Adios Amigos, Vamos a California

It has been a long and great trip. We are back at the airport in Guadalajara, bags in hand, treasures in our hearts. Ready to return to the lives we know. As you know, we can't ever completely return home because a part of our selves now resides with our good friends in Mexico.

Que se vaya bien.

One Last Night of Dinner and Dancing

We certianly had a good time on our last night in Mexico. Dinner, Dancing, no speeches, lots of photos. If you wanted to eat, dance a bit then turn in, you could do that. If you wanted to stay out late and celebrate, you could do that too. Sorry, no dancing photos - if you want to see that you will have to join us next year.

The Business of Selecting Projects and Matching Resources

Saturday afternoon we had the meeting we had all been working towards. The District 5130 Rotarians met in a closed session to review the 60 submitted grant proposals. These had been prioritized by the District 4150 Rotarians, so we would have a guide as to their preferences.

Participants reviewed each grant in order. "Who had visited this or that project? What had they seen?" We worked together negotiating the resources committed by our clubs to select the most appropriate projects. Some clubs wanted to be the sole matching club to work with a Mexican Rotary Club. Others spread their committments out working with other California clubs. There was much to discuss, such a joyous and heavy responsibility.

Of the 60 proposals, 17 were committed to and fully funded. Others were partially funded with District 5130 participants committing to return and seek support from the California Clubs who had missed the opportunity to participate. Still other projects did not secure support. Not that they were not worthy, just that there were insufficient resources.

Telaquepaque - When You Care to Give the Very Best

Telaquepaque is a suburb of Guadalajara known for its wonderful shops, restaurants and vintage houses. It is beautiful. Here you see veteran Festival of Brotherhood Rotarians Jim and Kathy Flamson with their shopping treasures. They know where to go and how to enjoy every moment!

Some shopped and shopped, others dropped into a festive local restaurant to enjoy the atmosphere. You should have heard the all-woman mariachi band

District 4150 Breakfast and a Special Award

Saturday morning we were transported to a 4150 District wide breakfast to celebrate the Festival of Brotherhood. We filled a huge room with friends from both counties. Talking about what we had seen and introducing ourselves to Rotarians and spouses.Everyone seemed in awe of the power of people working together.

And then there were speeches. They were light, mostly short and heartfelt. But the biggest drama was the announcement of a new award. This is a special one, the National Carlos Canseco award for excellence in promoting the interests and goals of Rotary in Mexico. Here is District Governor Jorge Patillo explaining the award.

And here is our own District Governor, Ken Moulten accepting the award on behalf of District 5130. There was not a dry eye in the place. This is an honor that will live forever in our hearts and minds.

Off and Away to San Martin de Hildago

Many Rotarians made personal connections that engaged them for trips around and out of Guadalajara to see projects. Here is an example. Rotarians from a small and newer club have a fabulous proposal. They are investing in the health of people of their community by helping to equip a health clinic. The government helped the community to build the clinic, but does not suppy it. The club proposes to purchase ultra-sound equipment. This would facilitate examination of pregnant women and also detect some kinds of cancers. Equiping this clinic is important as the nearest alternative is so distant that better than 50% of pregnant women receive no pre-natal care. A situation that leads to birth defects and complicatons. The San Martin de Hildago club plans to invest equal to the amounts they are asking a U.S. club to contribute.

The examining room is staffed by a doctor and ready. What it needs is the equipment!

After a Grand Opening, a Grand Celebration

During the morning event at the Hotel, we made arrangements to join different hosts for some home hospitality.
Here you see members of the Rotary Club of Telaquepaque a club rich in traditions and hospitality. The Rotarian pictured on the left became a Rotarian in the 1950's and is now over 90 years of age.

We had a gorgeous outdoor dinner on a warm evening, and got to know some wonderful Rotarians. Tis lovely to share stories, food, drinks and laughs.

Projects Morning and Afternoon

We visited a proposed project to install industrial grade laundry equipment in a shelter for abandoned or abused girls in Guadalajara.

The current laundry setup uses household washing machines. As there are more than 30 girls living in this house, the equipment is not designed for that load and must be replaced frequently at a high cost. This home was spare in its interior, but clean and the girls were delightful.


When asked who would like to have their pictures these two volunteered.

Matt Delaney from Windsor made an instant friend. This little girl is close in age to his own son.

A School and Therapy Unit in Guadalajara for Students with Cerebral Palsy

This street from shelters a courtyard leading to one of the big old houses in the center of Guadalajara. In rooms all over the building are classrooms where individuals with Cerebral Palsy receive physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and education. The furnishings are modest and well used; but appropriate.

The request is to help with the costs of equipment to furnish a shop where the program would start manufacturing wheelchairs. Currently these are all imported at great expense. Students with spastic (rigid) bodies could have chairs that are better designed for their own bodies - making life much more comfortable.

Thursday November 8th Official Opening of Festival de Hermandad XII

The excitement, the color, the speeches, the festival is open! We are greeted and guided by the leaders from Mexico District 4150 and the USA District 5130.

Wednesday Evening 8 PM - Welcome Cocktails and Mexican Dinner

We were welcomed in warm Mexican Style. This is the 12th annual Festival of Brotherhood, wonderful friendships have developed over that time. We intentionally mix at the tables, meeting new friends, greeting old ones.

Dinner starts late in Mexico. We chat late into the evening, catching up and preparing for the 0fficial opening of the Festival tomorrow morning.

Guadalajara by Day

We took the evening lightly, settling in after our travels, some went out, others settled in, We were free to do as we liked; and we did. Our Hotel is a block from the central plaza and cultural attractions of the old city of Guadalajara, a city of close to 3 million people.

On Wednesday AM we awoke refreshed and ready to explore our new environment. This is a free day until 8:00. Some traveled to ancient ruins for for a special tour organized by Dale Knight, others visited the Plaza and Museums and went shopping, still others kicked back read and caught up on email. Here you see the a square with a church and concert gazebo, the exterior of the main art museum and sample of the art work found there. Marvelous.

Gone to Guadalajara

We went to the Culiacan Airport for a AirMexico flight to Guadalajara. Here is where the main part of the festival will occur. Mexican Rotarians from the surrounding states will conference with us. Later they will present proposals at a project fair and take us to visit project sites. The beat goes on.

One Last Culiacan Home Hospitality

The Culiacan and Novaleto clubs arranged a suprise climax to our visit to their area. The suprise was that you would dress up, show up in the lobby, and someone would pick you up and take you to a home based sendoff party.

Here you see DG Ken being handed a microphone - he actually deported himself well - though bilingual members of the audience say that Pam, his translator and wife gave a different speech than he did.... ;)

We were all appreciative and "felt the love" as kind words and thoughful gifts were exchanged. And afterwards what did we do? PARTY!

A Distant Addition to APEC

About an hour east of Culiacan this small community in the mountains has a population of approximatey 60 persons with severe physical disabilities. It is not practical or humane to transport those individuals to Culiacan for the daily treatments needed. Instead, a group of parents sought permission to utilize an abandoned police station to establish a site. Here you see some of the families who came to show us what they are planning. They are going to work with the Tres Rios club to send parents to the Culiacan Pediatric Hospital and APEC for special training to follow through on the clinic recommendations made by professionals. After they have the site cleaned and do some remodel work, Tres Rios will be seeking support to equip this clinic for the community.

You might have noticed this is three proposed projects by only one club

This blog has focused on Tres Rios as that was what the photographer saw. The other clubs all had equivalent projects of a compelling nature. These clubs do a lot of things with their own time and money. It looks like we will be able to come here to work with our friends for years!

If It's Monday Then This Must Be Sinoloa

Now out for a 2nd round of potential project site visits, we travel east, to see a school where the two buildings were old when you started in school. There are no government monies to rebuild schools. The Rotarians know we can not get matching grants to build buildings - they plan to support the families of the students and the community with materials and expertise when they remove the old buildings and put up new ones. Here we are with the school teacher (center with blue blouse). She teaches a multigrade class in the morning and another in the afternoon, serveing a total of 54 students. Wow!

Monday Morning, A Visit to a Past Festival of Brotherhood Project

The Rotary Clubs of Sebastopol Sunrise and Culiacan Tres Rios worked together three years ago to construct a matching grant to put a weight scale in the neo-natal clinic of the local Pediatric Hospital. Here we see David Mark-Raymond from Sebastopol Sunrise and Tony (Physician and Rotarian from Tres Rios) visiting that successful project. The scales get a lot of use. A premature baby weighing less than 2 pounds was using the unit at that moment. The battle to save this child is won or lost on grams; accurate measurement gives the medical staff the information they need. Makes you feel proud to be a Rotarian and to associate with such magnificent people.

After that Great Meal Let's Frolic by the Sea

One of the clubs is doing an environmental project to hatch and release tortoises into the wild. We were able to launch hatchlings into the water to start their independant life.

Rotarian Bill Groody catches the action.

Later, at sunset a number of us played in the waves - and caught a few by body-surfing.

1 Hour Later we are in a Restaurant at Nuevo Altata at the Coast

We were so pleased to arrive at the coast of the Sea of Cortez to find over a hundred Rotarians, spouses friends and family awaiting us. The sea food was fantastic, the open air coastal views were gorgeous and the companionship the treasure of a lifetime.

It's Sunday and Time for a Lot More Fun

Most project sites would be closed today so we took off to see Culiacan's agricultural and civic features. One highlight of many was the university botanical gardens. Pictured here are Napa Rotarian Harold Hauck and Diane Salinger.

Dinner, Dancing and Fellowship at DGE Jorge Monobe's House

After a day spent looking at projects, District Governor Elect Jorge Monobe invited all Rotarians to a Fellowship Fiesta at his house. The food was fantastic, the drinks inviting, the music and dancing intoxicating.

Poolside back at the Hotel

Time to kick back and relax. We had some quiet time to compare notes, "vege out" and take a dip in the pool. Everyone wanted to hear about the days adventures.

Dia de las Muertos

We were too tired the day of our arrival to participate in Dia de los Muertos celebrations, but as a part of our local or orientation, we were invited to a local cemetary to see the decorated graves. Respect and tradition signified by this effort is heartwarming.

Hello Rotary Goodbye Polio = Adios Polio Gracias Rotary

We were treated to a stop at the Adios Polio - Gracias Rotaria monument in a central location of Culiacan. Generations of Mexican;s are learning of Rotary's accomplishment. Rotarians in this area are especially proud as Past Rotary International President Carlos Canseco was instrumental in establishing the Polio Plus campaign and is from this area.

Notice the drop? That and a lot of effort investment and co-ordination are all it takes!