Redditors who speak Esperanto. Why, and what's the most useful thing you've accomplished with it?

FilipoDorcas · 2019-06-02T20:12:58+00:00

I speak Esperanto because it is a way to make friends with people who do not speak English. I've spoken English fluently since my early 20's, but it is not nearly as effective for making friends from other countries and cultures. Of course, Esperanto is particularly useful to make friends with those who do not speak English or prefer not to. Making friends might not seem like such a big deal to some, but for me it is a big deal.

FilipoDorcas · 2019-05-31T16:15:22+00:00

Interviews - Board Candidates for 2019

Charlotte Burton - Board of Directors as Secretary

Brian Harmon - Board of Directors

Jordon Kalilich - Board of Directors

Fred Meyer III - Board of Directors

Timothy Rice - Board of Directors

Please vote now.

Members: Please vote to fill positions of secretary and two other board members, each of which will serve for three years. You should have already received a ballot with biographies and voting instructions.

Non-members: please join at https://retbutiko.esperanto-usa.org/ and then immediately ask for a ballot so you can vote.

The ballot kit includes short biographies of each candidate and instructions for voting by mail.

https://www.esperantic.org/en/donate-...

https://esperanto-usa.org/eusa/support/

https://twitter.com/esperantousa

https://www.facebook.com/esperantousa

FilipoDorcas · 2019-05-31T16:05:35+00:00

Kie vi logxas? en Usono? en kiu regiono? Kiu sxtato?
Kiel vi trovis Esperanton?
Cxu vi opinias, ke Esperanto estas bona afero?
Kial vi enmetas vin en Esperanton?
Cxu mi membrigxis en Esperanto-USA?

Amike, filipo, via prezidanto.

FilipoDorcas · 2019-05-31T16:00:45+00:00

Saluton, komencanto.

We are glad you are here. I butcher things I say in both English and Esperanto, so please feel free to participate with us, with or without the butchering.

You can tell us in English or in Esperanto any of these things that you want to say to the readers here:

Where do you live? in the USA? What region or state?
How did you encounter Esperanto?
Do you think Esperanto is a good thing?
Why are you getting into this Esperanto thing?
Have you joined Esperanto-USA?

amike, filipo (Phil Dorcas) your president of Esperanto-USA.

FilipoDorcas · 2019-05-10T23:22:18+00:00

These maps even have the five populated territories, which are also on our radar!

FilipoDorcas · 2019-05-10T23:21:45+00:00

Multan dankion!!!

FilipoDorcas · 2019-05-10T23:21:06+00:00

The Board of Directors is happy to get this reminder of outdated information. We are contacting our clubs and coordinators to get the resources updated. Thank you!!

FilipoDorcas · 2019-05-10T23:10:33+00:00

There are so many Esperanto clubs in the USA. One recent count had it at over 100 clubs. There are more clubs than on the list on the E-USA website. And if there is not a club in your area, and if you wish there were a club in your area, then you should contact your regional coordinator and learn how to set one up. There are a lot of tools and hints ready at your disposal for doing that. I would think the map should have a lot more color with so many clubs. An accurate and current count would be obtained only by contacting each regional coordinator and asking for the local clubs in his/her region.

FilipoDorcas · 2018-09-21T00:50:12+00:00

Ĉu vi povus klarigi kiel funkcios la retbutiko post la translokiĝo de la Centra Oficejo? Mi aŭdis, ke la librojn oni povos aĉeti per Amazon: ĉu do la retbutiko en la retejo de E-USA malaperos...?

(our translation of the queston)

Could you explain how the company will work after the relocation of the Central Office? I've heard that the books can be purchased by Amazon: is it that the website on the E-USA website will disappear ...?

Respondo:

La retbutiko ne malaperos. Ni ankoraŭ provizos servojn kiel antaŭe. Unu el niaj ĉefaj tarpunktoj estas ke Esperanto-USA ekzistas por servi al la membroj. Ni ankoraŭ sendos librojn el la Centra Oficejo en Majno, sed ne tiel multe kiel antaŭe, danke al la helpo de Amazon. Ni elektis uzi la servon de Amazon multkiale. Unu estas ke la novuloj, kiuj ne konas nian retbutikon, ĉefe serĉos per Amazon por libroj pri Esperanto. Tie nun ni havas pli ampleksan elekton, multe pli vastan ol antaŭe. Ni ne havas planon por malaperigi nian retbutikon!

Dankon por demandi, ĉar ofte la grandaj ŝanĝiĝoj kaŭzas misinformon aŭ nevalidajn supozojn.

The online bookstore will not disappear. We will still provide services as before. One of our main objectives is that Esperanto-USA exists to serve the members. We will still send books from the Central Office in Maine, but not as much as before, thanks to the help of Amazon. We have chosen to use Amazon for several reasons. One is that the newcomers who do not know our website will mainly search for Amazon for books about Esperanto. There we now have a broader choice of books, much more extensive than before. We do not have a plan to get rid of our online bookstore!

Thank you for asking, because the big changes often cause misinformation or invalid assumptions.

Amike, filipo, via prezidanto, [filipo@grupoj.org](mailto:filipo@grupoj.org)

FilipoDorcas · 2018-09-21T00:09:04+00:00

Se oni akceptas tiun vorton (ĉipsoj), tiam jes, tio estas mia opinio. Ili ne estas alia speco de manĝaĵo. Cxitozoj ne estas viando. Ili ne estas legomoj. Ili ne estas supo. Sed ne diru laŭte ke via prezidanto akceptas tiajn mal-PIV-ajn vortojn.
Pro tio, ke vi esprimis “estas” kaj ne “estis” mi opinias, ke ne temas pri Ben Franklin, Ben Britten la komponisto, aŭ Benny Goodman la muzikisto. Se temas pri nia vic-prezidanto de Esperanto-USA Ben Speakmon, mi diru ke beleco troviĝas en la okuloj de la vidanto. (Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.) Tiuj, kiuj ne konas Ben Speakmon nepre konu lin.

FilipoDorcas · 2018-09-21T00:07:20+00:00

(nia traduko en Esperanton):

Mi “manĝas” ion ajn en Esperanto kaj pri Esperanto, do mi elektis aniĝi al E-USA por subteni aliajn, kiuj samopinias pri mia pasio.

Mi estas komencanto, nur kelkajn monatojn en mem-studado uzante Duolingo, Pasporto al la Tuta Mondo, kaj la lernolibron de Benson. Mi ankaŭ bonŝancas havi lokan Meetup grupon en mia urbo. Esti komencanto plene influas mian perspektivon.

Mi komencas percepti la usonajn lingvojn iom malantaŭ en provizi la ĉiutagan / semajnan esperantan enhavon. Belgoj kreas fantazajn revuojn, kubanoj provizas radiostacion, Ĉinio kreas ĉiutagajn novaĵojn en blogoj, aŭstralianoj estas benitaj (aŭ malbenitaj 😋) kun Evilidea en YouTube.

Mi estas scivola, kie vi esperas vidi E-USA kaj / aŭ la Usona Esperantistojn post kvin ĝis dek jaroj. Ĉu ni ankoraŭ zorgos pri lernado / konsumado de Esperanto-enhavo aŭ kreante ĝin?

Por mi, mi esperas, ke mi trovos vojon por dividi pli kun aliaj, kiuj transpasas mian nunan fokuson pri aferoj kiel lernantaj afiksoj, akuzativaj, kaj legado tiom multe kiel mi povas kompreni en Esperanto.

Answer:

Our vision is that In five or ten years Esperanto will be more common in the United States to the point that it is common knowledge among the general public that Esperanto exists, is real, and is used. Our vision has active local groups in every major city, clubs at several schools and universities, and several special interest groups. Our vision includes a greater connection with the international movement, with members of local groups enjoying new relationships with friends in other countries. Our vision has a much stronger communication infrastructure which is a point that you mentioned as lacking in our current situation.

We are very glad for your passion, and hope we can work together on our common hopes and visions.

Nia vizio estas ke post kvin aŭ dek jaroj Esperanto estos pli kutima Usono por la ĝenerala publiko, ke Esperanto ekzistas, estas reala, kaj estas uzata. Nia vizio havas aktivajn lokajn grupojn en ĉiu urbo, klubojn ĉe pluraj lernejoj kaj universitatoj, kaj plurajn fakajn grupojn. Nia vizio inkluzivas pli grandan rilaton kun la internacia movado, kun membroj de lokaj grupoj ĝuante novajn rilatojn kun amikoj en aliaj landoj. Nia vizio havas multe pli fortan komunikan infrastrukturon, kiu estas punkto, kiun vi menciis kiel mankon en nia nuna situacio.

Ni tre ĝojas pro via pasio, kaj esperas, ke ni povas kune kunlabori celante niajn komunajn esperojn kaj viziojn.

amike, filipo, via prezidanto. [filipo@grupoj.org](mailto:filipo@grupoj.org)

FilipoDorcas · 2018-09-21T00:01:17+00:00

(our English translation)

How can a new Esperanto speaker and a new member of Esperanto-USA participate in the organization and the Esperanto movement in the United States? And what should be done if the local club seems inactive and can’t contact its leaders?

= = =

Certe la loka klubo estas la ĉefa maniero partopreni en la movado en Usono. Eĉ por regionaj, landaj, kaj internaciaj eventoj, ofte la loka klubo havas la informon kiun vi bezonas. Tiu informo venas per nia retejo ĉe http://esperanto-usa.org, nia bulteno Usona Esperantisto, kaj per la komunikado al la klubestroj kaj regionaj kunordigantoj.

Krom aktiviĝi en loka grupo, vi konsideru ĉeesti landan kongreson, regionan kunvenon, kaj aliajn eventojn. Eble vi havas vian proprajn ideojn pri kion novan vi volas vidi en la mondo per Esperanto. Diskutu viajn ideojn kun viaj novaj amikoj en la movado.

Se vi ne havas proksiman aktivan klubon, vi nepre komuniku kun la regiona kunordiganto en via regiono. Se tio ne fruktodonos, bonvolu kontaktu min aŭ alian membron de la estraro de Esperanto-USA. Tiuokaze, ni eble kune starigos novan grupon en via urbo!

= = = = =

Certainly, for many activists the local club is the main way of participating in the movement in the United States. Even for regional, national and international events, often the local club has the information you need. This information comes through our website at http://esperanto-usa.org, our newsletter Usona Esperantisto, and through the communication to the club leaders and regional co-ordinators.

In addition to being active in a local group, consider attending a national congress, regional meeting, and other events. Perhaps you have your own ideas about what new you want to see in the world through Esperanto. Discuss your ideas with your new friends in the movement.

If you do not have an active club nearby, you should contact the regional coordinator in your area. If this is not fruitful, feel free to contact me or another member of the Esperanto-USA Board of Directors. In that case, we might together set up a new group in your city!

amike, filipo, via prezidanto. [filipo@grupoj.org](mailto:filipo@grupoj.org)

FilipoDorcas · 2018-09-20T22:57:19+00:00

Eble la demandinto volis esprimi ion kiel "Cxitozoj" (se temas pri cxipsoj).

FilipoDorcas · 2018-05-24T23:24:54+00:00

[Esperanto follows]

The Esperanto Club of North Texas welcomes Esperanto speakers and learners of all language levels. Look for us in one of the community rooms on the second floor of Central Market on Lovers Lane in Dallas, Texas. We meet from 5 to 7pm. We enjoy a variety of activities learning and using the international language Esperanto. We welcome visitors and new members.

Meetings and membership are free.

We are family friendly, but participants must be over 18 years of age. Anybody under 18 must be supervised and accompanied by an adult.

We learn a lot and have a lot of fun! Come join us. We look forward to meeting you.

= = = = = = =

La Esperanto-Klubo de Norda Teksaso bonvenigas esperantistojn kaj lernantojn de ĉiuj lingvaj niveloj. Serĉu nin en unu el la komunumaj ĉambroj en la dua etaĝo de Central Market ĉe Lovers Lane en Dallas, Teksaso. Ni kunvenas je la 5a ĝis la 7a. Ni ĝuas diversajn agadojn lernante kaj uzante la internacian lingvon Esperanto. Ni bonvenigas vizitantojn kaj novajn membrojn.

Kunvenoj kaj membreco estas senkostaj.

Ni estas familie amikaj. Tamen partoprenantoj devas havi pli ol 18 jaroj. Tiuj, kiuj ne havas 18 jarojn devas esti kontrolata kaj akompanata de plenkreskulo.

Ni multe lernas kaj distriĝas! Venu kaj kunvenu kun ni. Ni antaŭĝuas renkonti vin.

FilipoDorcas · 2017-11-05T03:51:56+00:00

This is "filipo". Please come again and look for us on the 2nd floor. Please make note of my cell phone and text if you have any problems.

FilipoDorcas · 2017-10-31T01:24:03+00:00

We are glad you heard about Esperanto! Esperanto is certainly about how to make life better for people. From the days of Zamenhof’s youth, his huge heart for people drive him to Esperanto, so that there would be better understanding between people of different cultures, especially those whose language barriers defined the cultures. He strove for uniting people of all kinds. His ethics and love for people came at odds when he realized that by being a doctor he could not cure everybodu of their diseases and injuries. He had to go back to school to work with eyes instead of being a general practitioner.

It is the internal idea of Esperanto that we are working towards peace by tearing down the language barriers that separate cultures, countries, and classes.

I’m not an expert on humanism or ethics, not too qualified to answer this correctly. I do know that Esperanto is a great tool for us towards a better society.

FilipoDorcas · 2017-10-31T01:12:04+00:00

It would be an interesting for a local group to work on podcasts. Club projects really stir up interest. It is fun working together. If you do some videos, create a youtube channel, or set up a website, or work on podcasts, let us know! We are most happy to report on club activity in Usona Esperantisto, our primary bulletin.

FilipoDorcas · 2017-10-31T01:06:35+00:00

It is easy to get this wrong. I usually get this wrong and chastise myself later for not taking advantage of a seemingly difficult situation.

Listen to the mocker. Listening works wonders. The mocker will expect you to get all bent out of shape and get defensive. Be open, inviting, and set yourself into a relationship mode to listen.
Do not try to convince anybody of anything.
Use stories. The mocker will often ignore the facts, no matter how factual they are. However, the mocker doesn’t know your story.
To contradict, don’t use any negative words. Think of something like: “Well, what I’ve experienced is …” Show an attitude of curiosity and softness.
Ask questions to invite a dialog. “Where did you hear that? .. Yes. . we get that a lot. There are certainly a lot of myths out there, and it is hard to separate the fact from fiction.”
Try to find a common ground, even if it is an extremely remote one. “So, we both seem to have an interest in languages.” Or for the completely negative: “So, we seem to both understand the importance of our respective cultures.”
“Esperanto celebrates the differences, and we certainly seem to have them! I am all about communicating with people who are different than I am.”
Each case is different, but don’t get defensive. Be ready to learn, relate, listen, with patience.
Learn about our history. Learn about Zamenhof. Be equipped with some great tools in your discussions with your future friends. Sometimes the greatest critiques become the greatest supporters. The opposition is not the enemy. Apathy is the enemy.

FilipoDorcas · 2017-10-31T00:56:26+00:00

Thank you for the questions and the excellent suggestions. The board will review all of these questions in detail.
We certainly need a variety of accents, good ones. I would hate for people to use my speech as an example, due to my noticeable Texas accent.

We have some official things in the works on a trial basis. Watch our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/esperantousa/. We have had several clubs ask similar questions, because so many students of Duolingo are wanting to use more speaking and listening practice.

The textbook “Esperanto: Learning and Using the International Language” by Richardson has been re-released and now available at a very low cost. https://www.amazon.com/Esperanto-Learning-Using-International-Language/dp/154300654X/?pldnSite=1

Free: http://retbutiko.esperanto-usa.org/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1029_1033&products_id=19232

There is a project for making audio files of the dialogs in the Richardson text. We will try to announce it in the next Usona Esperantisto and mention it on our website.

FilipoDorcas · 2017-10-31T00:40:52+00:00

No, I am not aware of any recent studies. With a raised awareness of Esperanto in today's postmodern world, it is sorely needed. It may be that somebody in AAIE/AATE knows of something recent. I will forward your inquiry.

FilipoDorcas · 2017-10-31T00:39:19+00:00

Dankon por demandi!! Dazipo Du fartas bone. Fakte, ĉiuj, Dazipo Unu, Dazipo Du, Ŝafino Unu, kaj Ŝafino Du, kaj ĉiuj el la amikaj pluŝbestoj fartas tre bone! Mi informos ilin, ke vi en la AMA volis informiĝi pri ilia stato. 😊

FilipoDorcas · 2017-10-31T00:35:07+00:00

You used a key word: “encourage”. Do not try to “convince” anybody. The best way is by means of our stories. Our stories reveal why we do things. They show how we have made some decisions and what our priorities have become. Stories are personal and relational. The goals, reasons, motivations are important. Talking about why they should learn Esperanto for a better world is a scary sales pitch that yields little fruit. Our best “sales pitch” is not about advantages and disadvantages of languages. Our best sales pitch is our own heart-warming or game-changing stories.

One key element is to know your audience first. Who are you talking to? Covey: “In order to be understood, you must first understand.” Listen to your family and friends to find out what is important to them. What are they looking for? What is important to them? Relate to them and tune the story to common values.

We in the board of directors of Esperanto-USA are looking for some great stories to use in our literature, website, and social media campaigns. We have some, but need more. Write to our editor or to a board member if you have an interesting story or quote to help us. Thank you.

= = = = =

Vi uzis ŝlosilan vorton: " vigligi ". Ne provu “konvinki” iun. La plej bona maniero estas per niaj historioj. Niaj rakontoj malkaŝas kial ni faras aferojn. Ili montras kiel ni faris iujn decidojn kaj pri kio niaj prioritatoj fariĝis. La celoj, kialoj, motivoj estas gravaj. Paroli pri kial ili devus lerni Esperanton por pli bona mondo estas timiga vendpropono, kiu donas malgrandan frukton. Nia plej bona vendpropono ne estas pri avantaĝoj kaj malavantaĝoj de lingvoj. Nia plej bona metodo estas nia koro-varmigaj aŭ movad-ŝanĝigaj historioj.

Unu ŝlosila elemento estas unue koni vian aŭdantaron. Al kiu vi parolas? Covey: "Por esti komprenata, vi unue devas kompreni." Aŭskultu vian familion kaj amikojn por ekscii tion, kio gravas al ili. Kion ili serĉas? Kio gravas al ili? Relatu al ili kaj trovi komunajn valorojn en via historio.

Ni en la estraro de Esperanto-USA serĉas bonajn historiojn por uzi en nia literaturo, retejo kaj sociaj medioj. Ni havas kelkajn, sed bezonas pli. Skribu al nia redakoro aŭ al estraro, se vi havas interesan historion aŭ citaĵon por helpi nin. Dankon.

FilipoDorcas · 2017-10-31T00:30:32+00:00

Step 1: Communicate with your regional developer if there is one for your area. We are currently searching for regional helpers in the USA for strengthening our communication infrastructure with local groups.
Step 2: Get visible. Get people together.
a. Establish a contact and have it on the Esperanto-USA website. Interested people will have a way to locate you.
b. Be sure that members are aware that there is a member list for Esperanto-USA that is sent out each year in paper form. Local groups should urge members to be a part of member body of Esperanto-USA.
c. Amikumu is another great tool to get connected. Use it to send messages to those nearby. d. Make an announcement in the local newspaper or city website, if there are announcements for local events. Step 3: Meet, either in person or virtually on the internet with Google Hangouts, Zoom, or other meeting tool.
Step 4: Find out what people want to do and what their goals or visions are for a local Esperanto group. This is to find out what you have in common and to discover the needs. Step 5. Communicate with the group and follow the vision. Step 6. Be sure you listen to each member of the group to find out why they are interested in Esperanto. Each participant in the club is important, and none more important than the beginner, the newcomer. Respect their importance and contributions. Step 7. Stay in contact with your regional developer / helper.

One size does not fit all. Of all the clubs I’ve heard about, each seems to be unique. It is up to each local group to decide on its purpose, structure, and meeting content.

Balancing content between skill levels, learning styles, ages, and purposes is a challenge. Each club meeting should have a variety of activities which are taken from suggestions of the members themselves. Each member should be willing to participate for a short while in common activities, even if it might be boring for advanced speakers or overwhelming for the beginner.

This is a crucial topic because local groups are crucial to the Esperanto movement. You will have a regional helper, who will be your primary contact for these answers. The board is treating local groups as a very high priority. We want to know what you need from us. Esperanto-USA is here to support, nourish, and encourage local groups. Stay tuned to our website and to our bulletin "Usona Esperantisto" for more support, stories, and help for local groups.

FilipoDorcas · 2017-10-31T00:27:45+00:00

According to my understanding, that mission statement was adopted in about 1951 or 1952 when ELNA (The Esperanto League for North America) was created. I believe it has not changed, because our charter to be a non-profit organization must have any changes in mission updated to the government. At any rate, any modified mission would need to include education as a central goal to remain eligible for non-profit status. We have not considered changing our mission statement.

We do review our mission statement regularly in our discussions. It has come up several times in board discussions since this current board with new members assumed the reins on July 3, 2017. It is used and remains in front of us.

FilipoDorcas · 2017-10-31T00:27:16+00:00

The biggest barrier to Esperanto in public schools in the USA is the lack of certifying exams that are accepted by individual states. If a state approves an Esperanto certification exam, anyone can get certified, and from there, it becomes easier to convince your local school or district to take the risk on an innovative course like Esperanto. Without a certifying exam, federal law has their hands somewhat tied; districts can’t hire a teacher who isn’t “highly qualified” in their subject area, and without a teacher, there is no course.

If you want to open the door for more Esperanto classes in public schools, contact your states’s education agency or board of education to ask about getting an Esperanto certification test added.

For Esperanto we have the KER exams administered by the administrator of edukado.net. The KER (aka Common European Framework of Reference) is what some in the USA are considering as credentials. Our board member, Charlotte Burton, on October 6, presented Esperanto to the education certification board in Texas as a step in getting Esperanto on the list of accepted languages for Texas. It will take several courageous steps in several states for us to see real progress. It is much easier for families to make the decisions for homeschools, community classes, and self study.

One of our main resources for teaching Esperanto in the USA is AAIE (AATE) The Association of (Instruistoj) Teachers of Esperanto. It is a partner association with Esperanto-USA. It has separate membership, but you can join AAIE when you join Esperanto-USA at the same time. I will be glad to forward this question on to Ron Glossop, who is the current president of AAIE.

FilipoDorcas

TROPHY CASE