Cocha-Lina Herald Autumn 2012

COCHA-LINA HERALD Newsletter of the North Carolina Partners of the Americas (Partners with Cochabamba, Bolivia) Autumn 2012 frequently than the others. She conducted item analysis of the test items and omitted those which were repeated and also added questions which measured higher level language abilities. She also donated copies of a comprehensive pretest she has used and found successful.

She participated in the city seminar for teachers and administrators of English.

Her topic was “Teaching Activities with Youtube.” The seminar was held over the course of a week-end in four sessions to groups of about 24. The sessions included teaching videos for young learners, how to videos for young learners and music videos for older more advanced learners

Don’t Miss It! Annual Meeting December 1 Our annual meeting of members and the board meeting will take place on December 1 at the NC State University Club in Raleigh The Annual Meeting of the Cochabamba Partners will take place on December 8.

Cernikova in Cochabamba as Teacher-in-Residence Laura Cernikova from the Wake County Public School System was selected as the 2012 Teacher in Residence, to visit and work in Cochabamba from July 19 – Aug. 19.

She was mainly involved at the Centro BolivianoAmericano, a bi-national center where English is taught.

She observed classes, taught three classes, worked with the administration helping with methods on approach to the TOEFL exam and with improvement of placement tests.

Laura gave a citywide weekend seminar on teaching English. She incorporated Youtube and music videos, and provided handouts.

At the universities UNITEPC and Católica she gave presentations on business English (2 full days).

She also visited San Simon University, including College of architecture with Rosario Claros (architect and VP of CbbaPOA) and Marlene Mercado (President of CbbaPOA), and met with head of linguistics as well, discussing the possibility of future connections and programs. for the 2012 Teacher in Residence fellowship in teaching ESL at the Centro Boliviano Americano Institute and various universities Her main purpose was to teach ESL at the CentroBoliviano Americano (CBA), the bi-national center in Cochabamba, Bolivia, presenting seminars, and workshops to help improve and enhance teaching skills for the students studying English.

She also conducted classroom observations and collaborated with faculty and center administration to share diverse and varied approaches to help learners understand lesson concepts and functions. She assisted in developing lessons topics based on needs and interests. She mentored teachers and provide feedback on their instruction of ESL. As well, she provided website resources and materials for developing speaking skills and student-centered instruction in TEFL. Additionally, she developed knowledge of TEFL and teacher-training skills through collaboration with teachers at CBA. She conferred and discussed with CBA teachers, university professors, etc. about education issues in the United States relating to the teaching of English to the growing numbers of Spanish speaking students in the US/North Carolina/North Carolina Public Schools.

She also modified the CBA’s general ESL pretest as it was determined by the Cbba staff that it was too long and did not accurately place students in correct levels. She compared the test questions to the goals used in courses here to determine which level ESL I, II, or III, was being measured and to see if one level was tested more

A second main focus of her trip was to present seminars at Universidad Catolica and UNITEPC University on Business English. At Universidad Catolica, she presented three sessions of Business English, with about 90 participants each. One session was for Marketing, one for Human Resources and the last was for Negotiations. These sessions were for students of the university and some faculty members. At the University of San Simon she met with teachers from the Linguistics Dept and the School of Architectural Design, and discussed possible future presentations of Business English for these departments

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and other programs the POA could be involved in to enhance learning for students at the university. The students who participated in the seminars at the universities will have resources to study terms and language functions used in Business English. Many of them stated they realized the need for English in their professions and will continue to study English to be successful in the business environment.

The students at the universities gave positive feedback on the seminars and Marlene Mercado, the CbbaPOA president, was interested in more future presentations of this nature.

She also stated our meeting with the Linguistics Department and the Architecture Department were successes as both were interested in participating in Business English programs sponsored by the CbbaPOA. The students who participated in the city wide seminar also gave positive feedback as for the sessions presented and found the activities and videos useful.

Additionally, she also collaborated with local Partners of the Americas to learn about community projects they are involved in around the Cochabamba area, and interacted with professors at the University of San Simon and other Cochabamba area universities to discuss ways that they teach English and make suggestions on how to improve the teaching of English. The Cochabamba Partners also planned visits for her to various organizations in the area such as CERECO, a center for the developmentally disabled, and Warmi, an enterprise for women. She also attended a Partners meeting to meet members in Cochabamba and she also met with some of the people involved in working with children with autism.

Through Partners connections she met with leaders and directors of several civic and community service organizations including Warmi and CERECO and learned of their comprehensive programs for the handicapped.

Finally, by living with the Perez family who spoke no English and through my daily interactions around the city of Cochabamba, Laura says she improved her Spanish language skills and knowledge of Lain American cultures.

She commented that the family “worked very hard to make sure I was comfortable and taken care of at home.”

A long term benefit will be continued and strengthened collaboration between CBA, Partners and the different organizations involved with the TIR program. The teachers observed and those who attended the citywide will have resources to access different teaching materials and implement different teaching styles. The students who register for the TOEFL program will have a chance to see their English language skills assessed before the course to see if they should pay for the class or work on their English a bit more before and try again at a future date.

Hopefully, the modified placement test will more accurately measure the students’ language abilities and place them in classes accordingly. This will alleviate student complaints and make transitions smoother. The donated test could be used instead as it was much more precise in measuring students’ language skills.

The TOEFL pre-test I developed will need to be tested for accuracy and design flaws. A future TIR may be able to amend and edit the test I developed to eliminate any flaws.

The same goes with the amended pretest for the English classes. I understand that finding adequate pretests and end of course evaluations has been a long standing concern for the CBA.

The Business English seminars seemed to be useful and appreciated by the participants and the administrators at Universidad Catolico and UNITEPC Universidad. If a future TIR feels comfortable in presenting Business English, this would be beneficial to the programs. Also, the Architectural Department chairman at San Simon Universidad was was interesting in having presentations on such topics as English and Tourism and explanations in English of certain terms they use in their software programs. He stated these were general terms and a knowledge of architecure and design terms was not essential.

I enjoyed staying with the Perez family. The downstairs apartment was not available to me so I stayed upstairs and had to get used to the extended family visiting frequently.

A more concrete outline of TIR activities, purpose of the visit and daily hours of participation at the CBA should be set and stated for all parties involved (CBA, TIR, Partners etc) prior to the TIR’s departure for Bolivia. During the Citywide seminar, I met the principal of the CBA in Santa Cruz. He stated that he was not aware of the TIR program and would like to become involved. I think it might be beneficial for future TIRs to spend part of the time at the CBA in Cochabamba and part at the CBA in Santa Cruz.

This would give a more complete experience in Bolivia and the teacher could learn about both schools. I realize that the CBA in Santa Cruz is affiliated with the POA of Arizona, but perhaps there could be an exchange or partnership in some way with the POA in Arizona to accomplish this.

Some photos of Choreographer AnaCe Moreno in NC Ana Cecilia Morena spent 6 weeks in NC with the American Dance Festival.

BODY INVADED, choreography and interpretation

by A. C. Moreno

Hank & AnaCe at the home of Lee Moore

Note regarding Kathy Johnson’s visit in Cbba Kathy traveled to Bolivia in a reciprocal visit, following the month-long visit of Claudia to Interact in the summer of 2011, to learn of the programs and services offered by Interact to women in abusive situations.

Message from Marlene Mercado [translated]: She performed such excellent and exhausting work in Cochabamba, her contribution with so much know-how that serves many involved in this area [assistance to abused women] in our department. The work of Claudia Jimenez was intense and very organized.

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By joining PartnersConnect, members will gain the tools to connect with other members, share resources, and promote their efforts and skills. PartnersConnect members will also receive special access, prices, and information for Partners volunteer exchange opportunities, grants, peerlearning events, conferences, and strategic meetings with Partners in Washington, DC. PARTNERSCampus – an innovative model for creating student-led, campus-based chapters of Partners of the Americas to engage the next generation of youth leaders in service and development projects and strengthen and expand the Partners volunteer network. Currently in a pilot stage, the first chapter was begun at American University.

A resource for starting a student chapter is available at http://www.partners.net/partners/PartnersCampus.asp Partners Blog - In an effort to actively involve discussion and information-sharing, a blog is available at http://www.partnersoftheamericas.net Topics have included success of the Farmer to Farmer program in Guyana, stories of exceptional volunteerism, and a story in 3 parts of “decisión, dedicación, y trabajo” of how Lesly Zerna, a Youth Ambassador from Cochabamba got to go to the Youth Summit in Colombia in November.

Find the link to the Partners Annual report on the main page of partners.net

Watson, on the Recent Autism Conferences Linda Watson was one of the team of four professionals who traveled to Bolivia in the 2nd phase of the Autism Project, a collaboration of the North Carolina Partners of the Americas and the partnerships in the three major cities of Bolivia—Cochabamba, La Paz, and Santa Cruz.

Recently she was interviewed by a reporter of the campus newspaper at the University of North Carolina, where she works.

Youth Engagement Workshop.

The conferences presented in Bolivia were extremely well received and helped to create improved awareness of the identification of autism and ways to help those with the condition. But Ms. Watson remarked that the experience had given her a bigger vision that it will be important to give more than just conferences. She also commented that the parents’ organization and professional groups are not welllinked. At the conferences, the participants discussed the current strengths and weaknesses of dealing with autism.

Ms. Watson expressed how inspiring it was to see the level of commitment in that many stayed after a long day for additional discussion.

She noted the differences between what she sees in the U.S. and Bolivia, that in the latter there are fewer resources, thinner expertise, that children get identified later than in the U.S. as having autism, and that there are no special educational services in schools.

In Bolivia there is a stigma related to disability. Ms. Watson commented that families with children with Downs Syndrome have led the way in gaining some acceptance and special services.

There now seems to be more awareness of the global aspect of autism. Universidad Católica has written a letter of collaboration and memo of understanding of its commitment to global education.

The future role of NC Partners needs to be defined. Linda Watson suggested her interest in being a “broker”.

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A Youth Engagement workshop was held September 13 th and 14 , 2012 at the Partners of the Americas office in Washington, DC. The purpose of the workshop was to Build successful youth engagement program based on effective approaches and designs. and strengthen capacity to recruit and engage youth in volunteer service.

This conference gathered participants from selected partnerships, north and south. Attending were Sallie Abbas (NC), Gilda Battagliese and Romina Castellini (Uruguay), Heloisa Andrade (Brazil), Nick Bratcher (KY), Margaret Clark (AR), Linda Weber (WI), Steve Kirk (MA), Patrick Moore (MN), Patricia Natke (IL) Lowell Adams (MD), Doug Walters (WV), Carolina Escobar Partners Colombia) and from Partners Washington: Steve Vetter, Matthew Clausen, Lindsey Suggs, Melissa Golladay, Abraham Cisne, Barbara Bloch.

Partners of the Americas, Washington DC PartnersConnect is an initiative designed to create opportunities for our network and is a way of linking communities of volunteers as individuals, chapter, corporation, non-profit organization, or university.

Members of PartnersConnect will be able to communicate with other members, share experiences, promote opportunities, and work with Partners to connect, serve, and change lives.

Each participant presented how his/her chapter engages youth into projects and well as highlight any projects that work directly with youth. The two areas I focused on were the Youth Ambassadors program and the Experience Bolivia program. The latter is to be for members or others

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interested in traveling to Bolivia for service, social interaction, and tourism. We are now connecting through NCSU Center for Engagement & Service, the Duke Engage program, and Appalachian State U. The Youth Ambassadors program established personal connections with schools, involving teachers and parents with Partners – mixing academic and community experiences. Qualities of a successful YA program is finding good host families l, and the school’s interest in having students.

The Remarkable Renovation of the Partners Office Those of you who have visited the POA office in the past may remember it as a not-very-bright and cheery place. I was truly impressed with how much change has gone on there, under the guidance and inspiration of President Steve Vetter.

In the POA “attic” were many interesting artifacts that had come from many partner countries. Many of these were pressed into service to decorate walls and shelves.

He saw from the outside of the building that there were windows that had existed in the past, but didn’t correspond to where they should appear inside the offices. He had them opened up to create a much lighter, pleasant interior.

The same was true of a fireplace that had been totally plastered over!  Steve Vetter and

At a session called World Café we broke into groups to share ideas on a variety of topics, including Transportation, Host Families, Host Families Schools, Activities, Best Practices, Resources. In each topic the groups shared successes and challenges.

Grants Available from POA

Educational and Culture Exchange grants –75 per year- for volunteers and Chapters are unlimited for any chapter.

(10-day minimum for participant). These can be in the performing and visual arts, professional development of educators, Ethics education, judicial improvement/reform, promotion of rights of minorities and indigenous people, environmental protection and climate change. There are even grants available for learning first-hand about another chapter’s success in an area of mutual interest.

Small grants (max. $3,000) are available. Some in the past have been used for art exhibits, cultural presentations, curriculum development, vocational training, logistical support for a seminar.

Sallie Abbas in front of the newly revealed fireplace in Steve’s office.

The new windows opened onto a view of a wall, not too interesting a view! Steve had an amazing idea: decorate the outside wall! …How to affix interesting art to this wall 7 storeys up, and at a distance of a couple of yards outside the window? With a propulsive air gun, he shot the nails into the wall and they were able to affix these metal sculptures.

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The Two Sides Of Bolivia’s Quinoa Boom 11/02/2012 16:30 en.haberler.com Quinoa is a crop with high nutritional value which sells well to overseas health food consumers.

Quinoa is a crop with high nutritional value which sells well to overseas health food consumers. Bolivia is experiencing a quinoa boom, but do the local downsides outweigh the financial benefits for the country? In a street market in the small Bolivian town of Challapata, vendor Juan Bueno Ochire has a variety of quinoa products on display. Juice, cake, cookies, chocolate, popcorn - you can make almost anything out of quinoa, he says.

Ochire calls quinoa 'the golden grain of the Andes', although strictly speaking it is not a grain at all, but the seed of the goosefoot plant. It looks like a larger type of couscous and comes in different colours: yellowish white, red-brown and black.

Gerardo Polo, works for a community organisation which gives advice to local farmers. He hopes new technologies will increase production in the industry. "We estimate that ten percent of the worldwide demand for quinoa is being satisfied at the moment. That means ninety percent of the demand is currently not being met," he told DW. Global market, local impact Polo says that Bolivia has a unique bargaining position in the quinoa market as it is the only place where the crop can be grown organically. For organic quinoa, plenty of sunlight and a high level of salinity in the soil is needed.

The Altiplano area in Bolivia, near the world's biggest salt lake, Salar de Uyuni, is about four kilometers above sea level. It is one of the major quinoa producing areas in the country.

However, the rising global demand is having a detrimental effect on local availability, says Jim Shultz, who heads the think tank Democracy Center in the Bolivian city of Cochabamba.

"As the global demand for quinoa increases, it raises the prices of quinoa here in Bolivia," he points out. "You actually have low income families that used to be able to feed their children and themselves with quinoa, which is very healthy. Now, they eat white rice and low-quality pasta."

In some cases farmers have reported 45 liter sacks of quinoa selling for up to 100 US dollars (78 euro). This is a price that many locals simply cannot afford.

'End of capitalism': Bolivia to expel Coca-Cola in wake of 2012 Mayan 'apocalypse'

Conflict between indigenous land and resource rights, and state development priorities http://climate-connections.org/2012/11/21/latin-americas-leftturn-collides-with-indigenous-movements/

Bolivian Legislation Plans To Regulate Social Media

La Paz, Bolivia (CNN) -- A top Bolivian official has a stern warning for those who criticize President Evo Morales on social networks: He's watching what they say, and taking names.

"I am always going online, and I am writing down the first and last names of the people who insult him on Facebook and Twitter," Vice President Alvaro Garcia Linera said in remarks widely reported in Bolivian media this week.

The vice president's comments have drawn sharp criticism from some free speech advocates. But lawmakers from Morales' Movement for Socialism party say they hope to push a proposed law regulating social media through the country's Congress.

Constructive criticism is fine, said Franklin Garvizu, a congressman from the president's party. But officials have seen something more nefarious, he said.

"We are very worried because this is a case of systematically using communications mechanisms to plant hatred against the government, to harm the image of our president," Garvizu said.

Bolivian opposition leaders have a different take. They say such comments show the government's authoritarian aim to censor social networks.

"Obviously on social networks one cannot expect everyone to be praised. The opposition also receives insults from public officials, criticisms with no meaning, attacks, and it would never occur to us to block social networks," said Samuel Doria Medina, who heads the opposition National Unity party. "That's why we've recommended to the vice president that he gets an account that he interacts (with people). He will learn a lot more about young people, and surely not everyone will applaud him, but some will agree with him."

Word that the government is monitoring information on digital news websites and social networks, and weighing regulating them, sparked sharp criticism among some on the streets of the capital city of La Paz. "It goes against all the rights, human rights, above all," said Maica Guzman. "Where is freedom of expression?"

Others, like Cristina Perez, noted that the tone of discourse had gotten out of hand.

"No insult is good in any media," she said. "I think people should respect each other, but also these people should respect us."

Of Bolivia's roughly 10 million residents, there are more than 8.7 million cell phone users with the ability to access Facebook and Twitter or download YouTube videos, said Eduardo Rojas, president of Bolivia's Redes Foundation.

There are about 1.7 million Facebook users nationwide, he said. That means government officials, he said, should see social media as an opportunity government can join, rather than a threat.

Online, he said, "you can defend, promote and spread human rights, and on the other hand complaints."

"It is a device that can be used to deepen democracy," he said.

http://rt.com/news/bolivia-ban-coca-cola-581/

In a symbolic rejection of US capitalism, Bolivia announced it will expel the Coca-Cola Company from the country at the end of the Mayan calendar. This will mark the end of capitalism and usher in a new era of equality, the Bolivian government says.

“December 21 of 2012 will be the end of egoism and division. December 21 should be the end of Coca-Cola,” Bolivian foreign minister David Choquehuanca decreed, with bombast worthy of a viral marketing campaign.

The coming ‘end’ of the Mayan lunar calendar on December 21 of this year has sparked widespread doomsaying of an impending apocalypse.

But Choquehuanca argued differently, claiming it will be the

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end of days for capitalism, not the planet.

“The planets will align for the first time in 26,000 years and this is the end of capitalism and the beginning of communitarianism,” said Choquehuanca as quoted by Venezuelan newspaper El Periodiquito.

The minister encouraged the people of Bolivia to drink Mocochinche, a peach-flavored soft drink, as an alternative to Coca-Cola. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez followed suit, encouraging his country to ditch the American beverage for fruit juice produced in Venezuela.

Warmi’s Need for Assistance.

This note came to me from Elena Daza Jimenez. As many of you know, she founded and is the director of Warmi, a soap factory run by women, a daycare center, after-school center, and a community meeting location. She has been struggling for a while with obtaining funding for adequately covering the expenses of the place.

[Translation follows] Como todos ustedes saben este año ya no tuvimos el apoyo de la familia de Holanda, ni tampoco de los voluntarios de Wangen.....eso significa que también debemos hacer recortes para este mes....

Son 60 niños en los dos programas, Tiquipaya, y Pacata, que no tienen Sponsor, y hasta ahora, cada Navidad todos los 300 niños han recibido lo mismo pues podíamos equilibrar los gastos con esas otras donaciones Estamos escribiendo a algunos amigos de Cochabamba, pequeñas empresas, ex voluntarios, a todos para compartir esta situación, y ver en que nos pueden ayudar.

La celebración será el martes 19 de diciembre, y todo el personal trabajara hasta el 21, como otros años esos días sin niños son para las evaluaciones, y limpieza de todas los ambientes.

Hemos cumplido 30 años de trabajo, y nuestra primera actividad en 1982 fue una celebración de Navidad, en el árbol frente a mi casa, esa vez, también los jóvenes y las señoras ayudaron a visitar casas y empresas buscando donaciones, juguetes usados, para celebrar a mas de 300 niños, parece que la historia se repite, y quiero pensar que es una señal de Dios, y yo soy un instrumento para llegar a los necesitados y también a los que pueden ayudar, solo soy una intermediaria, y bueno esa será mi misión....

Les agradezco el amor, interés y amistad que tienen a Warmi, tendrán mas noticias de nosotros antes de la vacación, muchos saludos de todos los de Warmi, y los niños

Editors note: a bizarre paradox, since peaches were not native (they made their way from China to Europe and then to South America), whereas Coca Cola’s energizing ingredient originally was coca, so really Coca Cola is more Bolivian than Mocochinche!

Last year, Bolivia became the second Latin American country not to have a single McDonald’s. The fast food giant finally gave up on Bolivia after being unable to turn a profit in the country for over a decade.

Steve Vetter’s special Facebook site President and CEO Steve Vetter travels the globe representing Partners of the Americas work, and Facebook is one of the best ways to follow his adventures. Find Steve at www.facebook.com/vetterconnect.

A site with resources for teaching/learning English produced by Ian Brailsford http://cocha-lina.yolasite.com/ Ian was a Teacher-in-Residence participant in 2010.

Grant Development Workshop

This year we did not have the help of the Dutch family, nor the volunteers from Wangen …that means that we have had to make cutbacks for this month.

There are 60 children in both programs, Tiquipaya, and Pacata, who do not have a Sponsor, and until now, every Christmas all the 300 children have received the same then we could balance the expenses with those other donations.

We are writing to some friends of Cochabamba, small companies, ex- volunteers, to all to share this situation, and to see how they can help us.

The celebration will be Tuesday 19 of December, and all the staff works until the 21, as other years those days without children are for the evaluations, and cleaning all the surroundings.

We have completed 30 years of work, and our first activity in 1982 was a celebration of Christmas, in the tree opposite my house, At that time, the young people and the ladies helped to visit houses and companies looking for used donations, toys, to celebrate for more than 300 children, it seems that the history is repeated, and I want to think that it is a signal of God, and I am the instrument to the achieve the needs and to those who can help; I am just an intermediary, and well, that will be my mission….

I thank you for the love, interest and friendship that you have for Warm; you will have more news of us before the vacation, many greetings of all those of Warmi, and the children.

At the September Board meeting Kitty Stalberg presented a workshop on the details of developing a grant to present to Partners International. It will assist more NCPOA members to participate in the process of preparing a grant proposal.

More of the Art from the POA office

Editor’s comment: I would like to suggest that we collect funds from anyone who is moved to do so. Bring a check or cash to the Annual Meeting or mail to Treasurer Judy Gibson at our mailing address P.O. Box 28221, Raleigh NC 27611 ahead of time, and we will combine the donations and get them to Cochabamba, to Warmi. You may make the checks payable to NC Partners of the America.

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North Carolina Partners of the Americas Officers:

Expanding our programs

Sallie Abbas, President h919-467-0382; swabbas@nc.rr.com Christian Stalberg, Vice-President chris@stalberg.net Past President/Advisor Kitty Stalberg 942-7882; kit@mindspring.com Kitty Stalberg, Secretary Newsletter Editor: Sallie Abbas Judy Gibson, Treasurer h704-487-4228 hbgibson@hotmail.com Board Members: Includes the Executive Committee above, and Hank Graden (chair), Karen Brown, Mary Helen Ferguson, Virginia Freedman, Stephen Gibson, Judy Gibson, Hank Graden, Don Hopkins, March Krotee, Heike Meissner, Larry Nelson, Robert Pyle, John Sabella, Christian Stalberg, Kitty Stalberg, Rodney Swink, Benson Timmons, Carlos Vargas, Deborah Wilkes, Richard Whitmore, L. George Wilson.

Have a good idea for a speaker or a presentation of interest to expand the opportunities for our members to attend and to enrich the international experience of members of NCPOA and others? Let an officer of our partnership know.

Pay your dues easily online now! Go to the Website ncboliviapartners.org, go to the DONATE page, and you’ll be able to make a secure payment of dues or other donation!

NCP History Years ago a small committee put together a history of our partnership, which was founded in 1976. Kitty Stalberg as Past-President has written the summary of her two years as president to bring it up to date.

The history is available in digital form

Subcommittees and Chairs: Culture and the Arts - Art Waber, Martha Keravouri, Lee Moore Health and Clinical Practices-Carlos Vargas, Ben Timmons Agriculture -Steve Gibson Emergency Preparedness- Steve Cohen Education –Karen Brown, Deborah Wilkes Sports -March Krotee Membership - Virginia Freedman

NC Partners Website Visit our Website at www.ncboliviapartners.org. to see news, calendar, photos, past issues of the newsletter, and more!

You’ll find Partners International at www.partners.net Dues and other payments and donations may be made at our Website through PayPal.

The committees Women and Development and Democratic Initiatives are not active.

We are in need of someone to lead the Social Committee

Cell Phone and Printer Cartridge Fundraiser I recently sent in some donated printer cartridges, older cell phones, and a digital camera to the cash-for-recycling place we have dealt with over the past several years, and we are receiving a check for NC Partners. Don’t forget to collect these items --your own, ask at your office, or any groups with which you’re associated-- and turn them in at a meeting, or if you have a bunch, connect with Sallie Abbas for info on how to ship them directly, via FedEx, at no cost to you, and NCPOA benefits!

Thank you to Mary Helen, Heike, Rodney, and some others for helping collect these!

Officers of the Cochabamba Partners [The change to new officers will take place in late January or early February]

President: Dra. Daysi Marlene Mercado V. mar_daysi@hotmail.com

President-elect: Arq. Rosario Claros Rosario-claros@hotmail.com

General Secretary: Lic. Victor Morales Bardales Treasurer: Ms. Lesly Sandra Zerna Immediate Past President: Dra. Janet Orieta Morales B. de Villazón jamobar@gmail.com

Wreath Sales Fundraiser

On the Calendar (2012): Board Meeting* and grant-writing wkshop

September 8

First United Meth Church, Cary

Executive Committee meeting

October 15 November 12

Cyberspace, via Skype

Board meeting*, December 8 NCSU University Annual Meeting Club, Raleigh *Quarterly Board Meetings are held on Saturdays, 9:30-12:00

Again this year Rodney Swink is heading up the wreathselling project. This is a way to bring in funds for the NCPOA programs. Thank you, Rodney!

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