Download - 2003 November Newsletter
NOVEMBER 2003
AFSC
OLU
MBIA-PAC
IFIC
Without the stamp of approval from CSIET,AFS will not be able to place students in themajority of the schools we currently host in. The main issues that may affect your day-to-day operation (host family andvolunteers) is the necessity for eachfamily to receive a home visit andseparate orientation; sign a new hostfamily agreement; provide two non-relatedcharacter references and abide by theguidelines outlined in the agreement. Thisis not to discourage families from hosting,but rather to ensure a good experience.
That said, I'll remind you that HostFamily Finding is an ongoing, year-round process. I encourage you all to"speak AFS." Introduce your students toclassrooms and communityorganizations; they are ambassadors!Attend intercultural events of interestand make sure your friends andneighbors know you are changing theworld person by person! Nominate anew family for next year. Recruit anAunt Uncle family to be anotherinfluence in your student's life.
If you would like to have a neighborhoodinformation gathering, staff andvolunteers are available with materialsand expertise to assist. This is the time ofyear we are making school contacts, butneighborhood and church info nights canbe a very effective way of spreading theword of AFS.
For more information or for the directoryof local AFS contacts, please see ourwebsite: www.afscolpac.org.
This is a quote by one of our FLEX students
“I think for every minus there is a plusand this will be a very helpful
experience for me. I want to take themost I can from this trip. I would
recommend that everyone do all theycan here despite being tired or in a badmood. Because if you relax here anddo nothing you won’t have anything toremember after you go back home.”
COLUMBIA PACIFIC HOSTING NEWS
With the advent of Homeland Security andincreased tensions in the world, it is moreimportant than ever for us to review andabide by the guidelines of CSIET.
CSIET is the regulatory organization thatensures the safety and well-being ofstudents hosted in the US and the support ofthe families who host them. Host FamilyApplications and Applicant paperworkcontain the Guidelines we must operatewith. If you don't have a copy, please askyour local volunteer or an Area TeamLeader for a copy.
The backbone of CSIET approval ismonthly, documented support contact ofour students, families, and quarterlycontact of schools. If you are not in contactwith a liaison or local volunteer at leastonce a month, please contact your liaison,volunteer or Area Team Support orHosting Coordinator (see our website:www.afscolpac.org for a roster). Thiscontact is not meant to meddle in familylife. We are required to ensure that ourstudents have a voice and that localvolunteers are available to assist familiesand students through the inevitableadjustment difficulties - we're here to help!
For the 2004 Hosting cycle, there will bemany changes to inform and secure ourapproval rating for operating our program.
DEADLINE FOR TURNING IN YOUR GRAPEFRUIT ORDER
GRAPEFRUIT DISTRIBUTION See Grapefruit flyer inside. All AFS students expected to help. Call Sally Ann Wells (503) 452-1868.
WESTSIDE PARTYContact Beth (503) 642-9463
EASTSIDE PARTY Emmanuel Wesleyan Church located on the corner of SE 89th and DivisionContact Bernice, (503) 775-4161 or Ron Combs (503) 777-8117.
IOF TRAVELING BOWLING LEAGUECost $7.50. Contact: Contact Bernice Schuchardt, (503) 775-4161, Ron Combs (503) 777-8117; orSally Ann Wells (503) 452-1868.
DEADLINE FOR PAYING FOR ASHLAND SHAKESPEAR FESTIVAL - SEE INFO INSIDE.
DEADLINE FOR REGISTERING FOR JAGOW SKI TRIP
ORIENTATION (LOCATION TO BE ANNOUNCED)
JAGOW SKI TRIP - SEE INFO INSIDE
The Calendar
AFSCOLUMBIAPACIFICBernice Schuchardt
4806 SE LongPortland, OR 97206
NOVEMBER 20
DECEMBER 6
DECEMBER 6
DECEMBER 6
DECEMBER 14
JANUARY 1
JANUARY 15
JANUARY 31
JAN. 31 - FEB. 1
Check us out online at http://www.afscolpac.org.
SAVE TREES AND POSTAGE
Want electronic newsletter? email Bernice at [email protected]
Want Souvenir/scrapbook hard copy snail mail? email Sally Ann at [email protected]
All others will be able to find the newsletter on theColumbia-Pacific website: http://www.afscolpac.org
It's time to start thinking about a T-shirtdesign for 2003-2004. Each year
AFSers are asked to come up with adesign. We will judge the designs at theChristmas parties. The top three designs
will receive a CD and the winnerwill receive a very special prize.
Submit your entries to Sally AnnWells at 7835 SW 82nd, Portland,OR 97232 (or scan and send to her
at [email protected]) beforeDecember 1. Judging will takeplace at the Christmas parties.
T-SHIRT DESIGNCOMPETITION
The Independent Order of Foresters (IOF)Traveling League bowls once a month(November through April). Each year theyinvite AFSers to participate, and this year wewill probably have 2-3 teams. Many of yousigned up at Camp Adams. Since this is anoptional activity, first check with your hostfamily, then contact us so we can arrangetransportation. You might also ask your hostfamily or liaison if they would like to join us.
The fee is $7.50 and AFS pays for all AFSers(host siblings and others are expected to pay).Following bowling, we usually eat at a nearbyrestaurant. The restaurants we choose arereasonable, so you could get by for less than$10. A postcard was recently sent to thosewho signed up at Camp Adams, asking you tocommit to dates.
STUDENT NEWS
BOWLING WITH THE IOF TRAVELING LEAGUE
Here is the schedule:Dec. 14 - Hollywood Bowl, 4030 NE HalseySt., Portland (503) 288-9237 (very close tothe MAX line)Jan. 11 - Hazel Dell Lanes, 6300 NEHighway 99, Vancouver (360) 694-9364Feb. 8 - Firs Bowl Inc., 1950 River Road,Eugene (541) 688-1558Mar. 14 - TBA. Somewhere in HillsboroApr. 4 - AMF 20th Century Lanes, 3550 SE92nd Ave., Portland, on the corner of 92ndand Powell (503) 774-8805
If you would like to bowl, let us know whichdates you can commit to.
Ron (503) 777-8117, [email protected] Bernice (503) 775-4161, [email protected] Ann (503) 452-1868, [email protected]
Chiraporn Thancharoen, an AFS Thai teacherat Springwater School in Gresham, wrote thefollowing about her visit in September with apriest (her big boss) from St. Mary's Churchand college in Nakhomratchasima, Thailand.While here, he visited her school. Chirapornlives with John and Peggy Bromley in Sandy.
STUDENT NEWS
HOLIDAY PARTIES - DECEMBER 6
STUDENT NEWS
Lola Aminova and Ayuna Munkuyeva Lola and Ayuna participated in a "Laps forLives" walk-a-thon September 21 to raisemoney for the North Portland NursePractitioner Clinic. The event was held atDuniway Park in SW Portland. Lola andAyuna walked for their school with someother students. First, the students decoratedthe field with balloons, then they participatedin the Walk-a-thon. "It was fun because wediscovered that we can walk really fast, twoof us walked 6 miles to earn money for theclinic," said Lola.
Sponsors paid for each mile the studentswalked and overall, their school earned morethan $1,000 for the clinic. Lola said she has alot of fun doing volunteer work and thoughtit was a good way to make friends. Shewants to continue doing volunteer work forthe whole year.
Note from Editor: Families, students, auntsand uncles...please submit news items onyour student for the next issue of thenewsletter. Send to [email protected].
I am Miss Chiraporm Thancharoen, a Thaiteacher. Today I met my big boss; a priest inSaint Mary's church and the manager ofSaint Mary's College in Thailand. He cameto Seattle and Portland for a meeting with thepriests in the USA, and asked me and his oldteacher to have Vietnam food in Portland.
THAI TEACHER’S BIG BOSS COMES TO TOWN
It is with great sadness we report thedeath of one of our own AFSreturnees. Sarah Freni-Rothchild wasfound dead in September by hermother at her home. She died of aheart attack caused by a clot, morethan likely. Sarah was 26 years old.She was a "double-dipper" exchangeeand former staff in our AFS office.She spent a year abroad in High Schoolfrom Franciscan Earth Montessori toItaly in 1993 and 18+ CommunityService to South Africa in 1999. Herfamily has hosted AFS students fourtimes and opened doors for ourhosting at Earth Montessori HighSchool. Our deepest sympathy goesout to the Freni-Rothchild family.
SARA FRENI-ROTHCHILD
THE OREGON SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL - MAY 8-10
AFS 2004 SKI TRIP JANUARY 31 -FEBRUARY 1
The Jagow family, who is hostingJosef Stern from German, haveagain invited AFSers, FLEX, andYES students to spend a weekend
with them at Mt. Hood(Rhododendron). They will nothave room for host siblings to
spend the night, but families, hostsiblings, returnees, and volunteersare invited to ski at a discounted
rate on Sunday, February 1.Expect to see a flyer in earlyDecember. The registration
deadline is January 15.
We will leave for the mountainimmediately following orientationon Saturday afternoon, so be sureand bring with you everything you
will need for the weekend,including a sleeping bag. Dinner,breakfast and a sack lunch will beprovided. Skis and snowboards
can be rented at Timberline. If youhave any questions, contact GregKott at (503) 771-7977. If youneed ski clothes, let Greg know.
No denim jeans for skiing!
WANTED…DRIVERS FORTHE SKI TRIP
We are looking for drivers totransport the kids from the orientation
to Rhododendron following theorientation and drivers to pick them
up at the Jagow’s or Timberlinefollowing orientation.
Contact Greg Kott (503) 771-7977.
Both the Westside and Eastside partieswill be on Saturday, December 6, from6-10 PM. Both are also potluck - soplease bring your favorite potluck food-how about some international dishes?
Westside Holiday PartyThe Westside Holiday Party will be heldat the home of Beth Rose. 8820 SWGrabhorn Rd, Aloha, OR.
We have foosball, air hockey and ping pong.There will be various puzzles, board gamesand lots of space for just hanging out.
Please RSVP (to make sure there will beenough food) to Beth Rose (503) 642-9463 or [email protected].
Eastside Holiday PartyThe Eastside Holiday Party will be held atthe church located at 2950 SE 89thAvenue in Portland, on the Corner of 89th& Division. Bring a "white elephant" gift(ask your host family if you don’t knowwhat this is), and we will have some funwith this gift exchange. Mao will showyou how to make origami and Tina willdemonstrate how to make beautiful"Thai" flowers. We'll sing someChristmas carols and just have a fun"holiday" evening.
Contacts: Bernice Schuchardt (503) 775-4161, [email protected] or RonCombs (503) 777-8117,[email protected].
This is an opportunity to experience some ofthe best live theatre around! For all of youwho signed up for the Ashland trip to theOregon Shakespeare Festival, you must sendin $25 before January 1 to reserve a spot.And, most important, check with your hostfamily and get their approval. We have madereservations and purchased tickets for 20people and this includes the drivers. The totalcost will be approximately $115-$120 each.This could be a lot less if we have somesuccessful fundraisers.
The shows are The Comedy of Errors byWilliam Shakespeare and The Royal Familyby Kaufman and Ferber. We will travel toAshland on Saturday, May 8, hang out andcheck out the downtown area of Ashland;Sunday, May 9, is the theatre day and we will
see both shows on that day-one in theafternoon and one in the evening; Monday,May 10, we will head for Portland. We mayeven stop at a popular ice cream stand on theway.
All who sign up will be asked to participatein fundraisers, so we can try to get the costdown to the price of the theatre tickets ($42for the two shows). This trip is on a first-come, first-serve basis, which means if yousend your deposit in and are one of the first20, you have a spot. Should we have morethan the 20, we will try to get more tickets,drivers, and rooms, but there is no promise.
For more information on this optionalactivity, contact Marilyn Hays (503) 665-2830 or Bernice Schuchardt (503) 775-4161.
HALLOWEEN
FUNDRAISING DINNER
CAMP ADAMS 2003
By: Marketing and CommunicationsDepartment Posted: 10/28/2003
The Alliance for International Education andCultural Exchange has announced awonderful, easy-to-use, advocacy tool forcontacting Members of Congress and othergovernment officials. It is critical thatRepresentatives in Congress hear from us onthe importance of exchange programs. Theentire process of letting your voice be heardon topics of importance now takes less thanthree minutes!
Go to www.alliance-exchange.org and clickon the Action Alerts box. At this time, theAction Alert urges Congress to provide morefunding for exchanges.
VOLUNTEERING/FUNDRAISING
AFS USA is instituting a volunteer registration process immediately. This is for our protection and thehealth of the organization. Please be watching for information through AFS Online, through our
local website: www.afscolpac.org and through the mail.
None of these new measures are meant to discourage participation, but rather ensure the safety ofparticipants and volunteers. Your area team leadership will be happy to discuss your questions.
THANK YOU
Current reports from Capitol Hill indicatethat Members are moving quickly tocomplete all remaining appropriations billsin the next few weeks. Please do this now,and then encourage others to do soimmediately. A message will pop up for youto send as is, or you can customize yourmessage if you choose. Enter your zip codeand your Representatives will pop up. Clickon those whom you want to receive yourmessage, complete your name and address,hit send and your Representatives willreceive your notice.
Please make sure that your staff andvolunteers know about this tool, and theneed to generate letters for an increase infunding for exchanges. Thank you.
The Grapefruit Sales for Portland Metro, LakeOswego, The Dalles and Vancouver Chapters arein full swing. Please talk to your local volunteers.The Grapefruit sale is a way for our localchapters to support the special activities andnecessities of our students and to provide aneeded boost to our scholarship fund for USstudents applying to go abroad. See the enclosedflyer to promote sales.
Please use this as an opportunity to spread theword of AFS. In addition to volunteers andstudents assisting with recruiting orders for sales,we hope host families will encourage salesamong office and neighbor friends. All studentsin the involved chapters are expected to assistin the unloading of grapefruit on Saturday,December 6th at Jackson Middle School.Report time for students is 8 AM.
TAKE 3 MINUTES TO LOBBY NOW!
FUNDRAISING TO RESTORELOCAL COFFERS
VOLUNTEER REGISTRATION IS HERE!
Drivers for the Jagow Ski Trip
Drivers for bowling- 2nd Sunday of
each month, November through April..
Drivers for Ashland (Shakespeare) trip
Helpers on the newsletter; interviewing
students and volunteers, writing articles
for upcoming issues
Helping Volunteer Coordinator make
phone calls and respond to prospective
volunteers.
Candy sale coordinators….getting
some students together and setting up a
table at a grocery store, etc.
Coordinating transportation for
upcoming events
Contact Bernice Schuchardt, Volunteer
Coordinator, 503 775-4161 or e-mail
ATTENTIONVOLUNTEERS…
WE NEED YOUR HELP
All the group leaders at Camp Adams forgiving up a weekend to spend with ourstudents.Janice Zolezzi for providing dinner onFriday night for the group leaders andbringing food for lunch on Saturday.Dan Ward and Ron Combs for being ourphotographers. Dan also picked up thepumpkins for us.Jeff and Lori Larson for helpingwherever needed. Special thanks to Lorifor taking charge of the potluck on Sunday.Mao (Garry and Marilyn Hays exchangestudent through Pacific Lutheran) forbeing Bernice's helper.Pat and Ron Combs for putting postageand labels on the newsletter.Jeff Larson for preparing flyers forAshland and signs for Camp Adams.Ron Combs, Dan Ward, DarrylHandesyde, Evan Tam, Lynnette andBecca Ledgerwood for helping set up onFriday evening.Shelly White for coming all the way fromSilverton to be a group leader.
The profit from the Entertainment Book sales will
go towards the Ashland trip. As this newsletter
goes to print, there are 5 books left at $30 each.
Contact Bernice Schuchardt at 503-775-4161,
[email protected], if you want to buy a book;
checks should be made out to AFS.
The father of David Gifford, AFS Returneefrom Venezuela and very generous friend of
Portland Metro AFS, has converted hisstorefront into a virtual shopping experience.smALL FLAGs is a great website to visit for
all symbols intercultural, as well as somegreat musical toys, flags, pins, mugs,
umbrellas, etc. to share your culture. Check itout! http://www.smallflags.com/
HOLIDAY SHOPPING
ENTERTAINMENT BOOKS
PENDELTON ROUNDUP