Where: Vivienda de Arriba
When: 23.3.11
Who: Communities of the Consejo, total 69 community members + 11 kids
Pre meeting @ La Cienegita Church: Holly, Saul, Chela (Cedesa), Laura (Rotary)
The team met briefly to propose points to cover & raise. 10.-10.45
Meeting in Vivienda de Arriba began at 11.45
Vivienda had prepared the área with a big tarp stretched over the church courtyard to provide shade, they had also provided a lot of chairs.
Saul opened the meeting & called for a co-ordinator & secretary for the day.
The communities introduced themselves & the people who had come to represent.
1. Corralejo Abajo – 2
2. Villa de Guadalupe – 7
3. Cinco Senores – 2
4. Tierra Blanca 14
5. Los Torres – 7
6. Vivienda de Arriba – 2 (all the others were cooking for us!)
7. Montecillo de Nieto – 2
8. Capaderillo – 3
9. Vivienda de Abajo – 2
10. La Palmita II – 8
11. La Cienega – 3
12. Juan Gonzalez – 6
13. La Tinaja – 2
14. San Lorenzo – 2
15. Presita de Santa Rosa – 1
16. Cruz del Palmar – 3
17. Guerrero – 5
18. La Aurora – 0
Co-ordinator elected was Roberto, & Secretary was Rosalba (the daughter of Antonia from Juan Gonzalez).
Roberto asked the assembly what points they would like to deal with?
• Sanitarios Solicitud
• Cisternas
• The meeting in SMA Cedecom with Presidencia (review)
• Chela – Estudio Campesino – Encuentro – conf. Advice
• Report of the DF on the subject of in defence of native Maize
• Chela – reflection of the day today, ie what is this meeting about
• What is the importance of the representatives of the Consejo
• “El Consejo Cuidadano del Agua Rural del Municipio de SMA”
Importance of the representatives of the Consejo
Chela asked the attendees who are the reps of their communities on the consejo, please stand & introduce themselves, so you all know eachother, as it is important to know eachother well.
They stood & stated their names & who they represent.
Reps from Corralejo were not Consejo but came in their place.
1 rep from VdG & 1 substitute, but the substitute wants to be added as 1 rep has left ot the USA (Saul will help with change-over)
5 Senores, both are consejo, but need to bring a copy of the acta for the file to Saul
Tierra Blanca – both consejo…
La Palmita II will bring a copy to Saul
A Cienega 2 reps, will bring a copy to Saul
Juan Gonzalez – need to change the names to the correct reps.
Presita, Roberto is Secretary, needs to bring a copy to Saul
Guerrero, need to change names with Saul
MdN 1 rep of consejo
CdP – Cata Presidenta – needs to bring copy to Saul
La Tinaja – need to bring copy to Saul.
Chela apologised for taking so much time but stressed the importance of knowing their fellow members.
She described the micro regions & the community groupings, the structure of the consejo, the function & how it related by community, micro región & región. How the work is very important , & without efficiency, awareness & organisation there is no ability to be effective.
Why is this important?
So the authorities can hear us & we can work with them to achieve change & improvement in our level/standard of life, & development because development is the responsibility of each community, & individuals of those communities. The issues like fluorosis, dry toilets, bridges etc all need to be worked on, & if we dont do the work we will not achieve the resolution we would like.
There was then discussion on the potential to have a regional space where all could meet, one with facilities, & Cruz del Palmar’s community centre was suggested, Chela asked if it was important to have their own space? There was some discussion on this.
Chela suggested a property she had seen near the highway on the road that enters to VdA.
Cata agreed to investigate more with the owners who apparently live in DF.
Solicitudes de Sanitarios
The general questions was who have completed these requests or not, & the fact that they need to be signed & stamped by the delegado of each community.
Guerrero reps mentioned they had gone to the Delegado several tims but the delegado wont support them. An assembly was suggested, at which they could come as a consejo to talk with the delegado, as the delegado is supposed to be in service of the community. Cata explained this & suggested maybe they need help with this.
It was pointed out that this is a problem any community could experience so it’s important to know the process to work through this. It was suggested that Desarrollo Social should be invited with the Consejo to invite the Delegado to explain that he is there to support the community or step down. True community leaders work in the service of the community, for example these women here today are working in the service of their community.
Chela explained sometimes a delegado can become a casique (boss!), & it is important that the democratic process be supported, ie elected by majority.
Guerrero will call an assembly on 1st April at 4pm & invite delegado & ask for co-operation, Consejo committee members will attend to assist.
The presentation of the solicituds was discussed, MdN had done an excellent example, & printed it on a printer. (at this point I began thinking that it would be good to have a computer & printer available for community use & began the process with Bill Webb & Pedrito – funders of a previous Project, we now have this equipment available, Saul has a computer, printer, camera & projector for regional use, to make the development process more productive, gracias to Walla Walla & Tallahassee Rotary Clubs).
A date for a workshop to work on the Dry Toilet solicitudes was set, La Cienega Secondaria, 31.3.11 @11am, to créate a cover letter, ensure the applications are all complete & cost out the list of materials & constructin process.
Review of the Cedecom meeting
Lucy programmed a meeting with Dra Mejia re the Tierra Blanca issue.
Sapasma, Desarrollo Social, Ecology was there with Lucy
Talked about the well situations in Corralejo, La Cienega (concession owner has left the country), Los Torres (no electricity for the pump for 2 yrs now)
Meeting was a good result of Consejo efforts to organise themselves & prove you are working on your own issues.
Municipality was there in support of you & is committed to working with you to resolve the issues.
Consistent attendance is important.
Sapasma announcement was advised – ie that Sapasma has agreed to fund 2 projects total of US$35k to match Rotary funding. They will follow the model of Cedesa/Rotary team & then continue to do Projects in this way in the other regions.
Not sure which communities they will choose, the consejo wanted to ensure Laura conveyed the priority to Sapasma during the meeting she will attend with Enrique & the Sapasma director.
Brief report was given of the meeting with Dra Mejia, ie fluoride study through dental vans, & support for Tierra Blanca situation.
Encuentro Campesino
This is a proposed study/information day, everyone is invited to attend. Discussion topics will be subjects pertininent to campesinos & issues affecting them. Eg climate change, food source, contamination of generic seeds. It’s a chance for all to learn more about the issues, learning, discussing, deciding solutions/actions.
Review of attendance of Conf in DF
Humberto (one of the Young guys from San Lorenzo – interested in becoming a promoter/outreach worker), & Saul went to DF to attend a conference. Humberto gave a review of what he learned there & the subjects covered, eg transgenic seeds, movement of “infected” pollen, invasión of the seed, & it’s affect on native seed & the farmers.
The meeting ended at 3.10pm & we were all treated to a big feast.
Next meetings:
30.2.11 Tierra Blanca 11am Dr Ortega from Unam to work on Cancer issue, + plan H20 project
31.3.11 La Cienega 11am, Solicitudes for Dry toilets workshop
1.4.11 Guerrero assembly with Delegado & consejo council 4pm
6.4.11 Corralejo 11am (with 5 Senores, San Lorenzo & Villa de Guadalupe) to resolve Sapasma well sharing
4.5.11 Proposed meeting date for next Presidencia meeting with Consejo. Agreed that all the Consejo would go, not just the committee to the meeting. Saul + 2 reps will go to invite the presidencia to the meeting, (they will advise everyone when & where).
