Tank Tops Flip Flops Newsletter edition no. 83

 Here we are again coming up on the holidays and all there is to say is ‘Tis the Season!

As most of you know, Michael Simons’ BIG annual Party went down this last Sunday and as always it was the BASH OF THE YEAR!  Nothing like spending quality time eating and drinking with 600 of your best friends.  Check out the video of the party here

This year – instead of bringing a bottle of wine or booze – everyone brought new toys to give to the Toys for Tots program sponsored by the Guanacaste Veterans Association and the Marine Corp League of Costa Rica.  When it was all said and done hundreds of toys were collected and given to the less privileged kids of the local area.  It was such a success that Toys for Tots will become a fixture at Michael Simons annual party.

Here is the thank you letter sent out to all those that helped in the Toys for Tots effort:

Hi All

A big thank you to all who were involved in the Costa Rican Marine Corps League Toys for Tots program and implemented in the Guanacaste area by the Guanacaste Veterans Association. Thank you to everyone who donated toys and money for this worthwhile project.  

We successfully provided toys and snacks to three schools, two day care facilities and an orphange. It was a rousing success to put it mildly.  

Let me start by thanking the Toys for Tots committee of Debbie, Larry, Nancy, Lee Rhea, Chip and Dan.  Thank you for your hard work and devotion to the Project.  You guys were just awesome. 

Another thanks to Dan for his unending support of the Guanacaste Veterans Association and providing us a place for sorting, staging and storing the toys, as well as, storage for all of the food.  

Next, thank you to all of  the organizations that allowed us to put a collection box in their place of business.  A very special thank you to Micheal Simons of RE/ MAX for his effort in providing us with hundreds of toys. 

Thank you to Tico Bakery for providing us with cupcakes free of charge for our parties at the schools. 

Last, but certainly not least, a thank you to one of our members, Rusty Norman, also a member of the Costa Rican Marine Corps League for introducing us to the Toys for Tots Project. 

His encouragement and faith in us to make the project go was most helpful.

Thanks, Lee

Speaking of local kids – This week we threw a big BBQ party at the Playa Panama Cacique Grade School.  The kids just finished classes prior to going to Christmas Break.  You know kids love a good Burger, Chips and of course a big bag of candy to top it off.  Check out the video of the party here

So when you are shoveling snow in your driveway so your house guests can come and drink egg nog next to the Christmas Tree – Think about kicking back with us down in Pura Vida land and meeting new friends and creating new traditions.  Tis the Season – Costa Rica style.

COME ON DOWN BABY!

The Costa Rica army ceased to exist on December 1st, 1948.  On that momentous day, it was formally written into the constitution that Costa Rica would no longer have a military.  We are incredibly happy to live in a country that made the wise decision 67 years ago to abolish all it’s military forces and instead spend the windfall on public works and education.

The result is a well educated, peaceful country with a solid base to move forward in what has increasingly become a violence plagued world.

Why do you think the country has been voted over and over the ‘Happiest Place on Earth’ and the informal slogan for the entire nation is ‘Pura Vida!’

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stated that “for decades, Costa Rica has been a worldwide example in rejecting unnecessary military expenditures. Instead, the country bravely invested in health and universal education. The result has been less inequality and greater social peace. ”

The image of a military parade with thousands of soldiers displaying their weapons and equipment is unknown to Costa Rica.

Costa Ricans have never seen a war tank or a warplane on their territory. Costa Ricans will always aspire to carry schoolbooks rather than a rifle.

Costa Rica abolished the death penalty in 1877 and has continued over the years to follow it’s ideals reflected in the present day proposal for the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) that Costa Rica, with a group of like-minded nations, has put forward. The Treaty has been ratified by 50 nations.

So lift your glass and help us celebrate 67 years since the Costa Rica army was abolished!

COME ON DOWN BABY!

Check out the Full Op Ed Column in the Tico Times written one year ago by Costa Rican Foreign Minister Manuel A. González Sanz.

Tank Tops Flip Flops Newsletter edition no. 82