Entre Nous is the monthly newsletter from the Tourism Corporation Bonaire (TCB), Netherlands Antilles. In this newsletter you will find the accomplishments of TCB in Bonaire, North America, South America and Europe and the newest developments within the tourism industry.

We hope that you will read it with pleasure and if you have something that you think is relevant for the tourism sector to know just fax it to 717-8408 or email to: tcb@bonairelive.com.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

       TCB BONAIRE

TCB BONAIRE

NEWS BITS

Support Bonaire, Inc. (SBI) announced today that a donation of $1,530 (USD) was made on Earth Day to the Donkey Sanctuary on Bonaire for food and medical supplies needed for the care of the 60 donkeys currently at the sanctuary.  The bulk of the donation ($1,200) was contributed to SBI by two frequent visitors to Bonaire, Hugh Frame, an American, and his partner Sarah Byrett  both currently living in England.  SBI was created to encourage support of Bonaire�s community non-profit organizations by providing a mechanism for American donors to receive income tax deductions in the U.S for their contributions to support Bonaire charitable efforts.

Marina Melis of the Donkey Sanctuary said, �we are very grateful for the support of Sarah and Hugh, and so many other frequent visitors to Bonaire who see the wild donkeys as a unique and gentle symbol of Bonaire and the unique experience it offers visitors and residents.  SBI makes it easier for more visitors to help in our work and to care for the sick and injured animals who must now live apart from the wild lands they know.�

Last week, SBI also donated nearly 200 books, worth hundreds of dollars, to Jong Bonaire. The students of Jong Bonaire sold the books in their own book fair at Wilhelmina Plaza on April 28th.  The students donated funds raised to the Bonaire Animal Shelter. According to Inge Berben, director of Jong Bonaire, �supporting young people in performing community service builds their character, strengthens their personal values and broadens their connection with the community and its needs. Social research consistently shows that community service holds life-long benefits for the young people who do it.�   Tom & Becky Starkweather, who reside in Utah, donated the books.

These latest donations bring the total 2002 contributions to Bonaire�s community service organizations to more than $5,000 so far. In other donations announced last month, the largest recipient has been the Maria Hoppner Foundation   The Foundation was among a recipient group including Aliansa, STCB, Stichting van Kunst & Cultuur, and Wowo di Bario.

Support Bonaire Inc. has identified community non-profit groups providing important social services and environmental conservation activities that directly improve the quality of life on Bonaire and directly contribute to the generous hospitality foreign visitors enjoy in the local community.  Many repeat visitors to Bonaire find the unique warmth of Bonaireans inspires them to help preserve this community spirit through financial contributions, in-kind donations and volunteer efforts.

SBI has approved a variety of qualified community organizations for contributions and ongoing support, with additional local groups being identified and invited to submit funding requests.  This provides donors with a variety of worthy beneficiaries for their contributions including youth, senior citizens, education and training, marine and land parks and environmental and wildlife preservation.

Further information for potential donors, or community service groups interested in submitting funding requests can be found at www.supportbonaire.org and by e-mail at info@supportbonaire.org or by phone locally at 717-6773.

Information about the Bonaire Donkey Sanctuary can be found at: http://www.DonkeySanctuary.org

Information about Jong Bonaire can be found at http://www.JongBonaire.org 

Picture shows: Linda Richter, president of Support Bonaire, Inc. feeds Isabel, a baby donkey at the Donkey Sanctuary while Marina Melis, operator of the Donkey Sanctuary, displays the donation made by Support Bonaire, Inc.

About Support Bonaire, Inc.
Support Bonaire, Inc. is an organization dedicated to helping fund non-profit environmental and social projects on the Dutch Caribbean island of Bonaire, by being a U.S. Internal Revenue Service-approved non-profit organization, which in turn allows donors to take a tax deduction on funds they donate to Support Bonaire, Inc. Support Bonaire, Inc.�s virtual offices can be found at http://www.SupportBonaire.org, and an on-line discussion group for the organization is located at http://www.BonaireTalk.com/sbi. The organization�s mailing address for monetary donations and other paper correspondence is 109 E. Main Street, Suite 400, Norfolk, Virginia 23510-1647, U.S.A. Voice mail can be left at +1-703-783-1314, and FAXes can be sent to +1-703-783-1315. Contact via e-mail is preferred, at info@SupportBonaire.org. A Miami shipping address is available for donations of goods.

The Bonairean Jet...Christian "Keke" Dammers

If you are at Lac Bay on any given day Christian "Keke" Dammers is training hard.  Each day he is working on aerial and planing freestyle moves that makes one dizzy. His speed and agility show when he magically creates a breathtaking scene of tricks executing Spocks and Vulcans. These strange names represent some of the more challenging moves freestylers are accustomed to. And for this 18 year old speed demon his life long dream to be a professional windsurfing is coming to fruition. After attending and winning many local and international events, Keke will begin his professional tour in June when he and fellow members of the Bonaire Sailing Team attend the 4th Annual Verizon King of the Cape Freestyle Pro Am. After, he heads to Europe to make his windsurf debut.

Keke is becoming famous in the windsurf world. While in Maui on an all expense paid trip that he won at the 2001 Calema Mid Winters he earned the nickname , "The Bonairean Jet". His reputation as one of the fastest island sailors extends to shores beyond. Windsurf industry professionals have taken notice of his skill by offering Sponsorship for sails, boards, fins and more. Keke is a quiet and humble young man but on the water he rips. No matter how he places at each event, his family and fellow Bonairean are proud of this ambitious windsurfer. He has taken a passion to another level in hopes to be a world class athlete.

Article: Courtesy of Ann Phelan, Caribbean Wind and Sun Vacations

Picture: Courtesy of Extra Bonaire, local newspape

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LOCAL Report

Rincon Day..... 30th April 2002

At the end of 1988 a group of people came up with the idea of having a
Rincon Day to promote the culture and history of the town in such a way
that it would be not only important for the people living here but for
the tourists as well. At the beginning of 1989 they got together to make
a plan. Of that original group only Nico Sint Jago, Brootje Janga and
Carmen Goeloe are still active in planning the event.
Nico has been Secretary of the Dia di Rincon committee for the last 13
years and is considered one of the pillars of the community. He was
treasurer of the Cocari Foundation (day care for the elderly), was
secretary of the football federation for 20 years  and was on the
Social-Economic Advisory committee for the island. Nico was born in
Aruba because his father was working there at the time, but he came to
Bonaire when he was 19.  Except for going to college in Cura�ao he's
been here ever since. He's been working for the government since 1968 -
in the financial section for five years then at the Inspectie der
Belastingen (tax office) for the last 29 years.
Nico recalls those early days in 1989. "We had two days of holiday,
April 30 and May 1, and there was never much to do. There were a few
activities on the Queen's Birthday, but we wanted to make something
special and invite the tourists to visit Rincon, our unique place. So we
went back to our ancestors. We want to let people know our culture-our
music, dress, how we make kalki, how we plant and harvest." Nico
continues, "This year will be our 14th year; every year our program
remains pretty much the same. There will be music and dance groups
during the whole day and we have 97 stands on the streets, from the Rose
Inn through town to the Centro di Bario, near the fire department and on
the road to Washington Park." Stands will be selling all kinds of foods,
especially those that are unique to Rincon, drinks and crafts.
At 5 pm the Simidan (Harvest) parade comes into town with everyone
singing, dancing and waving the corn. This is when the people of Rincon
show their open-hearted hospitality as they invite everyone to join them
in the celebration.

Every year the Day is dedicated to an outstanding person or group. Those
honored have included the oldest person on the island; the baby who was
born on Rincon Day that year; people who used to transport children from
Rincon to school in Playa; Tico Balentien, who is talented in music and
sports; Miguel Pourier, a Rinconero who is our Prime Minister; Rudy
Anthony who was lost on his boat for a week; Wana Anthony, a dedicated
teacher who did much for Rincon; Real Rincon and Vespo, football
champions; the cultural group Nos Kosecha; Nechi Crestian and Martin
Cecilia, people who contribute a lot for the town; Eduardo Jacobino,
writer; Abraham Sint Jago who drove children to Playa for many years and
his wife Carmita, a teacher. This year the honorees will be Papi Cicilia
for his cultural and sports activities and Veronica Mercera, a
children's song writer.� Juliet Sommer

RINCON DAY PROGRAM
- Tuesday, April 30-
0800 Mass at Rincon Catholic Church
0930 Procession to Plaza Commerce
1000 Activities at Stage 1 at Plaza Commerce-Hymn and raising of the
flag, presentation of the honored persons, opening speeches,
presentation of winning song of 2002, children's dancing, music by
Watapana and Kibrahacha
1100 Prizes awarded for the Playa-Rincon Race
All day-stands and music on the streets
1500 Playing of the drums (bar�) at the monument Piedra Pretu (black
rock), demonstration of planting of aloe by the youth
1600 Domino contest at Rancho Don Pedro, presentations by musical and
dance groups at the Klup Strea di Oro
1700 Simidan (harvest) parade from Rancho Don Pedro to Sentro Di Bario�

Article courtesy of: Bonaire Reporter