The passing of Norman Brown, former Dean and Director of the Minnesota Extension Service

A note received today from Rob Scarlett, vice president of Minnesota-Uruguay Partners, in response to a notice circulated by Partners of the Americas president Steve Vetter about the passing of Norman Brown...

The news of Norm Brown's passing is very sad news; but I very much appreciate receiving this notice and will send condolences to his surviving family members. I attribute to Norm my current involvement in Partners. In 1983, while he was Dean of the Extension Service at the University of Minnesota, Norm hired me to design and manage the tri-lingual Fellowship in International Development that was funded by the Kellogg Foundation. It was an exciting two-year undertaking and a rich learning experience, as well.

Norm's leadership and compassion will be missed in many corners of the world, I am sure.
Best regards to Norm's many friends - up and down the Western Hemisphere!
Rob
Robert H. Scarlett, Vice PresidentBoard of DirectorsMinnesota-Uruguay Partners of the Americas

Best Twin Cities day trip destinations in Minnesota, Wisconsin

LARK Toys' amazing carousel near Wabasha, Minn., adds magic and whimsy to the Great River Road.

Get help planning the top Twin Cities day trips
If there were a fairy godmother to - "Poof!" - make Minnesota weekend getaways or week-long vacations as easy as Cinderella's dress, I'd volunteer for the post. Really. Give me a sparkly wand and make it official.

Suncrest pizza farm near Alma, Wis.

I could probably find a wand at Rebecca's in Nisswa, one funky shop with everything from Princess Way street signs to lifesize cutouts of the latest heartthrobs.

Few things make me as happy as helping people find places they'll love in this wonderfully varied state of Minnesota. You could spin the car in any direction and find totally different terrain and places well worth a few hours on the road.

Ride the Empire Builder train.

I've collected 24 of my favorite trips, from single towns to several towns, into the new Minnesota guidebook "Day Trips from the Twin Cities: Getaway Ideas for the Local Traveler." Read about where to find:

• Beautiful bluffs and soaring eagles along the Great River Road. 

St. Cloud's Clemens Garden.

• A toy store that could rival Santa's workshop and Christmas morning for nostalgic childhood joy. 
• A pioneer ghost town and Minnesota's coolest cave tours in the Root River Valley.
• One of the nation's oldest family-run breweries, an idyllic German downtown and fascinating tales from the US Dakota War of 1862 in New Ulm.
• A sweet boutique hotel, amazing apples, comical scarecrows and crazy finds such as bacon-flavored soda pop along the Minnesota River Valley.

Rebecca's is among Nisswa's great shops.

• One of the state's coldest swimming holes at St. Cloud's Quarry Park and the inspiring Clemens and Munsinger Gardens along the Mississippi.

• Legends of Charles Lindbergh, a quirky fishing museum and classic downtown in Little Falls.
• Bike trails that whirl through the scenic Chippewa River Valley across the border in Wisconsin. 
• Amazing canoe rides through the Dalles of the St. Croix River. 
• World-class Nordic ski trails near Cable, Wis.
• Girls' getaways with great spas and shopping near Nisswa.

Artsy breakfast at Duluth's Solglimt B&B.

Of course there's more, but I don't want to give it all away.

You can email me to order a copy by mail for $16 (includes taxes & shipping) or head to your favorite bookstore. Buy it online through independent booksellers or the almighty Amazon. If you enjoy it, please leave a review. If you have suggestions for upcoming editions, let me know.

Happy travels!

Emma Krumbee's Scarecrow contest & festival, Belle Plaine.

Rare film footage of Uruguay in the early 1900s

Gary Kuhn, our chapter's leading historian, has passed along these links to rare film footage of Uruguay in the first half of the 20th Century. Amazing stuff. Very much worth a look!

Montevideo in the early 1900s

A film made by the US Government about Uruguay in the 1940s

Los talleres de AFE en Peñarol en viejos tiempos...

Graf Spee

Desfile del Dia de la Independencia en Uruguay (1944), noticiero cinematográfico de USA

Escuela, Liceo y Universidad en el Uruguay de 1943 (documental USA)

Another successful asado!

From all accounts, Saturday's asado/Uruguay Independence Day celebration was a big success. We had more than 50 people attending, with many familiar faces and new ones too. Three of the Minnesota's Youth Ambassadors shared anecdotes and observations from their trip this summer to Belize. Members and guests contributed generously toward the costs of some excellent food and wine, which is important to sustaining the quality and vitality of these events. Many, many thanks to Marcos Villanueva, Gerard Lagos, Dave Kremer, Sue von Bank, Patrick Moore and all the others who did so much to make things come off so very well despite the threat of rain (which never materialized, in the end, thankfully). We appreciate the contributions from all who attended and look forward to next year!

Join us Aug 25 for soccer and asado!

Please join us for what's become a highlight of summer for Minnesota-Uruguay Partners, the annual asado (bbq) before a Minnesota NSC Stars soccer match. 

Members, friends and volunteers from near and far are gathering on Saturday, August 25 (Uruguay's Independence Day) to celebrate the strong and productive ties of friendship that Minnesota and Uruguay share. See a flyer attached, designed by chapter member Kati Mae Duesler.

The fire starts at 4:30 pm, with grass-fed beef, local sausages, wines from Uruguay and more. At 7:30 pm, the Stars of Minnesota will be playing FC Edmonton (discount tickets available). A goodwill offering for the food will be appreciated.

To Recap:

What: Minnesota-Uruguay Partners Asado (BBQ)

When: Saturday, August 25, 4:30 pm

Where: National Sports Center, 1700 105th Avenue, Blaine, Minnesota 55449

RSVP to erikbrand10@gmail.com or call 612-242-1863 (mobile) with any questions. 

Look for Uruguay's flag at the north side of the National Sports Center Stadium.

Minnesota-Uruguay Partners Wins Perpich Award

We were delighted to learn this week that Minnesota-Uruguay Partners has been presented with the “The Jerry Perpich Youth Award” for 2012.

The award is named in honor of Iowa native and the former Board Chair of Partners of the Americas for his longtime support to the chapters that recruit and develop leadership skills of young people (under 30 years of age) and recognize their contributions to volunteer service.

Many thanks to board director David Kremer (pictured), who was instrumental compiling information about our activities for the award review committee, and of course to the many young people and volunteers who make Minnesota-Uruguay Partners so vibrant and active.

Minnesota Students Return from Youth Ambassador Trip

Mandy Mattke has returned to Minnesota from Belize with her group of Youth Ambassadors, and shared this video, which aired on Plus TV Belize. Welcome back all! More details to follow.