Seattle Basque Club

SEE Oharrak-Volume 2; Issue 1-Spring 2010

jguerricabeitia — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 00:43:16 +0000

SEEOharrakVol2Issue1

Euskara Language Flyer

jguerricabeitia — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 07:34:15 +0000

The Basque Language Flyer

Board Meeting Notes- March 2010

jguerricabeitia — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 07:26:30 +0000

Seattle Euskal Etxea

March 2, 2010 Board Meeting

Attendees

Danielle Bock- Grande – President

Joe Guerricabeitia – Vice President

Amaya Michelena – Secretary

Marilou Michelena – Director

Agenda

Subject	Notes
Finances	$3757.90 in checking account. This does not include NABO expenses or membership drive expenses
UW Language Day	Friday, March 5 Danielle, Amaya and Marilou will attend Amaya and Danielle will arrive at 10 for set up and Marilou will join when she gets off work. Items to bring: Danielle – Tape player with Basque language tapes Amaya – Business cards Danielle – newsletters Amaya to make language, history and resources handout and will send out draft by end of day Wednesday Newsletters will be stuffed at WLD and taken to post office
Spring Dinner	March 27 at Nora’s 12:30pm Mus Registration 1:00 Mus Tournament 4:00 Social Hour 5:00 Elections and by-law voting 5:30 Dinner, entrée bread, salad and beverages are provided, guests are asked to bring a side dish or dessert to share Mus Joe is the coordinator, cost is $20 per team. We have a bottle of whiskey and brandy to be used as prizes. SEE will cover travel expenses for winning team to the national tournament in an amount to be determined and announced at the local tournament. Amaya, Joe and Gaizka will discuss and propose an appropriate amount during the 2010 budget process. Elections We will do paper ballots with a write in section for members who decide to run at the event. Amaya will print ballots prior to event so let her know what position you would like to run for. Marilou will bring the ballot box By-law Voting Marilou, Amaya, and Danielle will take shifts at entrance and will hand out copies of the revision proposal as members come in and have board members available to answer any questions. It is very important that we have an accurate count of members present so we can verify quorum. At 5:00 and we will have a show of hands vote for members. We will go section by section with a brief summary at the beginning of each section and a brief opportunity to ask questions. Food and Drink Entrée – Conchita will cook entrée. Marilou will contact her to finalize details Chorizo – Joe’s parents will bring chorizo, Joe is taking orders for extra to be brought from Boise Bread – Amaya Pasta Salad – Amaya Green Salad – Danielle Cod – Joe Cheese – Danielle, $40 budget Arroz con leche – Joe Dessert items – Danielle, Amaya, Marilou Soda- Amaya Wine – Marilou to bring 1 case of Charles Shaw Joe will bring the 7 bottles he has in SEE Storage Sangria – Danielle will bring Carlo Rossi and sangria fixings Raffle Palas set, carved picture, 1 SEE shirt, 1 book, 1 bottle wine, 1 pack chorizo. Any other items in our inventory will be up for sale. As always Marilou is in charge of selling tickets. Membership Drive/List Gaizka will divvy up the master membership list and each board member will call assigned people to: 1) Confirm continued interest in being on our membership list 2) Verify/update contact information 3) Inform of Spring Dinner and get RSVP if possible Communication We have already announced the date and location in the December newsletter, and posted the information on the website in mid-February. It will be included in the newsletter going out at the end of this week and Joe will include in the monthly email as well as a Facebook invite and an evite that will go out once the membership list has been cleaned up(see membership list above) Other Tables & Chairs – Joe has two 8 ft tables and four 6 ft tables and 22 folding chairs. Danielle has a friend with two tables that we can use. We estimate we will need 10 tables total. Amaya to confirm with Nora how many tables she has. Amaya to ask Gaizka to look up how many we ordered last year. Joe may not have a truck so we may have to look into borrowing or renting truck to move tables and chairs We may need to order more chairs from Petersons, Amaya or Danielle can pick them up to avoid delivery charges. Coolers and ice buckets – Danielle Plates, cups and cutlery – Joe Other items – Amaya will send out a more complete list about a week before the event. Entry Fees $20 members, $25 non-members, $40 member family, $50 non member family Nora to charge $80 for the facilities
Social Events	Mus in May workshop – Joe to speak with Gaizka to find 3 weekends in May that we can hold mus lessons. We will charge a small fee ($5-$15) and make the announcement at the Spring Dinner
2010 Grant and budget	Amaya will get with Gaizka to start a preliminary budget to present at the next meeting and Amaya will check the NABO website weekly for the release of the grant and notify the board so we either create a committee or can work on the grant together.
Other Business	Membership cards without calendar – Joe to update membership card and business card template and Danielle to print and pick up from Seattle Public Schools. Membership cards will be distributed at spring dinner and business cards at World Language Day
Basque Needs Grant	Danielle will research
Center for Non-profit	Danielle will research when classes are
Danielle’s Churro Business	Danielle is willing to bring her churro maker to events and donate a portion of the profits to SEE
Next Meeting	April 6, 6:00 at Joe’s

March 2010 Meeting Notes

SEE Bylaws Proposed Revisions

jguerricabeitia — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 01:37:44 +0000

Proposed changes to Seattle Euskal Etxea Bylaws

In a recent review of the bylaws for Seattle Euskal Etxea the Board has found that the club has been out of compliance with several provisions for some time. The SEE board has compiled a list of changes we are presenting for vote at the Spring Dinner on March 27, 2010. Below you will find the current wording of our bylaws with the proposed changes.

Current bylaw states: Proposed change (if any):

SEATTLE EUSKAL ETXEA Founded the 19th day of April, 1997 at a lunch meeting at the house of Debbie Coscorosa. PURPOSE This corporation is a non-profit organization and is formed to keep and practice the culture and traditions of the Basque people; to engage in educational, social, and recreational activities to bring together those interested in the Basque people; to support the members in any reasonable manner; and to promote the Basque culture in the greater community. In order to accomplish these goals there shall be a set of rules and by-laws that will be followed as set forth in the following articles.	No changes for this section
ARTICLE I Membership Sec. 1 – Membership will be open to any person having an expressed interest in the Basque culture, including those with or without Basque heritage. Sec. 2 – There shall be two (4) classes of membership in the organization and an annual membership fee for each classification. A. Individual membership, Twenty Dollars ($20). B. Family membership, Thirty-five Dollars ($35). C. Patron of the club, One-Hundred Dollars ($100). D. Honorary membership for those over Seventy (70) years of age, free ($0). Membership fees will be due and payable by the first day of May each year except for the first years memberships which will be due and payable at the time of joining. After the first year new membership only fees shall be pro-rated as follows: January – June 100%, June – December 50%. Fifty cents ($.50) of each membership fee will be paid to the North American Basque Organization (N.A.B.O) for membership dues. Payment of membership fees will give the members and dependent children all the rights and privileges of the organization. Sec. 3 – There shall be at least two (2) general meetings of the members each year. A. One, held the first Saturday of March, for the purpose of electing the open slate in the governing body and receiving the annual report of the Secretary/ Treasure. Only members in good standing will have the right to cast a vote. An audit of records must be completed by the Board by the 15th day of January each year. A review of by-laws will be made and proposed amendments will be submitted and numbered for membership considerations at the same time. B. The second general meeting will be held the second Sunday of August for the purpose of bringing the members of the club together. This will be the Annual Picnic and will also have the purpose of involving the larger community with the club. Sec. 4 – All meetings of the members shall be called by not less than two (2) weeks prior written or printed notice, mailed to the members at their last known addresses shown on the Corporations rolls. Sec. 5 – At least fifty percent (50%) plus one (1) of the membership shall be present for a quorum. Sec. 6 – Membership in the Corporation shall not entitle the members to any interest whatsoever in the assets of the Corporation. In the event of dissolution of the Corporation, only members in good standing will have a say in dissolution proceedings. This may be by written vote or attendance at a special meeting. In order to dissolve the Corporation there must be a 50% plus 1 vote to proceed, at which time all proceeds would be directed as to allocation of funds. Sec. 7 – If any member is charged with conduct deemed prejudicial to the welfare of the organization, the Board of Directors, upon ten (10) days notice to such member of the nature of the charges and after said member has an opportunity to appear before the Board and explain or refute the same, may, by a majority vote, expel said member from the organization; provided, however; that the action of the Board in expelling a member will be reviewed at the next general meeting of the membership for final disposition. Voting at such meeting on the expulsion of a member shall be by ballot and will require the vote of two-thirds (2/3) of those present to reverse the action of the Board of Directors.	Sec. 2 1) Remove “Patron” member class 2) Remove due levels/set by Board 3) Define membership classes 4) Changed membership to Jan-Dec 5) Eliminate dues pro-rating 6) Minimum voting age set to 18 7) NABO due now reads portion of overall dues Sec. 3 1) Removed specific language dictating the dates of events 2) Financial audit due date has been removed; requirement remains. 3) Communication methods revised to read “email, website posting or mail,” from “written or printed notice” Sec. 5 1) Quorum changed from 50% +1 to 25% +1 REVISION ARTICLE I Membership Sec. 1 – Membership will be open to any person having an expressed interest in the Basque culture, including those with or without Basque heritage. Sec. 2 – There shall be three (3) classes of membership in the organization defined as: A. Individual membership-single individual. B. Family membership-Single family of five (5) (up to two (2) adults and three (3) children) residing at the same addressor less., C. Honorary membership for those over Seventy (70) years of age, free ($0). Membership is valid from January through December of that year. A portion of each membership fee (subject to the bylaws of N.A.B.O.) will be paid to the North American Basque Organization (N.A.B.O) for membership dues. Payment of membership fees will give members all the rights and privileges of the organization. Members must be age 18 or over to be eligible to vote in corporate elections or corporate business. Sec. 3 – There shall be at least two (2) general meetings of the members each year. A. One, for the purpose of electing the open slate in the governing body and receiving the annual report of the Treasurer. Only members in good standing will have the right to cast a vote. B. general meeting for the purpose of bringing the members of the club together. This will be the Annual Picnic and will also have the purpose of involving the larger community with the club. Sec. 4 – All general meetings of the members shall be announced by the Board not less than two (2) weeks prior notice to the members. Announcement may take the form of email, website posting or mail. Sec. 5 – At least twenty five percent ( 25%) plus one (1) of the membership shall be present for a quorum. Sec. 6 – Membership in the Corporation shall not entitle the members to any interest whatsoever in the assets of the Corporation. In the event of dissolution of the Corporation, only members in good standing will have a say in dissolution proceedings. This may be by written vote or attendance at a special meeting. In order to dissolve the Corporation there must be a 50% plus 1 vote to proceed, at which time all proceeds would be directed as to allocation of funds. Sec. 7 – If any member is charged with conduct deemed prejudicial to the welfare of the organization, the Board of Directors, upon ten (10) days notice to such member of the nature of the charges and after said member has an opportunity to appear before the Board and explain or refute the same, may, by a majority vote, expel said member from the organization; provided, however; that the action of the Board in expelling a member will be reviewed at the next general meeting of the membership for final disposition. Voting at such meeting on the expulsion of a member shall be by ballot and will require the vote of two-thirds (2/3) of those present to reverse the action of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE II Form of Board Sec. 1 – The Board of Directors, also known as the Board, shall govern the business and activities of the organization. The Board shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary/ Treasurer and four (4) Directors. For the first year, to ease the amount of initial work on the Board, there will be eight (8) Directors. Sec. 2 – Each Director will serve for one (1) year. The President, Vice-President, and Secretary/Treasurer will serve for two (2) years. Terms will be measured from the general meeting at which the Officer was elected. The President and Vice-President will not be elected at the same meeting to ensure a smooth transition between elections. Sec. 3 – Any member of the organization is eligible to be elected to the Board. Sec. 4 – The election of Board members shall be held in conjunction with the meeting of the membership. Nominations for all positions will come from the floor. A simple majority will give the results.	Sec. 1 1) Split Secretary & Treasurer position. 2) Removed 1st year language Sec. 2 1) Language updated to reflect Secretary/Treasurer as 2 positions. Sec. 3 1) Specified voting age to be 18 years. Sec 4. 1) Election nomintaions can be self-nominate, from the floor or in writing prior to the meeting. PROPOSED REVISION ARTICLE II Form of Board Sec. 1 – The Board of Directors, also known as the Board, shall govern the business and activities of the organization. The Board shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and up to four (4) Directors. An updated list of current board members shall appear on the corporation’s website (if active) and be published in the corporation’s newsletter. Sec. 2 – Each Director will serve for one (1) year. The President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer will serve for two (2) years. Terms will be measured from the general meeting at which the Officer was elected. Sec. 3 – Any member of the organization over the age of 18 is eligible to be elected to the Board. Sec. 4 – The election of Board members shall be held in conjunction with the meeting of the membership. Nominations for all positions will come from the floor or be requested in writing prior to the meeting. Members can nominate themselves. A simple majority of the quorum will give the results
ARTICLE III Power of Board, Relation to Members Sec. 1 – Vacancies occurring on the Board will be filled from the membership by a vote of the remaining Board members. Vacancy terms will last until the next general election. Sec. 2 – The Board will have the power to expel a member subject to Article I, Sec. 7. Sec. 3 – The Board will have the power to enact any rules or by-laws deemed necessary to better govern the organization. All new rules, by-laws or amendments will be subject to Article VIII.	Sec. 1 1) Board majority needed to fill vacancies. PROPOSED REVISION ARTICLE III Power of Board, Relation to Members Sec. 1 – Vacancies occurring on the Board will be filled from the membership by a majority vote of the remaining Board members. Vacancy terms will last until the next general election. Sec. 2 – The Board will have the power to expel a member subject to Article I, Sec. 7. Sec. 3 – The Board will have the power to enact any rules or by-laws deemed necessary to better govern the organization. All new rules, by-laws or amendments will be subject to Article VIII.
ARTICLE IV Responsibilities of Board Sec. 1 – Regular meetings of the Board will be held the first Thursday of February, May, August and November except when such date is not convenient to the majority of the Board in which case the meeting shall be moved to a date as close to the original date and such changes will be entered into the minutes of the prior meeting stating the reason for the change. Sec. 2 – Any member of the organization will be welcomed to the Board meeting as a visitor. Sec. 3 – Four (4) members of the Board will constitute a quorum. Sec. 4 – At the annual meeting of the membership, the Board will give a full report to including a financial report and a report on all activities of the year. Sec. 5 – Every activity, involvement on projects and expenditures will be approved by the Board. Sec. 6 – The Directors, Vice-President and Secretary/ Treasurer shall each have one (1) vote. The President shall vote only to break a tie.	Sec. 1 1) Removed language specifying the dates of Board meetings; to be held quarterly. Sec. 4 1) Financial and activity reporting be done at the first meeting Sec. 6 President can now vote and will be a tie breaker Sec 7. Added section regarding N.A.B.O. delegate selection Sec. 8 Added section which covers reporting from Board members or committee heads on assigned responsibilities. PROPOSED REVISION ARTICLE IV Responsibilities of Board Sec. 1 – Regular meetings of the Board will be held quarterly as deemed necessary by the Board. Sec. 2 – Any member of the organization will be welcomed to the Board meeting as a visitor. Sec. 3 – Four (4) members of the Board will constitute a quorum. Sec. 4 – At the first general meeting of the membership, the Board will give a full report including a financial report and a report on all activities of the year. Sec. 5 – Every activity, involvement on projects and expenditures will be approved by the Board. Sec. 6 – The selection of delegates (and their number) to represent the organization at N.A.B.O. meetings will be determined by the board. Sec. 7 – Each board member shall each have one (1) vote. In the event of a tie, the President shall be the tie breaking vote. Sec. 8 – At each meeting of the board, the Board will receive a report from each office (or designate) and each Committee leader (or designate) on their assigned responsibilities.
ARTICLE V Duties of Officers The President Shall preside at all meetings of the Board and of the members whether general or special. Shall sign all contracts, deeds and other instruments ordered to be executed by the Board. Shall represent the organization on all public relations as deemed necessary by the Board. The Vice-President Shall be in charge of the Club Newsletter and will also assume all duties of the President when the President is unable to carry them out. The Secretary/ Treasurer Shall record all proceedings of the Board meetings and membership meetings. Shall keep the book of accounts showing all receipts and disbursements and will deposit all funds in a bank account assigned and approved by the Board. The accounting will be available to the Board upon request. Shall be responsible for all correspondence deemed necessary and approved by the Board. Will maintain membership roster with current addresses and status. The Directors shall be in charge of all activities. Shall be responsible for all news releases, official announcements and advertising. Shall be responsible for all procurements, equipment, donations and purchases approved by the Board. Shall be responsible for selecting committees and presiding over such committees as needed to accomplish the above.	1) The VP duties include assisting the President as necessary. 2) Assigned to most able and qualified 3) The Secretary/Treasurer has been split 4) Secretary is responsible for correspondence and recording all Board and membership meetings. 5) Treasurer is responsible for bank deposits and financial record keeping and maintaining the membership roster. 6) Directors shall be responsible for all other activities unless the responsibility is assumed by another board member. 7) Language concerning the formation of committees as necessary was added. PROPOSED REVISION ARTICLE V Duties of Officers The President shall preside at all meetings of the Board and of the members whether general or special. Shall sign all contracts, deeds and other instruments ordered to be executed by the Board. Shall represent the organization on all public relations as deemed necessary by the Board. The Vice-President shall assume all duties of the President when the President is unable to carry them out. Shall otherwise assist the President as necessary in any non-executive responsibilities of the organization, including, but not limited to, planning activities, tracking membership, organizing communications, or other duties as approved by the Board. The Secretary shall record all proceedings of the Board meetings and membership meetings. Shall be responsible for all correspondence deemed necessary and approved by the Board. The Treasurer shall keep the book of accounts showing all receipts and disbursements and will deposit all funds in a bank account assigned and approved by the Board. The accounting will be available to the Board upon request. Will maintain membership roster with current addresses and status. The Directors shall be in charge of all activities. Shall be responsible for all news releases, official announcements and advertising. Shall be responsible for all procurements, equipment, donations and purchases approved by the Board unless the responsibility is assumed by another board member. Shall be responsible for selecting committees and presiding over such committees as needed to accomplish the above. Committees shall be created by the Board, as it deems appropriate to oversee specific projects or activities of the club, including, but not limited to organization of the general meetings, events, or other activities.
ARTICLE VI Removal of Officers Sec. 1 – The membership may remove any officer by two- thirds (2/3) majority vote at a meeting called for that purpose. Full disclosure of this action will be reported to the membership ten (10) days prior to the meeting by letter, initialed thru the Secretary or designated person in the event the Secretary is in question.	Sec. 2 1) Added section to provide a provision for the Board to remove an officer by the unanimous consent of all other officers. PROPOSED REVISED BYLAW ARTICLE VI Removal of Officers Sec. 1 – A quorum of the membership may remove any officer by two- thirds (2/3) majority vote at a meeting called for that purpose. Full disclosure of this action will be reported to the membership ten (10) days prior to the meeting by letter, initialed thru the Secretary or designated person in the event the Secretary is in question. Sec. 2 – The Board may remove an officer by unanimous consent of all other officers of the Board. Full disclosure of this action will be reported to the membership ten (10) days following the Board’s decision, by letter, initiated thru the Secretary or designated person in the event the Secretary is in question. This action may be overruled by two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of a quorum of the membership if this vote occurs within one month of the Board’s vote to remove the officer.
ARTICLE VII Visitors Sec. 1 – Visitors and guests accompanied by members may be admitted to the activities except on those occasions as the Board may designate as members only. Members will be responsible for the actions and conduct of such guest.	No changes for this section
ARTICLE VIII Amendments These by-laws may be repealed or amended or new by-laws adopted at the annual meeting or at any meeting of the membership called for that purpose by a vote representing two- thirds (2/3) of the membership present. The foregoing by-laws were adopted at the meeting of members held April 19th, 1997, at the house of Debbie Coscorrosa, and ratified at the meeting of the Board on __. Signed: *______President Blas Pedro Uberuaga ______Vice-President Michelle Errecart ______Secretary/ Treasurer Kristi Hill ______Director Gonzalo Aranguren ______Director Jean Escoz ______Director Miren First ______Director Claudette Mendiola ______Director Virginia Goitia ______Director Nicholas Vroman ______Director Debbie Coscorrosa ______*Director John Etulain	1) Change date to reflect new ratification and attach names of Board members overseeing amendment ratification; Add qorum requirement. ARTICLE VIII Amendments These by-laws may be repealed or amended or new by-laws adopted at the annual meeting or at any meeting of the membership called for that purpose by a quorum vote representing two- thirds (2/3) of the membership present. The foregoing by-laws were amended at the meeting of members held March 27th, at the house of Nora Leech. Signed and ratified at the meeting of the Board on __.

Spring Dinner – March 27th

Amaya — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 01:48:35 +0000

Our Annual Spring Dinner will again be held at the beautiful PRAG House at 747 16^th Avenue E, Seattle, WA 98112. Please bring a side dish or dessert to share. In addition to food and drink we’ll be hosting the Annual Mus Tournament, as well as board elections and a proposed revision to the SEE bylaws. Please plan accordingly if you would like to play mus, vote, etc.

12:30 Mus Registration ($20 per team)

1:00 Mus Tournament

4:00 Socializing

5:00 Elections and by-law voting

5:30 Dinner – Entrée, bread, salad and beverages are provided. Please bring a side or dessert to share

$20 Members, $25 Non-members, $40 Member Family, $50 Non-Member Family (12 and under free)

747 16^th Avenue E, Seattle, WA 98112

Please contact Amaya at secretary@seattleeuskal.org or 321-662-8049 to RSVP or with any questions

NABO Winter Meeting-2010

jguerricabeitia — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 16:00:35 +0000

1. Call to Order
2. Preliminary Matter

2.1. Minutes approved w/ minor corrections.

2.2. Treasurer’s report-Grace Manvil

2.2.1. Pelota-Annual Federation Fee is $600. Six (6) clubs have frontons. Each pays $100 annual dues, which directly cover the international federation dues. Jean Leon Iribarren Memorial Fund is applied to pelota.

2.2.2. Mus-Dues are $10/player, minimum of $100 annually.

2.2.3. Educational account- SEE bought 50 calendars. With shipping total was $268.46

2.2.4. NABO dues- $100 per club; $1 member ($0.75 to NABO; $0.25 to Aita Tillous Fund)

3.0 Committee Reports

3.1. Video-Jesus Pedroarena

3.1.1. NABO owns a lot of outdated VHS equipment.

3.1.2. Jesus authorized to dispose of dated equipment as he sees fit.

3.1.3. A few newer pieces of equipment (CD/DVD) will be maintained.

3.2. Calendars-Mary Lou Urrutia in absentia

3.2.1. Going forward clubs will review proofs prior to printing.

3.3. History-Argitxu Camus Etchecopare in absentia

3.3.1. California Basque Heritage Project is looking for immigrant info from 1850 onward. Project to expand to other states upon completion.

3.4. Pilota-Evelyne Etcharren

3.4.1. Pilota Txapelketa will be held in conjunction w/ Jailadi July 29^th & 30^th; categories will include: Esku Pilota, Paleta Goma (mens/womens) and Women’s Baleen

3.5. Udaleku-Valerie Arrechea/Kate Camino

3.5.1. Application online; due May 1

3.5.2. Tuition $300; Aita Tillous Financial Aid available; App due April 1^st

3.5.3. Dates: June 21^st-July 2^nd

3.5.4. Questions: Kate Camino kcamino@unr.edu

3.5.5. Udaleku 2011 SF, CA June 19-July 2^nd; Udaleku 2012 ID or WY?

3.6. Beti Gazte-Vasco Bilbao (in absentia) presented by Tyler Smith

3.6.1. Beti Gazte will hold 1^st event July 3^rd 4-8pm in Elko, NV in conjunction with Elko festivities.

3.6.2. Target demographic: 15-25.

3.6.3. NABO voted to give Beti Gazte $1000 in seed money.

3.6.4. Clubs asked to publicize.

3.6.5. To get involved e-mail: Vasco Bilbao-Bastida at bilbao@post.harvard.edu , with “Attn: Beti Gazte”

3.6.6. Looking to create a commemorative scarf/bracelet.

3.7. Mus Tournaments- Pierre Etcharren

3.7.1. June 12^th; names due by June 1 to etcharren@msn.com

3.7.2. International Mus Tournament 2010

3.7.2.1.http://nabasque.org/LA-MUS-2010.htm

3.7.2.2.Hosting country (US) allowed 2 teams

3.7.3. San Francisco has mus cheat sheets

3.8. Euskara-Martin Goicoechea/Izaskun Kortazar

3.8.1. Logo is being created; current idea is “EITB” formed to Euskal Ikasi

3.8.2. Basque Singles website: www.kaixomaitia.com

3.8.3. Several Basque teachers are interested in summer exchanges

3.8.4. Bertso Jaialdia 50 urte Celebration in S.SF March 13^th 2010

3.8.5. NABO won the 2009 Eusko Ikaskuntza (for Basque) from Eusko Jaurlitza.

3.9. Kantari Eguna-Noel Goyhenetche

3.9.1. Will be hosted by Iparreko Ibarra Basque Club in October; info to follow.

3.9.2. Children encouraged to participate; all clubs encouraged to participate.

3.9.3. NABO will provide airfare for singers (Errmanu Marticorrena+)

3.10. Basque Governement/Diaspora-Benan Oregi

3.10.1. New General Secretary vested Reno in July 2009

3.10.2. No cuts have been made to Diaspora funding; all others affected (e.g. 20% cut in culture funding)

3.10.3. Gaztemundu will have a new format with extensive travel all around Euskadi (July 18-30^th)à Promote image of the Basque country abroad.

3.10.4. Jailadi Committee has requested plane tickets for performers (cultural tour)

3.10.5. General grant info will be published in March.

3.10.5.1. New receipt list will require (expense, CK# & date); audit only some.

3.10.5.2. Extreme need grants exist

3.10.6. World Congress is discussing having upwards of 600 attendees. 3 delegates per club (NABO is US club).

3.11. NABO Facilitator’s Report-John Ysursa

3.11.1. Euskaltasunaren Erronka “Basque Continuity Challenge”; Our challenge to continue the promulgation of Basque culture.

3.11.2. UNR has Basque Online Bookstore

3.11.3. Hartza-Hybrid dance group from all over US

3.11.4. Iparhaize II

3.11.4.1. Ages 16-??

3.11.4.2. Return to Mar del Plata

3.11.4.3. App Due March 15^th

3.11.5. Singing/Songs-Provided on flash drive to Danielle-Will copy

4.0 Old Business

4.1. Ellis Island $1000-Approved (SEE supported)

4.2. Global Association-Approved continued discussion w/o any additional cost (SEE supprted)

4.3. 2011 trip to Euskadi-Anita Anacabe is organizing atrip to Euskadi 2011

4.4. NABO Flag/Pilota Flag-US Flag was used; similiar to other countries. No NABO other flag was created.

4.5. Finance Committee

4.5.1. Will review general fund

4.5.2. TBD

5.0 New business

5.1. NABO meetings 3 meetings to 2 a year? Failed-SEE voted against (still 3)

5.2. Raise NABO president spending limit from $500-$1000-Approved (SEE voted against)

5.3. Bizi Emankorra Nominations-3 selected

5.4. New club applications-Miami approved

5.5. Should NABO try to continue Lokaria info (births, deaths, weddings, etc)-Failed. Much discussion alluding to difficulty of task and Aita Tillous unique position in gathering and fulfilling the role (SEE voted against).

5.6. Future meetings discussed; 2012 convention in Elko; 2013 convention in NYC.

5.7. Open items

SEE Board Meeting Notes-February 2010

Amaya — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 01:34:09 +0000

Seattle Euskal Etxea

February 2, 2010 Board Meeting

Attendees

Danielle Bock- Grande – President

Joe Guerricabeitia – Vice President

Amaya Michelena – Secretary

Marilou Michelena – Board Member

Katherine Romano – Guest

Agenda

Subject	Notes

Katherine	Katherine Romano attended the meeting and is interested in joining the board
Spring Dinner	March 27 at Nora’s12:30pm Mus Registration1:00 Mus Tournament 4:00 Social Hour 5:00 Elections and by-law voting 5:30 Dinner, entrée bread, salad and beverages are provided, guests are asked to bring a side dish or dessert to share Fee’s – $20 members, $25 non-members, $40 member family, $50 non member family Communication – Newsletter and website Mus Coordinator – Joe Conchita to make main course SEE will provide chorizo, salad, bread, drinks Petersons – Gaizka has the receipts from last year, we need to order fewer tables (4 less) and chairs. Joe to see if we can borrow 8ft tables from his work. Danielle or Amaya can pick up chairs from Petersons to avoid delivery charges Chorizo – Joe’s parents will bring chorizos from Boise. He will put a blurb in the newsletter to see if anyone wants to order ahead of time Bread – Amaya Pasta Salad – Amaya Salad –Danielle Cod – Joe Cheese – Danielle, $40 budget Soda – Amaya Wine – we’ll serve cheap kalimotxo wine this year, Carlo Rossi sangria, etc – Joe has 7 bottles from previous events. Danielle will be in charge of ordering wine Cutlery – Joe has in storage Raffle –Joe has in storage: 2 palas, carved picture, 2 SEE shirts, 1 book We will try to raffle 3-4 big things and sell the rest of the items. Nora to charge $80 for the facilities
Kepa Junkera	Kepa contacted the club asking for the name of a contact from his last visit to Seattle. Danielle will contact Toni to see if she knows of his acquaintance.
Elections	Elections to take place at Spring Dinner Call for nominations to go out in newsletter
Bylaw Revision	We are out of compliance on club bylaws, and need hold a vote to update them at the Spring Dinner. Amaya to write up proposed bylaw changes as discussed in previous board meeting for inclusion in newsletter
Newsletter	To go out last week of February, first week of MarchSend any newsletter ideas to Joe Newsletter topics Guernica book club (already provided by Angie Stewart) John E. to possibly write article about Basque smuggling Aita Talou Chorizo, Card orders Election nominations, Bylaws UW language day Get regular mus game/lessons going – Joe to collect list of interested parties for Saturday afternoons Jaialdi NABO Meeting Articles due to Joe by 2/19, Joe will turn into printer by 2/23, we will stuff at next meeting Amaya to contact Gaizka for finalized membership list
UW Language Day	March 5 – Danielle and Marilou to attend
SEE Website	Keep using “@seattleeuskal.org” email addresses as they are working now
2010 Grant	Information not available on NABO site yet, last year grant request was due in May
Next Meeting	Tuesday, March 2 at Joe’s 6:00
Summer Picnic	Shoot for Saturday, August 21, in Seattle Area (Lake Sammamish) – Danielle to make reservation

Cooking Classes & Tamborada @ Txori in Jan & Feb

jguerricabeitia — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 23:27:16 +0000

Cooks Are Kings For A Day

Join us on Wednesday, January 20th at TXORI for our 3rd Annual Tamborrada Fiesta!

From 5pm to 11pm we’ll have pintxos at the ready as servers weave their way through the festive throng with platters full from which to order. Drummers clad in chef’s whites will be marching through Belltown from 6pm to 9pm, and we will all don chef toques and be cooks for a day!

At 9pm we will be serving a special txoko communal dinner in the back room. $45.00 per person plus beverages, tax and gratuity. Seating is limited. Last year this dinner sold-out in 2 days! Reservations are required. Please call TXORI at 206-204-9771

Tamborrada is THE festival of San Sebastian, Spain — the bars of which were the inspiration for TXORI. One legend says it began in the 19th century. The city was about to be invaded so all of the cooks and chefs of the city left their kitchens and joined the drummers of the regiment which was defending the city. As they beat on wine casks and pots and pans in concert with the military drummers, the invading army was convinced that the force defending the city was considerably larger than they had expected and then retreated. So, the cooks saved the city!

Beginning at the stroke of midnight each January 20th cooks are honored as the event is reenacted. Groups of drummers dress as chefs and march through the city drumming for 24 hours straight! To learn more, click here:es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamborrada_de_San_Sebasti%C3%A1n

Winter Schedule of Classes and Chef Dinners

Chef Joseba is offering a new series of cooking classes and chef dinners at Txori and The Harvest Vine. Prices do not include sales tax. Beverages included in classes held at The Harvest Vine. Please call for more information or to reserve your spot.

At Txori Saturday, January 23rd at 11am: Cooking Class: Seafood in Donostia, fine pintxos $40

At The Harvest Vine Saturday, January 30th at 10 am: Cooking Class: Spanish breakfast $60

At The Harvest Vine Tuesday, February 9th at 6:30 pm: Chef’s Dinner: Cuisine from the Catalan Region 5 courses $75.00 + tax, gratuity and beverages

At Txori Saturday, February 13th at 11 am: Cooking Class: French Basque cuisine $40

At The Harvest Vine Wednesday , February24th at 6 pm: Chef’s Dinner: Dinner in Bayonne 5 courses $70.00 + tax, gratuity and beverages

At The Harvest Vine Saturday, February 27th at 10 am: Cooking Class: Paella $60

Book Review of Dave Boling’s Guernica on Monday, January 18th @ 7:30pm

Danielle — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 01:33:19 +0000

Please join us at former board member’s Angie Stewart’s home at 2437 61st Ave SE, Mercer Island for this insightful event. Guernica: Dave Boling

Here it is: If you only read one book this year, make it this one.

Boling’s historical fiction follows three generations of Basques as they live, work, and love in the time of the turn of the twentieth century up through the ending days of World War II, including the cold and destructive bombing of their village by the Nazis at dictator Franco’s request. The story follows three brothers and their descendants while fishing, farming, and smuggling, keeping alive in the face of the Spanish Civil War. While this may sound like something akin to a family saga a la The Thorn Birds, what keeps Guernica out of the syrupy range is Boling’s writing: sparse, descriptive, never florid, but always meaningful. It’s a family drama without the overly expressive or descriptive words that make it into melodrama, but the writing fills you with the dust in the soil, the turbulent sea, the danger of the mountain passes. Make no mistake: this is definitely a book that could have gone the way of the melodrama. But Boling’s writing prevents this, and does so wonderfully.

Not that the sparse but beautiful prose does anything to keep the reader at arm’s length from the characters. The very situation that the people find themselves in make it damn near impossible to not feel an emotional bond with them, to not anguish over their possible fates. Let’s be honest: with a title (and a subject matter) like Guernica, you know that it can’t possibly have a happy ending for everyone. And I am not ashamed to admit that I was absolutely wracked with tears for at least a sixty-page stretch of the novel. The writing of the bombing was almost unbearable as characters scrambled for their loved ones and watched people die. Limbs littered the street and men and women and children burned alive in bomb shelters. The chaos, the panic, the length and desperation and inevitability of the scene paints the horror of the useless attack. Eventually I am honor-bound to mention…do I think this is an all-time best book ever written ever? No. Honestly, no. There are problems, including the inclusion of Pablo Picasso as an occasional character. This sometimes seemed extraneous, even though it was done in a manner entirely consistent with Picasso, the historical character, and did add a layer that will be familiar to many people. The novel is also prevented from possible utter Greatness by a plot twist in the final quarter of the book that made even emotion-wrenched me say, “Hm…unlikely. Tenable, yes, even possible…but unlikely.” This twist smelled slightly of a need for some happiness or at least a not-wholly-tragic ending (Lord of the Flies, anyone?), but in light of a beautiful quote of learning what to do with the love spent after someone dies, the plot twist hangs in there just enough to not be entirely ludicrous. Besides, I’d spent so much time crying at that point that I was ready for some little ray of light. I put my face in it and accepted it. This book is as much about the endurance of love and joy as it is about needless destruction and death in the face of war, and in the persistance of love I can accept a bit of haggling on the plot.

Guernica is Boling’s first book, and as I’ve mentioned it’s not without its flaws. But the good in the book – the sparse writing, the ability to tell a large and tragic story with a strong voice – largely outweighs the bad. Plus I haven’t read anything in a long time that had the ability to not only make me cry, but to keep me crying, leaving me breathless and hopeless for page after page. I don’t say things like this all that often, and it’s not very frequent that I can recommend a book without qualm. This is it. Go forth and seek Guernica.

Euskadi to export Mondragon’s cooperative work model to US.

jguerricabeitia — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 22:16:18 +0000

America is a nation of democracy. The Founding Fathers designed it so; Alexis de Tocqueville praised it. During the last half century America solidified this democracy such that every American man, woman and child was given the right to affect their lives through an equal right to vote. Still, for a nation which often touts its democratic roots as one if its hallmark characteristics, the idea of direct worker involvement in US corporate affairs is often branded as leftist, socialist and sometimes even categorically painted with the wide, red-brush of McCarthy’s communism.

Here in Washington state, where commercial aeronautics was born under the Boeing banner, some have argued that worker unions and their collective bargaining recently drove the big “B” to establish its second 787 Dreamliner production line in South Carolina, where amongst other things workers are not unionized.

This makes the increasing popularity of worker driven cooperative business models within the US, all the more interesting. Most notable has been the decision by the United Steel Workers Union to court and co-opt the Basque, worker-owned cooperative model of Mondragon Cooperative Corporation (MCC). The United Steel Workers Union, is after all, North America’s largest industrial trade union.

Following an age of corporate outsourcing and off-shore manufacturing plants US workers have looked to the world to find a sustainable model for future US growth and have landed right in our Aitxitxe (grandfather) and Amuma’s (grandmother’s) backyard. The US Steel workers have looked at the example set by the Basques of Mondragon and decided that the very same could be done here, and why not?

As Americans we are a nation of do-it-yourselfers (DIY’ers). We live by, “if you want something done right, do-it-yourself.” We are a proud nation of entrepreneurs, so well known for our creativity and that which is often described as the American Spirit, that every year foreign nationals inundate us with applications for work, and study visas. This spirit, is ingrained in us and has driven the proliferation of big-box DIY chains like Lowe’s and Home Depot. As Americans we swap home and automotive repair tips like baking recipes with our friends.

As Basques we are hard-working, family-centric people. We know our neighbors. In Euskadi and throughout the diaspora we have earned a reputation of ingenuity, pioneering spirit and hard work, all traits that carried us into new worlds either by boat or by plane, wherever there was work and opportunity available. Always with us we brought our traditions, our language and often times our families.

Mondragon’s cooperative work model is simply one of the oldest traditions, repackaged: the baserria. Like the ever-disappearing baserritarra (traditional farmer from a baserria [farmhouse]) could tell you the baserria was and in some cases still is a modern day worker-owned cooperative. Often centralized around families this microcosm of sustainability, traditionally revolved around farming and ranching but newer generations have hybridized this tradition by allowing the older generations to continue to farm and ranch as their forefathers had done, while the youth have pursued greater educational opportunities and a chance to join Euskal Herria’s burgeoning manufacturing and business sectors.

The “baserriak” cooperative model is not “new” to the US, only new to US workers. The cooperative model has always been with Basques even in the diaspora in the form our Euskal Etxeak or Basque Centers, where the economy of currency has been swapped for heritage and tradition, sport and dance, language and culinary delights.

To our American brothers and sisters we say, “Ongi etorri!” or Welcome! May the cooperative model work as well in for Americans as it has done for so long with the Basques.

Garaipena, neke askoren ondorena “Success is the result of a lot of hard work.”

References

In Cleveland, Worker Coops Look to a Spanish Model By Judith D. Schwartz from Time.com; 12/22/09; Accessed 12/28/09

US Seeks Inspirtaion in Basque Cooperative Model By I. H. – E. S. from, eitb.com; Published 12/28/09; Accessed 12/28/09

‘One Worker, One Vote:’ US Steelworkers to Experiment with Factory Ownership, Mondragon Style By Carl Davidson from, SolidarityEconomy.net; Published 10/27/09; Accessed 11/25/09