The Westerner for March 15, 2010

Strategic Planning:  Mike Ryan advised that club member input, for the next several years, will be gathered over a number of meetings starting next week.

50/50:  Charlie and Doug McDougall did not match cards - amount of the pot remains a secret

Vests/Jackets:  Laurie and Bert had samples to show members at the end of the meeting.

Finemaster:  John gets the editor for $3 on a $2 maximum every time.  John plugged the Optometrists' Clinic, then fined Ben Doz; fined Duane for missing last week; fined Bert for being so nicely dressed; if you did or did not see the curling this weekend $1; if you have not seen the Rotary District 5370 District Conference Website $1 (only 225 guest registrations will be accepted so register early, our club pays the registration fee);

Guest Speaker:  Duane spoke for himself and Chris about their project investigation trip to Belize.  In support of the Rotary District 5370 Belize Education Program, the Belize Rotary Assessment was conducted, centering on the village of Placencia and considering a possible joint project with Placencia Rotary Club.

Fly to Belize city, then by small plane to Placencia, a village of 1,200 with no major hotels but some real estate development.  A new international airport is under construction about 30 km from this village.  Belize is not a third world country but a developing country.  Placencia is at the end of spit of land south of Riverside, Belize, and there is a new casino and resort just to the north of the village.

The Rotary Club of Placencia has 20 members and has been chartered for 6 years.  Members consist of expatriots and Belizeans.  The club has worked with other North American Rotary Clubs over the last few years.  The Rotarians have just introduced Bingo to the area, a great success.

Independence High School - principal is Omar Longsworth who is very passionate about his school.  Omar was born, raised and educated there and has been principal for 3 years. There are 736 students from 15 surrounding villages; they bus or boat to school.  The enterprise is also a junior college giving part time courses in the evenings.  Tuition, in the school, is between 300 & 390 Belizean Dollars (US 150/195) - this presents the possibility of providing scholarships for students who cannot afford to pay by themselves.  Observations - spartan furniture and lab equipment; new home ec lab needs furnishing; agricultural training needs assistance; computer labs have reasonable tools but need an update on their internet access to allow students to gain the available internet education facilities.; new science lab has a roof but needs walls.  Detention program - clean up the school yard.  Lunch is subcontracted to a food supply firm - cost $2.50 per day with half going to the school.

Placencia Elementary School - on the mainland - 6 classrooms, no air conditioning or fans; toilets are terrible with no water for hand washing (children get sick), crowded, teachers not certified, run by Anglican Church, library is available to the local community.

Kindergarten - age 3 to 5; not quite as crowded - built on piles as near the beach - tsunami concerns.

Medical Clinic - small, some pharmceutical supplies; does minor procedures like stitches; 1 full time doctor & nurse - they need to practice private medicine practice to provide sufficient income; hospital is 2-1/2 hours away on poor roads - no ambulance; possible medi vac in day light hours.  The area just received a fire engine from London via the European Union.

Needs:  first, toilets for school (includes water supply), need $7,000 to add to what they have already raised to do that project; hard luck fund for the principal so he can assist poor students; ambulance; curriculum for hotel management & business program; science lab scholarships; shipping container full of filing cabinets, desks, building or school supplies, fridge (container is then used for hurricane damage prevention); training for teachers. 

Duane was ably thanked by Bob Kimmerly.