NELSON, USA CLUB

Did you know that the US Embassy in NZ has a wide range of teaching tools and resources to help teach and learn about US history, culture, holidays, and many other topics? Did you know that you can request a visit from the US Ambassador or expert speaker to visit your school and give a ‘guest lecture’ on many of these topics? It’s all true!

I’m sending this email to teachers, educators, and anyone interested in youth issues and development to introduce myself and share some information about our new social media channels and programs for youth communities and NZ educators. Please feel free to share this message with any colleagues or friends that may be interested in keeping in contact on any of these topics. As a way of enriching our programs for youth audiences (primary to secondary school students) we’ve created an online sign-up sheet where any NZ teacher, administrator, or youth program coordinator can register their interest in the following areas:

• Having a US guest speaker visit your class or group and talk about a particular topic
• Learning more about how to apply for universities and study in the US
• Teaching resources and guides on US-related themes and topics
• Alerting the Embassy about your programs and projects that have an American theme or connection – maybe we can help out in some way
• Requesting materials or research assistance
• Or if you have a specific question or area of interest that isn’t covered in the form just send me an email and I’ll be able to work with you directly on your project or request

Sign up here

Once you have lodged your interest online you will receive information periodically according to the areas of interest you’ve indicated, for example: if you indicate that you’re interested in science topics we will alert you when we know of a visiting scientist in your area or if NASA is conducting an online video chat with students around the country or globe. We will get in touch with you directly when we have a speaker available to visit your class/group in the 2012 school year (of course we cannot guarantee that all requests will be filled in this time frame, but we will endeavor to do so). The Embassy also supports a number of exchange programs and NZ programs for students (i.e. the NZ UN Youth organization) that we can send you information on.

We’ve got some interesting projects coming up this year – fill out the sign-up form if you’d like to be kept up to date on any of them:

• 70th Anniversary of US Forces posted in NZ during WWII – we’re organizing events and creating teaching resources on this topic to include class field trip guides and an oral history project/competition for history students and teachers
• A NZ tour for the US Marine Corps Forces Pacific Band in June 2012 – check out some of the concerts and activities they took part in when they were last here during the Rugby World Cup: http://blogs.newzealand.usembassy.gov/ambassador/2011/09/marines-make-music-in-taranaki-and-wellington/
• American Youth Leadership Program – we’re looking for a partner school/organization to help host a group of US students to visit and learn about NZ, focusing on science and technology in 2013
• US Elections 2012 – we’ll be offering teaching guides and guest speakers to explain the elections process in the US to any interested groups

If you’d rather keep yourself updated on our programs via social media channels, you can follow or like a number of specialized social media channels:

• US Embassy Youth Outreach Twitter – development, leadership, exchanges
• Study in the US Twitter
• Study in the US Facebook page
• Resources for students and teachers - Embassy website

Please feel free to contact me directly with any other questions or ideas.

Regards,
Shauna Mendez
Youth Outreach Specialist
Office of Public Affairs
Embassy of the United States

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Whether you have planned a grand feast surrounded by friends and family, a restaurant dinner, or maybe a takeout, it is not really the edible food, but rather who we share it with that counts most of all, and to me, this is the true value and meaning of Thanksgiving.

The Nelson, USA Club extends the opportunity of friendship and networking among our members and I know we are thankful for some reminders of home when we chat to each other.

If you know of any special Thanksgiving events happening in Nelson, please share them with us on our Facebook page or via email so we can pass them on.

Here are a couple of recent messages you may be interested in:

USA SHIRT RAFFLE

Jeff Whittingham (jeffwhittinghamis @hotmail.com) has a signed USA rugby shirt that he is raffling off to raise money for St John’s Earthquake appeal in Christchurch.

He was given the shirt by Dallen Stanford who is the media officer for the Team. You can email him for the account details to send your payment for a raffle ticket and the Christchurch Police will be conducting the draw.  Here is a link to an online story about his fundraising for your reassurance.

USA FOOD ITEMS

Tom says he has been filling his suitcase with groceries to return from his USA trips for 30 years!  He has now found an online USA food website and has shared the extensive list of available products.

Martha’s Product List

Once you place an order Sandy will get back to you on what is available.  They then invoice you and as soon as payment comes through, send via courier.  Shipping costs depend on weight.

www.marthasbackyard.co.nz

Life’s Riches
When we count
our many blessings;
It isn’t hard to see
that life’s most valued
treasures are the
treasures that are free.

For it isn’t what
we own or buy
that signifies
our wealth.

It’s the special
gifts that have
no price:
our family,
friends and health.

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We have 2 extra tickets to the USA vs Italy game.    These are East stand tickets @ $75 each that we’re willing to sell for a bit less.

E-mail Juliane if interested: lolausa1@gmail.com

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Nelson/Richmond RWC blog from Shauna.

http://usrugbynz.com/2011/07/08/nelson-home-to-u-s-italy-game-and-a-mighty-fine-place/

Join their facebook page….

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_104514652972586&ap=1

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Tamati is in Nelson for the next leg of the Rugby World Cup 2011 Roadshow.

http://tvnz.co.nz/breakfast-news/rugby-world-cup-2011-roadshow-nelson-8-39-video-4296183

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The Richmond Festival promotion has started and a group from the Nelson, USA Club got together for a photo opportunity for the Waimea Weekly.

Click the article thumbnail to read what was written in the paper.

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Richmond will become base camp USA for three days during the Rugby World Cup.

The Tasman District Council has been given $18,000 through the NZ 2011 Festival Lottery fund for the Richmond Festival, a three-day gala of all things American, ranging from a day of fun and games and “tailgating” (a car boot picnic) to a Stars and Stripes block party and a social sevens tournament.

The council’s community recreation adviser, Mike Tasman-Jones, said the concept came from Nelson city’s adoption of the Italian team. “We thought we would adopt their rivals, the US team.”

The coaches and players were unlikely to attend the festival but it would be a gesture of welcome, and a chance for expatriate Americans to give Kiwis a taste of their culture, he said.

The event will kick off on Sunday, September 25 with 600 junior and senior rugby players converging on Jubilee Park for the Tasman 7s Invitational Tournament.

The Monday will see Croucher St and Queen St filled with with baton-twirling, bands, burgers and classic American cars for a Stars and Stripes block party. It will culminate in a classic Kiwi picnic of the best local fare.

The final day will see a New Zealand-style tailgating party. The much-loved American games of ladder toss, cornhole and sholf will combine with traditional Kiwi activities such as the gumboot toss, wheelbarrow and sack races, terrier races and duck herding.

Richmond Unlimited business co-ordinator Keryn Sheppard said the festival was still in the early stages of planning but most retailers were getting behind the Stars and Stripes block party.

 

Mr Tasman-Jones said expatriate Americans were free to contact him to refine the ideas. “It would be great to dig out some people doing fantastic US tucker.”

Source: The Nelson Mail

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Join local club member, Kay Pastorius Waller from A Culinary Experience Luxury Bed and Breakfast, 15 Seawatch Way, Atawhai, Nelson for a basic French cooking class. www.a-culinary-experience.com Read more

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Mister Nobody Quintet launching and performing their original CD “Over the Top” as part of NZ Music Month with Jazz in the Afternoon at Seifried Vineyard Restaurant on Sunday May 30 at 4 p.m. $5 cover Read more

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Jan 1 New Year’s Day
Jan 18 Martin Luther King Day
Feb 14 Valentine’s Day
Feb 15 Presidents’ Day
Apr 4 Easter Sunday
May 31 Memorial Day
Jul 4 Independence Day
Jul 5 ‘Independence Day’ observed
Sep 6 Labor Day
Oct 11 Columbus Day
Oct 31 Halloween
Nov 2 Election Day
Nov 11 Veterans Day
Nov 25 Thanksgiving Day
Dec 24 ‘Christmas Day’ observed
Dec 25 Christmas Day
Dec 31 ‘New Year’s Day’ observed

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