American Fair

Because the odds of a rainy day on any given Fourth of July are so high in Panama, it is traditional for The American Society of Panama to hold its annual picnic during the dry season instead. Almost always these events have taken place at the US Ambassador's Residence on La Cresta. Panama has a large gringo community , that we know. Nobody precisely knows how many US citizens there are here, in part because there is a large cultural gradation among the dual US-Panamanian citizens, in part because a lot of Americans here don't have any contact with the embassy or consulate, in part because the Puerto Ricans among us vary in their self-definitions and for myriad other reasons. Another thing we know is that, for whatever reasons, most of this country/s American community is not active in The American Society of Panama.

Thus US Ambassador Linda Ellen Watt, the closest thing that the gringos resident on the isthmus have to a community spokeswoman by virtue of her position and her disposition, has expanded the annual American Society picnic into an American Fair, at which dozens of organizations that are of or well connected to the American community will participate. This year it will be hot dogs and hamburgers and fun as usual, butthere will also be tables at which people in the community can get connected to the various groups.

The event will take place at The US Ambassador's Residence on La Cresta on Saturday, January 31 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

As you are doubtlessly aware, this takes place at a time when Americans everywhere live under threat of attack by Osama bin Laden's minions, so for security reasons you must present a US passport to attend.

Parking for the event will be at the Hosanna Temple, which is a short walk away from the ambassador's residence.

The following is an incomplete list of the organizations that will be participating, partial because there are new groups signing up every day:

American Chamber of Commerce
American Citizen Services, US Embassy
The American Legion
The American Society
ANCON
Artguilders Association
Association of the US Army
Panama Audubon Society
Balboa Academy
Balboa Yacht Club
Balboa Union Church
Ballbangers
British Aid Society
Corozal Cemetery
Crossroads Bible Church
Democrats Abroad
Diablo Spinning Club
The Elks Lodge
First Baptist Church Balboa
Gamboa Union Church
Girl Scouts
Habitat for Humanity
Historical Society of Panama
International Human Development Corporation
Interamerican Women's Club
International School of Panama
Kiwanis Club of Panama
La Cresta Sailing Team
Lions Club of Panama
Masonic Community
Methodist Church
Mormon Church
Mujeres Colonenses en Camino (MUCEC)
National League of American Pen Women
Navy League
Panama Canal Quilters
Panama Canal Yacht Club
Panama Info
The Panama News
Peace Corps
Pedro Miguel Boat Club
Public Affairs Office, US Embassy
Republicans Abroad
Ronald McDonald Foundation
Rotary Club
Abou Saad Shrine
Smithsonian Foundation
Sojourners Masonic Lodge
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
St. Luke's Episcopal Church
St. Mary's Parish Church
Teatro en Circulo
Theatre Guild of Ancon
VFW
Who's New
Youth With a Mission

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Esther Maduro
The Panama News readers's survey
Worldwide effort against violence

community

The first American Fair