To nominate someone go to NABO online application/information forms

Isidro Echeto (Winnemucca). 
Isidro has been an active member of the Winnemucca Basque club since 1975.  He has acted as Festival Chairman/Co-Chairman for well over 8 years and has held the office of President or Vice President of the Winnemucca Basque club for 12 years. He also represented the Winnemucca Basque club as NABO delegate for 17 years.  Isidro has donated many hours and days of his time to promote the Basque culture in his lifetime.  He has been a major influence to our Basque club and to NABO through the years, whether it be through organizing NABO Conventions here in Winnemucca or encouraging the youth of the community to take active roles in NABO.  At this time in his life he enjoys watching is Grandchildren dance and playing Mus with his daughter. 

 

Martin Goicoechea (Rock Springs)
Martin Goicoechea spearheaded NABO’s Euskara recovery and preservation program back in 2000 and continues to serve as NABO’s Euskara Chairman.  Through this committee, lead by Martin, many euskara classes started up throughout the NABO member clubs and euskara preservation has become one of NABO’s prime objectives.  He has worked closely with the Basque Government and with HABE to negotiate the free use of euskara learning tools such as Hezinet and BOGA, and has worked to get special grants to staff a NABO euskara coordinator. All of these efforts by Martin and NABO were recognized in 2009 by Eusko Ikaskuntza when NABO was awarded their Euskararen Nazioarteko Eguna prize for the promotion of Euskara.
     Along with Martin’s commitment to NABO, Martin is also very active in his local club in Rock Springs, Wyoming and was one of the main organizers of the 2005 NABO Convention in Rock Springs.  Martin has been a longtime supporter and participant in NABO’s Kantari Eguna event.  Martin is one of only four active bertsolaris in the United States and often performs for many of the NABO clubs at their events from New York City to San Francisco. In 2003, Martin received the United State’s highest honor in folk and traditional art when he was awarded the National Endowment for the Arts’ National Heritage Fellowship in Washington D.C.  In 2005 Martin was inducted into the Society of Basque Studies in America’s Basque Hall of Fame.  In 2003, Marin was a member of the NABO delegation to the Basque Government’s World Congress of Basque Communities.

Kate Camino (Buffalo/Reno)
Kate Camino has been very active in NABO events for many years.  She has served several times as an Udaleku Director: 2000 (Buffalo), 2002 (Reno), 2008 (Buffalo), 2010 (Reno) and is now the Udaleku co-chairperson.  She is longtime NABO delegate since 1991 (Center for Basque Studies, Buffalo). 
     At the international level whe was chosen to represent NABO at the Second World Congress of Basque Communities held in Gasteiz, Araba, October 1999, then chosen to participate in Gaztemundu 2002 special Dance edition by the Basque Government, honored by the Basque Parliament (Eusko Legebiltzara) for organization of “Renoko Aste Nagusia” July 1999.  She was also appointed by Euskal Irratia Telebista (EITB – Basque Radio and Television) as their North American correspondent, 2000-2006.
     At the local level she has served as director, president and secretary for the Zazpiak Bat Basque Club (Reno), past director for the Big Horn Basque Club (Buffalo), dance instructor for the Zazpiak Bat Basque Club (Reno).

Victor Esain (Fresno) 
Victor was one of the original  five Basques to organize the Fresno Basque Club in 1978 and became one of its first NABO Delegates in 1979; and he served us well for  22 years.  He was also our Club’s first MUS chairman; and he ran a “tight ship” regarding the rules of the game, implementing the use of score cards on each players’ table which later was utilized by other clubs.
     In 2004, he was a recipient of the 24^th ANNUAL HALL OF FAME award by the Society of  Basque Studies in America.   He was honored for  his NABO-oriented qualities as well,  when in 2000 he was appointed NABO MUS Chairman.   For over twenty years he also assisted Pierre Etcharren and Jean Baptise Aguerre organize tournaments.   Up until 2004, he had been involved in 25 national tournaments and 10 international tournaments.   Although no longer a NABO  Delegate since 2001, he still keeps track  of the majority of clubs’ winners  and especially keeps up-to-date records of all national NABO winners!    He literally has an ARCHIVE  of notebooks  on NABO championships and is SO PASSIONATE  about the game and its players!  The Society honored Victor for his steady, optimistic and determined dedication to mus games, Basque traditions and sports.
     Because we know Victor immensely enjoyed  being involved in NABO for so many years,  both as Delegate and involved with the  mus games, national or mundial,   we are submitting with honor and pleasure his name as a nominee for the NABO BIZI EMANKORRA for 20ll.  Many of the   younger  Delegates may not have met Victor, but we are sure they would  respect him for his dedication of many years  to NABO.    We know he did it with a glad heart and Basque pride,  and it gave him great joy!
 

EMILIA DOYAGA
Emilia Sarriugarte Doyaga was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York.  She received her Bachelor’s Degree at Hunter College her Masters at Columbia University, and her Ph.D. at New York University and the Institute of Educational Management at Harvard.   She was a professor at St. John’s University, Brooklyn College and York College of City University College of New York, and a Distinguished Professor of State University of New York.  She served as Dean at York College of New York and as Academic Vice President at State University of New York.  She has published books on Unamuno, Becquer, and the Spanish Language as well authored articles related to the Basques on Columbus, Cuba and the New York Basque Center. 

Dr. Doyaga is currently the President and NABO representative of the Society of Basque Studies in America, an organization she founded with two other academics.  She has volunteered as the NABO Delegate for more than a decade, traveling and crossing the United States to the NABO meetings which have always been held in the west.  The extra effort, time and money dedicated to NABO from the eastern Basques are noteworthy.  She has often been the sole voice for eastern Basques as well as those in Florida.  She maintains contact with Basques from all NABO clubs and has traveled to visit more than half of the clubs over the years.

Emilia danced with the Basque dancing groups of New York for years as a young adult and traveled Canada, the United States and Cuba with a professional group of Basque dancers.

Emilia created the Basque Hall of Fame, having served as an organizer and has traveled to be present and be the moderator at every single Basque Hall of Fame induction ceremony (29 total). She has been selected by the Basque Government to attend the World Congress of Basque Collectivities in 1995 and 1999, and the American Congress of Basque Centers in 1997 in Buenos Aires. With José Ramon Cengotitabengoa and Anna Aguirre, Emilia has maintained the Society of Basque Studies in America and its relations with euskal etxeak around the world, always promoting NABO activities, its calendar, its delegates and its mission.  No one knows Emilia’s physical age, we know her activity and promotion of all things Basque to be limitless.

Emilia has volunteered in leadership positions at the Euzko-Etxea of New York, the Society of Basque Studies in America, and is the initiator of the Basque International Cultural Center in New York.  She is constantly volunteering for projects related to promoting awareness about the Basques such as the NABO initiative to correct the New York Times’ erroneous reporting on Euskara.  Emilia was the liaison who took hundreds of signatures to an assistant editor to ask for a correction. She was a leader for the Trainera Project which built and donated to the Basque Country from the Basque diaspora an authentic trainera.  With the Society of Basques in America she was instrumental in helping execute the Basque Sheepherders’ Monument in Reno.  She has endlessly promoted Basque art and artists in the United States, as well as Basque cuisine on the US east coast.

She has promoted Euskara in her own club and is constantly encouraging others to take the courses.

Franxoa Bidaurreta 

Leadership Role:  NABO’s First Pilota Chairman 1976-1981(approximately)

In 1976, NABO was interested in forming a Pilota Committee to promote pilota throughout the western United States and encourage interaction between Basque Clubs that had frontons. As he was already the Pilota Chairman of the San Francisco Basque Club, Franxoa was invited to one of their meetings.  At that meeting Franxoa was appointed Chairman and asked to form a Pilota Committee.  Immediately after the meeting, Franxoa contacted Basque Clubs which had frontons and formed the Pilota Committee with the pilota chairmen of the various clubs.  In addition to attending regular NABO meetings, he would meet several times a year with the Committee members at various locations to discuss how to promote pilota, by teaching the youth and encouraging club tournaments. The first NABO Pilota Tournament was held within one year of the committee formation. Contacting the Federation Francaise de Pelote Basque (French Federation), the committee was able to set up competitions between their players and NABO players, taking place every 2 years.  This continued for more than 25 years.  He was instrumental in encouraging the reopening of the Boise Fronton at the Basque Block which had been used as a warehouse for many years.

Franxoa had a vision for the United States to participate in the International Pilota Tournament.  In 1978, he was the coach for the NABO sponsored team to the world tournament in Biarritz.  This led to the formation of the United States Federation of Pilota in 1979.  Franxoa has been on the Board of Directors from its inception until today and was president for four years.

Franxoa has been very active in the local Basque community in San Francisco, and was inducted into the Basque Hall of Fame on November 11, 2006.

Basque Club of San Francisco:  Board of Directors early 1970’s-1981; Pilota Chairman 1973-1979; President 1976-1979;  Klika

San Francisco Basque Cultural Center:  Founding member 1979; Director 1983-1986 & 1992-2004; Pilota Chairman 1984-1986; President 2002-2004; Building & Grounds Committee current member

Basque Education Organization:  Board of Directors 1984 – present; Chairperson 1986-2000

Franxoa is still very active in the San Francisco Basque community and is currently a member of the Urazandi Committee.

Josephine Arriet

Josephine Mainvil Arriet was born in San Bernardino, California.  Her father, Jean Mainvil, came from Hasparren, Labourd and her mother, Frances Oses, from Errazu, Navarre.  They had two children: Josephine and John.  Josephine attended Chaffey College in Ontario, California and, even though times were bad during the depression years, her abilities were recognized, and the Chaffey schools employed her in the Attendance and Business Offices for 14 ½ years until she married John Arriet, a farmer, who raised cotton and alfalfa.  The couple moved to Fresno, California where their daughter, Kathy, was born.  Kathy had three sons and Josephine is proud of the grandsons: Brett, Phillip and Jonathan.

Josephine’s interest in Basque culture started very early when her parents took her to visit Basque friends and to attend Basque festivals.  Her daughter learned Basque dances at Los Banos Basque Club and, when Fresno Basque Club opened, Josephine became a dedicated working member.  Victor Esain, who was president of the club, appointed her as a delegate to her first NABO meeting in 1982 where, ever since, her steadfast presence has been noted.  She has been an active member of the California and Local Woolgrowers Auxiliaries since 1960 and has been in charge of raising money for the promotion of lamb and wool for 15 years.

skipped a year (this is not necessarily an annual award)


 

Jacques Unhassobiscay
His vision for NABO was widespread. He saw NABO as the necessary vehicle to unify small and large Basque clubs so that together they could promote Basque culture.
     Jacques was the 3^rd  president of NABO, and during his term he attended as many Basque club functions throughout the western US as possible. At these functions, he would promote NABO and educate members and clubs as to what NABO was about and what its role and significance was in relation to the promotion of Basque culture. He felt that NABO was a tool for future Basque generations, from nationwide locations, to enable each other to interact together at activities and functions that NABO would sponsor. During these formative years of NABO getting Basque clubs to join was a serious challenge.  During his term as president NABO initiated popular events, such as the NABO pilota tournament, that enticed clubs to join NABO.  With his persistence and going beyond the call of duties of president, NABO’s club membership nearly tripled during Jacques’ tenure as NABO president.
    His vision strongly impacted Basque culture in the US and enabled NABO to grow in membership.
     In 1978 NABO sponsored a pilota team, which competed in the world tournament in Biarritz.  With Jacques’ assistance this led to the formation of the United States Federation of Pilota, for whom Jacques served as inaugural president.  He returned to Euskal Herria in 1984 and started a farming business.  This gave him the opportunity to enjoy his first love – the euskal herriko mendiak. (Pyrenees mountains) 
    Jacques passed away in 2002 in a farming accident in the Basque Country.  He is survived by his wife Dorothy and his three children, Marc, Daniel and Jacqueline.

Bob Echeverria   Robert L. "Bob" Echeverria, born in Winnemucca, Nevada 3-10-42 to Pablo and Carol Bullis Echeverria Amuma: Sinforosa Malaxechevarria Gabiola, Amoroto, 1878 Aitxitxe:   Venturo "Ben" Echeverria, Ispaster 1879   K-12 Humboldt County Schools,  1966 BS Education , UNR,   1987 AA Corrections,NNCC,  1994 Masters of Education, UNR   Commissioned a 2nd Lt. upon graduation from UNR in 1966, served in US Army Infentry in Alaska, Vietnam and Olkahoma, decorations among others are:  Silver Star,  Bronze Star,  Vietnamese Cross of Gallentry and the Combat Infantry Badge.   Separated service in 1970, as a Captain, returned to  live in Reno with wife  Cheryl and three boys; Timothy Paul, Patrick Mateo and Dominic Jon. Moved to Elko in 1973 and finally connected with an organized Basque community through the Elko Basque Club. All my sons did the Basque Dancing and the NABO Music Camps, all speak some Spanish and one is fluent in Basque. None of these things were around when I was growing up and no Basque was spoken in my home except with some visitiors.  I am the proud Aitxitxe of 7 grand children.   Moved to Elko in 1973, worked 28 years at the Nevada Youth training Center as a teacher of Social Studies, move to the Elko County School District in 2001 where I remain as a teacher of the Alternative School for the district, grades 6-11, sort of a "one-room" school for students "at-risk".   Have been an active member of the Elko Basque Club since 1973, served as President for 7 years and on the Board of Directors and NABO Delegate for most of the years between,   I served as NABO President for 7 years and for the past three have been an active Vice-President.   Even though I do not speak Basque or Spanish I feel that I am Basque where it counts "in the heart" and "in service to the culture"...I was blessed with great support for my years as NABO President and was honored to represent NABO in the following ways:     1993-1995...Consulant to the project "Amerikanuak! Basques in the High Desert"     1994............Meeting in Washington DC for the American Basque Foundation     1995............Delegate to the 1st World Basque Congress in Victoria-Gatize     1996............Meeting in Washington DC for the American Basque Foundation     1997............Argentina for their National Basque Festival in Rosiaro     1999............Delegate to the 2nd World Basque Congress in Victoria-Gatize     2000............To Chicago as for the design awards for "Bilbao, the Transformation of a City"     2000............Delegate to the 2nd American Congress, Nechochea, Argentina

Luis Manuel Pe-Mentxaka   Luis-Manuel Pe-Mentxaka y Herrán Nací en Barcelona el año 1.948, de familia basca nacidos en Bilbao. Mis padres eran Manuel Pe Mentxaka y Margarita Mª Herrán Otaduy Estoy casado con Rosa María,Fernández Pando ( 1.980 ), a la que conoceis algunos de vosotros y tengo dos hijos Aitor  ( 21 ) y Asier ( 16 ).   Actualmente tengo mi estudio como arquitecto y trabajo como Arquitecto Tasodor Hipotecario ( Valoración de viviendas para la concesión de créditos  ) para BBK ( Bilbao Bizkaia Kutxa ) y para la Caja de Ahorros de Navarra.   Me gradué como Arquitecto en la Universidad Politécnica de Madrid ( 1,980 ) y como Profesor de Piano en el Real Conservatorio Superior de Música de Madrid ( 1.970 ) En 1.971 obtuve el primer premio de composición de Canción Infantil de TVE.   Aunque toda mi vida la he desarrollado en Madrid, la educación que recibí de mis padres fué totalmente basca, desarrollando en mí todo al cariño hacia nuestra tierra Euzkadi.   El verano de 1.959, mi aita me compró en Bilbao un txistu y con un amigo de la familia, aprendí las primeras lecciones de txistu, que luego continué estudiando con un amigo de Madrid, Juan Jose Ugalde, de Gazteiz, que vivía en Madrid. Actualmente, seguimos tocando el txistu juntos en todas las ocasiones en que se nos llama para celebraciones en multitud de sitios, así como en radio, cine y televisión.   Durante los veranos, en los años 60 y 70, recorría Euzkadi, con los txistularis de Bilibao, y tocando en todos los alardes de tixtularis que se hacían por los pueblos con motivo de las fiestas patronales.   Soy socio fundador de la Sociedad "Euzkal Etxea " de Madrid, que nació como unión de todas las personas bascas que residíamos en Madrid, actuando como organista en la Misa de los Domingos así como tocando el txistu en todas las ocasiones en que se me llamaba.   Dimos una gira de conciertos, contratados por Radio Nacional con Kepa Junkera, por Holanda el año de 1.989.   Actualmente pertenezco, desde 1.984, año de su fundación, a un coro profesional dedicado a la investigación e interpretación del Canto Gregoriano, "Schola Antiqua", habiendo realizado varias grabaciones y dando conciertos por Europa y EEUU.   En esta asociación ( Euzkal Etxea ), conocí a Sabin Olaskoaga, contante del grupo "Los XEY", con el cual en muchas ocasiones hemos tocado el txistu y el acordeón conjuntamente. Su hija Anetxu, tuvo conocimiento en 1.979 de la muerte de Jon Oñatibia y recurrió a su padre para que buscase un txistulari par el Music Camp de ese año en San Francisco. Cuando a mí me llamó Sabin, estaba en Israel y en Grecia en una gira de conciertos corales, con una coral de canto polifónico, de la que yo era el director.   Con la primera persona que yo hablé fué con Pier Etxarren y cuando me preguntó como nos reconoceríamos en el aeropuerto al llegar, le dije : Iré con Txapela, que es la cédula de identificación de un basco. No hubo ningún problema de identificación.   Posteriormente seguí asistienda a Music Camp en diferentes lugares : Fresno, Boise (varios veces ) Chino, Salt Lake City, Winnemuca, Backersfield, etc. hasta el año de 1.996 en que viajé a Music Camp por última vez. ( No sé si me olvido algún sitio )   Recuerdos de Music Camp: De todos los Music Camp, guardo un maravilloso recuerdo, ( partidas de mus, las clases, fiestas, picnics, bailes de musumé ) y sobre todo de las personas con las que tuve contacto y de todos los chavales,  los cuales creo que algunos se acuerdarán de mí. Familias como : Elu, Etxarren, Inda, Anacabe (Franzoia), Beristain, Campos, Eiguren, Yzurza, Jausoro, Anes Mendiola, Pedeflous, Goitiandía,  Iribarren, Achurra, Sangroniz, Miller, Donahue (Megan ), Bidaurreta, Cendagorta, Better, Grupo Oinkari y otros muchos. Seguro que me olvido de alguna y pido perdón por el olvido   Este es el mejor recuerdo que tengo de Music Camp, la amistad y el cariño con el que me recibisteis y me acogisteis en vuestras casas y que para mí han sido una de las experiencias mejores que he tenido en mi vida.