Guillermo Seminario, leader of Chimu Inka band in Cusco, and co- facilitator for Mountain Spirit Insitute’s cultural immersion program in Peru teaches a few participants on the Peru’09 program how to play zampoña. They three had been learning from Guillermo for a few days before this footage was taken. They did well. I hope they are still playing!
Archive for the ‘MSI News’ Category
Learning Zampoña on Lake Titicaca
25/11/2009Local Screening of Movie “Fresh”, 106 Attend
22/11/2009The Movie Fresh attracts 106 people in small town
Good food, an idea whose time has come
By Randall Richards
Joel Salatin, Organic Farmer, Visionary
The small town of New London, New Hampshire, saw one-hundred and six people turn out for the screening of the new movie Fresh, an uplifting documentary about the local organic food movement in the U.S. The event was co-sponsored by the New London chapter of the Weston A Price Foundation, and Mountain Spirit Institute on Saturday November 21st. In addition to the showing, local vendors and food producers were invited to display, who had tables with samples and brochures, where the audience could browse and learn about the good and local food available in their community. A brief “Q&A” discussion followed the film, (more…)
MSI attends NH Grants Institute
18/11/2009Mountain Spirit Institute Attends Grant Writing Seminar
Plymouth, NH
Hosted by the the New Hampshire Center for Non Profits and Council on Fundraising, a three-day seminar held in Plymouth New Hampshire has been covering the essentials on grant writing. Randall and Amanda Richards are attending the seminar which wraps up tomorrow.
The following panelists presented during the first day, covering “Understanding the Grantmaking Universe, What are Foundations looking For”:
Christine Grenier – Citizens Bank
Marianne Jones – The Women’s Fund
Mary Kaplan – Endowment for Health
On day two, the following panelists presented on “What Great Proposals Look Like”
Bryon Champlin – Lincoln Financial Foundation
Kathy Cook – Norwin S. and Elizabeth N. Bean Foundation
Ellen Koenig – The NH Charitable Foundation
Says MSI Development Director, Amanda Richards, “This seminar gives us vital tools and information to move forward with our development goals to further the mission of Mountain Spirit. ” She added, “We’re very excited to put these new skills into action.”
MSI plans to search for funding for the Peru/USA Music Exchange Program, Board of Directors development and training, and capacity building, that will strengthen MSI’s ability to deliver important programs.
The seminar has been presented by Elizabeth Sunde. If you would like more information about this new program, which will be repeated, please check out the links above.
MSI to Participate in VT International Festival
12/11/2009
DEC 4-6 Burlington VT
Mountain Spirit Institute will be attending Burlington Vermont’s International Festival on December 4th-6th. MSI will have a booth explaining the mission and programs of the organization. In particular, the Peruvian/USA Music Exchange with the Cusco band Chimu Inka, that was so popular in 2008 will be featured at the booth. Also our Peru and New Zealand programs will be presented, where visitors will have a chance to find out more about going on an MSI program in those countries or here in the U.S. MSI will also have Peruvian Fair Trade products and Chimu Inka CD’s and instruments for sale to help raise funds for their return, and to fund other MSI programs as well.
The Festival has been running for over fifteen years, and according to Amanda Richards, the organizers of the event are excited to have Mountain Spirit attend the festival. We look forward to being there as well!
MSI’s Blog: Up 700% in 1st Year
03/11/2009Mountain Spirit Institute celebrates Blog’s 1st year with 700% increase in readership.
By Randall Richards
A blog that started with 2 views in Oct 2008 and 286 one month later has grown 700% in one year to 2000 views per month. The one year anniversary of Mountain Spirit’s Blog has seen posts as diverse as the organization’s mission statement. Seven months after the blog started the readership rose to 1,540 per month and has been growing steadily since its start.
MSI Blog growth: 1 year
Board members have occasionally contributed and are now adding more subject material as well as breadth and type of posts. Says MSI founder Richards of the blog, “It’s been a ball getting this blog going. It’s eclipsing our quarterly newsletter in activity and interest, so I think we’ll continue building it.
Special thanks go to MSI Board members for their contributions, and to executive director Martin Fox of Center for Global Leadership in Park City, Utah for his initial coaching on using WordPress.com as our blog.
MSI Co-sponsors “Fresh-The Movie”
03/11/2009
"Fresh" Screening, in NH, USA
Mountain Spirit Institute is co-sponsoring the screening of the movie Fresh in New London, NH on Saturday November 21, at 7PM at the Whipple Auditorium on Main Street.
Says MSI director Randall Richards, “We saw the oportunity to get involved and help with the screening of this movie. We’re providing some desktop layout skills, and equipment for the showing.
Marketing and Development director Amanda Richards, had heard about the movie Food.Inc, and having just arrived from New Zealand, had been concerned about what she was seeing in the U.S. food supply. When she heard that Linda Howes, CN, HHP, CBE was preparing to show the movie Fresh, she decided to get involved. Howes is the local chapter representative of the Weston A Price Foundation and owner of Nourishing Wellness, in New London, NH. (more…)
Peruvian Music Video: Cusco
01/11/2009Online Release of Chimu Inka DVD
By Randall Richards
Chimu Inka's 3rd CD
This is short version of a video, taken a few years ago on the streets of Cusco. It’s a project to promote my good friends, and Mountain Spirit Institute Program Chimu Inka and their US educational tour. The band toured the northeast US in the fall of 2008 and we have plans to sponsor their return again in 2010. These guys are amazing.
If you would like to help support their tour by a donation or help with logistics, please let us know. Their first tour was hugely popular, and we expect their second visit to be so too.
The group performed and taught about the spirit of Peruvian Folklore music in their country. They also spoke of their instruments and lifestyle in Peru in a series of Q&A sessions after and during their performances. They visited schools, universities, kindergartens, town bandstands and coffeehouses.
Although I’ve had this video on disk for a year, I’m finally getting it online tonight. This is a shortened version of the original production. The higher definition and longer version is available for purchase through our Fair Trade page. I hope you enjoy watching this as much as I enjoyed taping and producing it. Enjoy!
MSI Holds Retreat
30/10/2009Good Energy & Great Ideas at MSI’s Board Retreat
Mountain Spirit Held its bi-annual retreat recently at the home of Founder Randall Richards in Sunapee, NH, USA. Board member Bob Stremba of Colorado, Craig Cimmons of Vermont and New Jersy, Cindy Heath of Plainfield, NH, R. Richards and Amanda Richards of New Hampshire and New Zealand, also attended.
The group discussed last years goals and achievements, plus future plans for fund raising, grant writing, and programs for the future. Randy and Amanda Richards did a presentation on last summer’s Peru program, and plans were discussed to run the program again. New programs such as India, Everest Basecamp, and a Holistic Leadership Training program were discussed and planned.
The board also talked about updating and modifying the website. Amanda Richards was also voted on as the newest member of the board, as well as being named treasurer.
A new boardmember search is planned which would focus on people with experience in donor relations and fund raising.
The following day the group, went for a day hike on Mt. Cardigan near Hanover, NH to walk and talk about ideas such as the mission and working on the board’s “elevator speech”, plus take in the view. They also had a ball getting out on the mountain for a crisp fall day in New England.
Below, four of the six board members pose for a group shot, which turned out to be a video instead.
MS Names New Board Member
29/10/2009
Amanda Richards, MSI Board Member
Amanda Richards was named to the board of Directors of Mountain Spirit Institute, at the organization’s recent annual retreat held in Sunapee, NH. She was also elected treasurer.
Amanda brings a wealth of marketing and business background plus great energy and ideas to MSI. She has also been a backcountry hut Ranger for the Department Conservation in New Zealand’s Mt. Aspiring National Park. Amanda has trekked extensively in the Himalaya, climbed Kilimanjaro in Africa, and done extensive adventures in New Zealand, Australia and other parts of the world. She is a classically trained Homeopath and has a degree in science. She speaks conversational Spanish and English.
Says Richards of her new appointment, ” I’m thrilled to be part of the Mountain Spirit team, and look forward to contributing.”
MSI Founder Purchases Land in Peru
28/10/2009Randy and Amanda Richards have purchased a small parcel of land near Hauraz Peru, which if their plans come to fruition, could mean a basecamp for Mountain Spirit Institute. The couple would eventually like to build a small retreat center/basecamp on the spot which overlooks the Cordillera Blanca range in northern Peru, including the highest peak in Peru, Mt. Huascaran.
Possible MSI Basecamp, Peru
Richards first saw the site 12 years ago when we was taken up there by his godchild’s family. Richards was guiding Huasacaran at the time. He always had it in the back of his mind that the site would be ideal for either a small cabin or retreat where participants could come and take Mountain Spirit programs.
Huascaran from MSI's Basecamp(?)
The site had only been accessible by foot – a 1.5 hour hike from the valley floor below, but two years ago a dirt road was put in to access the area, and Richards thought it was better to act now than wait any longer.
Although Richards purchased the land, depending upon funding from Mountain Spirit, the organization could become involved if the board thinks it would like to expand operations in Peru by offering a basecamp. Regardless, The Richards will enact conservation and stewardship practices, maintaining the protecting the area from further development by possibly purchasing additional acreage or seeking others willing to put the land into protection. The location is particularly special and deserves protection from hotel interests that have been interested in the area. The area us currently used for farming, and the couple will encourage their “Peruvian family”, the Sanchez family to add the parcel to their nearby fields.
Tai Chi on Land near Hauraz, Peru
Says Richards, originally of Sunapee, NH, “I never thought I’d be purchasing land in Peru, but the time and situation seemed right.” He added, “It has a special spirit of the place,” which would be a appropriate for an organization called “Mountain Spirit”.
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