IFC November pg. 2

TREASURERS REPORT
Allan Badner
Tel:  222-1563
email:  allanbadner@hotmail.com

When I tell my friends or acquaintances that I live in Puerto Vallarta during the winter months, the question invariably arises “what do you do with yourself in Puerto Vallarta”? I then go on to tell them that that I do a lot of walking as I don’t drive a car in Mexico, we do a lot of eating out as it is a popular social vehicle and we belong to the IFC.

After a puzzled and questioning look I go on to tell how the International Friendship Club started out as a social club for local Anglo visitors and grew into an active philanthropic organization in Puerto Vallarta and environs.  I tell them how we raise most of the money through the operation of our Home Tours as well as selling of Cookbooks and other fundraisers.  I point out that raising the moneys is one phase and the funneling of these moneys into the needs of the community is a whole other important activity.

I tell them that the Home Tour is quite a sophisticated operation requiring a lot of administration by members such as Susan Austin who chairs the program with her key committee of John Lockington, Bob Lilley and John Hamlin along with Leon Rolnick and the many members who come out weekly to serve as docents etc.

I also tell them that the distribution of our funds into the community is a major task.  Some of our funds are given to established and reputable groups such as the Cruz Roja, Becas, the Folk Dancers, the Library, the Rehabilitation Center, RISE Orphanage, and the Rice and Beans distribution run by Don Powell.  These are the easy ones.

I tell them that we also do a lot of hands on work such as the Cleft Palate Program which carries out approximately 70 Cleft Palate surgeries a year and so ably run by Patricia Mendez and Joanne Quickstad with the help of Susan Davlos and many unsung heroes within our membership. Our Patrocinio program last year funded special need situations to the tune of $50,000 pesos, with each situation requiring investigation, qualification and administration.  Mel Bornstein heads our School Program in which we step in to help schools in dire need of such basics as washrooms etc. We fund a special needs program run by the social workers at the Regional Hospital, a Food for Children program, all requiring special attention and control.  I tell them about how this is due to the selflessness of our dedicated members starting with Al and Yvonne Ward, Ted Will and Gale Hankel along with a multitude of others, in the past and present, too numerous to mention.

Finally l tell them how much satisfaction I get from being part of this wonderful group of human beings whose life is not just chasing a little white ball around a big green park or sitting on the beautiful beaches of Puerto Vallarta.

EDUCATION REPORT
Mel Bornstein
Tel:  221 5659

Really excited about starting off the new season.....  Continuing the very exhilarating previous season…

We were able  to satisfy  needs of about 10 schools, from  paint, to windows to play areas  and bathrooms....AND  a  whole  library  for  a school in Ixtapa....a plaque on the  wall to the IFC  in appreciation.....

We started a new  program of  furnishing Spanish- English dictionaries to the  4th grade  students.... 500  to start as  an experiment....and will see the  results  when I return in October to determine  how  many more dictionaries  may be  needed.....

Also we furnished all the school supplies for 200 students in Cabos Corriente, an extremely poor area south of Puerto Vallarta…

There are about 500 schools in the PV area.... many very poor with great needs, but children that have faith in their future....always smiling... and seemingly happy..... AND we need to give them the tools to work with to make their dreams come true..... and then ours will too…

We, the IFC have received some much appreciated donations   from PV friends as well as   from the Chicago land area which will go directly to help these children…

The  City Of Puerto Vallarta  Dept. of Education and the Mayor are working  closely with  us to  help locate  the schools  in most need and  then participate with the  planning and installation  of these projects.....    

Looking forward to another season of fulfilling children's’ and educators’ needs.... 

MEMBERSHIP REPORT
Yvonne Ward
Tel:  228-0050  FAX:  228-0458
Email:  yvonneal@pvnet.com.mx

Be ready, be prepared to be part of the jam-packed season of activities you're about to step into.  Fortify yourselves with stored energy for the bulging bag of events--take your pick from the variety.  There should be something that will tickle everyone's palate.

Do be on hand for the Club's first General Meeting, Tuesday, November 9, which will also be a potluck (no obligation to bring anything--but yourselves).  You'll see a short film display of some arresting sights by our official photographer, Dale Hansen, plus a visit by our friend Angela Corelis, now co-editor of the new Direct PV directory, and our must-hear guest, Joaquin Aja, PHD, who'll address "How to Cope with Anxiety and Depression in Paradise".  Plan to be at the Clubhouse early--doors open at 6:00 pm--you'll want to renew old acquaintances and greet new members.

We'll be handing out our Home Tour posters for you anxious members who will see to it that they are promptly displayed where they will attract tourists (and residents).  This is a must-do for the week before the startup date, Wednesday, November 17.  Please be there to help.  Susan Austin, our Home Tour Chair person relies on all of us to do our share.

If you have a special restaurant you go to often, you might want to solicit the owner/manager for a discount for IFC members.  Pick up a "restaurant letter--2 copies" to have signed by the authority figure there.  They retain one copy to identify the IFC Logo for their staff.

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