9th report of the SMA Midday Rotary Montecillo de Nieto Water Project

Record of Event pg 1 of 3
9th report of the SMA Midday Rotary Montecillo de Nieto Water Project

Where: Montecillo de Nieto Kindergarten
When: 19.05.10 12.30 – 2.10pm
Who: Elena & Laura (Rotary), 23 adults including 2 men
Purpose: review of family cistern construction in progress

We arrived late at 12.30, supposed to be 12midday.

The group was assembled & waiting when we arrived.

Elena opened with a blessing, she explained this was a personal thing, not a Rotary thing.
She gave thanks for uniting us in this opportunity, & the harmony gained from working together in a team etc.

Chela called for proposals for a co-ordinator for today’s meeting.
“you have been working in groups so have experience in working in harmony, who do you propose?”
“does everyone know what a co-ordinator is & does now?” Si!!!
Carmela was voted Co-ordinator, with Margarita taking notes.

Agenda
• Revision of work groups/teams
• Revision of progress
• Plan next phase (completion of the remaining cisterns)
• Arrival of materials
• Traspatio (backyard) workshops, do you want them?

Chela asked, “do you want a fast meeting?” – Si!!
“then what do you need to do to ensure a fast efficient meeting?” – Participate!

Revision of work groups
Group 1
The first ½ of the cisterns are constructed, piping not in place yet.
All 6 have been working together with no big problems, all friendly…
Elena mentioned that problems can occur, but they should be considered an opportunity to get together & solve, with the right balance of good & bad progress is achievable.

They have constructed 1 cistern per week for 3 wks, so have now completed 3 cisterns. One has put her pipes in place, but it was after the rain a few days ago, so no water collected.

Group 2
This group is working ok together, it’s taking a while, about 1 mth.
Elena said it doesn’t have to be done fast, just well & with patience, she gave an example of her bougainvillea vine, it’s flowering beautifully, but it is 40 years old, so has taken time to get to this point.

2 cisterns have been installed 1 still awaiting piping to be installed, has worked well because they’ve been having a few drinks because it’s so hot right now!! (all had a good laugh at that)


Group 3
All have been working well, started well & are finishing well! One of the women complimented one of the young men that has been helping, she said thanks to him working really hard, they have progressed well. Everyone gave him (Gaston) a big round of applause!!

This is really unusual, to have someone not related compliment someone else publicly on their efforts is a first for the meetings we have attended. Chela reiterated the importance of volunteering & helping others, a huge show of respect & solidarity for the community.

They have installed 2 cisterns & just have one cistern piping to install.


Record of Event pg 2 of 3
Group 4
This group is working well now, there were only 4 working but after the mini meeting to resolve this, now 1 of the women not working, is joining in, but one is still not joining in. Maria Cruz is not interested in participating, & the community was asked if there was anyone else in their community who was more worthy to receive these materials…

After discussion, the community decided to build a cistern at the church with the materials originally intended for Maria Cruz.

The church is well attended, & it was agreed the whole community would benefit from this.

Planning Phase II
Group 1, Casilda Micaela & Irene
Group 2 Basilisa , Alejandro, Leonore RV
Group 3 Leonore RR, Soledad, Hermelinda
Group 4, ?? & Consuelo & Church
The cistern at the school will be the last one constructed.

It was agreed ½ of the groups would work on the church & ½ on the school.

Chela asked, at the end of all of this, what are you planning to do?
Someone responded “have a lot of drinks!!” “go to the beach & have drinks” Everyone cracked up, most have never even been to the beach!

Chela reiterated that the people of MdN are a good testimony of triumph of harmony, they have been working well in groups, & it has bought with it a reward, they have achieved a lot!!
They seem to have found it easy, when there were obstacles or problems, to ask questions, & work on things to resolve the issues.

Materials for next phase
Materials were to have been delivered 2 days ago, so should be here any day. They are to be delivered house to house…

Variable materials will be going to Eva’s house again, people need to come there quickly to collect them, rather than leave them there lying around.

Filtration question
One of the women asked if there was a need to filter the water.
Chela pointed out they have been drinking water from puddles in the river & from contaminated wells so this water is 100 x better, & then to be super secure they can use the SODIS method of purification of water.

Laura & Elena explained the very simple SODIS method (www.sodis.ch)
& that it is important to clean your roof between rain falls, ie divert the first rain after a long dry spell, & make sure the containers they use are clean & kept for drinking water only.

Chela - There is a new SAPASMA well being drilled near by. This well will without doubt be contaminated with Fluoride (all water supplies in the area are contaminated). They contain poisons that are slow killers, fluoride, arsenic, manganese, you can not see or taste them, but bit by bit they accumulate in your major organs & do damage.

Traspatios workshop
As promised Chela talked to Benigno about coming to MdN to do the traspatios workshops.
She asked if anyone currently grows their own food, no, they all buy their veges.
Chela asked if anyone has a lot of nopal growing near their place so they could bring the “paddles” to share, to get people growing nopal. There were 1 or 2 people.

Chela has asked Benigno to come to MdN on his way to Los Torres. He will come at 11am – 1pm on 2nd June 2010.

The list of people interested are:

Record of Event pg 3 of 3

Leonore RV, Basilisa, Leonore RR, Eva, Micaela, Audelia, Griselda, Ma Elena, Hermelinda, Elena, Enedina, Lorena, Leonore RM, Maria Blanca, Irene
The traspatio workshop will be at the house of Leonore Medina. They will start on a house in the lower community & then one in the upper one.

At the end of the workshops hopefully everyone will have a beautiful functional backyard & in 1-2 years they will be producing their own food!

Traspatio workshop 2 June 11am-1pm

Next Assembly in Montecillo de Nieto 16 June 12pm at Kinder
(Report respectfully submitted by Laura Stewart)