“Goardia zaharra” by Elhuyar

1997/11/01 Bandres Unanue, Luis Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Historia

Some twenty-seven years ago, friends of the School of Engineering of San Sebastian, when we left the path of what would later be the Elhuyar Group, we were able to surround a friend who had not passed through the aforementioned School, one of them was my fellow student at the School of Expertise, the cestoarra Iñaki Azkune. At that time Iñaki worked at the Michelin de Lasarte, but his concern and passion for Basque, or rather, for technical Basque, led him to be part of the group and to face the work from the beginning.

At that time, of course, we had no coins to pay anyone. With the passage of time his vocation was increasingly evident, that is, to devote as much time as possible to the Basque language; therefore, when the economic situation of the group was a little better, at first he was asked to go to Elhuyar for half a day and after all the time, and he himself accepted it. To date, and we hope that we will do it for many years, we have had and have our Iñaki Azkune to top for any work of our team, with its cordiality and preparation.

And what about Mª Luisa Aizpuru? When the initial team began to accumulate papers, we realized the need for a secretary. To write things to machine, to carry accounts correctly, to serve the phone, etc., the need for a friend was more than clear. Fortunately we met Mª Luisa. The responsibility that Mª Luisa assumed from the beginning is not easy to explain, so when we realized it we made a “rational distribution” of the work that we left in her hands with total tranquility some of the basic flanges of the group: while he assumed the responsibility of the office, we prepared the materials or taught the courses.

Time has passed. Many and many things have changed in our environment, including the prestige and treatment that Basque has achieved in society. Therefore, as the Group has had more means, it has been able to address works that were initially only dreams. This required staff all day long, so while some new team members were professionalizing, most of the initial participants remained collaborators. And it must be: when jobs require a professional level, the answer must be above all by professionals.

Fortunately this has been the trend of our Elhuyar Group. Thus, his friends Iñaki and Mª Luisa, “Goardia Zaharra”, have transmitted the initial spirit to the new generation. So, thanks to all those who work every day in Elhuyar, but above all to Iñaki and Mª Luisa, who for so many years have matured our initial commitment and, on the other hand, you know that the rest of “Goardia Zaharra”, at our level and according to our possibilities, we are always ready to collaborate. Congratulations and follow us over the next 25 years!