SEE Oharrak Spring Newsletter 2009
Posted on April 24th, 2009 by jguerricabeitia
Seattle Euskal Etxeak’s New Newsletter Oharrak-Spring 2009
Archive for April, 2009
Remembering Gernika
Posted on April 24th, 2009 by jguerricabeitia
Pablo Picasso's Guernica
April 26th marks the 72nd anniversary of the bombing of Gernika, which was one of the 1st ever bombings of a civilian population, a significant event in the Spanish Civil War and the inspiration for Pablo Picasso’s “Guernica.” Picasso’s “Guernica” was safely shown in New York during Francisco Franco’s reign and later transferred to the museum el Prado in Madrid. Basques have long demanded that it reside in Gernika, Bizkaia, its namesake, and many a Basque has a copy of this painting hanging in there home, commemorating the events that took place on April 26th, 1937.
It is difficult to understand a historical event, even one as important and life-altering as the bombing is and was, for many fellow Basques. So often we are inundated with reports of death and destruction on the news and yet some how it always seems that it is happening to someone else, somewhere else.
Growing up in a Basque family in Boise, ID, I was aware of the bombing of Gernika. A small copy of Picasso’s Guernica did, and still does sit in our family room right as you enter my parents home. Along side the painting are pictures of various generations of our extended Basque family, even one of my Aitxitxe Antonio in his military uniform from the Spanish civil war.
On one visit to my father’s home town of Munitibar, Bizkaia I spoke to my Atxtitxe about the war. I had been examining the baserri (farmhouse) and noticed that one of the major beams along the portal (entrance) seemed to be “newer.” That is to say, this beam seemed less worn and darker; not nearly as faded by time or the humidity. In asking about the beam Atxtitxe explained matter of factly that it had been replaced during the war. He related that during the bombing of Gernika, the entire valley had been carpet bombed and one of the bombs landed right in front of our baserri, Oloste, completley blowing up the huerta (garden) and cracking the beam which was then replaced. Luckily the beam supporting the fachada (face) of the house, which actually sat closer to the garden, did not give way, or the entire house would have tumbled.
No one in my family lost there lives that day, but hundres of people in Gernika did and hundreds of others were scarred by the images of watching there homes and towns destroyed. These weren’t the “surgical” strikes we are used to conjuring today or watching on CNN, if a bombing can ever truly be described as “surgical” or “precise”. The collateral damage is always there, and sometimes it goes much beyond the physical. Bricks and mortar can be rebuilt, trees can be re-planted, but for those that experience them the memories are eternal.
For the rest of us let us not forget the lives lost at Gernika, because Gernika is not alone. There are the Auschwitz’s, the Dresden’s, the Hiroshima’s, the El Salvadors, the Kosovo’s, the Darfur’s amongst many others.
Until we learn as a people, as a human race, to communicate and dissent without resorting to violence we will have many more Gernika’s.
To find out more about the bombing of Gernika check out:
General information on the Bombing of Gernika-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombing_of_Guernica
Boise Basques remembering the bombing in Gernika:*
http://www.democracynow.org/2009/4/24/on_anniversary_of_1937_guernica_bombing
*Thanks to Gorka Galdos, a long time SEE member and supporter for providing me the link above and inspiring me to write this post.
Board Meeting Notes- April 2010
Posted on April 13th, 2009 by Amaya
Seattle Euskal Etxea
April 13, 2010 Board Meeting
Attendees
Joe Guerricabeitia – President
Danielle Bock-Grande – Vice President
Amaya Michelena – Secretary
Marilou Michelena – Director
Agenda
| Subject | Notes |
| Finances | |
| Spring Dinner After Action Review | What went rightPlenty of food, probably too much – we had one extra pan of rabbit leftover. Just enough chorizo. Plenty of help in the kitchen. The food layout was good and the drink area was well stocked and in a good location. The food was well stocked. The extra room was a huge great for mus. Great turnout for mus. Lindsey was wonderful watching the kids. Just about everyone took home a bag of trash which was very helpful. Lots of trash cans available. Good set up and cleanup crew. Improve for next year
Mus ran long; dinner was delayed due to mus and bylaws /election discussion. So maybe next year we advertize for 12:30 and plan on it starting it at 1 or 1:30. Didn’t bring towels or tortilla pan, not enough cutting boards or knives. Raffle tickets were lost so we opted not to do the raffle this year and we lost out on an opportunity to make a little more money. We should try to have the set up crew get there about 1 to 1 ½ hours prior to registration to get the mus, dining and drink areas set up before guests arrive. Bring more coolers for food that doesn’t fit in fridge during the day. Have a couple of snacks for mus players but stop feeding them about 3-4 hours before dinner. As of 4/19 thank you notes have been sent to all parties |
| Basque Grant | Marilou and Amaya volunteered to form a committee to draft the Basque Government grant request. Joe will translate the final version to Spanish. As of the meeting the requirements have not been posted to the NABO site but in the interest of staying ahead of the game, the committee will meet on 4/20 to make a pass based on last year’s requirements. Joe will reach out to Gaizka to ask him to gather any information the committee might need. Joe will send over the 2009 English version |
| Mus in May | Joe will organize 3-4 weeks of mus lesions and tournament in May. Proceeds would go toward the cost of travel to the national tournament in Winnemucca. Joe will speak with Gaizka to see when they can both be available. Joe will send an email out to members when they settle on dates
$20 per person, decks of cards will be available for purchase. |
| Mus National Tournament – June 12 | Joe will get a cost estimate together for Fidel Michelena to fly to Boise and drive with Jose Marie Guerricabeitia to Winnemucca. Fidel can stay with the Guerricabeitia’s in Boise but SEE will need to cover the cost of hotel in Winnemucca. |
| Dance | We will target the beginning of June for dance lessons. Jean Escoz expressed an interest in teaching and Joe is able to teach the jota and porruslada. Danielle will reach out to her sister to see if she can teach a dance as well. Depending on the level of interest we can hold lessons at member’s houses or look into renting a low cost venue. Amaya will contact her dance instructor friend and Marilou will look into using space at UW. |
| Membership list update | The membership list and contact information need to be updated with info from the Spring Dinner and the calling effort. Submit your updated call list to Gaizka. |
| Jaialdi | Joe and Danielle (if Carlos’ schedule permits) can attend the NABO meeting. If Danielle is unable to go, Amaya will fill in. FYI- Tickets are going fast for Friday night events. |
| Newsletter – targeting June mailing | Submit topics to Joe. Danielle can write article about Txori closing. Amaya can submit an adapted recipe. Joe will submit article on freed Basque newsmen, Spring Dinner, Mus tournament. Joe to email Toni for Aita Toulous stuff |
| Other Business | Write in nominations – Jean, Katherine and Christina all had write in nominations for director positions. Amaya will email the three to see if they want to join the board. Non-profit status- Danielle to look into next non-profit workshop
Danielle’s birthday party is May 22, Amaya’s birthday party is May 7
|
| Next Meeting | Tuesday, May 4, 6:00 location TBD (if the grant is done we will celebrate at a bar) if not we can have it at Amaya’s |