Supporters rally behind institute - First meeting encourages community involvement

www.ledger-enquirer.com Posted on Tue, Mar. 11, 2003 BY MICK WALSH Staff Writer

The first meeting of the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation booster club was held Monday night at Miriam's Cafe and Gallery.

Perhaps the invitation-only dinner shouldn't be called a meeting, for there were no minutes taken, motions made or votes taken.

But boosterism was indeed the main entree as more than 100 politicians, police officers, firefighters, educators and business leaders came to hear the virtues of the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation praised.

Nary an SOA Watch protester was in the vicinity.

"Very impressive" was the way Col. Javier Vanegas, an institute instructor in human rights, described the party. "It's good because it allows the integration of the important people of this community and the staff and faculty of our school."

And that's the way Miriam Tidwell and her husband, Dr. Jack Tidwell, wanted it.

When asked if the institute commandant Col. Richard Downie was simply preaching to the choir, Tidwell admitted most the guests were solid supporters of what was once known as the School of the Americas.

"But I invited people here tonight to let them know how committed the folks of the school are to Columbus," she said. "The school will be heavily involved in several community activities in the weeks ahead."

Downie, who says Miriam Tidwell has more energy than even Mayor Bob Poydasheff, says he's excited about the institute's involvement in such upcoming events as the Easter Weekend 5 and 10k races to raise money for Habitat for Humanity, the late April Tour de Georgia bicycle race and springtime visits by 70 Hardaway senior Spanish students.

"I think this community pretty well knows what we stand for, and in that respect the people here tonight are our friends," he said. "But several of the projects coming up, especially our involvement in Habitat and with the high school students will enable us to talk to people who may not know our mission.

"I'm very excited about having the Hardaway students come to our school and audit courses and to meet our students."

Downie added that the more high school students he can educate about the institute, the better the chance they'll spread the message of the school when they go off to college.

"Maybe then the kids who protest each year will at least have heard both sides of the story before they come down to Fort Benning," he said.

Colonel Vanegas, on loan here from Venezuela, likes the idea of a booster club, people from the community who rally behind his school.

"I think it is very important that as many people as possible learn our mission," he said. "If we tell these people, they will tell others and so on. It's a good thing."

Contact Mick Walsh at (706) 571-8588 or mwalsh@ledger-enquirer.com