Saturday, 23 November 2019

Circular No 942






Newsletter for alumni of The Abbey School, Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.
Caracas, 23 November 2019 No. 942
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Dear Friends,
From our friend Wilson Salah, an oldie, 2011.
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Kazim Abasalito Mt St Benedict Abbey Boys Int'l
Guys, how can we build on this idea that Gabe Faria shared with us? Although Robert Dumas is about to start his treatment, we can still contribute. I am willing to be part of this in collaboration with those of us in the Group who have more influence with the media and those who are willing to be guest speakers in the media shows. I believe as Gabe shared, it is a wonderful human interest story, and can draw more of our Brothers to join us when this is broadcasted in the different media outlets.
Is this something we can coordinate together?
This is the email from Gabe Faria to us:
“I think the idea of doing a series of interviews on the various morning shows on the work the group is doing on supporting the old boys in Venezuela would have legs now,
I think some images which were on the document circulated which shows how many Venezuelans were here going to school 50+ years ago plus the fact that the old boys who have dispersed all over the world are still in touch and supporting their fellow school mates.
It also be good to highlight some of the old boys who have contributed positively to the country or build businesses, politicians, also those have made a mark outside of Trinidad
Anthony Lucky
Dennis Gurley
Harry Stauble
Colm Imbert, hmm well maybe not
Richard Hacksaw: successful insurance business
And, of course, so many more that don’t come to mind now
It would also make a good human interest story on the papers.
The benefit would be to attract old boys who have lost touch or don’t even know about the group. It would also attract persons who are not part of the network and wish to offer some support to the cause.
The right spin could give the effort some new legs.
Regards
Gabe”
“I, Kazim, sort of created an initial framework of the "MSB Abbey School Boys Human Interest Story" Project.
We would need to edit this as we see fit. I started something we can work from, it is just some thoughts to consider. It is not written in stone. It needs developing. Gabe is a person who has been involved in the media industry and can be effective in this regard to reach out to the media talk shows.
This document is also attached to this email.
MSB Abbey School Boys Human Interest Story
Guest Presenters on Media Talk Shows
(On behalf of our Boys)
1] Gabe Faria
2] Dr. George Laquis
Joe Berment [Joseph McDowald-Berment] Joe shared with me that he does not have the time to commit to this project at present.
Materials to present
Photos of our Boys while at College together.
Photos of our Boys after College together – Reunions.
Photos of the above to be used on TV Screens during Media Interview.
Ladislao Kertesz from Venezuela to be noted as Group Creator [year started - ?]
Photo of Ladislao Kertesz
Notable MSB Abbey School Boys over the years
Besides our Presenters Gabe Faria, Dr. George Laquis
Anthony Lucky
Dennis Gurley [Lawyer. Received silk in Dec 2011]
Don Mitchell
Nigel Boos
Arthur Knaggs
Harry Stauble
Richard Hacksaw: Successful Insurance Business
Roger Ames:
[Roger Ames was appointed chairman and chief executive officer of Warner Music Group in August 1999, four months after he was appointed President of Warner Music International. Upon leaving the Warner Music Group in August 2004 Mr Ames was appointed senior advisor to Time Warner and to EMI Music. Mr Ames began his career in the music industry with EMI UK in 1975. In 1979, he joined PolyGram UK and in 1993 he was named Chairman and CEO of PolyGram UK, responsible for all of PolyGram’s activities in Ireland and the UK. Ames was named executive vice president of PolyGram and president of the PolyGram Music Group in 1996.]
Jon Golding
Dr. Ken Austin
David De Castro “THE BANDIT”
Vernon de Lima [Criminal lawyer. Received silk in Dec 2011]
Msgr. Michael J. de Verteuil
Dion Fakoory
Hugh Henderson
Roger Henderson
Colm Imbert
Dr. Kamal Khan
Basil Carlos [B.C.] Pires
Paul QuesnelBernard Tappin
Anthony [Salah] Wilson
‘Boys’, kindly share your thoughts with us, please. “
George Mickiewicz shared this with us:
“Some great ideas/proposals/actions have been brought forth and they are greatly appreciated.
I will gladly help as I am able to from a distance. The project will have to be managed/coordinated by someone in Trinidad to be flexible and able to react/respond promptly/easily to media requests/interactions. Ideally the core team should be a group of volunteers who would work informally under the auspices of the ASAA to retain consistency in the overall global alumni efforts. Let’s see how many more provide inputs and volunteer to be involved.
Suggest that a synopsis and key points of this proposal be posted in Facebook and, perhaps, in LinkedIn.”
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What inspires us?
A human interest story based on individuals who at the developing stages of their lives lived and schooled together. Those formative years made a foundation that would enable these individuals to have meaningful lives.
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Rudi, well said. Your message is truly appreciated for it looks at things from a different perspective. And this is what we are asking for from our beloved Group. Sharing from your own experiences, that we may not have even felt or considered. Would like to get others feedback as well. Thanks, Rudi.
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Is this the same Kamal Khan who was a prefect around 1972-73 in the small boys dorm?
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I remember him
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Yes, was a close friend to me during that time.
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He wore glasses back then.
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yes
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and he had a lot of chat also ha ha
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I know i gave him a hard time, his room was at the front of the dorm by the entrance.
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My beloved Mount St Benedict Abbey School 'Brothers',
Just a little update about myself and sharing some thoughts with you. My loving regards to Ladislao, Don, Nigel, Jon, Fr. Harold, Glen, Joe, our Mount St Benedict Abbey School Executive, and all our Mount St Benedict Abbey School 'Boys'.
At present I am still coordinating our Mount St Benedict Abbey School Facebook Group together with Glen McCoy. I am also continually updating our Mount St Benedict Abbey School Database that was started and developed by Nigel. In addition, I am continuing to keep our Mount St Benedict Abbey School website going. All this is to support the work started by Ladislao who continues to serve us steadfastly, his invaluable work which is supported by Don by means of a blog for our 'Boys'.
And I do this as a means to assist our Mount St Benedict Abbey School Group by the use of my computer skills. Skills I have developed over the years, and continue to do so. For many years now I have been developing websites, and have included blogs, and social media such as Facebook. As I continue to develop websites, I am at present developing web apps and mobile apps. It is an ongoing learning experience with so many computer languages constantly being developed and used in programming. However, with an attitude to always serve others, this is a path I readily choose for myself.
Prior to attending Mount St Benedict Abbey School from 1970 to 1972, I attended Holy Cross College in Arima from 1965 to 1970. I also serve our Holy Cross College Alumni with a website/blog, a Facebook Group, and a Database too. And this I have been doing for a long time now. At present I am working with our present Holy Cross College Principal helping to start raising funds for an extension building to our present Holy Cross College. Incidentally, one of our Mount St Benedict Abbey School Past Students – Dr. Bernard Tappin served as a former Principal of Holy Cross College, and now serves on the Holy Cross College Board. I am working with another Holy Cross College Past Student setting up a computer center at Holy Cross College. In addition, I have also created a website/blog for the Holy Cross College itself, this will be handed over to the Holy Cross College students when we have things set up properly.
Holy Cross College is an active college, whereas Mount St Benedict Abbey School is no longer active. So there are different dynamics involved. The work I do for Holy Cross College is to benefit the present and incoming students. Holy Cross College was built by the community of Arima, by the active involvement of past students' parents, with business and community leaders, led by the Church. And so Holy Cross College Past Students are involved in the present and future of Holy Cross College. And I play a very active part in the affairs of the college by using my computer and communicative skills via the internet.
Now, I do not have the strong bonds as some of our other Mount St Benedict Abbey School 'Boys' have, having attended college there for only 2 years. Some of our Mount St Benedict Abbey School 'Boys' have been there since childhood and have ties with their classmates and schoolmates for many years growing up at the Mount as a home. I see our Mount St Benedict Abbey School 'Boys' Alumni association as a foundation. So that our Mount St Benedict Abbey School 'Boys' Alumni name lives on through our charitable deeds we do wherever we reside and that our children carry forward on our behalf.
My idea regarding the actual Mount St Benedict premises: If we as a group can get together and purchase the sporting areas – the pool, tennis courts, football/cricket fields, and surrounding areas free and clear from the Abbot or whoever owns the property. We can then rebuild the pool to international Olympic standards and rent out for its upkeep. We can also build a gated community of condominiums and sell them to our 'Boys' who can have a home in their 'childhood home' again.
There is an area above the football/cricket field on the western side overlooking the football/cricket field where we can build these condominiums and other buildings. We can also have a common area to host functions and meetings for our Mount St Benedict Abbey School Alumni Association. Facilities we can also rent to raise funds for the upkeep and maintenance of the properties. If need be we can build phases of condominiums for sale or rent to international clients, where they can host conferences, events, etc, etc. The ideas flow as we get more involved in the process. We would need investors from the Mount St Benedict Abbey School 'Boys' to materialize this project though.
That is my thoughts I share with you as I continue to support the work of Ladislao, Don, Nigel, Jon, Joe, our Mount St Benedict Abbey School Alumni Association and Executive and all our Mount St Benedict Abbey School 'Boys'.
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Thank you, George.
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Thank you, Sir Kazim, for your positive input at all times. I praise Holy Cross for their accomplishments however as stated is still an active school.  These intentions are along the lines of how some of the ideas Sir Jon Golding had in his Restoration…
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Glen, my friend, I was only sharing my thoughts. Consensus can be gathered by exploring, if we all communicate our feelings. We are the Mount community. If not us, who then. Again, we are free to discuss. If something comes out of this, great. If not, it is worth a try. And we respect each other in the process. Blessings.
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Glen, the point is purchasing the said areas from the Abbot or who owns the property free and clear. That way, we do not need to have meetings with the Abbot.
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My dear brother, Sir Kazim, we have expressed our feelings on this in so many ways over so many years, I pray that those who can make a difference are reading our letters. If the Abbot owns the property free and clear well any one can go up the hill
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Len, thank you for sharing, my friend. True, we need to find out who owns the area around the football field. And when we do find out the 'real' owners whoever they are, then we can further enquire if they are entertaining any offers for sale,
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Thank you Sir Kazim now we are on the same page, without further ado, we cannot count our chickens until they are hatched. Best regards to all, Cheers Glen.
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Sir Kazim Abasali, you say we are part of the Mount community, which is true in the spiritual sense, however in an official way we are not connected. This is something I feel we should do, before we all die, if we had an official alumni that is part …
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Thank you for sharing Glen. Yes, here is a forum to share our ideas.  If need be, we can agree to disagree without becoming disagreeable - My marriage vow. Peace and love my dear Brothers.
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EDITED by Ladislao Kertesz,  kertesz11@yahoo.com,  if you would like to be in the circular’s mailing list or any old boy that you would like to include.
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Photos:
16LK7042FBKKA, Kamal Kahn
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18LK3774FBAKA, Avalon Kallo
16LK8929FBIGO, Ian Golding






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