From Upvalley vineyards to Vietnam

By John Lindblom, For the Register

Nena Talcott helps run an organization that most Americans have never heard of, helping tribes of people most of us don't know even exist.

But Talcott a 33-year resident of St. Helena, is making a big difference to the people in remote villages of central Vietnam, where members of ethnic tribes still struggle with daily danger stemming from the Vietnam War that ended more than 30 years ago.

Within days, Talcott, who is member of the board of directors of Global Community Services Foundation, will make another visit to Southeast Asia, heading up a fundraiser on Jan. 18 in Hanoi.

GCSF is concerned with building homes, medical clinics and infrastructure for the areas populated by the Van Kieu and Paco minorities.

"These people are the poorest of the poor in their country," said Talcott. "Because tourists don't go out into the bush where they are, they're invisible."

Talcott said up until now, few St. Helenans have known of her international efforts.

"There are so many good causes right here in St. Helena, I've always been hesitant to finger my friends for money. But we've had two fundraisers in Washington, D.C. and I'm hoping someday to have one out here."

Talcott said most of the money she hopes to raise next month -- some from selling paintings by Vietnamese villagers -- will come from businesses in Hanoi and the U.S.

That in itself represents great progress, as up until two years ago every dollar spent by GCSF came from board members like Talcott.

"We've put our own money up for the foundation and the seed money to build a medical clinic so more people who live out further can have access to basic medical care," said Talcott. "There were about 25,000 to 30,000 people in the area and there was only one doctor. They had no access to medical care and the clinic was badly needed."

Two years ago, Talcott sold the Napa Valley vineyards she and her former husband owned. At about that time Marcia Selva, a Virginia travel agent who founded GCSF, convinced Talcott to deepen her involvement with the group.

Help was needed in Vietnam, Selva said, where both Selva's husband and Talcott's ex fought in the war.

"The French ravaged the country, we ravaged the country and the Chinese tried to come in on our shirttail," said Talcott. "The last 20 years are the first time in modern history that Vietnam has been at peace. The Vietnamese are wonderfully industrious people, and only about 15 percent of the population is old enough to remember what they call the American war."

Talcott found the charitable work and opportunity to deepen her ties to Vietnam formed a perfect combination.

"I fell in love with the country, and I love the philanthropic part of what we're doing and the adventure. Maybe that's why it works for me; it incorporates both of those things."

Talcott emphasized that the home-building and medical efforts generate more activity driven by locals, who have improved electricity and infrastructure in the areas where GCSF has made a difference.

The organization also works with people of Inle Lake region in Myanmar, another country decimated by years of war and turmoil.

Global Community Services Foundation will direct much of its future work to Myanmar and to projects in Thailand and Cambodia, Talcott said.

"Myanmar is close to Vietnam and, because it has a military dictatorship that is not very benevolent, it is even worse off than Vietnam," she said.

While Vietnam is in many ways still dealing with the scars of war, Talcott said she's found the people there eager to embrace the future.

"I am sure that there are many people in Vietnam who have a lot of hostility and anger toward the U.S.," she said, "but I've never met them."

For more information about Talcott's work with the GCSF, contact her at nena@talcottvineyards.com.

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