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Pilota Camps in Boise, Idaho
Just a reminder that the Basque Museum and Cultural Center in Boise is offering a summer 2023 Pilota Camp, and registration is now open! Four camps are available: July 10-14, 9:00-11:00 am – 8-11 years old ($80); July 10-14, 11:30-1:30 pm – 12-16 years old ($80); July 17-19, 9:00-11:00 am – 8-11 years old ($50). Two professional pilota players, from the Basque Country, will teach handball through different activities. The registration fee includes camp instruction, some snacks, a t-shirt, along with other swag. All pilota materials, palas, pilotas will be provided. If you would like to participate, please fill out the form available here. Each camp is limited to 12 students so don’t hesitate! Also, please fill out a separate form for each interested participant. For more information, or if you have questions, please email Edurne Arostegui.
Gooding Basque Association Monthly Dinner
Please join our friends at the Gooding Basque Association this Friday, June 2nd for their First Friday Dinner. This Friday’s menu includes lamb chops, lamb shanks, meatballs, Basque rice, soup, salad, Basque bread and dessert. Cost of the dinner is $20 for seniors (62+), $22 for adults, and $10 for children 12 and under. For more information, visit them on Facebook.
NABO 50th Anniversary Convention in Los Banos
As we reported last week, NABO’s 50th Anniversary Convention was held May 18-20th hosted by the Los Banos Basque Club in conjunction with its 59th Annual Picnic. The festivities began on Thursday May 18th with a meet and greet at M&M’s Italian Restaurant. Many NABO delegates, and visitors from the Basque Country attended the event including representatives from the Basque Government, Gorka Alvarez, Director of the Basque Community Abroad, Unai Telleria, Delegate of the Basque Country in the US, Benan Oregi, also from the Department of Basque Communities Abroad, and Kinku Zinkunegi longtime NABO collaborator through HABE, and now the Etxepare Basque Institute, working in the area of Basque language instruction. Other attendees included Joseba Etxarri, director of Euskalkultura.eus and Dr. Pedro Oiarzabal the director of NABO’s Memoria Bizia and the Fighting Basques: Memory of World War II projects.
Friday was reserved for the NABO convention meeting, which included reports from the Basque Government, NABO committees, including a moving report by treasurer Marie Petracek on the historic event that took place at the Texas House of Representatives in March honoring Texas veterans of Basque descent. Kate Camino, NABO’s 50th Anniversary Committee Chair, also took the opportunity to thank Lisa Corcostegui and Maria Tipton for their tireless work on the 50th Anniversary NABO display. The display features information on NABO’s history, Bizi Emankorra recipients, NABO’s annual activities, including its newsletters over the years, its collaboration with the Basque Government and Basque chaplains. The display not only included a myriad of photos but also QR codes that direct the viewer to websites, videos etc. Everyone truly appreciated the work done by Lisa and Maria. The meeting concluded with officer elections, again with Jean Flesher being elected president and Marie Petracek re-elected as treasurer.
Saturday’s festivities began with a cash Mus tournament and was followed by lunch and dance performances by the many dance groups in attendance. NABO’s annual Txerriki contest also took place Saturday afternoon with contestants providing their best chorizo, tripota and lukainka. The afternoon also included a special NABO 50th Anniversary ceremony where the original eight charter clubs were recognized, along with NABO’s past presidents. Two special awards were presented to Gorka Alvarez recognizing the Basque Government’s support for over forty years, and another to Pierre Etcharren, who was a founding member of NABO and is still active in the organization today. On behalf of the Basque Government, Gorka then presented Philippe Acheritogaray, and Jean Flesher with a candle. He explained that from the Basque Country, NABO serves as a light keeping the Basque culture alive abroad. After the presentations, all of the honorees were again honored by an Agurra, performed by Michael Lejardi, and Jill Kaltenecker from the Oinkaris, and Peio Arrechea, from the San Francisco, Zazpiak Bat Basque Dancers, accompanied on the txistu by Valerie Arrechea, and Janice Mainvil. Janice is Grace Mainvil, longtime NABO Treasurer’s daughter and Jill is her granddaughter, while Valerie is Pierre Etcharren’s daughter and Peio is his grandson. What a wonderful tribute to these two families and their dedication to the Basque culture in the US. Saturday evening, the festivities moved to the Woolgrowers Restaurant where folks enjoyed a meal and then a dance outside in the parking lot to the music of Amerikanuak.
Sunday’s festivities began with mass concelebrated by Bishop Emeritus Armando Xavier Ochoa and Aita Antton Egiguren with the participation of the Elgarrekin Choir, combined Klika, and dancers from Boise, Chino, Elko, Fresno, Los Banos, and San Francisco Basque clubs, and Bertsolaris from the US and the Basque Country. After mass, there was a BBQ lamb lunch, an Aizkolari exhibition, more dance performances, bertsolaritza, and NABO’s first ever Gateau Basque Contest. Besides, NABO’s 50th Anniversary display, the Basques in California exhibit was available to view as well as an exhibit provided by the Basque Government that was featured in Donibane Garazi at the 2022 Day of the Basque Diaspora, as well as special panels created by Dr. Pedro Oiarzabal that included information on California veterans of Basque descent.
Needless to say, a good time was had by all and on behalf of everyone at NABO, we would like to thank the Los Banos Basque Club for all of their hard work! We also appreciate the efforts of klika members, dance groups, bertsolaris, aizkolaris, musicians and everyone else who contributed to such a wonderful event. It was truly appreciated! Mila esker handi bat deneri!
6/1/2023
