July 28, 2005
Cooper/Howard Hispanic/Latino Group
LaHacienda, Boonville
Present: Andy Melendez, Janie Houf and Art Schneider.
CHANGE: The group originally met at Los Primos, which was scheduled to be open July 28. The restaurant had a reservation for the group. When all arrived the restaurant was closed and a sign up that it was only open for lunch. A sign was left at the business directing Hispanic/Latino meeting members to La Hacienda.
ESL: Janie Houf reported that she has used all the ESL books except the two advanced and will be using them within the month.
Currently she has seven Latino and three Chinese students. The Latinos come on Monday ad Thursday and the Chinese are on Saturday at China Star.
Janie also contacted the high school because one of her students will be a high school student and she arranged to get textbooks to assist the student at the school. She also will tutor his brother who will be a sophomore.
Hispanic-Latino Employment in Cooper/Howard counties:
Darlene Kraus, Cooper County Extension Center office manager, contacted eight employers in the Boonville-Fayette area. It appears that there has been growth in employment of Hispanic/Latino immigrants in the area. The total are:
Fuqua 24 (all live in Marshall)
Caterpillar 5 (all reside in Boonville area)
Isle of Capri 2
Mo Pacific Lumber (1 on active duty returning in August)
Hufstutter Orchard (Information unavailable)
LaHacienda 10 (all males and live in Boonville in two houses)
Cooper County Memorial Hospital (Information unavailable)
Nordyne (two to five)
Los Primos (Information unavailable)
During the Festival of Lights in September it may be possible to meet some of the new residents.
International Festival With Y—Jennifer White. Jennifer did not attend. Art had cleared this date with her in early July. She will be contacted after the meeting. From the existing translator list we have several people who would contribute to the festival at the Y, depending on the time. Identified were: Chris Angelo who worked in Central America as a reporter; Raquel White for Puerto Rico; Jorge Vizcarralagos of Venezuela, a doctoral student at M. U.; Eduardo Crespi, Mexico; Alfred Jimenez of Costa Rico; Leonor Jurado of Ecuador. In addition, Rev. Jeff Martin studied for two years in Germany; Art has the name of a woman from Indonesia who recently moved to Boonville and earlier been asked about helping and was enthusiastic in doing so; and Verona McKinney of Zurich, Switzerland. It may also be possible though Janie’s Chinese ESL contacts to have China represented.
Festival of Lights Booth in September:
Because the September 29 Festival of Lights will feature cultural components, the group decided to rent a booth that night. Art mentioned he had some materials for making bracelets and necklaces. Andy knows of a puppet group and that is in Sedalia that can come and do a puppet show in Spanish. He said there would be costs for transportation and meals as the youth would be coming immediately after school and the festival of lights starts at 5:30 p.m. [Andy has confirmed Amigos Christos to be here and perform two puppet shows (Spanish & simultaneous English translation). Group will provide pizza at Immanuel Lutheran & Thrivient to pay mileage. ] Andy said he would talk with the Lutheran Church Thrivent Insurance people about paying for transportation. Art volunteered there should be sufficient funds in the Cooper Extension Center Hispanic/Latino account for pizzas.
Andy will check on the availability of the puppet group. If it were not available, then the crafts objects would be used.
Andy strongly suggested that Raquel White be at the event. She also has the booth. After further discussion concurrence that all Spanish translators should be invited so that when Spanish language visitors stop by a contact list can be developed for social and other programs.
Welcome Brochure:
Art submitted grant request for $200 to the City of Boonville local agency funds committee to pay for written translation of the 40-page booklet and also to assist in printing costs. The committee will make its recommendation to the Boonville City Council for action August 1.
Update on Jamie Thompson family: A card is being sent to Jamie and her family to let them know our thoughts and prayers are with them in this difficult time.
ESL in School:
Janie added this item to the agenda. She asked if anyone knew if anything was being done to assist teachers in understanding the differences between cultures. She suggested a need either exists or will exist. Currently the Boonville School does not have a certified ESL teacher, Janie noted.
While Janie is certified in ESL, she is not school licensed for ESL, which has different qualifications.
She suggested the schools be contacted about what kinds of education/in-services are being provided in working with different cultures and also whether alternatives to a classroom certified ESL teacher could be initiated, such as an after-school ESL experiences.
Meeting adjourned at 7:12 p.m.