2005 June Newsletter

Columbia Pacific News Letter HOSTING

April 2005

The hosting coordinator is a bit frantic and has no time to write an article. Suffice it to say, that Columbia Pacific has a long way to go to meet our hosting commitment. There are still some great students available for placing, but time is very short and schools are closing. If you know anyone who may be interested in hosting the coming year, even just first semester, please ask them yourself and then send their name on to the hosting volunteer in your area. We need help getting these students placed. There will be an insert of currently available students. Please review this and let us know what we can do for you to help you promote AFS. We need everyone working on this the next couple of weeks. Currently there are about 5 placements pending--waiting on school approval or some other piece of paperwork. It looks as though we have homes for our Global Educators, they just need to be interviewed. Let's all pull together for the home stretch and do what we can to get these kids corresponding with their host families.

Attention If you would like to keep receiving the AFS newsletter please return the enclosed postcard. We need to know if you would like to geting the newsletter by mail or e-mail. Either way please return the postcard marked with your selection. On the postcard please make sure that you enclosed your name and return address. If you want to receive a newsletter by e-mail please enclose your e-mail address and name so that I can update my mailing list. If you would like you can e-mail me at [email protected] can give me your information. I have received many postcards already. Some of you just returned the postcard without the putting your name and return address on it. As a result I don't know how to update my mailing list. Thank you very much for your help with this postcard. Ron Combs

DEPARTURE WHEN: Sunday, June 26 TIME: Students must arrive no later than 4 p.m. WHERE: Lents Park, located at S.E. 88th and Holgate LUGGAGE: Luggage will be weighed and placed on a truck. Once your luggage is loaded, you will not have access. It is important that you have the following items in your carry-on luggage: passport, bathing suit, plastic bag for wet clothes HOW TO GET THERE: From I-205 South, take Exit 19. Turn left onto Powell, go to first light, and turn left onto 92nd, go to Holgate and turn right. The park will be on your left about 2 blocks. From I-205 North, take Exit 19 Division/Powell. Stay in right lane, heading towards Powell. Turn right onto Powell and get into center lane. Go to first light and turn left onto 92nd. Go to Holgate and turn right at the first light. Entrance to the park will be on your left about 2 blocks. CONTACT NUMBERS: Ron Combs (503) 777-8117 or cell 503 314-5243

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Student News WINNERS OF T-SHIRT CONTEST

Mariana Vargas, Mexico and Victor (Suparawee Katika) Thailand are the winners of the T-Shirt Contest. Mariana’s entry will go on the front of the T-shirt and Victor’s on the back. The prize was $50, but it was decided to use both designs so each get one-half, or $25. Essay by Kseniya Vizerova, FLEX student from Russia “As soon as I found out about this competition, I thought: "This is it. This is my opportunity to tell the world what I have on my mind, and to share my passion about building peace in the world. Peace through understanding

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The history of the human nation is much shorter than the history of the Earth, but people have never really lived in peace. Historians estimated that there were only 25 years during which there was no war at any place on the planet! There were always disagreements and conflicts. Maybe the reason is just in the human nature? No! We are PEOPLE and as we live in the XXI century, we can do something about it. Our civilization got to that point when we can control our selfish desires. Furthermore, we have too, or if the situation will stay how it is now, our world will turn to chaos. People! Please hear the cry of my soul! Open your eyes and see what is really happening around you. Thousands of innocent people are dying for no reason, but they make it look like they do: differences in religion, trying to get more territory and so on and so on. All of this is not important--we have only one short life and God did not give it to us to kill each other. We are here to live for people and to make their staying on Earth better. It is that simple. You may think: "What can I do? I am just an ordinary person, I am not a president. Right, but every one needs to realize that each one of us can make a difference, or at least believe in it. For example you have neighbors who are foreigners and you really do not talk to them, because they are “weird," different and you do not know about them, their culture and their way of life. You do not understand them and you do not want to! Something unknown always scares people, but you will be fascinated how interesting and amazing it is learning about other cultures. We just need to be more open to things we do not understand. Everyone is sitting in their little comfortable worlds and do not care about others. We need to stop this! Before blaming every thing on our governments we need to ask ourselves: "What did I do to make this world a better place?" Our generation will be the one that will make choices that will affect the future of our civilization (if we have it). I feel a big responsibility on myself too. I am an exchange student

from Russia in the United States of America now and I am only 16 years old. It has been really good experience for me. Before I came here I had no idea about this country, furthermore I have had wrong ideas and stereotypes that were very far from the truth. It is nice to feel that you are doing your small part to help understanding between people in these two great countries. I take this wonderful opportunity to spend a year in the US like a God’s gift. Every day of my life I am trying to live doing something to understand people, their needs and the reasons why they have these hopes and believes. My experience here showed one more time that no matter what country people are from, what color their skin is, what language do they speak, what God they believe in they all need to feel safe, they all need Peace. Some people may say that world peace is utopia. Who knows, but it is worth to believe in and try our best to make this dream truth. There are many ways to promote peace in the world, but perhaps the best way is to promote it is to start within ourselves. Be the change you wish to see in the world. Peace begins with you!” Wally Pangilan (YES program) has been very active in the Skyview High School Concert Choir and the Jazz Choir. At a recent choir competition in Pasco, Washington, judges gave Wally the "Best Soloist" award. At a May performance at Skyview high school, Wally sang a solo with cheers and standing ovation. Recently, the combined choirs of Skyview High School had a" Disney Musicale" and Wally had a solo and performed an "Arabian Sword Dance" which was noted in the high school newsletter. Outside of school, Wally won a $25 gift certificate for being the "American Idol" in a contest sponsered by the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District.

Student News A DREAM FULFILLED By Noemi Serdino “The first time that I heard about AFS was one year and one-half ago, in my school. Initially I wasn’t paying attention because I assumed I needed money. When I heard the word scholarship, my ears started to work more than ever. Thanks to my love for the culture, my good grade, and the misfortune to be born in a not-rich family, I won a scholarship that covered completely my AFS experience. I could not believe it was true; I was selected to go in United States of America. To me it was like a dream fulfilled; it was a place that I could only dream or see in the movies. To come to America was a possibility to learn an important language that the whole world speaks; it was a possibility to bring a nice word to my town that was always in the newspaper for not good things. The orientation followed the selections soon, which was a nice way to talk about what I was going to see, and where I was going to live. We answered as best as possible all the questions they asked us. We tried to come with our minds prepared for a life that could have big difficulties for us. August came so fast; it was a day for crying and for saying good-bye to our families. It was a day to cry and to salute our families. It was a day in which I said good farewell to my whole life because I knew that coming back home next June I was going to be different. My expectation? That I would learn English; I would learn about a new culture, and I would bring a little bit of my culture to show to the American people. When I came, my dreams and my expectations changed to a nightmare. America was not a movie background anymore; America was my new life. I did not speak English at all; the only things that I could do were smile and say “hi”, “hello” or “yes”. The welcome orientation was horrible; I was in a group where everybody

could speak, and understand, and laugh and I was cursing in Italian. When I met my host family all things got worse: there was no one who could translate English into any other language that I knew, who was with me. I think God had mercy of me because when I came to my house, two exchange students from Italy were there. They came with another association for the summer time, and they reassured me. Riccardo, who was one of them, said that these people were crazy but that I was going to be fine. It was true, they were so patient with me, and they tried in everyway to help me. The first days in the school were terrible. That big place made me feel so small; the teachers were nice to me, but the students were not. I thought that everybody was going to be nice and interested about a person coming from another place, but I was not big news. Most of the students had emigrated from another country; I was equal to everybody else. The whole first month I felt alone, and sometimes I would cry because I could not be “normal”. By that time, I started to make some new friends, but just a few; many people looked me like a freaking Italian, like a freaking girl with a mafia’s accent: most of them would not stop and talk to me because of my accent. My school’s grades were lower then ever, and my social life was almost non-existent. I was angry, I was starting to detest AFS, and all the stupid orientations that we did. To say and to do were two words so different and so far one from each other. They were as far as the USA and the Europe. My mind changed so fast, I was appreciating the new cultures in the school and during the orientation where I could make confrontation between myself and the other exchange students like me. It was in that period that I stopped being a racist; I admit I was it. I understood what it was being different and what the different persons felt. I think that was the most important change that AFS made on me. Time started to

run from November to now. I spent bad and good days, but I was always with people who loved me. On Christmas, it was the first time that I really missed my family. I always believed that Christmas was the “family-day”, and being far from my real home was hard. One of the amazing days in this year was March 31, when in a school academy assembly they presented some good awards to the students who passed the first semester with a GPA higher than 3.0 point. My name was on the list, I was so exited and I came back home immediately for lunch to call my mother in Italy; all my family was so proud of me. When I read “B” on the weekly English grade on my name, it was also my happiest day. Coming here, I thought I was going to find a new world, and I did it, but the most important things that I found were a wonderful family, a sister (Lucrezia), and two musketeers that completed the trio. Who were those two musketeers? They are Laura and Nicola, who are two people that I met at the orientation in Italy whom helped me in the hard moments. I understood that the entire world is wonderful, but nothing is better than the own country. Every country is different, and most of the things, which apparently are stupid, are just different. I understood that America to me was a time machine that put my mind and my behavior thirty years later, which left my physique in the 2005 as it was (but just with some pounds more). Now I am scared by this time machine. Coming back home, I will be different, may be too much different than my friends. My mind will be too old, but I still have my grandma, and maybe we will be like “same age”! Italia, altri tre mesi e una delle tue figlie torna a casa. Ti amo! Noemi

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Student. News OUTDOOR SCHOOL Outdoor School is held two times each year—in the Fall and again in the Spring. It is an experience highly recommended by all students who have attended. This year Kseniya Vizerova (FLEX student from Russia), Lucrezia Scattu (Italy) attended in the spring. Below are their thoughts. I know others also attended and encourage them to submit their articles for the next newsletter). “I was a high school student counselor at outdoor school in a Sandy River camp during the first week of May. I did not know what I was going into-we do not have anything like that in my country, so I was just curious and ready to have fun. Well, it turned out that being a student leader is a lot of work--you have to look after the kids every minute, entertain them, and make sure they are not homesick. In my cabin I had 8 sixth-grade girls that were from 4 different schools, and my responsibility was to make them a team for four days. Also student leaders are teachers at the same time; we taught them about plants, animals, soil and water. In the evenings we had a camp fire and sang songs. It was one of the best experiences I had in the USA.” Submitted by Ksyeniya V a FLEX student from Russia. “Outdoor School gave me selfconfidence because I had to be responsible for my kids. I had to get them up in the morning, escort them to the bathroom in the middle of the night, be always ready to give them good advice, and just be there for them. They love you even when you are strict. There were kids from very poor families where at home they only had one meal a day. In my group, there was one Spanishspeaking girl who could not speak English. I understood what she was going through and I was able to understand her. I told her, ‘We are going to try to speak English, and she did.’ Some students were slow learners and I had to be patient with them. You’re the authority, the family, the teacher and the friend, always

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ready to give good advice to the kids. They are going to learn about love…unconditional love. As an Outdoor School counselor you’re going to make the difference in the life of the kids. I had nine 6th grade girls in my cabin. It was a good experience. Submitted by Lucrezia Scattu, Italian AFS student REPORT OF EARTH DAY SOLV EVENT Submitted by: Nurul Fathiah Mohd Aminuddin ”The FLEX cluster invited the YES and Westside students and families to take part in an activity of theirs which was called Earth Day SOLV event. This event was held on April 23 at Tualatin Hills Nature Park. It was presented by Portland General Electric. By joining this program, we became a part of team that working to make an immediate positive impact on the livability of our community. This activity started at 9 in the morning. Three YES students and three other AFS/FLEX west-side students participated in this program. We had to wear work boots, work gloves, and all of the tools that had been given. There was a volunteer site coordinator that was in charge of our site. Before we started working, we were given safety information and instructions so that everybody would be safe without any injuries. Basically, we had to remove invasive species such as Scotch Broom, Himalayan Blackberry and English Holly. It took almost four hours to clean a small area in the park. It was very fun and we enjoyed it very much. We had bagels, fruit and muffins for lunch at noon. We ended at 1 pm and before everybody went home, we took pictures in front of the park. In conclusion, this type of activity was very fun and it should be done every year so that the earth will be safe.” Nate Encisco was princess at the Sandy H.S. prom; Maria Caicedo Cardenas was princess at Trillium;

and Mette Rosenberg was a princess at Southridge. Carolin Aderhold received an award for having a 4.0 grade point average in Social Society class. She also received certificates for her participation in volleyball and swimming. We also have some actors and actresses: Noemi Serdino played the part of a num in Sound of Music at Parkrose High School; Lucrezia Scattu performed in Broadway Review and will be performing in Up the Down Staircase at Franklin H.S.; and Mette Rosenberg was in Hello Dolly at Southridge. Mariana Vargas was on the swim and track team at Barlow High School. Ask Mariana how she got her date to the prom…just a hint…how was a cake involved????. STUDENTS URGENT!!!! PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR FORM A’S Urgent…school is already out in some schools, so we need you to submit your Form A’s immediately. Many schools only have a limited number of slots for hosting exchange students, so we need to secure these slots. So, talk to some families, neighbors, and friends who you think would make good host families and then complete a Form A and get the information to Sally Ann Wells at [email protected]. You can also call Sally Ann at 503 452-1868. If you do not have a Form A, contact Sally Ann or call Ron Combs at 503 777-8117. You will win a worthwhile prize. For each Form A submitted, you will receive a prize, and for the student turning in the most Form A’s that actually turns out to be a real, live family, could win up to $100.

Student Bios 2005 Columbia Pacific Community Placed Girls Please think through your list of friends and associates. Surely you can recommend someone who would like to promote peace and gain a son or daughter! If you are interested in Family placing any of these students, please contact Sally Ann Wells to determine if they are available. (503) 4521868 Karina from Peru Karina loves literature and philosophy. She likes to read, to write and to act. The study of history is also a favorite subject of hers. She would like to become a politician and travel all around the world, and write books about her experiences. Her teacher describes Karina as "very friendly", "a good student, she has an excellent relation with her friends and teachers." She is a happy person, sociable and spontaneous, very affectionate with her friends. Karina lives with her family in Puno. She has a good relationship with her family; they like to get together on holidays and weekends. Two of Karina's uncles have participated in AFS programs in the U.S. in the Sixties, other uncle lives in Florida. Karina is an 11 year grad, just 17. Meagan from Philippines YES scholarship student Meagan is an excellent student who ranks second in her class and has a plethora of interests. "I am fond of reading books and writing essays & poems," she says. "I am most interested in sciences, maths, history and literature." She also plays the flute. Her principal finds Meagan "academically intelligent and morally upright." Her parents give her conduct the highest praise: "We can absolutely say that our daughter observes good manner and right conduct in everything she does." elatives live in Chicago and Hawaii. Cannot eat pork.) Meagan is the eldest of six siblings in the Alegado family, who live in Cotabato City. They are a close-knit, traditional family who like to play chess together - those old enough to understand the game, anyhow. Meagan aspires to become a lawyer... Honami from Japan Honami plays on a volleyball team at school. Honami says that at first, she was not very good, while her friends' skills improved quickly. In time, however, her skills improved too and from this experience, she learned the importance of diligence. Honami hopes that her time spent studying English will also pay off when comes to the U.S. Honami makes friends easily and a teacher says that she is cheerful and kind. "I am good at getting along with others," says Honami. Honsami lives with her parents and older sister in Saitama City in Japan. Her family likes to spend time together, but her father is very busy working and she sees him mostly on holidays and weekends. She has visited Hawaii and Guam with her family. Prutha from India YES scholarship student Prutha enjoys singing and drawing and practices the artforms every day. Prutha, whose native language is Gujarati, has studied English for thirteen years, Hindi for eight. She speaks both languages excellently. Prutha describes herself as a very bold and open-minded person. "The best thing about me," she continues, "is that I live life to the fullest." She mixes with people easily and loves good conversation. If you ask her friends to describe her, Prutha says, their stories could fill a book. "They think I am very enthusiastic," she says and then adds, humorously, "They think that I am totally crazy and unpredictable." Ka Man FEMALE from Hong Kong Carman enjoys playing basketball, swimming, reading, volleyball and Chinese dance. She also makes bread monthly. She sometimes sees herself in the actions of her brother. Carman is a social person. She is an outgoing girl who likes making new friends. Her friends and family are very important to her. She does not give up even when bad things happen. She lives with her mother, father, 2 older sisters and her brother. She is very excited about sharing her culture with her new host family and wants to learn about their culture.

Intuon from Thailand Intuon or "Two" likes art and design and looks forward to studying in that field at a university. She draws and is interested in website design. She enjoys painting and photography, and played drums in her own band. Two is an artistic girl and a gifted student. She studies at a school that has a competitive entrance exam. She is on her school's art and cheering staffs. She and her band have performed at school events. Two has an older brother, who currently studies at a university. Her father is an engineer, and her mother is a pediatrician at heart. She has a large, close extended family. She spent 2 months in Australia through an exchange program. Yui from Japan Yui practices the piano every day for two hours. Her favorite hobby is reading, and her favorite book is "Othello", by Shakespeare. She used to be a part of an amateur theatrical company for two years and enjoyed playing different roles. Yui is calm, sincere, and cheerful. Her motto is "where there's a will, there's a way." She has the "spirit of independence and self-discipline," says her teacher, "She always tries to do everything positively." Yui lives with her parents and her brother in the west of Tokyo. Her name derives from a word that means "mutual help." She often cooks dinner and does the dishes, since her parents are very busy. She also helps her brother with his studies. Julia from Germany Julia would be Spanish if she could be as she loves everything from the language to the music, to the dance, flamenco. She also enjoys reading, listening to music, watching the news, going to the movies, shopping, and traveling. "My family and friends describe me as honest, patient, a good listener, helpful, independent, and curious. I'm outgoing and energetic. I just love to laugh and I think in the end I am a well-balanced person." Julia has a great family that shares an openness of feelings and she loves them very much. In the future she wishes to have a good job, be financially independent, and help children in the third world. Vegetarian, but eats fish and dairy products.

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Student Bios 2005 Columbia Pacific Community Placed Boys Supharin from Thailand Suparin's hobby is drawing. He was chosen to join a drawing competition in school. He also likes playing games. He made first out of 80 students for performance in the traditional school games at the school stadium. Suparin is a disciplined and well-behaved student," his teacher writes. "He is eager to learn languages and always participates in school activities." He is optimistic, confident, friendly and respectful. A cheerful boy, he enjoys his daily life. Suparin has traveled with his family to Singapore, China and Malaysia. He has an older brother and a younger sister, and lives with his family in Khonkaen. His parents have a jewelry shop. Every Sunday the family goes shopping together and has dinner.

Abdulkahar MALE from Philippines Abdulkahar Usop, who goes by Kahar, excels in academic activities. He aspires to finish college and become a chemical engineer. He is friendly and quiet. His family and friends seek his advice because he is a deep thinker. Kahar's parents see him as hardworking and intelligent, and he consults them when he makes important decisions. He would like access to a mosque. Kahar lives with his family in Maguindana. He has five older siblings who enjoy his company. Together, they help their parents manage the family farm. Kahar does not eat pork due to religious restrictions.

Petteri from Finland Petteri likes to go jogging once a week. He has participated in wrestling in the past. He also coaches a floor ball team weekly. During his vacations, he works on his family's plant nursery to earn his spending money. He has been a camp guide for younger students during confirmation education. Petteri is an extroverted, happy person who likes other people and has a great sense of humor. His friends say he is easy going and they can depend on him for help when they need it. He considers himself pretty easy going and open to challenge. Petteri is interested in learning more about other cultures and lifestyles. He has a gift for languages and shows great interest with more than four years of English, Swedish and French. He has developed independence but still depends on his older sibling and parents to assist in important decisions. He and his siblings have household responsibilities and everyone assists with laundry and housework. Petteri has 1 older brother and a younger brother and sister. He is quite close to his older brother. Justin from French Belgium Justin is a Grad, but committed academically Rowing is the principal interest in Justin's life, and he belongs to a crew team. He has made many friends through this athletic activity, and takes pride in his performance. Justin also rounds out his interest by practicing with a theater group. Determined, sociable, and curious by nature, Justin is excited for the chance to explore a new culture. He keeps himself busy with school and activities, as sports are a major part of his life, and hopes to continue this in the USA. Having two much older sisters, Justin has always been the youngest in the family. Still, he shows great independence, and has developed a good relationship with his sisters over the years. His middle sister was an AFS student in Panama in '99. Carlos from Mexico Carlos enjoys basketball and golf. He also likes to spend time on the computer, as well as ride his bike. He likes to spend time at the country club, exercising and being in the sauna, Jacuzzi, and steam room. Carlos can be shy sometimes but is mostly outgoing. He likes to spend time with his parents. He is very active. He is also very loyal and willing to cooperate with others. Carlos is Catholic and attends mass weekly. His parents like to keep him safe and are fairly conservative about letting him attend parties or staying out late.

Florian from Switzerland Florian plays volleyball and trains three days a week. He enjoys music and especially likes rock, punk, trance and techno. Florian also enjoys outdoor sports. "I am a fairly good skier and swimmer," he says. Florian's parents say that he is "shy at first (but) he becomes easily friendly with people." Florian is also a good student and lists math and English as his two favorite subjects. He has three lessons a week in English and five in math. "Florian is a very thoughtful person," his teacher comments. "He's very attentive in class and works hard to achieve his goals. He's always willing to help his classmates and is very appreciated by the entire class."

Henrique from Brazil Henrique enjoys playing tennis and volleyball, though is not so keen on soccer or basketball. He likes to be involved in his community and loves attending community parties. Henrique likes to be among good company. He has good relationships with those around him and has lots of friends. He is also very responsible and assumes his tasks with much committment. Henrique looks forward to a future career as a medic. "I want to be a medic because I want to help other people," he says. Henrique plans to work hard and diligently to get into a good university and make his dream come true. Berk from Turkey On review by a family in Toldeo (WANORTH) Berk is a sports enthusiast. Every day he is engaged in some kind of athletic activity, swimming, running, playing basketball, volleyball or soccer. He is active in the school's several newspapers, and in writing and acting. He wants to study economics. "Berk is a very talented and highly motivated student," his teacher states. He is self-confident, mature and aware, with strong leadership abilities. Very ambitious, he is also volunteering and tutoring poor children and weaker students. Berk attends a boarding school for the gifted, where he excels both academically and athletically. His parents raised him with a good amount of independence, and always treated him like a real person. He cares very much about what happens in the world. He does not eat pork due to religious reasons.

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Volunteer News NEW EDITOR FOR OUR NEWSLETTER “My name is Kathy Church and I am new to the Pacific Northwest. I’m originally from Philadelphia and that’s where I first came into contact with AFS. In 1989, between my Junior and Senior years of high school, I was fortunate enough to receive a partial scholarship to become an AFS exchange student to Austria for the summer program. The AFS exchange experience was a life-changing one and the lessons I learned are still with me today. I keep in constant contact with my host family and will travel to Austria this summer to visit them. This will be the first time they’ll get to meet my eight year old daughter, Sesalee. Last year, while living near Nashville, Tennessee, I reconnected with AFS and hosted a delightful girl from Thailand. Hataimart, or “G-Jee” as she likes to be called, stayed with us for the school year and then returned home. She’s now applying to universities in Thailand and begging me to come visit her. She had a wonderful time in the US looks forward to the day when she can visit us again. Since my husband is in the Army and is now stationed in Germany for the next eighteen months, I decided I would take a break from hosting. When he comes home we’ll host again, but in the meantime I wanted to stay connected with AFS. I joined the board of my local Vancouver/Battle Ground AFS chapter, and then was asked if I would like to be the editor of the newsletter. Although I’ve never edited a newsletter before, I agreed to take on the job. I look forward to putting the newsletter together and only hope I can do half as well as Bernice has done. I hope you’ll bear with me as I begin working on the newsletter and learn as I go. I know that with your help and support, we can continue to have an exciting and informative newsletter.” Kathy will need everyone’s help, so please send all newsworthy items to her at [email protected], or call her at 360 687-5400. Next

deadline is July 25. Returnees or host families, if you want to tell your AFS story, start writing now. Let’s see more articles from places like Tillamook, The Dalles, and Onalaska. Her mailing address is 22208 N.E. 233rd Ct., Battle Ground, WA 98604 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR DEPARTURE Ron needs many helpers for departure on Sunday, June 26. • Helpers at drop-off site to weigh luggage • Drivers from Lents Park to secret site • Prepare snack bags for students to take on bus to Seattle (cost will be covered by area team funds) • Volunteers (chaperones) at secret site as follows: 1 person from 5:008:00 p.m.; 3 people from 8-11 p.m.;3 people from 11:00-3:00 a.m. • Helpers for cleanup at secret site after kids leave.

Registration Desk at Camp Adams • Helpers on Friday night at Camp Adams to hang flags, put out AFS signs, post agendas and group assignments in cabins…help set up for Saturday. • MC for Closing Ceremony • A volunteer to be in charge of cultural sharing on Saturday night— MC, organize country groups, set time limits, set up room, etc. • Helper to deliver water to groups in cabins on Saturday during breaks. OUR AREA TEAM CHAIR GETS AN AWARD DIABETES HERO AWARD Community Advocate – Ron Combs

If you are able to help in any way, please let Ron Combs know (503) 771-8117; e-mail [email protected]; cell (503) 314-5243. HELP NEEDED FOR CAMP ADAMS By Bernice Schuchardt

Post Orientation at Camp Adams will be the first weekend in October- I will be out of the country for the month of September and am working on getting all my volunteers lined up now in case I do not make it back –I fly spaceavailable so my return date is always questionable. I can be reached at email [email protected]; (503) 7754161, or cell (503) 539-8146. Here are my needs: • A volunteer to receive all Camp Adams Registration Forms and enter data into an already prepared Excel Spreadsheet. This is an important assignment-Camp Adams must be notified two weeks prior to orientation of the number of attendees. • Someone to make calls 2-1/2 weeks prior to get needed information from missing registration forms. • Volunteers to work at the

(Ron was recently recognized by the American Diabetes Association for fundraising achievements for diabetes.) “Ron Combs is a very strong community advocate for anyone living with diabetes. He himself was diagnosed with Type 2 in 1993. Ron and his wife Pat over the years have been working on changing their lifestyle and are working together on a daily basis to live healthy with Type 2 diabetes. After being diagnosed, Ron retired in 1996. He wanted to enjoy life and help others who live with diabetes by volunteering in the community. Ron is always just a phone call away for us in the Gales Creek Camp administrative office. It can be from helping us haul items to camp, to organizing other Forester volunteers for camp clean up, or just working on needed projects out at camp. Ron has been in charge of various fundraising projects to help raise funds

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Volunteer News for our Campership program. This program helps our diabetic campers and their families attend camp that needs financial assistance. His latest success story was last November, GCC’s family auction/dinner camp night, which raised over $20,000.00 than with his service club (Forester’s) backing the event, matched the funds raised totaling over $ 40,000.00. As you can read, Ron never does anything on a small scale. His heart is dedicated to making things happen for children and their families. He is a very loyal team player and we love him dearly. He’s always ends his phone calls and conversations with “Anything for the kids” and he is a man of his words.

pick up something and head for the house.” But after enjoying some pretty scrumptious desserts inside, everyone returned outside for “somemores”…roasted on the bonfire. Ask Jay about getting kissed by a llama. Again, thanks, Scott and Diane, for sharing your home with AFS for our farewell picnic! By the way, they are hosting Kseniya Vizerova (a FLEX student from Russia). A SPECIAL THANKS TO AFS & FORESTERS VOLUNTEERS

ASHLAND TRIP

GOOD TURN-OUT AT END-OFSTAY PICNIC Thanks to Diane and Scott Mattox for hosting the End-of-Stay picnic at their home in Sandy/Boring, Oregon. Somewhere between 55 and 60 AFSers, families, and volunteers showed up. There was a lot of good food and Scott played chef at the barbeque grill. And as Scott Mattox promised, there was a bonfire for roasting hotdogs and marshmallows. The weather was forecast to be sunny….but somehow the weatherman came up with only a little bit of sun and several showers. About the time everyone was dishing up their plates, Scott announced, “Everyone

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By Bernice

Schuchardt

Sincerely, Debbie Boekeloo” IOF PICNIC Sunday, July 24 The Independent Order of Foresters (IOF) has extended an invitation to all AFS families, volunteers, and friends to come to their annual picnic which will be held on Sunday, July 24, at Oaks Park. Hamburgers, hot dogs, beverage, and ice cream will be provided. A registration fee of $1 per person will be charged. If you want to go on the rides, ride bracelets may be purchased for $5.00. Bracelets will be valid all day. Contact Ron Combs, 503 777-8117 to register E-Mail [email protected]

A spotlight thanks to Scott and Dianne Mattox for opening up their home and yard for the end of stay picnic.

I would like to send out a special thanks to all who helped with camp clean up. AFS Selena, Leizl & Serafina Pioguinto USA (Philipines) Jessica Person USA, Carolin Aderhold Germany, Shanna Wulandaru Indonesia, Nurullah Unukur Turkey, Muhammad Othman, Norodin Pangilan Philippines AFS Leaders & Family Rustan, Efti, Calvin & Cameron Kocher USA Lori & Jeff Larson USA Rebecka Beehler USA Ron Combs USA Foresters James Hollett ,Neal Harrington, Bob Jewitt, Ron Combs, Gene DeLoreto. With all your help we painted a building, built five-picnic tables, removed and replaced dry rot flooring. Removed weeds, cleaned walk ways, spread chips, and so many other things I don’t have room to list them. Not all of our VOLUNTEERS are pictured here. The two days we worked May 28th And June 4th we put in over 250 hours. With out your help this couldn’t have been done. Again thank you. Clean up Coordinator Ronald Combs Branch # 532 VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION

The first weekend in May 23 AFSers, chaperones and drivers headed to Ashland in the wee hours of the morning. Our drivers were Jenny King, Ron Combs, Sally Ann Wells, Marilyn Hays, Lynette and Becca Ledgerwood. Everyone arrived in Ashland around noon, got settled in our rooms and then hit the town. We had “free time” until it was time to go to dinner at a nearby Chinese restaurant. The “hot tub” and “exercise room” were the top spots for the evening, and later in the evening there was snack time at the hotel, where milk, freshly baked cookies, and peanut and jelly sandwiches were served. Sunday was show day. In the afternoon we saw Room Service and in the evening Shakespeare’s Richard III. This year we made the Back Stage Tour available and we had good participation and comments from those who went on it. I think everyone had a good time. The only down note was when our coordinator Marilyn Hays got an early Monday morning call from her husband Garry informing her that a water pipe sprung a leak and flooded parts of their house. Anyway, Marilyn, you did a top-rate job organizing this special activity! NOTE: This was Marilyn’s third year and she would like to take a break. Is there anyone out there who would volunteer to organize this trip for next year. Marilyn will provide the info on how to do it. You may reach her at 503 665-2830.

Picture Page

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AFS COLUMBIA

PACIFIC Ronald Combs 2134 SE 60th Ave Portland, Oregon 97215-4072

SAVE THE TREES AND POSTAGE Want electronic newsletter? E-Mail Ron at [email protected] Want souvenir/scrapbook hard copy snail mail? E-Mail Ron Combs at [email protected] Check us out for more information and the newsletter on the Columbia-Pacific website: Http://www.afscolpac.org

The Calendar THE CALENDAR

Sun., June 26 July 24th Mon., Aug. 1 Sat., Aug. 13 Tue., Aug. 30 Thur., Sept.15th Sat.-Sun., Oct. 2-3 Wed., July 20

Departure – Lents Park, no later than 4 p.m. Contact: Ron Combs 503 777-8117 or [email protected] Foresters Picnic all are invited but you have to register E-Mail Ron @ [email protected] for details Host Family Orientation, Mon., Aug. 1. 7 p.m., pizza will be served. Contact: Bernice Schuchardt Arrival Orientation. Time and place to be announced Group Leader training at the home of Bernice Schichardt, 4806 SE Long, Portland. Contact: 503 775-4161. Pendleton Roundup. Contact: Ron Combs Camp Adams. Contact: Bernice Schuch Host Family Orientation, Wed. July 20th Contact: Chris Cradler 503-287-6601

LOOK FOR THE POST CARD IN THE NEWS LETTER. IF YOU WANT TO GET THE PAPER AFTER THIS ONE YOU MUST RETURN THE CARD BY THE 26TH OF JUNE.

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