quick update MdN - Report 1 MdN Project Montecillo de Nieto
Hi guys,
Bill, let me present you to the team - Bob (I know you've met), Elena & Holly (whom you will meet in person on your forthcoming visit).
We have had 2 previous planning meetings, with this community, one at Casa de Aves (a local hotel that employs a large number of the community of MdN) & also the delegado (whom we have met previously at Presidential meetings involving his & the Los Torres communities).
These meetings would be considered pre-planning meetings, a handshake session, with a little bit of information imparted by both sides. Essentially to prove that the community is keen to be involved in this project, as they have seen at their neighbouring community Los Torres.
Thanks to Elena we had a very successful visit to MdN this morning. (Bob sorry that you were sick, hope you are feeling better).
We met with the 2 profesores of the MdN school - Hector Rivas & Leon Morales as planned.
They were very accommodating & organised, & had copies of the emails Holly & Irma & Elena had sent regarding the various things going on in MdN right now.
Re the Adobe Boveda Workshop - they are meeting with the community this Thursday & will choose 2 people to attend the workshop.
They have Holly's email address & agreed to send contact information & the 2 names to her after the meeting on Thursday.
Re the Foro
They will raise this topic at the Thursday meeting also & will forward details to Holly in the same way.
They said they will do their best to convince a couple of members of the community to present at the foro, but if not able to find someone for the presentation side, then they will at least impress upon them the importance of attending the Foro.
Re the MdN Community meeting on the 21st October
Change of time - now 12.30midday at MdN (they had a clash at 12 midday),
The community will be there & ready.
Re the Water collection project in general - they have some awareness about this already from a presentation by the Ecology dept, & a poster demonstrating the Water tank idea, & the project the Eco. dept has implemented at the school.
They feel sure that the community are very pleased to be involved in this.
A few facts:
the school has 64 kids
the kindergarten across the road approx 23 kids
there are approx 20 kids attending from nearby Taboada
the number of families in MdN was estimated at 45
the number of families in nearby Taboada is estimated at 10
It was agreed that Taboada should be included in the MdN project, as they are very close neighbours, & have the same water issues, they will also be invited to attend the 21st October prelim community assembly.
We explained we have sufficient funding (thank you Tallahassee!!) to begin a phase I of 26 cisterns.
As an aside - we had a look at the water collection system that the Ecology dept. has installed at the school.
Interestingly, despite having a capacity of 30,000 litres, the tank looks to be less than 1/2 full, which is less that should be at the end of the rainy season.
Only a small part of the roof has been included in this project, we could mention this to the dept of ecology, or we could maybe assist them to include a larger portion on the roof, to maximise this expensive storage system.
The meeting was from 9.30am to 10.30 am (Elena & I then spent some time exploring the neighbouring communities, re possible future projects.
Next Meeting 21 October at 12.30 at the MdN School,
with another meeting (a mini meeting with committee on foro, & proposed technical team) on 21st Oct at 4pm in Los Torres.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
30th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project
Record of Event pg 1 of 3
30th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project
Where: El Cortijo (behind La Gruta) & Los Torres Casa of Chuy.
When: 23.09.09 10.30 – 1:00pm
Who: Chela (Cedesa), Laura (Rotary), Holly(Cedesa), & approx 36 adult community members (including 5 men) (& tonnes of children!)
Purpose: Pre-assembly planning meeting & details catch up.
& Community assembly/meeting follow up.
Chela, Holly & I met first for a pre-meeting planning session & then headed for Los Torres.
.1. the Roll was called (using the list of attenders they have created, & checking th column when they respond “presente”.
.2. Difference between an Assembly & a meeting: Chela re-iterated the difference, an assembly must have a quorum of more than ½ the number of families in the community attending. A meeting is a group of community members gathered to discuss issues & recommend actions.
.3. The purpose of meetings & description of the attendees was discussed. The community commented that it is more than a meeting to discuss water cisterns, it is also for talking about traspatios, grey water etc. Chela called for a name of the group, many suggestions were made,
Eg assembly of progress, communal assembly, assembly of community health, assembly of development & progress, assembly of productive solutions.
Chela concluded that it is a space of analysis, discussion of solutions, & for making decisions.
.4. Chela called for proposals for the co-ordinator & record taker for today’s meeting. It was unanimously decided that Jesus (a young man of about 22) should be co-ordinator, & Concha would take records again.
(This was particularly interesting as Jesus had been involved in an issue during a previous assembly where he was accused of not working hard enough with the group & had walked out of the meeting – it was a meeting while I was in NZ – he had obviously gotten over this & was very keen & did a great job of co-ordinating a really busy meeting!)
.5. Jesus called for Agenda Items
Agenda was set:
1. Invitations to 2 events – Holly
2. Talk about consulting team creation “Equipo de acessoria”
3. Cruz del Palmar women attending – would like help to build cisterns in their community.
4. Review Maria & School cisterns – complete?
5. Conservation of water
6. Purification method
Agenda item 1.
Holly had 2 events to invite the people of Los Torres to attend
a) Adobe domed roof building workshop – this is a workshop being subsidised by a local foundation, for the purpose of teaching rural communities how to construct domed roofs out of compressed adobe.
There are 4 spaces for Los Torres community members paid for. This includes food, & a transport allowance & 3 days attendance at the workshop on 5,6 & 7 October.
pg 2 of 3
One of the women made the point that whoever attends should then demonstrate the building techniques to those that are unable to attend, since they are getting the workshop for free, as a way to share the technology.
Jesus Alvarado, Daniel Garcia (both young men of about 22), Manuel Alvarado & Santiago Cruz all asked to attend, (with Manuel Alvarado snr going as an observer as his hand is still damaged). Holly will co-ordinate via Daniel’s cell phone 415 114 5205.
This was discussed in conjuction with the 2nd Agenda item of creating a consulting team at Los Torres
B) the 2nd invitation was to for the community (whoever would like to go) to attend a Forum on Water, it’s a forum where the people affected by water issues get to share their experiences, in the hope that they can then network with other people similarly affected, & to meet representatives from organisations that are working in the field of water.
Holly asked if they would care to speak at the forum, on 2 topics, both the problems they faced & the solution they have implemented. A committee was formed
Marta Y Manuel, Chuy, Ofelia, Reyna, Carmela, Maria, Piedad, Carolina & Delfina.
A mini meeting is planned for 21.10.09 at 4pm, to work on the presentation.
Agenda item 2. Forming a Consulting team in Los Torres.
Laura & Chela proposed that a consulting team be formed, that can then work as technical consultants & trainers of future projects & for other communities.
There are many people in Los Torres that are able use their newly learned skills & experience to help others. For future projects we need to employ technical consultants, why not use the people of Los Torres?
It was suggested the team should be 3 or 4 people, & proposals were made
Juan Alvarado, Jose Miguel Cruz (delegado), Rafael Cruz, Guillermo Alvarado.
Most of the men were not present so their wives need to propose this to them & report back at the next meeting.
Agenda item 3. Cruz Del Palmar solicitation
This was a particularly exciting part of the meeting – the dream of this project was that this method of catching & saving water be replicated in as many communities as possible.
Today, 2 women from Cruz Del Palmar – a neighbouring community, especially came to the meeting to ask for help in implementing Cisterns in their community!
(Teresa Gonzalez & Lucia Ramirez Ramirez of Bella Vista in Cruz Del Palmar)
They stood & introduced themselves (no mean feat in front of such a large audience) & described their problem & asked for help. They were asked what they had found out about the LT Water project, & they said they found that everyone liked it & that it’s working. Chela asked them how they thought LT had done it – they responded “in groups!”
They have sporadic water delivery in their part of CdP, some of CdP has water from a community well on tap, others have none. We have no information of level of Fluoride contamination in this community.
pg 3 of 3
The LT people had various suggestions for them – including,
• form a group of people to do the initial work,
• then go door to door & survey the people in the community to see who would be interested in being involved in a water cistern project
• gather statistics (size of families etc)
• come back to the next meeting with the information they have gathered.
• Don’t expect the whole community to be involved, the LT people at today’s meeting are the ones interested in the LT community for example.
• CdP people could come & participate in the Phase III project to learn the process.
• The work has to be done in groups, it doesn’t work individually & you need to involve the whole family (including the kids) in the process
The LT people have become expert in the process of solving their own issues, so much so, that they are able to advise people in their situation!!!
Dependant on what information the women from CdP come back with, ie description of need, & statistics, Rotary may help in this community as well. We could apply for funding from SMCF again, so that we can do a demonstration training day.
The main point is - that word of the success of the LT project is getting around & the project is growing legs!
The women were invited to present their info at the next meeting.
There was a big round of applause for the women of CdP!!
They thanked us all & left.
Chela took the opportunity to discuss more general information about the watershed & the environment (this is her true passion),
Agenda item 4 Review of Maria’s & the School’s cisterns
Maria’s cistern is completely finished (as are all of them now), most of them are more than ¾ full, the delegado has added ANOTHER piece of roof & piping, so his is overflowing!!
The school cistern needs more piping, after discussion of how to solve this, Chela offered that Benigno would return to LT, assess the situation & purchase the necessary pipes (he has access to the funds needed & it would be more complicated to get someone from LT to do it re funds)
The School kitchen roof (for 1 of the 3 cisterns) needs to be covered – even if is only for the next few weeks of the rainy season, as the roof is asbestos & there is no more money in the budget to replace it.
Items 5 & 6 to carry over to next meeting. We ran out of time.
Next Community assembly 28.10.09 10.30 am
Forum planning mini meeting 21.10.09 4pm
Domed adobe roof building workshop (cedesa) 5,6,,7 Oct all day.
Forum for people affected with water issues, 24 October 9-6pm Near the Presidentia
30th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project
Where: El Cortijo (behind La Gruta) & Los Torres Casa of Chuy.
When: 23.09.09 10.30 – 1:00pm
Who: Chela (Cedesa), Laura (Rotary), Holly(Cedesa), & approx 36 adult community members (including 5 men) (& tonnes of children!)
Purpose: Pre-assembly planning meeting & details catch up.
& Community assembly/meeting follow up.
Chela, Holly & I met first for a pre-meeting planning session & then headed for Los Torres.
.1. the Roll was called (using the list of attenders they have created, & checking th column when they respond “presente”.
.2. Difference between an Assembly & a meeting: Chela re-iterated the difference, an assembly must have a quorum of more than ½ the number of families in the community attending. A meeting is a group of community members gathered to discuss issues & recommend actions.
.3. The purpose of meetings & description of the attendees was discussed. The community commented that it is more than a meeting to discuss water cisterns, it is also for talking about traspatios, grey water etc. Chela called for a name of the group, many suggestions were made,
Eg assembly of progress, communal assembly, assembly of community health, assembly of development & progress, assembly of productive solutions.
Chela concluded that it is a space of analysis, discussion of solutions, & for making decisions.
.4. Chela called for proposals for the co-ordinator & record taker for today’s meeting. It was unanimously decided that Jesus (a young man of about 22) should be co-ordinator, & Concha would take records again.
(This was particularly interesting as Jesus had been involved in an issue during a previous assembly where he was accused of not working hard enough with the group & had walked out of the meeting – it was a meeting while I was in NZ – he had obviously gotten over this & was very keen & did a great job of co-ordinating a really busy meeting!)
.5. Jesus called for Agenda Items
Agenda was set:
1. Invitations to 2 events – Holly
2. Talk about consulting team creation “Equipo de acessoria”
3. Cruz del Palmar women attending – would like help to build cisterns in their community.
4. Review Maria & School cisterns – complete?
5. Conservation of water
6. Purification method
Agenda item 1.
Holly had 2 events to invite the people of Los Torres to attend
a) Adobe domed roof building workshop – this is a workshop being subsidised by a local foundation, for the purpose of teaching rural communities how to construct domed roofs out of compressed adobe.
There are 4 spaces for Los Torres community members paid for. This includes food, & a transport allowance & 3 days attendance at the workshop on 5,6 & 7 October.
pg 2 of 3
One of the women made the point that whoever attends should then demonstrate the building techniques to those that are unable to attend, since they are getting the workshop for free, as a way to share the technology.
Jesus Alvarado, Daniel Garcia (both young men of about 22), Manuel Alvarado & Santiago Cruz all asked to attend, (with Manuel Alvarado snr going as an observer as his hand is still damaged). Holly will co-ordinate via Daniel’s cell phone 415 114 5205.
This was discussed in conjuction with the 2nd Agenda item of creating a consulting team at Los Torres
B) the 2nd invitation was to for the community (whoever would like to go) to attend a Forum on Water, it’s a forum where the people affected by water issues get to share their experiences, in the hope that they can then network with other people similarly affected, & to meet representatives from organisations that are working in the field of water.
Holly asked if they would care to speak at the forum, on 2 topics, both the problems they faced & the solution they have implemented. A committee was formed
Marta Y Manuel, Chuy, Ofelia, Reyna, Carmela, Maria, Piedad, Carolina & Delfina.
A mini meeting is planned for 21.10.09 at 4pm, to work on the presentation.
Agenda item 2. Forming a Consulting team in Los Torres.
Laura & Chela proposed that a consulting team be formed, that can then work as technical consultants & trainers of future projects & for other communities.
There are many people in Los Torres that are able use their newly learned skills & experience to help others. For future projects we need to employ technical consultants, why not use the people of Los Torres?
It was suggested the team should be 3 or 4 people, & proposals were made
Juan Alvarado, Jose Miguel Cruz (delegado), Rafael Cruz, Guillermo Alvarado.
Most of the men were not present so their wives need to propose this to them & report back at the next meeting.
Agenda item 3. Cruz Del Palmar solicitation
This was a particularly exciting part of the meeting – the dream of this project was that this method of catching & saving water be replicated in as many communities as possible.
Today, 2 women from Cruz Del Palmar – a neighbouring community, especially came to the meeting to ask for help in implementing Cisterns in their community!
(Teresa Gonzalez & Lucia Ramirez Ramirez of Bella Vista in Cruz Del Palmar)
They stood & introduced themselves (no mean feat in front of such a large audience) & described their problem & asked for help. They were asked what they had found out about the LT Water project, & they said they found that everyone liked it & that it’s working. Chela asked them how they thought LT had done it – they responded “in groups!”
They have sporadic water delivery in their part of CdP, some of CdP has water from a community well on tap, others have none. We have no information of level of Fluoride contamination in this community.
pg 3 of 3
The LT people had various suggestions for them – including,
• form a group of people to do the initial work,
• then go door to door & survey the people in the community to see who would be interested in being involved in a water cistern project
• gather statistics (size of families etc)
• come back to the next meeting with the information they have gathered.
• Don’t expect the whole community to be involved, the LT people at today’s meeting are the ones interested in the LT community for example.
• CdP people could come & participate in the Phase III project to learn the process.
• The work has to be done in groups, it doesn’t work individually & you need to involve the whole family (including the kids) in the process
The LT people have become expert in the process of solving their own issues, so much so, that they are able to advise people in their situation!!!
Dependant on what information the women from CdP come back with, ie description of need, & statistics, Rotary may help in this community as well. We could apply for funding from SMCF again, so that we can do a demonstration training day.
The main point is - that word of the success of the LT project is getting around & the project is growing legs!
The women were invited to present their info at the next meeting.
There was a big round of applause for the women of CdP!!
They thanked us all & left.
Chela took the opportunity to discuss more general information about the watershed & the environment (this is her true passion),
Agenda item 4 Review of Maria’s & the School’s cisterns
Maria’s cistern is completely finished (as are all of them now), most of them are more than ¾ full, the delegado has added ANOTHER piece of roof & piping, so his is overflowing!!
The school cistern needs more piping, after discussion of how to solve this, Chela offered that Benigno would return to LT, assess the situation & purchase the necessary pipes (he has access to the funds needed & it would be more complicated to get someone from LT to do it re funds)
The School kitchen roof (for 1 of the 3 cisterns) needs to be covered – even if is only for the next few weeks of the rainy season, as the roof is asbestos & there is no more money in the budget to replace it.
Items 5 & 6 to carry over to next meeting. We ran out of time.
Next Community assembly 28.10.09 10.30 am
Forum planning mini meeting 21.10.09 4pm
Domed adobe roof building workshop (cedesa) 5,6,,7 Oct all day.
Forum for people affected with water issues, 24 October 9-6pm Near the Presidentia
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
29th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project
Record of Event pg 1 of 3
29th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project
Where: El Cortijo (behind La Gruta) & Los Torres Casa of Chuy.
When: 25.08.09 10.30 – 4:00pm
Who: Chela (Cedesa), Laura (Rotary), Holly(Cedesa), & approx 30 community members (including 12 men)
Purpose: Pre-assembly planning meeting & details catch up.
& Community assembly/meeting follow up.
This is my first meeting at the Community since returning from 2 months vacation in NZ.
There have been several meetings & a lot of progress in my absence.
When we arrived at Los Torres, a previous meeting was in progress, Chela from Cedesa was giving a planning session on immediate environment at the request of the Community. This is an issue the community have raised themselves.
They had a list of ideal native plants, & animals, & their homework was to draw a plan of their own backyards as a start of the ideal design.
This first meeting ended at 12.20pm , the Water Project meeting began immediately
1st order of business was for the meeting to vote for
1. A co-ordinator – Alejandro
2. A record keeper – Mariana
Alejandro asked for agenda topics.
.2. the roll was taken (they have created a list of attenders & check the column when they are present.
.3. Revision of work
26 of the 27 cisterns are complete. The last cistern – Maria Soria’s – is almost complete but there was discussion about her lack of co-operation . After much discussion it was decided that her group will just get together & complete it by the end of the week (apparently it just needs a final coat of paint).
Several of the houses still need to have their asbestos roofs overlaid. A list of these houses was created. There were questions as to how to replace or overlay the roof. It was agreed, if the roof is stable, then simply place on top of existing, if not safe, then construct an additional roof area to collect the water.
It was mentioned that the school kitchen roof approx 7 x 4, needs replacing. (we need to check the budget, or seek an alternative to replacement, perhaps some sealant is a safe option).
There was a discussion/collation of the list of people that were unable to work on the school cisterns as a commitment had been made at previous meetings that families would either work or pay others that were working. They have a list of the people that still need to pay.
For the school they had created 3 groups of 15-18 people.
It was agreed contribution would be in labour or $$$.
The $$$ paid was to pay for the abiniles that worked all of the days & co-ordinated the workers on the day (& had to take time out of working to do this).
Page 2 of 3
It was agreed that the complete list would be audited in time for the next meeting, ie who paid, who worked, who is still to pay.
A mini committee (Jose & Nicolasa) will talk to the parents at school that have not made their contribution.
.4. Planning of the IIIrd Phase
This is a list of the families who would like to build cisterns in the 3rd phase.
1. Piedad Soria Gonzalez
2. Adelina Barranca
3. Dulce Maria Martinez
4. Rosa Barranca
5. Matilde Gonzalez
6. Lucia Gonzalez
7. Cruz Rodriguez
8. Aurelia Fajavdo
9. Marta Maya
10. Alejandro Alvarado
11. Jose Cruz
12. Manuel Ferrer
13. Nicolasa Agreda
14. Consuelo Huerta (Rotoplas)
15. Daniel Garcia
16. Jesus Alvarado
17. Alejandro Gonzalez (Rotoplas)
18. Filomena Ferrer
19. Elena Ramirez
20. Jose Alvarado (Rotoplas)
3 People in this list are elderly people that live alone & are not near family.
It was raised that there needs to be some provision of water for these elderly & infirm people.
There was a vote during which a majority agreed that these people should receive Rotoplas (pre moulded plastic) 1500 ltr cisterns . I added this to the scope of the project.
Jose Miguel (Delegado) suggested collecting the wood that had been used to build the previous cisterns to re-use for the 3rd phase.
3rd phase leaders (Jesus & Daniel) will be responsible for receiving the wood from the 4 group leaders in phase 2 & will take an inventory. There was a vote on storing them at the Kindergarten.
The meeting asked when the funds would be available to start Phase III, I said I couldn’t confirm definitely but aim for November.
It was agreed that the party would be saved for the end of Phase III ie approx at the end of the year, but that we would have a Water Information Day as a celebration of the School Cisterns Project that has been completed (Phase IV).
Planning for this Water Info day will take place at the next assembly, 23.9.09 at 12pm
With the Water Info Day scheduled for Sunday 25th Oct.
.5. Tree donation by David Bossman
During the Pilot Phase fiesta, David Bossman gave the community $500mxn to spend on trees.
Page 3 of 3
Guillermo reported that he had bought
27 trees from Ecology & the community voted how to distribute these trees.
It was finally agreed that all those that have completed their cisterns should receive a tree as a gift.
THANK YOU DAVID BOSSMAN.
NEXT ASSEMBLY 23 Sept 12pm (at Chuy’s house)
WATER INFORMATION DAY Sunday 25 October at the School
Photos of Phase II can be viewed on the following link
http://picasaweb.google.com/steve.mckee/LosTorresPhaseIIJune09?authkey=Gv1sRgCN6fmbCat5Lw-gE&feat=directlink
29th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project
Where: El Cortijo (behind La Gruta) & Los Torres Casa of Chuy.
When: 25.08.09 10.30 – 4:00pm
Who: Chela (Cedesa), Laura (Rotary), Holly(Cedesa), & approx 30 community members (including 12 men)
Purpose: Pre-assembly planning meeting & details catch up.
& Community assembly/meeting follow up.
This is my first meeting at the Community since returning from 2 months vacation in NZ.
There have been several meetings & a lot of progress in my absence.
When we arrived at Los Torres, a previous meeting was in progress, Chela from Cedesa was giving a planning session on immediate environment at the request of the Community. This is an issue the community have raised themselves.
They had a list of ideal native plants, & animals, & their homework was to draw a plan of their own backyards as a start of the ideal design.
This first meeting ended at 12.20pm , the Water Project meeting began immediately
1st order of business was for the meeting to vote for
1. A co-ordinator – Alejandro
2. A record keeper – Mariana
Alejandro asked for agenda topics.
.2. the roll was taken (they have created a list of attenders & check the column when they are present.
.3. Revision of work
26 of the 27 cisterns are complete. The last cistern – Maria Soria’s – is almost complete but there was discussion about her lack of co-operation . After much discussion it was decided that her group will just get together & complete it by the end of the week (apparently it just needs a final coat of paint).
Several of the houses still need to have their asbestos roofs overlaid. A list of these houses was created. There were questions as to how to replace or overlay the roof. It was agreed, if the roof is stable, then simply place on top of existing, if not safe, then construct an additional roof area to collect the water.
It was mentioned that the school kitchen roof approx 7 x 4, needs replacing. (we need to check the budget, or seek an alternative to replacement, perhaps some sealant is a safe option).
There was a discussion/collation of the list of people that were unable to work on the school cisterns as a commitment had been made at previous meetings that families would either work or pay others that were working. They have a list of the people that still need to pay.
For the school they had created 3 groups of 15-18 people.
It was agreed contribution would be in labour or $$$.
The $$$ paid was to pay for the abiniles that worked all of the days & co-ordinated the workers on the day (& had to take time out of working to do this).
Page 2 of 3
It was agreed that the complete list would be audited in time for the next meeting, ie who paid, who worked, who is still to pay.
A mini committee (Jose & Nicolasa) will talk to the parents at school that have not made their contribution.
.4. Planning of the IIIrd Phase
This is a list of the families who would like to build cisterns in the 3rd phase.
1. Piedad Soria Gonzalez
2. Adelina Barranca
3. Dulce Maria Martinez
4. Rosa Barranca
5. Matilde Gonzalez
6. Lucia Gonzalez
7. Cruz Rodriguez
8. Aurelia Fajavdo
9. Marta Maya
10. Alejandro Alvarado
11. Jose Cruz
12. Manuel Ferrer
13. Nicolasa Agreda
14. Consuelo Huerta (Rotoplas)
15. Daniel Garcia
16. Jesus Alvarado
17. Alejandro Gonzalez (Rotoplas)
18. Filomena Ferrer
19. Elena Ramirez
20. Jose Alvarado (Rotoplas)
3 People in this list are elderly people that live alone & are not near family.
It was raised that there needs to be some provision of water for these elderly & infirm people.
There was a vote during which a majority agreed that these people should receive Rotoplas (pre moulded plastic) 1500 ltr cisterns . I added this to the scope of the project.
Jose Miguel (Delegado) suggested collecting the wood that had been used to build the previous cisterns to re-use for the 3rd phase.
3rd phase leaders (Jesus & Daniel) will be responsible for receiving the wood from the 4 group leaders in phase 2 & will take an inventory. There was a vote on storing them at the Kindergarten.
The meeting asked when the funds would be available to start Phase III, I said I couldn’t confirm definitely but aim for November.
It was agreed that the party would be saved for the end of Phase III ie approx at the end of the year, but that we would have a Water Information Day as a celebration of the School Cisterns Project that has been completed (Phase IV).
Planning for this Water Info day will take place at the next assembly, 23.9.09 at 12pm
With the Water Info Day scheduled for Sunday 25th Oct.
.5. Tree donation by David Bossman
During the Pilot Phase fiesta, David Bossman gave the community $500mxn to spend on trees.
Page 3 of 3
Guillermo reported that he had bought
27 trees from Ecology & the community voted how to distribute these trees.
It was finally agreed that all those that have completed their cisterns should receive a tree as a gift.
THANK YOU DAVID BOSSMAN.
NEXT ASSEMBLY 23 Sept 12pm (at Chuy’s house)
WATER INFORMATION DAY Sunday 25 October at the School
Photos of Phase II can be viewed on the following link
http://picasaweb.google.com/steve.mckee/LosTorresPhaseIIJune09?authkey=Gv1sRgCN6fmbCat5Lw-gE&feat=directlink
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
5th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Lomas de San José Water Project
Record of Event pg 1 of 1
5th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Lomas de San José Water Project
Where: Lomas de San José Community,
When: 2009 (???)
Who: Enrique Orvañanos & Lee Carter
Purpose: An informal visit by Lee & Enrique, so Lee can see the project site, & to keep in touch with the community while we are waiting for the Matching Grant process to take place with Rotary International & Partners.
Next contact ?? commitment by Enrique??
Please note, I was not able to write up this report as I was not present. Enrique has had no time to fill in more details.
See report 6…
5th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Lomas de San José Water Project
Where: Lomas de San José Community,
When: 2009 (???)
Who: Enrique Orvañanos & Lee Carter
Purpose: An informal visit by Lee & Enrique, so Lee can see the project site, & to keep in touch with the community while we are waiting for the Matching Grant process to take place with Rotary International & Partners.
Next contact ?? commitment by Enrique??
Please note, I was not able to write up this report as I was not present. Enrique has had no time to fill in more details.
See report 6…
Thursday, June 25, 2009
4th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Lomas de San José Water Project
Record of Event pg 1 of 1
4th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Lomas de San José Water Project
Where: Lomas de San José Community, visiting Los Torres Community
When: 25th June 2009
Who: Enrique Orvañanos & ???
Purpose: For the people of Lomas who are interested in seeing the project at Los Torres.
History
A plan was made to take 3 or 4 Lomas community members to visit Los Torres during the next Los Torres community assembly on Thurs 25th June, to see the assembly process, meet with the LT community & learn from their experience & also view the completed water collection systems (including roof piping, & cistern)
Enrique will pick up the Lomas people at 10am on the 25th June, & drive them to LT & back.
Anjelika expressed her regret in not being able to make it, as she is a teacher & will be at school at that time of day.
The people are now aware of the time, & the process & are ready when we are!
Next contact ?? commitment by Enrique??
Visit to Los Torres community was done as planned on Jun 25th. 3 people (2 ladies & 1 man) from Lomas de San Jose community came with me and we walk around and observe how LT meeting was starting.
They were glad to be able to see the progress and will coment to their neighbors what they saw.
I (Enrique) decided to build one water cistern on my land, so to be able to have it as a sample and train one person in the community to build it. This was done with Enrique`s own resources during July.
Please note, I was not able to write up this report as I was not present. Enrique has had no time to fill in more details.
Also, is it possible that you could write up report 4 (the 25th June to Los Torres visit), & report 5, (the informal visit by you & Lee),
so we can keep a full history for our partners.
Lee & Enrique went to drive through Lomas de San Jose, to see the size of the community (Colonia). They observed that the size of lots were smaller than at the campo & the poverty of the people.
So the conclusion was to analyze with more detail each of the houses were we are planing to install the rain water cisterns.
4th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Lomas de San José Water Project
Where: Lomas de San José Community, visiting Los Torres Community
When: 25th June 2009
Who: Enrique Orvañanos & ???
Purpose: For the people of Lomas who are interested in seeing the project at Los Torres.
History
A plan was made to take 3 or 4 Lomas community members to visit Los Torres during the next Los Torres community assembly on Thurs 25th June, to see the assembly process, meet with the LT community & learn from their experience & also view the completed water collection systems (including roof piping, & cistern)
Enrique will pick up the Lomas people at 10am on the 25th June, & drive them to LT & back.
Anjelika expressed her regret in not being able to make it, as she is a teacher & will be at school at that time of day.
The people are now aware of the time, & the process & are ready when we are!
Next contact ?? commitment by Enrique??
Visit to Los Torres community was done as planned on Jun 25th. 3 people (2 ladies & 1 man) from Lomas de San Jose community came with me and we walk around and observe how LT meeting was starting.
They were glad to be able to see the progress and will coment to their neighbors what they saw.
I (Enrique) decided to build one water cistern on my land, so to be able to have it as a sample and train one person in the community to build it. This was done with Enrique`s own resources during July.
Please note, I was not able to write up this report as I was not present. Enrique has had no time to fill in more details.
Also, is it possible that you could write up report 4 (the 25th June to Los Torres visit), & report 5, (the informal visit by you & Lee),
so we can keep a full history for our partners.
Lee & Enrique went to drive through Lomas de San Jose, to see the size of the community (Colonia). They observed that the size of lots were smaller than at the campo & the poverty of the people.
So the conclusion was to analyze with more detail each of the houses were we are planing to install the rain water cisterns.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
3rd Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Lomas de San José Water Project
Record of Event pg 1 of 1
3rd Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Lomas de San José Water Project
Where: Lomas de San José Community, opposite Candelaria on the Road to Dolores.
When: 13 June 2009
Who: Enrique Orvañanos & Laura Stewart (Rotary), Franciso Y Sigrid (friends of Enrique) & 23 adults
Purpose: General follow up meeting, to advise next steps.
1stly a welcome & re-introduction of ourselves & the purpose of Rotary.
During conversation, it was communicated Lomas de San Jose are an “irregular community” ie not officialised, which is why the govt. Has not extended services to this area.
We explained that funding application & receipt will take time,
In the meantime they should organise their groups of 5x 8 people, with leaders.
They mentioned they had already had meetings between themselves & are ready for more.
A plan was made to take 3 or 4 Lomas community members to visit Los Torres during the next Los Torres community assembly on Thurs 25th June, to see the assembly process, meet with the LT community & learn from their experience & also view the completed water collection systems (including roof piping, & cistern)
Enrique will pick up the Lomas people at 10am on the 25th June, & drive them to LT & back.
Anjelika expressed her regret in not being able to make it, as she is a teacher & will be at school at that time of day.
The people are now aware of the time, & the process & are ready when we are!
Next contact will be 25th June 2009 (Enrique).
3rd Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Lomas de San José Water Project
Where: Lomas de San José Community, opposite Candelaria on the Road to Dolores.
When: 13 June 2009
Who: Enrique Orvañanos & Laura Stewart (Rotary), Franciso Y Sigrid (friends of Enrique) & 23 adults
Purpose: General follow up meeting, to advise next steps.
1stly a welcome & re-introduction of ourselves & the purpose of Rotary.
During conversation, it was communicated Lomas de San Jose are an “irregular community” ie not officialised, which is why the govt. Has not extended services to this area.
We explained that funding application & receipt will take time,
In the meantime they should organise their groups of 5x 8 people, with leaders.
They mentioned they had already had meetings between themselves & are ready for more.
A plan was made to take 3 or 4 Lomas community members to visit Los Torres during the next Los Torres community assembly on Thurs 25th June, to see the assembly process, meet with the LT community & learn from their experience & also view the completed water collection systems (including roof piping, & cistern)
Enrique will pick up the Lomas people at 10am on the 25th June, & drive them to LT & back.
Anjelika expressed her regret in not being able to make it, as she is a teacher & will be at school at that time of day.
The people are now aware of the time, & the process & are ready when we are!
Next contact will be 25th June 2009 (Enrique).
Thursday, June 11, 2009
28th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project
Record of Event pg 1 of 3
28th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project
Where: El Cortijo (behind La Gruta) & Los Torres Casa of Chuy.
When: 11.06.09 10.30 – 2.40pm
Who: Chela (Cedesa), Laura (Rotary), Britta (Bi lingual visitor), & approx 26 community members
Purpose: Pre-assembly planning meeting & details catch up.
& Community assembly/meeting follow up.
I asked Chela (Cedesa), if she was able to continue her good work in another community that we are proposing as our next water Project – Lomas de San Jose.
She agreed, & we will need to firm up details closer to the time, when we have funding committed etc.
Chela mentioned 2 communities Cedesa have been working with for a long time that have horrendously high levels of fluoride. In the municipality of Palencia there are 8 communities with high levels of Fluoride & Arsenic. 4 of those are particularly high, San Deigo de la Union & San Luis de la Paz. SLdlP has approx 200 families, their levels are 6.8mg/l fluoride (1.5 is maximum safe level), & 60-70 ppm for Arsenic (25-30 parts per million is max safe level).
I said I would raise it at the Community Service Committee meeting – NB I did & it was decided that we should concentrate on communities in our own region first, this is outside the municipality of SMA.
We continued on to Los Torres.
There was a school meeting at the same time so slightly fewer people than normal, but still a good turnout on a very hot day.
The four groups constructing the 27 cisterns were roll called,
Attending were 5/7 group 1, 4/6 group 2, 6/7 group 3, & 3/7 group 4.
There were 4 phase III attendees.
The co-ordinator & records keeper were elected. Co-ordinator Veronica, Records Maricela.
The following agenda items were first decided & then discussed in order.
1. Review of the work to date.
Group 1. 3 almost finished (pipes to be connected)
Group 2 2 almost finished
Group 3 People in the group are not helping
Group 4 No materials have been delivered yet.
As of today the sand has arrived & there are materials for 6 more.
Group 1, only have materials for 1 more
Group 2 only have materials for 1 more
Group 3 only have materials for 3 more
Group 4 only have materials for 1 more
There was a lot of discussion about the difficulties they are finding working in groups. Working in groups is a new concept for many of these people. Some comments Concha “it is important to be in groups & not split off by family” Juan “when men are working with women around they should be aware of their language if women want to work with them” this was echoed by another young man. Juana “her husband started in a group, thought it was too much work now wants to just do it with his neighbours.”
Page 2 of 3
Porfiria “they have been too busy washing clothes, because of the swine flu the teacher has said they have to wash the kids clothes every day, so they have no time to help building the cisterns”
Veronica was the co-ordinator of this meeting & was very firm with everyone, she was a complete natural at the role, & had the meeting running very smoothly.
There was more discussion about what makes good groups, respect, motivation etc, & it was agreed that group 1 would help group 4 solve their problems. Also Benigno (Cedesa) will visit to help resolve any outstanding issues.
Group 2 said that they have 2 people working 100% of the time & others a lot less. Some people are helping by lending their tools.
Hilaria “ there needs to be an arrangement made re lending of tools, eg trade, gift, exchange”
Guillermo “ has had training, knows the full process is happy to help & his tools are used everywhere, still waiting for materials”
Concha “if people need help they should ask for it, otherwise who will know?”
Chela mentioned that asking shows interest, & then explained the definition of solidarity.
Group 3
Was some dispute about mis communication of arranged time to meet at someone´s house. Veronica asked the meeting if the rest of the people were prepared to help the woman or not, they all said they would. Another woman said if someone offers to help doesn’t mean they will do it for you!
Priority was decided – people with more knowledge should get their materials & build their cisterns 1st, then those people will help the next ones.
A new priority list for order of delivery of materials was created.
A young man said “at a lot of the meetings people say they will do things, & then don’t do it, people should stick to their word”.
2. Phase IV the school cisterns (funded by San Miguel Community fund 2nd Grant)
Who went to meet with the teacher (to plan re school phase IV)
Chuy, Hilaria, Catalina (Juan´s wife), Ofelia, Nicolasa & Elana
At first the Teacher said No, because she thought it was the same as the Montecillo de Nieto school Project completed by the govt & Ilan, & she thought it was dangerous, too easy to damage.
When they explained the cisterns would be the same as the one at the Kinder she happily agreed.
They asked when the materials would be available, I said whenever they are ready.
There was a discussion as to whether it should happen during or after phase II, some suggested during, as no-one would help afterwards.
Guillermo suggested small groups as big groups are inefficient.
The mini committee (as above) need to inform all of the parents of the school that they need to help with construction of the cisterns in 15 days at a meeting at the school.
There are approx 80 kids at school
Page 3 of 3
There should be a representative at school when the Maestra cant be there.
Make up the groups with the people here & then ask others at school to join the groups.
The 3 groups were decided.
It was agreed that they should either work or if they cant work then pay $100 pesos, this will pay the leaders of the groups who will be there all day every day to co-ordinate & need to be reimbursed for time off work.
There will be 2 abiniles for the 3 cisterns, they will be paid $250 pesos per day from the money collected from the people that are unable to work.
Meeting finished at 2.40pm
The next meeting is scheduled for 25.06.09 (I will be away in NZ)
It needs to be noted that the meeting today was so well organized, the community involvement was huge & there is a real sense of progress organization & motivation & an attitude of “we can do this!”… Amazing!
28th Mtg of the SMA Midday Rotary Water Project
Where: El Cortijo (behind La Gruta) & Los Torres Casa of Chuy.
When: 11.06.09 10.30 – 2.40pm
Who: Chela (Cedesa), Laura (Rotary), Britta (Bi lingual visitor), & approx 26 community members
Purpose: Pre-assembly planning meeting & details catch up.
& Community assembly/meeting follow up.
I asked Chela (Cedesa), if she was able to continue her good work in another community that we are proposing as our next water Project – Lomas de San Jose.
She agreed, & we will need to firm up details closer to the time, when we have funding committed etc.
Chela mentioned 2 communities Cedesa have been working with for a long time that have horrendously high levels of fluoride. In the municipality of Palencia there are 8 communities with high levels of Fluoride & Arsenic. 4 of those are particularly high, San Deigo de la Union & San Luis de la Paz. SLdlP has approx 200 families, their levels are 6.8mg/l fluoride (1.5 is maximum safe level), & 60-70 ppm for Arsenic (25-30 parts per million is max safe level).
I said I would raise it at the Community Service Committee meeting – NB I did & it was decided that we should concentrate on communities in our own region first, this is outside the municipality of SMA.
We continued on to Los Torres.
There was a school meeting at the same time so slightly fewer people than normal, but still a good turnout on a very hot day.
The four groups constructing the 27 cisterns were roll called,
Attending were 5/7 group 1, 4/6 group 2, 6/7 group 3, & 3/7 group 4.
There were 4 phase III attendees.
The co-ordinator & records keeper were elected. Co-ordinator Veronica, Records Maricela.
The following agenda items were first decided & then discussed in order.
1. Review of the work to date.
Group 1. 3 almost finished (pipes to be connected)
Group 2 2 almost finished
Group 3 People in the group are not helping
Group 4 No materials have been delivered yet.
As of today the sand has arrived & there are materials for 6 more.
Group 1, only have materials for 1 more
Group 2 only have materials for 1 more
Group 3 only have materials for 3 more
Group 4 only have materials for 1 more
There was a lot of discussion about the difficulties they are finding working in groups. Working in groups is a new concept for many of these people. Some comments Concha “it is important to be in groups & not split off by family” Juan “when men are working with women around they should be aware of their language if women want to work with them” this was echoed by another young man. Juana “her husband started in a group, thought it was too much work now wants to just do it with his neighbours.”
Page 2 of 3
Porfiria “they have been too busy washing clothes, because of the swine flu the teacher has said they have to wash the kids clothes every day, so they have no time to help building the cisterns”
Veronica was the co-ordinator of this meeting & was very firm with everyone, she was a complete natural at the role, & had the meeting running very smoothly.
There was more discussion about what makes good groups, respect, motivation etc, & it was agreed that group 1 would help group 4 solve their problems. Also Benigno (Cedesa) will visit to help resolve any outstanding issues.
Group 2 said that they have 2 people working 100% of the time & others a lot less. Some people are helping by lending their tools.
Hilaria “ there needs to be an arrangement made re lending of tools, eg trade, gift, exchange”
Guillermo “ has had training, knows the full process is happy to help & his tools are used everywhere, still waiting for materials”
Concha “if people need help they should ask for it, otherwise who will know?”
Chela mentioned that asking shows interest, & then explained the definition of solidarity.
Group 3
Was some dispute about mis communication of arranged time to meet at someone´s house. Veronica asked the meeting if the rest of the people were prepared to help the woman or not, they all said they would. Another woman said if someone offers to help doesn’t mean they will do it for you!
Priority was decided – people with more knowledge should get their materials & build their cisterns 1st, then those people will help the next ones.
A new priority list for order of delivery of materials was created.
A young man said “at a lot of the meetings people say they will do things, & then don’t do it, people should stick to their word”.
2. Phase IV the school cisterns (funded by San Miguel Community fund 2nd Grant)
Who went to meet with the teacher (to plan re school phase IV)
Chuy, Hilaria, Catalina (Juan´s wife), Ofelia, Nicolasa & Elana
At first the Teacher said No, because she thought it was the same as the Montecillo de Nieto school Project completed by the govt & Ilan, & she thought it was dangerous, too easy to damage.
When they explained the cisterns would be the same as the one at the Kinder she happily agreed.
They asked when the materials would be available, I said whenever they are ready.
There was a discussion as to whether it should happen during or after phase II, some suggested during, as no-one would help afterwards.
Guillermo suggested small groups as big groups are inefficient.
The mini committee (as above) need to inform all of the parents of the school that they need to help with construction of the cisterns in 15 days at a meeting at the school.
There are approx 80 kids at school
Page 3 of 3
There should be a representative at school when the Maestra cant be there.
Make up the groups with the people here & then ask others at school to join the groups.
The 3 groups were decided.
It was agreed that they should either work or if they cant work then pay $100 pesos, this will pay the leaders of the groups who will be there all day every day to co-ordinate & need to be reimbursed for time off work.
There will be 2 abiniles for the 3 cisterns, they will be paid $250 pesos per day from the money collected from the people that are unable to work.
Meeting finished at 2.40pm
The next meeting is scheduled for 25.06.09 (I will be away in NZ)
It needs to be noted that the meeting today was so well organized, the community involvement was huge & there is a real sense of progress organization & motivation & an attitude of “we can do this!”… Amazing!
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