February 06, 2009, Upcoming auction benefits birds, nature and bidders, Quathamer to be named Citizen of the Year, By Liz Powell, A fabulous February for Mujeres en Cambio, Fill your heart’s desire, Play for a good cause, By Hospice staff

Upcoming auction benefits birds, nature and bidders

Benefit Auction
Casita de Aves
Sun, Feb 15, 12–3pm
El Charco del Ingenio
Members, 250 pesos; nonmembers, 300 pesos

Casita de Aves—an auction and celebration to benefit San Miguel's two prime conservation organizations—will take place at the botanical gardens. Dozens of artists have created birdhouses for the event, which benefits El Charco itself and Audubon San Miguel. Renowned local creator Anado McLauchlin will be the auctioneer.

Casita de Aves is the first joint benefit of the two organizations. It has inspired a large number of San Miguel artists to create stunning homes of every description for the birds that surround us in this beautiful place. And birds never had it so good! For a preview of what will be available at the auction, go to www.casitasdeaves.org and see each artist's creation, along with where the bidding will start for each one on the day of the auction.

The list of artists appears on the left side of the web page; click there or on the "gallery" link. All the creations completed so far are pictured; new ones are added daily. If you cannot attend the auction, it is possible to place a bid for a casita; just follow the online instructions.

Drinks and botanas will be served throughout what promises to be a very lively bidding process. Call or email Linda Whynman at 152-2139, vellum1@mac.com or Naomi Zerriffi at 154-9553, nzerriffi@yahoo.com for tickets.

After raising five children of her own, Donna Quathamer has added a few hundred more over the last eight years. On Tuesday, February 10, the founder of the two Casa de los Angeles Day Care Centers will become the second recipient of the Citizen of the Year Award from the Rotary Club of San Miguel–Midday.

The award is now annually presented to the “San Miguel resident who best exemplifies the ideals of service to the community.” Last year’s recipients, Saul and Linda Whynman, as well as dozens of other guests and Rotarians are expected to be present at the ceremony at the Hotel Real de Minas. The festivities begin at 12:30pm with the business portion of the Rotary meeting. The Club will also be inducting a new member on that day. The public is invited.

Here’s how Donna describes her road to San Miguel and the evolution of the Casa de los Angeles Day Care facility:

"When I worked at Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois, I was campus minister, responsible for outreach, serving the needs of people in Chicago, Appalachia, Arkansas and Querétaro, Mexico, with groups of university students. Each time I traveled to Mexico, I felt compelled to consider what I could do to help the people of this beautiful and compelling country. How could it be that this country, which shares a border with the United States, could have so many people in need, so invisible to that rich country to the north? Thus began the search for the place and the service to be provided. During 1998 and 1999, I traveled to Central Mexico and decided on San Miguel de Allende but still was not sure of just what the work would be. The question I posed to more than 100 women in the area was, What would be a helpful program to offer your family? The answer was “day care” every time. The work of Casa de los Angeles was decided by the women of the community."

Always a caretaker, Donna began her career with a bachelor’s degree from Illinois State University and later earned a master’s degree in Theology from Loyola University in Chicago. She worked as a special educator for 10 years before becoming a director of religious education in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, where she spent another 10 years. She completed her US work experience by spending another decade at Lewis University in Romeoville, where she worked as campus minister and theology professor. It was there that she developed so many of her church contacts that continue to provide much of the financial resources necessary to build two modern day care facilities in San Miguel.

“Donna is an amazing woman who would continue to inspire the less fortunate, no matter where she found herself. We are so lucky that 10 years ago she made the choice to come here,” said David Bossman, president of the Midday Rotary Club.

A fabulous February for Mujeres en Cambio

Mujeres en Cambio
Lunch and Galería Atotonilco visit
Fernández Ranch, Atotonilco
Thu, Feb 19, 2pm
250 pesos

“Koerner Sings Kern” Benefit Concert
Sat, Feb 28, 7:30pm
Auditorio Miguel Malo, Bellas Artes
Hernández Macías 75
175 pesos

Mujeres en Cambio will be presenting two special events in February. On February 19, a delicious buffet lunch will be served in a rustic setting at the Atotonilco home of Jaime and Pakina Fernández.

Guacamole will be followed by chicken mole, beans, rice and tortillas, an array of salads and a wicked dessert platter. Tea, coffee and an open bar will be available. You will also meet some of our students—a rare treat.

Following the lunch, guests are invited to visit the nearby gallery and home of Susan Page and Mayer Shachter, where you will see and be able to purchase from one of the best collections of Mexican folk art in Mexico. Buses will be provided for those requiring transport and will depart at 1:30pm from Calle Cardo, opposite St Paul’s Church.

On February 28, Marianne Koerner, San Miguel’s favorite cabaret singer, will present “Koerner Sings Kern.” A classically trained singer and pianist, Marianne has appeared in Broadway musicals and many television shows.

Kern’s gift of melody made him a veritable 20th-century Schubert. Some of his best-loved songs include “All the Things You Are,” “The Song Is You” and “Look for the Silver Lining.” Richard Koerner, Marianne’s sometime sidekick and full-time husband, will narrate, sing and otherwise add to the evening’s entertainment.

By attending, you’ll help raise funds for Mujeres en Cambio’s scholarship program. More than 150 young women from the ranchos around San Miguel go to school with the group’s help. Fewer than 1 percent of the funds raised go toward overhead.

Entry to the February 19 lunch is by pre-purchased ticket only, available exclusively at Casa de Papel, Mesones 57A. No tickets will be sold on the day of the event.

Tickets for the Marianne Koerner concert are available from Casa de Papel, the mail services and La Victoriana (Hernández Macías 72, opposite Bellas Artes). Tickets for the concert will also be available at the door unless it is sold out.

For further information, call Roger Hind at 154-6552 (no phone reservations can be taken) or visit the website, www.mujeresencambio.org.

Fill your heart’s desire

Art Opening
Have a Heart for Hospice
Thu, Feb 12, 5–7pm
William Martin Gallery
Fábrica La Aurora

The second annual “Have a Heart for Hospice” show opens February 12, and continues until Saturday, February 14, when the silent auction closes at 7pm.

This year Hospice distributed 75 plywood hearts to artists and designers who agreed to participate. They were told they could paint, collage, embellish or decorate the heart in any way they liked. The range of décor is amazing and there is at least one to fill your heart’s desire.

Many of the artists are well known in the community and many of them are about to be well known. Renee Courtney, a jeweler whose work sold quickly last year, will participate again. Her seven-year-old daughter Chelsea is decorating the heart on which her mother’s jewelry will be mounted. Renee tells us glitter will certainly be involved.

Another artist who insists on being anonymous has created a wonderful sculptural piece. The only clue to his identity is the small “W” hidden on the bottom of the heart. Jennifer Butz from The Bagel Café has made her heart into an elaborate lid on a small treasure box. Other hearts incorporate found objects, flower fairies, jewels, hidden messages and poetry.

The opening of the show, the silent auction and the bidding begins Thursday evening, 5–7pm, continues Friday, 1–5pm, and Saturday from 1pm until the final bid at 7pm. Proceeds from the sale benefit Hospice San Miguel, which has recently entered its second year of service. Follow your heart to this event.

Play for a good cause
By Hospice staff

Card & Games Party
Benefit for Hospice San Miguel
Sun, Feb 22, noon–5pm
Casa de Sierra Nevada
Hospicio 35
150 pesos

Hospice San Miguel is hosting a card and games party, and everyone who wants to play can bring their cards, games and friends to pass the afternoon in a beautiful setting playing for a good cause. The hotel has prepared a specially priced lunch for purchase along with a cash bar. Save your ticket stubs, because attendance prizes include dinners for two, beauty treatments, gifts and original jewelry. Tickets are limited to 150 and are on sale at Border Crossings, Mesones 57; Fábrica La Aurora; La Conexión, Aldama 3; La Victoriana, Hernández Macías 72; and Solutions, Recreo 11. Volunteers will be available to help people find their parties, take tickets and award attendance prizes. A lovely space with a nice meal, great wine, fun games, your friends and a great cause—what could be better?