December 12, 2008, Health Day in Los Torres, By Gene Crane, Brushing exercises in Esperanza, By Keith Wall, Christmas party, Final Breakthrough for San Miguel School for the Deaf, By Holly Yasui, Holiday fare, By Roger Hind, Science Club launched, Festival of Lights re-dedicates temple, By Carole J. Stone, Red Cross monthly calls: 300; Free: 285, By Krishna Villena, Virginia Cairns Callan, 1936-2008, women’s rights leader

On Saturday, November 15, Patronato Pro Niños held its first-ever Health Day for an outlying community in the San Miguel municipality.

Over 500 residents of Los Torres, over 30 kilometers from Centro, came together to learn of the importance of prevention for good health and safety. A good time was had by all, but more important, perhaps we’ve helped create a healthier community.

The Guanajuato state Secretary of Health sent a doctor to conduct “classes” for the parents of older children. They covered subjects such as the importance of nutrition and how to secure nutritious foods on a limited budget. All members of the family were taught the value of regular hand washing.

The current health of Los Torres children was established as a doctor and nurse checked and noted height, weight, blood pressure and blood sugar of 180 children in order to create a baseline for evaluation of the results of Patronato Pro Niños’ prevention program in the years ahead as the children grow. The families also received visual materials to reinforce the lectures.

Patronato Pro Niños’ dental van was on hand so the van’s regular dentist, Dra. Argelia Flores, examined a large number of children, providing treatment when necessary.

Games, clowns, balloons and a soccer game kept the children occupied and entertained. As part of the festivities, Patronato Pro Niños provided all 500 visitors a nutritious comida of chicken, rice, beans, tortillas, fruit and juice.

As a follow-up to this wellness fiesta, Patronato Pro Niños is providing powdered vitamin supplements to add to the masa, the batter from which tortillas are made, to make them more nutritious.

Additionally, two 5,000-liter water tanks with filters have been placed in Los Torres and San Miguel sends city water trucks regularly to fill the tanks.

Patronato Pro Niños is so pleased with the results of this day that the board of directors and the Prevention Committee are planning a schedule of four Health Days each year, moving about the countryside to spread the message of prevention to as many people as possible.

To view the activities of Patronato Pro Niños in a video created by Bill Fisher, go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=oll-fhVA7MQ.

Gene Crane has been with Patronato Pro Niños for 13 years.

Brushing exercises in Esperanza
By Keith Wall

Holiday Party
Fri, Dec 19, 10am
Luis Malo school
Esperanza
Vivian Trillen (415) 150-7220
or email vitatrill@yahoo.com.mx

One bright morning in November, dentista Alma (“Bright Smile”) Godinez took a drive in the country to the Luis Malo kindergarten school in pueblo de Esperanza, just southwest of La Cieneguita, transporting dental charts and a supply of 30 little toothbrushes and tubes of Colgate.

Her friend Vivian Trillen, who lives in La Cieneguita, has adopted the impoverished school and asked Dr. Alma to come out and make a presentation on dental hygiene.

The children, four to six years old, were very excited to receive the important doctor from San Miguel, their friend Vivian and a photographer arriving at their gate. They were not shy about demonstrating their glee, but became very serious and attentive when toothbrushes, toothpaste and cups of water were passed around and they were asked to move outside into the sunshine and form a circle, their new equipment in hand. Dr. Alma showed them how to squeeze some toothpaste on the brush and begin brushing their teeth, one side at a time. Following instruction of proper technique on one side, they were asked to demonstrate rinsing and spitting. They did well.

When the brushing exercises were over, Dr. Alma set up a little chair and desk and, with her charts, did an inspection of each child’s mouth. When cavities or other problems were observed, she made further notes and will be arranging for free treatment for these children.

The following morning she arrived with her own TV and video player, as the school has neither, and showed the children a video about dental care.

The children’s teacher Liliana Ponce and the children have many needs. First is a roof for the unfinished adjacent space. The cramped one-room school is too small to accommodate chairs, tables, books, supplies and 26 children. They applied at the Presidencia in January for help to complete the roof, but so far no one has responded. Other needs are for paints, brushes, colored pencils, pads of drawing paper, books and educational games.

Christmas party

The Three Kings will not be visiting the Luis Malo school, so Vivian and friends are planning to give the schoolchildren a holiday party. Gifts for the kids (caps, sweaters, mittens, socks, scarves and/or toys) and supplies for the school are being solicited. These may be dropped off at Café Internet Punto G, Hidalgo 23, between Mesones and Insurgentes, by Tuesday, December 16. If wrapped, attach a note indicating what the package contains. Or better, come to the party and bring your gifts and a camera! For more information, call Vivian Trillen at (415) 150-7220 or email vitatrill@yahoo.com.mx.

Directions

Go over the railroad tracks at the bottom of Calzada de la Estación, turn right toward La Cieneguita, go ¾ of a mile to a little tienda on your right in front of a small development of homes. Continue a very short way and turn left at the first road. The school is about ¼ mile ahead on your left.

Final Breakthrough for San Miguel School for the Deaf
By Holly Yasui

Breakthrough
IREE fundraiser
Mon, Dec 15, 5–8pm
The Restaurant
Sollano 16
400 pesos

The final "Breakthrough" this year for the San Miguel school for the deaf, Instituto de Rehabilitación y Enseñanza Especial (IREE), takes place this Monday. This fundraising party, coordinated pro bono by Deb Conner Events, concludes the many efforts and contributions made by various individuals and groups that have supported the school since the call went out this summer to save it.

This event includes drinks, food, music, and a live auction, donated all or in part, as are the efforts of Deb Connor, who recruited the two young filmmakers, Sam Oliver and Emilie Davies, to produce the delightful IREE spot that is now posted on the internet: http://vimeo.com/2294498.

"I spent two hours at IREE meeting the teachers and the students," says Deb. "It was inspiring. We have so much ... these kids just want to learn and to be able to communicate with the world. I walked out of the school saying to myself, 'these doors cannot close.'"

Deb was so moved by her visit to the school that she discussed the situation with her mom, Nell Ann Wooldridge, who contacted the Illinois School for the Deaf in Jacksonville, Illinois, an institution that one of the founders of IREE visited in the early 90s. Wooldridge, a health professional, and Joan Forney, former superintendent of the Illinois School for the Deaf for 12 years, are spearheading a “Pennies for Pesos” project in which children in Davenport will contribute their one-cent’s worth and see it increased tenfold in their sister school in San Miguel.

Hopefully this international program, as well as an ongoing “Friends of IREE” fundraising committee or advisory board, will enable the school to continue to provide the basic education and activities that the low-income deaf children of IREE cannot find elsewhere. At press time, the IREE fundraising campaign has raised enough to keep the school going for another two months while the fundraising committee and Pennies for Pesos program establish themselves.

When asked why she specializes in event development for nonprofits, Deb says, “How could I not? But truly, there is no better feeling—except hugging my kids—than working hard and at the end of a project knowing that a group of people or an organization have gained.”

IREE would like to especially thank Atención for constant support for the fundraising campaign this fall; Teatro Santa Ana; Bernard Weisman Foundation; Rotary Club and all the donors, known and anonymous, who have generously contributed and/or pledged contributions to the school: Carolina Avila, Peggy Bell, Jeanne Bernard, Kate Buchner, Edward and Nancy Dobbs, Steven Goldstein, Carlo Good, Rosalie Gower, Craig Morgan, Christine Reynolds, Walter Scott, Arlene Van Note, Paco Vázquez of diseño-i, Farley and Virginia Wheelwright.

Tickets for the Breakthrough event may be purchased at Border Crossings, La Conexión, Agua de Coco and The Restaurant. For more information, write to dsconnor@comcast.net.

Holiday fare
By Roger Hind

Mujeres en Cambio luncheon
Thu, Dec 18, 2pm
Hacienda de las Flores
Hospicio 16
120 pesos

Thanksgiving has passed and the holiday season is well upon us. It’s a time for celebrating but, more than that, it’s a time for convivial gatherings, enjoying good food and good company in pleasant surroundings. That’s exactly what the next Mujeres en Cambio luncheon offers. We’ll be serving roast turkey breast with all the trimmings as well as fabulous side dishes, salads and vegetables and delicious desserts in the dining room at Hacienda de las Flores.

By attending you will help us raise funds for educational scholarships for 150 young women from the ranchos around San Miguel. These students are recommended by their school principals on the basis of need, academic ability and determination to succeed. Our scholarships make it possible for these young women to attend and graduate from high school, often the first to do so in their families. Many continue to college or university.

We are also proud to be associated with the rug-hooking project at Agustin Gonzales. Beginning with a small group of women receiving training in rug hooking, this project has grown to the point that the women’s whimsical folk art rugs are sold in galleries and museums in the US. Their designs are also sold on-line to rug-hooking enthusiasts around the world. The income generated by this project allows these women to send their children to school, obtain medical care for themselves and their families and improve their living conditions. This year there was sufficient income for the women of Agustin Gonzales to hire a tractor to till their corn and bean fields, a job usually done by hand.

Mujeres en Cambio is a volunteer-run organization with minimal operating costs (less than 1 percent per annum). You can therefore be sure that your support is passed as fully as possible to our programs.

You can learn more about Mujeres en Cambio by visiting www.mujeresencambio.org.

Entry to the upcoming event is by pre-purchased ticket, available for 120 pesos at Casa de Papel, Mesones 57A (the China Palace building). For further information, call Roger Hind at 154-6552—sorry, no phone reservations can be taken.

Science Club launched

Science Club
Saturdays, 10am–noon
Spanish/English
Biblioteca Pública
Free
sciencecampsma@gmail.com

Every Saturday morning, 10am–noon, volunteer teachers and San Miguel kids meet and do science at the Biblioteca Pública. Present topics are bubbleology (yes, a real science!), electricity and geology. Food science, animal biology and chemistry are among the topics to come. Rita and Alicia and Julieta, from the Biblioteca, welcome those in the San Miguel community who know a thing or two about the above-mentioned topics or any other science topics to come and contribute—give a lecture, show an educational film or share your ideas with us. We are showing movies, conducting experiments, going on nature hikes, making scientific diagrams and observing animals. Science Club is conducted in Spanish and English. Contact: sciencecampsma@gmail.com.

Festival of Lights re-dedicates temple
By Carole J. Stone

Chanukah party
Shalom San Miguel
Sun, Dec 21, 7pm
Reserve: 154-5438
50 pesos, limited space

This year we celebrate the first night of Chanukah at the home of Doris and Herb Tolpen. All are welcome. The 50-peso charge offsets the cost of latkes, sufganiyot and wine. Bring your menorah; candles will be available.

Unlike other Jewish holidays, Chanukah is not primarily a religious celebration. Rather, it is a celebration of a military victory—the triumph of a small band of guerrilla warriors over the much larger and more powerful Seleucid (Hellenistic) army. It also celebrates the survival of the Jewish people against all odds.

For many years, the Jews had lived in peace and prosperity under the rule of Alexander the Great, adopting the language, customs and dress of the Greeks. More than a century later, a successor of Alexander, Antiochus IV, was in control of this region, now called Israel. Antiochus oppressed the Jews severely and desecrated the Temple in Jerusalem. Finally, two groups joined in revolt against the Seleucid reign of terror. They included a nationalistic group led by Mattathias the Hasmonean and his son Judah “Maccabee” (Judah the Hammer). Amazingly, this small band was victorious and the Temple was rededicated.

According to tradition, at the time of the rededication very little remained of the sacramental oil necessary for the uninterrupted burning of the candelabrum, or menorah, inside. As the story goes, only enough oil was left to burn for a day, but—miracle of miracles!—it burned for eight days, allowing time for more oil to be prepared. The Chanukah holiday is thus celebrated for eight days.

It is only a recent custom to exchange gifts on this festival, probably to emulate our Christian neighbors. This holiday is not celebrated in the synagogue but in the home. Foods are cooked in oil to commemorate the miracle of the oil in the temple.

Two favorite dishes are potato latkes, or pancakes, and sufganiyot, or jelly-filled doughnuts. Candles are lit: one plus the shames, or helper, on the first evening; two on the second, etc.; until on the eighth night all eight candles of the chanukiyah, or eight-branched menorah, are lit. A game called dreidl is often played. A dreidl is a special four-sided top. On each of the four sides is a Hebrew letter, forming the acronym for Nes gadol hayah sham, which means “a great miracle happened there.” Dreidl is a betting game. If the dreidl lands on the Hebrew letter nun, the spinner gets nothing. If it lands on shin, he must put one in. Hey gets the spinner half and gimel takes the pot. What is actually bet depends on who is playing. Some bet pennies and some candies. Anything will do; favorites are chocolate-filled coins.

Carole J. Stone is president of Shalom San Miguel.

Red Cross monthly calls: 300; Free: 285
By Krishna Villena

According to Dr. Robert Maxwell, Secretary of Red Cross San Miguel, the financial situation of the civil association is precarious. “We are in the middle of a financial crisis because people really don’t know about all the expenses. We have a monthly payroll of 12,000 pesos, plus expenses such as gasoline, medical supplies, maintenance, water and energy services. We owe more than 30,000 pesos to the energy company; we owe the property taxes,” said Maxwell.

The ambulances perform 300 calls per month and 95 percent of them are free of charge. Five percent of the transfers to other cities and local services are paid by individuals.

Maxwell said that people don’t donate because “it may be the lack of information and promotion of the Red Cross programs,” but he also recognized that a group of Americans who play bingo every Tuesday “are donating about 2,000 pesos per week, which allows us to make the payroll.”

Red Cross San Miguel is asking for volunteers in the maintenance and administrative areas. It also needs people interested in taking the training course. “We don’t charge for the course and the truth is that some of the guys we trained are now working for the municipality’s Civil Protection because they pay a higher salary, they have uniforms and flexible schedules,” said Maxwell. This drain on trained personnel is because the Red Cross doesn’t have enough money to pay its employees a better salary.

Sooner or later, one of us may need Red Cross services. “If we don´t have enough trained personnel for emergencies, if there are not enough ambulances or if there is no updated equipment, then it won’t be possible to give proper attention to San Miguel’s community,” concluded Maxwell.

Donations to Red Cross San Miguel

Donations in pesos: tax-deductible receipt for donations of more than 1,000 pesos; make checks to Cruz Roja Mexicana.

Donations in dollars: make checks to San Miguel Community Fund, memo line: Cruz Roja.

Deliver to: Dr. José Luis Gallegos, Cruz Roja San Miguel de Allende, Libramiento Manuel Zavala Zavala s/n, Mesa del Malanquín, CP 37700, 152-4121.

Or to: Dr. Robert Maxwell, Insurgentes 29, 152-2365.

Red Cross San Miguel statistics (average)

Monthly expenses 100–120,000 pesos

Income from Red Cross annual campaign

(Municipio de Allende portion) 180–200,000 pesos

Monthly contribution from local government 31,000 pesos

Weekly employee payroll 12,000 pesos

Average calls per month 300–350

Average calls per week 80

Time each day an ambulance is in service 4 hours

Virginia Cairns Callan, 1936-2008, women’s rights leader

Virginia Callan, a winter San Miguel resident for nearly 30 years, passed away at her home in Niverville, New York, on November 29, 2008. She and her husband, Albert Callan, first took time from their careers to spend several months here in the late seventies. Virginia, “Ginna” to her friends, was a leader in the women’s rights movement, appointed by New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller to one of the nation’s first advocacy offices where she promoted equal work and educational opportunities for women. She subsequently served as family spokesperson for the succeeding New York governor, Malcolm Wilson. Governor Hugh Carey next appointed her to direct the highly successful “I Love New York” campaign for the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid.

Previously, Ginna had been a pioneer in early television, developing an award-winning children’s program called Ginny’s Game Room on WRGB, the GE television outlet in Schenectady, NY.

After leaving government, she formed a successful public relations firm, Communications Ink, while Albert continued publishing a leading New York weekly, The Chatham Courier.

After their retirement, the Callans bought a home on Pila Seca and extended their Mexican stay. Albert Callan died in 2005.

A memorial service for Ginna has been scheduled for a date in December, and she previously expressed a wish that any contributions in her memory be made to St. James Roman Catholic Church in Chatham, New York.