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Basque Delegation in the US and European Day of Languages
Please join the Delegation of the Basque Country in the US in celebrating the European Day of Languages 2024 this Saturday, September 28th at the Queens Night Market. The Basque culture will be featured at the event thanks to the Etxepare Basque Institute’s participation as an associate member of EUNIC (European Union National Institutes for Culture). Not only will the event include a performance by Basque dancer Beñat Urrutia, but there will also be a raffle for a chance to win a free online Basque language course, among other activities. For more information, click here.
Colorado Euskal Etxea Picnic
The Colorado Euskal Etxea hosted the NABO fall meeting last weekend in conjunction with its annual summer picnic. This year, the festivities were held in Grand Junction, Colorado to rededicate the Plaza Urrutia as a Colorado Historical Site. The event was very well attended with many attendees, besides NABO delegates, traveling from far away to attend. The main events began after the NABO meeting on Saturday at the Plaza Urrutia with handball exhibition matches between two teams from the Bay Area. This was followed by the dedication ceremony with speeches by the Colorado National & State Register Historian, Eric Newcombe, and Scott Beilfuss, Grand Junction City Council Member at Large. At the end of their presentations, they unveiled the plaque that will be attached to the fronton. Fr. Jacob Machado, Parochial Vicar at St. Stephen Church in Glenwood Springs, Colorado then did the blessing and also blessed the fronton with holy water. At the conclusion of the dedication of the Plaza, NABO’s Al Erquiaga Bizi Emankorra, lifetime achievement award was presented to Mayi Petracek. Valerie Arrechea, former NABO President and San Francsico Basque Cultural Center delegate, read Mayi’s nomination highlighting the many ways Mayi has contributed to not only her local Colorado Euskal Etxea but also to several other NABO clubs, not to mention her service to NABO serving as its treasurer since 2015. President Jean Flesher then presented her the award. Zorionak Mayi! The afternoon continued with a BBQ lamb lunch, dance performances by Chino Basque Club’s Gauden Bat Dancers and more pilota. The evening rounded out with dancing to Jean Flesher on the accordion and singing too. On Sunday morning, the Colorado Euskal Etxea held its NABO Qualifying Mus Tournament. Seven teams participated including many who had traveled a considerable distance to do so. Winners were brothers, Adrien and Florentino Elicequi from Chino, California. Zorionak! On behalf of everyone at NABO, we would like to say a heartfelt Mila Esker and Zorionak to everyone who made last weekend possible! It was truly a wonderful event!
Fall NABO Meeting
As previously reported the Fall NABO Meeting took place in Grand Junction, Colorado in conjunction with the rededication of Plaza Urrutia and the Colorado Euskal Etxea Summer Picnic. The meeting took place at the DoubleTree Hotel and was attended by representatives of 39 out of the 41 NABO member clubs in person as well as on Zoom. Also attending were Ander Caballero, newly appointed Secretary General of the European Union, and Foreign Action, Gorka Alvarez, director of the department of Basque Communities Abroad, and Benan Oregi technician from the same department. Ander took the floor briefly to reiterate his commitment to the Basque Diaspora, as well as his special bond to NABO, having previously been involved with the New England Basque Club as well as serving as the Basque Delegate to the US. Besides being updated on NABO’s current programs, highlights of the meeting included a vote to raise club member dues which passed 31-8 to make NABO more self-reliant in covering the increased expenses the organization is experiencing. The fall meeting is also when the Facilitator and Euskara Coordinator positions are hired. Incumbents, Kate Camino and Lisa Corcostegui, and Edurne Arostegui were rehired in their respective positions. Unfortunately, Edurne alerted everyone present that she would only stay on through the end of this current contract in January. She will be greatly missed. At the end of business, Joseba Etxarri, Director of EuskalKultura.eus, gave a brief history of the Basque community in Colorado. It was so interesting to learn that so much of that part of Colorado used to be working Basque sheep ranches. When the meeting adjourned, those present then made their way to the Plaza Urrutia for the rest of the day’s festivities. NABO’s next meeting will be in Salt Lake City, hosted by the Basque Club of Utah, on February 1st.
Basque Portraits and Illustrations
Please join Zoe Bray for the opening reception of her exhibit of Basque Portraits and Illustrations at the Nevada Historical Society museum on Wednesday October 2nd from 5-7pm. Refreshments will be served, and Zoe will give a short presentation of her work at 5:30pm. Cost to attend is the Museum admission, $6.00 for adults and children and UNR students and faculty are free. For more information, click here.
