Minutes of General Meeting
February 9, 2010

Welcome

• All in attendance were welcomed.

Old Business

• Fundraiser
• Sasha Lannon Kenny thanked everyone for their energy, help, and support in making this year's event so successful. One of the main goals was cohesiveness among the different cultures represented in Lo de Marcos, and it was achieved at the Fundraiser.
• Feedback is requested. If you have comments or suggestions, please send an email to fundraiser@amigosdelodemarcos.org. Thank you.

Additional Committee Projects for 2010

 

• Community Outreach
• The committee proposes three items: a community bulletin board, socials in the plaza, and portable Amigos banners. The bulletin board will be located in a central place in town, perhaps the plaza, and be available for postings by everyone. It will be constructed using tiles made from recycled plastic. The committee will host three more socials in the plaza featuring mexican music and a venue for community gathering. Portable banners, approximately 1m by 1m, can be displayed on vehicles collecting plastic for recycling or during other projects where Amigos is working. They will increase the group's exposure.
  
  Bulletin Board was approved by a vote of 27-4.
  Socials in the Plaza was approved by vote of 30-1.
  Portable Banners was approved by a vote of 31-0.
  
• Security


• The committee will order magnets that contain emergency phone numbers for Lo de Marcos. The magnets, offered as a community service, will be available to anyone.
  Magnets was approved by a vote of 27-4.
• Animal Protection
• The committee will purchase a large animal trap, used to capture wild animals (dogs and cats) who are then sterilized and released, thereby reducing the impact of wild animals. The committee requests more money to sponsor a spay and neuter clinic in Lo de Marcos, offering free sterilization and medical care to dogs and cats. This amount is specifically noted for the organization PEACE.
  
  Large Animal Trap was approved by a vote of 25-6.
  Spay/Neuter Clinic was approved by a vote of 28-3.
  
• Health Clinic
• The amount requested by this committee in January, 2010 was incorrectly calculated. This request corrects the estimate of medical supplies needed at the Clinic.
  
  Medical Supplies was approved by a vote of 30-1.
  
• Schools
• The project for the new Lo de Marcos Pre-school is a patio cover to increase their utilizable space. The Pre-school can have 21 children and the cost is $20 (pesos) a day per child. The project for La Casa de Los Ninos is two banners similar to the banner used by Amigos. The banners will increase La Casa's visibility. Two projects for the Primary school are outdoor lunch tables and outdoor bathroom doors. Lunch tables would provide a place for the children to eat lunch and the outdoor bathroom doors would provide more privacy than the stall doors. The Primary school also hosts a fundraiser and 10 volunteer days are requested to assist them. The purpose of their fundraiser is to acquire a public announcing system and a copy machine. The Secondary school projects are a white board and a TV wall mount for their computer lab. Currently the lab has 31 computers and only 12 work. Dave Martinez is investigating repair. A guest of the meeting, Sabina, mentioned a program by Apple to gift computers to schools. Perhaps this program is applicable to foreign schools as well.
  
  Pre-School Patio Cover was approved by a vote of 30-1.
  La Casa de Los Ninos Banners was approved by a vote of 26-5.
  Primary School Outdoor Lunch Tables was approved by a vote of 27-4.
  Primary School Bathroom Doors was approved by a vote of 26-5.
  Primary School Fundraiser was approved by a vote of 31-0.
  Secondary School White Board was approved by a vote of 31-0.
  Secondary School TV Wall Mount was approved by a vote of 28-3.
  

• Sports
• This committee will sponsor a sporting club, and is currently considering the adult volleyball team. There were recommendations to focus on team sports for children.
  
  Sporting Club Sponsorship was approved by a vote of 26-5.

New Business

• Treasurer's Report
• Judith Romiti reported a preliminary gross profit of $86,722.50 (pesos) from the February 6th Fundraiser. Donations and expenses are still outstanding. Current balance of funds is $92,297.30. Amigos de Lo de Marcos now has a bank account at Bancomer.
  
  

• Delegado / President Report
• After the discussion at the previous general meeting caused two members to leave abruptly, the officers revisited the issue of the six month residency requirement for Amigos officer qualification. The officers differentiated between guidelines and rules. Rules are imposed by the government for civil associations. Guidelines are determined by our group. Therefore, the six month residency requirement is a guideline because it is not imposed by the government. If a candidate believes he or she can manage the duty from afar or can share the responsibility with a local resident, there is no prohibition.
• The officers meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month. They are open meetings and other members are welcome to attend.
• There is a Vecinos Vigilantes program being implemented in Lo de Marcos. It encourages neighborhoods to assist in their own awareness and protection. Meetings are in the plaza every Monday at 4:00 pm.
• Nestor Palomera, delegado of Lo de Marcos, and Victor Carrillo, president of Lo de Marcos, are continuing to research the funding for a second position in the recycling endeavor.

Committee Reports



• If you have a concern or a project idea, join a committee! Committees are where the decisions are made, the work happens, and the projects are developed.
  
  

• Garbage

  There is a persistent odor at the first garbage collection site. The concrete floor and walls have absorbed the smell of garbage. Power washing has occurred but it ruins the concrete. Werner Rohde offered tiles if someone would like to install them.

• Senior Center

  The Seniors in town are in need of reading glasses which can be obtained from Dollar Stores in countries north of Mexico. If someone is coming to Lo de Marcos, please purchase 10 pairs of glasses in varying magnification and take them to Clarita's Backyard Cafe. Give the gift of clear vision.

• Animal Protection

  The Animal Protection Committee wants to change their name to the Animal Protection and Control Committee. 'Control' refers to population control via sterilization clinics. The name change was unanimously approved.
  

• Fundraising comments are desired. Write to fundraiser@amigosdelodemarcos.org.

Meeting adjourned

• Thirty-seven people attended the meeting including six officers of Amigos.
  
  jg: secretary