August 2010, Volume 4, Issue 3

Inside: 3rd Annual Deanna Rose

Deanna Rose Event 1 Farmstead Event Sunday, September 19, 2010 Community Chapters 1

"It Happened in Italy" 2 t will be an afternoon of fun 1 for the entire family beginning Operation International Children 2 withI a wonderful lunch buffet. President's Message 3 The remainder of the day will be spent exploring the farmstead's Travels in Central and South many activities including a pet- America 4 ting zoo, fishing, milking demon- Calendar 4 stration and much more.

A Perspective of an International This event is open to interna- Sponsorship 6 tional military students and their Activities at the Farmstead include a petting zoo, fishing, cow milking demonstration, and much more. families, all of their sponsors and Know Your World Schedule 7 invited guests. Sign-up details will Reminders for IMS Sponsors 8 be forthcoming.

We hope for a huge turnout! Last year over 400 guests enjoyed this event. Please make plans to meet your officer/family and invite potential members to share in the fun, too! Mark your calendar NOW!

Ethnic Enrichment Attend PTPI Worldwide Conference Festival–Volunteers Needed eople to People International is delighted to announce that the daughters of former Presi- dent Nelson Mandela of South Africa will join us in Scottsdale, Arizona for PTPI’s 19th GKCPTP will WorldwideP Conference! The conference is entitled, “The Symposium on Peace and Conflict” participate in the and will be held in Scottsdale, Arizona, September 29 – October 3, 2010. President Mandela’s Ethnic Enrichment daughters look forward to accepting the 2010 Eisenhower Medallion Award on their father's Festival at Swope behalf. Park on the weekend of August 20, 21 and By acting quickly you could be eligible to win a one-hour spa treatment at the FireSky Resort 22. Please help staff and Spa! The first 100 people to register will be placed in the raffle drawing. Need other reasons our booth by working to register? Celebrate the accomplishments of our volunteers at PTPI's annual Awards Cer- a 1-2 hour shift. emony and Luncheon with special guest Cindy McCain. Be inspired by the message of keynote Contact Irina Kobzeva speaker, Andrew C. Revkin, former environmental journalist for The New York Times. Learn more about preserving our world with the elimination of landmines from The HALO Trust. at irina_vk@hotmail. Participate in a hands-on community service project with a visit to either the Justa Center or St. com. Help us spread Mary’s Food Bank Alliance. the word about our terrific organization Come and enjoy the ambiance of the Southwest! To register online visit the conference web by ! page or www.ptpi.org. For questions, contact Karen Hoch at [email protected] or Cindy Baugh at [email protected]. continued on p. 3 continued on p. One pair of blunt-end scissors One 12-inch ruler with metric markings 12 new pencils with erasers One small pencil sharpener One large eraser melt in the desert pencils (Crayons One box of colored heat!) One package of notebook paper One composition book with inside folders Three pockets pencilOne zippered bag The list of supplies follows: • • • • • • • • • • Pack only the listed supplies in a 2-gallon sized zipper seal plastic bag. Unfortunately, my parents died here in the Kansas died here City my parents area Unfortunately, sharing on June 3 the stage However, in 1962 and in 1989. as survivors my uncle were HenryWinkler and our lifelong and Evelyn John Bergl. family the camps friends from in Italy, They Bettina's presentation. all contributed to Ms. Many thanks to GKCPTP President Pat Burnett and event Chairperson Jane Kohl and her committee for all their hard It was an eventin- that a reality. in making this program work in the Kansasvolved many City community including People to People International, the UNICO National theChapter, Center for HolocaustMidwest Education and BullySafe USA. Bettina is now Ms. tuned. please stay missed this event, If you on a film documentary. working From Left to right: author Sonia Eichenwald Bergl, Evelyn Bergl, Elizabeth Bettina, Henry Winkler, John Sharing this story was of very special interest to me because the daughter of Holocaust I am survivors who

IC is a worldwide nonprofit with roots right here in on behalf of school work Its in children Kansas City. n Thursdayn evening, June 3, at the Plaza Library, nearly author Elizabeth to hear 200 people gathered Bettina

2 GKCPTP Contact Newsletter Help OIC provide school supplies for children in Iraq, Af- Help OIC school provide in Iraq, supplies for children stationed! troops are U.S. where ghanistan and other places calling by or Warehouse Donate supplies directly to the OIC [email protected] – 816-241- Scott: emailing Kresha 7321. The Need For School Supplies Is Critical Need For The war-torn countries Pictures is critical. of Dyrk and Kris Du- gan (and a friend) taken while packing school supplies with OIC co-founder Gary Sinise at the North Kansas City- ware house are on page 3. He spent time at the warehouse prior to LT the his OIC with his group, at the Uptown Dan Band, on April Sinise 25. Mr. donates much of his time away from TVhis work to supporting our service members and their families, as well as the children who live in areas ravaged war. by Although my immediate family members lost nearly all of their their worldly their home and their liberty, possessions, memories of the war years were of the goodness of the Italian people, and the warm friendships that they were able to forge a These friendships lasted in the camps. with other refugees lifetime in the Kansas and continued here City area. fled Vienna, Austria in 1939 and spent the rest of the war Austriarest of the war in 1939 and spent the fled Vienna, years in internment My Italy. parents met and were married and I was born Rome in in in one of these internment camps, like the ones of other survivors Their story, 1946 after the war. illustrates evenmentioned that in horrific in the book, times, the organizedpeople basis and through on a one-to-one can defy the politics and dictates of tyrants. kindness of many, tell and of her findings experiences her in putting together virtually It is the story unknown book "It Happened in Italy." of refugees who fled the Holocaust throughout Europe and escaping the thereby ended up in internment camps in Italy, of the concentrationhorrors camps in Germany and Poland. the opportunity the book and had I read In February 2010, to meet Elizabeth. It struck me almost immediately that GKCPTP could be instrumental in sharing this story with the people of Kansas City. O Operation International Children (OIC) Children Operation International O It Happened in Italy It Happened Sonia Eichenwald by 3 www.gkcptp.org ~ Elizabeth Andrew “Volunteers do not necessarily have they the heart." just have the time; Dear Members, have The summer months - been rac to sayinging along! In addition good- byes to our 10-1 IMS officers, we have is Sep. 29-Oct. 3. This This 3. 29-Oct. and Conflict is Sep. on Peace Symposium welcomed the 11-1 had class. a terrificWe joint program at the Kansas City Public Library that you will read about elsewhere in the newsletter. GKCPTP will have an information booth at the Ethnic Enrichment Festival and we are in full-swing preparing for the 3rd Annual Deanna Rose Farmstead event. Each of these events could always volunteers! use more some newsI also want to share about very important- accom work plished at the committee level over the past few months. Much the necessary provides work frame- “behindof this the scenes” and structurework activities for the many of our organization. An entirely new board manual has been assembled to assist new membersboard with pertinent policies information and regarding Our and distrib membership committee has created - procedures. uted a new membership directory and developed a beautiful new brochure. A marketing committee has been formed and is putting a packettogether of information for potential corporate sponsor- Theships. viability of a chapter-partner program with another international chapter is being com- assessed and the governance Scholarship mittee is developing criteria for the GKCPTPTravel is an Phew…it on at the annual membership meeting. as voted and I want to thank all in a shortamazing amount of work time, chapter members that participated in these works. Operation International (OIC) school is in need of Children supply !This program, supported by PTPI, is a unique humanitarian effort that helps coalition bring troops school sup- all the world in areas over plies to children served American by troops. As we are purchasing“back to school” supplies for our own grab extras some to donate to OIC. children, PTPI’s international conference is being held in Scottsdale, AZ! It is a wonderful opportunity to network with other chapters and learn about worldwide the more scope of PTPI. I look forward to at- It tending and hope to see other chapter as well. members there will be a great privilege to accept the PTPI 2010 award for“Best atChapter the conference!!Website” will rememberYou that last in the best chapter the award newsletter! our chapter won year I want to take a moment to give a warm welcome to all of our new I look forward to particimembers. you I invite - to meeting you! opportunities many of the pate in any that our chapter provides. regards, Warm Pat President’s Column continued fromcontinued 2 p. With Operation International in the spot- Children light this month, it’s a good opportunity to remind our membership that groups are welcome to volunteer at the OIC inWarehouse North KansasThese two City. young and exhausted Brownies spent the better part of a day packing school supplies for children in need woman on the leftyoung The is An- the world. around daughter of members Joel Nitz. and Kim nabelle Nitz, And…Finally, Everyone’s Welcome OIC At To Volunteer More photos on page 8 on page More photos TIME 6:30 p.m. & Come volunteer 3:30 p.m. 1-5 p.m. 6 p.m. 3:30 p.m. TBD 6 p.m. 3:30 p.m. continued on p. 5 continued on p. Cartagena’s Cathedral, with its mas- Cathedral, Cartagena’s sive exterior, simple interiorfortress appearance and We toured theWe walled city its tiled with roofs, brightly build- colored ings, cobblestone streets courtand flower-filled - yards, all overlooking theThe sea. walking tour ancient took us through a monastery, fortresses, the beautiful Cathedral and military dungeons that now house tourist boutiques. From the ship, we saw newer areas, Cartagena’s Bocagrande and El the penin on - Laguito, sula facing the Caribbean can find fash- you where ionable upscale hotels, and shops. restaurants Panama Colon, the capital of Colon In north is Colon, central Panama whichis also the northern terminus of the Panama Province, Railroad and the Panama Canal. Colon was founded around 1850 by builders of the Panama Railroad but did not boom until the Panama Canal construction began. Some of Colon’s Zone the Free San Lorenzo, main attractions Fort include: and the Gatun Locks. Marriott Muehlebach Hotel, Call for information: information: for Marriott Call Muehlebach Hotel, 913-685-3592 Snyder Pat Park Swope and Clark, Lewis Ft. Auditorium, Eisenhower Leavenworth Rd Overland KS 66221-7803 Park, 13800 Switzer KS Leavenworth, Riverfront Center, and Clark, Lewis Auditorium, Eisenhower Leavenworth Ft. and Clark, Lewis Auditorium, Eisenhower Leavenworth Ft. KS Leavenworth, Riverfront Center, and Clark, Lewis Auditorium, Eisenhower Leavenworth Ft. LOCATION Military Order of World Wars, 21st Wars, World Military of Order Interntional Military Enrichment Festival Ethnic Canada World: Your Know event Deanna Rose Farmstead 10-2) (Class Fair Food Fall Burkina Faso World: Your Know Induction International Hall of Fame 11-1) (Class Fair Food Fall Republic Czech World: Your Know EVENT bean, one finds the peaceful British overseas territory, British one finds the peaceful territory, overseas bean, known as the Cayman arrived Islands.We on the shores on Grand Cayman Is- Town, George of the capital city,

s last winter’s icy gripped weather the Kansass last winter’s City area, a cruise in the Caribbean like a perfect seemed antidote.

Newsletter GKCPTP Contact Newsletter 8/13/2010 8/20-22/2010 9/15/2010 9/19/2010 9/24/2010 10/06/2010 10/21/2010 11/05/2010 11/06/2010 4 DATE graduates June 2011. 11-1 graduates 2010. December, 10-2 class graduates Note:

Calendar Leslie Kupka Leslie A Travels in Central and Travels South America Cartagena is located on Colombia’s northern coast and faces Cartagena is located on Colombia’s the Caribbean Sea. It is the most visited city in the country It was a major center of and was founded as a port. in 1533 early Spanish settlement in the Americas and continues to be an economic hub as well as a popular tourist destination with shopping for beautifulgreat emeralds. Cartagena, Colombia Nestled in the calm, turquoise waters of the western Carib waters of the western turquoise - calm, in the Nestled Thisland. picturesque town is known for delicious cuisine and great shopping in the Caribbean. delightedWe in a refreshing sea breeze as we enjoyed lunch on a lovely balcony! Grand Cayman Grand From From February 15 through 26, the Celebrity carried 4,000 people from all around the world.The cuisine represented this diversity, as did the languages spoken on the ship and in the those considering this a winter get-away various For ports. please look at these port highlights: year, 5 www.gkcptp.org Roatan, Honduras Roatan, A small island off from the Honduras mainland, Roatan is for viewing great exotic fish, waters, turquoise by surrounded sea mammals and tropical toured reefs. theWe island via a cab ride which revealed a variety of sites for sports, dining and beach activities! selectedWe an outdoor restaurant right shops to were beach! there on the sunny Back at the port, explore! Mexico Cozumel, Peninsula in Yucatan on the Tulum, The Mayan ruins at by a wall surrounded - averag sit high on a steep cliff, Mexico, ing 16 feetThis high. allowed this walled city to serve as a defense against wasinvasion.Tulum first mentioned by Juan Diaz, part of Juan de Grijalva’s expedition ofThe 1518. first description of the ruins was found in publications by John Catherwood StephensLloyd and Frederick in 1843 in the Yucatan. in Travel Incidents of book, On the return ferry ride to Cozumel, a storm blew in quickly site due to the protected to a more in rerouting which resulted very hailed and eventu All high waves! - taxis in Cozumel were ally we arrived back to Thethe shipship. was detained due to the very A until high waves the authorities departure. allowed land tours, always use the ship’s good lesson was learned here: as they are required to delay the departure ship’s if tours don’t events. return on time unforeseen due to any Rain forest guide Rain forest A view the banana and pineapple plantations- of was enjoy Theable. tram ride through the rain forest was fascinating beautiful and poisonous/color- birds with lots of giant plants, ful frogs! Later a river safari resulted in sighting a Cayman alligator, black monkeys swinging from tree to tree, a green iguana walking on water (the boat scared him), two and three toe colorful sloths and many birds! This country’s most important port lies about miles east 100 of the capital city of San Jose. It was founded in 1870 as a port city to export bananas and grains from Costa Rica to various parts of the globe. Limon is one of seven provinces in Costa Rica and the only one to be entirely on the Caribbean side Limon consists of thick tropical of the Continental Divide. jungles and sprawling banana plantations bordering the lofty of the oldest cities One on the continent, Central Mountains. when Christopher Puerto Limon was established in 1502, duringColumbus landed here the exploration New of the World. Puerto Limon, Costa Rica Puerto Limon, Costa The tour also took us through the homes built for the Ameri us through The tour also took - 1999, As of December 31, cans the operation. who managed assumed full responsibilityPanama for the administration, Canal. operation maintenance of the Panama and The Gatun Locks visit required climbing up a steep set of steps to a viewing building where there are maps of the a lock-type approximately- 80 kilome Canal, canal, Panama ters long, that unites the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans at one and of Panama points of boththe Isthmus of the narrowest the American continent. On August 15, 1914, the SS Ancon officiallySince opening, Canal. Panama inaugurated the transited than 970,000 vessels through been have more there number to hit 1 million the projected with by the waterway, October 2010. Beautiful Honduras Roatan, continued fromcontinued 4 p. continued on p. 7 continued on p. The Lees with Leavenworth sponsor, Margaret Long Margaret sponsor, with Leavenworth Lees The Jake & Linda Jacobs, Mike & Becky O’Bea, and MAJ Yi-Jin and Yi-Jin Mike & Becky O’Bea, & Linda Jacobs, and MAJJake Lee May Another thing we really appreciate is how our sponsors have reallysponsors our Another thing we is how have appreciate come to treat us like Although family. to be“treated like family” commonly implies fuzziness, warmth and hospitality certainly– and all of those were in abundance – it also implies familiarity, informality and the comfort from being around those you know and know trust. ourWe sponsors will always be there for us if we need them, and they constantly don’t over or to fawn either, us of that fact see the need to remind our every perceived need. trivializeI wouldn’t their efforts by out of their way for gone us, saying our sponsors that haven’t because I know they have; but they made us feel like“one of the whenguys” we were with them, and for a foreigner, I think canthere becompliment. no higher My intention in writing this letter is not to be prescriptive perspec- the international officers’ from about what works tive, but merely to say thank you to your organization for the marvelous work doing,you’re and to encourage those of you who might be considering the sponsorship program to if only because it a shot, my wife experiencedgive and I have possible language barriers. And it occurred to me that it And it occurred to me that it possible barriers. language might be useful for you to hear from one of us, since we are, after all, the primary beneficiaries of this fantastic really enjoyed reading the February, 2010 article on the international military students sponsorship program. It

6 GKCPTP Contact Newsletter Maj Yi-Jin Lee Yi-Jin Maj An Open Letter to the GKCPTP: I An International Perspective of of Perspective International An SponsorshipInternational I shall not list everything sim- my sponsors done for have us, ply because there are competing demands for print space in your newsletter. But I do want to share a couple of things that come to really about with we’ve our relationship appreciate our sponsors. First, they provided us a window into authentic Kansas/Missouri to access had not have would life that we not just talking about Kansasotherwise. City And I’m barbe- cue and the Country Club Plaza, wonderful though those are; hunting in Leavenworth, art fairs, but also dinner theatres, prime Tonganoxie, dancing in grape-harvesting in Basehor, rib in Hiawatha; the list goes Whaton. all these activities in common is that they things our sponsorshave would are have done anyways, with or without us, and that they are all even not have thought to ask about would activities if that we suggestions. not for our sponsors’ Fortunately enough, we discovered that our concerns were vastly overblown. Much of the credit for that must go to our sponsors – our Kansas Gene and Linda Jacobs; City sponsors, our Leavenworth sponsor, Margaret Long; and our military sponsors, Mike and Becky O’Bea – who have done such a superlative of us and making us feel job taking care complete- ly at ease. I suppose part of the reason is that, despite their obvious youth and vibrancy, they have somehow managed to amass more than 50 years of sponsorship experience between Thatthem. experience must have helped them to anticipate our needs, because they did so perfectly despite none of them my country from having anyone sponsored in the past. It was certainly a little intimidating for me and my wife when not two, would be assigned not one, we first found out that we Would all along? we get Would sets of sponsors. but three they have certain expectations of how things should be? know we and would they be to our culture, sensitive Would appropriately to react in theirs? how program. program. provided an interesting insight for me, as an international insight for me, an interesting provided must be like to what it for a as potential spon- military officer, into the program. to take the plunge sor deciding whether I suppose what struck was the realization a chord that just like any international officer about to arrive in the US, many experience would of you same jitters that come with not the knowing what to expect when facing a different culture, and 7

www.gkcptp.org

COUNTRY CANADA SURINAME BOTSWANA CZECH REP KYRGYZSTAN KYRGYZSTAN SAUDI ARABIA SAUDI BURKINA FASO BURKINA

To Jake, Linda, andMike,To Becky, Margaret, we thank you for the time that you’ve so freely given, and for the sincere friendship that you’ve so graciously extended. And to all of you who make this program possible – whether as sponsors support your or through as members and future, past present – we Kansas People to of the Greater City chapter of People for continuing a meaningful to make thank you like to would world. the around to lives difference Yi-JinMAJ Lee International Military Student Singapore from 10-01 CGSC COUNTRY FLAG COUNTRY

Know Your World for 11-01 11-01 for World Your Know DATE MAR 9, 2011 MAR 9, 2011 FEB 16, 2011 FEB 16, 2011 JAN 27, 2011 DEC 15, 2010 NOV 10, 2010 OCT 6, 2010 SEP 15, 2010 15, SEP first-hand the good it The can truthdo. is, every sponsor-IMS other international many and I know is unique, relationship officers who would challenge my claim that I have the best set of sponsors anyone could hope for (they’re all wrong, of And while I certainly expericourse!). hopethat everyone’s - ence would be as fulfilling as ours has been, unfortunately some- number any of reasons, For that will not be the case. always click, don’t Personalities out. work times it just doesn’t the vast But I know always match up. and expectations don’t majority of international officers enjoy hugely rewarding relationships with their sponsors, and are extremely grateful for the time, energy and commitment that you all have put in your cityto be effective ambassadors for and country. continued fromcontinued 6 p. might consider purchasing a phone card for purpose. that a phone purchasing consider might License Driver’s state they another from license a valid driver’s IMS has If your can on it for 90 days before they are required to get a Kansas license. Online purchases CAREFUL when con- PleaseVERY IMS to be your advise scams so many are There business online. ducting kind of any out in the cyber world. below) if you (see Valasek Sharon please contact As always, a you for being Thank information. questionshave or require sponsor; you make a difference in the impression/experience your IMS has while here in the USA! Valasek Sharon [email protected] 816.213.5847 (more photos) (more Long Distance Calls Distance Long 8 Operation International Children Children Operation International If your IMS lives on post, you may obtain a 1-year gate pass. gate pass. 1-year may obtain a you post, on IMS lives If your a 30-day pass. you may obtain off-post, IMS lives If your like a pass so she would you if know PleaseValasek let Sharon the list of sponsors IMSD submits the to can inform IMSD. Provost Marshall’s (vehicle registration) office. It is necessary for IMSD to submit the sponsor names in advance so that your office to apply, Marshall’s to the Provost go when you vehicleThe registration is office “eligible.” name will appear as located at 881 McClellan Avenue, Building number 194 and is open from 7:30 to 4:00will Monday needYou toto Friday. bring a valid driver’s license, registration for the car you want of insurancethe pass for and proof for that car. If your IM student lives in Hoge Barracks, please inform him not to make long distance calls from Hoge Barracks by direct Thisdial. can create high long distance charges. The IMS Reminders For IMS Sponsors IMS For Reminders Passes Gate