When Things Don't Go the Way We Planned

by Leslie Barratt- President, Indiana Partners of the Americas

When I received the travel grant this year, I looked at my Brazilian visa and could not see an end date, so I called the Consulate in Chicago and told them I had a visa from 2004 and asked how long it was good, and the woman who answered said "5 years," so I did not question it again. When I got to Sao Paulo, they said it had not been good for 5 years; it was only for 90 days. I had to enter within 90 days and use it within 90 days. The officials in Sao Paulo suggested I go to Buenos Aires to get a new visa, which they said would take 3 days, so I flew to Buenos Aires. I had to wait until Monday, but when the Consulate in BA heard I was with Partners, he said I was not entitled to a tourist visa because I was not a tourist; I was a member of a volunteer organization and thus any activities I did in Brazil, which not exactly 'work' were considered volunteer work. Thus, I needed a special volunteer visa, which they could not issue to me. Thus, instead of flying to Brazil, I flew home. Mission aborted. Luckily, much of the purpose of my trip was ceremonial and much can be accomplished anyway.

Because of Marlene Lomando's quick thinking, I was able to accomplish the planned interview with "Zero Hora" via email. That story appears elsewhere in this newsletter.

I was also able to gain some useful information about the variety of Brazilian visa types, which may help us to apply for and receive visas more easily in the future. Upon my return, I contacted Illinois Partners to ask their help in meeting with the Brazilian Consulate in Chicago to ask advice on the kinds of visas Partners participants should apply for. Jan Hertzberg sent that request on to two Illinois Partners members, and one of them, Ariani, had a meeting with the Consul of Brazil and shared the information I sent with him. He promised to take a look at it and see what the law says. He said that there have been changes in the visas regulations and he would have to consult with the consul in charge of that. We should hear
from him or from another consul very soon.

I have sent Marlene Lomando the Skype website information so that we can use that more often in our contacts with RS Partners.

One of my regrets was that I could not deliver the materials I was taking to projects in RS (Viva Vila in Alegrete and Cecilia Luz's projects in Porto Alegre). I made a tiny box of some sewing supplies, but FEDEX wanted $128 to send it, so I put it in the U.S. mail and sent it priority. We will see if it arrives safely or not.

RS Partners has already proceeded with the meetings planned between Partners and PUCRS on nursing (specifically nutrition and physical therapy) and language. IN Partners is participating via email contact.

While I spent many hours in transit at various airports, I was able to reach the RS Partners President, Marlene Lomando, who initiated a huge effort on the part of RS Partners to find someone in Buenos Aires who could help me. Fernando Lamarca, a Buenos Aires agronomist who had studied in the U.S. and does business in Brazil, went with me to the Consulate, to the TAM and American Airlines ticket offices, and to the airport. RS Partners could not have found a more competent, congenial host.

This experience has made me more determined than ever to find ways to use new means of technology and shipping to make our Partnership work with and without travel. I am grateful that, if visa problems have to happen to someone, they happened to me rather than to our youth or other first-time travelers.

"Zero Hora" Interview with Leslie Barratt
 
Bom dia, dra. Leslie Barratt

Professora de lingüística da Universidade Indiana State, em Indiana (EUA), e que trabalha com Os Companheiros das Américas (Partners of the Americas), ONG que tenta aproximar os povos da América.

A dra. Leslie está visitando a Capital:

Informe Especial - O que são os Companheiros da América?

Leslie - Temos 54 parcerias entre os Estados dos EUA e as Américas Central e do Sul. Indiana e Rio Grande do Sul formam uma parceria (Estados-irmãos) muito ativa, com programas em educação, artes, medicina, enfermagem, agricultura, administração e serviço social. Em 2006, por exemplo, um casal de fazendeiros norte-americanos veio ao Sul. Ficaram em fazendas e puderam observar, comparar e aprender sobre o trabalho de fazendeiros gaúchos.

IE - O que os gaúchos podem levar para Indiana?

Leslie - Podem ajudar, sim. Enfermeiras de Indiana estão aprendendo com colegas dos pronto-atendimentos de Porto Alegre e Ijuí novas formas de lidar com a dor. As gaúchas estão descobrindo como a Internet pode ajudar no cuidado da saúde em áreas rurais. Projetos em violência doméstica mostraram que a polícia gaúcha dá um atendimento diferenciado à vítima. Mas, em Indiana, a vítima e o abusador vão à mesma delegacia. Cada Estado pode oferecer ao outro a disposição de trocar conhecimento, mas ambos podem oferecer amizade e compreensão.

Feijoada, Forró, and Fun!
 
by Jane Gehlhausen, 2007 Feijoada co-chair

82 friends, Youth Ambassadors, host families, members and guests joined together on Sunday February 25th, to celebrate the Partners of America relationship with Brazil.

POA hosted an authentic Feijoada, that is, a menu that many Brazilians consider their national dish. The event catered for the third year, by The Abbey Coffee House in Indianapolis, provided everyone the opportunity to experience the famous Brazilian tradition.

What is a Feijoada? A Feijoada, is a "luxury" dish of African slaves on Brazilian farms, prepared with relatively cheap ingredients (beans, rice, collard greens, farofa) and leftovers from salted pork and meat production. Over time, it first became a popular dish among lower classes, and finally the "national dish" of Brazil, offered even by the best restaurants. The name comes from feijão, Portuguese for "beans".

After everyone enjoyed the Feijoada, the Youth Ambassadors entertained the group with a short overview of their exchange trip in Indiana, activities at school, social experiences and life with their host families. The Youth Ambassadors prepared dance entertainment for the event called a Forró. After a short demonstration, they provided audience members the ability to give it a try.

Forró is a popular dance in the northeast of Brazil. It was created by Luiz Gonzaga (the son of a peasant and accordion player) in the early 1900's. The lyrics are usually about love and romance, passion, longing and homesickness that experienced during migrates in search of work. Forró varies from region to region, and may be known by different names according to the location. It is danced in pairs. The word forró is a derivative of the English expression "for all".

All in all, it was a great event with the opportunity to meet new friends and old acquaintances and best of all experience authentic Brazilian culture. The POA Feijoada is an annual event so look for it again in spring 2008!

Judy and I enrolled in an Elderhostel trip focused on the "Wine and Culture of Argentina and Chile" in March and we arranged to visit our Partners friends in Porto Alegre on the way. En route we encountered our most recent Teacher in Residence, Mauricio Luce, who was on our flight from Sao Paulo. We stayed for 4 days in Porto Alegre, in a hotel across the street from Carmem Englert's apartment. That made it possible for us to have leisurely mornings and breakfast visits with Carmem. We also talked with her brother Jorge who lives with her and he was our "chauffeur" on three occasions. We were entertained at lunches and dinners by Partners friends who have visited with a lot of Partners in Indiana: Marlene and Sergio Lomando, Juliano and Luciana, Vera Lia Fortini Cavalleiro, Roberto and Betti Issler and Ana Isabel Krziminsk.

Hal Roepke with Alan Asquith. Alan came to Ball State University from Oxford as a visiting lecturer. At BSU, he met Mariza Carpes, from RS who was working on an MS in Art. They moved to Porto Alegre and married.

Also Joyce de Brito e Cunha and one of her "Pink Confessions" actresses, together with Ester Rodrigues took us to CTG 35 for dinner and show. Lucia Helena and Moacir de Araujo Lima entertained us at lunch. Ana Mary Duarte and a friend prepared a dinner for us.

Joyce de Brito e Cunha (center) brought 3 of her students to Indiana in January 06 to perform "Pink Confessions." Lianne (left) is one of her thespians. Ester Rodriguez (right) is a teacher of English. They took us to a dinner and show at CTG 35, a Gaucho churrascaria in Porto Alegre.	Vera Lia Fortini Cavalheira with Judith Roepke . Vera Lia is a past President of Partners RS and a former member of the POA board

We spent an afternoon with Marlene and Cecilia ? visiting a crèche (a day care center) in one of the favelas, and an institution for mentally challenged people, both of which receive support from Rio Grande do Sul Partners.

Carmem Englert has been the backbone of RS/IN Partners for many years	Marlene Lomando with Judith Roepke. Marlene is current President of Partners RS.

One afternoon we took a double-deck bus tour of Porto Alegre and another afternoon we were treated to a cruise among the Guaiba River delta islands on the tour boat "Cisne Branco" by Joyce, Vera Lia and Alan Asquith and Marisa Carpes. Alan, a visiting Professor from England, taught at Ball State for a few years and met Marisa who was studying for a Masters Degree in Art there (Judy played a roll in introducing them!). They subsequently moved to Porto Alegre, got married and are living in a lovely home there.

Betti and Roberto Issler are physicians and long time members of Partners RS	Ana Isabel Krizminski (in red) is teaching Portuguese to 3 Ball State students at PUC studying sustainable development design.

Our brief visit ended with our flight to Buenos Aires and on to a wonderful Elderhostel in Argentina and Chile.

Youth Agricultural Exchange to Visit in Summer
 
RS Partners has selected four youth to visit Indiana on our Youth Agricultural Exchange in July and August. The four boys are Matheus Peres Sanchotene from Dom Pedrito, Lorenzo Garrido Teixeira Martini Segabinazi and João Bariel Camargo from Alegrete, and Alexandre Melo Brandolt from Quarai. Their visit is being coordinated by Denise Mills of FFA in conjunction with Partners and all of our other agriculture organizations (Farm Bureau, FARSUL, etc.). If you would like to help, please contact Denise Mills at denisemmills@yahoo.com.

Alexandre Brandolt	Joao Camargo	Lorenzo Segabinazi	Matheus Sanchotene

Minutes of the Indiana POA Board meeting, May 12, 2007 

Members Present: Leslie Barratt, Jerry Karwowski, Brian Fahey, Harlan Roepke, Judith Roepke, Rick Bein, Bob Book, Betty Cook, Angela Couch, Chris Fenner, Bill Fuller, Jhani Laupus, Kathy Kaiser, Jane Gehlhausen, Virginia Riesenbeck, and Norma Singley.

Guest: Sallie Fahey.

Minutes of March 31, 2007: approved as distributed with spelling corrections for Rick Bein and Bob Book.

Treasurer's report: approved as distributed. The current balance in all accounts $16,550.65. More income in memberships is needed to keep up with expenses for the year.

Feijoada: Kathy Kaiser will join Andres and Jane on the committee to plan the Feijoada for February 24, 2008. Article for newsletter submitted.

Newsletter: Considerable discussion ensued about topics to be covered in the next newsletter and Jane G has volunteered to format the minutes for the newsletter. In addition reports are needed about the Feijoada, Hal and Judy's trip to Brazil, introduction of Pam Nicholas and Angela Couch (Angela will prepare hers and contact Pam to do the same), The Youth Ambassador Program ( Jhani Laupus), Maurice Seibel's report and Leslie B about her upcoming trip to Brazil on behalf of Partners. Jane will work up a calendar to send to all to ensure deadlines for submission of content.

Bill Fuller suggested that host families names be submitted to ensure that they receive the newsletter.

Farmer-to-Farmer; Chris Fenner indicated they will be concentrating on Costa Rica this year and will come back to Brazil travel next year.

Purchases to be taken to Brazil: concern was raised about the requests being made by some Partners members in Brazil for travelers to take to Brazil. This appears to have become out of hand and outside the mission of Partners and quite and imposition for some host families and travelers. Leslie will discuss our concerns during her trip to RGS.

Report on Partners of the Americas (POA): Brian Fahey reported that he attended the POA board meeting some time back with Sallie who is a board member and spent many hours reviewing financial information as Sallie is Chair of a finance committee. He reported that POA has less money to operate and finds that they are following opportunities that are not necessarily part of the mission to gather funding. They have experienced a drastic reduction in the administrative budget and will ask foundations for support. There is no development director and Malcolm Butler the CEO has resigned.
Prior to selecting a new President/CEO the mission of POA should be considered under three particular points:

1. What long term relationship would we (IN/RGS) want with Washington?
   
2. How can we rethink the role and priorities of membership and financial development?
   
3. What is the long term financial plan for IN/RGS Partners?
   

1. Identify individuals with development expertise- POA needs guidance.
   
2. Identify candidates for CEO in a wide open search- Private sector expertise would be appropriate- e.g. Sale and Marketing expertise.
   
3. Make the process transparent to chapters- task force to interact with the selection process and report.
   
4. Engage each other (IN and RGS) in these issues.
   
5. Account for our sweat equity more fully with POA through Partners counts- should be done quarterly. This data is needed to demonstrate in -kind contributions.
   

• We look at our strengths and think of ways that POA could help interaction of states and Partner states/countries.
• Partner countries do in country orientation for visitors
  

Nursing Northbound project: 5 nurses including one faculty member and 4 students will be here in October for 10 days. Kathy Kaiser has sent the invitation and requested the names and addresses of the guests.

2011 POA meeting Jerry Karwowski reported that Cheryl Wendly of Crystal House is interested in Partnerships related to International Education.
Rick Bein, Jane Gehlhausen and Jerry Karwowski will meet soon to discuss the 2011 meeting.

Youth Ambassador Program: There might be two students who are interested in traveling south this year. They are working on passports and Jim Johnson has indicated he will facilitate the visa process a bit. Once they are ready to go, Leslie will set up an orientation.
Jhani is going to write up a comparison of the activities which are part of the program in Indiana and compare with RGS. Leslie will discuss this with our RGS partners during her travel to RGS.
Members are needed for the Nominating committee. Please volunteer!

Respectfully submitted, Judith Roepke, secretary

A Message from POA

Dear Chapter Leaders,

Below is the message that I sent to the chair of the Partners International Board of Directors, Patricia Hill Williams. I am sending a copy of this message to all of you.

Best regards,

Pablo Paz y Miño
CFO and Vice President Finance and Administration
Partners of the Americas

Dear Patricia,
I'd like to express my appreciation to you and other members of the Board for entrusting me with the responsibility to lead the day-to-day operations of the organization in the interim. As expressed to you earlier, our Board of Directors, staff, volunteers and clients can count on my commitment to respond to this challenge to the best of my ability. I look at the immediate future with optimism. I'm convinced that the Partners family represents an enormous reservoir of energy and potential. I'm also confident that the commitment and talent of our staff, combined with leadership from our Board, can bring nothing but success. However, I'm also aware of the challenges ahead.
Malcolm's departure will be felt by all of us. During his tenure, Malcolm was able to artfully lead the organization through choppy waters. He crafted successful strategies that have brought Partners new programs and competencies. He worked tirelessly to cultivate and develop a new Board and earned Partners a new appreciation in the government and international community. True, CEOs are expected to do precisely that; however, Malcolm was unusual in his kindness, humor and appreciation for others. It was these qualities that earned Malcolm my respect and affection. I'm sure that all those that have worked close to Malcolm feel the same way as I do and will join me in wishing Malcolm the best as he moves on to new endeavors.
Pablo

For more information about Indiana Partners of the Americas, go to our Web site: bsu.edu/web/indpartners