Kansas-Paraguay Partners March Newsletter

Kansas-Paraguay Partners

President’s Letter by Jay Newton I find our quarterly Kansas Paraguay Partners meetings to be productive, informative, and interesting. The quarterly meeting December 8, 2012 at Bethel College Mennonite Church in North Newton was no exception.

It is a board requirement that persons traveling to Paraguay with a board approved Partners of the Americas funded travel request, give a trip report to the KPP board following their return. Dr. Martin Cuellar, Professor of Piano at Emporia State University and KPP member began our meeting with a musical performance from his October trip to Paraguay followed by a power point presentation. The cultural and educational value of Kansas Paraguay Partners and Comite Paraguay Kansas relationship was impressively illustrated.

The board meeting is always an opportunity to feel some reassurance that good things are happening amid all the daily reports of global conflict. Ms. Ann Burger, a new KPP member, gave a report of her visit to New Horizon Methodist School in Lambare, Paraguay and the education being given to primary school children.

Dr. Ed Flentje Professor at the Wichita State University Department of Public Administration was present to advise the board of his upcoming trip to Paraguay along with professors of other universities who will meet with citizens and government officials in Paraguay to discuss development of democratic institutions.

As with all boards, the routine issues must be addressed, but the success of a board is measured by the success of the people involved. The board members and committee members of KPP and CPK that take on projects of education, health, emergency preparedness, cultural arts exchanges, natural resource development, economic development projects and the development of civil society, are all volunteers. I recently read the history of KPP being written by Merrill Raber. It discribes the many successful projects that have been accomplished over the last forty-five years. It is impressive what volunteers can do!

As president, I encourage and welcome your involvement, participation and interest in the Kansas Paraguay Partnership.

Individuals, you and I, can and do make a difference in this world.

March, 2013

March * Marzo * Jasyapy

ANNUAL KPP MEETING March 9, 2013- 8:00 a.m.

University of Kansas – Lawrence, KS Kansas Union – Mallot Room 8:00-9:00 Coffee and Refreshments 9:15-noon Meeting 12:00 Lunch

KPP 40 Year History Soon, the KPP 40 year history, will be ready for formatting and publishing. It is anticipated the amount will be under $2000. Your generous contribution will be much appreciated. Please send to treasurer Dave Schafer 2104 Fox Meadows Manhattan, KS 66503 e-mail: davidschafer@man.com Tel: 785 - 776 - 8519

KPP Scholarship Deadline March 1st is the deadline for applications for the $1,200 KPP scholarship to study in Paraguay. For more information or to apply, please e-mail John Poertner at jpoertner@sunflower.com

Kansas Paraguay Partners

March, 2013

Firefighting Equipment Headed to Paraguay Article published in The Newton Kansan on Feb. 8, 2013

WICHITA —

Volunteers provide nearly all of the firefighting protection in the South American country of Paraguay. Their equipment is mostly what they can gather and adapt by their efforts.

They will soon have an additional 5 tons of protective gear, thanks to Kansas Paraguay Partners.

KPP has gathered surplus equipment that can no longer be used in Kansas due to its age or changes in safety requirements. The Wichita Fire Department is the leading donor, along with fire departments from Clearwater, Colwich, Hesston, Newton, Walton and Wellington.

"We are deeply grateful for Kansas fire departments reaching out to support their international From left Newton firefighter Dan Bronson, Lorraine Richards of Newton, and Wichita firefighter Scott Fromme, members of the Kansas Paraguay colleagues," said KPP representative Steve RichPartners Emergency Preparedness committee, inspect and pack donated fire ards. fighting equipment to be shipped. Photo Courtesy Steve Richards About 85 percent of fire personnel in Kansas are also volunteers. Priority is given to local needs before donations are sent farther away.

The Wichita Fire Department has been host to the fire equipment donation project. Firefighters and others volunteer their own time to the effort to sort and pack the equipment.

However, Kansas hand-me-downs will be a major boost to the Corps of Volunteer Firefighters of Paraguay.

For example, 100 air pack breathing units may increase their inventory by as much as 30 percent.

According to a news release, KPP interest in Emergency Preparedness was reinvigorated after a tragic fire killed more than 400 and injured hundreds more in the capitol of Asuncion in 2004.

The US Air Force will airlift the donation from McConnell Air Base as part of the Denton Humanitarian Assistance Transportation Program. The Denton Program puts extra space on US military transport to use, when available, for humanitarian aid. The Denton Program is administered by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Department of State (DOS) and Department of Defense (DOD).

The Kansas Paraguay chapter of Partners of the Americas creates opportunities and fosters understanding by promoting bilateral people-to-people exchanges. Active since 1968, projects include Civil Society, Cultural Arts, Education, Health, International Trade, and Natural Resources in addition to Emergency Preparedness.

Partners of the Americas (POA) is the western hemisphere’s largest private, completely apolitical volunteer organization.

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Kansas-Paraguay Partners

Public Policy and Presidential Elections Project

by Jay Newton

At the invitation of CIRD (Centro de Informacion y Recursos para el Desarrollo), a non-governmental organization that is an outgrowth of the CPK/KPP programs, eight professors from the United States traveled to Paraguay to participate in a “Public Policy and Presidential Elections Project.”

The first group of four traveling in December included Drs. Bob Beatty and Mark Peterson from Washburn University, Dr. Michael Smith of Emporia State University, and Dr. Gwyn Mellinger of Baker University.

The second group of four traveling in January included Dr. Edward Flentje of Wichita State University, Dr. John Barnett of Emporia State University, Professor Jared Larson of St. Olaf College, Minnesota, and Wendy Underhill of the National Council of State Legislatures. The strong participation of Kansans in these two groups is the result of the long partnership between Kansas and Paraguay.

Veronica Gauto, the project coordinator, described the mission of the project by saying “We hope that the project will improve political parties’ institutional and organizational capacities to mainstream their key policy proposals, structure programmatic engagement of parties with voters and install an active engagement with voters.”

The impeachment of President Fernando Lugo in 2012 created concern in Paraguay for the ongoing progress and development of democratic institutions. Fears about the stability of the political system and the future of democracy resulted in a proposal from CIRD to USAID to develop the Public Policy and Presidential Elections Project. The upcoming April elections in Paraguay will be the first test of the democratic process since the removal of President Lugo.

Continued on page 4

March, 2013

New Horizon Methodist School is Changing Lives by Ann Burger

After visiting New Horizon Methodist School in Lambaré, Paraguay last October, I returned to Kansas inspired to do something to help the school. With over 700 students, the school seeks to prepare a new generation for Paraguay of welleducated leaders who are honest, have integrity and love their fellowman. They primarily serve children from the Lambaré area who are from low-income families. The school offers early childhood education programs through high school. While I was visiting New Horizon Methodist School, I had the opportunity to observe in several classrooms, help teach English and participate in a camp for middle school students. I learned that the families are required to pay a small portion in order for them to have a vested interest in their child’s education; however the majority of the funding for the school all comes from donations from individuals, churches and other organizations.

Sue Givens, Director and Missionary of New Horizon Methodist School has been making her way across the United States visiting various churches and other organizations in order to gain sponsorships for the students and funding for the school since early January. On February 2nd, I had the privilege of hosting her at Kechi United Methodist Church for a dinner where she presented on the school. We collected over $1,000 that evening in addition to a few pledges for student sponsorships. The dinner had nearly 40 in attendance from Kechi UMC with many types of chili, soups, desserts and the traditional Paraguayan dish called chipa guazu enjoyed by all.

The dinner would not have been possible without all of the help of those who cooked food, donated food and supported the school through donations. A special thanks to the WSU students from Paraguay who helped cook chipa guazu and helped set up for the dinner. More information about the school and ways to help can be found at paraguayschools.org

WSU students from Paraguay talking to Sue Givens, principal at the school in Lambare, Paraguay. Photo Courtesy Ann Burger

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Kansas Paraguay Partners From page 3

The eight experts met with three Paraguayan groups: the media, activist and employees of political parties’, political party leaders who have served or may be serving in the congress or the President’s cabinet; and facility and students from Catholic University. In return the groups from Kansas were briefed by the Paraguayan congressional staff on structure, procedures, and organization of the congress. The visiting group was also briefed on the Paraguayan court structure and procedures by Appellate Judge Martinez Prieto. Meetings with Comite Paraguay Kansas (CPK), and U.S. Ambassador James Thessin were a part of the project.

The dictatorship came to an end in Paraguay in 1989. The commitment of CIRD and so many of the individuals involved in Comite Kansas Paraguay to develop democracy and civil society in their country in many ways reflect the historical efforts to develop democracy in the United States over the past two hundred and twenty-five years.

Kansas Paraguay Partners Cecilia Martinez, Newsletter Editor 2415 Morning Dew Wichita, KS 67205 kansasparaguaypartners.wordpress.com Join us on Facebook!

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March, 2013

Annual Board Elections

The following members have consented to be nominated for the positions listed. Thanks to the nominating committee composed of Chair Annette Voth, Steve Richards and Dave Schafer. The election will be held at the annual meeting on Saturday, March 9, 2013 at the Alumni Center on the University of Kansas campus in Lawrence.

Nominated as Officers: Vice President • Miguel Gonzales-Abellas Treasurer • John Poertner

2 years (2015)

Officers remaining on the Board President • JayNewton Secretary • Anette Voth

1 year (2014)

Nominated as Directors 2 years (2015) • Melissa Birch • Gonzalo Bruce • Bettina Langley • Josephine Squires Directors staying on the Board1 year (2014) • Scott Fromme • Paul Zagorski • Merrill Raber • Nan Porter

2 years (2015)

1 year (2014)