Friendship Potluck Luncheon

In the mid 60′s a few brave ExPats found the beautiful valley of Boquete and moved here to raise their families.   Some 30 years later, in 2002, when ExPats began to come to Boquete in more numbers, residents Sylvan & Barbara Cohen began to host a monthly potluck in their home to discuss issues such as where to find things, and how to work with the local construction industry, etc.   Attendees included Kent & Phyllis McNaughton, Hershel & Mikey Stolebarger, Jack & Kathleen Bales and Sonia & Scott Yates, and as more people arrived, these early pioneers wanted to welcome newcomers and to discuss the challenges and joys of living in their new hometown.   This gathering grew too big for the Cohen living room, and eventually the Tuesday Morning Meeting began in the patio lounge at the Panamonte Inn.   A $1 charge was applied, and speakers were scheduled to bring more and more valuable information to the ExPat community of Boquete.

At some point, Hershel Stolebarger began gathering email addresses and agreed to be the collection point for information that he then distributed to the entire list.   This became known as “Hershel’s List”.   The list is now owned and managed by Penny Barrett, a Michigan transplant who gives tirelessly of her time and effort for many things in our community.

Thanks to these two efforts, new arrivals and visitors were able to connect quickly with others and make their transition to Panama easier.   Because of this spirit of “community” others began to visualize efforts dear to their hearts, and several groups organized for a variety of purposes.  See FROM SMALL SEEDS, BIG TREES GROW….

So, it seems only right that BCP’s own Vice President, Jerry Hedrick, reinstituted the idea of a monthly potluck.  The Friendship Potluck Luncheon is now held on the 3rd Sunday of every month at the BCP Events Center.    Volunteers organize the food assignments, so that a good variety of food is  represented every month.    Residents and visitors gather to exchange recipes as well as valuable experience and information about living in Boquete, in a casual social atmosphere.

Please join this fun BCP activity by contacting Ralph & Clare, who will answer your questions and give you a food assignment.

And please consider supporting the BCP Foundation with your membership by contacting our Membership Director .