Hospitalero News-April 2010 - American Pilgrims on the Camino

Message from Coordinator|Continued from Page 1
School of Public Health and the University of Minnesota’s
Department of Entomology. What I’ve discovered is that
these little critters hide themselves well, they come out at
night, and if they get into your clothes or sleeping bag, they
can become unwanted hitchhikers to the next albergue.
Their bites cause itching and inflammation, but it’s almost
unheard of for them to transmit disease. ! !
Unfortunately, remedies are few and prevention is
difficult. The most effective remedy is dry heat. Bedbugs
don’t like heat. They die easily in superheated
environments, so a good washer/dryer combo comes in
handy. It’s recommended that pilgrims have a separate set
of sleeping clothes, say a t-shirt and pair of boxer shorts. If
they do find that they have bedbug bites, they can take their
sleeping bag and sleeping clothes and run them through a
clothes dryer at it’s hottest cycle for 20 minutes.
An alternative to this is to place suspected contaminated
items packed lightly in a black plastic bag, secure well, and
place the bag in the hot sun for a few hours. Rotate the bag
once in a while so the entire contents will heat up equally.
Since access to clothes washers or dryers may be limited,
especially in small towns, hospitaleros may want to keep a
supply of black plastic bags on hand specifically for this
purpose.
<strong>Hospitalero</strong>s volunteering in albergues should also
practice daily vigilance with regard to washing bedding,
linens and areas near beds. If you are planning to volunteer,
or if you are simply interested in knowing more about these
critters, I will happily send you more detailed information.
Contact me at hospitaleros@americanpilgrims.com.
On a more upbeat note, one of the successes of the
Annual Gathering this year was a luncheon held for veteran
hospitaleros. There were 25 members in attendance, some
of whom have volunteered three and even four times. It was
great fun sharing our stories. Only another volunteer really
knows what it’s like. We want to continue this tradition for
veterans at future Annual Gatherings.
Later on the same afternoon several veterans helped put
on a workshop to discuss the hospitalero experience. It was
well attended and proved to be a success. Next year’s
Gathering organizing committee is already considering a
repeat of this program.
While in Orlando several of our hospitalero family were
interviewed on camera by Xacobeo America, the North
<strong>American</strong> arm of the Galician government’s Camino
support
organization. These
interviews were
done as part of an
advertising
program aimed at
furthering interest
in the Camino,
particularly the
Camino in
Galicia. The
Northern Route,
the Via de la
Plata, and the
English Route
are some of the
areas that the Xacobeo hopes to
introduce to future pilgrims.
Margaret Brown & Kathy Kennerly
show hospitalero trainees how to
make brownies for a crowd.
All in all, it looks to be an exciting year for <strong>American</strong>
<strong>Pilgrims</strong>’ hospitalero training program. We are gaining a
greater presence on the Camino, we’ll be offering more
training courses this year, we are growing as a group, and
most importantly, we are giving back to the Camino which
has given us so much.
Daniel DeKay
<strong>Hospitalero</strong> Training Coordinator
Looking for Angels for the Camino
Just as we encounter angels on the Camino when we most need them, we are looking for angels with terrific funding ideas.
<strong>American</strong> <strong>Pilgrims</strong> is in the process of increasing the number of hospitalero trainings and bringing them to local communities.
More training sessions require more travel for the trainers, plus materials, food and lodging for the trainees.
We are actively researching sources for funding, but we have no monopoly on good ideas. If you know of a business,
foundation or individual donor who might be willing to fund additional hospitalero trainings, we want to hear from you.
Funders have their priority areas, and a funding request needs to be presented in terms that fit those priorities. <strong>Hospitalero</strong>s
make contributions beyond loving and helping the pilgrims. By their presence on the camino, they serve as ambassadors of
peace and good will. They also help communities where albergues are located by encouraging tourism and sustainable economic
development. Each of these goals might fit the funding priorities of a particular donor or foundation.
We want to provide more opportunities for <strong>American</strong> <strong>Pilgrims</strong> to serve as hospitaleros. With your help, we can match our
needs with the goals of a potential funder. If you have any ideas, please contact hospitaleros@americanpilgrims.com.
<strong>American</strong> <strong>Pilgrims</strong> <strong>Hospitalero</strong> <strong>News</strong> 2