The Castaway Kids held their last meeting of 2007 at the home of Susan Schauf on Saturday, December 29,
2007 at 10:00 a.m. The following volunteers were present at the meeting: David and Rosa Keilholtz, Fred and
Penny Wegener, Chuck Kaufman and Linda Rose, Doug and Carla Marshall, Lenny and Lauriann Atlee,
Joanne Preston, Juanita, Maris Kalmbach and Susan Schauf.
The volunteers discussed the success of the recent Christmas party. Doug Marshall reported that he and his
food committee cooked 120 hamburgers and 160 hot dogs. In addition, 12 large bags of potato chips and over
12 cases of soda were served. Doug and Carla Marshall donated all of the food, and the Castaway Kids want
to thank them for their generous donation of over $650.00. Fred and Penny Wegener reported on the
decorations for the party. Due to time constraints, we may have to limit the number of pinatas for future
parties. However, the children enjoyed the Christmas tree, lights, poinsettia plants, balloons, music and,
especially, the bubbles donated by Nancy Schwartz. Susan Schauf and Lauriann Atlee reported on the gifts
purchased for the Christmas party. It was estimated that each of the 126 backpacks cost approximately $25.00
U.S., including donated items. Susan and Lauriann suggested the possibility of distributing fewer gifts by
eliminating clothing, underwear and socks. It was noted that the most popular gifts seemed to be the
basketballs, soccer balls, dolls and make-up kits. The stocking caps, ski bands, miniature cars and swim
goggles were also popular. Chuck Kaufman reported on the photography at the party. Chuck suggested that
it would be easier to get good pictures of the families if we could rope off an area specifically for pictures.
Susan Schauf reported that Christmas cards from the Castaway Kids went out to everyone who made a
donation and filled out an index card at Islandfest. Maris Kalmbach volunteered to send out Christmas cards to
residents of San Carlos who contributed to the party. Maris Kalmbach is also going to contact Linda Shiflett to
check on the possibility of including an article in the San Carlos Tribune about the success of the Christmas
party and the food distribution. Susan Schauf is going to purchase plaques for the businesses who contributed
to the success of the party, including the Marina Terra Beach Club, The San Carlos Wellness Centre and Casa
de Amigos Seaside Realty. Our thanks go out to these businesses for their generous donations of time, space
and money, without which the Christmas party would not have happened!
The volunteers also discussed the successful distribution of 50 precooked meals on Christmas Eve. Each
meal consisted of a chicken, vegetables, frijoles, tamales, tortillas, oranges and candy. The food was
distributed from a location across the street from the Catholic Church in Fatima on Christmas Eve from noon to
2 p.m. In addition to food, clothing and shoes were distributed. The volunteers then provided the recipients
with transportation to their homes.
New business included a discussion of several individual requests for money from Fatima residents. These
requests are being reviewed on an individual basis. However, the purpose of the Castaway Kids has always
been to help the residents of Fatima help themselves. It was suggested that this topic be tabled for discussion
for a future meeting when Mark Mulligan can be in attendance. We may form a committee to draft specific
guidelines on how these individual requests should be addressed so that each one is treated fairly in
accordance with predetermined criteria.
New business also included a discussion of the building of a small park in the heart of Fatima. The Castaway
Kids have received a donation of land from the City of Guaymas for the park. Richard McCready, a landscape
architect from Las Vegas, who has substantial experience in planning city and community parks in the greater
Las Vegas area, is expected to visit the proposed site for the park in mid-January. After plans are formulated
for the park, there will be another meeting to begin the process of building the park, including resurfacing the
land, removing cement, pouring new cement where needed, installing playground equipment and, possibly,
providing picnic tables and grills. We are actively seeking additional volunteers to contribute money, time or
both in order to help this park become a reality.
The meeting concluded with a discussion of the construction of a larger park which would include a building
which would house a computer center, library, arts and crafts center and social services center. The first order
of business is to acquire a parcel of land, either by donation, purchase or long term lease, which would be
suitable for the project. The volunteers have decided that it may be prudent to enlist the help of a Mexican
lawyer or law firm in order to assist with these negotiations. Further discussion of these details was tabled
pending Mark Mulligan's availability.
The meeting was adjourned at noon.
Respectfully Submitted,
Susan Schauf
President
| MINUTES OF THE CASTAWAY KIDS December 29, 2007 |
Website designed and donated by: Pam Brame @ Long Realty Seaside
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