| Date: | November 3, 2022 | Location: | Casa de España, San José |
- Chuck indicated that our current bank balance was $1,642.53, the same as reported at our last meeting.
- Chuck also indicated that he had spoken with a friend from the American Colony Committee (ACC), Grace Godman. She has agreed to donate to us the remainder of their kitty in the near future. Chuck was asked by Ervin if he knew how much was being donated and Chuck answered that he did not know the figure.
- Chuck continued to say that the Archish was started around 1955. The Women’s Club which was started around 1974 no longer exists. The American Legion Post#10 is still alive due to the loyalty of the members present. The Marine Corp League Warriors, as they now call themselves, have decided to not hold the Formal Marine Corp Ball for many reasons.
- Andy Pucek, the Marine Corps League Warriors Commander, in response to this news will hold a picknick, at his home in Heredia. Currently, the MCLW meets in Santa Ana at the Tap House on the 2nd Saturday of the month and usually gets between 12-15 people coming to their monthly meetings. They seem more disciplined and often come in wheelchairs and canes to their meeting.
- Matt Lopes asked Chuck if he had received the new membership cards from Mel Goldberg. Chuck indicated that he had spoken to Bill Shetz, the Department Commander, who told him that Mel should have the cards. Mel indicated that he does have the cards. Chuck will have to go to Mel’s home to get the membership cards.
- Matt mentioned that November 11, 2022 is Veteran’s Day and he wanted us to remember and honor this day as best we can. Matt had not heard anything from the US Embassy or IBC Church. Craig indicated that he has a friend who usually hears about Veteran’s Day evens from the British Embassy and he hasn’t any news to report.
- Pat Kilburn mentioned that he wanted to discuss some issues which were in previous minutes regarding immigration. When someone becomes a naturalized citizen, they already have a Naturalization Certificate, which allows them the right to vote. They have already taken a test and passed it before they receive their Naturalization Certificate. The only exception to their American status is that they cannot be is President of the United States of America. Matt indicated that in the older minutes there had been a long discussion concerning citizenship and pensions from SSI. Pat reiterated that according to SSI, a foreign national has to have been married to an American for a minimum of 10 years which allows the spouse to receive a pension. Pat indicated that before he departed Costa Rica, he and Mel Goldberg had gone to the American Embassy and were told that Totalization, the process wherein a Costa Rican citizen married to an American does not have to return to the USA to maintain their pension benefits. He had expected that the Totalization process would be completed before he returned to the USA. We were unaware if the Totalization Process had been executed in 2020. Matt indicated he would send a letter to the US Embassy here asking about Totalization.