August 29, 2008, Nectar from the essential plant, By Lena Bartula and Roxanne Cordero, Exit gracefully from this earth, By Natalie Hardy, Alma center expands, By Rosalie Gower, Little Shop of Surprises, Antiques, appraisals and auction, By Beverly Russell, Rug hooking knows no borders, By Charlotte Bell, Hospice San Miguel honors Howard Haynes, surpasses fundraising target, By Beverly Russell, Nonprofits in San Miguel ''From good to great'', By Rev. Dr. Cynthia Lynch, Red Cross seeks new board members, Last days to register to vote in the US election

Nectar from the essential plant
By Lena Bartula and Roxanne Cordero
August 29, 2008 San Miguel de Allende

Nopal and Maguey Festival
Sat–Sun, Sep 6–7, 11am–5pm
Plaza Zaragoza
Mineral de Pozos
Free
Bus from San Miguel, 150 pesos

An expression often heard in San Miguel is: “Adios is not goodbye.” So many Spanish words and phrases have multiple meanings, or they sound like something we expats think we know. What do you think of when you hear tuna? Fish, right?

But if you’ve ever ordered tuna in Mexico, chances are you got either a funny look or a fruit from the nopal cactus.

Come and discover the many uses of this and other cacti, experience a tuna and its many uses, in the Second Annual Nopal and Maguey Regional Festival in Mineral de Pozos. This little pueblo just 45 minutes northeast of San Miguel will feature specialties made of native plants from the region known as the Sierra Gorda. Vendors, cooks, herbalists and artisans from surrounding villages will gather at Plaza Zaragoza, promising alimentos from the nopal, a plant so important in the history and culture of this land that it is featured on the Mexican coat of arms. The tuna, also called prickly pear, are fruits in various colors atop the paddles (that cactus appendage that is neither branch nor leaf). They are not only tasty but also high in Vitamins A, C and B complex, plus iron. Visitors will enjoy samples of jams, salads and other specialties, including Colonche, a liquor said to be mild, pungent and almost sweet.

From the maguey cactus, there will be tastings of quiote, pulque and mezcal. Other delicacies include liquors, salsas and salads made from the xoconoztle, piñoles of maiz, mesquite and garbanzas, plus galletas (cookies) of maiz and mesquite.

The festivities begin with a serenade of mariachis in Plaza Zaragoza on Saturday at 11am. Events to round out this festival include regional dances, such as Folklorico and Huapango, pre-Hispanic music, workshops on herbal medicines of the region and, of course, every kind of cactus imaginable, just waiting to be adopted.

Bus transportation is available only for Saturday festivities. Tickets are sold in advance at Galeria Pérgola at Instituto Allende and at La Tienda inside the Biblioteca. Only 40 bus seats are available, so you should purchase your ticket in advance to insure your place. The bus leaves from Liverpool at 10am and departs from the main Jardín in Pozos at 5pm.

Pozos is 1,100 feet higher in altitude than San Miguel and the weather can change at the drop of a hat, so you should dress in layers, bring rain gear and wear comfortable shoes. There are no ATM machines and most shops do not accept credit cards, so cash is king here.

In case you would like to make the beautiful short drive yourself and decide to stay the night, three wonderful hotel/restaurants are: Casa Montana (442) 293-0031, 293-0032 (credit cards accepted), La Posada de las Minas (442) 293-0213 (credit cards accepted) and Casa Mexicana Hotel Spa (442) 293-0014. A fourth restaurant/gallery, Los Famosos de Pozos, is located on the main street. The main Jardín houses two galleries, Galería6 and the gallery located inside Casa Montana. Just a short walk from the Jardín you can find Studio Refugio.

For more information, call Roxanne Cordero at 045 (442) 173-2730.

Exit gracefully from this earth
By Natalie Hardy

Let’s begin with the good news. The 24-Hour Association is here in San Miguel! Its function is to support and facilitate you and your family at your departure from this earthly plane. I am always astonished at how expatriate communities see the needs of their fellow man, and make happen what is necessary in a foreign world, those needs which we would take for granted in our own country of birth.

The 24-Hour Association is a legally registered not-for-profit Mexican asociacion civil. The group formed in 1965, when Admiral Alex Charlton, USN, sent out a memo to the foreign community: “As most of you know, Mexican law requires burial within 24 hours of death. This presents immediate problems which cannot await the arrival of executors no matter how carefully prearranged. Therefore, a committee of year-round residents is being set up to take action in accordance with directions available on a card file specifying all wishes of the deceased who will have deposited in the Association a sum sufficient to cover the type of services required.” And so a committee of 11 was selected to see to the final wishes as indicated on the member’s application form, including handling of the remains, communicating to the Mexican officials to obtain the required Mexican legal documents, communicating with relatives and friends in San Miguel de Allende and abroad, and even arranging for funeral services as specified.

What is the bad news? Let us imagine what it would be like if no such support group were available. The survivor can easily be nonfunctional in the critical moment of the loved one’s death. Or perhaps there is no “survivor.” Who does what? Perhaps a doctor will be called. They can pronounce the person deceased, but they are not there for what follows. Now imagine a friend who is uninformed of procedures, walking into this situation. What if there is no friend or relative present at the moment of dying? Put simply, it is a terrible situation for friends or relatives. How can we navigate the correct procedures in a foreign country with its own laws and requirements? Being a member of the 24-Hour Association answers those needs and takes stress off the survivors and friends of the deceased, and so we are back to the good news.

More good news. The price you pay depends on the service you request. Once this has been paid, however many years pass, and however much costs increase, there is no extra cost to you. It is a one-time fee per membership. Happily, the Association can pay, with interest earned on its principal assets, any increased costs incurred down the line from long-term members. Nor are you out the fee should your plans change and you leave Mexico. Your fee will be refunded to you at no cost. What is not to love?

The Association tends to keep a low profile in the community, though it is not less present for that. Contact numbers for more information are: Executive Secretary Janice Bruns at 044 (415) 114-0290 and Treasurer Melanie Nance at 154-9230 or 152-6668. Melanie reminds me to say that rules have recently changed, and the birth and marriage certificates required now must be officially translated into Spanish along with your application. Melanie and Janice will cheerfully answer other questions you may have.

The Association welcomes new member applicants at any time. Exit gracefully from this earth with your final wishes already arranged.

Natalie Hardy has been a board member of the 24-Hour Association for four years and has direct experience with the benefits of membership when her husband passed away here in 2004.

Alma center expands
By Rosalie Gower

New project tours
Alma Bodega sale
Sat, Aug 30, 10am–1pm
Alma
Callejón Lejona, behind Mega

Alma, a residence for seniors, was started almost 13 years ago by Margaret Galloway and Carmina Casas. Sadly, both ladies are now deceased, but their dream of a safe haven for seniors has become a reality and now houses 34 men and women. Residents pay according to their means—little or nothing for some and up to US$700 per month for those who can afford it. All expenses are covered: room, meals, medical care, laundry, medication, a cook and nurse, some physical therapy and on-call doctors.

Alma plans to extend the present building, beginning in October, with six motel-like units consisting of a large main room with a small kitchen at one side, a bathroom built for seniors, a bedroom with two beds and a small garden in back. Meals can be taken in the main dining room or in the unit if preferred and residents can interact as much or as little as they wish with those in the main building.

If seniors are not yet ready to leave their own homes, they can purchase units now for US$25,000. Alma will rent out the units until the owners are ready to move in, thus guaranteeing future security and loving care.

Liz Stone, Ken McCutcheon Vaughn and Ron Beakley have agreed to start augmented fundraising activity for the new units. Anyone interested in purchasing a unit or receiving more information can phone Maria Williams at 152-0664. At the moment Alma has sufficient funds to begin building two units. For those interested in the project, tours will be offered at the next Alma bodega sale.

Little Shop of Surprises

Bodega de Sorpresas is a large book sale in the patio portales of the Biblioteca Pública on Thursdays, 10am–1pm, with clothing, shoes, computers, housewares and miscellaneous in the back room up the ramp toward the Spanish and English reading rooms.

Book prices range from 5 pesos for paperbacks to 20–30 for hardcovers. Volunteers load the tables late Wednesday, so the books are ready for browsing right when the sale opens on Thursday. Clever book scouts wait in line outside the Biblioteca doors. Bodega stock comes from the many donations to the Biblioteca and if you’re there when a new lot hits the tables, you could spend all your pesos happily. From the donations, librarians pull books needed in the main collection and the paperback fiction shelves, but the rest goes to the Bodega. Records are periodic treasure troves; you can easily find rarities worth 50–500 pesos. One man even found a working turntable in the up-the-ramp part of the sale.

The sale has been running for many years and all proceeds go to scholarships (almost 300,000 pesos last year). To donate goods, contact Irineo at 152-3770.

Antiques, appraisals and auction
By Beverly Russell

Roadshow
Benefit for Centro Infantil
Wed, Sep 10, 5–9pm
St. Paul’s Church
Cardo 6
50 pesos, wine and cheese, plus
50 pesos for three appraisals

St. Paul’s Church has come up with a novel idea for a fundraising event—a “Roadshow” similar to the PBS TV show, with appraisals of antiques and other treasures. The event benefits Centro Infantil, one of St. Paul’s outreach programs, a preschool for needy children in colonia Independencia.

Previewing the antiques will start at 5pm with appraisals 6–8pm. To top off the evening, high-quality collectibles will be auctioned.

San Miguel residents are invited to bring their treasures to the Roadshow, from rugs to paintings, crystal, china, silver, linens, folk art, bibelots, costume jewelry, needlepoint or whatever, for evaluation. Four San Miguel residents with expertise in antiques, Tom and Joy Price, Lee Fuerestein and Mort Erlick, have agreed to do the appraisals.

Tom Price is the former founder and director of the Wilmington, NC, Historical Museum and from his army service in the Far East is knowledgeable about Asian antiques, paintings and bibelots. He owns a bronze Buddha with gold wash, dated 1479 he brought back from his travels.

Joy Price, formerly an interior designer, has a passion for eclectic furnishings, “bordering on the comfortable rather than formal.” Among her personal favorites at their Malanquin house is a Chippendale-style bench upholstered with her mother’s leopard skin coat “which was too good to throw out.”

She also cherishes a hand-crocheted bedspread with pinecone design bought in East Africa on their honeymoon, as well as two Dutch late seventeenth-century marquetry chairs which she upholstered in gros point and petit point.

Lee Feurestein had a long and distinguished career as an antiques dealer and interior designer in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, where she ran her own business and created interiors for well-known Washington, DC, personalities. She also scoured auctions and sources for antiques in the US and Europe, often supplying New York’s top decorators with her exclusive finds. Her favorite style is eighteenth-century English. Prized among her collectibles is a group of Victorian silver goblets, each with a different engraved pattern, and a Seth Thomas seven-day wind-up clock from the late nineteenth century.

Mort Erlick, who once supplied antique props to Hollywood film studios (and is the well-known Biblioteca House & Garden Sunday tour guide), is an expert in Mexican antiques and folk art, which he has been collecting and selling for over 25 years. “You’re either a bibelot person or you are not,” he remarked. “You don’t buy for the possession of it, but for the joy of it.”

Tickets for the evening are 50 pesos, which includes the wine and cheese reception. For people interested in getting items appraised, a further 50 pesos will allow for three separate appraisals. All funds go to Centro Infantil, which just moved into a new building and now educates 50 preschoolers aged three, four and five.

Adrian Ross, chair of the fundraiser, is donating a Wedgwood china tea set for the auction. Lee Feurestein is giving eight blue crystal wine goblets. David Tarrant’s gift is a Royal Doulton dinner set. Beverly Russell is donating a sterling silver tea caddy. “We hope people will donate very special collectibles to the auction part of the evening,” said Ross. An experienced auctioneer at charity events who knows how to work the crowd, Lee Feurestein will knock down the treasures to bidders.

More information: adrianrossdesigns@hotmail.com.

Beverly Russell is an author of several books on design and the arts. She has written articles for The New York Times and numerous other publications.

Last week 39 people from the US and Canada converged on San Miguel to participate in the first international rug hook camp, “Rug Hooking Knows No Borders.”

This event had its beginning more than 12 years ago when volunteers with Mujeres en Cambio taught a small group of women (The Rug Hook Project or Las Rancheritas) in Agustin Gonzales the art of rug hooking. The goal was to empower local women by providing them with a sell-able craft. Eight years ago Mujeres volunteer Charlotte Bell accepted the task of helping promote and market the products made by Las Rancheritas. The resulting contacts and connections all played a part in the success of the conference.

Part of the camp was a visit to the village of Agustin Gonzales. The rug hookers from El Norte boarded a bus and visited the rancho en masse to view and purchase the rugs and “hook” with the “hookers.” It was a heartwarming scene to see people from the two cultures sitting side by side in the classrooms of the telesecundaria sharing their knowledge and laughing together. They also had an opportunity to ride the burro of Norberto, the one male hooker, who arrived at the school atop his steed, hooked rug waving from a banner. It was an unforgettable sight and event.

Success for any artist means selling what they make. Purchases by conference participants, coupled with sales to the local store, Caracol Collection, and tourists at the Instituto Allende Arts and Crafts fair added up to more than US$8,000 in income.

For the women (and one man) of Agustin Gonzales this is very good news. Petra Ramirez, who has been supporting her disabled husband for 25 years, proudly announced that she could now put a new roof on her house. Many others commented how their earnings would make it easier to pay school fees, buy uniforms for the children, visit the doctor, pay miscellaneous expenses and maybe even buy an appliance for their modest kitchens.

So, while politicians talk endlessly and do nothing about immigration issues, Mexican artists, in cooperation with volunteer help, are demonstrating how, with creativity and persistence, it is possible for locals to make a living in their own country.

It also shows how a small group of people working together can bring about significant change. Thanks are due to the many people in the US and Canada who donated the wool used in the rugs. Others from the San Miguel community helped bring the wool to Mexico. The Pendelton Company in Portland, Oregon, has agreed to make regular shipments of remnants from their textile manufacturing business. In addition, the rugs will be featured in a variety of gallery shows in the US and at several large international rug hook conferences next year.

Due to the success of the first rug hook camp this year, plans are underway to organize another one next year. For more information about Las Rancheritas and how you can help, visit www.rughookproject.com.

Hospice San Miguel honors Howard Haynes, surpasses fundraising target
By Beverly Russell

At the Rancho La Loma equestrian center, the apt message at the Hospice San Miguel gala benefit was “pony up.” This request came from honoree philanthropist Howard Haynes, recipient of the First Annual Community Caregiver Award. He was talking money, of course, not horses.

And his persuasive performance on the platform—“you can’t take it all with you”— before a motivated crowd of over 300 people proved more than successful. The evening of giving surpassed Hospice’s most optimistic expectations.

Haynes and his partner, Bill Harris, started the ball rolling with a US$10,000 gift, and his friends from his hometown of Kansas City, Missouri, Tony Oppenheimer, President of the Oppenheimer Brothers Foundation, and his wife, Marti, ponied up an equal amount. Hospice volunteers collectively gave $US1,000, presented by Hospice San Miguel board member and volunteer coordinator Anne Howells. Many more guests quickly filled in their pledge forms and took bows as their names were read from the platform. These included a donation of US$1,000 from designer Luis Pontoja and $US630 from José Cruz González of Banquetes Don Mere. Lee Carter, founder and president of Hospice San Miguel since its inception in 2007, stressed the achievement of its mission among the Mexican community. “So far Hospice has helped 18 Mexican families and 7 American families. We are very proud of this record.” He thanked the Midday Rotary Club for its recent donation of US$4,000 that has been spent on durable medical equipment for patients.

He looked forward to a possible US$15,000 donation from Rotary, through a grant in progress.

The Rev. Michael Long, Rector of St. Paul’s church, came to the platform and described Haynes as “a behind-the-scenes angel.” When resources at the church are depleted, he said, “Howard always comes through. He is a true philanthropist to this community.” This brought more cheers, as did the speech by Jerry Weakley, vice president of Baker University (Haynes’ alma mater): “Howard is an educator, philanthropist and businessman. No one knows all the good Howard does, and he does everything with transparency and accountability.”

Hospice showed its video Fears Aside, a short testimony of the charity’s successes with terminally ill patients who have received devoted home care without cost until their deaths and Hospice’s hopes for the future. It was well done and very professional. The event was coordinated by Philadelphia event planner Deb Connor and enhanced with imaginative sunflower table decorations and matching yellow and orange papel picado streamers hung overhead, all devised by designer Adrian Ross. Music by the nine-piece band Pila Seca greeted guests with kicky rhythms. Planta Baja and Azotea provided tapas and literally hundreds of delicious El Globo petits fours.

The benefit was a definite 10 plus, as was the previous evening’s “thank you” cocktail party to Hospice volunteers and friends of Haynes from the States at the exquisite Casa del Obelisco in Centro, generously donated for the occasion by owners John and Diana Patience. Patsy’s Place provided superb hors d’oeuvres, and a live trio, Pawis and His Friends, played cool jazz.

Beverly Russell, author of several books on design and the arts, has written articles for numerous publications, including The New York Times.

In spite of their enormous diversity, nonprofit organizations share the goal of improving the human condition. Whether they are organizations or associations, service providers or foundations, the one thing they all have in common is their passion to be of service to individuals, groups and society as a whole.

Because people recognize their inherent value and worth, nonprofit organizations are accorded a special status in the community, but with this special status comes ethical and moral responsibility to act in ways that will meet the public trust.

One way to protect this unique relationship of service and trust is for organizations to regularly meet to share experiences, learn new approaches and techniques and to rejuvenate their leadership. On July 31 and August 1, more than 30 volunteers representing 18 San Miguel nonprofit and service organizations met at the Biblioteca Pública for the first annual two-day conference, “From Good to Great: Pathways to Excellence for Nonprofit Organizations.” Many organizations sent “teams” of participants so they were able to benefit from the full coverage of all the workshops.

Four instructors offered 11 workshops in information technology (IT), organization development and financial management. All of the workshops were well attended and the exchanges between and among the participants were robust and meaningful. Plans are already under way for next year’s conference. Topics suggested for next year were a panel of experts on how to achieve Mexican Asociación Civil status, how to approach local foundations for grants and how to improve grant writing.

One of the announcements at this year’s conference was the availability of University of Texas Pan American (UTPA) internships for nonprofit organizations in San Miguel. Many college programs require students to work as interns to get some experience in their fields of study. Other programs of study at UTPA use group projects from the community for experiential learning in the classroom. Most UTPA students speak Spanish and this is a big plus for them working in San Miguel. UTPA is now seeking nonprofit organizations interested in offering work experiences to these students. Application forms for UTPA internships are available from José Luis at the Biblioteca. He will forward the completed forms to Rev. Dr. Thomas D. Lynch, the UTPA executive director in San Miguel. If you wish, you can instead drop off your organization’s internship application to the Centro office of Border Crossings, Box 89B. You also can reach Dr. Lynch by email at lynchtd@utpa.edu or by phone in San Miguel at 154-5254.

A second announcement at the conference was the anticipation of the publication of the new directory of nonprofit and service organizations to be posted on the Atención/Biblioteca Pública website. Email addresses are important tools to achieve quick and inexpensive communication and thus improve coordination and communication among nonprofit groups. If your organization does not have an official email address and personal email addresses are being used, permission from the individual is needed in order to address privacy concerns. Forms for listing your organization in the directory of nonprofit and service organizations also are available from José Luis at the Biblioteca. Please fill them out and leave them with him.

Our grateful thanks to all the Biblioteca Pública staff who worked diligently to accommodate the conference during a very busy summer camp season and special thanks to the Café Santa Ana for the spectacular spread they put on for our lunches both days. This was a great event and our hosts at the Biblioteca Pública were gracious and generous in every way. We look forward to a bigger and better nonprofit conference in the summer of 2009.

Red Cross seeks new board members

The Red Cross association of San Miguel is seeking new volunteer board members. The association is the vehicle through which the foreign community supports the efforts of the Red Cross. The association generates revenue through memberships, emergency medical classes, the sale of medic alert bracelets and bingo every Tuesday night (a new feature of bingo is one unannounced large cash game).

If you are interested in helping those who are always there to help us, please call Barbara Lichter at 152-2303 to discuss volunteer opportunities.

Last days to register to vote in the US election

US voter registration
Mon & Wed, Sep 1 & 3, 1-3pm
Biblioteca Pública patio
Insurgentes 25
Thu, Sep 4, noon–3pm
Hecho en Mexico
Ancha de San Antonio 8

If you are a US citizen or hold dual citizenship, the last days are rapidly approaching for you to register to vote in the presidential election on November 4. Since almost all registrations, ballots and voted ballots have to be sent by regular mail, time must be allowed for these various mailings.

Democrats Abroad will be registering voters in the Biblioteca and at Hecho en Mexico restaurant. This is a nonpartisan effort and everyone who comes will be registered.

The reason for the early deadline is because regular mail from San Miguel can take as long as two weeks to go to the US and two weeks to return to San Miguel. The process works like this: Fill out the registration form, mail it to the county where you last lived in the US. They receive it and send you a ballot. When you receive your ballot, fill in your vote and mail it back to your county election office. A few states do allow ballots to be faxed, but most states and the counties that run the elections still depend on regular mail.

The people registering voters have the addresses of the various county election offices and prepaid voter registration postcards. If you cannot come to the Biblioteca or Hecho en Mexico, you can go to www.votefromabroad.org and fill out a registration form, but you still have to print it out, sign and mail it by regular mail.

Do not allow yourself to be disenfranchised. Register and vote in this very important election.