Arkansas Partners Year in Review April 2014

BOARD MEMBERS: AR CHAPTER President---Dr. Diana Gonzales Worthen Vice President---Sharon Krueger Secretary--Heidi Cohen Treasurer---Dr. Paul Noland

Direcciones 2014 News Update

NWAR Regional Vice Pres. --Dr. Margaret Clark Central AR Regional Vice Pres.---Dr. Kay Kraeft Member at Large NW AR--Dr. Freddie Bowles Member at Large---NW AR-Hayot Tuychiev Member at Large-Central AR--Thecia Taylor Member at Large-Central AR-Wayne Swegle Past President-George Vena Health Committee Chair---Rosario Keele Education Committee Chair--Dr. Margaret Clark Culture Committee Chair---Dr. Kay Kraeft Women & Families Chair--Dr. Kameri Christy *****************************************

BOARD MEMBERS: SANTA CRUZ (Companeros de las Americas)  Presidente: Modesto Saldana  Vice-Presidente: Oscar Heming  Secretario General: Miguel Arazola  Secretaria de Hacienda (Economic): Betsabe Ortiz  Secretario de Comunicacion: Cesar Perez  Vocal 1: Betto Pers  Vocal 2: Norman Ventura  Vocal 3: Walter Callau  Comite de Educacion: Aida McKenney  Comite de Cultura: Cecilia Kenning  Comite de Turismo: Elvira Chavez (Past President)  Comite de Salud y Bienestar Social: Jorge Ybarnegaray, Jimena Soto

NEWS FLASH!!!

We have just learned that three Latinas (from Brazil, Columbia, and the Dominican Republic) are being placed in Northwest Arkansas (Fayetteville and Springdale) to work one month as Legisla Comite de Desrrollo, Conservacion Y Medio tive Fellows. All members will be contacted about possible ways they can assist with their stay Ambiente: Cesar Perez in Arkansas. (more later)

STUDY ABROAD IN SANTA CRUZ Hayot Tuychiev, a board member and instructor in the Lemke Department of Journalism at the University of Arkansas, along with one of his colleagues are finalizing plans to take 14 journalism students to Santa Cruz from May 28 to June 8 as a part of a Study Abroad workshop/class in journalism. They are working with Norman Ventura, the Director of Cinematography, Broadcast Journalism, and Photography at UAGRM who was here last year on an exchange program where he observed some of Tuychiev’s classes. The logistics coordinator is Yessica Vidal. Students will have opportunities to learn more about the Bolivian culture while they tour the countryside around Santa Cruz and Tuychiev (C) and Ventura (R) discussing study abroad program at TV station visit some of the local historical sites. One of the UAF alumni has recommended that they be sure to include a visit to the Butterfly Sanctuary.

Cesar Perez (L) receiving Arkansas Traveler from Thecia Taylor

2013 Year in Review FEBRUARY-MARCH: RAFAEL ARCIGA -A LEGISLATIVE FELLOW IN PARAGUAY Rafael Arciga was selected to be a Legislative Fellow and spent three weeks in Asuncion, Paraguay in February.

He worked with Juntos por la Educacion in their Department of Volunteerism & Mobilization to develop a plan to recruit and engage volunteers to help them with their mission and to give insight and feedback on their objectives. Additionally, he participated in a book delivery drive to a low income rural school.

Rafael is an Assistant Director of Admissions at the University of Arkansas, the President of the Board of Hispanic Women’s Organization of Arkansas, the former AR State Director of LULAC, and the Director of Membership Services for Phi Iota Alpha at the University of Arkansas Fayetteville.

Rafael Arcigia (right) with Guz-

Juntos por la Educacion is a non-profit organization supported by business and citizens with the goal to man (left) and Martinez better the quality of education and achieve the goals set by the National Education System in Paraguay. Its mission is “To Make Education a National Cause.”

Two other U.S. Legislative Fellows were there at the same time, Amilcar Guzman from D.C. working with Juntos por la Educacion and Mariella Martinez from N.Y. working with the Paraguay Supreme Court.

The Legislative Fellows Program provides an unmatched opportunity for professionals to gain international experience through working and learning at a partner organization abroad. Fellows work on assigned projects, share best practices, experiences, and insight with their new colleagues for a mutually beneficial experience. They have time to develop lasting and sustainable personal and professional relationships while experiencing new and exciting cultures.

MARCH-APRIL:

THREE NW AR TEENS ATTENDED CONFERENCE IN BRAZIL

Teah Flynn (front left) at Rio conference

From the left: Kelly Zega, Haley Zega, Teah Flynn, Camila Restrepo

MARCH-APRIL: PROFESSOR VENTURA FROM UAGRM UPDATES TECHNOLOGY Professor Norman Ventura, Director of Television Production, Photography, & Cinematographuy at the Universidad Autonoma Gabriel Rene Moreno UAGRM) in Santa Cruz, spent two weeks on an exchange trip to complete his project designed to update his technological knowledge of television and photographic production by meeting with professors in the University of Arkansas’ Lemke Journalism Department and visiting selected classes. Those professors included Dale Carpenter, Larry Foley, Carmen Coustaut, and Hayot Tuychiev. He discussed with the professors course curricular development and implementation of state-of-the-art equipment and facilities.

Norman Ventura (left) receiving “Arkansas Traveler” from President George Vena

Because of Norman’s limited proficiency in English, Spanish interpretation was provided by three students from the International Bolivian Organization (IBO) at the University of Arkansas: Alejandro Rieger, Carlos Mena, and Luciana Sainz whose schedule was coordinated by their sponsor, Cecilia Grossberger, an UAF alumna from Bolivia, who works in the First Year Program at the UAF.

To get a better understanding of television production, onsite visits were made to television studios, including CAT (Community Access Television), Univision, the Jones Television Center at the Springdale High School ( where he was interviewed by D.J. Torres for a radio program which could be accessed by Bolivians), the Television Center at the Fayetteville High School, and the AETN (Arkansas Education Television Network) station in Conway. Ventura was truly impressed with two things: the manner by which the public exercises its First amendment rights at CAT and the facilities at the high school, especially the twelve editing rooms.

To satisfy the desire by Ventura, a professional photographer, to have photographic opportunities, local trips were made to Crystal Bridges American Museum of Art, Shiloh Museum, Terra Studios, Clinton House Museum, and the two LEED buildings –the Clinton Presidential Library and Heifer Headquarters—in Little Rock. The guided tour of the Fayetteville Public Library, another LEED “green” building, included a detailed illustration of the manner by which media materials ( e books, DVD’s, videos, photographs, etc.) are accessed.

He was hosted in Little Rock by Thecia Taylor and his local schedule of activities was coordinated by Thecia and George Vena. His itinerary in Fayetteville was scheduled and implemented by Margaret Clark. His stay ended with a social gathering at the home of his hosts, Bart & Heidi Cohen, in Fayetteville, where he gave a photographic presentation on Bolivia, with special emphasis on the “Carnaval” in Oruro, Bolivia. (This was of special interest to Heidi Cohen because she had spent one year there as a Rotary Exchange Student.) Both of the Cohens had been instrumental in helping Ventura with some purchases of some photographic equipment that he wanted for his work back in Bolivia. He was presented with an “Arkansas Traveler” by George Vena, our immediate past president and a “Bluebird of Happiness” from Terra Studios by Margaret Clark on behalf of the AR Partners.

APRIL: MIME FOUNDATION COLLABORATES WITH PROSALUD-CBBA Mary Kay Thomas, the President of MIME Foundation, was the leader of the medical delegation that visited Cochabamba. The visit was coordinated by Dr. Maria Reinaga, the Director of PROSALUD-CBBA. The medical team performed 31 gallbladder and hernia surgeries in the new clinic. Over 170 applicants came on Patient Screening Day. More than 20 volunteers are expected to return to Cochabamba in 2014 with the intention of performing over 50 surgeries on patients with low incomes or no means. A visit scheduled for early February had to be cancelled. It is hoped that it will be rescheduled soon. The Arkansas Partners Chapter donated $500.00 to PROSALUD-CBBA, money which had been raised by the Health Committee under the leadership of Rosario Keele.

According to Rosario Keele, the $750.00 received from the Venters grant will be used for the CPR Project for Medical Professionals slated to be implemented in May in agreement with PROSALUD-BOLIVIA in Santa Cruz and at their largest clinic in Cochabamba.

APRIL: JORGE VILLARROEL, TENOR FROM LA PAZ, PARTICIPATES IN “VOICES FOR REMEMBRANCE AND PEACE”

Misa Criolla

Misa.

MAY:

Party For UAF Bolivian Graduates

AUGUST:

IMPROVING TELEVISION PRODUCTION IN SANTA CRUZ

SEPTEMBER- OCTOBER:TEACHERS AND PARENTS GET HELP FOR AUTISTIC CHILDREN

Schaefer-Whitby shown with a Bolivian autistic child

Peggy Schaefer-Whitby presenting a lecture

OCTOBER:

JULIO ROSALES, TEACHER-IN-RESIDENCE

Julio Rosales (left) reunited with former student Gustavo Fernandez.

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OCTOBER: ANNUAL MEETING AT UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS (UCA) On Friday evening, October 18, prior to the annual meeting, Thecia Taylor hosted a reception at her home for our Bolivian visitor, Julio Rosales.

The food was delicious; the fellowship was enjoyable; and everyone was delighted to hear about Julio’s impressions of his Arkansas experiences.

The formal Annual Meeting of the Arkansas Partners was held on the afternoon of October 19 on the campus of the University of Central Arkansas. After a welcoming by our President, Dr. Diana Gonzales Worthen, Dr. Margaret Clark introduced those visitors who had carried out exchange visits in the area of education to Santa Cruz, including Dr. Grant Bain from the English Dept. at the UAF and Hayot Tubychiev from the Lemke Journalism Dept. at the UAF, who gave reports on their activities and experiences. Margaret Clark reported on the trip made by Dr. Peggy SchaeferWhitby in the area of autism. Also included were powerpoint presentations from Rafael Arciga, the Legislative Fellow who went to Paraguay, and from Teah Flynn and Camilla Restrepo who went to Rio de Janeiro in April as delegates to the Girls Empowerment Conference. Rounding out the exchanges in the area of education was an account of experiences being undergone by Julio Rosales, the Teacher-in-Residence who was in the middle of his month-long stay in Arkansas.

Dr. Kay Kraeft introduced the cultural projects underway at UCA, including reports from Gustavo Fernandez from Santa Cruz, Alfonso Alborta from Cochbamba. There were also and musical performances of Bolivian Folk Dances with Gustavo Fernandez on violin and Alfonso Alborta on piano.

Gustavo Fernandez was really excited to be reunited with one of his former EFL teachers, Julio Rosales. The feeling was reciprocated by Julio Rosales. (See picture.)

OCTOBER: THE JESUIT STORY IN BOLIVIA AT THE ANNUAL MEETING

Musicians who performed

The Annual Meeting on October 19 ended with a program, “The Baroque in Bolivia: The Jesuit Mission Story in Music, Words, and Images,” at UCA in the Snow Fine Arts Center. It opened with an overview of “The Jesuit Mission Story in Bolivia, a Historic View” by Dr. Kristen Dutcher Mann. This was followed by a lecture on “The International Festival of American Renaissance & Baroque Music—Music of Chiquitos” by Dr. Kay Kraeft. Attention was given to the presence of the Jesuits in Bolivia beginning from the 16th century until 1767 during which developed the musical education of the Native Americans in the Mission. A bi-annual Festival is held in Bolivia alternatively Baroque music (even-numbered years) and Theater (odd-numbered years). The Bi-centennial celebration is for the Jesuit Restoration into the Catholic Church in 1814.

An example of Mission Music, the Beatus Vir, a psalm by Domenico Zipoli [1688-1726] was performed by the Arkansas Mission Singers and instrumentalists, with soprano soloists Christine Donahue and Taylor Bennett and tenor soloist Jordan Bennett. The instrumentalists were Linda Hsu and Gustavo Fernandez on violin, Fan Cheng on cello, and Paul Dickinson on harpsichord.

Baroque music.

Adding to the theme of the program was an original photographic exhibit, “For the Greater Glory,” featuring images by Jaime Cisneros, noted Bolivian photographer and author of Misiones Jesuiticas, 1998. Dr. Leah Wilkinson, a member of Partners, served as the coordinator and translator of the exhibit, describing the history of the Mission “chiquito” churches and their architecture. Cisneros’ photographs reflect the beauty of the cultural treasures of the Baroque era that are still preserved in six mission churches in Chiquitos, a remote area of the Bolivian province of Santa Cruz. The exhibit enabled viewers to get a an idea of the accomplishments of Jesuits priests who traveled from Europe to South America in the 17th century to establish churches “for the greater glory of God and the Wilkerson discussing the art exhibit of salvation of humanity.” The exhibit was the result of a grant from the International Mission “chiquito” churches.

Partners’ office.

OCTOBER: Arkansas Partners in ArkanSalsa Festival AR Partners set up a booth at the ArkanSalsa Annual Festival held in Springdale, AR on October 26. The setup, including a poster made by Margaret Clark and Heidi Cohen highlighting the recent work, especially the exchange trips, of the chapter, and some Bolivian realia. Others who assisted were Dr. Freddie Bowles and Sharon Kreuger. Membership brochures were available for interested passerbys.

AR CHAPTER RECEIVES

A BANNER YEAR FOR EDUCATION

GRANTS AND OTHER FUNDS

Margaret Clark reported that 2013 was a great year for exchanges, both north and south. She was able to recruit a legislative fellow to go to Paraguay, three high school girls and a mentor to attend the Girls Empowerment Conference in Brazil, arrange for trips for three professors from the UAF to go to Santa Cruz in the areas of American Literature, Television Production, and Autism, draft itineraries for two individuals to come to Arkansas—one from UAGRM in Television Production and one from the CBA as a Teacher-In-Residence.

Arkansas Partners received three foundation grants! The first was an Organizational Development Grant which was drafted by Margaret Clark with the intent to develop a video that would highlight the achievements of the Partnership from its inception up to the present. It was in the amount of $2, 661.00 Such a video could be used by the chapter as a recruitment instrument.

The second one was for the Venters Health grant in the amount of $750. It was submitted by Rosario Keele, Chair of the Health Committee. The third grant of $1,440.00 was received for the photographic exhibit of Mission churches in Bolivia that was highlighted at the AR Partners annual meeting in October. It was sent in by Thecia Taylor and George Vena.

Additionally, the AR Chapter received $400.00 to assist with expenses for the Teacher-inResidence and $500.00 as a way of helping with the recruitment and hosting of legislative fellows.

THANKS A MILLION TO BOB FRANS Arkansas Partners wish to express our heartfelt thanks to Dr. Robert (“Bob”) Frans for his many years of publishing and editing “Direcciones” for our chapter. This is the first effort to put together some kind of accounting of our activities since his resignation.

We are truly indebted to him for his untiring service to our organization, not only as the editor of our newsletter, but for so many other roles he has filled, from chairing the Farmer-to-Farmer Committee, cochairing the Maria Teresa de Frans Scholarship Committee, working with planning committees on the International meetings held in Arkansas, to being president of the chapter. Bob, Thanks a Million!!!

NEW MEMBERS We are pleased to welcome 6 new members in the NW AR area: Dr. Grant Bain, a professor in the Dept. of English at the UAF ; Heidi Cohen, a sixth-grade teacher at Sonora Middle School in Springdale, AR; Teah Flynn, a junior high school student at Farmington High School; Charlotte Taylor in the Dept. of Advancement at the UAF (her son was our U.S. Youth Ambassador who went to Ecuador & she and her husband Tim Hudson hosted YA’s from Bolivia twice); Hayot Tuychiev, instructor in the Dept. of Journalism at the UAF; and Dr. Peggy Schaefer-Whitby, a professor specializing in autism in the Dept. of Curriculum & Instruction at the UAF.

Kudos to Our Host Families We want to thank Heidi and Bart Cohen for hosting Norman Ventura and Cesar Perez during their visits to NW AR and for arranging for the Farewell “Gatherings” we had for both of these visitors and also for Julio Rosales at their home. We are indeed grateful to one of our newest members, Dr. Grant Bain, and his wife for the almost month-long hosting of Julio Rosales (Rosales and his wife hosted Dr. Bain when he was in Santa Cruz.). Our thanks also go to Thecia Taylor for hosting all three of these Santa Cruz visitors at her home during their stay in Little Rock, in addition to opening her home to everyone for the wonderful reception prior to the Annual Meeting in Little Rock in October.

NEWS ABOUT OUR PARTNERS It saddens our hearts to report the deaths of two of our longtime members, Dr. Jim Scroggs and Dr. Lyell Thompson. Both of them had been active members over the years.

Dr. Scroggs went to Santa Cruz to teach Mathematics, and Dr. Thompson conducted workshops in agriculture there.

Dr. Bob Frans, Dr. Paul Noland, Thecia Taylor, and Rosario Keele have been experiencing some health problems. We have them in our prayers and send them best wishes for speedy recoveries.

The daughter, mother, and father of President Gonzales Worthen, along with the mother of Bob Spears are recovering from their respective illnesses. May their spirits also be lifted by our prayers and good wishes.

Kudos to our president, Dr. Diana Gonzales Worthen, for being profiled in the Arkansas Gazette!!

KUDOS TO ANNUAL MEETING PLANNING COMMITTEE

Thanks to the members of the Annual Meeting Planning Committee for a WONDERFUL meeting. The evening program and photographic exhibit were so insightful and rewarding! The members, Thecia Taylor, George Vena, and Leah Wilkerson, under the leadership of the chair, Dr. Kay Kraeft, are to be congratulated.

DUES—DUES—DUES It’s that time again. If you haven’t paid your dues for 2014, please take a moment to do so. Send your check for $20.00 to Paul Noland, 2190 Manor Drive, Fayetteville, AR 72701 Individual: $20.00 -Family:$30.00 -Student: $15.00

PLANS UNDERWAY FOR A PARTNERSCAMPUS At a meeting held in the Arkansas Student Union on the UAF campus, Margaret Clark convened a group of students and talked to them about Partners of the Americas. Dr. Freddie Bowles, Mirna Odonez and Dr. Luis Restrepo assisted with getting students informed about the meeting. Efforts were made by Dr. Restrepo to start a chapter last year, however, they had to be postponed. Due to adverse weather conditions this winter, plans have again been delayed. However, there is hope that efforts to make this a reality will resume in the fall with a meeting that will get a chapter that elects officers, draws up a constitution, gets campus registration, and a charter from Partners of the Americas.

IN MEMORIAM DR. LYELL THOMPSON He loved his country and his city. Having served in Europe from 1943-46 where he fought in the Battle of the Bulge and received three battle stars and a Purple Heart, he retired as a major and was active in the U.S. Army Reserve. On the municipal level, he served as a Justice of the Peace for many years and also performed many marriages around the area, but most often at the Unitarian church where he was a member.

He was born on May 10, 1924 and died on March 10, 2014. He received a B.S. from Oklahoma A & M University and a Ph.D. from Ohio State University. He joined the faculty of the University of Arkansas in 1958 where he taught and did research.

He loved poetry, and often gave poetry readings and portrayed Mark Twain in “costume.” (He was told so often that he resembled Mark Twain.) He was not only a “tree giver” but one who planted innumerable “rescued” seedlings on campus and elsewhere.

He was active in the Civil Rights Movements in the 50’s and 60’s; was the first professor to employ a black student; and housed blacks before anyone else did in the city.

He went to Bolivia to carry out projects through the Farmer-to-Farmer program in the area of agriculture. Over the years, he and his wife supported Partners activities, hosted Youth Ambassadors, and opened their home for debriefing activities conducted by Partners from the international D.C. office He was “the best example I know of one to be called: “Teacher,” “Professor,” but above all---“Friend,” according to his friend of many years, Dr. Bob Frans.

He is survived by his wife Marcella, five children, 11 grandchildren, and eight greatgrandchildren. ***************************************************************************************************

DR. JAMES SCROGGS Dr. James Scroggs died on November 17, 2013, in the home that he built. He was born in Little Rock in 1926, attended Jacksonville schools and graduated from Little Rock Central High School. He graduated from the University of Arkansas with a degree in Mathematics, and earned a Ph.D. from Rice University.

He loved young people. As a lifetime Rotarian, he was delighted to meet the students in the Rotary Youth Exchange. He was A Boy Scout Leader for Troop 77 and loved taking trips down the Buffalo River.

During World War II, he was trained as a radioman and radio repairman. As an undergraduate he worked as a radio engineer at a local radio station. Professionally, he worked for Humble Oil and Refining Company as a Geophysicist and as an Applied Science Representative for IBM. However, his academic professional career was spent at the University of Arkansas as Professor and Chairman of the Mathematical Science Department. Additionally, he taught mathematics in India, as a Fulbright Professor at Cuttington University College in Liberia, and as a Arkansas Partner in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.

He is survived by his second wife, Jane, two sons, one step-son, one step-daughter, four grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and other relatives.

His devotion to AR Partners continued throughout his long illness, and his loyalty was reflected in his attendance at all of the Partners’ gatherings and events, as recalled by his friend, Dr. Margaret Clark, as long as they were held in wheelchair accessible buildings.