteering with the Boquete Health & Hospice organization? You will meet so many fun, dedicated people who will enrich your life tremendously. There are multiple opportunities with a wide variety of skills needed, but most of all, we want your smiling face and willingness to better the lives of all our neighbors, expat and Panamanian alike. Take a look at our current volunteer opportunities: If you have 2-4 hours a month to spare, the Respiratory team is for you! Members maintain and dispense oxygen concentrators at our equipment lockers and educate patient on the use of equipment. No medical background is necessary and training will be provided for all necessary duties. If you'd like to help coordinate training for our "Being Prepared for Emergencies and End of Life in Boquete" classes, the team could use your administrative and follow-up skills to deliver an important program that contains vital knowledge for Boquete Districts residents. Are you strong and able-bodied? Or do you own a truck? Or both? The Equipment teams could use your help to transport and set up the beds for hospice patients. Equipment loans and returns take 5-6 hours of time a month. The storage lockers are located at the Alto Dorado strip mall. Equipment and beds are maintained and cleaned before and after loans. Do you have expertise in writing, editing, or content creation for social media, websites, or newsletters? Or perhaps you have experience in graphics, fundraising/events, or donor relations. If so, put your skills to use as part of our Communications and Community Engagement teams. Do you speak Spanish and English? Bilingual volunteers for the Translation team are always needed to help make phone calls, help with translation for patients and volunteers, and translate written marketing and training materials. Volunteers may also help with hospice follow-up phone calls, thank you phone calls, and equipment recovery. If you enjoy meeting new people and have a talent for matching skills with needs, consider joining our Volunteer Coordination effort. You'll get to know potential volunteers and help match their backgrounds and interests with current opportunities, and ensure that volunteers have a rewarding experience with BHH. How to Apply for a Volunteer Role: Complete and submit a membership application, which can be found here. We will contact you within a few days to discuss your interests and how we can work together. The Magic of Music The Magic of Music Team not only has mini speakers available to lend to patients and caregivers, but also music players and a catalogue of music that contains over half a million songs! We can also build custom-tailored playlists which can help patients and their caregivers who contact Boquete Health & Hospice for assistance. To find out more about the Magic of Music team at BHH, visit our web pages and join the conversation with the Magic of Music Community Group on Facebook. Contact BHH via WhatsApp at +507 6781-9250 for assistance or to borrow a music player. Educational Videos BHH is happy to provide links to educational videos on our website. They provide excellent info for caregivers and the general public and are offered in Spanish and English. Topics cover the use of equipment, including crutches, wheelchairs, and walkers, how to move patients safely for the patient and caregiver, and general patient care. There are also informative videos on Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. To learn more, visit our website using the button below and go to Patient Caregiver Videos, Español Paciente Videos, or Dementia and Alzheimers in the dropdown menu under the Education tab. Videos Need Medical Equipment? If you or someone you know has a need to borrow or return equipment, please contact our patient care coordinators (PCCs) at 6781-9250. All requests related to equipment must go through the PCCs. The PCCs will work with you or the caregiver to determine the appropriate equipment, availability, and loan period. Once the equipment need is identified, the PCCs coordinate with the equipment team to ensure the correct equipment is sanitized and ready to be checked out (picked up) at our locker located at Alto Dorado. A member of the Equipment team will contact you or the caregiver directly to make arrangements to meet at our locker. Please note that our Equipment team members only go to the locker for scheduled equipment checkouts and returns. No Equipment team member is staffed at the locker, and the locker is only open during specific times. Therefore, it is important to contact the PCCs first. When you are ready to return equipment, the process is the same. Simply call the PCCs at +507 6781-9250. If you are using a piece of equipment for the first time, be sure to visit our website using the button below and go to Patient Caregiver Videos or Español Paciente Videos in the dropdown menu under the Education tab to learn more about using equipment and caring for patients in the home. Videos Please Return Loaned Equipment When You're Through! If you have equipment from BHH and are no longer using it, please call the main number at +507 6781-9250 and arrange to return it soon so it will be available to others in need. Tree of Life Boquete Health and Hospice gratefully recognizes the names of our extremely dedicated and very generous donors on our website. Their kindness keeps our Tree of Life growing and strong. A huge thank you to all of our contributors! Please Donate Council Business To bring topics to the attention of the Council for discussion, please send an email to Lorraine Handler, who will add it to the next monthly agenda. The Council will consider, discuss, and vote (if needed) on the topic and inform the membership as appropriate. Voting members of the Council are: President – Dr. Rod Gottula VP, Community Engagement – Natalie Kelly VP, Operations – Kat McKay Secretary – Lorraine Handler Treasurer – Bill Hinrichsen Patient Care Coordinator – Bev Tyler Patient Care Coordinator – Denise Daniels Patient Care Coordinator – Liz Baze Past President – John Earle Council minutes are now on the BHH website at BHH minutes. All future minutes will also be posted there. The policies of the organization are posted on our website and are updated as needed at BHH policies. We Respect Patient Confidentiality All patient information shared with any Boquete Health and Hospice volunteer is kept in the strictest confidence. When names are used in testimonials or other marketing materials, we have obtained permission from those mentioned. Contact Us Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm Saturday and Sunday, 9am to 1pm Hospice/Health: +507 6781-9250 Blood Donor Program: WhatsApp +507 6590-2000 or call +507 6781-9250 Email: info@boquetehealth.org Website: boquetehealth.org Check us out and like us at: Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube! Newsletter team: Natalie Kelly – Editor, Carol Jones – Proofreader, and Deb Hornstra – Features/Writer. Thanks to everyone who contributed their time and talent to this issue! Subscribe here to receive our monthly newsletter and send submissions to BHH newsletter.
  7. Crash Course Spanish Classes with Renny start on a Monday October 9th,2023, thru November 23rd, two days a week (Mon. & Wed.) It is a six-week class. This is a fun easy class. If there is any practice or homework, those with busy schedules will love having the option of doing them by email or Whats Ap at their convenience. _________________________ COST: $199 As many people know, Renny, a degreed professional, owned a language school in David under contract with the Panamanian Government giving classes for them, and also had one in Houston. She is now offering several levels of Spanish classes in Boquete, Basic Level,and Intermediate. These are professional instructions with an easy, clear curriculum and the correct sequencing of material. Location of the class is in Boquete All of the Spanish Classes are called Crash Course Spanish **** The first Basic class meets Mondays and Wednesdays 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 The Basic Classes will get you speaking fast! It shows how the language is organized, and teaches the tricks of the language, the basics: pronunciation, some important cultural notes, phrases, vocabulary, speaking; fluid short conversations, how to ask and answer questions. You will practice and share tips, create full sentences, and learn this trick, how to speak without conjugating verbs. Workbook is included. The Crash Course Intermediate Class **Class meets Mondays and Wednesdays 1:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. You will USE your acquired Spanish language! You will speak in class, get tips for learning to listen and respond, you will have short exchanges, pronounce the difficult, role play, learn word order, expand your vocabulary, and engage in specialized classes to gain better listening skills. You will speak every day, learn a higher use of some verbs without conjugating, create interesting sentences, listen to songs, conduct interviews, and give short speeches. Learn by doing. Each student will translate for someone. It's time to do better at understanding what Spanish speakers are saying BECAUSE… the class also engages in "Train your ear” as well as “Practicing Speaking”, all of this as you learn more and more Spanish fast; you build the confidence you need to converse with others. Workbook is included. Pre-requisite for the **Intermediate Class : you MUST be at the intermediate level of speech, no exceptions **Intermediate Class To enter this class the following will describe your level of speech: You respond to simple, direct questions or requests for information, can ask a few questions concerning needs and wants, and are able to express personal meaning by relying heavily on learned or re-combined phrases, repeating, or rephrasing what you hear around you. You know short and sometimes incomplete sentences in the present tense. At times you know you state things incorrectly but gain confidence because the Spanish speaker “got” what you were trying to say. You may be hesitant or inaccurate, whereby frequent misunderstandings arise. When called upon to handle a variety of topics and perform serious functions you operate at about a 40% to 50% success range, and can sometimes respond in intelligible sentences, but cannot sustain full sentence exchanges. You know the meanings/translations (not the conjugations) of at least 75 verbs. To express interest in this class, please respond to this information at the following email: rennykranich@gmail.com FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO THE WEBSITE: On the site, please click various topics on the left side of your screen. WEBSITE http://crashcoursespanishwithrenny.com CHECKOUT FACEBOOK TOO. Click: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Crash-Course-Spanish-with-Renny/752177804872882 ­ The class starts very soon. It’s time to set a valuable goal. Let’s get started! I can’t wait to meet you! -- Renny Boquete, República de Panamá
  8. Dear Boquete Weather Watchers: I posted the data for September 2023 at the website Climate Section and a new Boquete Weather Watcher Update No.174 at this link. The update discusses the Boquete weather for September 2023. Lloyd Cripe www.boqueteweather.com
  9. Demonstration Alert - U.S. Embassy Panama City, Panama Event(s): Mass protests related to the Minera Panama mining contract are expected this week in Panama City and other locations in the country. Protesters are currently gathering and planning to march from Iglesia del Carmen to the National Assembly in Panama City. This may disrupt the commutes of downtown residents. For tomorrow, October 3rd, major unions are calling for disruptions in Panama City which could result in several major street closures. On Thursday, October 5th, there is a possibility of further protests in conjunction with a complaint being filed against Minera Panama at the Attorney General’s Office. While most demonstrations are non-violent, the Panamanian National Police have used tear gas and/or riot control munitions in response to demonstrations, particularly when roadways are blocked, or aggression is used against the police.      Actions to Take:  Avoid demonstrations. Monitor local media for updates. Exercise caution if unexpectedly in the vicinity of large gatherings or protests.  Register for STEP (link below) and refer to our website for the latest alerts and messages for U.S. citizens.  For assistance: U.S. Embassy Panama City, Panama +507 317-5000 Panama-ACS@state.gov https://pa.usembassy.gov/   State Department - Consular Affairs +1 (888)407-4747 or +1 (202)501-4444   Panama Country Information Enroll in Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security updates Follow us on Facebook and Twitter   To unsubscribe from future messages please go to the following link: https://step.state.gov/STEP/Pages/common/Subscribe.aspx  
  10. Only 2 more performances. Get your tickets now to avoid disappointment. Book online at BoqueteTheater.com/ticketing, or purchase at the BCP Tuesday Market or Mailboxes Etc.
  11. Quetzal Cacao will be with us the first Tuesday of each month. I understand we can expect samples to taste!
  12. Be a HERO! Donate blood or if you can't Join the Matching Fund! Click Here to Donate Blood Click Here to Join the Matching Fund
  13. Extinction is the death of all members of a species. Today, more than 35,000 species are at risk of extinction and an estimated 150 species become extinct every day. This exhibition is about the current natural crisis that is causing the loss of biodiversity in Panama and the world. We invite you this Tuesday, October 3 at 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Boquete Library. BIOMUSEUM guide members will be available to take the explanatory tour in English.
  14. Volunteers Wanted – Make a Difference in the Boquete Community! Boquete Health and Hospice is looking for volunteers with training in the healthcare field. This is to help us accomplish our mission of providing comfort to those dying in our community, both ex-pat and Panamanian. Hospice is all about making the final days, weeks, and hours of a dying patient more comfortable, and helping their family and friends through the process. Helping someone to be free of pain, anxiety, and other uncomfortable symptoms at the end of life is a remarkable gift to give. Hospice has been the most rewarding experience that I've had in over 40 years of practicing medicine. I never ceased to be amazed at the thankfulness I have received from patients, family, and friends. At the life stories that were shared with me. At the acceptance that brought me into their family circle almost immediately. I realize that many of you will say, "I don't have any hospice experience." My response is, “You don't need any.” Your skills in the medical field, combined with the "on-the-job training," backup from the team, and a "hospice heart" are all that's needed. If you want to consider our organization as a way to give back to the wonderful community we live in, send me an email at rodgottula@gmail.com . I will get back to you to discuss or meet with you in person. Thank you for your kind consideration, Rod Gottula, MD President, Boquete Health and Hospice
  15. Tickets available at the door, or from Mailboxes Etc. Also online at Boquetetheater.com/ticketing and next Tuesday at BCP Tuesday Market Review by Mark Heyer The Tin Woman BCP at The Rock Fri/Sat 5 PM, Sun 2 PM �This week and next week Have you ever been to a movie so affecting that the audience didn’t want to leave the theater when it was over? So it was at the Thursday final dress rehearsal for The Tin Woman, the latest creation of our BCP director par excellence, Gabrielle Reynolds. Sparkling performances by the entire cast bring this emotional story to life with poignant humor and heartfelt compassion. Not to be missed. While all of the performances were outstanding, I have to call out the lynchpin part of Alice, played by Holly Carr. Her part as the mother of a young woman killed in a car accident, whose heart is transplanted into another young woman, is right in her wheelhouse, and boy, does she deliver. Every member of the cast is exceptional in their part. Just like we did last night, you will be cheering and clapping for each of them as they make their curtain calls. Talking about their parts too much would give away the plot, so let me mention them by name. Kicking off the story, Maya Gonzales lights up the stage in a hilarious sendup of the peripatetic nurse from hell. Michelle Moore takes the lead role and takes us on a splendid roller coaster ride of emotional catharsis. Pam McDonald is always a delight to watch and is emerging as one of Gabriella’s troupe of local superstars. Kathy Reeser is perfect with her energetic “always look on the bright side” role, and Renee Miller is an ethereal and very well done presence throughout. Finally but hardly least, Patrick Reynolds, a veteran actor and the only male in the cast, provides the perfect foil for the plot as the angry, depressed, and acerbic father of the accident victim. To sum it up, high quality serious community theater is happening in Boquete - thanks to the tireless efforts of Gabriella and Patrick Reynolds, and their dedicated crew of sound engineers, set builders, and the lovely and very pleasant theater provided by The Rock. The magic of community theater is seeing people you know, your friends and neighbors, performing like professionals right in front of your eyes. You too can volunteer and help build this community enterprise. Whatever your chosen role, you will make new friends and take pride in your accomplishments. Only you can put the community in community theater. In the meantime, come out and see this excellent play.
  16. What a wonderful opportunity to enjoy music and support talented children! On Saturday, October 7 at 4:00 p.m. In the event hall of the Boquete Library, the San Miguelito Children's Choir of Singing Girls, from Panama City, and the Boquete Children's' Singing Choir, will come together to offer a magnificent presentation with their great voices. Come and enjoy this unique musical show. It will be an unforgettable event, with free entry... don't miss it!
  17. THE STUDIO at THE HAVEN WELLNESS RESORT & SPA Below you will find our updated Weekly Class Schedule, valid from Oct 1 - Dec 31. Check out our newest offerings... including "Dance For You" with Rhonda & Seth Johnson, an inclusive dance class to get fit and have fun! Other updates include a NEW time for Alejandra's sexy "Floorwork Dance" class on Thursday, and Tania's addition of "Yin Yoga" on Wednesday morning! Also Suzanne is back with "Yoga Sculpt", combining yoga with hand-weights. As always, Joy teaches "Gentle Yoga" five days a week, and Stephanie continues with "Breath & Flow" and "Strength & Balance". And don't forget, Kevin's excellent "Tai Chi & Chi Gong" classes, twice a week! ... and much more. You may find more information, including class descriptions on our website: studiohavenboquete.com - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - WEEKLY CLASS SCHEDULE - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - MONDAY 8:00 am --- Power Yoga w/ Alejandra 9:30 am --- Gentle Yoga w/ Joy 10:40 am --- Guided Meditation (45 min) w/ Joy 12:30 pm --- Dance For You w/ Rhonda & Seth TUESDAY 8:00 am --- Yoga Fit w/ Joy 9:30 am --- Gentle Yoga w/ Joy 11:00 am --- Breath & Flow Yoga w/ Stephanie 12:30 pm --- Tai Chi & Chi Gong w/ Kevin 5:30 pm --- Vinyasa Yoga w/ Stephanie WEDNESDAY 8:00 am --- Yin Yoga w/ Tania 9:30 am --- Gentle Yoga w/ Joy 11:00 am --- Ashtanga Yoga w/ Joy 12:30 pm --- Dance For You w/ Rhonda & Seth THURSDAY 8:00 am --- Power Yoga w/ Alejandra 9:30 am --- Gentle Yoga w/ Joy 11:00 am --- Breath & Flow Yoga w/ Stephanie 12:30 pm --- Tai Chi & Chi Gong w/ Kevin 4:00 pm --- Floorwork Dance w/ Alejandra 5:30 pm --- Vinyasa Yoga w/ Alejandra FRIDAY 8:00 am --- Yoga Fit w/ Joy 9:30 am --- Gentle Yoga w/ Joy 10:40 am --- Guided Meditation (45 min) w/ Joy 12:30 pm --- Dance For You w/ Rhonda & Seth SATURDAY 9:30 am --- Yin Yoga w/ Tania 11:00 am --- Strength & Balance Yoga w/ Stephanie All Weekly Classes are 60 minutes. Mats & props available. Reservations are NOT required. Class cards are valid for any weekly class, and must be used before their expiration date. Weekly Class Prices: $10 Resident; $12 Visitor; or buy in bulk to save (5-classes $40; 10-classes $75)... and Haven Members receive additional discounts. 45-minute Guided Meditation: $5.00 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - THE STUDIO is the premier place for Yoga, Exercise & Wellness, located in The Haven Wellness Resort & Spa, in Bajo Boquete. https://studiohavenboquete.com Thank you for your interest! Follow us on FaceBook & Instagram to stay connected. Any questions? Reply to this email. Joy 🙂
  18. Electricity is the Lifeblood of Modern Civilization! We rely on electricity to communicate with each other, to keep hospitals and medical equipment running, to provide light for safe neighborhoods and to help us navigate in the dark avoiding falling and accidents. Chris McCall installed solar and hydro at Rancho de Caldera in 2005. He has done several other solar projects in Chiriqui. He met his wife when he installed a solar system for her off grid beach house. Chris is now retired so this is not an infomercial. He wants to educate you so you can make informed choices and decisions. He has previously given lectures on alternative energy here in Boquete and at Burning Man.
  19.  Food, Fun, and More! Hello Big Daddy's followers, my peeps! Get ready for an epic weekend at Sabores de Boquete, and guess what? Big Daddy's Grill will be there, serving up your favorite dishes at a sweet discount! 🍔🎉 Come on down and enjoy live music, scrumptious food, and non-stop entertainment. Plus, our awesome team from Inclusion Boquete will be on hand to lend a helping hand while you savor our mouthwatering eats and drinks. Here are the deets: 🗓️ Saturday September 30: 11 AM to Midnight 🗓️ Sunday October 1: 1 PM to 9 PM It's gonna be a blast, and we can't wait to share this weekend with you. Don't miss out on the fun at Sabores de Boquete - see you there! If you want more info about the event click below 👇 CLICK HERE Join us on social Copyright (C) 2023 Big Daddy's. All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. Our mailing address is: Big Daddy's Bajo Boquete Boquete Panama
  20. Get your hands on our House Blend Coffee at Sugar and Spice. We are not joking when we say this is one of the best dark coffees you will ever taste. 😍 With this blend of Catuai, Caturra, Typica, and Geisha, you will experience brown sugar, toffee, hazelnut, and dark chocolate notes in every cup. Don't wait. Get a bag of our House Blend at Sugar and Spice and become part of our Morning Movement family. ☺ -- Erick Falck The Morning Movement Coffee Phone: +507 6410-5444 Website Instagram
  21. U.S. Citizen Consular Services in Boquete – October 16, 2023 The U.S. Embassy in Panama is pleased to announce that representatives from the Consular Section will visit Boquete to offer limited services. Please review the information below and follow the link provided to request an appointment. We will offer limited U.S. passport renewal and notarial services. These will be held at the Boquete Library on Monday, October 16th, from 12:00–16:30. Only the following types of consular services will be offered, and by confirmed appointment only: üPassport application for minor (less than 16-years-old) with a previous U.S. passport üPassport application for first-time adult (16-years-old and older) with a previous U.S. passport üReplacement of a lost/stolen U.S. passport üRenewal of a U.S. passport that cannot be mailed in (e.g., changes of data) üNotarial - submission of a non-applying parent consent form (DS-3053) üNotarial - foreign driver's license validation üNotarial - U.S. social security administration related. üNotarial - income statement (for Panamanian residency purposes) Please submit your request for one of the above consular services through this LINK. Once all spaces are taken, the form will be closed. We look forward to seeing you! To unsubscribe from future messages please go to this link.
  22. Book your tickets at BoqueteTheater.com/ticketing
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