Minutes of General Meeting
March 9, 2010


Welcome

  • All in attendance were welcomed. Project sheets for 2010 were distributed for review. It was noted that two projects have not received approval from the town's delegado or president: awning at the preschool and additional funding for a second recycling position. The project sheets also contain estimated expenditures for January through April.


Old Business

  • There was no old business.

Treasurer's Report


  • Judith Romiti reported $78,000 net profit from the Fundraiser held in February, 2010. (Gross receipts were $89,000 and expenses were $11,000). Our current balance of funds is $67,082.

Delegado / President Report


  • David Graff said the Vecinos Vigilantes (Neighborhood Watch) group elected officers and Yajaira Cazarez (an Amigos vocal) is an officer. The group meets the first Monday of each month, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm, in the main plaza.

Committee Projects for 2010

  • Only those committees with reports are listed.

  • Schools

    The banners for La Casa de Los Ninos are finished and were so pleasing to it's founders, Dave and Patti Martinez, that they ordered another to take to California.

    Amigos is looking for additional ways to fund our projects for 2010. The lunch tables at the Primary School offer an opportunity for individuals to contribute directly to a project. For $3000, you can build a table and we'll attach a plaque showing your name and Amigos de Lo de Marcos' name. At the close of the meeting, Jack and Daphne Bergeron donated $3000 for a table. Dave and Patti Martinez and David and Jacque Graff offered to sponsor tables as well.

  • Health Clinic


    Neil Fatin and Lupita Mesa met to discuss the need of the Clinic. They plan a trip to Tepic to purchase the supplies.

  • Drainage

    Water testing will begin April 5, 2010. Subsequent tests will be held on July 5, September 30, and December 31. Four sites will be tested: the estuary along Calle Las Minitas, the estuary on the north side of town, the ocean water at the beach, and a well in town. A lab in La Penita will perform the tests. Results will be published and after several samples are available, graphs will be done to show trends.

    The committee needs a small cooler in which to store the water samples. Please contact Roy McLean on 322-100-4901 if you can donate one.


  • Animal Protection and Control


    In January, 16 animals were spayed or neutered. In February, 10 animals were spayed or neutered. Several animals have been adopted as well.

    The mobile spay and neuter clinic is coming to Lo de Marcos March 17 to March 20. The clinic will be conducted at La Casa de Los Ninos, and many of their students will participate. The clinic has many needs, and a sign-up sheet was circulated during the meeting. There will be a planning meeting on Friday, March 12 at 10:30am in the plaza to begin organizing for the clinic. If you would like to help, please contact Ana Embury-Lewis at 327-275-0235. Thank you.

  • Security

    Ron Cothren and Rich McBride have been gathering emergency contact numbers for dissemination via magnets and on the Amigos website. To verify the numbers, they will ask for assistance from a native spanish speaker. The committee plans to host a security presentation and continues to work on the details.

    If you have an emergency, dial 066 from any land-line phone and 080 from a cell phone. These phone calls are answered in Puerto Vallarta and dispatched to the proper authorities.

    Ron has begun involvement with the Vecinos Vigilantes program. He also talked with Nestor Palomera (the Lo de Marcos delegado) about an alarm system, in case of natural emergencies like the tsunami we recently experienced. If mounted atop the water town, the alarms could be heard throughout the valley.

  • Community Outreach

    At the recent chairpersons' meeting, the decision was made to combine the T-shirt and the Community Outreach committees. T-shirts are on sale at Clarita's Backyard Cafe. Please satisfy your shopping needs as we'd rather not store the t-shirts over the summer.

    Jacque Graff is picking up the calendars tomorrow and will offer them for sale immediately as many tourists are leaving for the season.

    Our e-mailing list is being expanded. If you would like to receive occasional emails from Amigos but do not wish to be a member, please send an email to info@amigosdelodemarcos.org. Your information will be kept confidential.

  • Website

    The website committee has been disbanded. It was formed to create the website and their work is done. The webmaster, Rob Morton, continues to update the website and will report to the officers now. Also, another person has volunteered to translate. Thank you.

  • Recycle

    The committee honored those who continue to volunteer their time and make recycling work. The program is successful. Yajaira Cazarez and Filemon Perez work daily. Mitch Schilling has loaned his trailer to the recycling effort. It holds a jumbo bag and three barrels, making it a useful vehicle for collection of recyclables. Pickups are done twice a week along a 15 km route.

    To find the Lo de Marcos Recycling Center, travel south on Calle Las Minitas. Turn left on Avenida Universidad and continue to the Y in the road. Veer to the left onto a street called Universidad. Turn right at the next corner and you will see the Center on your right.

    On March 1, a truck hauled away over 1040 kilos (or more than one ton) of recyclable plastic from our Recycling Center. Joe and Monica O'Sullivan, Yajaira Cazarez, Filemon Perez, and David Graff assisted in the effort while Jacque Graff planted water-wise plants at the Center.


  • Garbage

    The committee plans to build metal bases for 10 combination trash and recycle barrels during the next two months.

New Business

  • Easter Holiday
  • As in the past, Amigos will ask the delegado and the tourism people to install large metal dumpsters around town, especially at the most popular entrances to the beach. They will also be asked about lifeguards and the opening of the public bathrooms along the beach.
  • Other
  • New arrivals, Walter and Michelle were welcomed. They told of their relocation to Lo de Marcos after living in San Pancho for four years. Walter is a founder of Escuela del Mundo, a teacher of Tango dance, and an educator in the area of alternative medicine. Michelle has experience working with Eric Sarracho, a principal conservator in San Pancho. She has participated in water quality testing and knows how to raise awareness with the government. They are looking for a house to rent in town.

Meeting adjourned

  • Twenty people attended the meeting including four officers of Amigos.

    jg: secretary