Santa Clara Valley Chapter Mission and History

 

Mission Statement

The Santa Clara Valley Chapter of AMIGOS de las Americas inspires young people to the highest ideals of cultural understanding, leadership and social justice by training them to provide direct volunteer service in Latin America and their communities for improved health care and environmental quality.

 

History and Organization

The International Office, located in Houston, Texas, has a professional staff that develops, coordinates and administers the program.  AMIGOS is governed by a Board of directors with representation from the Chapters.  Incorporated in 1985, the Santa Clara Valley Chapter of AMIGOS is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors.  Since that time, our chapter has fielded over 550 volunteers.

 

Details

In 1982-84 a training group of Amigos was started by Milt and Rosie Camp.  In 1983 they fielded nine volunteers, including Milt, to the Dominican Republic.  They were assisted by Matt Lozano, a student at Santa Clara University, who had been a Route Leader (Project Supervisor) in Costa Rica.  They sent six volunteers to the field the second year.

 

In the summer of 1984, Allan Wilmunder, an Amigo parent and active member of the Peninsula Chapter, wanted to start a chapter in the South Bay.  Mr. Wilmunder served on the International Board at the time and was instrumental in starting several chapters.  He contacted Gladys Bernyk and Lavis Mundell who were parents of former Amigo Volunteers in the Peninsula Chapter, to ask for their help in starting a new chapter.  He also contacted former Peace Corps people through their alumni association.  The group gathered several times during the summer and decided to form a chapter at the University of Santa Clara where the training group had met.  The University offered enthusiastic support, including facilities a no cost and specific support from the Latin American Studies Department.

 

Donald Odermann, an ex-Peace Corps volunteer in Colombia, was elected President.  VP-Training Director was Evelyn La Torre, also an ex-Peace Corps volunteer.  Evelyn was assisted by Joan Mundell (VP).  Joan was a nurse and arranged for all the shot clinics and medical training.  Dr. Alex Bernyk was the Medical Director.  The secretary was Sandy Sepula, Peace Corps veteran.  The Treasurer was Mike McCabe, an accountant friend of Don Odermann, with assistance from Pam White, his administrative assistance.  Luisa Odermann served as Head Language Teacher.  Lavis Mundell was the Fundraising Chairman.  Gladys Bernyk was the Recruiting Director.  Allan Wilmunder and his wife served as advisors to the Chapter.  By the middle of the first year,  Sandy resigned as Secretary and Neal Cabrinha, parent of an Amigo volunteer, served in that capacity.  Neal also drew up the Articles of Incorporation for the “Silicon Valley Chapter” in June of 1985.  They were ratified and signed by the Director/Chapter Members:  Donald Odermann, Allan Wilmunder, Joan Mundell, Virginia Ward, Lavis Mundell, Gladys Bernyk, Neal Cabrinha, and Alex Bernyk.

 

In 1984-85 the Silicon Valley Chapter trained and fielded 13 Amigo Volunteers.  The first class of Amigo Volunteers included Celdie Sencion, who continued as an Amigo volunteer and staff member for several years and became a member of the staff in International Office in Houston.  Another Amigo Volunteer from the first class was Amanda Alvarado who was honored as National Amigo Volunteer of the Year.  The Wilmunder’s assistance also included their Amigo Volunteer daughter, Allison, who was from the Peninsula Chapter and was very helpful in executing the training.  There is some contention concerning how many volunteers were fielded the next five years, but the best estimate is 21 volunteers in 85-86, 22 in 86-87, 16 in 87-88 and 12 in 88-89.  The 88-89 class although small in numbers, included Julie Lewis, Kerry Dudman, Michelle Schulein and Barbara Honig.  These young people and their parents have played a major role in the subsequent history of the Chapter, providing Training Directors and Assistants and extraordinary Board leadership.  This is just a glimpse of  the Chapter in its beginning stages. 

 

The Chapter has grown in number of volunteers and stature.  To date the Chapter has fielded over 550 volunteers. The Chapter was awarded Chapter of the Year in 1990 and 1992.  As of today, our board comprises of Veteran AMIGOS Volunteers and veteran parents of children who have been volunteers and some of which have worked their way up the leadership ladder.  These parents have supported and have remained in various positions on the board lending their experience and expertise and giving the board the stable base it has today.

 

In June of 1993 the Articles of Incorporation were amended to change the name of the Chapter to AMIGOS de las Americas of Santa Clara Valley, Inc.

 

Presidents / Chapter Leaders of the Chapter:

1984-86	Don Odermann	1986-88	Lavis Mundell
1988-91	Gina Ward	1991-92	Loreen Schulein
1992-94	Paula Lewis	1994-95	Tom Myers
1995-96	Joanne Walsh Lupe O’Malley	1996-97	Joanne Walsh
1997-2000	Gladys Bernyk	2000-2003	Kathy Cole
2003-2006	Carol Barmeier Margaret Laliberté	2006-Present	Michael Chang

 

Training Directors:

1984-85	Evelyn La Torre	1985-87	Gina Ward
1987-88	Gina Ward Janet Sanchez	1988-90	Barbara Honig
1990-92	Michelle Schulein	1992-93	Paul Myers
1993-94	Steve Freeman, replaced by Barbara Honig & Kerry Dudman	1994-95	Patricia Means
1995-96	Leighann Peters	1997-99	Kate Walsh
1999-2000	Jennifer Sylvester	2000-2002	Pam Egerton
2002-2004	Adrienne Clark	2004-Present	Renée Fagot

 

All training directors have been assisted formally and informally by many Veteran AMIGOS Volunteers, an invaluable resource

 

Revised 8/7/2007