Minutes of General Meeting
May 11, 2010


Welcome

  • Our meeting was preceded by a social hour in which people arrived at their leisure, ordered fish or shrimp tacos from Antonio at Mariscos Lara, and chatted with other members and guests. When the meeting began, all were welcomed. The general meetings will be held at Mariscos Lara for June and July, 2010.


Old Business

Treasurer's Report


  • Last month, authorized funds for committee work were disbursed to committee chairpersons. The amount remaining after distribution is approximately $10,000p.

    Amigos' annual filing with the government (SAT) is being prepared by Alma Parra, an accounting student, with her professors' assistance. The report will be available for filing next week.

Delegado / President Report


  • The monthly Officers and Chairpersons meetings have been canceled until October, 2010

Committee Projects for 2010

  • Only those committees with reports are listed.

  • Schools

  • Health Clinic

    Neil Fatin and Lupita Meza purchased supplies in Tepic recently. Next month, a new doctor arrives in Lo de Marcos, and additional supply purchases will be made according to his or her request. Lupita stores the supplies until needed at the clinic and receives a receipt upon delivery.

  • Drainage

    The initial water testing was done on April 8, 2010, the first of four tests scheduled for this year. Sites tested were the ocean, the lagoon in the middle of town, the lagoon on the north side of town, and the city water. The ocean water tested clean, suitable for it's everyday use. Both lagoons tested positive for fecal coliform, but with levels below the acceptable safe limit. The city water tested clean for general use, but not necessarily for use as drinking water.

    The samples were sent to La Penita and forwarded to a lab in Tepic. When Roy McLean takes the samples, he also records relevant environmental factors including the presence of fish, any noticeable odor, and the general condition of surrounding vegetation.

    The following chart was obtained from a website that reports of the water conditions of Lake Chapala, inland Mexico. The website explains the levels acceptable in Mexico but the chart below reflects the levels used by the USA. For more information ,please refer to www.amigosdelago.org/news/ColiformTesting-e.htm .



    Fecal coliform levels from Amigos' tests were reported as follows, per 100ml:

    Ocean < 1.8
    Lagoon in the middle of town 640
    Lagoon on the north side of town 350
    City water < 1.8

  • Animal Protection and Control


    There have been no committee meetings and the work has slowed down. In April, 10 animals were taken to the Bucerias clinic for sterilization and treatment. The Committee has two small animal traps available for loan and reports local people are using them to trap various animals. There is an animal spay and neuter clinic in Sayulita on May 20th and volunteers are needed to transport animals. Contact Ana Embury-Lewis, anadelodemarcos@gmail.com, if you're available. Thank you.

  • Security

  • Community Outreach

    Circo de Carton from Colectivo San Pancho will present their show for our May Social in the Plaza. La Casa de Los Ninos is working with Amigos to make this event happen. The show is free and begins at 9:00 pm on May 15, 2010.

    We have sold approximately 400 calendars and have plenty in stock for the remainder of the year. Almost all of our T-shirts have been sold. We will re-order in the fall.

  • Senior Center

  • Recycle

    Three people collect recyclables from street containers every Friday, collecting enough after six weeks to equal more than one ton of plastic. Eligible plastics are those labeled with a '1' or a '2' in the recycle triangle on the container. Aluminum and glass are also collected and recycled.

    Our recycling efforts are made possible by the EntreAmigos facility in San Pancho. They are the contact for the purchaser of plastic recyclables as well as the receiver of our glass recyclables. Please visit their facility and notice their creative ways of REUSE..

  • Garbage

    Ten barrels atop bases have been deployed around town. Ten more will be placed next week and 10 more constructed in the fall. Each unit (base and barrel) costs $600p.

    Several people commented on the improved cleanliness of the town and discussion followed about trash on the beach. Because Girrsa, the trash company, will not drive down the sand roads to the beach, any trash barrels must be hauled up to the paved road, Calle Las Minitas. The Committee will consider 'development of trash containers for the beach' as a project for 2011. There were reports of bad odor at the Casita de Basura on Calle Las Minitas. The Committee will address the issue by cleaning the site and using lime to clear the smell.

    The Committee is in continuing discussions with Girrsa about more dumpsters. The company has been cooperative and their trucks pick up trash several times a week. In Lo de Marcos, the businesses must pay a trash pick-up fee in order to obtain their business license. Residents are not obligated to pay but it is customary to tip the men working for Girrsa as they pass on the routes. Attached to the back of the truck is an empty plastic bottle, used for the tips. Please contribute a few pesos to encourage and thank the workers for their continuing good service. Thank you

  • Sports

  • Officers Discretionary Fund

    From the Officers' Discretionary Fund, $2,000p was given to the President of Lo de Marcos, Victor Carrillo, to help sponsor the festivities of Lo de Marcos Days.

New Business

Meeting adjourned

  • Fourteen people attended the meeting including two officers of Amigos.

    jg: secretary