Day Seven Afternoon - Mission Accomplished!

Next the club took us to see a project that had recently been completed from the last Festival of Brotherhood. Working in conjunction with the Rotary Clubs of Sonoma Valley, Fort Bragg and Windsor, Jacotepic-Chapala received funding for a $14,000 matching grant to decorate and furnish a library and pre-school at a high school in Jacotepic. Looking at what was done, the clubs got a great return on their investment.

One of the items covered in a grant was a digital library checkout and tracking system.

So there you have it. When you work with this club, they get the job done and make your investment do the most good for the least cost.

Day Seven Afternoon - Off to See Projects

After the project fair, we signed up to go see the projects presented. Local clubs served as guides to see the projects. The Rotary Club of Jocotepec-Chapala is a small club but they are dynamite in accomplishments.  We traveled about an hour to see Ricardo Flores Middle School in Jocotepec near lake Chapala. There, a school of over 400 students, who go to school in morning and afternoon shifts (some teachers work a 12 hour day) have a computer lab with computers older than any of the students.  To say those computers were slow...........

So the idea is to get newer computer equipment to keep these students involved and up to date.

Day Eight, A Long Journey to San Antonio de Xavier

The robust Rotary Club Alamo has done many projects and have been effective partners for years.  This year they took us about an hour and one half into the country to see a small community they feel merits help. The problem is clean water.  The problem for San Antonio de Xavier, a town of more than 3500 people is that their drinking water source, a dam, is contaminated with Salmonella, E. Coli and agricultrual chemicals.  People are forced to boil their water or buy it (at great expense).  The proposal is to provide a municipal water treatment system - total cost $10,500, form a water district, then become self sustaining. People would still purchase water in bottles, but at a rate they could afford. Some money would be reserved from proceeds so as to cover costs, make repairs and improvements over time.

We met the two mayors of the area, the sitting mayor and the one who comes to office in January. A mayor in Mexico covers an area of cities similar to a county. Lupita, from the Alamo Club worked with the two mayors to secure their committment to funding, support and the grant of a place to secure the water treatment station.

After a good deal of discussion the incoming mayor declaired support and monies and land for the project.

So we stood for a photograph in the courtyard to celebrate the time of our visit and agreement.

We went to the dam to look at the water storage and water conditions.It contains a great amount of water.

As the water leaves the dam to head for the town, it is carried in an open culvert across country.

Some miles away the water arrives at San Antonio, it is turbid - with a high concentration of suspended solids.  The water is channeled through a settling process, an attempt to remove the solids for consumption and make it better for houshold use. The water at the end is improved significantly by this process, however, e coli, salmonella  and are not diminished by that.  The resulting water, in addition to being still contaminated still looks cloudy and does not taste good .

This is the site of the current water storage for the town.  The lot includes sufficient room for the equipment. The government agreed to provide protection for the equipment and the space.

This is the view from the water area down the street towards downtown. Although the houses look modest from the outside, most have lovely gardens and are carefully clean and maintained in the interiors.  A problem for this particular town is that mostly women and children live here. Many of their men have gone to the U.S to seek work. The women also work in the two factories located in town.

Day Seven The Project Fair

Before and after the panel and ceremony, Rotarians from Mexico had information about their various projects available. They set up at tables around the room. We could read the proposals, see photos and displays and sign up to go out to project visits today and tomorrow.  Here are some quick photos taken from display tables around the room.

Day Seven The Official Opening of Festival of Brotherhood XIV

Yes dear reader, the work up to now has been preparatory to the official presentation of project proposals. This Festival covers three states in Mexico. Clubs from as far away as Culiacan and 200 miles south of Puerto Vallarta have traveled to join us and see that their projects are considered. We try to see that every project is observed and responded to. The opening ceremonies were inspirational and brief.

An appreciative crowd listens as our panel of current and future District Governors and Foundation Chairs. Bruce informed us that by his calculations, more than a million dollars worth of projects have been completed since 2004. If you count the projects currently committed but still in process, it is apparent the amount is over $1,300,000.

Day Six Evening - Return of the Ties

We were joined in our little pre dinner gathering by Guicho and his wife, check out the ties! Guicho has always been a fantastic support for Festival of Brotherhood and is very popular with our clubs.

The Californians gathered for a bit of celebration, our newly arrived team members were rested and ready for the first organized event to include all of us. Kirk Brown, District Governor, Jim Flamson, District Governor Elect, and Maureen Merrill, District Governor Nominee celebrate the moment that Maureen is awarded her special monkey - carry it proudly Maureen - don't lose it in your purse!

Rotarians from all clubs gathered, a reunion for many who have been a part of the Festival of Brotherhood for 14 years.

Lupita from the Alamo Club and Dale from the Rohnert Park Cotati Club visit and catch up. Their clubs have a long term special relationship; a brother and sister club.

Past District Governors Bruce and Manobe open the event. Bruce was announcing that over 77 FOB grants have been completed between our clubs. The matching grants already in process bring us up to 99. The next grant committed to will bring us up to 100. Congratulations everyone!

Kirk relates his gratitude and admiration for the hospitality and accomplishments of our host clubs.

District Governor Guicho draws warm applause for his words of welcome, encouragement and optimism.

Day Six Morning, A Visit to Downtown and FAEE

After the show, we enjoyed a snack provided by the teachers. If you notice the Rotary Wheel on the wall in back it is symbolic of the support provided by Rotarians. The clubs in Mexico have done much. Also there are three clubs in our district who have worked on projects here.

A few blocks from the downtown squares we came to FAEE http://www.faeemexico.org/   It is a program that teaches individuals with disabilities of differing ages the skills of living and success. Mexico is not able to provide much in terms of support for these individuals. That support comes from whatever the communities will provide.  The students have teachers for language, math, art, culture health and practical skills. We were treated to a demonstration of cultural dancing. The students were accomplished dancers and proud of their showmanship.

There is a stonecutters fair in one of the downtown squares. Approximately 10 stonecutter shops and artists had set up to show their work and how it is done.

Here is part of our intrepid group. We are now joined by Rotarians from our District 5130 in California who are coming for the 2nd portion of the Festival. We were guided by Librado from Chapultepec Club. He is very knowledgeable about the history of his city - and took time off from his electrical conracting business to make us comfortable.

We were on our own for breakfast, at 10:00 we met in the lobby to walk through the square and to see our first program.  Here is one of the old cathedrals seen across a square.