Welcome
Thank you for visiting the home of the Raatior Ventures. Here, you can find information about who I am, the services I provide, and the various projects that I am passionate about. You can also find my blog where I reflect on the issues that I find interesting, encouraging, disconcerting, enlightening, disturbing, mysterious, refreshing,...
What Matters to Me
“If you have come to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.” -Aboriginal saying (Lila Watson) In this ever changing world where colonialism has been replaced by globalization, one has to claim some semblance of roots and values. Otherwise, the...
Projects
When I’m not at my daytime job at Santa Clara University and my full-time gigs as husband and dad, you can find me working on my projects. These are work of love and ways to keep me focused on the needs of others…something I learned from the Jesuits who trained me. These are not projects that will change the world, but hopefully...
Women’s center launched new website
Happy to announce the successful launch of the new website for the Walnut Avenue Women’s Center (www.wawc.org), a local “strength-based family resource center.” This is an especially gratifying project because my lovely wife Desha is a member of the Board of Directors for this great organization. From the start it looked like it was going to take forever to get it done. Thanks to Cita who rallied the troops and we were able to launch their site.
Read MorePassing of a great Micronesian role model
I join my fellow Micronesians in mourning the death of one of our founding fathers, the late Chief Justice Andon Amaraich who passed away on January 26, 2010 at Straub Hospital in Honolulu. Amafel Amaraich was one of the founding fathers of our nation who came from one of the small outer islands in the Mortlocks. Most notable during his long career in public service was his leadership in the negotiation of our treaty called the Compact of Free Association with the U.S., and his personal involvement in drafting the FSM Constitution. He also left his mark on the global community as the first Secretary of the FSM Department of External Affairs before his appointment to the FSM Supreme Court. At a time when Chuuk suffers from seemingly endless negativity, the life and legacy of this great man and public servant shall stand forever as our inspiration.
Read More$2.4 million CIP Funds: Here we go again!
The FSM Public Information Office has just announced (Presidential Order to release CIP Funds to Chuuk Municipalities) the signing of a Presidential Order releasing $2.4 million worth of Capital Improvement Project (CIP) funds to the Chuuk State municipalities. These Compact funds, according to the press release, were given to “the rightful owners” to help alleviate the “current economic hardships” in Chuuk. This decision by President Mori came after years of failed negotiations with our inept Chuuk State government to establish proper accountability procedures in Compact spending. So, is this welcomed news or should every Chuukese citizen be worried?
Read MoreWharf to Wharf Challenge 2010
Today, I’ve launched a challenge to other members of the Weight Watchers community to join me in running the annual Wharf to Wharf run in July, 2010. Known affectionately as “the best little road race in California,” the Wharf to Wharf run was founded in 1973 by some local folks. Today 15,000 enthusiasts travel from all parts of the world to compete or just to experience it. Proceeds from this annual event go to sports programs in local schools and organizations. It starts at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk / Wharf and ends at the base of the wharf in Capitola By the Sea. I’ve always wanted to do this run, but never felt healthy enough to do it. Hopefully, it will catch on as an annual event for WW members. If anything, the low-point bonfire beachparty afterwards could be fun.
Read MoreKiva loans
I have microlent to:
Paulina
| Location: | Peru, Ayacucho |
| Activity: | Internet Cafe |
Fatoumata Dabo
| Location: | Senegal, Ziguinchor |
| Activity: | Clothing Sales |
Mugandu Group, Kihihi
| Location: | Uganda, Kihihi |
| Activity: | Livestock |
I am Vid Raatior, an international educator, web designer, social entrepreneur, and blogger from the outer islands of Chuuk, Micronesia. I live in Northern California and work at Santa Clara University. 
