How about having a NABO Convention in Washington D.C.?  Yes, it is a reach but we are starting at the beginning: assuming we could put something like this together, would you make the trip out East to the nation's capital?  Your NABO delegates need to hear from you soon.

Sure there are many reasons to say that going to D.C. for a NABO Convention isn't feasible, but there were many reasons to say that it wasn't feasible to declare for independence back in 1776. There were plenty reasons for our ancestors not to make the trek to America.  But nothing ventured; nothing gained. So throw yourself into the glass is half-full view of things and let's speculate about building a dream.

We make this trek for three "E" reasons:
(NOTE: the following are only some starting suggestions)

1) ESKERRAK.  We go to the nation's capital to say thank you to America for giving we Basques a home and opportunities.  Think about it: how refreshing to see an ethnic group stand up to say thank-you America. This would ideally consist of an arranged ceremony somewhere there with our various congressional delegations (from CA, NV, ID, OR, UT, WY, CO, etc.).  Why not something on the White House lawn (a makila-Basque walking stick-to the new President)? Why not a joint Congressional resolution?  Who would vote no and say "we don't want groups coming here to say thank you?

2) EXPOSURE.  Every now and then we should go big and try to make a bigger splash.  I can't think of a bigger pool than this one to move Basques out into the American public eye.

3) EXPERIENCE.  DC is something every American should try to see in their lifetime.  Here is a two-for-one opportunity: let's go to Washington to celebrate our dual identities--proud to be Basque and proud to be American. 

Multiple steps of this proposal:
This significant undertaking would have multiple steps, but the first (step 1) is to find out if we want to do something like this.  Sure there are counter-arguments; e.g., D.C. is too far and too expensive.  But using this same argument, however,  would disqualify most NABO Conventions.  Did you go to Buffalo, Wyoming for last year's Convention?  Distance and expense are relative.

It is important to note that the new club in Washington D.C. is not being committed to host this event at this point since they are just getting up and running.  If things go well for them, then possibility down the line they might be able to join the effort which would be welcomed.

Worse case scenario:  too many obstacles are encountered and the DC Convention is found to be unfeasible, so delegates will be informed of this by the Fall meeting (actually we should know by the end of the summer) allowing another organization to step up and host the Convention.

Best case scenario:  we spend an extended weekend in D.C. the summer of 2009 that might include the following:

• Regular or abbreviated NABO delegate meeting (we're in DC after all, with so much to see and so little time).
• Catered meal (not dependent on local people to organize)
• Performance (noted Basque country performer/s)
• One hour Friday or Monday ceremony with congressional delegations to say thank you
• Lodging in a central Convention Center/Hotel
• See the sights!
   

Your role:
NABO has never done anything like this, so first of all we need to get an indication of the degree of enthusiasm for this venture.  If you are excited about this possibility, then please get word to your NABO delegates so that they can let us know at the June meeting in Winnemucca.  The reason we are raising this issue now is because of the time necessary to put on something of this scale so we need NABO's approval to start the exploratory stage (step 2) to start knocking on DC doors to see what is possible.