Category Archives: News

Arvids Strals passed away March 9^that 89 years of age at Heartland nursing home in Three Rivers, MI. Arvids’ remains were cremated and a memorial service will be held June 9^th, 2013 at 11:00 AM at his home 10882 Vidzeme Rd., Three Rivers, MI.

Donations should be made to Garezers summer programs.

Arvids was born near Aizpute, Latvia. He spent his childhood years in the countryside and working the family farm. He went to agricultural school until World War II, then was conscripted into service and fought with the Latvian Legion. With the Soviet occupation of Latvia, Arvids had to flee the country. He traveled through Germany’s DP camps and finally to England. In England he had a son Andrew. From there, with only the shirt on his back, he chose to forge a life in North America, immigrating to Canada. There he joined his childhood girlfriend Ausma and they married in 1952. They immigrated to America, settled in Chicago and raised three children – Rita, Janis and Valdis. They were married for 50 years until Ausma’s passing in 2003.

Arvids worked as a machinist in Chicago to provide for his family. He and Ausma retired to their home near Garezers and remained active with the Latvian community until their final days. He was an avid tennis player and played long into his golden years. Arvids was an acclaimed artist; his passion was his art and he produced many sculptures and paintings in his lifetime. Arvids struggled with issues of depression for many years, but in his final years he found peace and rest and died peacefully.

 

On Saturday, May 4 Garezers held its annual Shareholders’ meeting and 2013. season opening.

This year Andris Lizenbergs will be leaving the Garezers Board of Directors, and Markus Apelis was unanimously elected in his place. Many thanks to Andris for his time, and welcome Markus!

Garezers is grateful to Margers Caune, who served on the Auditing Committee for several years. Former Garezers Exec. Director Peteris Burgelis was unanimously elected in his place.

1st row from the left: Karlis Antons (treasurer), Imants Ejups (president), Anda Vizulis, Karlis Vizulis, Arnolds Ozols (chairman)
2nd row: Peteris Skrodelis, Martins Putelis, Vilnis Gertners, Franz Bauer, Margers Caune (ret. audit. comm.)
3rd row: Peteris Burgelis (aud. comm.), Lauris Rožkalns (aud. comm.), Markus Apelis (effective Sept. 2013), Modris Vilemsons (aud. comm.), Mārtiņš Stāks (secretary)

Let’s welcome our new Facilities Manager Guntars Rusmanis and our new GBD Directors Krista Cickovskis and Ieva Zemite.

Guntars, his wife Ilena and their dogs Sasha and Kiaja have beeng living in Louisville, KY for the past 10 years, but Guntars has already worked several summers at Garezers, taking on a wide range of projects, from construction to catering.

Krista has been coming to Garezers since she was little. After graduating GVV, she returned to work as a counselor at GBD and GBN, and with the theater program at GVV. This summer Krista will earn her Masters of Educational Studies in Cultural Studies.

Ieva Zemite lives in Latvia, and has worked for several summers as a teacher and counselor at GBN. She
enjoyed working with the kids so much that she changed her course of study and is now enrolled in graduate studies in Education at the University of Latvia. She also works at the Riga Waldorf School.

October is the month that many employers offer to set up matching donations. We invite you to find out whether your employer offers such a program. For example, if your employer uses United Way Matching Funds, you can choose Garezers to receive donations. THANK YOU!

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6

“Talka” Volunteer Work Day – meet at 8:30 at the Main Office

Oktoberfest – 6:00 PM at the Dining hall – sausages, sauerkraut, beer

Volunteers (and kids) – FREE, guests $10

 

Please join us for a golf tournament on Saturday, Sept. 1, 8:30 AM (shotgun start) at Pine View Golf Club. Participants need to sign up in advance, so that teams can be drawn on Friday night, Aug. 31. Please arrive on time!

This will be a “scramble” tournament. Players will be divided into categories based on their handicap or best results. Each team will draw an A, B, C and D player.

The fee to participate will be $50, which will include a golf cart and prizes for longest drive, closest ball, longest putt, etc. All proceeds will be donated to Garezers in the names of the winning team members.

To sign up, please send your information to Aldis Stripnieks: astripnieks@gmail.com
(ormob. 312.622.5494):

Name and tel. number
“Handicap” or 2 best scores in 2012

The students and staff of Garezers Latvian Summer High School have announced a campaign to urge NBC to change its long-standing policy of ignoring the teams from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania during Olympic opening ceremonies.

For more information, contact Artis Inka at olympics@garezers.org

Olympic Opening Ceremony

PRESS RELEASE
July 11, 2012

Contact: Zanda Vēvere or Artis Inka
olympics@garezers.org

For Immediate Release

The students and staff of Garezers Latvian Summer High School have announced a campaign to pressure NBC to change its long-standing policy of ignoring the teams from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania during Olympic opening ceremonies.

Many Baltic-Americans remember the opening ceremony of the 1992 Barcelona Games and how sad and frustrated we were. NBC chose to ignore the Baltic States just one short year after regaining independence after over fifty years of Soviet occupation. Coverage in following years was equally discouraging.

Therefore, the Gaŗezers Summer High School community is encouraging Balts and their friends in the United States, Canada and throughout the world to contact the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) and request complete opening ceremony coverage during the procession of national teams.

Further information can be found at:

http://www.facebook.com/BroadcastTheBalticStates
http://www.draugiem.lv/garezers-olimpiade/
http://www.garezers.org

Contact NBC:

E Mails:

nbcolympicsfeedback@nbcuni.com
nbcsportshelp@nbcuni.com
nbcuniversalviewerfeedback@nbcuni.com
Adam.Miller@nbcuni.com
john.kelley@nbcuni.com
Greg.Hughes@nbcuni.com
brian.steel@nbcuni.com

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/nbcolympics
http://www.facebook.com/NBCNewYork
http://www.facebook.com/nbcchicago

Contact form:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10285339/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28544273/ns/msnbc_tv-morning_joe/
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/29041920/ns/today-today_participate/t/email-today/#.T_y6iJEmXGg

Information about  your local station:

http://www.nbc.com/local-stations/

New York
tips@nbcnewyork.com
http://www.nbcnewyork.com/contact-us/

Chicago
Deboraho.Brown@nbcuni.com
larry.wert@nbcuni.com
http://www.nbcchicago.com/contact-us/

Send additions, suggestions and corrections to:  olympics@garezers.org

Sample Letter 1

Dear Sir/Madam:

Re: XXX Olympiad

I am asking for your help to insure that your coverage of the opening ceremony of the XXX Olympiad is complete and includes the participation of the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian teams in the procession of nations.

In twenty-one short years these parliamentary democracies have entered NATO, the European Union and enthusiastically returned to Europe and full membership in the community of sovereign, democratic nations.

Your assistance in insuring all-inclusive coverage of the many and diverse nations participating in the Opening Ceremonies would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Sample Letter 2

Dear Sir/Madam:

Re: Inclusive Coverage by NBC

Your assistance is kindly requested in helping to insure complete and all-inclusive coverage of the opening ceremony of the Olympics, with the participation of the teams from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in the Opening Ceremonies.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Sample Letter 3

Dear Sir/Madam:

Re:     Olympic coverage

NBC has a long-standing policy of ignoring teams from the Baltic States during Olympic opening ceremonies. Please change this practice and cover the participation of the teams from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Letter to NBC president

July 8, 2012

Stephen B. Burke
Chief Executive Officer
NBCUniversal
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10112

Dear Mr. Burke:

We, students and staff of the Gaŗezers Summer High School are turning to you with a sincere request. We are asking that you insure that the coverage of the opening Ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics is complete and includes the participation of the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian teams in the procession of nations.  We regretfully add, that this requires a change in NBC practice from previous years.

The Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania just looked back at twenty-one years since the January, 1991 events that resulted in the reestablishment of independence, after over fifty years of Soviet occupation.

On January 13th, of that year, in Vilnius, Lithuania fourteen Lithuanians were killed and hundreds wounded protecting the TV Tower from Soviet troops and tanks. Many Lithuanians pounded their fists on the sides of tanks in an effort to get them to stop. On January 20th in Riga, Latvia five civilians, including a television cameraman were killed as a result of an attack on the Interior Ministry building by Soviet infantry and Special Forces.

In twenty-one years these parliamentary democracies have entered NATO,the European Union and enthusiastically returned to Europe and full membership the community of sovereign, democratic nations.

Your assistance in insuring full and complete coverage of the Opening Ceremonies would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

students and staff of the Gaŗezers Summer High School.

What’s changing this year?

Garezers will be charging an entrance fee for Volleyball Weekend:

• $10 for adults, $5 for youth (16-21), kids under 16 free
• everyone will receive a wristband for the entire weekend
• volleyball team fees will be reduced

Will I need a parking permit?

• If you do not already have one, parking in Dzintari will be $20 for the weekend.

Why are these changes necessary?

Garezers’ Board and Administration would like to:

• keep an accurate count of attendance for the weekend
• give everyone the opportunity to help Garezers

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

 

On Saturday, May 12 Garezers held its 2012 season opening and annual shareholders meeting. After the meeting the shareholders, board members, staff and Garezers supporters were invited to stay for an informal lunch.

Garezers board members Karina Hazners, Janis Strautnieks and Toms Trautmanis will be leaving the board when their terms expire at the end of the summer season. Garezers is grateful for the time and hard work they have donated on behalf of Garezers.

The shareholders unanimously elected the three candidates for the vacant board positions – Karlis Antons, Karlis Lenss and Peteris Skrodelis, as well as Martins Staks, who was running for a second consecutive term. The new board members will officially take office at the first meeting following the summer season.

1st row from the left: Karlis Lenss, Franz Bauer, Anda Vizulis, Kārlis Vizulis, Imants Ejups
2nd row from the left: Gunars Kancs, Vilnis Gertners, Janis Strautnieks, Martins Putelis, Arnolds Ozols, Martins Staks
missing: Karina Hazners Andris Lizenbergs, Toms Trautmanis and newly elected board members Karlis Antons and Peteris Skrodelis