Record of Event pg 1 of 2
26th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project
Where: Los Torres – Maria de Jesus & José Miguel´s house
When: 23.04.09 12.00 -3.30pm
Who: Chela, Holly Yasui (Cedesa), Laura (Rotary), Ma Jesus, + 29 adults (including 3 men),
Purpose: Plan Phase II of the project with the community.
Order of discussion –
Chela welcomed everyone, & thanked Ma Jesus for hosting the meeting. Great under the shade! Chela re-iterated the difference between a meeting & an assembly, & asked for volunteer co-ordinator & secretary.
Concha was voted meeting co-ord, & Tere to take the notes.
3 things to cover
1. A review of the project, what have we learnt? Why are we having this meeting? Contaminated water, quality of water. One of the women mentioned that only 1 person in her family has obvious problems with their teeth from the water, & wondered if there was an explanation. (we couldn’t answer that).
It was re-iterated that only those that choose to participate will be able to receive the cisterns.
Ma Jesus (the delegada) said that she hopes that they will have more meetings of this type so they can take more responsibility for issues in their community & speak up more. They would also like to learn how to improve their lives without destroying or negatively impacting the environment.
Chela said
• “people who are quiet will never be heard” as a motivation for others to speak.
• Dont be embarrassed to talk
• You have the right to protest
• If we don’t speak we remain objects, we need to speak to become subjects
Others said
“it´s useful to come to meetings to learn how to come to agreement”
“they learn & decide many things”
& the kindly town drunk said “come to meetings to refresh your heart”.
One very shy man spoke up for the first time to say that he was really surprised how easy it was to build a cistern, he thought it was going to be much more difficult & that it involved welding.
Everyone agreed that they enjoyed the inauguracion on 4.4.
2. Monday & Tues Next week Benigno will come to LT to look at spec.s of each location (with each family).
A number of people decided to wait until phase III so that others could have their cisterns built. Josefina Barranca, Rosa, Dulce, Consuelo, Cruz Rodriguez, Matilde, & Alejandro.
New groups were created for co-operative construction.
Record of Event pg 2 of 2
26th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project
Group 1
Jose Miguel & Maria de Jesus
Hilaria Cruz & Elerterio Ramirez
Concha Alvarado & Santiago Cruz
Juana Barranca & Geronimo Maya
Ma de Carmen Barranca & Rafael Cruz
Porfiria Alvara & Guibino Ferrer
Juana Ramirez & Candido Soria
Group 2
Juan Alvarado & Catalina Landin
Guillermo Alvarado & Delvina Navarro
Reyna Alvarado & Pedro Barranca
Teresa Ramirez & Delfino Alvarado
Juan Sanchenz & Gudelia Alvarado
Maricela Barranca & Guillermo Alvarado
Fabiana Maya & Videl Ferrer
Group 3
Primo Barranca & Ofelia Alvarado
Domingo Mendez & Maria del Ramirez
Maria Soria & Sabino Maya
Maria Dolores Ramirez & Augustin Lara
Cecilia Cruz & Abel Gonzalez
Magdalena Barranca & Leobardo Gonzalez
Group 4
Lucia Gonzalez
Leova Barranca & Samuel Garcia
Maria Guadalupe Barranca & Jesus Martinez
Pabla Ramirez & Hermelando Ferrer
Carolina Cruz & Gerardo Gonzalez
Cecilia Barranca & Aurelio Barranca
(NB I did not get all the groups correct, as there is a total of 27 families & I only have 26)
The plan is to work simultaneously in each group, ie each group to build all the cisterns in that group at once. Once they have worked with Benigno to design the system & cistern placement & piping for each house.
Two from each group will go with Benigno to each of the family houses & arrange the date materials to be delivered & work to begin. Benigno will meet at 10am at the school.
Meeting closed 3.30pm
Next meeting 11am 28.05.09 at Chucha’s house
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
25th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project
Record of Event pg 1 of 1
25th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project
Where: Cedesa Dolores
When: 16.04.09 2.30 – 4:30
Who: Chela, Holly Yasui Benigno (Cedesa), Laura
Purpose: Planning of Phase II of the project (Cisterns for 27 families), discussion re roof types, filter possibilities, purchase of materials & general catch up.
Filter options, there are various methods of removing bacteria & viruses (should there be any) from the water.
Cedesa have been testing the efficacy of the methods during their weekend water diploma workshops. Still to determine the best option. Or whether in fact any filter is necessary.
Maintenance instructions, Benigno & Chela gave me a copy of each of their booklets, (they have booklets for each technology they teach). I will copy the cistern booklet & give it to the Delegada & her husband in Los Torres, for community reference.
Cisterns in school, maybe the children at the school could join in during construction.
Nopal orchard at the school – Benigno to look at the orchard when he is at the school overseeing the construction of the cisterns.
Purchase of materials in bulk – there could be a big discount on the cost of the materials, since we are purchasing in bulk. There may be the possibility of putting this saving towards phase III & reducing the cost of Phase III.
25th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project
Where: Cedesa Dolores
When: 16.04.09 2.30 – 4:30
Who: Chela, Holly Yasui Benigno (Cedesa), Laura
Purpose: Planning of Phase II of the project (Cisterns for 27 families), discussion re roof types, filter possibilities, purchase of materials & general catch up.
Filter options, there are various methods of removing bacteria & viruses (should there be any) from the water.
Cedesa have been testing the efficacy of the methods during their weekend water diploma workshops. Still to determine the best option. Or whether in fact any filter is necessary.
Maintenance instructions, Benigno & Chela gave me a copy of each of their booklets, (they have booklets for each technology they teach). I will copy the cistern booklet & give it to the Delegada & her husband in Los Torres, for community reference.
Cisterns in school, maybe the children at the school could join in during construction.
Nopal orchard at the school – Benigno to look at the orchard when he is at the school overseeing the construction of the cisterns.
Purchase of materials in bulk – there could be a big discount on the cost of the materials, since we are purchasing in bulk. There may be the possibility of putting this saving towards phase III & reducing the cost of Phase III.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
24th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project Committee
Record of Event pg 1 of 2
24th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project Committee
Where: Los Torres Kindergarten.
When: 4th April 2009 12:30 – 3:30
Who: Chella, Holly Yasui, Quika & Benigno (Cedesa), John & Sharon Doherty, Gary & Marilyn Peterson, Steve & Laura & Abe & Ella Mae, David Bossman, Enrique Orvañanos (Rotary), Suzanne Ludekins (Atencion Newspaper), Jose Miguel & Ma Jesus (delegados), many members of the LT community.
Apologies: Enrique Nuñez (Presidencia), Donna Foudray (San Miguel Community Foundation).
Purpose: To celebrate the completion of the 12,000 litre cistern, by the Community assisted by CEDESA (& Funded by SMCF Grant) for the Kinder.
Summary of the day
We arrived at 12.30 to find the Kinder decorated with balloons & streamers. Everything was in place for a big feast & singing & dancing.
We first went into the kinder where CEDESA presented a power point slide show on the topic of water.
The show was set in 2070 & demonstrated the drastic situation that will exist if we don´t begin to treasure & conserve our water supplies.
It showed the dire health effects of not having sufficient water to drink & the effects on the environment. It was a very thought provoking display & the whole audience sat mesmerised (including young children).
Chela explained a little about the local situation, where the rivers (or should I say river beds) are & used her hat as a prop to explain the rapidly reducing aquifer & the resulting increasing concentration of fluoride.
This was followed by a presentation by 2 different speakers. One on the topic of genetically modified corn seed – there is currently a move by some of the large seed producers to introduce a new strain of corn that is genetically designed germinate only once.
This corn is patented & is being given to the people for free or for very low cost. The problem is you are not able to grow future crops with the seed from this strand of corn & the people will therefore have to purchase all future seed from these suppliers.
The other issue is even if you do not choose to grow this strand, it is likely to cross pollinate from neighbours & could cause your corn to not germinate in future.
It was impressed upon the Community, they should look very seriously at any corn seed before they buy it or accept it & do their utmost to protect the heritage of the seed they currently grow.
The other speaker spoke on the topic of nutritional health & wellbeing. She explained some of the issues relating to eating “junk” food, ie instant lunches & cheetos (which are predominant in the rural communities). She listed the benefits of growing food in backyard gardens & the link to general health & wellbeing. She stated that it was important for children to develop the habit & taste for good food.
At least 50 adults & 30 children had crammed into the small kinder to listen to these speakers & all of the information was well received.
Record of Event pg 2 of 2
24th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project Committee
The Community then moved outside to the Cistern. The kinder children were given small spikes from a cactus & loved popping the balloons skirting the cistern.
The delegada cut the ribbon, thank you´s were exchanged & the feast began!
We were treated to homemade tortillas, nopal, rice, & beans. With many cups of agua fresca. With a plate of fruit & cake for desert.
We staggered (with our full tummies) to sit & watch, first a song performed by Chela & the team from Cedesa & then a dance by the young children.
A fun day was had by all, & everyone left feeling uplifted by what we had experienced.
Photos abound – please see the links below.
Suzanne Ludekins from our local Newspaper attended & plans to do an article on the 24th April. I will forward this when we receive it.
photo albums:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lauramex/LosTorresPilotProjectDay1?feat=directlink
http://picasaweb.google.ca/sharondoherty008/LosTorresWaterHarvestingInaugeration?feat=directlink
24th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project Committee
Where: Los Torres Kindergarten.
When: 4th April 2009 12:30 – 3:30
Who: Chella, Holly Yasui, Quika & Benigno (Cedesa), John & Sharon Doherty, Gary & Marilyn Peterson, Steve & Laura & Abe & Ella Mae, David Bossman, Enrique Orvañanos (Rotary), Suzanne Ludekins (Atencion Newspaper), Jose Miguel & Ma Jesus (delegados), many members of the LT community.
Apologies: Enrique Nuñez (Presidencia), Donna Foudray (San Miguel Community Foundation).
Purpose: To celebrate the completion of the 12,000 litre cistern, by the Community assisted by CEDESA (& Funded by SMCF Grant) for the Kinder.
Summary of the day
We arrived at 12.30 to find the Kinder decorated with balloons & streamers. Everything was in place for a big feast & singing & dancing.
We first went into the kinder where CEDESA presented a power point slide show on the topic of water.
The show was set in 2070 & demonstrated the drastic situation that will exist if we don´t begin to treasure & conserve our water supplies.
It showed the dire health effects of not having sufficient water to drink & the effects on the environment. It was a very thought provoking display & the whole audience sat mesmerised (including young children).
Chela explained a little about the local situation, where the rivers (or should I say river beds) are & used her hat as a prop to explain the rapidly reducing aquifer & the resulting increasing concentration of fluoride.
This was followed by a presentation by 2 different speakers. One on the topic of genetically modified corn seed – there is currently a move by some of the large seed producers to introduce a new strain of corn that is genetically designed germinate only once.
This corn is patented & is being given to the people for free or for very low cost. The problem is you are not able to grow future crops with the seed from this strand of corn & the people will therefore have to purchase all future seed from these suppliers.
The other issue is even if you do not choose to grow this strand, it is likely to cross pollinate from neighbours & could cause your corn to not germinate in future.
It was impressed upon the Community, they should look very seriously at any corn seed before they buy it or accept it & do their utmost to protect the heritage of the seed they currently grow.
The other speaker spoke on the topic of nutritional health & wellbeing. She explained some of the issues relating to eating “junk” food, ie instant lunches & cheetos (which are predominant in the rural communities). She listed the benefits of growing food in backyard gardens & the link to general health & wellbeing. She stated that it was important for children to develop the habit & taste for good food.
At least 50 adults & 30 children had crammed into the small kinder to listen to these speakers & all of the information was well received.
Record of Event pg 2 of 2
24th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project Committee
The Community then moved outside to the Cistern. The kinder children were given small spikes from a cactus & loved popping the balloons skirting the cistern.
The delegada cut the ribbon, thank you´s were exchanged & the feast began!
We were treated to homemade tortillas, nopal, rice, & beans. With many cups of agua fresca. With a plate of fruit & cake for desert.
We staggered (with our full tummies) to sit & watch, first a song performed by Chela & the team from Cedesa & then a dance by the young children.
A fun day was had by all, & everyone left feeling uplifted by what we had experienced.
Photos abound – please see the links below.
Suzanne Ludekins from our local Newspaper attended & plans to do an article on the 24th April. I will forward this when we receive it.
photo albums:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lauramex/LosTorresPilotProjectDay1?feat=directlink
http://picasaweb.google.ca/sharondoherty008/LosTorresWaterHarvestingInaugeration?feat=directlink
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