OLL NEWSLETTER OCT 2006
the Oaxaca
Lending
Library newsletter
_____________________october 2006
Lunch at Casa Colonial
Library members and friends attended a luncheon held
at Casa Colonial on September 27th. The event,
organized by Al Goodin, is the fifth one aimed at
helping businesses hurt by the loss of tourism during
the crisis in Oaxaca.
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Successful Art Auction
A silent auction of works remaining from last fall’s
art auctions was held on Friday, September 29th.
Fifty-one of the remaining works were sold earning
more than $22,000 pesos. This was a chance to get some
incredible bargains …and many of us did! If you
weren’t able to attend take comfort in the knowledge
that what’s left will be shown at the library with
new, much lower prices. Profits to be divided between
OLL, Libros Para Pueblos, and La Estancia Fraternidad.
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New Volunteer Coordinator
Elaine Vasquez and her spouse Tom have been the
Wednesday greeters. Now Elaine has agreed to be in
charge of organizing the volunteers. She says her
first task was to learn what the other volunteer
positions require, ( the coffee shop and desk jobs as
well as greeter.) Her next step was to have a
volunteer potluck get-together, get-to-know-each other
on Sept. 28th. The food was delicious and everyone
enjoy-ed it. We appreciate Elaine’s enthusiasm,
organizational skills, relaxed sense of fun, and her
stepping forward for this important position.
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Rummage sale 2006, Dec. 2
Plans are underway for OLL’s next fund raising event,
led once more by Jane Robison who is donating the
space at the Casa Colonial. Except for last years Art
Auction the rummage sale has always been our biggest
money maker! The date has been set for Dec. 2nd. Lots
of volunteers will be needed to help sort, price and
sell the items. Please bring your ready-to-be-recycled
goodies to the library or to the Casa Colonial, Miguel
Negrete 501.
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“Cocina Linda”: Memorial to Linda Ashley
Many of you have expressed the desire to
remember Linda Ashley with a memorial fund in her
name. I am writing to tell you about one of Linda’s
favorite projects and I hope you will support this
worthwhile cause. The Oaxaca Lending Library has
agreed to act as the fiduciary agent for this project,
so your contributions are tax-deductible. Details
regarding how to make your contribution follow the
project description.
For almost a year now, Linda and I have been
working in Huajuapan , Oaxaca, at a school for
“special-needs” children. I will briefly describe the
project below, along with the efforts we have already
made to fulfill Linda’s and my dream.
Huajuapan de León is the “city” trading
capitol of Oaxaca ’s Mixtec region. It is a two and
one-half hour drive from Oaxaca. Despite its poverty,
Huajuapan has dedicated citizens who are determined to
provide services which are available in other parts of
Mexico. Not the least of these efforts is the
development of the Centro de Atencion Multiple #04
(Escuela de Educacion Especial) which opened its doors
17 years ago to provide services to the area’s
handicapped children. The school now serves 135
students ranging from 2 to 30 years-of-age. Among the
student population are deaf and blind children,
children with mobility challenges, retarded children,
autistic children, children with Down Syndrome,
children with cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis,
and children with linguistic challenges. Thirteen
teachers devotedly serve this population with varied
needs.
The Centros de Atencion Multiple are a part of
the educational system funded by the federal
government of Mexico. Recognizing the need to serve
“special” populations, the government initiated its
program some 20 years ago. The pedagogical theory is
to provide a facility and staff to enable children to
“main-stream” into the gen-eral educational system, or
to learn life skills which will enable them to lead
independent and productive lives.
Because federal educational funds are limited,
the economic responsibility for upkeep and program
development rests on the individual schools. The
government has challenged the various institutions to
develop “talleres” (work-shops) which will prepare its
students for the future.
The Centro de Atencion Multiple #04 in has
chosen to develop a kitchen facility which will train
students to work in various capacities in the state’s
rest-aurants, a costly venture. The school has a
classroom designated for the kitchen, but the
community must raise funds for the construction of the
kitchen and purchase of all appliances. The budget is
being developed for the project and it is estimated
that the cost for such a kitchen will be approximately
$6000 ( US ).
The Parents’ Committee of the school is an
active and hands-on working board, and they have
agreed to undertake the project by having a series of
fund-raisers and by seeking in-kind contributions from
restaurant-supply enterprises. Saint Xavier
University of Chicago and Linda and I agreed to
provide the first fund-raiser for the project.
University students in Chicago collected over 600
stuffed animals to sell on the town’s plaza on May 20,
2006. Stuffed animals were chosen for the sale
be-cause these items are a warm reminder that the
project is “all about “the
children.” The fund-raiser was a roaring
success. Huajuapan teachers, parents, Saint Xavier
University students, and
Linda and I all worked hard together that day and
raised $1,000 US. The money is in a six-month
interest-bearing account with access limited to my
signature and the signature of one of the teachers in
Huajuapan. It is our plan to continue in this manner
until we reach our goal.
Despite the fact that Linda was a truly modest
person, I believe that she would approve of our
actions to commemorate her. The school is already in
our family of Libros Para Pueblos. The kitchen will be
named after her, (”Cocina Linda”) and will serve as a
lasting testament to the beautiful person we all knew.
To make a tax-deductible contri-bution, please
make your check out to Oaxaca Lending Library
Foundation, Inc. (a 501 (c) 3 organization), and
designate your donation for “Linda’s Kitchen.” You may
bring your check to the library or contact the
Foundation Treasurer, Shirley Gray. at
I thank you in advance for helping to memorialize our
dear friend.
Jan Moreno One of Linda’s many friends
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Bill’s 10 centavos worth
With the political turmoil in Oaxaca, the Library is
working hard to stay neutral and in compliance with
Mexican law. For this reason, the Library has found
itself verbally attacked and threatened from both
sides, the left and the right.
The Board feels that our mem-bership should be aware
of these attacks and how we are responding to them.
The crisis in Oaxaca has pushed many people, including
expatriates, to the extreme left or the extreme
right. A Mexican member of the Library told me this
is happening in Oaxacan families too, pitting family
members against each other. Most of us are old enough
to remember how the Viet Nam War polarized Americans
against one another. We got through that difficult
time and so shall the Oaxacaños survive this crisis.
For several weeks, a group was meeting at the Library
to discuss the situation in Oaxaca. Because the
discussions were political in nature, the Board
checked with Mark Leyes, U.S. Consular Agent in
Oaxaca, to confirm that this was not violating Mexican
law. He agreed that discuss-ions were acceptable but
activism would not be.
A few weeks ago, we received a letter from Linda
Anderson (possibly a pseudonym) complaining about”…
self described anarchist-communist activist George
Salzman,” whose views of the situation had been posted
on the Crisis page on the Library web site which had
been set up to provide personal views of the crisis.
She continued that “…The ‘report’ is little more
than propaganda for Mr.Salzmans’s political meddling
in Oaxaca and provides support for the activities of
the APPO.”
Salzman’s group, Oaxaca Study-Action Group, had
invited Stephen Dunifer to address the group. The
title of his presentation was “Project TUPA
(Transmitters uniting the peoples of the Americas) and
Community Radio”. In more peaceful times, this topic
would have been innocuous but in the present situation
it wasn’t. Salzman was advis-ed that the speaker
could not meet at the Library and the Crisis page was
removed from the website (other view-points of the
crisis by Janet Stanley and Bill Pumphrey had been
posted).
The Board decided that the OSAG group should not meet
at the Library as it was politically active and did
not follow the Library’s policy against meetings of
political or partisan groups. Salzman met with several
members of the Library and the Library Board to
protest this decision. At that meeting he accused the
Board members of being “Karl Rove” conservatives and
threatened to make the group’s exclusion “an
international incident.” The Board stands firm in its
prohibition against OSAG or any other politically
active group meeting on library premises.
After this confrontation, we received an email from
Col. Johnathan Poprik Ret. who referred to the OSAG
group as a “radical pinko communist group” and he
threatened “If you do not comply with the following
demands (for names of OSAG participants among other
demands), two Mexican citizens will file a complaint
against the library and ask for revocation of all
rights and licenses necessary for the library to
operate in Mexico. Also each participant or member of
the library will be called in and investigated by
local authorities and immigration. If evidence proves
that they were participating in meetings of the
illegal group against the Government, they will
undergo deportation hearings.”
The Board chose not to respond to Poprik as he is not
a member and his charges were not based on facts.
Rest assured that the Board members collectively and
individually are aware of the prohibition against
participation in Mexican politics and will continue to
keep the library neutral and compliant with mexican
law. We ask for your support and understanding in
these difficult times as we do our best to steer the
Library through these troubled waters.
Thank you.
Bill Pumphery Oll President
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Zócalo Magazine, Online Edition
Zócalo Magazine: Jaguar Speaks is carried online at www.zocalomag.com. Check out the site and see how simply clicking on a link can take you to the Miami Herald’s Mexico Edition, Harper’s, the Atlantic Monthly, Stan Gotlieb’s site, poetry by Michelle and Rodrigo, a book review by Paul Stanley, info on the Garden Club, the Latin American Book Discussion Group as well as many of the local art galleries, organ recitals and cultural events and the OLL (Oaxaca Lending Library) that continue to make Oaxaca the in-place. In addition our new sites check out the art, prose and poetry by Oaxacan’s Ex-Pats and Locals.
Funds to print Zócalo: The Oaxaca Art and Literary Quarterly, are currently unavailable. Once funding is established, Zocalo will be printed. Local artists have contributed enough to make a 16+-page copy. Continue to support Oaxaca’s Art and Literary Quarterly. Maybe we’ll put out a Revolutionary Special Edition. In the mean time keep sending in your art and articles to: Alan Goodin at morknme6@yahoo.com.
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MOVIE NIGHT!!!
Remember - Thursdays are MOVIE NIGHT at 6 p.m..
With our new 35″ TV and sound system, the library is
now hosting a Movie Night every Thursday at 6 p.m.
complete with popcorn, candy bars, and (shhh! Wine).
Thanks to Barry & Jacque Scheinberg’s extensive
collection of DVD’s. Oct. 12 will feature “Wedding
Banquet.” Oct. 19 will be “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.” Come and join in for a cheap and fun night.
10 Pesos donation for admission. Munchies and liquids
also 10 Pesos.
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Pan y Co. at the library!
On Mondays OLL will have fresh baked goods delivered
for your purchase. What a convenient way to add tasty
breads and rolls to your life. They come around 10 am and are gone by 11, so be there or be bereft.
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Saturdays are HOPPING at the Library.
If you think Saturdays are quiet at the Library, think
again! The place is really hopping every Saturday
thanks to two programs:
THE BILINGUAL HOUR FOR CHILDREN: Janet Stanley is
holding a really fun and interactive Bilingual Hour
every Saturday at 11 a.m. Janet and the kids fill the
classroom with their singing and sharing.
INTERCAMBIO: Maestra Irma Rodriguez and Edward
Peterson host a group Intercambio every Saturday at 10
a.m. All you have to do is show up to join in on the
opportunity to improve your English or Spanish.
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The OLL thanks…
Marcus and Cicely Winter, Helen Hines, Toni Sobel,
Patricia Freiberg, Anna Jolley, Jane and Thorny
Robison and CJ Byrns for donating books,videos and
DVD’s to the collection.
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Scholarship granted
The Oll scholarship committee has granted a one year
scholarship to Pergentino Abasolo Valle for $6,500
pesos. This is to pay for his food at the Rufino
Tamayo Hostel.
Pergentino is 16 years old and comes from San Mateo
del Mar, Tehuantepec, a very small pueblo on the
Oaxacan coast. His family are campesinos: he has two
younger siblings. The family cannot help him and they
want him to stay in Oaxaca, go to school and learn to
support himself.
Pergentino is a small, shy young man who spoke only
Huave except when he went to school. He has problems
with Spanish and the transition from his small town to
the Oaxaca urban life continues to be difficult for
him.
One of the requirements for receiving the stipend will
be attendance at the Learning Center at least two
hours a day, three times a week. He will be involved
in tutoring, learning touch typing, introduction to
the computer and group activities.
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Calendar:
library & community events
JAZZ AFTERNOONS
Sundays at La Casa Colonial, 4 to 6 pm. Miguel
Negrete 105. 50 pesos at the door Info: 501-2062.
HOLY TRINITY ANGLICAN CHURCH : Holy Eucharist,
Sundays,11 a.m., Constitución 209.
Info: maryanngarrett@att.net.mx
BRIDGE CLUB Tuesdays, 1:30pm at the Library. Just show up.
“THIRD MONDAYS”
Authors read their works. Listeners welcome! 3rd
Monday every month. 5 p.m. Casa Colonial, Miguel
Negrete 105.
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS MEETING:
For further information contact Jane Carton: 518-4161
IOHIO CONCERTS
Piano; Nov.,5., 6 pm. Centro Cultural de Santo
Domingo,
Organ: Dec. 3 . Oaxaca Cathedral at 1:15 pm after
the 12:00 mass. No admission charge. Donations
welcome.
More info: Cicely Winter, winteroax@prodigy.net.mx
AA & OA
AA Mon. & Thurs.,7- 8 p.m. Sat. 1- 2 p.m.
OA Mon. & Thurs., 5:30-6:30 All meetings are open,
In English and are held at 518 Colon at the corner of
Manuel Doblano.
DOCENT TOURS
in English at Tamayo Museum 5 p.m. every Wed.and Fri.
WALKING TOURS OF COLONIAL CHURCHES
meets in front of the Cathedral at the Zocalo at 10
a.m. Tuesdays and Saturdays. 95 peso donation goes
to Estancia Fraternidad. More info: Linda Martin,
THE OLL BI-LINGUAL HOUR:
Sat. morning from 11 to 12. Welcomes children from 3
years on up. Janet Stanley is La Maestra. Parents
welcome. Show up.
GARDEN & NATURE CLUB: First Wednesday of every month.
New members call Teri Gunderson for info 503-8134.
Instituto de Órganos Históricos de Oaxaca A.C.
is pleased to announce that their Fourth Newsletter is
now available for viewing and downloading as a PDF
file at the IOHIO web site www.iohio.org.mx.
A printed copy of the newsletter will be sent to all
donors, as well as to organ-related projects such as
libraries, universities, conservatories, archives,
museums, festival organizations, organ builders, etc.
(for these, please confirm your mailing address).
Cicely Winter, Director of the IOHIO
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CLASSIFIEDS…
ATTENTION ! ! !
INSURANCE FOR EXPATS!
John Harvey Williams is proud to announce the opening
of an insurance agency in Oaxaca especially dedicated
to the insurance needs of North American’s and other
foreigners residing in Mexico. Mr. Williams is a
licensed Mexican insurance agent with more than 20
years experience working with the ex-pat community
and is available for consultation regarding the
following types of insurance:
· International and national .
medical insurance
· Homeowners coverage
· Automobile insurance for both .
foreign and mexican registered vehicles
Please contact us at clave303@aol.com for a free no
obligation consultation. We look forward to serving
your insurance needs.
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SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE BED AND BREAKFAST
one-bedroom suite w/ complete kitchen available also.
Your donation for room rent supports tutoring of
students at:
THE LEARNING CENTER
703 MURGUIA, CORNER OF TACUBAYA.
telephone: 51 5 01 22
e-mail: gary@learningcenteroaxaca.com
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Posada Casa de la Luz
A Tropical Guest House
in the U.N.I.S.C.O. world heritage site of
Tlacotalpan, Veracruz
Bill Pandolf 01-288-884-2331
www.geocities.com/casadelaluz_mexico/index.htm
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Casa colonial
serving the English speaking community of Oaxaca for 35 years.
Comidas, Jazz Sundays, 3rd Monday Readings
The Casa is a 16 room hotel, open to the public
for lunch. $100 pesos
phone 516-5280
Miguel Negrete 105
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Pierre T. Spencer Translator/Interpreter
Cross cultural communications
personal conversations, groups
Certified by the I.E.E.P.O.
(Oaxaca State Public Education Institute)
All types of documents
25 years experience in Oaxaca, 30 in Mexico.
(951)523-3113 10:a.m. to 2:p.m.
Monday thru Friday opendoor@prodigy.net.mx
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