The Proposed Changes to the Bylaws which were prepared over the last several months and approved by the Board of Directors on 6 July 2010 to be posted on the web site by 1 August 2010 for the membership to review are now available under PROPOSED REVISION TO BYLAWS located in MEMBER RESOURCES on the Main Menu. You must log in in order to access this section. Voting on these changes will be at the December 2010 General meeting as provided for in the current bylaws of the association

CHANGES, CHANGES, AND MORE CHANGES

TO

FRIENDS OF MEXICO, A.C.

2010 has been a year of changes, some directed by the Board, some by circumstances and some by suggestions from members of F.O.M.

The” Foundation” is no longer, and has been replaced by “School Support Committee” to better indicate the actual function of this committee. The By-Laws have been revised to include a “Scholarship Committee” due to the growth of this program, and will come to a vote at the Annual Meeting. There are now 86 sponsored students in Secundaria and 23 in Prepa, all funded by you, the members and friends of F.O.M.

It is difficult for those who have worked with the Primaria children to see the great results, but it is no longer unusual for a 6^th grader to anticipate entering Secundaria, and actually finishing it. These Friends of Mexico members and friends who faithfully went to Primaria to teach English, meet with Directors and Teachers and encourage further education now have been ‘replaced’ by Mexican teachers who, this year, will be teaching all Sinaloan 4^th, 5^th and 6^th graders English, 3 days a week, and by new Directors who have different visions for their Primaria students.

Regretfully, both of the Co-Chairman and many of the Liaisons of the “foundation” committee have resigned. However, we applaud their wonderful efforts at the Primaria level and, as indicated, above, they have actually fulfilled their dreams for these poor Colonia students and should know they accomplished a job well done.

A full complement of school supplies is being delivered by the Board members and volunteers the end of August this year at all of our 6 Primaria schools and Hogar San Pablo. Scholarship funds will also be handed out the end of August to the Becarios, but with a different payment schedule for 2011. Each of the Directors at the schools and the appropriate Teacher who has handed out Beca money were all smiles when the new payments were explained. Students will be paid only after they bring their grades, therefore there will only be 4 payments, since grades don’t come out each month. This will eliminate the paper work and the need to withhold funds until grades are received. Also, the Treasurer or designee will be present to hand out the money and get signatures, which will comply better with Hacienda rules. (Mexican IRS)

A new emphasis will be on the Secundaria schools these students attend, rather than on the Primaria school they have graduated from, giving sponsors the opportunity to visit students in their current school and make it easier for a Liaison to assess the needs of the students. Most of our scholarship students attend one of three schools, and this can be a new opportunity to assist them as a group, being open to new ideas on how to mentor them as they continue their education.

A program for the Prepa, or High School students, needs to be formulated, since so many of you continue your support your students. These students go to schools all over Mazatlan and their needs are more than those in Secundaria. Anyone interested in helping set up this program, please contact someone on the Board.

Although all change is not necessarily good, the Board feels it has tried to meet the changing needs of this club, even as Mazatlan has continued to change and grow. The Board welcomes suggestions for more ways to make Friends of Mexico a club you feel meets your needs and you can participate in. There will be lots of opportunities for anyone who is interested in joining a committee and make suggestions and get involved with Mazatlan and students at more than one level. We can still teach English for 2^nd and 3^rd graders, for those of you ‘teachers at heart’.

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please contact any Board member.