E-mail:  badner@pvnet.com.mx

It appears that we are going to end our fiscal year 2003 in a very healthy financial condition. I predict a healthy surplus to carry us through the May to December when our revenues resume with the start of the Home Tours. We will be able to meet our monthly program commitments during the lean months.

I will have a proposed budget for the coming year June 1, 2003 to May 31, 2004 for presentation at our April meeting. I predict our income for the coming year will be about 930,000 pesos. We will be able to increase some of our program spending.

We will have to make an important decision on how to get our clubhouse rent subsidized by rentals and sharing of costs or whether to give up our Clubhouse. In any event the clubhouse usage is only about 7 meetings a year including the annual Cleft Palate Informe.

If you have any suggestions please let us know.

We all agree that our clubhouse is a wonderful facility. Besides our office, it provides excellent meeting room for our Board and General Meetings as well as for special occasions such as our Annual Cleft Palate Informe. It is the focal point of our Club and would be sadly missed.

Unfortunately, it is badly under utilized and remains unused most of the time. We did reduce our costs by renting out to Weight Watchers, Yoga Classes and other groups such as the Spotlight Players. These groups no longer use our facilities. The clubhouse remains unused 95% of the time, a terrible waste at an enormous cost.

We must make a choice, either rent out to reduce our costs or give up our space and find a smaller space for our office and simply meet at a hotel facility as was done in the past. Our present rental costs amounts to $84,000 pesos a year plus the cost of such items as cleaning, electricity, paper goods and general maintenance which add up to another $10,000 pesos a year for a total of $94,000 pesos. Next January, our rent will likely increase by another 6% to $90,000 pesos putting our annual cost up to $100,000 pesos.

The preferred solution is to rent out our facilities to other groups to bring in enough revenue to justify keeping the clubhouse. If you know of any organization that wishes to rent our space part time, please let us know immediately.

Wherever you may be during the May-September season, keep IFC in mind and perhaps you can come up with some creative ideas on how best to utilize our club facility with more activities, and perhaps can find some use by outsiders who might share the facilities; cost is negotiable.  (Contact me by email if anything occurs to you during your absence.  We can follow up during the summer, or when you return.)

We have been fortunate to have Marion Hansen take on the job of Social Director and expect to add considerably to our activity schedule next season.  She will need a few willing members to feed her ideas and assist in some projects--usually all very enjoyable.  Put one foot forward and the other will follow--be a good sport and give her a helping hand.  Her telephone number is 209-0592; email is dalehandsome@yahoo.com.

Think also about possible money-generating ideas; many of you belong to other clubs.  What do you do to generate more funds?  Let us in on your successes.  (We won't burden you with executing a project if you do not feel up to it, but don't keep it a secret if it has possibilities for us here.)

We now have the pleasure of introducing another group of new members.  How wonderful of you to consider us for your attention.  We welcome you with open arms and will be seeking you out at our coming functions. 

Thank you all for becoming a part of what we do, and thank you, member recruiters.  Keep referring.

RENEWAL TIME!  For those of you who aren't aware 

we're back to calendar year memberships--January l through December 31.  When possible, bring your membership up to date--still $200 P ($20 US) for a single; $300 P ($30 US) for a double (couple).  If you want a NEWSLETTER mailed to you, add $50 P or ($5 US).  (Otherwise read it on the Website:  www.pvmexico.com)  OR, pick up a copy at the club house, open from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm Monday through Friday currently.

To the ladies:  Forgot to remind you that February was "Beautiful Women" month--which means all of us females!  (So, we'll repeat it for April.)

Here's a poem I'd like to share with you which was forwarded to me.  Audrey Hepburn wrote it when she was asked to share her "beauty tips".  It was read at her funeral years later.

We'll be on the lookout for you!

Hasta Nos Veamos (until we meet again...)

Yvonne Ward
Tel. 228-0050 Fax:  228-0458

The waning time is approaching and we'll be forced to wave at our many departing friends off to other climes or summer residences.  By May 1 most of our fall/winter residents will be elsewhere, travelling or settling in with family again in another home.  This season has been an exceptionally busy one and as always the days, weeks, months slip by silently and surprise us all.  Word is from other areas even outside of Mexico, that Puerto Vallartans experience the greatest social activities as well as charitable functions, and that might just be true.  What do you think?

  We still have a General Meeting to attend April 8 to inaugurate our wonderful slate of officers, and to sweeten the evening with another pot luck.  Doors open at 6:00 pm (or possibly earlier).  Be there for all of us.