To come out for some fresh air.

Wow... With about 5 months to finish my MBA, I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel... However, to my dismay, the light I see seems to be nothing but an incoming freight train heading full throttle towards me, which is called MBA 510- Managerial Decision Making- Statistics. This is, by all accounts, the most difficult of all classes in the program and I am looking forward to putting it behind me. I confess I was somewhat tempted to drop the class and just take it at the end given that its beginning coincided with a trip to Utah to interpret for the October 2006 LDS General Conference. I'm glad I decided to bite the bullet.

At LDS General Conference (Photo by Eurico Costa)

As the program progresses I hope to find a bit more time to come out for some breathing.
I have been asked by the local ward to serve as a Cubmaster and as a Committee Chairman for the Scouts, Varsity and Venturers. Though overwhelming as it might have sounded, I find my continuing involvement in scouting to be therapeutic and somewhat reinvigorating.

This month I will be returning to Utah to, once again, serve as instructor for future Wood Badge course directors. I'm looking forward to see good friends again, and find another opportunity to come out for some refreshing air.
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A aproximadamente 5 meses do fim do programa do mestrado (MBA) começo já a ver a luz no fundo do túnel. Infelizmente, para o meu espanto, em vez da luz do sol deparo-me agora com, nada mais, nada menos, do que o holofote dianteiro dum comboio de mercadorias que ameaçadoramente se dirige a mim. A este comboio chamarei MBA 510- Estatística e Cálculo. Esta é, de acordo com todos os estudantes passados, presentes e futuros, a aula mais difícil do programa, e eu estou ansiosamente à espera pelo dia em que me passe e me deixe de novo na escuridão pacífica deste túnel tão comprido. Confesso que fui tentado a desistir desta cadeira e voltar a fazê-la no fim do curso, dado o facto de que o início da aula coincidia com uma viagem a Utah para interpretar a conferência geral da Igreja de Jesus Cristo dos Santos dos Últimos-dias, em Outubro de 2006. Agora estou grato por ter “mordido a bala”.

Na Conferência Geral (Foto de Eurico Costa)

À medida que progrido no mestrado, espero encontrar um pouco mais de tempo para vir à tona e respirar.

Foi-me recentemente pedido que servisse como chefe de agrupamento do grupo de escutismo e chefe da alcateia dos lobitos da ala. Apesar destas novas designações serem algo intimidantes, continuo a sentir que o meu envolvimento no escutismo me é renovador.

Voltarei ao Utah ainda este mês para, mais uma vez, servir no grupo de instrutores a futuros directores de curso de chefia Insígnia de Madeira. Estou ansioso por voltar a ver velhos amigos, e mais uma vez, vir à tona para uma lufada de ar fresco…

Um abraço para os Câmara Manoel da Microsoft

Apesar da distância não posso deixar de desejar as maiores felicidades para quem vai ajudar o Bill Gates a ficar mais rico ainda.

Para a família Câmara Manoel da Microsoft vai um grande abraço e votos das maiores felicidades.

Por aqui mantem-se o convite para ouvirem aos Sábados o "16 Válvulas" na RTA em www.rta.com.pt entre as 14 e as 16 horas GMT.Parabéns!

Movin' on up...

Life does these things, every-once-in-a-great-while. Perhaps explaining a prolonged absence in entries to this blog, we have lifted our “stakes” and moved to Redmond, Washington, a mere 800 miles from Provo Utah, to take on a new opportunity at Microsoft Corporation. Though moving a family might be a scary proposition, we have felt at peace while making this change at this time of our lives. Despite disparate home markets we have been able to find a little corner we will call home for the next few years.

Also worthy of note is the new shared nature of this blog. It is no longer a personal blog, but it is now truly a family blog. As such, I would like to welcome Bernie Tomas, Joao Camara Manoel and another Joao Camara Manoel, (brother and uncle). I am convinced they will provide insightful and enlightening contributions to this family blog. This “extending” of our team will also mean that entries will be written in both Portuguese and/or English depending on the language domain of the writer. My contributions will be translated as of this entry.
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De vez em quando, quando o rei faz anos, a vida faz-nos destas coisas. Talvez explicando o porquê duma ausência prolongada nas intervenções deste blog, a nossa família desmontou a proverbial tenda e mudou para Redmond Washington, a 1300 km de Provo, Utah, onde aceitei uma proposta de trabalho da Microsoft Corporation. Muito embora intimidante esta mudança tem-nos sido agradável e sem incidentes de registo. Apesar dos dísparos mercados imobiliários, já conseguimos inclusivé encontrar um cantinho a que chamaremos “lar” durante os próximos anos.

Também digno de registo é a expansão da equipa de edição deste blog. O Câmara Manoel Standard já não é somente um blog pessoal, mas verdadeiramente um blog familiar. Como tal, gostaria de dar as boas vindas a Bernie Tomas, e a dois Joões Câmara Manoel, (irmão e tio). Estou convicto de que proporcionarão perspectivas inspiradoras e ilucidativas nas suas contribuições ao blog da família Câmara Manoel. Este alargamento da equipa também representa uma mudança linguística na forma como este blog é publicado, visto que a partir de agora, submissões ocorrerão em Português e Inglês, dependendo do domínio que o editor tenha de ambas as línguas. As minhas contribuições passarão a ser traduzidas no formato aqui apresentado.

My Brief Scouting Memoirs

My involvement with scouting started at age 15, as a member of CNE's 59th group in Setubal, Portugal. (CNE is the National Core of Scouts- Catholic Portuguese Scouting Association). This period also marked the beginning of my service as an altar boy in the same parish. During this time, I was heavily involved in the group's activities. Scouting was particularly precious to me during a painful parental divorce as it held my bearings through times of doubt and trial.

At age 18 I joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, (LDS Church or Mormons), and my membership with group 59 ceased. In the LDS Church, I was asked to help establish a local scouting unit, in accordance to the bylaws of the AEP, (Association of Scouts of Portugal, a non-denominational scouting organization). This I did until I turned 20 and went on a two year LDS mission.

While on my mission I was still able to continue helping local LDS units develop scouting programs, training local leadership on the aims and methods of scouting. While on my mission I also sought to establish organizational supporting committees. As my missionary service came to an end I moved to Utah, where I would attend Brigham Young University. There began my service in the Boy Scouts of America.

In most cases my service to the BSA was in the area of training, becoming first involved with basic leadership training at the district level, and later, (2001), in advanced leadership training, or Wood Badge, as known throughout the world. This I did for the next four years.

This year, (2005), I was asked to take on the responsibilities of a Wood Badge course director. I was both flattered, (being a Portuguese kid among MANY, VERY talented US-born leaders), but also saddened, as I knew that this would mean the end of my involvement with Wood Badge. (Course directors are invited to end their service to advanced leadership training). And so it was... In April 2005, after almost 12 months of logistical and educational preparation, we took to the hills of Maple Dell, in the Mountains of Payson Utah, where we welcomed and trained 52 adults leaders in state-of-the-industry concepts of leadership development.

Now that my service to Wood Badge has ended, I still seek to find opportunities to serve in scouting. Something that brings me a great sense of fulfillment.

My scoutmaster used to say that "once a scout - always a scout." As a boy I took this principle to heart. Though I might never be able to repay the debt of gratitude I have for what this movement did for me while a young man, I hope somehow I too can make a difference in another boy's life.

A Sneak Peak

Here are some additional pictures I took yesterday. I wanted to gage the kid's reactions to Anna. Stefanie has shown great tenderness for her sister as has David. Daniel seems to be in his own little world, playing as usual. He'll approach her at times, but I don't think he quite knows yet how to act twoards her. It is probably normal for the older children to be a bit more attentious as they have gone through this experience at least once, (twice in David's case). They know our love for them does not diminish. Angie and I will have to pay close attention to little Daniel to ensure he knows he is not being replaced. We are still trying to figure out who Anna looks like. She has a hit of stefanie, but her hair is a bit different, (curly and black). It is too early to determine the color of her eyes though likelihood is that they will be blue.

To view larger versions of the pictures just click on them.