08.- Washington DC

08.1 WASHINGTON EUSKALERRIA
Sixteen hundred kilometers north of Miami, Washington D.C. is not home to a lot of Basque people, although in 1981 there were enough to set up the Basque Club of Washington, Euskalerria. Before that date some families met to celebrate the Olentzero, Saint Ignatius, or Aberri Eguna. Under the Franco dictatorship, Pedro Beitia was representative of the Basque government in exile in Washington as well as being the Basque point of reference in the city. Later, establishing the club entailed the organization of cultural activities, including showing the films (Tasio, Segovia-ko Ihesa, etc.), and celebrations such as Euskara Eguna. A newsletter was published quarterly.

08.2 RECEIVING MR ARDANZA
The city lives in haste, with huge traffic jams and circulation problems. The club never numbers more than fifty members, and few of them can commit themselves to any extended activity, among other internal conflicts. So after the welcoming ceremonies organized by the Club in 1988 to celebrate the arrival of the Lehendakari (Basque president) Ardanza on his official visit to the White House, the directors of the club decided to suspend its activities.