In November of 2007, T.H. Palm & Company, one of the most popular and colorful stores on Palm Beach, made a decision to earmark a portion of its sales’ revenue to six local not-for-profit foundations, helping them via regular monetary donations, and giving back to the community, in the words of the ancient Kabala, making Tikkun Olam, helping in the repair of the world.

Shoppers at T.H. Palm & Company were asked to pick their favorite charity from a list of excellent local projects and Edmund E. Harms Foundation was among the top six.

Beginning with the first of November 2007, T.H. Palm & Company started holding back a portion of its income and this week, the second seasonal donation was handed over to a representative of the Edmund E. Harms Foundation, Sonia Jacobs, who received a check from Salamander Holdings NV associates Candice Pompier, Shary Celaire & Nilo Arcilla.

On August 16, 1996, Edmund E. Harms passed away from cancer. He spent his final days at home among family members and friends.  Not even 30 days after his passing the Edmund E. Harms foundation was established in Edmunds’ memory with his parents donating the initial capital for the fund.  The mission of the foundation is to facilitate the wish of cancer patients to spend their final days in a loving, supportive environment.  Most patients who receive services from the foundation are sadly under the age of 40 and are suffering from an incurable cancerous disease. Having received an indication from their medical specialist, that they are entering the last phase of their illness, they petition the foundation, which then makes it possible for them to spend their last days at home and pass away in their own beds.  The Edmund E. Harms Foundation offers the infrastructure allowing them to spend the last phase of their lives in as comfortable as possible environment, at home among caring family members and friends. The assistance that the foundation offers consists of oxygen supply, anesthetics, wheelchairs, walkers, special hospital beds, part-time nursing and possibly extended to full-time nursing.

You can help make a difference too, just by shopping at T.H. Palm & Company. Two Percent (2%) of that sale is designated to one of six foundations. You choose which foundation you would like your sale to go to.  It’s that easy!

If you would like more information about Edmund E. Harms Foundation you may call Dr. R.J. Tjon Sie Fat at 587 1277. You may also contact T.H. Palm & Company at 586 8909 or email orders@salamanderholdings.com.  T.H. Palm & Company is located street side at the Playa Linda Beach Resort and open daily from 9 a.m. – 10 p.m. Open Fridays until 11 p.m.

The first mortgage signing for the pension fund took place at the office of notary Yarzagaray in Dakota, in the presence of three pension funds board members representing the employers, Paul Vandormael, representing the employees, Lisette Mohammed, and the impartial Chairman of the Board, Harold Malmberg.

Managing Director Sanaa Bergen reports it is a new benefit. The pension fund now offers its members the possibility to refinance their assets with a mortgage of 8.5% interest.

After a scrupulous screening process, the first beneficiary employee is Amy Spagnola of De Palm Tours. Sanaa Bergen reports it is very special since Harold Malmberg is a founder of the fund, since 1995, and every employee of his company, De Palm Tours, is affiliated with the Pension Fund.

“Thank you for making it happen,” states Amy. “I am glad that I got to be a first for all of us.  I know future applicants will also benefit from this process and the money that I save will be put to good use. When I get my Masters degree you will know, you also helped make it possible.”

Paul Vandormael, a board member representing the employers states that the Pension Fund Tourism Sector has made an important step in servicing its membership. The first mortgage has been granted. The PFTS mortgage interest rate is at a competitive level, he adds, giving members the opportunity to own their own property at a reasonable cost. “We hope a lot of mortgages follow. In this way PFTS contributes to members’ wellbeing and to making Aruba a one happy island.”

Lisette Mohamed, a board member representing the employees states that she is proud of being part of a very dynamic board, who makes sure that the fund is solid so that participants can have faith that their money is well taken care off, besides working at providing members with more benefits so they enjoy added-value features from saving for retirement. “The times call for creativity,” she adds, “and these interesting initiatives are very welcome.”

As one of the founders of the Pension Fund, Harold Malmberg states that the board was cautious about the financial avenues open to the fund in Aruba. “We wanted to employ the funds in an adequate manner, in a low risk area. The money generated from members’ contributions when utilize to extend mortgage loans to member employees, fulfils two important functions, the first is to offer loans at a reasonable interest rate and the second is to employ the PFSA funds at a very low risk area, with good growth potential.

“It has always been our goal,” he concludes, “to grow the funds in such a manner that our employees can depend on an adequate income after a lifetime of hard work.

Indianapolis’ Lodge Design was recently awarded two of only 20 Gold Rings at the Brass Ring Awards Show for the web site and packaging it developed for Aruba Aloe’s Island Remedy collection.

“The AdClub’s annual awards competition recognizes the best and brightest in advertising and design excellence in Indiana,” said AdClub President John Scofield.

Working closely with the Aruba Aloe team, Lodge Design studied the growing marketplace and identified an opportunity to leverage the history and tradition of this earthy island product. It was a story no one else in the industry could tell.

“With its rich island history and unique healing properties, the Island Remedy brand was a natural evolution for the already successful Aruba Aloe product line,” said Aruba Aloe of North America’s Chris Hupp. “From the very beginning of this project, we were determined to make sure the packaging and web site reflected the brand definition we had developed and told the story of the world’s finest aloe.”

“Our job is to get people excited and emotionally engaged with the product,” said Lodge Design’s Jason Roemer. “Even if people can’t visit Aruba, we’re able to bring a little bit of Aruba to them. By sourcing unique package shapes — and creating a compelling web presence — we developed a line that looked like it had evolved over the past hundred years. It was important that consumers experience the brand the second they picked up a product; the bottles and jars needed to speak for themselves. After all, we wanted people to believe in the power of Island Remedy and understand its relationship to Aruba’s Caribbean culture. That was the really exciting part of this project: creating the connection between the consumer and the island.”

“When consumers visit our web site they understand that Island Remedy is something special,”
said Aruba Aloe’s Louis Posner. “When shoppers visit our stores to see and try the Island Remedy collection, they become customers. This has been the most successful product launch in the history of Aruba Aloe. Since 1890! We enjoy working with an agency that can provide creative work that is as unique as our product lines.” Posner added, “It is a wonderful partnership.”

“We thrive on putting creative ideas together that tell a great story,” Roemer continued. “We’re excited about the work and proud to be part of such a unique company!”

For 10 years, Lodge Design has been helping companies, large and small, grow their businesses through a unique “brand storytelling” approach. It’s not tricky. It’s not math or science. It’s about creating an emotional hook.

Visit www.ArubaAloe.com for more information about the Island Remedy products.

The Aruba Aloe Products design team, Lodge Design, recently won two Gold Rings at the Brass Ring Awards Show for the website and packaging it developed for Aruba Aloe’s Island Remedy collection. “The AdClub’s annual awards competition recognizes the brightest in advertising and design excellence in Indiana” said Ad Club President John Scofield. Working closely with the Aruba Aloe team, Lodge Design studied the growing marketplace and identified an opportunity to leverage the history and tradition of this earthy product. For more information please visit www.arubaaloe.com or call (297) 588-3222.

Percy Irausquin, Aruba’s famous designer based in The Netherlands won the prestigious Dutch Designer of the Year for 2008! After competing with many other fashion designers, Percy received the coveted title and award which also features additional prizes such free Dom Perignon Champagne AND Porsche for a year.

Louella Brezovar was recently promoted to Hotel Manager at the Aruba Marriot resort & Stellaris Casino. Two years ago Louella joined the Aruba Marriott as Resident Manager, after working as Director of Operations at the Radisson Aruba Resort & Casino.

Mr. Hugo Themen, Aruban Amateur Weightlifter will be inducted in the “Pan American Masters Hall of Fame” during the 22nd annual Pan American Masters Weightlifting Championship held in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Mr. Themen has is the first Aruban athlete to be inducted. Mr. Themen will receive his nomination plaque alongside other international athletes during the official ceremony night held during the week of the 10th till the 13th of July.

Aruba is thrilled to announce that the Society of Incentive Travel Executives (SITE) has selected the island paradise as the host country for the 2009 International Conference, set for December 3-6. The event will bring together the top minds in incentive travel, a multi-billion dollar global industry, to one of the Caribbean’s most celebrated destinations. Aruba promises to be the “host with the most” as it welcomes hundreds of delegates from around the world for three days of educational sessions, vendor showcases, roundtables, networking events, gala dinners and much more. The 2009 International Conference will be held at the two official host hotels, The Westin Aruba Resort and the Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa.

Securing this significant conference comes at a perfect time for the destination as Aruba is enjoying increased interest from around the globe. Not only has the island recently undergone over $350 million in upgrades, expansions and renovations across all aspects of the tourism sector, but arrivals from the U.S. in 2007 were also up 3.27% over the previous year. While worldwide arrivals also saw a remarkable increase with an extraordinary 8.56% spike over 2006, with 753,816 visitors from around the world making Aruba their destination of choice in 2007.

“SITE’s membership is rich with innovators who greatly influence not only the evolution of the incentive industry, but also the business outcomes of client organizations,” said SITE President Padraic Gilligan. “The SITE International Conference is a superlative forum where professionals from around the world gather to share insights that help them achieve professional goals, surpass client expectations, and have a meaningful and positive impact on economies of destination cities around the world.”

“We were thrilled to hear of SITE’s decision to make Aruba its host location for the 2009 International Conference,” said Minister of Tourism and Transportation, Edison Briesen. “The incentive travel industry is an important one for our island and we are looking forward to showcasing the many things that sets Aruba apart from the rest of the Caribbean region throughout the conference. We are confident that SITE’s commitment to bringing together the most influential minds in this field, coupled with Aruba’s dedication to delivering an unmatched travel experience to all our guests, is a recipe for success.”

These principals of community, leadership and growth guide SITE’s vision — as well as its commitment to selecting distinct locales for its own events. Aruba, situated in the southern Caribbean, is a tropical paradise that enjoys year-round near perfect weather, less than 20 inches of rainfall annually, extraordinary hotels and resorts, over 200 incredible international restaurants, and an extremely rich heritage. Arubans, renowned for their warmth and hospitality and known as the friendliest in the Caribbean region, proudly showcase the island’s cultural and environmental diversity, and are equally devoted to respecting and preserving the island’s pristine marine and terrestrial ecosystems.

“Because Aruba is, without question, one of the top incentive travel destinations in the Caribbean, it is fitting that SITE, the foremost professional association devoted to the incentive travel market, would choose our island as the host for its 2009 International Conference,” said Myrna Jansen-Feliciano, managing director for the Aruba Tourism Authority. “The decision makers in the incentive travel industry will experience a successful event as a result of our strong public/private partnership that makes planning a meeting so much easier and Aruba’s well-known hospitality.”

“Aruba is ideal for SITE’s constituency,” said SITE CEO Brenda Anderson. “Sharing experiential knowledge is imperative for incentive and travel professionals who wish to enhance expertise and better understand this worldwide industry. Aruba offers a unique setting; it’s a model for promoting economic development with a keen eye toward cultural and environmental sensitivity — both of which are top-of-mind for SITE members and the organizations they work with to implement programs that drive business success.”

“I am really proud of the fact that our entire destination has gotten behind securing the SITE Conference for Aruba,” said Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association President and CEO, Rob Smith. “What could be a better investment than bringing the world’s professional meeting planners to one destination? Aruba has prepared for this for the last few years, undergoing a half a billion dollars of investment in its resort and meetings facilities and I am confident this will be our day in the sun.”

During the holiday shopping season T.H. Palm & Company a gorgeous island gift store on Palm Beach, unveiled its Tikkun Olam menu which translates as a Repair of the World menu.

By means of the menu the store, affiliated to Salamander Holdings NV, announced that it was going to make quarterly donations to some of the island’s tireless not-for-profit foundations and that shoppers would help select the charities by designating the percentage of the sale to their most-favorite community cause.

The response was very positive as all of T.H. Palm & Company shoppers were asked by the cashiers to decide where the T.H. Palm & Company donation should go.

As a result of that combined effort, sizeable checks were handed this week to representatives of charities, right on the steps of the store, facing the boulevard.

“Thank you,” said owner, Managing Director Jodi Tobman, as the checks were handed out, “for making Aruba a better place through your selfless community work.”

Tobman came up with the Tikkun Olam menu borrowing from the kabbalah. In Hebrew, Tikkun Olam means “repairing the world” or “perfecting the world.”

The concept of Tikkun Olam originated more than a Millennium ago. The concept was given new meaning in the kabbalah of the medieval period and further charitable connotations in modern times.

The money raised by means of the Tikkun Olam menu will help maintain the youth telephone help line. It will assist refurbishing the children’s home at Imeldahof, and pay for nursing and hospice services at home for people battling cancer in its last stages; it will also pay print information leaflets on domestic violence and support cancer patients in general on the island.

Pictured below, a champagne toast is offered with some of T.H. Palm & Company hard-working staff members, the Salamander Holdings Executive Team, and representatives of the not-for-profit foundations, celebrating a successful fund-raising season with Telefon pa Hubentud, the youth telephone help line, Imeldahof Children’s Home, Edmund E. Harms hospice Foundation, Foundation Pa Hende Muhe den Dificultad which is dedicated to helping women in difficulty, and Koningin Wihelmina Fonds, Queen Wilhelmina Cancer Fund.

Story submitted by Rona Coster

Aruba is thriving in the New Year, as the tropical paradise is enjoying an amazing 2008 with a calendar of events sure to knock the socks off travelers from around the world!  The island offers a bevy of to-dos boasting the perfect mix of culture, sports, education, volunteer programs and a whole lot of fun.  2008 in Aruba promises to deliver an unforgettable vacation for the island’s new guests and its loyal visitors alike with a lineup of activities and attractions for everyone.

The Government of Aruba has proclaimed that 2008 is the National Year of Culture and with that, the island is further underscoring the importance of traditional culture as a part of the past, present and future and the development of its people.  Unique activities will be offered throughout 2008, to highlight the Year of Culture including exceptional art exhibits, special culturally-inspired walking tours, new museum openings and more.

“2007 proved an exciting and successful year for Aruba with major improvements and expansions across our tourism sector,” said Edison Briesen, Minister of Tourism and Transportation.  “As a result of these significant developments in our travel product, and because of the remarkably comprehensive calendar of events offered to visitors, we’ve entered 2008, our Year of Culture, with great optimism and look forward to an exceptional rest of the year.”

Following is a highlight of Aruba’s noteworthy events in 2008:

March 1 – July 1:  Launch of the “Herencia di Sclavitud” or Slave Heritage Exhibition
The National Archive in cooperation with the National Library of Aruba is hosting this culturally rich exhibition aimed at bringing further awareness to the community about the history of slavery in the Dutch colonies.

March 6 – 7 & 9 – 13:  National Anthem and Flag Day Song Festival
Taking place at the Aruba Entertainment Center in Oranjestad, the pre-finals happen March 6 and 7 with the final on March 9.  The song festival takes places simultaneously with the traditional multicultural fair.

March 18:  National Anthem and Flag Day
Aruba celebrates its “Status Aparte” from the Netherlands on this day full of nationalistic shows, folkloric presentations and sporting events across the island.

April 26 – May 3:  25th Anniversary Royal Nationals Celebration Drag Race
This international event brings together competitors in a race to win.  Organized by the Boss Racing Foundation of Aruba, it is held at the island’s very own speedway, the Aruba International Raceway Park in San Nicolas.

May 13 – 17:  Fourth Annual Aruba Wine & Food Festival 2008
An epicurean’s delight, this wine and food tasting event, held at the Westin Aruba Resort, has grown each year in popularity.  It showcases the prolific culinary talents of Aruba’s chefs.

May 22 – 26: Soul Beach Music Festival
This groove-filled Memorial Day weekend musical celebration includes a star-studded line up of the world’s top R&B talents including, in year’s past, Alicia Keys, Chaka Khan, Wyclef Jean, Lauryn Hill and more.  The two-day concert series features comedy nights as well as the performances by renowned musicians.

June 6 – 8:  Aruba Beach Tennis National Championships
The only ingredients needed to play this new game that originated on the beaches of Aruba are fun, sun and a little tennis know-how.

July 2 – 4:  22nd Annual Aruba Hi-Winds Amateur World Challenge
Aruba is the ideal location for one of the most celebrated amateur windsurfing competitions in the world because of its continuous trade winds.  Participation from a number of countries brings windsurfers, depending on skill level and age, together to compete in six different categories: men, women, juniors, masters, super masters and freestyle.

July 5 – 6:  15th Annual Aruba Reef Care Project
Aruba, known for its annual marine environment awareness efforts, allows volunteers to focus on the preservation of clean underwater sites and the island’s beaches. Tourists and locals alike are welcome to participate!

August 21 – 25:  14th Aruba International Pro-Am Golf Tournament
Professional and amateur golfers team up in a two-day, 36-hole tournament featuring gifts, prizes and special events.

September 6 – 7:  Second Annual Caribbean Sea Jazz Festival 2008
The smooth sounds of Caribbean jazz float through the warm Aruban air as this outdoor festival brings an impressive line-up of international musicians to the island’s Cas di Cultura.

September 10:  55th Anniversary Celebration of the Rufo Wever Music School Aruba
The locally renowned music school will hold a number of unique activities to celebrate this historic Golden (plus five) anniversary.

September 14:  Monumental Foundation’s “Monument Walking Tour”
Launched in 2006, the Monument Walking Tour takes place once a year and is a trip back in time to the Aruba of the past including visits at some of the island’s most historic sites.

October 10 – 11:  Seventh Annual Aruba Music Festival
This two-day star-studded concert takes place Columbus Day weekend and brings world-renowned musicians to Aruba’s shores.  Past performers include Lionel Richie, STYX, Peter Frampton, John Mayer and more.

November: Aruba’s Archaeological Museum Re-Opens in Brand New Facility
The museum will move into a recently restored mansion and a number of news buildings featuring state-of-the-art equipment in downtown Oranjestad.  The 12-million-dollar project, featuring ancient artifacts, pottery tools and art, financed by the European Development Fund, the Government of Aruba and the cultural fund UNOCA, aims at safeguarding the archaeological and the architectural heritage of Aruba.  The new permanent exhibit of the museum will present the rich heritage of Aruba and it’s relevance to our modern society and the museum will offer public programs including lectures, education projects, temporary exhibits and workshops.

November 13 – 21:  18th Annual International Catamaran Regatta
This annual regatta decorates Aruba’s turquoise waters with vivid catamaran sails from Europe and North and South America.

December 5:  Saint Nicolas Day
Children receive gifts on the birthday of “Sinterklaas” or as many know him, Saint Nick.  Sinterklaas arrives in Aruba by boat a few weeks before his official birthday and is greeted with a brass band parade.  This is the kick off to the Christmas season on island.

“The island is again offering travelers an extremely diverse calendar of events carefully designed to appeal to the expectations of our wide-ranging visitor base,” said Myrna Jansen, Managing Director for the Aruba Tourism Authority.  “With this roster of events that will help to enhance the guest experience and support the numerous developments in the travel industry here in Aruba, we are forecasting an extremely successful 2008 travel season.”

The Aruba Tourism Authority (ATA) welcomes their new advertising agency, Lowe New York.   Famous for their Saab and Got Milk? ads, Lowe New York official working day as an Aruba Team partner is scheduled for April 1, 2008.

Aruba will be the host of the IX Business Forum of the Greater Caribbean September 23-25, 2008. The forum is an annual activity aimed at fostering trade and investments in the region and is divided into three parts. A seminar with interactive sessions (Providing the space for the participants to develop mutual relations and discuss trade issues together with governmental authorities and other experts in this field), the holding of business meetings among the participating entrepreneurs, and an exhibition of products and services. The event normally enjoys an average of 300 individual Participants, 200 companies and Institutions out of more than 17 countries.

Aruba at the 80th Annual Oscar Awards!  This is the first time an actress will wear a dress by Aruban designer Percy Irausquin to attend the prestigious awards. The Polish actress, Mrs. Suzy Templeton won the Oscar for the animation film “Peter and the Wolf”.

De Palm Tours, owned by the Malmberg family, celebrated De Palm Island’s 20th anniversary on Wednesday February 20. De Palm Island evolved into a must do activity for stay over tourists, cruise ship visitors and locals alike. De Palm Island is a testament of innovation, constant maintenance, investment and upgrading & improvement while still keeping the environmental aspects in mind.  The fabulous party on the island served to highlight the island as an ideal location for group events as well as show the talents of De Palm Tours Group & Incentives division.

ARUBA will host the Network Latin America 2008 in Aruba, December 7 – 9, 2008 thanks to effort of the Aruba Airport Authority N.V. This is the first time this event is held in the Caribbean region. Network Latin America 2008 is a specific air service event that brings together airports and airlines not only from the Central, South America and the Caribbean but also those airlines with an interest in the region from North America and Europe. Over 200 airline, airport and related air service delegates whom are key within the route development process will be present. The on island organizing committee consists of representatives from the Aruba Airport Authority N.V. in partnership, the Aruba Tourism Authority and the Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association.

Friends of the Handicapped, a volunteer organization of tourists wintering on the island at Casa Del Mar, Aruba Beach Club, Costa Linda and Playa Linda, concluded its winter 2008 fund raising season with over Afls 85,000 in donations.

To date, the extraordinary visitors have collected much more than one million florins and have donated the funds to local associations and organizations, dedicated to the welfare of Aruba’s mentally and physically handicapped.

Among recipients of generous checks Mi Por, an organization of mothers with handicapped infants, Foster Home Imeldahof, the Edmund Harms Hospice Foundation, the hearing-impaired Funari school & FEPO, Fundacion Respeta Mi which guards against child abuse, Ambiente Nobo, sister Philothea’s home for the handicapped, Ambiente Feliz & AVA, catering to special-need kids, Centro Kibrahacha for the elderly, Bibito Pin, a school for children with disabilities, Fundacion Cas Marie, dedicated to those suffering from dementia, Clown Doctors who visit the elderly and also kids in the hospital’s children’s ward, the Red Cross dedicated to disaster first response and management and Fundacion Pa Nos Muchana whose name indicates care for children.

Foundation President Art Stark called recipients up and asked them all to say a few words about their foundations. It was a very moving and emotional evening, as representative of the not-for-profit foundations outlined the work they do on behalf of the needy also explaining how the funds will be put to good use, paying for transport, renovations, educational materials, kitchen equipment, wheel chairs and conferences, promoting understanding and acceptance of handicapped members of our society.

This year, Stark reports the fund raising activities included a Mega Bingo co-sponsored by the Marriott Stellaris Casino, a Sweethearts’ Valentine’s Day Dinner & Dance at the Radisson Aruba Resort Casino & Spa, weekly arts and crafts fairs, Sunday mass donations, a Superbowl party and significant amounts pledged by the local community.  Pictured here, the FOH board, at the fund distribution event, handing over much-needed checks to 16 not-for-profit organizations supporting Aruba’s handicapped community.