Partners Intercom

Here's a link to the Democracy Blog, which comes from The Democracy Center, based in Cochabamba, Bolivia and San Francisco California.
http://www.democracyctr.org/blog/

The organization "works globally to advance human rights through a combination of investigation and reporting, training citizens in the art of public advocacy, and organizing international citizen campaigns."

Our distinguished member and former president Steven Neuse sneuse@uark.edu has recommended a recent post: http://democracyctr.org/blog/2009/10/bolivias-dilemma-development-confronts.html.

Labels: Bolivian government, Democracy Center, extractive industries

The Arkansas - East Bolivia chapter held its annual meeting on Saturday, October 11, at the Sequoyah Conference and Retreat Center in the hills east of Fayetteville. The chapter was honored by the presence of Partners President/CEO Steve Vetter and Elizabeth Auciello from Washington.

Pictured are the always cheerful Wayne Swegle with Steve Vetter, greeting early arrivals at the meeting site.

Highlights of the Annual Meeting:

Bolivian Political Actions & Perspectives - Dr. Steven Neuse,
Professor Emeritus, Political Science, University of Arkansas

Partners of the Americas: Current Actions & Visions - Steve Vetter, President, Partners of the Americas, Washington D.C.

Youth Ambassadors: Actions & Visions - Elizabeth Auciello, Program Coordinator, Partners of the Americas, Washington D.C.

Personal Impressions of Bolivia - Dr. Dan Ferritor, Ex-Chancellor, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

Bolivian Insights, Impressions, Perspectives - Panel of UAF Bolivian Students: Pamela Philippsbom, Pres., IBO; Zoe Moraooi; and Morcalo Fernández.



Pictured right is Elizabeth Auciello, Coordinator of the Youth Ambassadors Program. The program has been funded for 2009. See previous post of April 22, 2008 for group photo of Arkansas E-B participation in the program during the current year.


The annual meeting, together with the quarterly board meeting and a program of Musica y Baile, were ably coordinated by Margaret Clark, Regional Vice President, Northwest Arkansas.

Labels: Annual Meeting, Bolivian students, Partners, Youth Ambassadors

A-EB Partner Rosario Keele has called our attention to a blog produced in Santa Cruz. Here's a link: http://santacruzperspective.blogspot.com/.

The name itself, Santa Cruz Perspective, suggests the content, and it's written in English. The authors, Kelly Clark Boldt and David Boldt, have adopted Santa Cruz as home after successful U.S. careers. They have professional and journalistic backgrounds that command our attention.

The Boldts' purpose in writing the journal is "to provide a fuller and more accurate picture of the current situation in Bolivia." Please judge for yourselves. . .

Thanks, Rosario, for uncovering this gem of up-to-date information.

Labels: Bolivian government, elections, Santa Cruz

Bring on your Comments! Along with the cherry blossoms, spring has brought reinforcements for our Partners-Intercom Blogging Team.

Matthew Bond announces that Michael Sayre will take Matthews' place as our Chief Washington Correspondent. Michael, msayre@partners.net, is Partners' new Communications and Outreach staff member. He is "considerably more tech savvy than [Matthew] and already knows a bit about blogs, MySpace and other ICT innovations."


We do urge all Partners to join the discussion and post comments on our Blog. And we have a complete, illustrated how-to guide for people who are uncertain about how to post comments.It's available at http://www.uark.edu/misc/partners/BLOG-article.pdf.

Join the fun; who can post the most?

Labels: Blog, Correspondent, how-to, Partners

Since he is also Deputy Director, Resource Development*, at POA Headquarters, he is understandably busy with his day job. But he has agreed to serve and to be listed on our masthead. Matthew will be a great asset to Partners as we all continue working to build Partners' communications infrastructure.

So at this writing, our Blog has three antennae:

• Arkansas Chapter Pres., Wayne Swegle: weswegle@sbcglobal.net
• Blogmaster, Bill Millager: wmillage@uark.edu
• Washington Chief Correspondent, Matthew Bond: mbond@partners.net

Please use these contacts for sending off-line comments, suggestions and story ideas. We'll all appreciate your thoughts on how to make better use of the tools we have.

And don't forget to post online comments on the Blog!
__________
* Subdirector de Nuevos Programas

The latest POA Newsletter contains a feature on Partners-Intercom.Arkansas Partners are glad to see the online feature here. You can find the article on page 6 - with hyperlinks, yet!
http://www.partners.net/images/partners/Newsroom/Newsletters/October-December_2007.pdf.

We have also posted a complete, illustrated how-to guide for people who are uncertain about how to post comments.It's available at http://www.uark.edu/misc/partners/BLOG-article.pdf.

How to post a Comment
If you want a nutshell version, here's a wiki: click on the word "comments" at the end of the "Posted by" line, below any Blog entry. Type your comment in the "Leave Your Comment" window. Then you must enter a Google User Name and Password (to tag the entry).

If you don't have a Google user name (such as a G-mail ID), click "Sign up here." Create a Google account by typing in your (existing) email address; then choose a password and a display name; then re-type the strange looking verification characters (to prove you're not a "bot").

Sounds tricky, but the ID is permanent. The investment is prudent!

At a Board meeting on July 14 (Bastille Day), Arkansas Partners decided to promote use of "Partners Intercom." One of the actions agreed on is to publish an illustrated "How-to-BLOG" article.

We have a draft. It's posted for review at http://www.uark.edu/misc/partners/BLOG-article.pdf. Here's part of the introduction:

". . . We want to get the whole POA Universe involved in the joys and rewards of blogging. Since the very idea is still mysterious to many people, let's peel the onion by answering the following questions: What is a Blog? What is Blogging? How can Partners use and operate a Blog? What Benefits can Blogging bring us?"

The Partners Intercom blog has a worthy purpose. It's to "exchange information, plans, and accomplishments among all chapters and POA staff." Yet we've failed, so far, to let everyone know about the opportunity, and the blog has languished.

The punch line at the end of the article is: Let's Make "Partners Intercom" a big Plus for Your Chapter and for the POA Universe.

Please read the draft and let us have your suggestions.
http://www.uark.edu/misc/partners/BLOG-article.pdf

Labels: blogging, how-to