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La Plata, Argentina. This year included a rough start for many in La Plata, who suffered the most serious floods in history in the beginning of April.  With time, and little by little and with a lot of work, the city was able to recuperate and get back to normal.  In the same way, the club was able to resume its program of activities.  During this time the club joined in on acts of solidarity, for example, a Pilota Festival where all food gathered was then donated to those affected by the flood.

And even if these events marred the beginning of their activities, throughout the year, the club was able to continue to play for 2013 providing its members and friends Basque classes, film and literature series, pilota tournaments, conferences and traditional festivities like San Fermin and San Ignacio, as well as the traditional Paella contests, to mention a few.  The club’s support to activities like the Female Hockey, and Soccer for the Blind school should also be mentioned.

For these, and many more reasons, the members of the Euzko Etxea in La Plata raised their cups on December 16th.  The end of the year party, that took place in the club’s trinket, opened with a performance by the choir and continued with performances by the club dancers in three groups, txikis, intermediates, and adults.  There were also diplomas presented to members who are now life-long members and the makila was presented to the new club mayor, Mirentxu Torre.

[December 2013.  Besides the end of the year party on the 16th, some of the groups in the club gathered to celebrate and evaluate its activities.  In the case of the Soccer for the Blind School, there was a dinner held on November 29th that was attended by club president, Javier Clua and the coordinator of volunteers at the University of La Plata, Paula Danel.  The coach and captain of the team also provided a summary of the year’s activities. (photosEE)]

[The members of the club's female Hockey team also held an end of the year party; an opportunity to present the players with diplomas (photoEE)]

[During the event the club choir, directed by Evangelina Bertola, performed for the audience (photoEE)]

[Dantzaris worked hard during the day of the party, cooking and serving, as well as entertaining the audience with their dances (photoEE)]

[Mirentxu Torre, was chosen as the new club's mayor for 2014.  She received a bouquet of flowers from Javier Clua and Jorge Batiz, club president and vice-president respectively (photoEE)]

The end is coming to a close and over the next few weeks, club directors will take a well-deserved rest and will recharge their batteries for the coming year that will surely be busier, since the Euzko Etxea in La Plata will be hosting and organizing the Basque Argentinean Basque Week - National Semana Vasca Argentina.  Even though dates are yet to be established, it will most likely take place in November.