Longtime San Miguel resident Susan Roettinger passed away Easter Sunday in San Francisco (San Pancho), Nayarit, a small beach community where she had lived for the last two years.

Susan is survived by her son Kieran Clay Roettinger of Austin, Texas, by her brother Allan Bryant Roettinger (married to Marsha, with son Morgan) of Palmer Lake, Colorado, by her sister Deborah Dobell-Brown (married to Michael) of Obum Obum, Australia, and by her mother Joan Ray Roettinger of Austin, Texas. Her father, Phil Roettinger, died in San Miguel in January 2002.

Raised in Mexico City, Susan was naturally bilingual and bicultural. Locally, she was probably best known for her leadership of the Red Cross and for the ease and facility with which she dealt with both Mexican and non-Mexican communities. Many residents heard or saw Susan on local radio or television programs, where she promoted health issues, such as breast-cancer awareness, and gave reports from the Red Cross. While in San Miguel, Susan also worked at Atención San Miguel, Hospital de la Fe, the San Miguel Educational Foundation and other volunteer organizations. Susan helped produce the Medical Directory of San Miguel, set up jobs for caregivers, and-for a time-helped meet the medical and dietary requirements of her own private patients. Most recently, Susan donated many of her father's paintings for a sale to benefit Feed the Hungry.

Educated at St. Stephens in Austin, Tulane University in New Orleans, and in Florence, Italy, Susan subscribed to the one-world view described in John Lennon's "Imagine": 

A friend of 30 years, Carol Lee of California, described Susan's early adulthood: "Susan and I shared a house in northern California, in the 1970s, as single mothers of two small boys. Susan had just moved to Ukiah from a nearby valley, where she worked on a cooperative farm producing organic apple juice. We worked together at an historic hotel and restaurant. We were in our 30s, single and we partied to good old rock 'n' roll. Susan was strikingly beautiful. She shared photos of her brief modeling career as a young woman. We were part of the peace movement, opposed to the Vietnam War and fighting for civil rights. It was a high-energy time, and we wanted to raise our boys in a new frame of mind. And we did. Susan's focus and sacrifices were formed for the well-being of her son, Kieran. One could find no better friend than Susan. Always ready with a supportive ear and a vehicle, ready to roll. With a big heart, high intellect and amazing talents (from cooking to sewing to art ... and organizational skills), S
usan spread her wealth. Without a bow, she gave and gave."

In lieu of flowers, the Roettinger family asks that commemorative donations be made to the San Miguel Delegation of the Red Cross, either directly or through the San Miguel Educational Foundation (SMEF), which will provide a US tax receipt.

Imagine there's no Heaven  It's easy if you try  No hell below us  Above us only sky  Imagine all the people  Living for today  Imagine there's no countries  It isn't hard to do  Nothing to kill or die for  And no religion, too  Imagine all the people  Living life in peace

You may say that I'm a dreamer 
But I'm not the only one 
I hope someday you'll join us 
And the world will be as one 

Imagine no possessions 
I wonder if you can 
No need for greed or hunger 
A brotherhood of man 
Imagine all the people 
Sharing all the world 

You may say that I'm a dreamer 
But I'm not the only one 
I hope someday you'll join us 
And the world will live as one 

Lyrics by John Lennon

We'll all miss Susan
By Suzanne Ludekens

This article was published in Atención March 5, 2004, when Susan Roettinger retired from the Red Cross and left San Miguel to make her home at an undisclosed beach in Nayarit.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed these two-and-a-half years, it has been totally rewarding experience," commented Susan Roettinger as she concludes her term as president of the San Miguel Red Cross. And the feeling is mutual.

Local television and radio stations paid homage to the efforts of this devoted volunteer during the past week, and the entire organization turned out to bid her farewell at an official ceremony. Her endless energy, off-beat sense of humor and personal motto, "Support the volunteers, pamper them, pat them on the back and thank each and everyone of them every day," has had a major impact on this 100% volunteer organization. Morale has soared during her term as Red Cross president.

Roettinger worked as an emergency medical technician in California and Texas, holding up to three jobs at a time to support her son before coming to San Miguel to care for her ailing father. An innate caretaker, within two months she was volunteering at the Unión Médica (the predecessor of Hospital de la Fe), later learning homeopathic treatments at a Cieneguita cancer treatment center. The fateful meeting with the Red Cross came soon after in 1995, when Dr. Robert Maxwell invited Roettinger to the Sanmiguelada. "I remember being so impressed with the volunteers, some 40 kids, dealing with wounds caused essentially by stupidity. It was fascinating that such young people would volunteer to save lives," she recalls. "My experience with the US Red Cross was in emergency and disaster situations or with the blood bank." The Mexican organization, unlike its US counterpart, does not receive mandatory government funding, but depends on donations.

Even the large alcohol companies that reap the profits from the Sanmiguelada have yet to contribute more than promises of a donation. 

The monthly expenses of 65,000 pesos are for nine emergency staff members, gasoline, telephone, electricity, water, constant vehicle maintenance and medical supplies. Neither the telephone, water nor electricity services are charged at a lower rate for this invaluable public service. In fact, the Red Cross is charged business rates. "We don't even get the free 100 phone calls," remarks Roettinger, who has battled with Telmex for three years for a three-digit emergency number.

Although Roettinger has won several financing battles-the municipal subsidy increased from 20,000 pesos to 25,000 pesos a month when Luis Alberto Villarreal took office-working with the volunteers has given Roettinger the greatest satisfaction. "The average age is 23. These kids choose the Red Cross for social service work and many stay on," she comments. "Many are working and studying for medical careers." Josefa Enríquez is one example. He joined his father and uncle as a volunteer when still a teenager. Now, several years later, Enrìquez is an emergency technician, drives an ambulance and is studying to become a heart specialist. "He has excellent people skills and has overcome many difficult situations," remarks Roettinger proudly. "It's so rewarding to watch their confidence and skills grow." 

Emergencies are the norm at the Red Cross; however, there have been some light-hearted moments, such as Roettinger's first experience with driving an ambulance. "I crashed into a taco stall outside the Social Security clinic. I couldn't reverse into the narrow driveway," she recalls with a laugh. "No one was hurt, the bumper was ripped off. But I did get the pregnant woman to Celaya safe and sound."

Another incident resulted in volunteer Jesús Luna being renamed "The Stork Man." "There was a day when every call he attended was from a pregnant woman to go to the hospital. He delivered babies all day," muses Roettinger. "Later, a bus stopped in front of our offices, and the driver was frantic-a woman was in labor. And of course, Jesús delivered the baby." 

The Red Cross is now in the hands of the new president Jaime Fenton. "He did the training, is very capable and he's hooked on helping people," says Roettinger, who will soon retire to a small fishing village in Nayarit. She won't reveal the name. "There is a general hospital, but no Red Cross," she admits with a smile, "but there might be.…"

Your guide to overseas voting
By Democrats Abroad Mexico

Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote.
-G. J. Nathan

This year, on Tuesday, November 7, US citizens will choose one third of the Senate and the entire House of Representatives of the 110th Congress. Primaries to choose the candidates for these offices are taking place throughout the year. In order to vote in these important elections, the time to register and request your absentee ballot is NOW. 

Who is eligible to vote

All US citizens abroad who are of voting age are eligible to vote in elections for federal office, including primaries. Voting in federal elections has no bearing on your tax status.

You can register to vote using your last US voting address, no matter how long you have lived overseas.

You can register and vote using your last US address, even if you have never registered to vote before.

If you have children here who are US citizens and will be 18 by November 7 (election day), they can also register to vote, using your last US voting address. Please pass this information on to them, and set a good example by voting yourself. 

Primaries

Primaries have already taken place in Texas and Illinois. Primaries will take place in May in Indiana, North Carolina, Ohio, Nebraska, West Virginia, Kentucky, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Arkansas and Idaho, but the registration deadline has passed. 

Thirteen states will hold primaries in June-Alabama, California, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, South Dakota, Maine, North Dakota, South Carolina, Virginia and Utah-most of them with May deadlines. 

If you register now, you may be able to vote in the June primary in your state. Remember, you must declare a party affiliation in order to vote in a primary. Don't delay!

Registering and applying for an absentee ballot 

You need to apply for an absentee ballot in each federal election year. Some states keep your registration on file and automatically send a ballot, but many don't-or may have changed their procedures since the last election. Even if you did this for the 2004 election, you need to do it again this year. 

One way to apply for an absentee ballot is to use the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA)-which may not yet be available from the US Embassy or Consulate in your area. The FPCA is accepted by all states and territories as an application for registration and an absentee ballot. It is postage-free when placed in the US mail.

The online version of the FPCA (OFPCA) is available at the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) website, www.fvap.gov  You can fill it out online, print it out, sign and date it, place it in an envelope with the proper postage and mail it to your local election official. You can get the address of your local election official from the same website. 

Although the same card is used to apply for ballots in all states, each state has its own rules about how to fill it out. Most do not require that all the fields be completed. Three states require that the form be notarized. It is essential to have the guidelines for your particular state. The FVAP website also provides state-specific information on how to fill out the form. 

Isn't there an easier way?

Absolutely. Democrats Abroad chapters around the world are holding a Worldwide Voter Weekend on Friday-Sunday, May 5-7. In San Miguel, DA members will introduce the new online voting assistance site developed by Democrats Abroad and help you register then and there. Details in the next issue of Atención. 

Voter registration will take place Thursday, May 4, from 11am to 1pm in the Jardín and on Saturday, May 6, from 10am to 2pm at the Biblioteca Pública.

Democracy. Use it or lose it. 

Lend your lending library a hand
By Judy Boston

Volunteers are the backbone of the Biblioteca Pública, and volunteering is a way to contribute to San Miguel and to get back more than you invest. There are many departments that need your assistance. Here's a brief list of some of the openings for you to consider:

English teachers, both for kids and adults. A basic knowledge of Spanish is requested, especially for the children's classes.

The Book Committee needs help cataloging and organizing books and compiling bibliographic lists, and helping in their office.

The Sala Infantil (Children's Room) needs a computer teacher and English teachers.

The House and Garden Tour requests more guides and people to sell tickets every Sunday. 

Atención would like to have someone who can gather data for the writers, especially about the scholarship program.

The Computer Room could stay open all day long with a volunteer on duty from 2 to 4pm.

Because continuity is extremely important, especially for the teaching posts, most of these positions require a minimum three-month commitment, but some do not.

This is just a sample of what we are planning. Please send me an email at volunteers@bibliotecasma.com  if you are interested in joining us, and I'll share the details of the opportunities open to you.

New team members at Centro de Crecimiento
By Lucha Maxwell

During one of our weekly tours of the Centro de Crecimiento, Dr. James Vlasak and Adriana Valenzuela Galván visited our installations and met our children. Conversations with the center's director and staff Dr. Vlasak and Ms. Valenzuela interested in helping the children with their medical needs.


Dr. Vlasak and Valenzuela Galvàn have recently arrived in San Miguel de Allende after having lived in Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo. They were drawn to San Miguel for family and colonial charm.

Dr. Vlasak graduated from the University of California at Irvine in 1974 and attended the Universidad Veracruzana School of Medicine in 1980, where he obtained his Mexican medical doctorate and federal license to legally practice medicine in the Republic of Mexico.

After returning to Mexico in August 1999, Dr. Vlasak established a lucrative general practice in Playa del Carmen for six years years. As a private practitioner, he contracted with large, five-star hotels and provided all emergency and urgent medical services to the international hotel guests. He also developed a local foreign resident practice in the community as the only American doctor on the Caribbean peninsula. James and Adriana met in Playa del Carmen and have actively participated in two medical missions located in Cancún and Playa del Carmen. Upon their arrival in San Miguel de Allende, they investigated medical missionary organizations and approached the Centro de Crecimiento to offer their voluntary medical services to our foundation for the handicapped children of San Miguel and surrounding rural areas.

The Centro de Crecimiento asks for the support of the San Miguel community to raise funds to purchase medications and "soft materials" (e.g., dressings) to stock a pharmacy at the center. The sole purpose of the pharmacy is to provide the children with prescribed medicines and treatments.

The Centro de Crecimiento holds its first campaign to collect donations for the pharmacy inventory this weekend. Please visit our booth in the Jardín and meet our new team players, James and Adriana.

To assist with pharmacy purchases, issue your check to San Miguel Educational Foundation and designate it for the Centro de Crecimiento. Make sure to include your name and address so you can be sent a receipt for tax purposes. This applies to cash donations, too.

Collection campaign for Centro de Crecimiento
Saturday & Sunday April 29 & 30, 10am-6pm, Jardín



Train your camera's iris on your garden's iris

The Club de Jardinería de San Miguel de Allende, A.C., is beginning its annual contest for photos to be highlighted in the 2007 calendar. Whether a San Miguel resident or visitor, professional or amateur photographer using either digital or film cameras, everyone is encouraged to participate. 

The Garden Club produces and sells this beautiful calendar to raise funds for beautification and educational projects within our community, and each year it is an eagerly awaited personal and popular gift for friends and a remembrance of our lovely city for tourists. 

The calendar will present some of the many scenes and activities that are unique to San Miguel, so please send favorite places or moments you have captured. Since only 12 photos can be selected each year, many fabulous photos submitted in past years and not used may be resubmitted and considered for this year. The 2007 calendar will be a wall calendar that only accommodates horizontal photographs, so only horizontal ones will be considered. The name of the responsible photographer will be printed with each photograph.

Entries will be accepted between May 1 and June 30 by Leigh Gersnoviez at Box 209B, Border Crossings (from the US, mail to BC-209B, 9902 Crystal Ct Ste 109, Laredo, Tx 78045-6379) or electronically at GardenClubSMA@yahoo.com 

Digital or standard photographs are acceptable, but please do not send negatives. Photographs will be returned only if the entry includes your name, address and telephone number.