11th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Capaderillo Water Project

Record of Event

11th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Capaderillo Water Project

Where: Capaderillo House beside the church
When: Wed 13th Oct 2010 3.15 – 5.00pm
Who: Saul, Holly (Cedesa), Laura (Rotary), 61 people incl 5 men + 5 kids & 5 dogs
Purpose: To review the project, & to visit with other community representatives enquiring about water projects.

Many people were gathered inside the grounds of the house & outside, when we arrived.
Saul asked one of the women to call the roll. Of the list of 38, 29 were present 8 were missing.
There were additional people attending from other communities & the 2nd phase of the project.

The phase II people called the roll too – 25 present, 12 missing.

There were also 7 people attending from the community Presita de Santa Rosa.

The people were reminded that representatives can attend for missing people, but only 1 for 1.

Saul reminded everyone we need a co-ordinator & a person to take notes. He also described the role of the co-ordinator, to keep order, when people wish to speak they raise their hands & the co-ordinator “gives them the word”. Some people are shy to do it, but it is good to practice to be able to run your own meetings in the future said Saul.

It was decided Alma would co-ordinate, & Lupe will take notes for Phase I.

Holly reminded Alma to ask the meeting for points for the agenda today.
Alma was a little shy to do so, but repeated Holly’s words, points for the agenda were
1. Inauguration,
2. How the commission presenting the invites to the Presidencia went
3. Who is planning the program/logistics for the inauguration/regional meeting
4. Reflection on the completion of the cisterns project
5. Presita Santa Rosa’s report on their visit to Cedesa
6. Description of the cistern (for a new person attending for first time)

Item 1. Inauguration/Regional meeting on 22/10 at 11am.
Holly asked how they wanted to arrange the day, eg inaugurate the school only or personal cisterns. One woman suggested they could visit each cistern, Holly pointed out this could take a very long time as there are 38 family cisterns a long way from eachother.

There was discussion/debate re school only or house by house, someone suggested inaugurate the school & do a tour of the others.
Saul pointed out this could be complicated as in reality the authorities/invited guests will only come for approx. 2 hrs & we need to fit in the regional meeting too, could be a bit crammed trying to fit in a tour+inauguration+speeches+ food…

Holly suggested maybe an idea to take photos of each of the cisterns & put them on a mural for the visitors to see, a picture paints a 1000 words…
Laura volunteered to take the photos.
Alma asked for a vote who would like photos of all the cisterns & families – all agreed.
There was discussion about the best time & finally agreed Saturday at 10am, all would be ready & families should be present if possible.
Subsequently Laura & her mum Trish, met with Saul & Hermelinda & toured the community taking photos from 10am to 2pm on Saturday… those photos were printed at Office Depot & given to Saul to give to the community for presentation at the Event.

Photos can be viewed on the blog www.02h2o.blogspot.com under the caption Capaderillo.

As an aside, this photo taking event was a big deal, all of the children were in their best clothes, hair brushed, waiting for photos, most people don’t have easy access to photos here in the countryside of Mexico. There was much laughter & it was a fun day…The extra incentive to be in the photos was that they get to keep them after the event…

Item 1 cont.d
Food was mentioned, & asked if there were any doubts, no… everyone knows what they need to do & bring… Many people thought it would be good to have the food first since it will be difficult to keep it hot, but after much debate it was decided food should be at the end, or people will leave before the important speaking parts.

The delegado of Presita de Santa Rosa said “he felt the business should be concluded before the food, as the primary function of the day is to celebrate the conclusion of this project & explain the community needs to the authorities, if we have the food later people are more likely to stay the distance.”

“officials may only stay ½ hr, so we need to present info urgently”

The debate continued, food first or later…
Saul raised the other potential points for discussion, food,dance, speaking, introductions, requests.
One woman mentioned they had discounted having children dancing at previous meeting & therefore have not asked the teacher.

We confirmed the teacher has been informed about the event.

After much discussion the general order of the day was decided as
1. Welcome communities & authorities
2. School balloons & inauguration
3. Experience review
4. Community requests
5. Authority speeches
6. Food

There was a vote to make Saul MC for the day.
Holly will create a program handout for the day.

A question was raised about how many other communities are coming – potentially 20 in total, & how many would speak & for how long. It was suggested a commission be created to represent clusters of communities with the same water issues.

A comment was made by one woman that only the ones who have their cisterns should provide food. Someone responded that it is not just a party but also a working meeting.

Item 2 - commission to the Presidencia – review
A commission went to the Presidencia to present invitation to Inauguration.
They spoke to Lucy’s assistant & invite was received, no confirmation.
Ecologia & Desarollo Social were invited.
Sapasma was invited separately by Jesus.

Item 3 – Logistics of Inauguration event/commission
Things needed, chairs, tables, tarps, how to arrange the tables, where to place food etc,
Any doubts? No…

Item 4 Reflection of the process of making cisterns (cisterns project)
One woman has only a little water, she didn’t get her pipes connected in time & has only a small roof. It was suggested she could extend her roof before the next rains.

“I’m very happy – my water is delicious, I want to drink even more water more often!”
“when I open the tap, I’m always very conscious of how much water I use”
“I have water only a little above my tap, I didn’t finish very much before the rains ended”
“mine is ½ full”

Item 5 – Presita de Santa Rosa community visit to Cedesa
The community of PdSR had been invited to visit Cedesa, Holly arranged transport & they all contributed to the gas. They were asked to talk about their experience, they very bravely stood in front of the Capaderillo Community, who were all seated in a circle & spoke about what they learned/saw.

They said they were lucky to visit as they did not have much of an idea of what Cedesa was. “It was so beautiful & lush, with no rubbish, we looked at the Sanitarios Secos (dry toilets). Cedesa has spent a lot of time building rich soil, & growing lots of vegetables, fruit trees, worms etc If you get a chance to go I would really recommend it.”

A young man spoke “we were invited to eat, everyone washed their own dishes, they separated the grey water, I was impressed that the men were washing their own dishes too, in my house only women wash dishes”

Questions about Cedesa
Is it a community or a family or what?
It’s an association civil, not for profit, people living nearby working on producing their own food, milk, bees, an Ecoaldea.

How can we learn more? They have workshops re nopal tunnels, health, etc

Holly described it as a non profit organization, with training of campesinos as it’s mission.

Traspatios (back yard production workshops) are happening at Cruz del Palmar already & people can attend these workshops on soil conditioning, natural production, with worms etc.

Another option is a workshop on building ovens out of adobe to cook your own bread & biscuits.

There are many workshops available, if you want to visit we really need to ask Chela about that possibility, maybe followup with her on the 22nd Oct.

Item 6 – explanation of the project for a new person
How did you hear about this?
“I tried water from a cistern in Los Torres & I really like it, it’s better than the bottled water & I’d like to know how to get a cistern”

Saul read the description from the family form, it has information on it about what is required of the participants of the projects.

Additional Item 7 – description of Lions Clinic & Patronato Pro Nino services
Saul explained there are free glasses clinics on Thursdays from 9-11am, at Correo #63
They provide diagnoses & then free glasses depending on the prescription.
It is completely free.

PPN offers medical services to children under 17 years.
Saul gave the ph numbers for both services.

The next event will be Inauguration/Regional meeting on 22/10 at 11am

Next assembly (normally 2nd Wednesday, will this time be 3rd Wednesday since the 2nd Wed in Nov is saints day… Next assembly therefore 17/11/10 3pm