Another successful asado!

From all accounts, Saturday's asado/Uruguay Independence Day celebration was a big success. We had more than 50 people attending, with many familiar faces and new ones too. Three of the Minnesota's Youth Ambassadors shared anecdotes and observations from their trip this summer to Belize. Members and guests contributed generously toward the costs of some excellent food and wine, which is important to sustaining the quality and vitality of these events. Many, many thanks to Marcos Villanueva, Gerard Lagos, Dave Kremer, Sue von Bank, Patrick Moore and all the others who did so much to make things come off so very well despite the threat of rain (which never materialized, in the end, thankfully). We appreciate the contributions from all who attended and look forward to next year!

Join us Aug 25 for soccer and asado!

Please join us for what's become a highlight of summer for Minnesota-Uruguay Partners, the annual asado (bbq) before a Minnesota NSC Stars soccer match. 

Members, friends and volunteers from near and far are gathering on Saturday, August 25 (Uruguay's Independence Day) to celebrate the strong and productive ties of friendship that Minnesota and Uruguay share. See a flyer attached, designed by chapter member Kati Mae Duesler.

The fire starts at 4:30 pm, with grass-fed beef, local sausages, wines from Uruguay and more. At 7:30 pm, the Stars of Minnesota will be playing FC Edmonton (discount tickets available). A goodwill offering for the food will be appreciated.

To Recap:

What: Minnesota-Uruguay Partners Asado (BBQ)

When: Saturday, August 25, 4:30 pm

Where: National Sports Center, 1700 105th Avenue, Blaine, Minnesota 55449

RSVP to erikbrand10@gmail.com or call 612-242-1863 (mobile) with any questions. 

Look for Uruguay's flag at the north side of the National Sports Center Stadium.

Minnesota-Uruguay Partners Wins Perpich Award

We were delighted to learn this week that Minnesota-Uruguay Partners has been presented with the “The Jerry Perpich Youth Award” for 2012.

The award is named in honor of Iowa native and the former Board Chair of Partners of the Americas for his longtime support to the chapters that recruit and develop leadership skills of young people (under 30 years of age) and recognize their contributions to volunteer service.

Many thanks to board director David Kremer (pictured), who was instrumental compiling information about our activities for the award review committee, and of course to the many young people and volunteers who make Minnesota-Uruguay Partners so vibrant and active.

Minnesota Students Return from Youth Ambassador Trip

Mandy Mattke has returned to Minnesota from Belize with her group of Youth Ambassadors, and shared this video, which aired on Plus TV Belize. Welcome back all! More details to follow.

Uruguay investing in new electric bus network

President José Mujica of Uruguay yesterday signed a deal with Buquebus, the country's largest tourism transport firm, to begin bringing electric buses into Uruguay.  Deliveries are scheduled to begin later this year. The head of Buquebus said he's willing to replace his whole fleet with the new buses, in fact. Yet another example of Uruguay leading the pack. Congratulations! Here is a link to the press release.

Montevideo, Minnesota asado a big success

Patrick Moore, a board director of Minnesota-Uruguay Partners, writes in with the following news...


"I am happy to report that the 3rd annual Montevideo Fiesta Days Asado was a success!

Thanks in large measure goes to the efforts of Asador Marcos Villanueva who did an incredible job. It was such an educational event -- just to watch him in action, conversing with everyone who came up to him, including the Queens from towns throughout the region. He not only cooked the Moonstone beef but also cooked up a mess of catfish from the river that were caught as part of the fishing contest!

You can see great photos of the event by visiting: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.4180003376675.2175121.1182123470&type=1&l=c78ae17b7c

Audrey Arner, Duane Ninneman, Dixie Tilden and myself were there as were Youth Ambassadors Martin Moore, Amber Sorensen and Brendan Stermer.  Amber was introduced to the crowd and had the honor of drawing the winning ticket for the kayak raffle."

The Passing of Ed Slettom

A sad but inspiring note was received this week by longtime Minnesota-Uruguay Partners member KiKi Gore...


"I think that by now you might have heard of the recent (June 4) death of Ed Slettom, just three days after his wife Iris died. He was an early and strong member of Partners, a fine, fine, man and, along with Iris, good friends of ours since we moved into the house next door to them 40 years ago. We could not have had better friends, parent substitutes in a way, and gems, both of them...Partners owes a great deal of its early success to the Slettoms."


We received similar notes expressing sadness over the passing of Ed Slettom from past presidents Stan and Darlene Diesch, David Pace and Roger Moon, who provided the photo above of the founders and early supporters of the chapter, taken March 9, 1966, in Washington, DC. The photo includes the future United States Vice President, Walter Mondale; future Minnesota Governor Al Quie; future Minneapolis Mayor and Congressman Don Fraser; future presidential candidate Eugene McCarthy and other notable figures in our state's history.


An obituary for both Ed and Iris mentioning their work with Minnesota-Uruguay Partners ran in the Minnesota newspapers. Services scheduled for July 24 at Glen MN Community Church at 1 PM and July 26 St. Anthony Park UCC at 2 PM in St. Paul.




Photo: L–R: Congressman Don Fraser; Senator Eugene McCarthy; Clifford Whitehill, General Mills; Stan Wenberg, Vice President, U of MN; Otto Christenson, MN Employers Association; Congressman Clark MacGregor; Congressman Al Quie; Uruguayan Ambassador to USA,Juan Feljpe Yriart; Speed Stone, Bravo Foods; Senator Walter F. Mondale; Denis Daly, Peat, Marvick Mitchell; Gerald Forbes, MN Dept of Agriculture; Ed Slettom, MN Association of Cooperatives; Congressman Odin Langen; Howard Nelson, U of MN Industrial Education.

Uruguayan Asado (BBQ) to be held June 16 in Montevideo, Minnesota

As part of the rich and longstanding friendship between sister cities Montevideo, MN and Montevideo, Uruguay, a Uruguayan Asado (Barbecue) and potluck luncheon will be held on Saturday, June 16th from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Montevideo’s Lagoon Park. The asado will be part of the Montevideo Fiesta Days Riverfest Rendezvous, which includes a full day of events starting at 9 a.m. The event is free and open to the public. For more information on the Riverfest Rendezvous event visit: http://www.curemnriver.org/events.html - rendezvous Afternoon activities will feature samplings of locally raised, grass-fed beef from Moonstone Farm in rural Montevideo, music on the Riverside Stage played by area musicians, and conversation with Uruguayan visitors. Partners of the Americas (POA) Youth Ambassadors Martin Moore of Montevideo and Amber Sorenson of Louisburg will be present to meet with members of the western Minnesota community in anticipation of their upcoming trip to Belize in July. Freewill donations will be accepted for the meal. Attendees are asked to bring a dish and a beverage to share. For more information and questions, call Patrick Moore 320-841-1487.

Success!

We are delighted to report that Minnesota fundraising for the June art project in rural Uruguay (see earlier post on this, below) has exceeded expectations. Nearly $600 has been raised to buy art supplies for primary school students in the interior of Uruguay. Congratulations!

An American in Uruguay...

Gary Kuhn forwards news of an American living in Uruguay, Paul Turman, making a splash on national television, singing about Montevideo, Texas and clearly having a spectacular time. See Link 2 and Link 1.