Las Vegas Tenor Marco Varela Appointed Emissary

Dr. Aldo Aguirre, Honorary Vice-Consul of Guatemala in Las Vegas has appointed Mexican Opera personality Marco Antonio Varela as his Emissary.

Emissary Marco Varela, Consul Biggs Sparkuhl, Vice-Consul Aguirre

Taking advantage of the crowd gathered March 31, 2010 for the open house of the Consular Chamber facilities donated by Attorney Lloyd Baker, Dr. Aguirre surpised the crowd by appointing the popular opera singer.

Mr. Varela first introduced himself to the Order of Consular Emissaries at Cocktails with the Consuls at the Palace in December of 2009.  During the event, Marco and his companion Betsy Ann Fiore swept the crowd off their feet with an incredible impromptu opera performance, accompanied by piano at the Palace.

A true renaissance man, Mr. Varela is has business dealings from his native Mexico to China.  His diplomatic connections extend around the globe. 

 

“If you haven’t heard Marco sing, you will.  He is a phenominal tenor, and the picture of class and decorum.  Vice-Consul Aguirre made an excellent choice.  Any diplomat would benefit from the help of Marco Varela, and I am extremely proud to be associated with him.”    

                                              – Jonathan Warren, Premier Consular Emissary

 

“I first met Marco Varela years ago through my dear friend, Her Excellency Berenice Rendón, Ambassador of Mexico.  She thought very highly of him, and over the years I have come to do the same.”      

       – Paulina Biggs Sparkuhl, Honorary Consul of Chile & North American Director,       World Federation of Consuls

 

 

Advertisement

 

US Notaries Needed

The Consular Chamber of Commerce is launching its Certified Consular Notary program with in the USA. 

Certified Consular Notaries will be credentialed by the Consular Chamber of Commerce after an online course and test assuring their status as a Notary Public and a substantial level of expertise on Hague Apostille, foreign document legalization and consular function.  The Chamber decided to introduce the training program in 2007, after considering the lack of training and expertise of existing US notary organizations, and their failure to require a higher standard from membership.

Certified Consular Notaries will be the only notaries which the Chamber will allow to execute the notarization of passport copies for foreign legalizations, as required by the Identify.nu identity management platform.  CCN’s will be paid by the Consular Chamber, in addition to charging their standard fees, for each member notarization.  This provides substantial additional income to the notary. 

Members of the Emissary Corps may become Certified Consular Notaries free of charge.   Certification brings with it substantial earnings opportunity, as the Consular Chamber expands the Identify.nu platform.  Those seeking Certification should join the Emissary Corps at www.consul.cc, then request to join the group “Certified Consular Notaries – USA” for certification procedure.

 

Consular Emissaries in Chile Facilitate Emergency Funds Transfers

The Honorary Consul of Chile in Las Vegas has arranged a solution to the arduous task of transferring funds to Chile.  Although larger amounts can be transferred relatively easily, small remittances are much more difficult and are generally not cost-effective.

The Consulate can now transfer amounts from US $25. to $3,000. from the US to Chile.  Larger amounts are deposited directly into the recipients’ bank accounts, after converting to Pesos, for a fee of $50.  Small amounts are delivered to the account of Consular Emissaries in Chile for disbursement to multiple recipients.  The fee for this varies depending on location and logistics, but is generally less than $10.

The Consulate of Chile in Las Vegas has Emissaries in Santiago, Arica, Iquique and the Cauquenes area, where the earthquake was centered.  More emissaries are being established.

 

Cocktails with the Consuls a Tremendous Success

Inaugural event attracts overwhelming, diverse crowd

Consuls General of Uzbekistan and Japan fly in day before;  Seven honorary consuls take part.

     

8 December, 2009–/ The first annual Cocktails with the Consuls took place at the Parisian Palace in Las Vegas, to the acclaim of an at-capacity, unusual collection of guests.    

At-capacity crowd of dignitaries converges on the Parisian Palace for Cocktails with the Consuls

Over 150 international business people, political candidates, personal and corporate security specialists, former CIA, FBI, State Department and Special Forces officers mixed with diplomats, entertainers, celebrities, corporate sponsors and local Las Vegas society, in a renaissance of international business and investment opportunity.    

“It was a great function. Congratulations to the Las Vegas Consular community for this great evening.  Ditto on the recognition of Nico, Jonathan and Paulina.  Nico’s design skills are incredible.  What a wonderful venue.  I will see you all again soon.  Thanks for the opportunity, I enjoyed it very much.”  –Gary Furlong, Honorary Consul General of Uzbekistan     

Included in the honored guests were:    

• Ken Walther, decorated former CIA officer
• Gary Furlong, Honorary Consul General of Uzbekistan
• Kathleen Blakely, Honorary Consul General of Japan
• Paulina Biggs Sparkuhl, Honorary Consul of Chile and Member of the Board of Directors of the World Federation of Consuls
• Jerome Snyder, Honorary Consul of Great Britain
• John Petkus, Honorary Consul of Poland
• Dr. Aldo Aguirre, Honorary Vice-consul of Guatemala
• Dr. Geoffrey Vanderpal, Honorary Consul of Slovakia*
• Senator Roberto Benvenuti (Italy) 

     

Marco Antonio Varela and Betsy Ann Fiore perform opera at Cocktails with the Consuls.

Guests were treated to a brief talk by Consul General Gary Furlong, who’s legendary and daring work in the former Soviet Union is chronicled in the book “Who the Hell is Bob” by Steve Rudman.    

Following Gary our keynote speaker was Ken Walther, a decorated veteran of nearly three decades as a CIA officer.  Ken’s work in 100 countries is chronicled in several books, and the unique secret technology department he helped develop is the subject of the book “Spycraft” by Robert Wallace.   

~ Facebook Photos ~

 ~ Slideshow ~

 

*Dr. Vanderpal is the immedate past consul in Las Vegas, Nevada and is Consul Applicant in Austin, Texas