Astero
Fall NABO Meeting
This Saturday, the North American Basque Organizations held its annual Fall Meeting. The meeting originally scheduled to take place in Rocklin, California in conjunction with NABO’s Kantari Eguna, was held virtually on Zoom, due to the pandemic. In honor of Kantari Eguna, President Philippe Acheritogaray asked newly elected delegate from the Los Banos Basque Club, international opera tenor, Christopher Bengochea, to start us off with a song, and so he sang “Haurrak Ikasazue” for us.
The Zoom meeting facilitated attendance of 40 out of 41 of NABO’s members, including representatives from the east coast and Canadian clubs. Also attending the meeting were the Basque Government’s Director of the Basque Community Abroad, Gorka Alvarez, Benan Oregi, from the same department, Xabier Berrueta and Esther Ciganda of the United States Federation of Pelota (USFP), and Elizabeth Lascurain from the International Federation of Basque Pelota (FIPV). Iñaki Arrieta also made a video presentation from the Jon Bilbao Basque Library at the University Of Nevada, Reno.
Besides the usual committee reports by the various committee/program chairs, the delegates also heard from Gorka Alvarez who once again shared the Basque Government’s commitment to helping Basque communities and clubs abroad in any way that they can during this difficult time. To read his full presentation click here.
One of the meeting highlights was the presentation on Pilota from various experts including NABO’s pilota chair Tony Huarte. Representatives from the USFP and FIPV educated us on the need for more female participants in the sport in order to secure a place among sports represented every four years at the Olympics, a spot that pilota lost to Break Dancing. As part of this effort, they shared a series of videos as part of a campaign to resurrect interest in pilota and Jai Alai among women. We need to remember that pilota is a strong part of our cultural heritage and so deserves all that we can do to keep it alive and well in the US.
The following is a promo video from Las Zestalaris, a group based in Puebla, Mexico. Their group has drive and a passion for pelota, particularly Cesta Punta/Jai Alai. This young "zesty" group of mostly Gen Z women look to give the sport the dynamic it much needed. Dare to dream!
Since there was no convention meeting this year, annual elections for officers also took place on Saturday with Philippe Acheritogaray and Mayi Petracek being reelected for another term as NABO President and Treasurer respectively. Kate Camino was also reappointed Secretary for the coming term. NABO Euskara Coordinator and Facilitator positions are also hired at the fall meeting and Sonia Castañon, Kate Camino, Lisa Corcostegui, were rehired for another year in their respective positions. Other business included voting to increase NABO Mus dues from $10 to $15 per participant. The motion passed. NABO’s winter meeting is scheduled to take place in Salt Lake City hosted by the Basque Club of Utah in conjunction with their annual dinner/dance at the end of January. More information regarding the meeting whether in person, or virtually will be provided as the date nears.
Cenarrusa Foundation Award
The Cenarrusa Foundation for Basque Studies has announced an award recognizing individuals or institutions that “exemplify Pete Cenarrusa’s numerous contributions to public service.” Eligible recipients can be from the US or abroad, and will be selected by the Foundation’s Board of Directors. Deadline to submit nominations is November 15th and the winner will be announced on December 16th, Pete’s birthday. If you know someone please fill out this form.
10/15/2020
