Just got back home last night from Chautauqua, New
York, where I visited the Chautauqua Institution, a place that has to be the
biggest and best summer camp in all the world.
Founded in 1847, initially as a place to teach
Sunday school teachers how to teach, and for wealthy New York industrialists to
have a place to go for cultural enrichment, Chautauqua has developed into a
place of culture, sports, and art that has had a global impact.
 |
| Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor speaking at Chautauqua's CLSC graduation. |
 |
| Receiving my 2012 CLSC certificate from Jeff Miller, coordinator for CLSC./ |
I was introduced to Chautauqua by Sharon Hudson
Dean, who was my public affairs counselor when I was ambassador to Zimbabwe.
She organized a Zimbabwe version of the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific
Circle (CLSC) in Zimbabwe using Kindles. The first group in our Zimbabwe circle
graduated in 2012 – and, I count myself in that class – and the second this
year. I was invited to participate in the recognition ceremony. I spoke at the
vigil on Sunday, Aug. 4, telling the group what the CLSC meant to Zimbabweans,
and how it served to bring disparate groups in that politically unstable
country together. On Wednesday, Aug. 7, the official recognition ceremony, or
graduation, was held, and I read the names of the Zimbabwean graduates. The
highlight of the day was sharing the podium with former Supreme Court justice
Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman on the Supreme Court, and also a Chautauqua
alum.
That afternoon, I joined a group of Foreign Service
Officers for a panel discussion before a group of more than 200 people where we
talked about life in the Foreign Service. Other speakers during the week
included R. Nicholas Burns, former ambassador to NATO, Aaron David Miller of
the Wilson Center, and many others.
 |
| The Clock Tower and Paddle Boat Landing |
 |
| Paddle boat on Chautauqua Lake |
 |
| Hagen-Wensley Guest House |
When I wasn’t involved in official activities, I
walked – actually, with my bruised hip, hobbled – the grounds; watching the
sailboats on Chautauqua Lake, the paddle wheel steam boat, kids biking and
enjoying the fresh air, attended a couple of lectures, and a few concerts. We
stayed at historic Hagen-Wensley Guest House, which is just down the hill
from the even more historic Athenaeum
Hotel, both buildings constructed in the 1800s.
 |
| The Athenaeum Hotel |
We finally left on Thursday morning, making a
200-mile detour to see the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, and then the
seven-hour drive back to Washington through western New York and Pennsylvania.
It was great to be back home, but I enjoyed my week in summer camp. I think the
photos show why.
No comments:
Post a Comment