|
|
Fall 2002In this issue Letter from the BDSC president Annual Meeting Set for November 17 Nov. 10 Fund-raiser Will Feature Unique Entertainment Cyber Café Update Area Tajiks Establish Cultural Center to Honor Muhammad Osimi Study Tour to Central Asia April 25-May 9 Gift Committee Offers "Road Show" for Area Organizations |
|
Letter from the BDSC president Dear Friends and Members, Welcome to fall in Boulder, Colorado, and to news about Boulder-Dushanbe Sister Cities. As we look ahead to November be sure to mark on your calendar two events each coming one week apart. On Sunday, November 10, Lenny and Sara Martinelli will be presenting a wonderful dinner featuring the best of Tajik food and wine. The last dinner was an overwhelming success. Again this year, the dinner on November 10th will benefit our Dushanbe Cyber Café project. The cost of the dinner is $55.00 per person. Call the Teahouse to make your reservation as space is limited, and reservations are beginning to come in. On the following Sunday, November 17th, is our Annual Meeting at the Teahouse. Watch for your invitation, which will give you the details and the program. If you are interested in becoming involved in any way with our organization, please feel free to contact me, 303-545-1971. We look forward seeing at the Tajik Dinner and our Annual Meeting. Jancy Campbell Annual Meeting Set for November 17 The BDSC annual meeting will be held Sunday, Nov. l7 from 3:00 to 5:00 at the Teahouse. Dilorom will do a presentation on the Osimi Cultural Center The purpose of the Center is to foster a mutual understanding between nations in the International Community and work together for the prosperity of the human civilization. All members are invited to attend this annual event and to bring friends who would like to get involved in the organization. Nov. 10 Fund-raiser Will Feature Unique Entertainment The Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse and the Boulder Dushanbe Sister Cities invite you to a fund-raiser to benefit the Gift Committee Project. Date: Sunday, November 10 There will also be a presentation about the progress and goals of the Gift Project during the dinner. Please show your support for this project that answers the question, "What are we doing for the people who gave us the Teahouse?" Please call 303 442-4993 or see a Teahouse hostess to purchase tickets. Return to top Cyber Café Update As World tensions again rise and the U.S. Congress and President debate war with Iraq and Al Qaeda, it is helpful to look to the roots of our sister city ties with Dushanbe and the principles of Sister Cities International:..."advancing international understanding and friendship through people-to-people contacts." That vision continues to guide our efforts as we move ahead with the Teahouse/Cyber Café cultural exchange. Our focus this summer has been on fundraising and education, and on putting in place the tools we need to accomplish this tribute to peaceful understanding. Our goal is to raise $660,000 in time to help Dushanbe celebrate its 80th birthday in October 2004 with the opening of the Cyber Café. We have already raised more than $55,000 in cash and another $20,000 in in-kind contributions. We have also opened an account that allows us to receive stock contributions. Ron Broome and others have created a PowerPoint presentation that sums up the history and the future of the project. Over the summer you may have seen us in our Cyber Café booth, right in front of the Teahouse at the Boulder Farmer's Market, educating people about the project and raising funds. A dedicated team of volunteers, coordinated by Callista Morrill, Dianne Griffith and Sofia Rossato, were kept busy answering questions about the cultural exchange and the plans for the Cyber Café. Lenny Martinelli and the staff of the Teahouse generously supplied us with chai and cookies to sell, strong backs, logistical support, storage, inspiration and more. Thanks to all. We have also enjoyed wonderful fundraising events coordinated by Lenny Martinelli:
As our dedicated group of volunteers continues to work hard toward achieving our goals, we realize a task of this size requires a full-time staff person. We are in the process of hiring a fundraising development coordinator who will provide us with the consistent and focused effort needed to complete the project. We also need the continued participation of the Boulder community. How can you help?
A very big "thank you" to all who have contributed and given generously of your time and money to the Cyber Café. We hope that this project will open a bridge of friendship between our cities and promote better understanding between different cultures. Return to top Area Tajiks Establish Cultural Center to Honor Muhammad Osimi Several BDSC members attended an inauguration get-together in Aurora on August 25 to honor the late Tajik scholar and humanist, Muhammad Osimi. Cultural and economical development through education, science and technology was the core of the life and activities of Muhammad Osimi - a great Tajik Scholar, philosopher, historian, intellectual and humanist, president of Tajik Academy of Sciences. Professor Osimi was born on August 25 the year of 1920 in Khujand, Tajikistan one of the ancient cities of Central Asia. He graduated in physics from Samarkand State University on 1941. During the period of 1965 - 1987, M. Osimi was president of the Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan and brought the academy into the powerful scientific center in Central Asia. Professor Osimi was the president of International Association of UNESCO of the Study of Civilization and Cultures of Central Asia, (1977- 1996). He headed the project of preparing and publishing the six-volume edition, The History of Civilizations of Central Asia. M. Osimi was an author and editor of numerous scientific works and publications, an honored Tajik scholar, a member of Russian Academy of Sciences, an honored member of the Afghan Academy of Sciences and a receiver of Javaharlal Nehru award. In 1989, he founded "Payvand"("Unity") - a society foundation of cultural relationships with compatriots abroad and he remained as the chairman until the last moment of his life. On July 29, 1996, Professor Muhammad Osimi was shot dead at the age of 76 while he was on his way to his office. Professor Osimi contributed to progress in Central Asia by developing education, science and technology; promoting peace, tolerance, cooperation, independence and prosperity. Today Central Asia is becoming the main focus of International Community, which makes a great effort to bring peace and stability in the region. The main goal is to get Central Asia involved into the global cultural and economical development. Significant contribution is primarily directed to the development of Tajikistan and Afghanistan, where civil war has destroyed social life and declined education of young generation. Tajikistan, Iran and Afghanistan share a unique origin, language, history and culture. However, these countries were isolated from each other for the last few centuries. Osimi Cultural Center will bring together the intellectuals of Tajikistan, Iran and Afghanistan to overcome the cultural isolation by educating the new generation their original history and culture, scientific and technological heritage, music and poetry, dance and songs, traditions and art. The Cultural Center will continue Muhammad Osimis contribution to future prosperity of humanity on the way emphasized in 1995, "In the 21st century the interactions and interrelations between the cultures would be more intensive. At the same time there will be a syntheses of cultures which will serve as noble deeds of uniting nations all over the world". BDSC friends and members Dilorom and Mustafo Osimi will present information about the Center at the BDSC Annual Meeting at the Teahouse at 3 PM on Sunday, November 17. Return to top Study Tour to Central Asia April 25-May 9 The once forbidden lands of Central Asia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan, formerly part of the Soviet Union, are the focus of a 15-day fundraising trip for UNA/USA (United Nations) Boulder County Chapter. Jose Goncalves, the experienced leader of many previous UNA/USA tours, will personally escort the trip. It will include a special visit to Dushanbe. Boulder's sister city in Tajikistan, and visits to the ancient historical cities of Khiva, Bukhara, and Samarkand. Dates of travel are from April 25, 2003 to May 9, 2003. Cost is $4,693.00 per person which includes international round trip air fare from Denver, airfare between countries, transfers, land transportation, hotel accommodations (double occupancy), most meals, hotel and city taxes, entrance fees, baggage handling, bilingual guides - and $200 tax-deductible donation to the Boulder County Chapter of UNA-USA. For more information please contact Jose Goncalves, J-G Travel, Inc., 303-777-1835, or Jim Mitchell, 303-776-2463. Return to top Gift Committee Offers "Road Show" for Area Organizations Members of the BDSC Gift Committee are presenting an informative slide show and talk about the Teahouse and BDSCs proposed gift to the people of Dushanbe. This fall, area groups including Boulder Lions, The East Boulder Optimist Club, Niwot-Gunbarrel Kiwanis, and the Boulder Rose Society have invited us to talk at their meetings about the project and our efforts to raise funds for the proposed gift of a Cyber Café to the people of Dushanbe in appreciation for our Sister Citys gift of the Teahouse. Anyone who knows of an organization which might like to see our "Road Show" please contact Return to top |
|