Please Register and/or login. Need help? Username: Password: (I forgot my password) Log me on automatically each visit Featured Photo The featured photo is from the Dr. William F. Podlich Collection: Back to top Featured Yearbook The featured yearbook is the 1964 Scorpion: Back to top Latest Topics Updated Mon Sep 06, 2010 10:19 am Gas Guzzler So how's the bail out working ... Mon Sep 06, 2010 10:16 am Gas Guzzler Solidarity with Iran Mon Sep 06, 2010 10:02 am Gas Guzzler Muslim Anger & Outrage Sun Sep 05, 2010 10:35 am Gas Guzzler Call 911! It's A Conspiracy! Sat Sep 04, 2010 8:53 pm zaware Jihad & Crusade Back to top Top Ten Posters #1 as usual, m. 3137 #2 szeller 2391 #3 maryp 2372 #4 basima 2331 #5 AHD 2317 #6 Jo 2212 #7 mstar 1927 #8 Danny Hilario 1726 #9 chimakuni 1653 #10 changingseasons 1396 Back to top Site Map & Help A detailed site map is provided to help you navigate and find information in this site. This site contains a lot of information and most of it requires free registration and login. If you need any assistance, please check the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) or click on the logo below to send an email to the Webmaster of this site. Back to top Credits Individuals These are the individuals who make this site possible: Editor: Maggi Stoner Forum Moderators: Susie Kessler, Lee Anne Martinez, Marty Owens, Maggi Stoner, Alan Zeller Publisher: Gerry Geronimo Sponsors: C. David Dempsey, Danny & Gina Hilario, Eric Claussen, Jana O'Neal, Peg Podlich, JoAnn Dewhurst Koozer, Christine (Plumb) Gordon, Beth Prout, Nancy A. Parker, Cecil & Allie Uyehara, Anne Michalec Payson, Robert Zeller, Mary (Meadows) Pyburn, Alan Zeller, Molly Alexander, Thomas & Allison (Hicks) Delventhal, Jody (Nankivell) Herriott, Jenine Sjoblom Let's not forget all the individuals who have contributed to the extensive content of this site. Thank you! If you would like to donate and sponsor this site, please use the Amazon Honor System. Back to top Tools These are the free tools developed by many individuals which have been used to publish this site: Atomz, AWStats, MySQL, PHP, phpBB, phpBB Fetch All and DarkMods Redirection Suite. Back to top

June 2005 Archive Index: 5 Years Ago This Month Here at aisk.org (Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2005 9:53 pm) Four More Photos of Bamian from Chris 'Tex' Brown (Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2005 6:25 pm) Going Away Party for Jim Springer (Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2005 9:14 am) Birthday Party for Eleanor MacMakin (Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2005 9:59 am) May His Soul Rest In Peace: Father Angelo Panigati (Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2005 6:54 pm) 4 Years Ago This Month Here at aisk.org (Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2005 8:16 pm) Rajan's Story (by Lakshmi Nagarajan) (Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2005 10:16 am) Sadly, Our Morning Star (mstar) Is Gone (Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2005 11:01 pm) The 2005 AISK/Old Hands Reunion Train Is Rolling (Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2005 10:08 am) Recollections of Padre Angelo from Alessandro Scarso (Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2005 4:43 pm) A Salute To Our Fathers On This Father's Day (Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2005 9:39 am) Updates from Ted Teele (1971-72, 74) (Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2005 5:32 pm) Guarding The Road to Rishkoor From Dharlaman Palace (Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2005 7:51 pm) Photos of Kabul Taken on June 21, 2005 (Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2005 8:39 pm) 3 Years Ago This Month Here at aisk.org (Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2005 9:00 am) A Party For Tom Goddard & Family in Livermore, Calif. (Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2005 3:31 pm) Afghan Photography by Ariana Delawari (Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2005 8:46 pm) 2 Years Ago This Month Here at aisk.org (Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 8:36 pm) ... July 2005 5 Years Ago This Month Here at aisk.org Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2005 9:53 pm Starting this momth, past monthly issues of the aisk.org "What's New" page will be featured here to celebrate this site's upcoming 10th Anniversary on the "Net this coming October. We start with the June 2000 issue. This issue features 2 of the Givens brothers: David Givens and Randy Givens. David is an actor and he appeared in an episode of ABC's "The Practice" the previous month. Still captures of David from that episode were published in this issue. Randy also shared music from a demo CD he produced along with Sherylin Tallent-vocals, Chip Brown-guitar, and Phil Thomson-keyboard. My memories of Kabul include the time David and I challenged Mr. Webb (our Science teacher) in a tennis match on campus for pizza. Needless to say, Mr. Webb beat both of us at the same time. Come to think of it, I don't think we ever paid up on the bet. In the same issue, Kenneth Lanza's photos and Jim Springer's 1970 Scorpion yearbook (in its entirety) were published. It is also interesting to note that 2 reunions were in the planning 5 years ago this month: the Lashkar-Gah Reunion on June 23-24 in Chicago (organized by Betty Odle Nordby ) and the AISK & Old Hands Reunion on August 19-20 in Berkeley. The June 2000 and other old issues are archived in the aisk.org Past Issues section of our Library.   Four More Photos of Bamian from Chris 'Tex' Brown Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2005 6:25 pm Chris 'Tex' Brown shares 4 more photos of Bamian with us and he wrote: "Couple of guys crossing the picnic bridge where I caught my first trout in decades. Little girl with stick, proud and neighbor to the two young girls wearing purple. And the garden of the Bamian guest house.....another look also of the destroyed Bhudda. Dry mountains and sky but lush valleys that have that high Sierra feel." Thanks Chris and keep those photos and memories coming!   Going Away Party for Jim Springer Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2005 9:14 am Danny Hilario shares the following photos from the "Going Away" Party for Jim Springer held last month at Jim & Dawn's home in Oakland. Jim is now living and working in Jordan. The first photo shows Molly Alexander with a load of nan (Afghan bread). The second photo shows Dawn Erickson tearing into the nan while Dave Fliehr looks on from the back.. The third photo shows Jim Springer with an unidentified person and Molly Alexander. The fourth photo shows Jane Koski giving an unidentified person a massage while Elaine Duncan observes. Here's another photo of Jane giving Dave a massage while Molly supervises. Other Scorpions in attendance included Connie Duncan, Danny & Gina Hilario. Thanks Danny!   Birthday Party for Eleanor MacMakin Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2005 9:59 am San Francisco Bay Area Scorpions celebrated Eleanor MacMakin's birthday last month at her home in Fairfield. Thanks to Danny Hilario for these photos: The first photo shows Bruce MacMakin, Eric Claussen and Eleanor MacMakin. The second photo shows Molly Alexander and Gina Hilario. The third photo shows Eleanor's daughter and Mrs. Koski. The fourth photo shows Bruce and Eric.   May His Soul Rest In Peace: Father Angelo Panigati Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2005 6:54 pm Vera Jensen (Kabul 1969-1973) wrote: "As a parent of former AISK students (Gary, Craig and Diana Jensen), I know that many of your members knew Father Angelo Panigati, and, indeed, were even fortunate enough to have studied Latin with him. He was a familiar figure in Kabul and enlivened the landscape as he drove through Kabul's busy streets en route to AISK and elsewhere in his Volkswagen bug. He was loved and admired by people of all faiths and will now be similarly mourned by all." "Father Angelo died Sunday morning, June 5, in his sleep. He had suffered from serious coronary problems for several years, but never gave in to his illness -- soldiering on until the very last day of his life. Relying on a cane (he called it his "stick") to help him get around, he faithfully performed his priestly duties and was tireless in giving council to the scores who sought his sage advice to help them cope with the multitude of problems confronting the faithful as they try to live their lives in today's conflicted world." "He died in Cremona, Italy, where he had served with his Barnabite order for many years. There is little doubt that he will always be missed by those who flocked to his masses there, as he will indeed by missed by those of us who were not so fortunate to attend his masses on a daily basis. He was a spiritual fortress and an intellectual of gigantic proportions. He was fluent in at least 10 languages. His Christmas Eve mass was always crowded to the rafters with members of his flock and others who rejoiced to hear portions of the liturgy in French, German, and Spanish, as well as English. A gifted musician and stellar athlete in his younger days, Father Angelo was indeed a man for all seasons; he lived his life fully and with complete humility, unselfishly and tirelessly serving his fellow men and the God he so dearly loved. " Thank you Vera for sharing this sad information with the rest of us. My own memories of Father Panigati are from attending Mass in the Chapel located at the Italian Embassy in Kabul and serving as an altar boy. I never poured enough wine for him because he would gesture to pour more. We would play ping pong before Mass and he was an excellent ping pong player. Father Panigati was a good man in every sense of the word and he will be missed.   4 Years Ago This Month Here at aisk.org Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2005 8:16 pm I had just visited Washington, D.C. where I met 2 of my friends (Rick Burgess and John Steiner) from Kabul and their families for dinner at the Khyber Pass. I posted photos from that dinner in the June 2001 issue of the "What's New" section. Sherry Now also contributed photos of the Junior Lounge from the 1972-73 school year which were published in the same issue. Has anybody figured out who "Sherry Now" is after all these years? Now that "Deep Throat" has finally revealed himself, I think it's time for "Sherry Now" to do the same. Craving Afghan food, I had lunch at the Bamyan Restaurant - a local Afghan restaurant. I published photos and a succint review of the restaurant in this issue. George Ehrhardt also contributed a copy of The Harold, an unofficial and unsanctioned school newspaper from his era. All that was only 4 years ago? How time flies as one gets older!   Rajan's Story (by Lakshmi Nagarajan) Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2005 10:16 am Yesterday, Lakshmi Nagarajan posted a short story titled "Rajan's Story" in the Forum. This beautiful story has been moved to its own page to share it with those of you who do not frequent the Forum and the general public at large. With this story, Lakshmi once again demonstrates her excellent writing ability. The photo of Laki on the right is from the 2002 San Antonio Scorpion Stampede (reunion). Can anyone guess whose hand is on Laki's shoulder? The year was 1941 and the place Meerut, in northern India. A small town with a mixed Hindu and Muslim population. Meerut was a cantonment town; a British military town. The major employer was the British military. Since the clerical work force hired by the British military was from all over India, the town was ethnically mixed compared to nearby towns. Rajan, a nineteen year old Brahmin from Tamilnadu arrived in Meerut that year. Like other young educated, unemployed Brahmins from the South, he migrated to the North in search of work. Through his brother's connections, he was hired by the British military. In those days the private sector was non-existent and British government clerical jobs were the most sought after. The most you could achieve in those days was to be a clerical supervisor. If you had a college degree you were hired as a typist, if you didn't you were a clerk and then you worked your way up. Rajan was hired as a steno-typist; one step above the entry level. Read the entire story and post your comments about the story in the Forum. Thanks Laki!   Sadly, Our Morning Star (mstar) Is Gone Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2005 11:01 pm I just received a call from Danny Hilario informing me with the very sad news that Margery Cutler is no longer with us in this life. Danny himself just found out via a Private Message from "dark mercury" as follows: "Dear Danny, Sorry to bring you this news if you didn't already know. Yours was the name that I recognized so I'm sending you this sad notice. I thought that ya'll would want to know. This is all the information that I have now. Goldstein's Funeral Home is supposed to be handling the arrangements in Philidelphia. Otis" "CUTLER, MARGERY ANN, 52, of St. Petersburg, died Wednesday (June 8, 2005) at home. She came here several years ago from her native Philadelphia, where she worked for a synagogue. Survivors include her parents, Helene and Paul Cutler, Boca Raton. David C. Gross Funeral Homes, Beth David Chapel, St. Petersburg." We will miss you mstar!   The 2005 AISK/Old Hands Reunion Train Is Rolling Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2005 10:08 am The 2005 AISK/Old Hands Reunion train is rolling as witnesed by this reunion flyer. The events, schedule and place have been finalized. The reunion will be held on October 21-22, 2005 in Washington, DC. Don't procrastinate - begin making your plans now. You won't want to miss this reunion. Based on my own experience from the last 2 reunions, you'll be sorry if you miss this one! For another perspective, here's Sallie (Mattison) Young's post in the October 2002 Guest Book soon after the AISK San Antonio Scorpion Stampede (the previous reunion): "OMG, I almost didn't need a plane to float home from that reunion! It was awesome. I can't believe I had a moment's apprehension at mingling with a bunch of people I hadn't actually attended school with ... and all the dear faces of those I HAD gone to school with! It was nigh on to a spiritual experience..." First, Register now using this registration form and select the events you wish to attend (don't forget to send the completed registration form with your payment to Ralph Lay - the reunion treasurer). Next, make your hotel reservation at the Arlington Doubletree in Crystal City. Our code is SOH/Scorpion Old Hands which entitles us to a rate of $99 Single/Double per night. If you prefer, you can call the hotel at 1.800.222.8733 to book your room. Finally, book your flights with your favorite airline. See you at the 2005 AISK/Old Hands Reunion in DC!   Recollections of Padre Angelo from Alessandro Scarso Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2005 4:43 pm Alessandro Scarso lived in Kabul, Afghanistan from 1973 to 1976. He and his brother attended the German Kindergarten school. Alessando's father was a diplomat with the Italian Embassy in Kabul at the time. He knew Father Angelo Panigati well then and recently. Alessandro lives in Milan which is about an hour away from Cremona where Father Angelo lived. Alessandro and his family were close to Father Angelo and they visited him frequently. The photo on the right includes Father Angelo Panigati, Alessandro, his parents, sister and a fellow priest at the baptism of Alessandro's nephew in October 2003. Read Alessandro's recollections of Padre Angelo in his letter to Vera Jensen who informed us about Father Angelo's death here. Alessandro also shares a report with some thoughts written by Father Angelo Panigati in the 90's on Father Angelo's Afghan experience. Unfortunately this report is in Italian. Perhaps someone in our community can translate this report for us. Thank you Alessandro for sharing your memories of Padre Angelo with us.   A Salute To Our Fathers On This Father's Day Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2005 9:39 am Most of us had the privilege of experiencing life in Afghanistan because of our fathers and their jobs. This is a salute to our fathers and specially to my own Dad, Mamerto F. Geronimo, who just celebrated his 80th birthday last month. Here's a photo of my parents which I took on his birthday. The photo on the right shows my Dad receiving a Certificate of Commendation from Mr. Russell S. McClure, Director of USAID Mission to Afghanistan (and father of three fellow Scorpions) while my mother and others look on. This commendation was "in recognition of my Dad's contribution to the development of civil aviation in Afghanistan in the years between 1958 and 1967" The commendation was also signed by Mr. Albert L. Gammon, Chief of the Civil Aviation Advisory Group (and father to a fellow Scorpion). This event took place on June 28, 1967. Here's another photo showing my Dad with a perplexed look at the beginning of the ceremony because he was unaware that he would be receiving an award. In fact, he was not planning on attending the event and my Mom was informed ahead of time so she could persuade him. In spite of this, they almost did not make it to the ceremony because of car problems. Here's to my Dad and all of our fathers out there! Happy Father's Day and thanks for the love and everything you have given us!   Updates from Ted Teele (1971-72, 74) Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2005 5:32 pm In an email from Ted Teele to the AISK Reunion Committee, he wrote: "Thanks for sending the notice about the AISK reunion. I am going to do my best to attend. Thanks for your help in organizing the event." "Two other topics:" "I imagine that you had heard about the young girl from Afghanistan, Vasila whom my sister Stacia Teele helped with life saving heart surgery? Attached is a photo of Vasila, her dad, the translator, Stacia, and President Bush." "(On this Father's Day) I've also attached the obituary for my dad Tony Teele who passed away on March 21. Dad spent 3 and 1/2 years in Afghanistan in the 1970's and his company Chemonics is still very involved today in Afghanistan. Dad was recently honored with a 'Lifetime Achievement' award from the Society for International Development." Our sympathies and condolences to the Teele family for their loss. Thanks for sharing the photo and information about Vasila with us. For more information and photos about Vasila, visit the Advocates for Afghanistan and Teachers Without Borders Web sites. Thanks to Anne (Michalec) Payson for this information.   Guarding The Road to Rishkoor From Dharlaman Palace Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2005 7:51 pm Chris 'Tex' Brown submitted the following photos and wrote: "Here are the guys guarding the road to Rishkoor from Dharlaman Palace. Nothing left to guard however...empty pool and ruins of the stately villa there once was. P.S. the leader only photos in profile." Thanks Chris!   Photos of Kabul Taken on June 21, 2005 Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2005 8:39 pm Peter King submitted the following photos of Kabul and wrote: "These Kabul photos were sent to me from my cousin Martin who is in the German military training the Afghan police taken June 21, 2005. Enjoy." These photos include shots of Chicken Street, downtown Kabul and the Kabul Golf Course. Thanks Peter and Martin for sharing these photos with us.   3 Years Ago This Month Here at aisk.org Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2005 9:00 am Three years ago this month, we were starting to prepare for the 2002 San Antonio Scorpion Stampede just like we're gearing up for the 2005 AISK/Old Hands Reunion in Washington, DC today. In the June 2002 issue of the What's New section, several reunion-related articles were included. An account and photos of a mini-reunion held at Peg Podlich's home in Phoenix was published in this issue. I completed re-scanning and re-published the 1996-97 Scorpion Newsletters which featured the 1996 Scorpion/Old Hands Reunion held in Washington, DC on July 1996. A photo of the banner and a link to the photos from the Scorpion Millenium Reunion held in Berkeley, California on October 2000 was also in this issue. Other articles in this issue included photos of Kabul from Linda Wight, photos of the 2002 Naw Roz celebration in Fremont ("Little Kabul"), California taken by Danny Hilario, and more photos of a Scorpion Gathering for Mary MacMakin submitted by Danny Hilario. The mystery Scorpion photo in this issue was of Bill Zunis and his beautiful wife.   A Party For Tom Goddard & Family in Livermore, Calif. Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2005 3:31 pm Molly Alexander wrote: "Salaam! We're having a party here because Tom Goddard, his wife, and 3 kids will be here! They're driving all the way from Edmonton -- I heard it's near the North Pole." "Everyone is invited to join us on Monday, July 4th. We'll start around 12:00 noon. We'll have plenty of naan, food, and drinks. You can spend Sunday and/or Monday night here (Livermore, California). If we forgot someone, please let them know. Call us for directions -- We hope to see you!" The photo of Tom on the right was taken at the 2000 Scorpion Millenium Reunion held in Berkeley, California on October 2000. Eric Claussen replied: "I am reading this invite in my cozy hotel room in Lubeck, Germany (near Hamburg) on a business trip. But the good news is I am flying home to Denver on the 1st and will watch a five band jamband festival with String Cheese at Red Rocks on the second, only to return home on the 3rd. I will be dead but need to see Goddard and all of us. Bless you all." I am also planning on attending this party. See y'all at Dave & Molly's party!   Afghan Photography by Ariana Delawari Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2005 8:46 pm Peg Podlich wrote: "I have another Web site of current Afghan photos to pass on to you. Very dear character studies and some landscapes." "Ariana visited Clayton's Web site and left the following message...." "This site (Clayton Esterson's Photo Galleries) literally brings tears to my eyes. I have only seen Afghanistan after the many years of war, so to see her in her prime is so beautiful and sad to me. You can see my photographs that I have taken over the last three years on my website www.arianadelawari.com. Thank you for sharing these with me. It is incredible what war can do to a city. Let's work together to restore Afghanistan to her rightful state." Thanks to Peg for this link to Ariana Delawari's story & photographs. It's well worth the visit.   2 Years Ago This Month Here at aisk.org Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 8:36 pm The headline for the June 2003 issue of the "What's New" section of our site was an open invitation to all Scorpions from Dave Sperry and Leta Neat to attend their wedding, "a simple, casual, TWO DAY event!" In the same issue, I shared an account and photos from attending and meeting Tamim Ansary (author of "West of Kabul, East of New York") in an appearance at the local university. It turns out that Tamim has closer ties to us and our school than just the shared experience of Afghanistan. The issue also included updates to the William F. Podlich collection of Afghan photos, a book recommendation from Omar Khan who remembers visiting and playing against us in sports while attending the International School of Islamabad, Mary Lou Bigelow's "Search for Khyoom and Rajab" from The Mary Lou Bigelow Show, and an update about the Afghan Center Facility from Mina Bamizai, an honorary Scorpion. Letters from Ellen (Hendricks) Kerber, Craig Sterling, Kevin Brown, and Alastair Borthwick were also published in this issue.   Back to top