ISSUE December 2011

Return of The Antedu

After a hiatus of about five years the Antilles Employees’ Credit Union quarterly educational publication the ANTEDU is returning.

What to Expect.

“You have no choices about how you lose, but you do have a choice about how you comeback and prepare to win again.” (Pat Riley) …

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IN THIS ISSUE Return of The Antedu ANTILLES BUZ WORDS Christmas Recipes Kids Corner Health ,Fitness & Lifestyle Get to know your Credit Union Fun Fact Meaning of Christmas

Photo: Vessigny Beach

Photographer: Mike Peters

Curtis McIntyre

This publication is geared towards engaging our readers with information on the credit union’s operations, its vision and philosophy. It will also include articles on wellness and lifestyle habits and culture. Expect articles for enjoyment by everyone within the family. The membership can also voice their thoughts, opinions and concerns through the “YOUR VOICE” segment. The Editorial Committee looks forward to your participation in the up-coming publications. Antilles newsletter is an important tool which will be used to communicate with members, potential members, employees, suppliers, contact teachers and all other stakeholders. The publication can be found on our website www.antillescreditunion.com and hard copies will be available at the credit union’s office. December is a month loaded with fun and activities and included in this issue are highlights of a few of the festivities. This Christmas month many folks look forward to creating delicious menus and subsequently the ANTEDU has done its part in providing some easy recipes for you to try out. The Editorial Committee joins with the Board of Directors, Committees and Staff to wish you a Joyful Christmas Season and a New Year filled with Peace and Happiness.

ANTILLES BUZ WORDS: One cannot buy, rent or hire more time. The supply of time is totally inelastic. No matter how high the demand, the supply will not go up. There is no price for it. Time is totally perishable and cannot be stored. Yesterday’s time is gone forever, and will never come back. Time is always in short supply. There is no substitute for time. Everything requires time. All work takes place in, and uses up time. Yet most people take for granted this unique, irreplaceable and necessary resource. --- ( Peter Drucker)

FAREWELL TO A CURTIS

In this season of joy and merriment we take the time to remember one of the most joyous and merry making individuals who graced the offices of Antilles Employees Credit Union.

We remember because in the early morning hours on 30th September 2011 Curtis McIntyre passed away. His home sending took place on the 7th October 2011 from the South Oropouche Roman Catholic Church, a sanctuary in which he spent hours to ensure that the ambience was appropriate for

worship, and he was finally interred at the South Oropouche Cemetery. The church service was filled with melodious singing and soft music as the three choirs in attendance paid tribute to Curtis in a most appropriate and fitting style. At the cemetery, rhythm was the order of the day as in true Curtis mode drums were heard even as the last wreathes were being placed on the grave.

Curtis worked with Antilles for twenty years and during this tenure he epitomized the true meaning of co-operation. He has left to mourn his parents Johnson and Nora Mc Intyre, brother Errol McIntyre, Donna Lord his sister, nephew, niece, aunts, uncles, cousins , other relatives, friends, church family, choir families and the Antilles family.

Return of The Antedu (continued)

‘TIS THE SEASON Christmas Activities

During this Christmas season of giving and sharing the co-operative spirit flourishes. The Antilles Employees’ Credit Union holds the surrounding community close and assists along various avenues.

Calendars and Diaries

Our annual distribution of calendars and diaries will take place as usual through two means of distribution. Calendars and diaries will be distributed at the office at Vessigny Village, La Brea and additional distributions will be made to schools within the Youth Development Programme.

Children Christmas Party

On Saturday 17th December 2011 the Youth Development Programme of Antilles Employees’ Credit Union hosted its Annual Children’s Christmas party. The event was held on the office grounds to a wonderful turn out

and warm atmosphere. The children were treated to snacks, games and each received a toy.

Christmas Loans

Antilles has offered our membership a special Christmas Loan facility to assist in meeting the financial needs of this season. Based on the standing of the member the Christmas Loan

limit is Three Thousand Dollars (TT$3000.00). This loan can be added to existing loans and does not affect repayment schedules. Members can apply at the office or call our loans department for further details on qualification. Though general loans are closed, Christmas Loans are available till….all loans re-open on…..

GIFT TO SERENITY HOUSE

Among the donations made by Antilles during the year 2011, Serenity House situated at Cochrane Village, Guapo was a recipient of one Whirlpool Gas Cooker. On learning of the plight being experienced by the home in obtaining funds to purchase the stove Antilles decided to make a donation to this worthy cause and in so doing afforded the residents of the home some degree of comfort during this

Holiday Season. Also getting involved

with the spirit of Christmas the staff pooled resources and presented a hamper consisting of foodstuff, toiletries and other

incidentals to the home. Serenity House caters to the needs of abused

and battered women.

Ms. Beverly Morson accepting donation from Youth Officer Mr. Collin Walters

Member applying for loan

Christmas Treat

The Antilles Employees’ Credit Union (Co-op) Society was registered on the 11th May 1949. Membership is open to persons residing or working within the Common Bond extending from La. Romaine to Point Fortin. The services offered at Antilles Employees’ Credit Union are many and varied. 1. FINANCIAL SERVICES (a) Shares (b) Special Shares (c) Deposits (d) Personal Loans (e) Mortgage Loans (a) Life Savings Insurance (b) Loan Protection Insurance (c) Life and Medical Assistant Plan (d) Family Indemnity Plan 3. PROMOTIONAL SERVICES a)Youth Development Programme 4. PERSONAL SERVICES (a) Financial Counseling (b)Deduction from Wages/Salaries (c) Standing Orders

5. OTHER SERVICES Statements Statements of any nature required by members are available free of charge. For example Mortgage Interest Statements, Share Incentive Statements and Embassy Statements etc. Let’s Socialize Antilles Employees’ Credit Union has embarked on a mission to make the flow of information between Credit Union and member easier. Making contact is easier than ever now that Antilles has “Gone Social”. Find Antilles on: Twitter -@AntillesCreditU Facebook - Antilles CreditUnion

LinkedIn- Antilles CreditUnion YouTube- (coming soon)

Get to Know Your Credit union

Browse our new website

www.antillescredituniontt.com

Antedu Newsletter December 2011 Issue

Time to Eat

Black Cake Ingredients: Cake: 1 lb butter (use margarine for pareve) 1 lb sugar 8 eggs 1 tsp lemon essence 2 tsp lime rind (zested) 2 tsp almond essence 2 tsp vanilla 1 lb all-purpose flour (use 1/2 cassava flour + 1/2 lb rice flour for gluten-free) 4 tsp baking powder 2 tsp mixed spice 1/2 tsp grated nutmeg Fruit Base: 1 lb pitted prunes 1 lb raisins 1 lb currants 1 bottle cherry brandy 1 bottle rum and/or Bailey’s 2 tbsp Angostura bitters Browning: 1 lb brown sugar 1/2 cup boiling hot water Have on Hand: 1 more bottle of rum

Punch-a-Cream

Ingredients: 6 eggs 3 cups evaporated milk 12 oz. sweetened condensed milk 1.5 cups rum (preferably white) 2 teaspoons Angostura bitters 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon lime juice 1grated nutmeg

Method: Three to Five Days Before: Up to 5 days before you make the cake, chop up all the fruits for the fruit base. Place in a large bowl, pour in Angostura bitters, cherry brandy and rum (I use Bailey’s when I have extra $$$ and it really makes it extra special). Leave in a cool corner, covered, to soak up the liquor. As I said 3-5 days before is the best option, 24 hours minimum if you must be ‘so last-minute’! On the Day Of: Blend Fruit Base: I pour the soaked fruit and juices into a blender and blend until thick and still a bit chunky (like tomato sauce). Note: If you have been macerating your fruit for a minimum of a month in advance you can skip this step Prepare Browning: Burn sugars until caramelized, add hot water gradually. Mix well and leave to cool. Please be extra careful at this stage as a ‘browning’ burn is NOT a fun thing! Once that is done…

Directions: 1. Beat eggs with lime juice until light and fluffy 2. Add evaporated milk 3. Sweeten to taste with condensed milk. 4. Add bitters, grated nutmeg, vanilla extract and rum according to taste. 5. Strain 6. Serve with crushed ice.

1. Preheat oven to 250F (no that’s not a typo) 2. Cream the butter and sugar. 3. Add eggs one at a time, mixing to incorporate 4. Add lemon essence, lemon zest, almond essence and vanilla 5. Mix and sift flour, baking powder, mixed spice and nutmeg. 6. Gradually add sifted ingredients to creamed mixture 7. Mix in fruit base puree and ‘browning’ 8. Pour batter into greased tins that have been doubly lined with brown paper or parchment paper 9. Bake for 3 hours 10. Once removed from the oven soak the tops with equal portions of the remaining bottle of rum. Don’t be surprised if the top of the cake starts to look pale and ‘weird’.

Photo: Trini Gourmet.com

Photo: Trini Gourmet.com

Photo: Trini Gourmet.com

Antedu Newsletter December 2011 Issue Time to Eat

BAKED PASTTELLES

Ingredients: 1lb Mince Meat (seasoned & cooked) 2 chopped onions 1 tin cream style corn 1½ cups corn meal (promasa) 1¾ cups milk ¼ lb margarine 2 beaten eggs Raisins Capers Olives Mushrooms Pimientos

Kitchen Safety Tips

First Aid

There can always be a mistake, and someone in the kitchen, preferably you, should be trained in at least basic first aid.

Method: Season minced meat to taste and cook. Add chopped onions, raisins, capers, olives, mushrooms, pimientos, and cream style corn. Remove from heat. Stir in milk, eggs and melted margarine into corn meal. Combine cornmeal mixture with meat mixture. Put into a well greased dish and bake for 45 mins – 1 hour.

Cuts If you cut yourself wash the wound under cold water if the wound is shallow and bleeding stops dry the skin around the wound with paper, a clean cloth or cotton wool and cover with a waterproof coloured plaster. If the wound is deep: Apply pressure to it to stem the bleeding Raise it above the heart Seek medical attention.

Burns If you burn or scald yourself apply cold water or ice: place hand under gently running cold water or wrap ice in a plastic bag and place gently on the affected area. It is important to take the heat from the area and although this may hurt prolonged application of cold water or ice can substantially reduce blistering. Take care not to break the skin, if you spill quantities hot liquid onto clothing do not remove the clothing get under a cold shower or into a cold bath and get medical attention: removing the clothing will rip off the skin!

Photo: Trini Gourmet.com

Antedu Newsletter December 2011 Issue SORREL - the healing

flowering shrub... By Ms. M It’s the drink we must have on Christmas day, or at least once during the season, and if we don’t get it, our complaints will be heard by every market vendor or farmer until the next season, when it becomes available again. This drink is enjoyed by all ages because it not only refreshes the taste buds but triggers a satisfying sign once it touches the stomach. Scientifically, it is called Hibiscus Sabdariffa but the name changes with the continent, the region and native language. To name just a few, the plant, which is believed to have originated in North Africa, is known as Bissap in West Africa, Roselle in Europe, and Jamaica Flower in certain parts of the United States. In the Caribbean it is simply Sorrel. Served hot or cold, this must-have Christmas drink can easily be described as the Caribbean Cranberry because of its many positive properties and uses. “It contains Anthocyanins, the same ingredients that give cranberry its claim to fame,” says pharmacognosist Dr. Guido Marcelle, who for many years was the Head of Grenada’s Produce Chemist Laboratory. He advises that products from sorrel or those that are sorrel based should be consumed in significant amounts because of the plant’s many positive effects on the body. “As a folk medicine,” Dr. Marcelle continues, “it is valued for its mild laxative effect and for its ability to increase urination, attributed to two diuretic ingredients, ascorbic acid and glycolic acid. Because it contains citric acid, it is used as a cooling herb, providing relief during hot weather by increasing the flow of blood to the skin’s surface and dilating the pores to cool the skin.”

“The leaves and flowers are used as a tonic tea for digestive and kidney functions. The heated leaves are applied to cracks on the feet, and on boils and ulcers to speed maturation,” he further explains. It is therefore used in the same manner as the pawpaw for these purposes. In many parts of the world, the sorrel seeds, leaves, fruits and roots are used in various foods. The versatility of this flowering shrub puts the plant on the priority list for those who are into alternative medicine. In our part of the world, we mainly use it as a drink, but elsewhere, the leaves are cooked and served like spinach, and the seeds are dried and served like nuts, similar to pumpkin or sunflower seeds. The fleshy red calyces (petals) are used fresh for making wine, juice, jam, jelly, syrups, gelatine deserts, puddings, cakes, ice cream and flavourings. Dried, it can be brewed into tea, and used as a spice in butters, sauces, and in tarts and other desserts. “The calyces possess pectin, which makes jellies firm. The young leaves and tender stems of the plant can be eaten raw in salads or in combination with other vegetables or meat,” he adds.

The red calyces are what we boil to make the drink. The red colour is an indicator that they contain antioxidants, including flavonoids, gossypetine, hisiscetine and sabdaretine, which help prevent cancer. The fresh calyces are also rich in riboflavin, ascorbic acid, niacin, carotene,

calcium and iron, all nutritionally important. The seeds, which are high in protein, can be roasted and ground into a powder and used in soups and sauces or as a coffee substitute.

Dr. Marcelle encourages, “everyone should indulge! indulge! indulge! in drinking sorrel. It’s good for you, and the darker the better. Researchers in Britain are currently testing the plant’s effect on hypertension. Although the clinical results are not yet conclusive, Dr. Marcelle still believes that it’s a good habit to consume sorrel water daily. Closer to home researchers at UWI (Mona) are studying the nutritional and health benefits of the shrub. In Africa, India and Mexico, the plant holds significant value in native medicine. It is even said to have aphrodisiac properties.

Sorrel is easily one of the under-developed shrubs in the region. While we are yet to develop an industry focusing on sorrel-based products, we in the Caribbean all know that few things taste better than an icy glass of sorrel. Drink up! “Excerpt from The Caribbean Health Digest”

Antedu Newsletter December 2011 Issue

By Ms. Judyann Alfred

The afternoon of Thursday 17th November 2011 can be dubbed an evening to remember. It was an evening mixed with fun, laughter, camaraderie and inspiration. This was the Annual SEA Awards and the 1st Essay, Drawing and Coloring Awards Presentation. Thirteen students received the SEA Awards and were presented with cheques and gift items. The recipients were Zalita Daniel, Tsehia Granger,

Amreal Thomas, Kimberley Maraj, Janel Frederick, Cavell Sylvester, Tyreese Brewster, Nishaad Mabir, Sterlyn Tang, Rochelle Edwards, Kendell Joseph, Janessa Cabrera and Jacinta Sandiford.

The Youth Development Programme of Antilles hosted an Essay, Drawing and Coloring Competition for the members

of the Youth Programme. The

theme was “Credit Unions build a better World”. Numerous entries were received in all categories from students within the schools to which the programme is affiliated. The

proud winners of the Essay Competition were Kimberley Maraj from South Oropouche Government School (1st Place), Aisha Gabriel from South Oropouche Government School (2nd place) and Abigail Narine of Rousillac Presbyterian School (3rd place).

Two of the winning entries for the Drawing Competition came from South Oropouche Government School – Anya Nicola Maraj and Tynnille Samaroo placing first and second respectively. Third place was awarded to Rebekah Sahibram from Rousillac Presbyterian

School. Certificates were presented to these young aspiring artists as well as to

the 4th place to the 9th place winners. All winning entries will be featured on Antilles Annual Calender for year 2012 which has been designated International Year of Co-operatives.

The tiny-tots were not left out and the coloring competition was keenly contested in two categories – boys and girls – and the winners were: Boys Zion Jones, Jonathan Samaroo and Daniel Andrews from South Oropouche Government School and South Oropouche Roman Catholic School, placing 1st,

2nd and 3rd respectively. In the girls category 1st place was awarded to Serena Ruth Samuel of Treasure’s Pre-School, 2nd place to Leah Rebekah Primus of South Oropouche Government School and 3rd place winner was Savita Roopan a student of the EgyptVillage Government.

Included in the evening’s programme was guest speaker Ms. Carolla Roberts-Gibson previously a Youth member via the Youth

Development Programme. Ms Roberts-Gibson shared her experiences over the years as a youth member to the present. She encouraged all to save with the credit union especially the young ones in the audience whereby they can obtain financial support to achieve their dreams and goals.

Fanny Village Government School featured prominently in the evening’s activities. Under the guidance of Ms. Cheryl Rojas and Ms. Karen Lee-Fai students of the drama club performed a hilarious but truthful skit entitled “General Hospital”. Also showing immense talent was Ka-Nia Brewster whose witty monologue ”State

of Emergency” received thunderous applause.

The Board of Directors and staff of the Antilles Employees Credit Union extend congratulations to all awardees and winners

for 2011

Anton Charles -Drawing Contest Finalist

Elizabeth McIntosh-Colouring Contest Finalist

Amy Narine- Colouring Contest Finalist

SEA Awardee Receiving Certifcate

AWARDS for Students

Antedu Newsletter December 2011 Issue

Date: This is the day we collected your money.

Received: This shows how much money you put into the account

Balance: This is the total that you have in your account

Teller: This is the name of the person who collected your money

ACTIVITY 1 –Questions & Answers

Q: What is the Credit Union Book for?

A: Your Credit Union Book shows you how much money you have in your

account.

Q: Is your Credit Union Book important?

A: YES!!! Your Credit Union Book should be kept safe at all times. Keep in your book bag and treat it with the

same care as all of your other schoolbooks.

ACTIVITY 2

How to read your Credit Union Book!!!

Kids Corner

Antedu Newsletter December 2011 Issue

ACTIVITY 3- Fun Zone

Word Search

Colour the Piggy Bank

Help the Lady get to Antilles