August 22, 2008, Anniversary of Radio San Miguel, By Jesús Ibarra, Finding appreciation and satisfaction, By Jean Yeager, New school year begins for talented students, By Roger Hind

Anniversary of Radio San Miguel
By Jesús Ibarra August 22, 2008 San Miguel de Allende

The local radio station XESQ Radio San Miguel celebrates its forty-seventh anniversary on July 26.

To celebrate the occasion, a homage to Don Manuel Zavala, known as PPKBZON, the late and beloved radio announcer and one of the founders of the radio station, takes place on Monday, August 25, at Teatro Ángela Peralta, with music, dances and songs.

The statue “PPKBZON” will be given to Lucha Maxwell, founder of the Centro de Crecimiento, as a recognition of her social labor.

XESQ Radio San Miguel was founded on July 26, 1961, by the former governor of Querétaro, Ramón Rodríguez Familiar. Don Manuel had been a collaborator since the very beginning, hosting the show “Siempre en Domingo” in which he presented zarzuela music and operettas.

Because the radio station only presented national news, Don Manuel started a program of local news on December 8, 1961 called “Sucesos sucedidos o que van a suceder” (Happenings, what happened or what will happen), which is still currently on the air, from Monday to Sunday, and has been continued after Don Manuel’s death on November 2, 2006, by his son Xavier Zavala. In 1970, the Zavala family bought the radio station, and moved it into Don Manuel’s house at Sollano 4, where it is still today, and changed its name to Radio San Miguel.

Don Manuel Zavala and Radio San Miguel have performed an invaluable social service through their 47 years, by helping people to find lost things or by communicating with relatives working in the United States through one of their most popular programs, “El Cartero del Aire” (The postman of the air). Every morning at 6:45am, Don Manuel before, and now his son, announce all the messages from sanmiguelenses working in the US for their relatives on ranches without postal service. “My father hoped that people saw the radio station as a place of their own, where they could attend in search of help or in even in search of advice on how to solve a certain problem,” said Xavier Zavala.

Zavala thinks that part of the success of Radio San Miguel has been its variety of programs such as Son Sabrosón, with Adolfo Rubio, featuring Cuban and Latin-American music, or a program of music from the seventies with Manuel Méndez, or Sancho Panza de Cabeza, with Yolanda Lacarieri, about books and literature.

Zavala announced that currently, Radio San Miguel can be listened to on the Internet at www.sqsanmiguel.com. “On Sundays, the rating of the radio station in San Miguel falls, but it is the opposite in the United States, where more people are listening to “Sucesos sucedidos o que van a suceder,” he said.

He said that he is also planning to widen the radio frequency to FM.

“The technology and modern times is forcing us to move to FM, since publicity and advertisers demands to be announced in FM; however, we would also remain in AM, since it has the magic of reaching the most distant corners, behind a hill, where there is not even cell phone reception. Leaving AM would mean leaving the social labor.”

Schedule

Monday, August 25
Parade, 7pm
Departing from Radio San Miguel
Sollano 4 to Teatro Ángela Peralta
With music, locos and mojigangas
Commemorative event, 7:30pm
Music with Tuna Provinciana
Biographical sketch, Don Manuel Zavala
Theater sketch by Grupo de Teatro Citlalli
Contemporary dance by Doris Van Bever
Recognition of Lucha Maxwell with the statue “PPKBZON”
Cumbia music with Chilo’s
Songs by the boy Jonathan Abraham Trejo and his father
Ballet Folklórico Casa de la Cultura
Maricahi
Teatro Ángela Peralta
Hernández Macías & Mesones

Tuesday, August 26,
Music and dance 7pm-9pm
Musical groups, locos, mojigangas
Jardín

Photo caption: Each April at graduation, students receive awards of free tuition and books for academic achievement and perfect attendance.

The San Miguel School of English seeks volunteer teachers interested in meeting new Mexican friends and helping their fellow sanmiguelenses. The school is a nonprofit agency offering six levels of English to Mexican residents ranging in age from 16 to 70. All teachers are volunteers who use a structured teaching system including excellent teachers’ guides provided by the school. It is not necessary to be an experienced teacher.

Well established now, the school began 56 years ago when Augusta Irving, a young teacher from Brooklyn, began teaching her neighbors who were eager to learn English. Those first classes met in her home. As more and more Mexican adults expressed their desire to learn English, Irving added classes and teachers.

In 1986, we began to use classrooms at the José Vasconcelos Bilingual School on Calzada del Obraje. Included among the thousands of former students are Jesús Ledesma, now principal of José Vasconcelos, and Pati Garcia, well known for assisting foreigners to obtain or renew their visas.

Each year 50 students receive scholarships based on perfect attendance, academic achievement and need. The school year begins at the end of August with approximately 250 students and finishes at the end of April, but teachers need not commit to the entire school year. Full-time teachers, co-teachers for one class, short-term teachers and substitutes are all welcome. The sense of giving back to the community and the appreciation of grateful students is a fulfilling reward for donating your time and talent. One anecdote that highlights the dedication of the students is this story of how, during the flood in September 1986, students were so motivated to attend class that they placed large stones on the flooded bridge over the arroyo in order to cross to the school.

For more information or an appointment to visit the school, call Carole Whitney at 152-3050 or Jean Yeager at 152-0916.

New school year begins for talented students
By Roger Hind

Mujeres en Cambio luncheon
Thu, Aug 28, 2–4pm
The Party Pavilion at Patsy’s Place
Cars depart at 1:15pm, from Calle Cardo, near St. Paul’s Church
220 pesos, Casa de Papel

Upcoming events

Oct 2, Luncheon at Hacienda de las Flores

Oct 30, Day of the Dead afternoon tea at Instituto Allende

Every two months over 150 students receiving scholarships from Mujeres en Cambio journey from the campo to bring us their grades and to collect their scholarship money. The students come in two shifts over two days. With a new school year beginning we had more than the usual hoops for the students to jump through: forms to fill in, photos to be taken, grades to be checked, graduations to be noted.

Each time I observe this process I can’t help but marvel at the patience, good nature and shy gratitude shown by these amazing young women. They travel in from all over the San Miguel municipality and line up patiently to receive the financial help that makes it possible for them to remain in and excel at school.

This time we had two extra processes for the students to complete. Mirl Gratton from the Lions Club gave eye tests to each student and had a stock of glasses ready and waiting. On day one none of the students needed glasses but some of the mothers did!

A rather more exciting opportunity awaited at the end of the process. A very generous supporter of Mujeres en Cambio, Jan Fromm, brought three suitcases full of new young women’s clothes with her on a recent trip to San Miguel. We laid out the clothes on a table and each student was able to select a beautiful garment. It was nice to see them receive something personal. We know that the money we give them often goes to support their families so they can be spared to attend school.

We were very excited when one of our graduates proudly showed us an award for topping her school. Another highlight was when we learned that one of our graduates had been accepted for midwifery training at CASA. These young women are visible proof that a difference can be made in their lives.

We rely on the generosity of our supporters to raise the US$75,000 needed each year to operate our program. One of the ways we raise funds is by holding monthly events. Our next fundraiser will be on August 28 when Patsy Dubois will be hosting us at her beautiful country property near Atotonilco. Patsy will serve chicken lasagna with squash blossoms and pesto, accompanied by mesquite grilled vegetables and a salad. Desserts will be prepared by Mujeres en Cambio members and Mexican coffee will also be served. There will be a cash bar with soft drinks, beer, wine and margaritas.

We are deeply grateful to Patsy who is repeating her incredible generosity of last year by donating 100 percent of ticket sales and bar takings to the Mujeres en Cambio scholarship fund.

Come along, enjoy great company (men and women both welcome!) and beautiful surroundings, and learn more about our activities.

Tickets for the lunch are 220 pesos and are on sale now at Casa de Papel, Mesones 57A (the China Palace Building). Please note that entry to the lunch is by advance purchase ticket ONLY. There are only 100 tickets and they always sell out quickly. Remember, no tickets will be sold on the day.

We will be carpooling to and from Patsy’s Place. Those needing a ride should be at Calle Cardo, near St Paul’s church, at 1:10pm on August 28. Those offering a ride should drive past between 1:15 and 1:25pm to pick up passengers. Directions to Patsy’s Place are printed on the back of the tickets and you may also ask for a map when you purchase your ticket.

If you require more information please visit our web site, www.mujeresencambio.com , or call Roger on 154 6552 (note that no reservations can be taken). Take a sneak peak at why this trip to Patsy’s Place will be a very special experience by visiting www.patsydubois.com.