NCPOA Autumn-Winter 2009-2010 Newsletter
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COCHA-LINA HERALD Newsletter of the North Carolina Partners of the Americas (Partners with Cochabamba, Bolivia) Summer 2010 NCPOA Annual Mid-Year Meeting June 19 and development for the coming two years, and copies We were pleased that Elena Daza de Jimenez (past- were made available. This is our “guidebook”. Those President of CbbaPOA could be with us for the mid-year who did not attend and would like to request one may do meeting. She spoke of aspects of involving members in so (in digital form) from Kitty Stalberg. Partners activities and that it is important that people As usual, it was a varied and interesting meeting! interested in joining do not have the idea that Partners is a funding or tourist agency. Connecting as friends strengthens the partnership, she said. She added that Sports Training Specialist Travels to Cochabamba many in Bolivia think that only retired people are able to March Krotee conducted workshops volunteers! in sports management for the municipality of Cochabamba, and for universities. His very full schedule there was coordinated by President Janet Morales and Marlene Mercado, Chair of the Sports Subcommittee of the CbbaPOA Partnership. March said that “at each meeting that was conducted we began with an introduction to the Partners… not only regarding sport, health and education but to the entire range of Partners activities. Hundreds of individuals and numerous institutions in the public and private sector were introduced to our Partners leadership and to Partners Cochabamba!” March toured Adventist University and met with Grover Sanchez, Director of Physical Education. Facilities and Above, Elena J.; below S. Wurzelman space planning was the topic of discussion. Noelia Mercado served as translator. He met with National Volleyball Coach Lic. Bernado Pavisic, staff and instructors and had a tour of the Olympic volleyball/beach-volleyball facility. The management session dealt with community outreach programs. 12 people were in attendance. Krotee met with Director Renel Mendez, Dr.Victor Colque, and staff of the Association of Table Tennis with Johnny Villazón translating. Next he conducted a management session with the Victoria Swim Club/Dolphin Club Head, technical staff and David Velasco, Head of Bolivian Triathlon. He visited the State Aquatic Center Juana Marquina and met with a planning team headed by Ing. W. Renel Mendez PE concerning the construction and design of Another guest speaker was Sam Wurzelman who gave 2012 Bolivar Games ODESUR Swimming Complex. a presentation on his work at San Miguel del Bala Eco- March delivered a presentation to forty-five Special Lodge, in the department of La Paz). He worked there to Olympic coaches. Sra. Marlene Vargas, Director and help with improvements and marketing. One contribution More Galetovic Ass’t., with Giovanni Fossatti of San he made was to set up a list of projects for volunteers; Simon University serving as translator. there are many who come there. Reforestation and a He had a tour of WARMI and planning meeting with fish farm are two aims of the lodge. Director and Past Partners President Elena Jimenez and Steve Gibson gave a summary report on agricultural Assistant Director Claudia Jimenez. The meeting projects in Bolivia, and Carlos Vargas recounted the concerning volunteer workshops outreach program was impressive week of surgeries and symposia done by the also part of the agenda. team of doctors from NC. March met with President Nelly de Jimenez and her The Annual Plan was presented, with its many programs Adult Fitness Group and gave a presentation to about 60 teachers at Sede de Jubilados with Youth Ambas- (UMSS) hosted by Vice Rector Mario Perez-Hoffman, sador Melissa Quispe Cabrera serving as translator. Lic. Kurt Huffman, Head of Sports and the Deans of the He met with UNICEN Rector Ramiro Bustamante and Schools of Physical Therapy and Linguistics (Dra. Elena gave a presentation to faculty, administration and Ferrufino). Janet Morales also spoke about Partners. students at UNICEN University. Monica Ruiz former Eighty people were present. Teacher-in-Residence served as translator for the He participated in a tour, management deliberations and audience of 70. luncheon meeting with Cochabamba Country Club Krotee gave the keynote presentation to over 100 Director Lic. Marco Luque, Juan Carlos Medinacelli, administration, faculty, guests and students at the 13th President of Raquetball and Janet Morales. Exchange Anniversary Ceremony of the University of the Cosmos programs and intern possibilities among others were (UNITEPC), translated by Silvia Quiroga, Partners Arts explored. and Culture Committee Chair. He was awarded an There were a presentation and management Honorary Professorship by the University President Dr. discussions with the Department of Sport Associations M. A. Hernan Garcia Acre. There were TV and media and Federations of the State of Cochabamba interviews followed by lunch with the UNITEPC (SEDEDE). Janet Morales and Dra. Marlene Mercado administration and Partners President Janet Morales also presented an Introduction of Partners to the over 60 and Sports Chair Dra. Marlene Mercado. administrators and coaches in attendance. There was a meeting and presentation to the faculty and A training session was hosted by Dr. Luiz Mercado at students of Physical Education at Adventist University. the Association of Table Tennis. Future outreach and Grover Sanchez, Head of the Department of Physical exchanges were also discussed. Education introduced Dra. Mercado and me. Mauricio In addition to the sports-related activities, he also met Ramirez, Chair of the Partners Agriculture Committee with Youth Ambassadors Diana Valdez, Melissa Quispe served as translator for the group of 60. Certificates and Lesly Zema to discuss formation of a Partners were presented to all participants. Youth Committee (YC). Several potential projects-- At a dinner meeting with Mauricio Ramirez (Partners including the environment and health within high schools Chair of Agriculture) and wife Vania, he discussed future (Liborio Cadima High School Project), medical team agriculture projects, the socio-political landscape of rural support, and Eva Marcus story—were named. A tour of programs and student exchanges. the Art and Cultural Museums and Artisan Fair followed. March gave a management presentation to the State Other activities during his stay were a tour of the city, Directors of Physical Education (SEDUCA) on Health including Plaza 14 Septiembre, cathedral, and and Physical Activity Day in Bolivia. Discussions also government complex.; planning meeting with the centered on the health and physical education status of Partners Leadership Team; Partners reception and Sub the country and the government’s commitment to a Committee Chair Meeting and briefing. (Medical, Health, healthy nation. Rector Hernan Garicia of UNITEPC Emergency Prep, Education, Sports, Art & Culture, served as moderator for the 12 Directors. Women & Family), The Teacher–in-Residence and His visit to Tennis Club of Cochabamba with Head Youth Ambassadors programs were represented and Tennis Professional Daniel Miranda included discus- each give updates and shared their projects, programs, sions of future exchange programs. activities and critical needs to the 20 Partners and He had a meeting and tour of the Centro Boliviano guests who were present; Tour of Cristo de la Concordia Americano hosted by Head Administrator Luis Fernando and surrounding area; lunch and tour of the Campestre Ruiz and Danny Balderrama, former Partner Teacher-in- House, including a discussion with Dra .Mercado the Residence to North Carolina. Discussions centered on plan for the presentation at the Partners meeting in the Teacher-in-Residence, Youth Ambassadors and Brazil; evening soccer match of Aurora vs. Wilsterman educational materials acquisition for the Lincoln Library. with Dr. Luiz Mercado and son Mauricio; tour of Palacio Also he briefly met with Rolando Ribera as well as Ruth Portales (the house built for Simon Patiño); tour of SAR Quitón and Marcela Drpic–the Head of the Lincoln (Search and Rescue) city-site with Janet Morales. Library and CBA Academics, respectively. Discussions Discussions here included history, future needs and the included expanding the Teacher-in-Residence role to future of the organization. Mother’s Day was celebrated teaching US popular culture and other appropriate topics and Janet presented a gift for his wife Leslie. Contacts and the July visit of 2010 TIR Ian Brailsford. Partners with the Cochabamba Country Club were established for membership and involvement should be mandatory for future meetings and cooperation. those selected for the Teacher-in-Residence both from Traveling on to Santa Cruz, March met with former the North and South. President and long-time Santa Cruz Partners member A visit to the Victoria Aquatic Center was hosted by Ana Maria Ybarnegaray (current President Elvaria Marcos Ramirez, Director of Bolivian Swimming and Chevez was on tour with Partners visitors from David Velasco of the Bolivia Triathlon. Discussions with Arkansas) .They presented a full briefing on the history coaches and staff included management, team and activities of the Santa Cruz Partnership. preparation and program building. He met Chief A three-hour strategy meeting was then conducted with Administrator Lic. Magali Ladedo there, as well. the Claudio Flores, Head of Physical Education and He had a meeting, discussions, tour and presentation to Sport at Catholic University