MINUTES OF THE CASTAWAY KIDS
November 24, 2007
A meeting of the Castaway Kids, Inc.was held at the San Carlos home of Susan Schauf. Present
were the following people: Susan Schauf, President (susanschauf@yahoo.com 226-0461 or in U.S.
(520) 297-8414), Patty Brumm, Treasurer (patricia.brumm@untoquedeluz.com 044-622-112-3646),
Fred and Penny Wegener (fred.wegener@gmail.com 226-1134), Jim Bomberg (bomkar@cs.com
226-1588), Joanne Preston (gitana_77@yahoo.com 044-622-118-5366 , Becky Lupo
(blupofl@yahoo.com), Lenny and Lauriann Atlee(alohaatlee@yahoo.com or for Lenny
tireswingin@yahoo.com 226-1639 or U.S. (206) 229-1499), David Keilholtz (Dave y
Rosa@gmail.com 226-0783), Pete Spencer (pete@pelicancovemexico.com 226-2091).
The first order of business was the Christmas Party scheduled for Sunday, December 9, 2007 at the
Marina Terra Beach Club. Susan Schauf reported that the current count is 123 children and 41 adults.
We have a list of the families invited, the names of the fathers and mothers, the names of the children
expected to attend, their clothing size, their shoe size, their age, their gender and their grade in school.
The tickets have been distributed. The buses will pick up the children from the Escuela Secundaria at
12:30 p.m. We have secured four private buses with which to transport the children and their adult
supervisor. Pelican Cove has generously donated the costs of the buses which will be $400 (US) in
addition to tips for the drivers. Thank you Pete!
The shopping for the back packs is almost complete. Susan Schauf brought down approximately
$900.00 worth of toys, diapers and clothing from Tucson. Susan Schauf and Lauriann Atlee
purchased an additional $650.00 worth of toys and clothing in Hermosillo on November 23. Maris
Kalmbach is bringing an additional $300 worth of school supplies and gifts from the U.S. The
backpacks are going to be child specific. Everyone wanting to participate in stuffing the backpacks
should be at the Atlees residence, No. 473 Avenue F, in the Ranchitos on Wednesday, December 4,
2007, at 10:00 a.m. Lauriann needs lots of help as there are well over 2000 items that need to be
sorted and stuffed into backpacks. We would like to wrap the major gift for each bag. This needs to
be done before December 4. Anyone interested in wrapping gifts should contact Lauriann Atlee at
226-1639. Wrapping should be accomplished during the week of November 26th. Jim Bomberg,
Pete Spencer, Joanne Preston and Dave Kielholtz have volunteered to transport the backpacks to the
beach club on the day of the party. Jim, Pete, Joanne and Dave will meet at the Atlees house in the
ranchitos between 11 and 11:30 a.m. on December 9 in order to transport the gifts.
Susan Schauf reported that during the last week, the Castaway Kids purchased 57 pairs of shoes for
children in Fatima. This cost approximately 5000 pesos. Ketcha went to various merchants and
talked them down from their asking price. As a result of Ketcha's work, we received twice as many
shoes as we ordinarily would have. There is a 9 year old girl who cannot attend school because her
family cannot afford a uniform and shoes for both her and her two brothers. It was decided that the
Castaway Kids would provide uniforms and shoes so that she can go to school.
Nikki Landon who lives in California has secured a Tae Kwando Club that wants to adopt the
Castaway Kids. There are 477 members in the club. They will each adopt a kid and hopefully provide
a school uniform. Nikki has also put a box in the office of her children's school for donations of gently
used shoes.
The only items needed for the backpacks are additional hygiene products, including shampoo,
conditioner, soap, brushes, combs, toothbrushes and toothpaste. Penny Wegener will contact the San
Carlos Times about a second article for donations for these items. Becky Lupo will write another
article on Viva San Carlos asking for additional donations. The following people will contact the
following hotels concerning donations of these items: Pete Spencer - Marina Terra; Jim Bomberg -
Paradiso; and Don - San Carlos Plaza. These requests for donations of room sized items will be
made this week and the results reported at the next meeting. Buying cases of these items from the
hotels is also an option. Any donations should be left at Casa de Amigos Seaside Realty.
Fred and Penny Wegener reported on the party decorations. The pinatas have been ordered. Juanita
will make a trip to the States and bring back candy for the pinatas. Fred and Penny have talked with
Elsa (David Mulligan's girlfriend) at Marina Terra and she has been extremely helpful. Elsa said that
Marina Terra will set up tables and chairs for everyone. We have requested tables and chairs for 250
people. There are already lights around the palm trees. Elsa said that there are grills there to cook
with, but Doug Marshall should confirm with her and check out the equipment ahead of time in order to
ascertain whether we need to bring equipment, especially barbeque grills. Elsa has her own office
right inside the front door of Marina Terra. She does speak English. We are expecting approximately
200 people at the party, including volunteers. We need more volunteers for the party in order to
supervise the children, especially around the water. People who speak both Spanish and English will
be especially helpful. The party will start with food, move on to the pinatas and finish with gifts from
Santa. Ramon who plays the guitar will entertain for tips during dinner.
When the party is over, every family will be given a ticket for a food box. The food box will contain a
cooked chicken from Ley's with vegetables and tortillas, 10 tamales, frijoles, oranges and sweets for
the children. Pete also suggested that we give out uncooked rice and/or beans. Pete will look into
this and report at the next meeting. Larry and Maris Kalmbach will pick up the food from Ley's and
transport it to the church in Fatima. Ketcha will transport the tamales and frijoles. Joanne Preston and
Dave Disney will buy the oranges from the Tianguis in Empalme and get them to Larry and Maris.
Larry and Maris, Lauriann Atlee and her son, Dylan, and Ketcha, Cecy and Isabella will put together
the food baskets and distribute them at the church from 12 noon to 2:00 p.m. on December 24.
Anyone who wants to help is welcome. One food box feeds five people. If the family has more than
five people, then an additional food box will be given to them. Maris is responsible for ordering the
chickens from Ley's and coordinating the ordering and payment for the tamales and frijoles.
Susan Schauf reported that we earned approximately $6000.00 (U.S.) at Island Fest and from Paypal
and check donations. In addition, we have had two in-kind donations which should net over $1200.00
(U. S). The first is an almost new stacked washer and gas dryer (GE) donated by Sam and Elizabeth
Rainwater. Lenny Atlee is going to advertise it on Viva San Carlos for no less than $750.00. The
second item is a dinghy donated by Bill and Linda Pattison. Doug Marshall is in possession of the
dinghy and should contact Joanne Preston this week at 044-622-118-5366. Joanne works at San
Carlos Yachts. They have a demand for dinghys.
Susan Schauf reported on the status of the parks. The Diocese of Obregon turned down our offer to
purchase the parcel of property below the chapel, but we want to still pursue a long-term lease. The
property may have been given to the Diocese in perpetuity, which prevents a sale. Susan reported
that we have been given a small parcel of property across from Adela's former home which we will
develop this Spring, beginning in January. All further discussions about the park were tabled pending
Mark Mulligan's return to San Carlos.
The meeting ended with the presentation of two videos which were made by Lenny Atlee. The first
music video was shown at Island Fest. The second music video has music set to a Brent Burns song.
Brent has generously given us written permission to use his song on our website. Lenny Atlee will
contact the author of the other song and get written permission to use it as well.
The next meeting is on Saturday, December 1, 2007, at Doug Marshall's house in Loma del Mar.
Doug will write to our secretary, Verna Brame, at vbrame@yahoo.com with specific directions to his
house. Verna will then publish the directions to the membership.
The meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully Submitted,
Susan Schauf
President
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