Circular No 1029

 

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

Caracas, 22 of August 2021. No. 1029

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Dear Friends,

This is the fourth issue for August.

I have reconnected with my classmate Anthony Johnson, AKA Gabby.

Do not forget to collaborate.  At the end of this issue, you will find the instructions on where to send your writings and also, it is important to send funds.  I know your limitations.

A message from Anthony Johnson, class of 1960:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYJ21TR-U6A

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Tony Johnson <jogncpa@gmail.com>

Mon, Sep 6 at 2:00 PM

Ladislao and Nigel,

I have offered to help Team George raise some funds to help our less fortunate brothers still living in Venezuela. 

Attached is a letter which I propose sending by email to all Old Boys in our database. 

I see the spreadsheets break them down into groups by years attended at Mount.

I think it would be more effective if I sent a separate email to each class with a class photo included. 

Without mentioning the names of the brothers who need help, if I saw a class photo reminding me of those from Venezuela I would be more willing to make a pledge.

Can either of you send me class photos for each class over the years? 

Thanks,

Tony

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Dear Alumni from Mt St. Benedict,

He Ain’t Heavy Father, He’s my Brother (fom old movie “Boys Town”- worth watching)

As some of you may know 13 of our brothers living in Venezuela are going through a very difficult time in their lives. 

Through no fault of their own they cannot adequately provide for themselves or their families.

We are looking for 80 Alumni from MSB who may be willing to pledge $100 per year towards the welfare of our brothers residing in Venezuela. 

Your promise of $100 per year will enable us to send $50 per month to each of the 13 in Venezuela. 

That my friends will make a huge difference to them.

As further incentive to get your help, I am pleased to say that an anonymous donor has undertaken to match the first 25 Alumni who pledge $100 per year. 

Effectively this will double your contribution for the first year. 

Please reply by email indicating your willingness to help. 

Of course, pledges greater than $100 will be accepted and who knows, through your generosity we may be able to increase the monthly allowance to more than $50 per brother.

Please read on for more information about the history of “Team George”, the situation in Venezuela, and a profile of our 13 bothers there.

The History of “Team George”

George Mickiewicz attended The Abbey school from 1956 to 1962.

He lived in Venezuela 1947 to 1963 when he migrated to the US. 

He now lives in Tennessee.

In 2017 he learned about the plight of 16 Old Boys in Venezuela. 

Two have fled the country and one has since died.

George donated his own money and started “Team George”. 

He now relies on his own family, some friends and colleagues from work and college as well as three Old Boys to raise funds for the cause.

Over the years Team George has raised over $16,000 and currently they are struggling to send $50 per month to each of 13 brothers.

George has found a way to send the funds to an associate in Venezuela who disperses to the 13.

They need our help.

Profile of our 13 brothers

The brothers are from the following graduating classes at Mount:

Class of 1960 - 1

Class of 1964 - 1

Class of 1966 - 1

Class of 1967 - 1

Class of 1968 - 3

Class of 1969 - 1

Class of 1971 - 2

Class of 1972 - 1

Class unknown - 2

Most of them are supporting a family. 

Three of them have recovered from Covid. 

Many of them are still waiting to be vaccinated. 

One of them (not included in the above count) was on dialysis and died when the medical facility ran out of medicine and supplies for treatment. 

At least one of them does not have a phone.

Following sums up their feeling about leaving the country. ““CANNOT IMAGINE UPROOTING MY LIFE AT THIS STAGE AND STARTING ALL OVER AGAIN IN ANOTHER COUNTRY.”  Remember these guys are all close to our age.

What $50 per month means to them- in their own words

This is what Miguel from Caracas-Venezuela can do with the USD 50 contribution:

I buy food and medicines. I cannot buy anything else because of the high inflation rates which are growing every month.  If I wouldn't have your contribution I would be in very serious problems. At least, with those USD 50 I can go to the market. 

Again, and forever THANK YOU SO MUCH, Miguel

Thanks to the aid I receive monthly I'm able to buy medicines for my blood pressure problems and food, without the aid that we receive thanks to you all I don't know how could manage, in a normal situation if you buy one you can't have the other, everyday things are getting harder.  The cost of a dollar changes every day, 9am is a price then at 1pm is another. everyday life is getting harder to reach hygiene products, clothing etc.  Thanks a lot to all those who makes this blessing possible, God bless all of you; yours Alfredo

Meaning to me and my family of the $50. With your help we have been able to buy necessary basic food, such as: Rice, Flour, pasta, egg carton, coffee and sugar and some medicine or diapers for adults in the case of my wife who is 2 years ago in sick bed. I thank you for the contribution to this help and I hope that you will be multiplied in abundance for the people who make this gesture of help possible. God bless y’all.

For my family and me the $50 of the help I receive from you today means here in Venezuela, being able to have a better standard of living since with the minimum salary here it is impossible to live ($0.80 cents) and with the salary of $3 it is impossible to acquire the basic food basket that has a value of $40)

With the help I can buy the food for the month, pay for the basic services and school of my youngest child who started this month to study 3rd year of high school.  I am extremely grateful to George and his Team for their help and may God bless and protect them always by covering them with the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ……. Adolfo

The Situation in Venezuela

Hyperinflation between 2016 and 2019 was 53,798,500 % - per Central Bank of Venezuela.  This means the equivalent of US$1,000,000 in a bolivar savings account in 2016 would be worth 47 cents in 2019.

Following is from “Hanke”s Annual Misery Index for Countries 2020:

#1 Venezuela Misery Index 3,827

#2 Zimbabwe Misery Index 547

#3 Sudan Misery Index 194

#4 Lebanon Misery Index 177

Note #1 Venezuela is almost 7 times worse that #2

Per 2019 UN Report 6.3% of children under 5 were acutely malnourished, 13.4% were stunted and 30% were anaemic.  Also 24 % of women between 15 and 49 were also anaemic.

“Maduro Diet” - Venezuelans Are Eating Cats, Dogs, Donkeys, Horses, Birds, Reptiles, Insects, Etc. To Survive

Continued power outages

“BACK TO THE FUTURE” – AS GASOLINE IS UNAVAILABLE – UP TO 4 DAY WAITING LINES – FROM A COUNTRY THAT HAS THE HIGHEST RESERVES IN THE WORLD…. WHERE GASOLINE COST <1 PENNY PER GALLON WHEN WE LIVED THERE – From one of our brothers

VENEZUELA’S OIL SECTOR IS GRINDING TO A HALT - For the first time in a century, there are no rigs searching for oil in Venezuela….and pristine gorgeous beaches are being polluted due to equipment failures – NY Times

Things here in Venezuela are worse, the devaluation is the greatest beast we must fight, prices are changed every day. In my particular opinion I think it will be much worse after the assembly elections due that the government will take charge all the institutions and they will do whatever they consider to consolidate their socialism, they will expropriate houses and will become the owners of everything. The suffering and the restrictions we are having will be worse than before – From one of our brothers

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From: "Michael Azar" <azargroup@myexcel.com>

Date: 31 Mar 19:10 (PST)

Hi ladislao,

just called both numbers one says not in service and the other has been disconnected.

please let me know if you have another number

God Bless,

Michael

----- Original Message --------------------------------------------

From: "Ladislao Kertesz" <lkertesz2@icqmail.com>

To: <azargroup@myexcel.com>

Sent: Monday, March 31, 2003 6:37 PM

Dear Michael

Please can you contact Gaby, he has been off the line for nearly one year.

Hope that the problem is only his excessive work.

Boxhead has been trying to contact him with no success.

I am sure you can do us the favour and please tell me any problems that I might have caused by my regular? circulars.

I cannot think anything else, except for work, hope it is not health.

God bless

Ladislao

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Tony Johnson <jogncpa@gmail.com>

Sat, Aug 28 at 12:19 PM

Dear Ladislao,

This is Anthony Johnson (Gabby). 

After abandoning the MSB Old Boys for many years I was recently contacted by George Mickiewicz.

He has kindly sent me some of your recent circulars and I have spent some time catching up with what is going on with the Old Boys.

One of the things I learned is how bad the situation is for the Old Boys living in Venezuela. 

I have offered to try to help Team George with fundraising. 

So, wish us luck.

Thanks to you, Nigel, George and the others for working so hard to keep the Old Boys in touch with each other. 

Now that I have a little more time on my hands, I will do my best to be a more loyal member of the group.

Tony

Anthony L. Johnson, CPA

916-804-8833

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Caracas, 27 of July 2001.

Dear Anthony

I have a friend who told me that the Moffats were from St.Lucia.

I am glad for Mac Seheult.  Good job.

What happened to Richard Galt, has he moved from Florida?

I shall scan a passport photo for the next time, or my local driver’s license!

The photo is of the Venezuelan boys, maybe someone would have the other kids, but it is slow, please open a page for them.

The swimmer is my daughter Viki (12), she is very active, and I am active also as transport and baggage handler, towel keeper etc.

She does all styles and is good in all styles, to the point that she gets the best swimmer cup of her age without winning in any special style.

The last time she had three second places and won the gold cup.

The rules did not allow her to swim one of the styles.

Last Monday I met Pablo Kecskemeti and Hector Ahow in Puerto La Cruz, 1967 kids!

Slowly the MSB local fans are wakening up!  But no photos.

I tried to make contact with your brother Bernard, but his e-mail seems to be down.

The hardest would seem to be the Guyanese, Michael King, and Egan Baichoo.  The name of Egan does not seem right.

God bless

Ladislao

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Anthony Johnson CPA, did his undergraduate work at Benedictine College and attended graduate school at Kansas State University.

He spent eleven years with the International firms of Peat Marwick Mitchell & Co. and Coopers & Lybrand before starting his own practice in 1978.

He is a sole practitioner in Carmichael, CA, handling all types of individual and corporate tax matters. 

Unlike most CPA's, Tony spends most of his professional time writing material and lecturing to other tax professionals.

Tony has been involved with Gear Up, Inc., traveling throughout the States to lecture to approximately 10,000 professionals each year. 

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Student Comments on Anthony Johnson´s seminars:

This is my second GRI class. I have 14 years in the business and have attended many seminars. College classes etc. on real estate. These 2 classes have been by far the very best!!! Both instructors, I would guess are in the top of their field of knowledge. (This was taxes, the last was finance) Both were extremely knowledgeable about their subject matters. They both knew very detailed items and handled very complicated questions. I've never said this about real estate classes, but I got every dollar I've paid for these classes. Thank you very much! – Course 113, Cupertino 1/28/2003

Very interesting course, for a "CPA". I expected a boring and dull lecture, but the instructor was the exact opposite. He kept everyone involved and interested. – Course 113, Cupertino 1/28/2003

           

Best tax seminar I have ever attended. Thanks Tony! – Course 113, Monterey 4/19/2002

           

Excellent class! Tony made the subject of Property law and exchanging come alive with his examples. In addition, I am able to imagine how I can better serve my clients and make more money by heightening my clients awareness of this area. – Course 113, Monterey 4/19/2002

           

Very informative. Great energy. Great class. Great teacher. – Course 113, Cupertino 1/23/2001 

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Johnson, Anthony –

I now go by "Tony" I live in Sacramento, CA where I am an accountant.

My wife Peggy and I are the proud parents of six boys and two granddaughters.

One of my claims to fame is that my son is a pole vaulter and has twice represented St. Lucia at the Olympics.

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EDITED by Ladislao Kertesz,  kertesz11@yahoo.com,  if you would like to subscribe for a whole year and be in the circular’s mailing list or if you would like to mention any old boy that you would like to include, write to me.

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Photo:

10LK0001OSE, Owen Serrette

08LK0316FBGBRFAM, Giuseppe Braggio

01LK0010FAL, Fr. Francis Alleyne

87LK7432FBCGO Christopher Gonsalves