This focus group is for matters dealing with Euskara and related elements such as Basque song and mus.  To join send an email to info@nabasque.org

Euskara:
Euskara links page

SONG:
Song booklet: "Hi Kantari"
Kantari Eguna
Kantuketan Exhibit

MUS:
2009 Finals in Chino, CA: Julu 11, 2009
NABO Mus Cards for sale (coming soon)
2011 International Tournament hosted here in U.S.

NABO EUSKARA COMMITTEE

SUMMARY REGARDING ISSUES DISCUSSED AT OUR PHONE CONFERENCE CALL ON 9/30/2009

In attendance:  Ikaskun Kortazar, John Ysursa, Valerie Etcharren Arrechea & Patty Miller.

HABE GRANTS

There was some discussion regarding HABE Grants vs. Grants coming from the Office of the Presidency with regard to the Basque Clubs in the Diaspora and discussion about timing of reports and payments.

·    HABE’s reporting period runs from January 1 to September 1 and then September 2 through December 31.  HABE requests report numbers 2 x per year and allocates funds 2 x per year.  Izaskun collects the information and sends it to Martin Goicoechea and he submits the data to HABE for processing.

·    Per conversations between Kinku Zinkunegi (HABE) and the Office of the Presidency, formally Josu Legarreta – John Ysursa was told that:  anything pertaining to funding for language should go through HABE. 

·    It appears that Kinku is saying that any funding of programs beyond the funding for instructors based on number of students and classroom hours, should be requested from the Basque Government.

NABO GRANTS

The group discussed the issuing of HABE funds through NABO and determined that:

·    HABE grant funds should be distributed to the clubs rather than individual instructors as has been done in 2007 and 2008.  The clubs are requesting funds for language classes offered through their venues and should be sure to pay the instructors fairly for the service that they provide with the funds HABE, via NABO, supplies..

·    NABO receives two payments annually from HABE after reporting student #s and classroom hours.  Two payments could be made to each participating Basque club (if Grace is amenable to this) or we could continue to have those funds come once a year.  For now we will continue with the one payment per year unless Izaskun, after contact with the clubs, feels it would be better to make 2 payments per year.

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE:

Izaskun, as Euskara Coordinator, will need to assess how best to administer the funds to be able to reach the goals of the NABO Euskara Program.  She will do the following:

1)      Determine funding for 2009 based on current # of students and classroom hours per club providing Euskara classes.  In the past, clubs providing 2 full semesters of classes have received $1000, only one semester or limited student/teacher contact and instruction have received $500, and so on.
 

2)      After assessing the participant clubs and looking to the future for new programming including more teacher workshops, possibly sending teachers to the Basque Country to study, etc., Izaskun will make a recommendation that funds should remain the same to assist clubs to pay instructors, or she will recommend that funds to the clubs will be reduced (a number should be given for budgeting purposes for the clubs) in order to be able to get the other activities going.

	2007 World Basque Congress Resolutions 1) Development of stronger ties between Euskadi and the Basque Diaspora. 2) Generate a greater sense of awareness of the global Basque community 3) Promote the internal cohesion and greater efficiency of actions 4) Greater external exposure for Basque communities 5) Participation of women and youth
Below are the specific resolutions for this focus (advisory) group taken from Final resolutions from the Congress

13.- La DRCV acordará con las federaciones, y en su defecto, con los centros vascos la financiación de cursos intensivos de formación de “irakasles” (profesores de euskera), para garantizar la enseñanza del euskera en los centros vascos.
The DRCV will assist in the formation of future Euskara teachers for Basque clubs

14.- La DRCV subvencionará la formación de monitores para actividades infantiles en euskera y los materiales de interés para tal fin. Asimismo, propiciará la creación de “udalekus” (campamentos de verano) y estancias en familias, de forma que se favorezca la enseñanza del euskera desde la niñez hasta la universidad.
The DRCV will assist in youth Euskara programs from K-12

34.- La DRCV realizará gestiones para el desarrollo de una convocatoria de becas de formación en Euskadi, con las siguientes características:
The DRCV will run Basque Country workshops for:
-Becas de formación en Euskadi, en periodos cortos, para perfeccionamiento en técnicas y conocimiento de materiales para el desarrollo de las actividades de los Centros vascos.
Short-term stays for learning how to further develop Basque club activities
-Becas de formación, para periodos inferiores a dos años, para cursar prioritariamente estudios relacionados con la cultura vasca: euskera, gastronomía, etc.
Long-term stays (2 years) to learn in-depth Euskara, Basque cooking, etc.

Euskara ala ez gara

Responsible: John Ysursa Email: info@naBASQUE.org

HELBURUA/GOAL. Euskara is one of the primary elements that defines "Basqueness;" the Basques word for themselves "Euskaldunak" means one who speaks Basque.  NABO's efforts are to make Euskara visible, viable & vital:  visibile in that Euskara feature prominently in our communciations; viable in that we continue to facilitate the learning/speaking of the language; vital in that we effectively draw more attention to the central role of Euskara in our culture.

BETEZEA/IMPLEMENTATION.  The person[s] who will be responsible for making this happen are:

EGOERA/SITUATION.  At present there are ten clubs that are offering regular classes.  This number is somewhat skewed because in several communities one club is serving as the host for two or more clubs; thus ten communities is more accurate.  The current number of students in these ten are 178.  To increase student numbers and the number of locals offering classes the following are proposed:

2008	2009	2010	2011
Create student-recognition system; certificate awarded Creation of an Euskara mentor position that includes: coordinates BOGA material; offers regional weekend workshops; Udaleku & Gaztealdi Basque lesson plans; teachers resource manual Identify/recruit potential Basque instructors that can be trained Celebration of Euskararen Eguna Annual workshop to keep instructors enthused and to facilitate their teaching Identify/recruit potential local students	Training of new Basque instructors Advancement of students to Basque country for study Create a fundraising drive; issue of long-term financing Development of a "Basque-Fast" program / Topaketa to provide quick infusion to raise enthusiasm for learning Summer 2008 intensive weeklong workshop for instructors in U.S. Student-recognition system; certificate awarded Celebration of Euskararen Eguna Euskara mentor position Identify/recruit potential Basque instructors that can be trained Identify/recruit potential local students	Identify/recruit potential volunteer visiting Basque instructors willing to come from Europe to spend time in different Basque communities for several weeks at a time. 2009 Euskararen Eguna celebration in Washington D.C. Training of new Basque instructors Advancement of students to Basque country for study Fundraising drive; issue of long-term financing "Basque-Fast" program / Topaketa Student-recognition system; certificate awarded Celebration of Euskararen Eguna Euskara mentor position Identify/recruit potential Basque instructors that can be trained Identify/recruit potential local students Annual workshop to keep instructors enthused and to facilitate their teaching	Euskara Munduan  celebration in the Basque Country Volunteer visiting Basque instructors willing to come from Europe to spend time in different Basque communities for several weeks at a time. Training of new Basque instructors Advancement of students to Basque country for study Fundraising drive; issue of long-term financing "Basque-Fast" program / Topaketa Student-recognition system; certificate awarded Celebration of Euskararen Eguna Euskara mentor position Identify/recruit potential Basque instructors that can be trained Identify/recruit potential local students Annual workshop to keep instructors enthused and to facilitate their teaching

 

Responsible: Valerie Arrechea Email: Etcharren@msn.com

MUS

HELBURUA/GOAL.  Mus is a successful program for adults, however many clubs do not have a youth mus program.  Without young players Mus will soon be in trouble.  One important factor is focusing on Mus as a cultural aspect and not just a card game.  Needed for the next 4 years: a growing youth mus program, NABO visibility – cards and playing sets; emphasis on Mus as a game unique to the Basques, and therefore a cultural game.

BETEZEA/IMPLEMENTATION.   The person[s] who will be responsible for making this happen are:

EGOERA/SITATUION.  The number of senior/older players is stagnant; the future is the number of new players that join the ranks.  Accordingly these are proposed:

2008	2009	2010	2011
Awareness in the US of the cultural importance of Mus NABO cards and playing sets NABO Mus Tournament NABO Junior Mus Tournament Participation in the International Mus Tournament	A 10% increase in youth mus participation 10% increase in clubs participating in the NABO Jr. Mus tournament International awareness of Mus as a culturally Basque game NABO Mus Tournament NABO Junior Mus Tournament Awareness in the US of the cultural importance of Mus NABO cards and playing sets Participation in the International Mus Tournament	A 10% increase in youth mus participation 10% increase in clubs participating in the NABO Jr. Mus tournament NABO Mus Tournament NABO Junior Mus Tournament Awareness in the US of the cultural importance of Mus NABO cards and playing sets Participation in the International Mus Tournament International awareness of Mus as a culturally Basque game	A 10% increase in youth mus participation 10% increase in clubs participating in the NABO Jr. Mus tournament NABO Mus Tournament NABO Junior Mus Tournament Awareness in the US of the cultural importance of Mus NABO cards and playing sets Participation in the International Mus Tournament International awareness of Mus as a culturally Basque game

Responsible: Valerie Arrechea Email: Etcharren@msn.com

HELBURUA/GOAL. Many of the long term goals for Euskal Kantua can also be covered under Euskera.  Without the language, there will be less song.  The two can help each other by focusing on the songs and their vocabulary in Euskera classes.  What is needed over the next 4 years: an increase in young singers; an increase in exposure to Basque song; an increase in exposure to bertsolari.

BETEZEA/IMPLEMENTATION.   The person[s] who will be responsible for making this happen are:

EGOERA/SITUATION.  Basques are singing less and less, and this not only denies us an avenue to express our language, but also significantly a means with which to connect with others.  Accordingly, the following are proposed:

2008	2009	2010	2011
NABO song book Increase in participation of youth in Kantari Eguna Kantari Eguna	Workshop on bertsolari:  helping those who speak Basque learn how to create bertsos. Encourage clubs to teach songs to their children Kantari Eguna	10 % increase of youth participation in Kantari Eguna Kantari Eguna Bertsolari workshop Youth singing	10 % increase of youth participation in Kantari Eguna Kantari Eguna Bertsolari workshop Youth singing