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IFC January 2004 Page 3

BAZAAR
Yvonne and Al Ward
Tel:  228-0050
Email:  lomalinda@prodigy.net.mx

We are going to try a new approach to the Bazaar--no more gigantic event.  It is hoped that we will be able to get a license to pursue a small Bazaar at a park within the city that has become a well-known location for such events.  It is not our intent to do gargantuan pickups.  This will be a system whereby everyone brings their things to the location (of course some assistance may be necessary) on the morning of the Bazaar--a Sunday. 

We'll make an attempt to accomplish this in February.  If successful, we might possibly do it more than once.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.  Shall we give it a try?  (Let me hear from you.  To start with, what might you have to donate.)  We will, of course, still need lots of help with this project.

TOYS FOR TOTS
Jerry Lafferty
Tel:  221-6156
Email:  laffja@aol.com

The Toys for Tots fundraiser on December 13 was a huge success. We had a strong turnout for the golf scramble, and more than 250 attended the gala dinner at the Marriott. We achieved our objective of raising more than $30,000 U.S., up 50% from year ago. We will be distributing 7,000 toys on Three Kings Day (January 6), almost double last year's total. Smiles will abound throughout the poor neighborhoods of the Bahia!!

We'd like to thank our generous sponsors and supporters, including the Marriott Casa Magna Hotel, Marina Golf Club, Continental Airlines, Coldwell Banker Real Estate, XA-FM, Vallarta-Online, Navy League, U.S. Consular Agency, and of course the IFC.

  We need many volunteers to distribute the toys on January 6. If you can make it, please come to the Marriott Hotel at 9 a.m. on January 6 for instructions and assignment to one of 6 caravans that will be fanning out throughout the Bahia. We particularly need SUV's and pickup trucks. This is an extremely worthwhile and fun day, so don't miss it. We should be returning to the Marriott by mid afternoon. 

Thank You Column:
 Once again, donations have been rolling in… 

J Many thanks to Sr. Raul Guerrero and the Outback Steakhouse for donating lunch to our Cleft Palate medical team during our November surgery program. 

J Thanks to Thomas Geurts of Fond du Lac, WI for sending us a nice box of school supplies. 

J Special thanks to members Donald and Phyllis Sullivan for holding a wine tasting event in their hometown to raise funds for our Rice and Beans and Medical program.  They generated nearly $2,000 US ! What a great idea, thanks so much!

BLOOD DRIVE
Pamela Thompson
Global Ambulance
226-1014
Cell 044-322-294-0650
global@sanjaviermarina.com
pmt@prodigy.net.mx

 In December, the first Blood Drive of the season was held at the IFC Clubhouse. A better turn-out than the last one with a total of 14 donations. Even though this seems like a small amount, it is 14 units of blood that we did  not have the day before! I believe that a bi-monthly, rather than monthly, blood drive will work and more concentration on advertising needs to be done. A huge thank you to Los Arcos Hotel who donated the lounge chairs, the club-members who donated yummy cookies, and the technicians from various medical facilities who assisted with the donations.  The need for blood continues with a non-stop pressure on the Blood Bank to provide to those in need. This will be a slow-starter, but eventually the word will spread and the donors will come! Thank you all!