By Tom Murlowski

“Those who learn to know death, rather than to fear and fight it, become our teachers about life,” said Hospice Pioneer Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross.

​There is an undeniable reality that binds us all together: we are all going to pass from this world one day. This reality makes many people uncomfortable because we don't have a pat answer for what mortality means. Religions, cultures, and philosophies present varying perspectives. Shakespeare in Hamlet called death the “undiscovered country.”

Dealing with death becomes even more traumatic and confusing with the complexities of aging, disease and pain. How best to ease the passing of loved ones, and make the experience as loving, gentle and painless as possible?

Modern hospice care, focusing on palliative care, comfort, and dignity for the terminally ill, was founded in 1967 by Dame Cicely Saunders with the opening of St. Christopher's Hospice in London. While rooted in medieval traditions of hospitality, the movement modernized in the 1960s and ‘70s to blend specialized pain management with emotional and spiritual support for patients and families.

Hospice Care Mitigare in the Lee Carter Center in San Miguel de Allende is the first of its kind in Mexico. It has an atmosphere of color and joy. Even the medical areas are festooned with bright colors and lively art. Inaugurated March 29, 2025, the Center features three fully equipped hospital style rooms for ‘round-the-clock care, a medical office and examination room, a chapel, a full kitchen, and administrative offices. The patient rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows that look out over a beautiful, enclosed park setting.

Most people prefer to have hospice services at home, hence only three patient rooms. The Center also offers at-home care where patients may spend their final days with their loved ones. In both cases, palliative care is led by Medical Director and Founding Board Member Dr. María de Lourdes Tejeida Bautista.

Founding Board Member and Former President Lee Carter has been a pioneer in introducing the culture of hospice and palliative care to the state of Guanajuato. He has worked tirelessly for almost 20 years to make this Center a reality. Carter is also a long-time member and past president of the Rotary Club of San Miguel de Allende-Midday, which played a crucial role in making this project a reality. The Rotary Foundation also has provided some of the primary and ongoing funding. 

The Center is a work in progress, with plans for future expansion including expanded patient facilities and educational resources. 

No one is ever turned away from the Center, for care is provided on a patient’s ability to pay based on a scale developed by the State of Guanajuato. 

The operating philosophy of the Center can be found in its motto: We add life to days, when days can no longer be added to life. 

The Center is located at Prolongacion de Cuesta de San José 93. El Paraiso Arcos de San Miguel (near El Charco). For more information, contact the Center at [email protected] or via 415-152-5202. It is open weekdays from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. 

Caminos de Agua Founder and Executive Director Dylan Terrell has been selected as the Rotary Citizen of the Year for 2025. Caminos de Agua is a San Miguel-based nonprofit addressing one of Mexico’s most urgent challenges: water scarcity and contamination.
 
After years of working across Latin America, Terrell committed himself to San Miguel de Allende where he built Caminos de Agua through partnerships with universities, Engineers without Borders, local villages, and grassroots organizations. The organization has pioneered award-winning, low-cost technologies such as a ceramic water filter, and a groundwater treatment system which removes dangerous levels of arsenic and fluoride from drinking water.
 
Through a participatory, community-led model, Caminos de Agua empowers residents to design, build, and maintain water solutions, ensuring long-term sustainability. Over 15 years, this work has reached more than 200 rural communities, positively impacting more than 60,000 people with 1,800 rainwater harvesting systems, multiple community-scale water treatment plants, and complementary educational efforts.
 
Beyond technology and education, the organization advances open-source data and policy advocacy, influencing municipal and national strategies for water management. Terrell’s vision blends innovation, collaboration, and justice, making him a transformative leader whose impact extends from San Miguel to communities across Mexico and beyond.
 
“Dylan Terrell is a true hero to more than 200 local villages and communities in San Miguel,” said Rotarian John Palmer. “His empathy, creativity, and leadership checks all the characteristics of the best of the Rotary Club of San Miguel de Allende-Midday and Rotary International,” he continued.
 
“He exemplifies the very best of civic leadership through his visionary, compassionate, and technically rigorous response to one of the most urgent challenges facing our region and the world: access to safe, affordable water. Dylan has transformed complex water scarcity and contamination problems into sustainable, community-led solutions that improve health, economic stability, and social cohesion,” continued Palmer.
 
“Dylan’s work is distinguished by the thoughtful application of technical skills and modern technology grounded in real-world conditions to achieve truly beneficial results.  His ability to translate cutting-edge research into practical, scalable tools demonstrates exceptional technical & collaborative leadership,” continued Palmer.
 
“Equally important is Dylan’s effectiveness as a manager and cross-cultural collaborator. Beginning with minimal resources, he built Caminos de Agua through strategic hiring, strong governance, and long-term partnerships, creating a multidisciplinary team that integrates engineering, community development, education, and data analysis. His leadership style prioritizes transparency and monitoring, ensuring accountability and continuous improvement while empowering governments, citizens, and institutions to make informed decisions,” continued Palmer.
 
“Dylan’s work is deeply rooted in sensitivity and respect for our remote communities. Caminos de Agua operates only by invitation and uses participatory processes that place local residents in leadership roles from system design to maintenance. This approach builds trust, strengthens local capacity, and ensures long-term success,” continued Palmer.
 
“With a wide-ranging understanding of global and local water issues -- from climate change to overuse of water and public health -- Dylan has helped San Miguel and surrounding communities become models of innovation, equity, and collaboration. His work and the work of Caminos de Aqua is not only changing lives today, it is helping tip an entire system toward a more just and sustainable future,” said Palmer.
 
The Rotary Citizen of the Year Ceremony will take place Tuesday, March 24, at 9:30 a.m. at Teatro Santa Ana at the Biblioteca Publica via the Zenteno entrance on Relox near Insurgentes. Reservations will be taken soon.
 
For more information, contact Terrell at [email protected].

by Robin Loving

“This work has never really been about water,” said 2025 Citizen of the Year Award Honoree Dylan Terrell, founder and executive director of Caminos de Agua. “It’s about community. I arrived in San Miguel (with) no intention of working in water. But … it became very clear, very quickly, that water was the issue,” he continued.
 
Terrell went on to say that solutions do not come from outsiders but from communities understanding their challenges, organizing, and taking ownership of solutions. As well, he credited his family for giving him the ability to believe that what matters most is making a meaningful impact. He closed with, “Come together around a shared problem and refuse to just accept that things have to stay the way they are.”
 
This was the 19th Citizen of the Year ceremony sponsored by the Rotary Club of San Miguel de Allende-Midday. Mark Hager and Vice President of Club Services Robin Loving coordinated the event with the assistance of Emcee Joe Ruffino, President Andrea Spessard, Alex and Kerry Fautsch, Gael Sherman, Co-Sergeants of Arms Carla Espinoza and Elizabeth Adlung, David Miller, Tech Wizard Diego Vargas, Beverly Hill, Co-Vice Presidents of Membership Joyce Grenis and Kathy Zapata, Secretary Phillip Jares, David Bossman, President-elect Jose de Anda, Donn Zellet, Pat Laird, Enrique Orvananos, and various other volunteers.
 
For more information, contact President Andrea Spessard at [email protected] and/or Robin Loving at [email protected].

​On January 11, 2026, the Rotaract Club of San Miguel de Allende will hold the sixth edition of the Threads of Hope Campaign.  This campaign asks for donations of hair that will be used to provide wigs for cancer patients in San Miguel de Allende.

Cancer treatment is a grueling battle, not just against the disease itself, but also against the visible signs it leaves behind. Hair loss, often one of the side effects, can profoundly impact a person’s self-esteem and confidence. In the face of such adversity, the simple act of donating hair can make a world of difference.

Inspired by the idea of giving back and making a tangible difference, they willingly part with their strands, knowing that each strand holds the potential to bring joy and comfort to someone in need.

“I’ve always believed in the power of small acts of kindness,” says a volunteer who donated her hair for the first time. “Knowing that my hair could bring a smile to someone’s face during such a difficult time was all the motivation I needed.” 

The process of donating hair is simple but significant. with hearts full of compassion, they gather to have their strands lovingly snipped away by professional hairstylists, who carefully prepare the hair for its transformation into wigs.

For many, the experience is deeply personal, as they dedicate their donation to loved ones affected by cancer or in honor of those who have lost their battle. Each strand of hair becomes a symbol of solidarity and empathy, a tangible reminder that they are not alone in their fight. The impact of these donations extends far beyond the physical realm. For cancer patients undergoing treatment, receiving a wig crafted from donated hair is more than just a cosmetic enhancement—it’s a lifeline of hope. It’s a reminder that they are supported, cherished, and valued, even in their darkest moments.

Moreover, initiatives like these foster a culture of empathy and altruism within the community. It reminds us of the power we hold to uplift and empower others, even through seemingly small gestures. In the act of giving, they discover a profound sense of purpose and fulfillment that transcends academic pursuits and social endeavors. 
​
As the saying goes, “Strands of love can create miracles.” And indeed, the generosity of the people who donate their hair toward wig-making is a testament to the transformative power of the San Miguel de Allende community.

For more information, please complete the form below.

On December 17, 2025, the office and training center of Apoyo a Gente Emprendedora (APOYO) was filled with pride and celebration as 46 graduates gathered to mark a major milestone. They represent the first cohort of the "Skills for Success: Expanding Economic Opportunity Through Vocational and Business Skills Training" program.

A Diverse and Driven Group
Out of the 75 total graduates, the ceremony honored individuals who completed intensive training in two key trade areas:
     ● Sales
     ● Property Maintenance
In addition to their vocational training, every student completed coursework in English Grammar and Conversation, further enhancing their employability. This first group showcased a significant shift in local vocational trends, with 52 women and 23 men successfully completing the program.

Powered by Rotary Partnership
These courses are offered free of charge thanks to a Rotary Foundation Global Grant approved in July 2025. This initiative was made possible through the leadership of the Midday Rotary Club and our International Partner, the Rotary Club of Cambria in California. We are incredibly grateful for the support from numerous clubs across both the US and Mexico that helped turn this vision into a reality.

Looking Ahead
The momentum continues as new classes are set to begin on January 12, covering Plumbing, Electricity, and Technological Tools.

​APOYO’s Founder and Director General Ezequiel Mojica anticipates that approximately 70% of the incoming students will be women. This program continues to break barriers, offering women in our community vocational opportunities that were previously out of reach.

by Robin Loving

Our Girls’ Empowerment Program is empowering more than fifth and sixth-grade girls in the State of Guanajuato, Mexico: It’s empowering government officials, volunteers, and other Rotary Clubs in three countries!

Imagine how empowered State of Guanajuato officials felt when they approved our entering schools during the school day to teach girls about the physical changes they would face as they become women! If you have ever worked in government, you know how empowering change-making can be when it’s not just process but progress!

Volunteer sewing groups in Canada, Mexico and the United States have been empowered to learn to work with special fabrics that are used to create reusable menstrual hygiene kits for each of the 4,000 girls who now are equipped to stay in school that week that they used to stay home due to a lack of appropriate supplies.

Volunteer drivers in Mexico have been empowered to venture into unfamiliar territory in the countryside near us in order to ferry our teachers to the girls’ schools each day for the two-hour courses over five-days.

And, of course, the Mexican girls receiving the information and the kits are empowered with information that boosts their self-confidence, their self-esteem, and their womanly wisdom so that they may manage not only their personal processes but also whether they stay in school and whether they become sexually active, thereby empowering them to compete with their male counterparts and go further in their academic studies.

Recently, we saluted our multinational partners, our teachers, and our volunteers at a Rotary meeting. We have had more than 40 volunteer drivers in our first two and a half years of the program, one third of whom have been Rotarians, two thirds of whom have been others. We have six teachers.

Special recognition went to the 49er Rotary Club of Nevada City, CA; the Rotary Club of Nelson, British Columbia; the Rotary Club of Nakusp, British Columbia, the Interact Club of Nelson, British Columbia, Days for Girls sewing groups in Chanhassen, MN and Richmond, VA; Niñas Sabias curriculum training provided by Hana Figueroa; the Girls’ Empowerment Program Team Leader Teri Kavanagh; Project Manager José de Anda; Volunteer Driver Coordinator Kerry Fautsch; Program Champions Lee Carter, Carla Cadena and Andrea Spessard; Midday Rotarian Phillip Jares who has led much of the sewing, and the initial Rotary Midday team that realized the need, developed the concept, and helped create the props used in classes, Tom Schneider and Nory Oxenberg.

Enjoy these photos of the girls and so many other newly empowered people!

​Girls’ Empowerment Program Project Manager José de Anda, Teacher Arlene Nájera Ávila and Rotary Club of Nelson, British Columbia member Terry Lund, whose Rotary Club donated 50 reusable kits 

Rotarian Terry Lund from the Rotary Club of Nelson, British Columbia, attending a Girls’ Empowerment Program graduation where he helped distribute kits that were donated by the Rotary Club of Nakusp, British Columbia

​Girls with the props used to teach them about their transition into womanhood and the kits they will be using in the process.

By Robin Loving

For people in some countries, death is mourned. No doubt it is emotionally difficult to lose our beloveds, but in Mexico, families and friends gather to celebrate their dearly departed in a colorful expression of altars of tribute. 

This year, President-elect Jose de Anda, who helped to found and then presided over the local Rotaract Club of younger Rotarians, connected our club with that one to create an alter in tribute to friends and family members of both our clubs. Between the two clubs, 18 people contributed to the development of an ofrenda (altar), not counting those who donated for its expenses nor the City’s employees who brought flowers for its use.

The fellow who led this effort for Rotaract was Luis Carbajo, who said, “We appreciate the designer of the altar, who incorporated food, flowers and seeds to honor our dearly departed. Juapi made the design, including various symbols of our indigenous as well as symbols from today’s religions. This syncretism connected cultures through the ages. We are grateful for all who participated in whatever way.”

Enjoy these photos and join in the fun next year!