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Administration Home
On these pages you will find information about the adminstration and management of the San Francisco Basque Culture Center, resources and information about the Center and more. Other information will be added from time to time and updates wiil be announced in our newsletter.
Letter from our President
June, 2010
Membro maiteak,
I wanted to take this opportunity to thank our outgoing directors, Stephanie Oroz and Idoya Urruty for their past three years of service on the Board of Directors and their work in the Youth and Euskara committees.
The last twelve months have been quite a year at the Center. The highlight for me was the emotional and moving tribute the center paid to Aita Martxel Tillous, a man who touched so many of our lives and who was loved by so many. Another very memorable event was the release of the Urazandi Gardeners of Identity book last fall, chronicling in detail the history of the San Francisco Bay Area Basque community, a project the center had been working on since 2001. I feel especially grateful to the author Pedro Oiarzabal, who not only did an outstanding job writing and researching the book, but also worked to get the book published by the Center for Basque Studies, so that it could be readily available for our members and the general public.
We’ve had an impressive string of stars performing at the center. We started this year the way we ended last year with two charged performances by our old friend Michel Etcheverry and his band. Kepa Junkera, the Basque Country’s most acclaimed artist, played for the first time at our Center and put on a memorable show with a couple of local musicians. The two biggest names in Bertzolaritza today, Maialen Lujanbio and Andoni Egana, performed at the Center with our local bertsolaris, paying tribute to Xalbador and Mattin, and shortly there after legendary folk singers Pantxoa and Peio sung at the Center on Palm Sunday. This string will continue later this year with special appearances at the Center by soprano Amaya Arberas of Donostia and folk singer Erramun Martikorena of Baigorri. Also coming to the center next month will be the new Lehendakari, Patxi Lopez. The Basque Government continues to support the Basque Diaspora and has been especially generous in supporting the Center. Also, coming up later this year will be the release of the much anticipated BCC 25th anniversary book and DVD, which have been in the making for the past several years. They will be available at the August Euskal Etxeko Jaialdia.
As the economy began to recover this year the restaurant became a significant beneficiary and posted some of the strongest January and February sales it has ever seen in those traditionally slow months. The following months have been strong as well with increased banquet business during the week as well as on Sunday evenings. Flat food costs and cost cutting measures taken in 2009 continue to positively affect the restaurant’s bottom line and pricing that hasn’t changed since March of 2008 gives the restaurant an added competitive edge.
On behalf of the Board of Directors I want to thank all those members who take time to make our events and activities happen year in and year out.
Mil esker berriz eta izan untsa,
Philippe Acheritogaray
415-924-2151 - philippea@frk.com
Letter from our President
June, 2009
Membro maiteak,
I wanted to take this opportunity to thank our outgoing President, Isabelle Ocafrain Bushman, for her past six years of service on the board of directors, the past two as President. For me, the most memorable moment during that time, was the speech Isabelle delivered during the BCC Bizi Emankorra presentation to Aita Martxel Tillous, in February of 2008, and the subsequent applause of appreciation Aita received.
Mayi Etcheverry has served many years on the board and has and will continue to apply her creativity as curator of our display cabinets. Mil esker Mayi!
Also stepping down this year is a very distinguished director, Jean Leon Ocafrain, who was one of a handful who instigated the idea of building the center. Jean Leon has worked tirelessly over the past thirty years supporting the activities of the center and has served an astonishing nine terms and twenty-seven years on the board of directors, serving as President in 1988 and 1989. Aupa Jean Leon!
I also wanted to mention that although all industries have experienced significant reductions in their income during the financial crisis, the BCC Restaurant hasn’t missed a beat and continues to perform brilliantly in one of the most competitive businesses in the Bay Area, which is a testament to the staff and management - Zorionak eta segi hola!
Mil esker eta izan untsa,
Philippe Acheritogaray
415-924-2151 - philippea@frk.com
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