Farewell Col. Maher, US Consular Agency, San Miguel de Allende, San Antonio artists going loco, Shutterbugs still sought for calendar photos, By Atención Staff

At an informal event on Friday, May 26, US Consul General Ron Kramer, from the embassy in Mexico City, presented ex-Consul Colonel Phillip Maher with an official plaque honoring his more than 20 years of service and "passed the torch" to Consular Agent Ed Clancy.

A small group of friends and San Miguel residents gathered at La Puertacita to acknowledge Col. Maher, accompanied by his wife, Muriel. Col. Maher became an unpaid consular representative in 1983, and on July 4, 1985, he became the tenth consular agent in all of Mexico, responsible for the state of Guanajuato and part of Michoacán.

"I am very grateful for the years of support from my wife, Muriel, and my assistant, Paula [Ramírez]," said the Colonel.

(See Atención, March 31, 2006, for the full homage to Col. Maher at our website www.atencionsanmiguel.org/
index.php?engspecialfeatures)
Consul General Kramer remarked that "the most rewarding aspect of the position is being with people during the most important moments of their lives-births, deaths and the many different problems they encounter living in a foreign country." Director of Municipal International Relations Christopher Finkelstein thanked the Colonel for his close collaboration with the city authorities during the years of service to the community.

Head of the Police department's Office of Foreign Community Assistance, Miguel Kegel, was present to remind US citizens of the special department available to them. "I am at your service for any issues of security until the end of this administration. Please use the office number and email for questions and information, and only call my cell phone for emergencies."

Kramer explained to the group that it is not unusual that appointments take time to become official. "Even I waited two years for official appointment," he said. "But I will keep the push on regarding the formalization of Ed's position."

Colonel Maher has set a high standard of service and attention to the community that Clancy is committed to maintain. "I am here to answer your questions, act as an advocate when necessary and guide people with immigration, legal and government-related issues. I am available by phone, email and telephone." To further attend the questions of the community, Clancy will begin a monthly column in Atención starting in the June 9 edition.

When questioned what top three problems are caused by expats, Kramer, who has served with the State Department for 26 years in Mexico, Cuba and Nigeria, responded:
"You folks are solid citizens and such a good advertisement of excellent relations that more people are coming to live in Mexico.

It's not the expats like yourself who live here, but the tourists who find themselves in trouble, especially spring-breakers."

According to the Consul General, the three main problems encountered by expats are property disputes (especially developments with aggressive time-sharing tactics that include getting potential buyers drunk to sign contracts), random acts of violence and assorted scams.

Kramer concluded with a request that US citizens register with the US Embassy to receive the newsletter and check the website (http://mexico.usembassy.gov/mexico/index.html) for information.

US Consular Agency, San Miguel de Allende (An extension of the Embassy in Mexico City)

Consular Agent: Edward K. Clancy
Hours: Monday-Friday: 9am-1pm
Dr. Hernandez Macías 72
Phone: 152-2357
Fax: 152-1588
Mailing address: Apdo Postal 328, San Miguel de Allende, Gto., 37700
Email: consuladosma@unisono.net.mx

San Antonio artists going loco

After several successful exhibits, artist/curators Ramon Vasquez y Sanchez and Deborah Keller-Rihn, of San Antonio, Texas, will be traveling to San Miguel de Allende to research and document the Día de los Locos in June 2006.

In the spring of 2006, they were the curators of three community art shows created in collaboration with the highly acclaimed exhibit at the San Antonio Museum of Art, Retratos: 2,000 Years of Latin American Portraits.

Now the pair will turn their attention to the Paseo de los "Locos" of San Miguel de Allende. The city of San Antonio's Department of Arts and Cultural Affairs has funded a special initiative for them to research and document the Locos parade in San Miguel and to use the parade as an inspiration to create an event in San Antonio called El Gran Día de los Artistas.

The day will feature artists, musicians, poets, art students and businesses in San Antonio's Deco District, an area of San Antonio that boasts the highest percentage of artists per capita in the city.

Vásquez y Sánchez and Keller-Rihn will be in San Miguel for the month of June to interview and film the mayor, the priest of San Antonio de Padua church and some of the participants and organizers of the Locos parade, as well as the parade itself.

They plan to make an artistic documentary film about the Locos event in San Miguel and El Gran Día de los Artistas in San Antonio. They don't want to simply "borrow" the event, but want to understand this unique cultural expression and how the Locos parade unites various barrios and colonias as a community. They are hopeful that El Gran Día de los Artistas and the Masquerade Paseo will have the same community feel as the famous Locos parade of San Miguel.

Shutterbugs still sought for calendar photos

This is a reminder that the deadline for entry of photographs in the 2007 Garden Club of San Miguel Calendar photo contest is June 30, 2006. The Club is delighted with the entries already received but wants to encourage all residents and visitors, whether professional or amateur photographers, to send their favorite images of San Miguel places or events before the deadline.

The rules for entries are simple:
-Photographs must be horizontally oriented.
-Digital or print photographs are equally acceptable, but do not send negatives.
-Photographs should be of San Miguel de Allende or its environs. This includes images of events, since within the calendar the month in which the event occurs will feature a photograph representative of the festivities.
-Enter photographs you feel best capture the unique essence and magic of San Miguel.
-Each photograph submitted must be of sufficient quality to be enlarged to 8 × 10 inches without distortion.

Entries will be accepted until June 30 by Leigh Gersnoviez at Box 209B, Border Crossings (from the US, mail to BC-209B, 9902 Crystal Ct Ste 109, Laredo, TX 78045-6379) or electronically at GardenClubSMA@yahoo.com. Those sent via email may be reduced in quality/size for the purpose of transmission. Printed photographs or CDs will be returned only if the entry includes your name, address and telephone number.

Proceeds from calendar sales are donated for beautification and educational projects within our community.