Newsletter website: www.SFBCC.us.

Volume 31 Issue 3

Gure Euskal

Etxea

Upcoming Events

• May 5-Fresno Basque Picnic

• May 12- Txirrindulari Kluba Bike Ride

• May 13-Mother’s Day Lunch

• May 19-Los Banos Basque Picnic

• May 26-27– Kern County Basque Club’s

40th annual festival

• Jun 3-San Francisco Basque Picnic

• Jun 10-General Meeting and Elections

• Jun 17-Father’s Day Lunch

Maiatza (May) 2012

Board of Directors

President

Valerie Arrechea

Vice Presidents

Jean Pierre Cabalette

Christian Iribarren

Secretary

Arantxa Arriada

Treasurer

Anita Arduain C’

Assistant Secretary

Patricia Elicagaray

Assistant Treasurer

Patricia Elicagaray

Directors:

Philippe Acheritogaray

David Alfaro

Johnny Curutchet

Tony Espinal

Esther Bidaurreta

Pierre Etcharren

Gratien Etchebehere, Jr.

John Falxa

Jean Gorostiague

Euskara Classes

Thursday Evenings at 7:30 pm

Gazteak Basque Dance

Saturdays 1:00-3:00 pm

From the PresidentFrom the PresidentFrom the PresidentFrom the President

On February 19th we were honored to have participated in a role that ties our past to our present and future. South San Francisco and Donibane Garazi signed their official Sister City agreement at the Basque Cultural Center. This relationship was the result of ten years of work between Pierre Etcharren, the late Joe Fernekes, the South San Francisco Sister Cities Committee and the City of South San Francisco. I want to take an opportunity and share with you some of the reportage that the event received. The links to the articles are below. The article published in Herria by our own Franxoa Bi-

daurreta can be found on the back page of this newsletter.

Over my year as president I have had the honor of celebrating many special occasions -- the 50th anniversary of the Zazpiak Bat Dance Group, the 30th Anniversary of our Euskal Etxea, and the Sister City Agreement between these two cities that mean much to all of us. Throughout all these celebrations, it is the theme of community that runs deepest, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your part in our community. Our members are what make our Euskal Etxea the special place it is, and your role in it is important. From those who participate in events, give up their time to participate in groups or play pala, those who come move tables and chairs, par-ticipate in meetings, play mus on Sundays, to the parents who bring their children to be part of our future -- you each make up a special part of our house.

Mil esker deneri Valerie Arrechea

http://www.sudouest.fr/2012/03/31/un-pont-culturel-avec-la-californie-674441-4385.php http://info.francetelevisions.fr/video-info/index-fr.php?id-categorie=JOURNAUX_LES_EDITIONS_LOCALES_EUSKAL_HERRI_PAYS_BASQUE

PAGE 2 G U RE E U SKAL E TX E A V OLU M E 3 1 , ISSU E 3

Mother’s Club annual

2012 International 2012 International 2012 International 2012 International

Mus TournamentMus TournamentMus TournamentMus Tournament

The international mus tournament in 2012 will be held on a cruise ship departing from Vancouver, Canada. If you are interested in more information, please contact Pierre Etcharren at etcharren@msn.com or go to

www.globalmus.com.

GREAT NEWS for Euskara Programs

A workshop for Euskara instructors was held at the BCC’s 30th anniversary on the weekend of February 17th. NABO renewed its commitment to the Basque language and its intention to promote it through offering courses at various Basque clubs. According to HABE, over the last three years the number of Basque students in both coun-tries has doubled. During the workshop teachers learned about different teaching techniques and activities such as games and exercises in order to improve their classes and make them more dynamic and also had the opportunity to share their experiences and difficulties with each other. If you’d like to know more, check out the full arti-cle at http://www.euskalkultura.com/news/us

-basque-clubs-renew-their-commitment-to-euskera-at-nabo2019s-meeting-held-in-san-

francisco/view?set_language=en.

Zorionak Zorionak Zorionak Zorionak

to our Newest Membersto our Newest Membersto our Newest Membersto our Newest Members

Danielle EspinalDanielle EspinalDanielle EspinalDanielle Espinal

Jeannette JaurequitoJeannette JaurequitoJeannette JaurequitoJeannette Jaurequito

Jesse OritzJesse OritzJesse OritzJesse Oritz

When you have the opportunity,

please congratulate them!

12 noon Luncheon12 noon Luncheon12 noon Luncheon12 noon Luncheon $20.00 Adult Member $25.00 Member Guest $30.00 Non-Member

$ 7.00 Children under 12

Each Mom will receive a free raffle ticket Each Mom will receive a free raffle ticket Each Mom will receive a free raffle ticket Each Mom will receive a free raffle ticket for a special drawing.for a special drawing.for a special drawing.for a special drawing.

Reservation deadline is Tuesday, May 8th to Anita Arduain at 650-583-7018

And what better place for Your children and spouse to take you

today—Than our Basque House.

Where you can enjoy this special day

And you don’t have to cook,

And you don’t have to pay!

The fact that they’re with you

To share in this meal

Is real evidence of the

love that they feel.

So sit back and relax –

You deserve the rest,

For remember today

YOU are the guest! >>

>> Excerpt from Florence

Castanchoa’s Salute to Mother in 1990.

Luncheon price without reservation is $Luncheon price without reservation is $Luncheon price without reservation is $Luncheon price without reservation is $30.0030.0030.0030.00

PAGE 3 G U RE E U SKAL E TX E A V OLU M E 3 1 , ISSU E 3

BCC Txirrindulari Kluba Bike Ride

Saturday, May 12, 2012

You still have about two weeks left from the time you read this newsletter to prepare. If you just rode twice a week you could probably still handle the shorter “bide txiki” route. So far there are 22 people committed to the ride and that doesn't include the sag wagon crew. If you are still interested in coming on the ride with us, you must contact Leon at iris-sartara@yahoo.com or at 415-285-0748 and leave a mes-sage. Our charge is that you must bring something to the event such as food or drink or plates, etc. to help enjoy the lunch after the ride is over. The ride will start in Corte Madera and go through San Rafael, China Camp, Terra Linda, Fairfax, San Anselmo, Ross, Mill Valley, Tiburon and return to Corte Madera. For the first time there is a third route option in addition to the short (bide txiki- 26 miles), consisting of a mostly flat, relaxed ride and the long (bide luze- 43 miles) consisting of more hills and faster speed ride. The third route will be the medium (bide-erdikoa- 33 miles), consisting of a mixture of locations going through both the short and long routes. All of these routes offer wonder-ful sites and there is no competition un-less you desire to challenge your-self. Having three routes gives riders the chance to change your plans depending on how you feel on

the day of the ride.

>>> Euskara Corner >>>

There’s a growing selection of Basque documen-taries released or in production, and a couple can be viewed in their entirety at the Euskal Telebista website. Check these out at http://

www.nabasque.org/NABO/Committee/video.htm.

June 2012 ElectionsJune 2012 ElectionsJune 2012 ElectionsJune 2012 Elections

The elections for the Board of Directors will take place following the General Membership Meeting at 10:00 AM SHARP on Sunday, June 10, 2012. Elections will be held in the same format as previ-ous years. Everyone will have an opportunity to participate in the election “BY MAIL” if you are unable to be present on June 10,

2012.

Some of the rules are as follows: 1) You must be a Certificate Member in good standing to vote or

run for office.

2) 2012 dues must be paid if you wish to run for office. 3) You can still vote at the Basque Cultural Center on Election Day if you do not send in your ballot on time. 4) You MUST have a signature card on file. Members who do not have one on file will receive one in the mail. When you do so, please sign on the line and mail it back before May 10, 2012. The

election ballots will be sent out in May.

We wish to remind you that the following committees are a vital part of the Board in which the most important work for us as mem-bers still lies: Building and Grounds, Basque Language Program, En-tertainment, Children and Youth activities, Pilota, and Women’s Club. If you have any desire to be on any of these committees, would like to consider running for the Board or would like to rec-ommend a member for nomination, please contact anyone on the

Election Committee listed below.

All candidates are required to submit a short paragraph about why they want to be on the Board of Directors and send it to,

a.arduain@sbcglobal.net or mail to:

Anita Arduain, 226 Bryce Ave., South San Francisco, CA 94080. All nominations and paragraphs must be submitted by May

18th in order to appear on the ballot to be mailed.

The following Board of Directors' three year terms will end June 2012: David Alfaro, Arantxa Arriada, Jean-Pierre Cabalette, Tony

Espinal, and John Falxa

Election Committee:

Chairperson: Anita Arduain 650-583-7018

a.arduain@sbcglobal.net

Co-Chairperson: Philippe Acheritogaray 650-504-8679

philippea@frk.com

Committee Members:

Valerie Arrechea 415-859-1154 etcharren@msn.com

Esther Bidaurreta Bidaurreta@aol.com

Johnny Curutchet 650-922-3567 johnny0510@att.net

Patricia Elicagaray euskaldun_neska@yahoo.com

Pierre Etcharren 530-330-5770 etcharren@msn.com

Gratien Etchebehere Jr. basquecheese@hotmail.com

Jean Gorostiague 650-465-7131 jg1231@gmail.com

Christian Iribarren 415-566-5117 christian@biddle-shaw.com

G U RE E U SKAL E TX E A V OLU M E 3 1 ISSU E 3 P AG E 4

South San Francisko California-n eta Donibane Garazi Euskal Herria-n Seniditu(Sister City)

SSF-ko Udal-arekin senidetzeko(Sister City), Donibane Garazi-ri zen lehen galdea. Udal untarik asko

Euskaldun pasatu delakoan Estatu Batu-erat buruz, Charles Iriart-ek zuen agentziaren laguntzarekin.

South San Francisco(SSF) jada seniditua zen lau udal ekin: Kishiwada(Japan), Atontonilco(Mexico), Lucca(Italy) eta Pasig City(Philippines). 1982 Basque Cultual Center-ek SSF-on bere erroak landatu zituenetik, eta kultura elkarte ezagutuenetarik bat agertu denean, SSF-ko eta alde huntako Euskaldu-nak asi ziren hitzetan bortz garren senidetzea Euskal Herriko udal bat izaiteaz; zoin Udal Euskal Her-

rian? Euskaldungoa eta Euskal Kultura hoin besoak zabalik onartua duen

Nok egin hitzarmen lanak? Pierre Etcharren-ek hartu zuen eginbeharren kargua, garbidago lana asko behar dela egin eta denbora hartzen duela bi udal gisa guziz ezberdin ala nola hizkuntza, Kultur haunditasun eta beste; Pierre-k, Frank McAuley SSF Sister City Commite-ko lehendari arekin batera

egin lanaz, bi Udal elgarretatik urrun, itsasoaren bi aldetan senidetu dira gogo berekin.

Sinatu: Hitzarmen guziak ofizial izateko sinatu behar, sinatze lekua, “Euskal Etxea” hautatu dute bere hoigoita hamar urte zabaltzeaz ospa egunean, pilota lekuan, jendez goindizka betea zela. Argazki huntan iskustendira Graxana Paris Donibaneko Contzulakoa eta Rick Garbarino SSF-ko auzapeza beren sinadura emaiten, eta hok beren lana egitean Euskal Koroak Johnny Curutchet bertsolariak egin bertsu auk kantatzen zituzten. Zeremoniaren ondotik izan ginuen xantza Graxana Paris eta Rich Garbarino-ri galdera batzu egiteko geroari buruzko haremanetaz, huna zer zioten; pozik zau-dela eginaz zenaz eta prest geroari buruz lanari lotzeko, ageritu zituzten zoinbait gauz gogoan zituz-tenak, ikasle, kultura, ofizale, biztanle eta berze trukeak sustatzeko; Rich-ek zion, Basque Cultural Center-ek bere erroak SSF hirian landatu aurreti ezagutzen zituela Euskal familia batzu bainan Euskal Kultura ezuela ezatzen, poz zela Euskal Kultura-k hiri huni ekarri dion aberastasunaz; Graxana-k zion lehen itzaldietan zoinbaitek, hoin urrun eta hiri haundiagoko batekin bat egiteaz kezkak bazituztela, bainan ikusi zutelarik ongia zela geroari buruz, kontzelu guziak goraki baitsastu zutela, eta zoin poz zen hunat etorri eta hemen egin ezagutzekin eta aurrera segitzeko argi iksuten zuela bi Herri al-

dehen kulturen, bizimolduen ezagutaratzeko ta zabaltzeko zuen aukerak.

Argazki horietan ikus ditazke Graxana SSF Hiriko Etxean Euskal banderaren goitzen, Rich eta Graxana dokumentuen sinatzen, Frank McAuley SSF-ko Sister City Commetiko lehendakaria eta

Pierre Etcharren lehendakari ordea orain arte egin lanak eta gero egin beharren baitsazten.

Eskerrak bide huni buruz lan egin duzuen guzier, karai on gogo biotzez aurrerat segitzeko Euskaldungoa, Euskal Kultura eta Euskara obeki ezagutua eta munduratua izan dadin eta Estatu Bau-

etako kultura eta bizi moldea obeki ezagutzeko.

Franxoa Bidaurreta

Article that appeared in Herria, written by Franxoa Bidaurreta:Article that appeared in Herria, written by Franxoa Bidaurreta:Article that appeared in Herria, written by Franxoa Bidaurreta:Article that appeared in Herria, written by Franxoa Bidaurreta: