by Robin Loving, Club Services Vice President

Our new Board of Directors recently met to plan the year, but they got to know one another a little better first. A salient fact is that several of the new members have started to live our Rotary commitment to volunteerism by stepping up to leadership positions already, which makes this especially important for knowing our newbies! Here is a snapshot of the new board members:

President Andrea is a Virginia native who managed dozens of large shopping malls and mixed-use properties in the U.S. and Canada. When she takes time away from Rotary, St. Paul’s and her homeowner association, she enjoys being involved in adventure sports such as scuba diving, sky diving, and – most recently – taking a submersible to the bottom of the Southern Ocean in Antarctica!

President-Elect Jose de Anda is a San Miguel native who worked for the Municipality’s treasury department before beginning a career in public relations and tourism.

​Past-President Lee Carter is a Virginia native former import/export business entrepreneur who founded Mitigare Hospice, plays tennis five times a week, and has been our president three times! 

Secretary Phillip Jares is a rural Minnesota native who earned a degree in Human Resources before going to nursing school and then working for 30 years in the U.S. Postal Service!

​Treasurer Melody Smith is a Seattle native who is a former stock broker who once lived on a 1.5 square-mile island with only 40 people! Her best friend is her dog, Charlie, and her favorite hobby is gardening.

Club Services Vice President Robin Loving is a Texas native who has worked with presentations since she was in high school and has worked in public relations since she was in college. She has worked with nonprofits for the past 35 years.

Co-Membership Vice President Joyce Grenis resonates with Rotary’s “Is It Fair to All Concerned?” part of the Four-Way Test so much that she flies the Swiss flag to indicate her neutrality!

Co-Membership Vice President Kathy Zapata learned Spanish as a high school foreign exchange student in Peru and spent several years in Peru, Spain and Mexico. As a U.S. lawyer, she focused on immigration. She practices yoga and reads voraciously – presently about climate change.

Co-Projects Vice President Carla Cadena is a San Miguel native who works as the operations director at Mitigare Hospice. Her dad is a locally famous tailor!

Co-Projects Vice President Jill Noack worked as the internal security project manager for Home Depot in the U.S. and Canada. She currently is producing a coffee table book about corn based on interviews with the women leaders at Corralejo de Abajo who are fighting to maintain the original corn species here. She and her husband are even growing corn eight-feet high on their roof!

Co-Sergeant-at-Arms Carla Espinoza is a Chihuahua native who works in Mexico, the U.S. and France as a psychologist. She is the proud mom of Jerome, and her grandfather was the maestro who built the Quebrada bridge!

Co-Sergeant-at-Arms Elizabeth Adlung is an Indiana native from a farm family. She came to SMA to study art, and now makes jeweled sculpture. 

The Board is hopeful that all of us in the club will get to know one another better in this Rotary year!

On October 31, visiting Rotarians from the Kitchener-Conestoga Rotary Club in Ontario, Canada joined members of the Rotary Club of San Miguel de Allende-Midday for a tour of one of its projects in rural communities of San Miguel. The Midday Rotary Club has partnered with the organization Salvemos Al Rio Laja on a Watershed Education Program. The Midday Rotary Club is helping to fund the program with the support of the Kitchener-Conestoga Rotary Club and the 49ers Rotary Club of Nevada City, California. The program is building tree and plant nurseries and providing education for children from primary schools to preparatory (high) schools and the parents in their communities. The focus is on planting native, low water consumption plants and trees for soil erosion prevention, rainwater collection, reforestation, food consumption and healthy nutrition through nature-based solutions. The primary school children learn about nature and pollinators through art. The preparatory school students learn to manage their own projects, including building and maintaining the viveros (plant nurseries), starting plants from seeds and cuttings, mulching and composting with lirio (water hyacinth), creating healthy, cost-effective soil, planting native trees and plants for soil erosion prevention, developing rain gardens for rainwater catchment and adapting to climate change. Some of the students have graduated from preparatory school, continued their education at universities and have become facilitators for the Salvemos Al Rio Laja program. 
 
The timing of the visiting Rotarians’ visit to San Miguel was ideal, and they ended their visit with a fun reception to celebrate Dia de Los Muertos with members from Rotary Clubs in Oregon and California and members of the San Miguel-Midday Rotary Club. These Rotary Clubs also provide financial support for the Escuela de Educacion Especial, the school for deaf children in San Miguel.
 

San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato – October 29, 2024 – In a special meeting held at the Angela Peralta Theater on October 29, Mayor Mauricio Trejo shared his vision and plans for the future of San Miguel de Allende. The gathering, attended by local leaders and residents, underscored the city’s ongoing growth, security concerns, and infrastructure priorities as part of the mayor’s newly re-elected term.

Lee Carter, President of the Midday Rotary Club, opened the meeting by highlighting the club’s long-standing contributions to the community and said, “We’ve been fortunate to work hand-in-hand with Mayor Trejo and local officials to help bring tangible change to this community.” Following Carter's remarks, Mayor Trejo took the stage to outline his administration’s goals and reaffirm his commitment to the people of San Miguel. Trejo, who was recently re-elected for a second term (his third in total!) assured the audience that much of the work from his first term would continue. 

Key Goals and Accomplishments

The mayor highlighted several significant achievements and set ambitious goals for the future. Trejo emphasized that San Miguel de Allende is the number one municipality in Mexico for water treatment, a point of pride for his administration. He also expressed his commitment to maintaining the city’s reputation as a "magical town," with a strong focus on safety. “We want everyone to feel safe,” he said, adding that San Miguel’s police force is among the best-trained, best-paid, and best-equipped in the state of Guanajuato. “We are a clean administration. No one in my government accepts anything from cartels. We are dedicated to protecting our town and our people.” Moving forward, Trejo plans to increase investments in criminal investigations to prevent future crimes. Trejo also praised David Bossman, a charter member of the Rotary Club, for his contributions to security communication efforts in the city.

On the topic of health, Trejo noted that while infrastructure improvements were a focus in his first term, his administration will now shift focus to supporting families dealing with issues like alcoholism, drug abuse, and domestic violence. "We will invest in people—men, women, and children—prioritizing mental and physical health services," he said.

Addressing Community Concerns

During the Q&A session, several residents posed important questions regarding urban development, environmental concerns, and safety issues, especially in light of the recent deaths on the libramiento. “We’re going to reduce the presence of trucks in the city,” he said, explaining that trucks and trailers will only be allowed on the Caracol Libramiento between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., with special permits for certain types of deliveries.

Another concern raised was the growing pressure on San Miguel’s water resources, particularly with the expansion of agriculture and residential developments. Trejo acknowledged the issue and explained that while raising water prices may be unpopular, it is necessary. “I will have the opportunity to raise water prices in certain areas, like hot springs and hotels, to ensure that our water resources are sustainable,” he said, adding that water pricing will remain lower in poorer neighborhoods.

Trejo also addressed concerns about the invasive water hyacinths (lirio) at the Presa Allende. He noted that while the Federation has the responsibility to clear the hyacinths, they have yet to take action. “We are pressing them to act,” he said. He also explained that the contamination from surrounding settlements, which drain untreated gray water into the reservoir, exacerbates the problem.

Regarding distracted driving and dangerous motorcyclists, Trejo pointed out the challenge of enforcing traffic laws. “This is an educational issue,” he said. “I cannot use my police force to issue tickets when there are no strict regulations in place. But we will continue to work on this.”

Looking Ahead

​With plans for sustainable development, better infrastructure, and enhanced security, Mayor Trejo’s second term is looking promising for San Miguel de Allende. The city’s future remains focused on balancing growth with preservation of its unique cultural identity, as well as addressing the challenges that come with increased urbanization.