Annual Meeting Report - english

PROJECT REPORTS AND A LOOK TO AMIGOS’
FUTURE HIGHLIGHT ANNUAL MEETING

Inspirational progress reports from the beneficiary organizations managing Amigos funded projects and recommendations for assuring continuing growth into the future highlighted the 4th Annual Meeting of Amigos de San Cristobal, A.C. held March 12 at
Salon Las Tejas at the Plaza Real Restaurant. Outgoing President Ernesto Riedwyl
and President-Elect Jack Nelson presided.

Results for the 2008 fiscal year were also reviewed, as well as goals and objectives for
2009 which were approved by members in attendance. The final agenda item was the
election of directors and officers for the next 12 months.

Financial Highlights

The ambitious fund raising objective for 2008 was exceeded by nearly 6% and more
than 25% vs. 2007. Individual donations continued to comprise the major portion of
incoming funds and great appreciation was expressed to the 126 contributors, 65% of
whom were repeat donors. A European corporate donation of 10,000 euros was the largest and there were personal contributions of $5,000, $3,500 and several at $1,000 and $500 among U.S. donors, several of whom live a good portion of the year in San Cristóbal. Membership dues again covered all expenses in 2008.

The generosity of our donors enabled Amigos to issue six grants totaling 250,000 pesos in 2008, making a total of 730,000 pesos for 20 projects that have been distributed since
2005. At the same time 10% of all donations were designated for the endowment fund and another 10% to the reserve fund, continuing a policy established when Amigos
was founded.

Funded Project Reports

Our “Reason for Being” of course is to make a difference in improving the lives of the many disadvantaged citizens of Chiapas in the areas of health, education and economic well being. As has been the case in each Annual Meeting, presentations from representatives of the beneficiary organizations provided clear evidence that funding from donors and the volunteer efforts of local members are making a difference.

Miriam Diaz Solis from Hogar Comunitario reported on the program funded by Amigos which works with children of single pregnant women. Classroom sessions with the children are focused on developing their physical and social skills, including the teaching of mutual respect and motivating them to become positive contributors to a healthy
family life. Previously, Amigos provided funding to add a psychologist to the Hogar staff. Hogar provides support for women and children who are victims of domestic violence and a transitory home to pregnant women in need. The work also includes pregnancy prevention workshops.

Ana Artigas described the work of the Luna Maya birthing center which provides prenatal, birthing and post partum care to poor single women from indigenous communities. The goal is to improve the long term health of both women and children. A small grant from Amigos helped to provide care, including instruction in infant massage, to 20 women who gave birth in 2008, 85% of whom chose to keep their babies vs. giving them up for adoption.

Co-founder Christian Szinicz and program director Adriana Perez gave the impressive report from Sueñinos which has expanded its work with young impoverished children from poor urban neighborhoods. The focus is on early childhood education and development, a program which supplements the weak public school experience. While work with approximately 50 children continues at the Sueninos Center each afternoon, Amigos is also helping to fund a pilot program with 4 to 8 year old children in the primary school in Colonia 5 de Marzo. In addition to enhancing the classroom environment with fresh paint and decorations, the Sueninos pilot program is being conducted two hours for three days a week for eight weeks and includes improving motor skills, the teaching of sharing responsibility and the joy of reading. Sueninos’ self measurement of performance process is a model for all NGOs to follow.

The report from Raul Mendoza and his volunteer staff at Germinalia was also very uplifting and reinforced the decision by Amigos to renew its support for this program.
Originally started three years ago as a program to fund college scholarships and mentoring to students from remote mountain villages, student participants have grown from 50 to nearly 400 young people and has been adapted for high school and secondary school children, as well as for some non-students. The program has evolved from one-on-one academic tutoring to workshops on artistic expression, reading circles and math reasoning. A prime emphasis now is on increasing motivation and learning how to learn.
Discussion sessions also deal with health, safety and socio economic assistance.
Germinalia’s success has had a snowball effect with its rapid growth coming from participants encouraging their friends to join. The leadership has started to explore ways to share with other service providers in the San Cristobal area and additional funding sources have been sought to help manage the growth.

Co-founder Elena Blanco from Madre Tierra Mexico reported on how funds from Amigos donors are being utilized to buy medicines and to promote good health and sanitation habits among a population of 3,862 inhabitants in 42 small mountainous communities in the High Sierras in southern Chiapas. Ten volunteer “Health Promotors” (“Promotores Salud”) who have been recruited from the same communities receive one week of training each month and spend the remainder of the month in the communities training and promoting good health and sanitation. Madre Tierra’s approach is an integrated one, combining humanistic, technical and moral conscience aspects. “The worst sickness of all is poverty,” said Elena. “We believe everyone has the right to medical attention and disease prevention in the short term and improvement in the whole quality of life in the long term.” A new clinic which includes a pharmacy and consultation area will open soon.

Proposed Amendments to facilitate Amigos’ future

Outgoing President Ernesto Riedwyl (who will continue as a member of the Board) presented the case to the membership for making structural changes in the organization in order to facilitate continued growth and expand the impact of Amigos in carrying out its mission to improve the lives of impoverished Chiapenecos. He explained the activity level has increased to the point where the capacity of our all volunteer organization with the majority of members holding full time jobs is being exceeded. Ernesto recommended
the hiring of a part time paid staff person to keep up with the various demands of the organization in a timely manner. He also recommended retaining an experienced grant writer/fund raiser who would seek institutional funding from foundations, government agencies, embassies and corporations. Compensation for this person would consist of a percentage of the funds which would be developed for Amigos. Modifications to the current Constitution and By-Laws are needed, however, in order to approach some targeted institutions and Ernesto recommended approval of an amendment to this effect.

With approval of the membership the Board has identified two well qualified individuals for the proposed positions: Alison Abbott for the administrative role and Olivia Carvajal who has a successful track record in grant writing and fund raising.

Membership dues currently would cover a portion for the administrative position, but are insufficient to cover 100%, nor the one time expense involved to modify the Constitution.
Ernesto therefore issued a challenge to the membership: in order to continue assuring donors and prospective new donors that 100% of their donations will go toward supporting Amigos projects to help the poor, we must increase funds for the expense budget through more local fund raising events, increased memberships and by achieving renewed annual memberships in a more timely manner than we have in the past.

The membership unanimously approved each of Ernesto Riedwyl’s recommendations.

(Since the Annual Meeting, the newly elected Board has met and developed several local fund raising ideas and the Eliza Burkhard Gallery and Museum has offered to provide office space at no charge for the administrative position.)

Priority Goals and Objectives for the next 12 months

1. Double the size of the membership. (Rocío López and Lupita Narvaez have
volunteered to head the membership drive.)
2. Raise $400,000 pesos in donations
3. Generate $100,000 pesos for the expense budget through 5 to 6 local events
and increased memberships.
4. Increase the 2009 grant fund to $300,000 pesos
5. Make minimum of two site visits and written reports for each funded project
6. Communicate to donors and members with four newsletters throughout the year


Election of Directors

The following slate for the Board was approved by acclamation by the members:

Jack Nelson President
Ernesto Riedwyl Vice President
Javier Espinosa Secretary and Legal Representative
Alison Abbott Treasurer
Teresa Berlioz Special Events Coordinator
Rodrigo Alfonzo Technical Committee Chairperson
Rocío López Membership Chairperson
David Orr Honorary Director


Special thanks was given to all member volunteers who have given their time and effort
the past year and Ernesto Riedwyl was specially recognized for his effective leadership
and vision as President.


Written by David Orr