.483&b INFORMATION CENTER SPERANTO LEAGUE for NORTH AMERICA X Nl EWSLETTER August, 1968 REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS OF E.L.N.A. COVINA, CALIF. JULY 11-14, CONGRESS 1968 With 164 advance registrations and a total of 221 people participating, the Congress of the Esperanto League for North America (E.L.N.A.) which met in Covina, Calif., July 11-14 was the largest and most successful in the history of the movement. Fourteen states and five foreign countries were represented. Congress headquarters were at the El Dorado Motor Inn, where delegate registration began on Thursday afternoon, July 11, while the E.L.N.A. Execu- tive Board held the first of several meetings. CONGRESS On Friday the Congress was opened by W. Nelson Campbell, presi- COMMITTEES dent of the San Gabriel Valley Esperanto Society, who welcomed the delegates. He turned the meeting over to E.L.N,A. President Francis E. Helmuth, who appointed the following Congress Committees: Ballots - Dr. B. J. Balcar, Lucille Harmon, Germaine Chomette, Anne Whitte- ker; Finance - Roy Holland.,. William Shanks, Dorothy Jones; Reports - William Schulze, Elwyn Pollock, John Lewine; Proceedings - Bonnie Helmuth, Anne Whitteker, Bruce Landon; Resolutions - William Harmon, Mark Starr, Peg Barkley, Margot Gerson, Dorothy Holland. Frank Lanzone, president of the San Francisco Esperanto Regional Or- ganization (S.F.E.R.O.), announced that, following the World Congress in Portland in 1972, S.F.E.R.O. proposed to play host to the post-Congress session. The Esperanto Information Center in New York was reported on by its chairman, Mark Starr. (See P. 4 for details.) Ghizela Harabagui of Roumania presented to E.L.N.A. an Esperanto flag in honor of her brother, Henrico. PUBLICITY Leslie Green, chairman of the Local Congress Committee, reported that seven advance stories on the meetings had appeared in the local press with two to come, and that there had been two T.V. interviews. The Covina public library had a display of Esperanto books. The Covina Cham- ber of Commerce had issued its brochure in the international language; and the local high school, where the Friday afternoon and Saturday meetings were held, bore a giant illuminated banner, "Welcome Esperanto Convention." A.A.T.E. The American Association of Teachers of Esperanto (A.A.T.E.), ac- cording to its secretary, Dorothy Holland, had 63 members, 17 of whom had joined during the year. Affiliated state associations had been form- ed in Oregon and southern California. The A.A.T.E.-E.L.N.A. proficiency exam- inations which she administers had been taken by 26 candidates for elementary certificates, of whom 18 had passed, 8 with distinction, and by 5 advanced candidates, all of whom had passed. SEE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD APPENDIX, AUG. 2 - CONGRESSMAN HALPERN ON ESPERANTO -2- NL 8/68 ARCHIVES Dr. B. J. Balcar reported on the Esperanto archives and his func- tion as archivist. Donald Parrish, chief U.E.A. delegate in the United States, said that he had prepared a 12-page list of Esperanto documents from which U.E.A., the Esperanto museum in Vienna and Dr. Balcar could choose. A seminar directed by Duncan Charters followed this session. Meanwhile, children and teen-agers had been packed off to Disneyland after lunch and they were joined for the evening by the grownups. Those whose high brows or flat feet kept them from this expedition could watch the Esper- anto film "Angoroj." WORKSHOPS On Saturday, workshops on Esperanto in elementary schools (Doris Vallon), high schools and colleges (Duncan Charters) and adult groups (Cathie Schulze) were preceded by a meeting to which the public and especially teachers had been invited. Here John Lewine, president of the New York Society, spoke on "What Is Esperanto?" Diplomas earned by passing profi- ciency tests were presented to members of local classes. Between sessions ladies of the San Gabriel Valley Society served lunch in the school cafeteria. The A.A.T.E. had a brief business meeting before the afternoon session. MEMBER- (See P. 6 for statistics.) Armin Doneis, membership chairman, re- SHIP ported that E.L.N.A. may suffer financially unless there is an in- flux of new members larqe enouqh to overcome a reduction in averaae per-member dues payments arising from (11 an increase in the over-62 category at half the basic rate; (b) the recent provision that new members joining after July 15 may pay half-rates and (c) the death of generous pioneer members. In the course of the year this one-man committee sent out some 2200 let- ters and cards at a cost of $291.20, excluding labor. Many of these were re- minders about dues payments - a task that would be reduced if members paid promptly without arm-twisting reminders. Some were invitations to join E.L.N.A. directed to people who had written the secretary for information. (Following an article in Modern Maturity, 700 inquiries were followed up, resulting in 50 new members.) Names of prospective or new members are sent to local soci- eties for their further attention, and in turn individuals are told about Es- peranto organizations and members in their localities. Mr. Doneis pleads for better communication from local societies and members. U.E.A. CONGRESS In preparation for the Portland Congress of the Universala PORTLAND, 1972 Esperanto-Asocio four years hence, James Deer, chairman of the provisional Local Congress Committee, reported that committees on information, finance and hospitality were working. Immediate tasks are: (i) preparation of informative articles for the American and Es- peranto presses and (2) increasing the number and improving the facility of Esperanto users in the Portland area. The Hilton Hotel will house most of the delegates; its main ballroom will seat 2200 for meetings and 1500 for dining. Three other hotels are within walking distance of the Hilton. One problem will be to find housing accommodations for visitors from countries which lim- it the amount of money to be taken abroad or which have unfavorable rates of exchange. The use of college dormitories is being looked into. The Chamber of Commerce and local merchant association have been most helpful. The Port- land Society will welcome assistance and suggestions from any source. (continued on Page 6) -3- NL 8/68 POPULAR PAMPHLET PLANNED ON NEED FOR WORLD LANGUAGE A pamphlet stressing the need for an internationally acceptable language and assessing the qualifications of Esperanto will be available within a few months, according to present plans. It is to be written by Dr. Mario Pei, professor of Romance Philology at Columbia University, and produced by the Public Affairs Committee, the most successful publisher and distributor of pamphlets of social significance. P.A.C. pamphlets are well edited, attrac- tively illustrated and reasonable in price. (A 28-page pamphlet sells for 25 cents.) The pamphlet would survey the problem of world communication, demonstrate the need for a world language to supplement people's own native tongues, dis- cuss the drawbacks of English and other national languages, and describe Es- peranto as the most logical current contender for the role of international language. Esperanto grammar and word-building vocabulary would be explained, with a sample of English and Esperanto in parallel translation. Dr. Pei's views on Esperanto as expressed in his latest book, "What's in a Word," were quoted in the June Newsletter. E.L.N.A. is required to underwrite the cost of 25,000 copies, which then become its property for sale and distribution. The cost of these at 11 cents each would be $2750. P.A.C. itself has a list of 10,000 subscribers, which as- sures a wide initial audience. "So great was the enthusiasm aroused by this project that the $2750 was in hand or promised within a few weeks,", said E.I.C. chairman Mark Starr, who conducted the negotiations. E.L.N.A. was authorized at the Covina Congress to backstop the project financially if required, but this was not found nec- essary. An initial $1000 boost came from a philanthropist who likes to make grants for specific projects rather than give to organizations as such. -o- COVINA MAYOR AND PRINCIPAL ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT ESPERANTO At the Congress banquet, speakers included Frank Haven, the mayor of Cov- ina, and Lane B. Teaney, principal of the Tri-Community Schools for Adults. Mayor Haven said that he could "see three avenues for the application of Esper- anto"- for diplomats and others in foreign service, for senior citizens in de- veloping new interests and contacts, and for cooperation between "sister cities" such as several West Coast groups maintain with Japanese cities in which school children and adults exchange correspondence. Mr. Teaney said, "I really believe that Esperanto will encourage under- standing among the peoples of the world, and I would like to see it taught to school children everywhere so that the common people in the various countries could communicate with one another. I wish it Godspeed." Mr. Teaney made Covina high school facilities available for Congress use, which greatly facil- itated the demonstrations of teaching methods in the Saturday workshops, and he has encouraged the introduction of Esperanto into the local schools. An Esperanto book, "How to Live to Be a Hundred," was presented to Donald Parrish, who has 20 years left to test the advice. As U.E.A. chief delegate from the United States for the past 13 years, Parrish has collected and trans- mitted $56,000 to the world organization. -4- NL 8/68 The Reverend Alexander Snyman of the Seventh Day Adventist church, who conducted a brief service on Sunday morning, also addressed the closing ses- sion of the Congress. "The language barrier," he said, "has done more to di- vide the world than any other one thing." Born of Dutch parents in North Afri- ca, his first African language was Zulu. in Africa where a thousand languages are used, he pointed out, a traveler on dirt roads could pass through a new language area every hour. -o- REPORT OF ESPERANTO INFORMATION CENTER information in various forms is dispensed by the Esperanto Information Center in New York, Chairman Mark Starr reported at Covina. Supplying reprints of timely articles from books and periodicals is one way, and four new reprints were on display at Covina - The Encyclopedia Britannica's section on Esperanto by Marjorie Boultgn; a description of Esperanto teaching in elementary schools by Doris Vallon from a California teachers' journal; an article in Quinto Lingo by Eskil Svane with Esperanto versions of poems from various languages; a news item that Esperanto would be the only "other" language at a Boy Scout Jamboree in England. All these have been much in demand by local Esperanto leaders. Radio and TV programs and magazine articles bring requests that must be quickly handled in addition to normal mail inquiries. (Immediately after John Lewine's appearance in the Barry Farber radio program, E.I.C. received over 200 letters and countless phone calls. An article in Modern Maturity giving the Meadville, Pa., address of E.L.N.A. Secretary Conrad Fisher brought him more than 700 queries from senior citizens.) People who answer ads placed in the Saturday Review by Glen Turner of the Middleton, Wis., Esperanto library are later circularized by E.I.C. "One of our jobs," said Mr. Starr, "is to make contact or nurse contacts along outside the Esperanto movement, largely in journalist, literary, gov- ernment, labor and education circles. Sometimes these bring quick fruit - an off-the-cuff letter to a trade union official with some knowledge of Africa brought an immediate $50 contribution for the Zamenhof eye clinic. Sometimes it takes longer— the decision of the International Confederation of Trade Unions to publish a pamphlet in Esperanto was the result of long, patient pressure. Sometimes the fruit is just little green apples or none at all." The United Nations is an important point of outside contact. Margot Ger- son, E.I.C. executive secretary, and Chairman Starr are the designated repre- sentatives of the U.E.A., the world Esperanto organization. They also repre- sent E.L.N.A. at the U.S. Mission to the U.N. E.L.N.A.'s 8-page Newsletter goes to all E.L.N.A. members six times a year. It is one of E.I.C.'s most useful mailing pieces, about 500 copies being used for this purpose. Helen Starr is editor, and mailing is done by the Starrs and the Futrans. John Futran has kept E.I.C.'s finances and membership records in order for four years, and his retirement is greatly regretted. -o- Plena Ilustrita Vortaro: 48 pledges to buy this new Esperanto dictionary were transmitted by E.I.C. Many other pledges went direct to the Paris office of S.A.T. -5- NL 8/68 IMPORTANT RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED Official Standing Given West Coast information Center The West Coast Esperanto Information Center of Hillsborough, Calif., was made an official agency of E.L.N.A. What began as a modest attempt on the part of William and Cathie Schulze to furnish Esperanto information, advice and teaching materials in northern California has grown into an information center specializing in education and public relations on a national scale, which last year sent out more than 5,000 pieces of mail. The Schulzes, work- ing from their home and paying expenses out of their own pockets ($780 last year), have worked in close conjunction with E.L.N.A. and the Esperanto In- formation Center in New York. In giving the W.C.E.I.C. official standing as an arm of E.L.N.A., the Congress expressed deep appreciation to this dedicated pair of "Cathie and Bill." _r - ■.;■■,•'■ '■■■■ . ■ ■ ■ ■......■ ■'■■■ ■: ■' ;. ■ _6_ NL 8/68 TEXTBOOKS The Textbook Committee, John Lewine reported, had examined sev- eral manuscripts but found them lacking in important respects. The committee members are willing to consider other manuscripts but pin their hopes on the long-delayed textbook which Duncan Charters of Indiana University is preparing. A book by Ivy Kellerman Reed was reported to be in the print- er's hands but there was no information on its progress. LIBRARIES William Harmon reported for the Resolutions Committee. (See P. 5.) Bonnie Helmuth, who was commissioned last year to investigate Esperanto books in libraries, reported that she had sent questionnaires to 102 California libraries, of the 64 institutions responding, 54 had some textbooks, but only 22 had dictionaries, only 9 had Esperanto fiction, and 11 had no Esperanto books at all. To assist in a campaign to introduce li- braries to Esperanto, a committee was appointed, including Roan Stone, Dorothy -TnnOR - :T*r\ KTeumann. Ed Baker and Mary Murray. -7- NL 8/68 Pooh to Youi "Winnie the Pooh" may soon be available in the international language. E.P.Dutton & Co. are circularizing lists of Esperanto delegates all over the world to ascertain how strong is the demand for this childhood classic by A.A.Milne. Translation is by the late Ivy K. Reed and Humphrey Tonkin. Retail price will be $3.95 to $4.50, depending on the size of the market for it. Obviously no market = no book. Write to Margot Gerson, Esperanto Book Service, (Room 822), 156 Fifth Ave., New York 10010, indicating the number of copies you would buy. -o- LAURELS TO LOCAL COMMITTEE The Local Congress Committee came in for a great deal of praise for the success of the largest and most enthusiastic conference E.L.N.A. has ever held. Pedestrians are a rarity in Covina and unwary motorists sucked up into free- way traffic are likely to find themselves in the middle of next week before a turn-off turns up; nevertheless, transportation to and from the three meet- ing places functioned smoothly. Food was ever-plentiful and ever-delicious, and accommodations were available even for the inevitable late-comers. Entertainment was of a high quality, beginning with the program of songs, dances, pantomime and skits put on by youthful enthusiasts, including Alex Denes, Aline and Shari Green, Denise Brayton, Beckie Rawlings, Susan, Barbara and Janet Glenny, and Glen Sharwood. Two talented square dance groups dem- onstrated American folk dances, and Corinne Goddard led Esperanto crowd sing- ing. The trips to Disneyland and Ports o' Call, while arranged primarily for the youthful element, were equally enjoyed by more sedate adults. Particularly noticeable was the large number of young adults who have been drawn into the local Esperanto movement through evening classes and who worked hard but happily to make the Congress a success. The Local Congress Committee.- Jeanne Falicki, Nelson Campbell, Paul Taylor, William Glenny, Elwyn Pollock and Cecelia Peterson and Chairman Leslie Green - richly deserve all the congratulations that were expressed - and a good long rest-up after- ward. Neatest trick of the week was the attractive little Congress booklet, complete with program, 40 Esperanto songs and list of delegates. -o- Where They Came From Although 14 states were represented by the 164 delegates at the Congress, 40 per cent of these live within an 80 mile circle in that sprawling complex of communities of which Los Angeles is the center. A large contingent came from the San Francisco Bay area, which is as far from Los Angeles as Cleve- land is from Philadelphia or Norfolk, Va. from New York. Only 27 came from other states - Oregon 5, New York 4, Texas and Illinois 3 each, Arkansas, Florida and Utah 2 each, with one apiece from Colorado, Ind- iana, Ohio, Nevada, New Mexico and Pennsylvania. Foreign countries represent- ed included Denmark, Finland, Cuba, Hungary and Roumania. -8- NL 8/68 An Esperanto conference for the eastern and central states is planned for October 11-12 at Meadville, Pa. Program items include "Esperanto: Myth and Fact," reports on the U.E.A. Congress at Madrid, and discussion of organizing and teaching methods. in the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area, get in touch with Mark Starr at E.I.C. or ST 4-5313 about transportation and program details. Others, write Conrad Fisher, Rt. 1, Meadville, Pa. 16335. -o- Bruce Landon, 16, of Great Neck, N.Y., who attended the Covina Congress, said, "No one can tell me now that Esperanto is O.K. for letters or short Q-and-A conversations but only an ethnic language will do for real communi- cation. The business meetings and long conversations in Esperanto I was able to take part in showed that such a viewpoint is completely false." The New York Esperanto Club and E.I.C. raised money for Bruce's fare and Covina pro- vided hospitality as it did for other out-of-town youths at the Congress. -o- A teacher with academic qualifications to teach credit courses in Esper- anto in the 1969 summer session is wanted by North Adams State College in the Berkshire mountains of Massachusetts. Write Allan Boschen, chairman, of the Connecticut Valley Esperanto Society, 195 Partridge Rd., pittsfield, Mass. 01201. But step on it - the college catalog goes to press Sept. 15. -o- Apologies to Newsletter contributors whose news has been crowded out of this issue by convention reports. Amends will be made in the October issue. -o- More than $300 worth of books and materials were sold at the Covina Con- gress. Frank Lanzone of the Esperanto Book Service, San Carlos, was in charge of the display. The Esperanto Book Center in New York and the West Coast E.B.S. had a joint double-spread ad in the Congress booklet. -o- Greetings to the Congress came from Upton Sinclair through a letter written by his son David, and from Victor Reuther, international represent- ative of the United Automobile Workers. -o- Send $1.00 to Esperanto, Box 4162, Covina, Calif, for a copy of the Congress Booklet with program, list of delegates and 40 Esperanto songs. ^J^To information center fc&fh ESPERANTO LEAGUE ro« NORTH AMERICA %&f 156 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010 FIRST CLASS