Minutes of General Meeting
June 24, 2008

Welcome

• There were no new attendees.
  
  No new items were added to the agenda from the floor.

Old Business

• River Cleanup
• David reported completion of the river cleanup project.   We are waiting for information from Juan about Parra burying the construction material.   It is our understanding  that the labor is free.  We appreciate their generosity and plan to  tip the drivers. 
  
  We will continue picking up trash in town on Fridays, meeting at the Plaza at 7:00 am.
• Brochures
• Ana reported the brochures are ready for printing.
  David suggested that we wait until school resumes before printing the brochures. We may be changing the frequency of our meetings. This idea was accepted.

Treasury Report

• Jacque reported expenditures  of 300 pesos for the garbage collection men and 1250 pesos to reimburse Manuel for trash barrels.  We have a balance of approximately 36,000 pesos.

Committee Reports

• Environmental

  Nothing to report

• Garbage

  Werner distributed the Garbage committee recommendations and read through the items, noting that the committee met five times during the month of June. David received permission to put the recommendations on the Amigos website.
  
  Ron stated it will cost approximately 8,000 to 10,000 pesos to build a trash collection site. This will pay for the materials and we hope the contractors will donate the labor. In exchange, they can hang a sign on the structure advertising their work.
  
  David mentioned that the websites used by the Garbage Committee are losamigosdelapenita.com and prosayulita.org.
  
  Werner asked for help translating documents to make presentation at meetings easier. David suggested that the officers can translate a document if it is received in advance of a meeting. Brian said Office 2007 has a good translator.
  
  Werner stated that government contacts are critical. Government can supplement our funds and together we can get more accomplished. We need to be a “squeaky wheel”, and make our presence known. Ron said we need a Bahia de Banderas contact. Rodrigo Pena (Lo de Marcos' delagado) may know the names.

• Recycling

  Ana reported that some of the Recycling Committee members (Ana, Lupita, Yajaira, and David) visited the San Pancho recycling center yesterday.  The center was started with a government grant of $93,000 pesos.  When Ron asked if the center had a bad aroma, Ana said no.  One or two people maintain the center and the grant money pays their wages.  Eric Saracho (Administrator of the facility) says it must be kept clean or the city will shut it down.  The facility is well organized.
  
  The committee is looking for a location to store recyclable materials in Lo de Marc0s.    They will ask the Delegado for an indoor location and are soliciting suggestions from everyone.  Ron and David identified two possible locations: by the sewer treatment center south of the plaza or in the plaza next to the Ejido building.  Lupita said the Ejido building has been remodeled recently but the rooms are small -   4X4 meters,  no chairs,  empty.
  
  David suggested the officers investigate whether the building could be used for committee meetings.
  
  Ana said the Recycling Committee will continue to look for a suitable location.  We will also need someone to monitor the site.  Contamination of recyclables is a problem.  She also explained the process of altering glass bottles into usable glasses that are sold in the the store Entre Amigos in San Pancho.  The products are sold as quickly as they are made.
  
  David mentioned that the recycling center is presenting programs for schools.  One  program, for example, is a puppet show about recycling.  We will stay in contact because they would like to present their programs in Lo de Marcos.
  
  Ana displayed place mats and hot plate pads made of rolled up circles of newspaper and plastic bags.  Diana described cutting plastic bags into strips and crocheting.  Bonnie discussed the Canadian trend of replacing plastic shopping bags with canvas or light weight material bags which are more durable and reusable.  This idea has been discussed by the T-shirt committee.

• Membership

  Jacque reported no change in membership.

• Signs

  Ron said the price for an Amigos sticker is 25 pesos.  He is waiting for a sample to see if  it's appropriate for trash cans.  He will bring the sample to our next meeting.  Ana suggested painting a sealant over the sticker after it has been affixed to a trash can.

• Website

  David reported that one more article needs to be translated to spanish.  Jacque will create two sets of member's email addresses (one for Spanish speakers, the other for english).   Emails will go out this week announcing the website.
  
  Ron said the Sayulita Amigos website has a link to PayPal link for donations.  This was met with enthusiasm and the Website Committee will investigate.
  
  David reported the website has received one email about summertime flooding in Lo de Marcos.  Rob responded that some areas are subject to flooding, including the one referenced in the email.  He is recording the number of website hits as well as the location initiating the hit.

New Business

• None.

Open Discussion

• Brian said he saw workers taking measurements along calle Las Minitas, the paved road near the beach. He wondered if it was for a new road. No one had more information.

Meeting adjourned

• Twelve people, including five officers, attended the meeting.