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Speaker's Night

Simply Speaking is the Amigos de Bucerias monthly series of informative and entertaining presentations by persons with a "Bucerias connection." Simply Speaking will return in the Fall. Watch here for the schedule of speakers and topics.

Curt Firestone is now the contact person for Simply Speaking (Speaker's Night)... So... If you have questions or ideas for programs, please contact via email Curt Firestone.


The Amigos de Bucerias Speaker Night [ NEW ]
Program announces its March and April programs.

MATA ORTIZ POTTERY: A MIX OF HISTORY AND ART

Speaker: Carolina Orozco
Date: Monday, March 16, 2009 at 7:45 PM
Location: Bucerias Bilingual Community Center

Mata Ortiz pottery dates from pre-Hispanic cultures and is found in the ruins of Paquime. Yet to many it is still unknown.

  • Learn how a small village in Chihuahua became the center for this unique pottery form.
  • Learn the heart warming story of Juan Quezada.
  • Learn about how ancient art forms are used to make modern works of beauty.

Carolina Orozco is the owner of Galeria de Ollas in Puerto Vallarta. Since 1987 she has specialized in Mata Ortiz art forms. She has guided Mata Ortiz art into private and public art collections around the world.

Amigos de Bucerias is honored to be able to share with the Bucerias community the beauty and history of Mexico’s Mata Ortiz.

Please note the special date and time of this presentation.

Amigos de Bucerias has started a food drive to help needy, unemployed residents of Bucerias.

The membership approved the food drive on Saturday, June 6th at the regular membership meeting. Three local community based organizations will distribute the collected food. The 3 organizations are Mujeres Unidas por Bahia de Banderas (United Women for Banderas Bay); the Bucerias Bilingual Community Center and the El Fuente non denominational church located on the East side of town. The 3 organizations have agreed to interview locals who are in need and will share a master list of families who have received assistance.

The collection points for the food drive are as follows:
  • Famar restaurant located on the lateral at Estaciones.
  • Expressions restaurant located at the corner of Augustin Melgar and Carmen Serdan
  • Gringo Bookstore located on Morelos just off Lazaro Cardenas
  • YoYo Mo's Pizza and Sports Bar located on Mexico Ave.
  • The Twisted Rose located on the corner of Mexico and Hildago
  • Bucerias Bilingual Community Center located on 16 de Septiembre and Matamoros

Amigos is asking that you donate dry beans, rice, bullion cubes, pasta and flour. The basic items needed for a family to have a good meal. Amigos will supplement these donations with fresh foods with cash donations we receive.

If you are interested in giving cash donations and are in Bucerias, please call John Ozzello at 298-6264, Christie Forget at 298-6011, or Dick Pickup at 298-2211. If you are out of the area and want to make a cash donation through Paypal, please contact Karen Knapp at kwschopf@msn.com .

Party With A Purpose

(Reprinted, in part, from The Guadalajara Reporter)

The second annual Party With A Purpose (PWAP) became history on the evening of December 11th. About 160 people took part in the festivities in the fiesta yard of The Lonely Sock Lavanderia.
The event is a combination party to welcome back Bucerias residents returning "home" from NOTB, an opportunity to learn about community service organizations which were invited to set up information booths and a means for those organizations to generate some badly needed funds by sharing in the party's proceeds. Food for PWAP was provided by nearly 20 local restaurants which were asked to donate samples of their signature "finger foods." A raffle consisting of about 50 prizes was also composed of donated items and gift certificates from local merchants and restaurants. For an entry fee of 50 pesos, partygoers received a free dink coupon for their choice of water, soda, beer or wine, free food and free entertainment, provided by 3 popular local musical performers. Six organizations set up information booths: PEACE, the Bucerias Bilingual Community Center, the Bucerias Children's Library, the Bucerias Children's Christmas Program, Beta Sigma Phi service sorority and Amigos de Bucerias Civil Association. In addition to any fundraising that was done at each booth, the community service groups will share the proceeds from PWAP, which before expenses, is about 19,000 pesos.

The PWAP Committee would like to thank the following contributors:
  • Sean Mulvaney for acting as the Master of Ceremonies; The Lonely Sock Lavanderia, which donated the use of the fiesta yard; Lucretia Rivas Olmos, whose donaton helped pay for renting the tables and chairs;
  • Don Thompson, David King and Gene DeAmicis, who provided musical entertainment
  • The donors of raffle prizes:
    • 1-hr Massage, Kemi Vernon
    • 1 handcrafted decorative mirror, PdM Women's Co-op
    • 1 Hand-made basket, PdM Women's Co-op
    • 1 Hydrating Facial, Elements Day Spa
    • 600 pesos gift certificate, Adauto's On The Beach
    • 500 pesos gift certificate, Adauto's On The Beach
    • 500 pesos gift certificate, IXTA Restaurant
    • 200 pesos gift certificate, Toscana Mia
    • 1 CakeArt Cake, Pie In The Sky
    • 100 pesos cert. for laundry or dry cleaning, The Lonely Sock
    • 400 pesos gift certificate, Bucelushis Place "Ël Oasis"
    • 800 pesos gift certificate, Mezzogiorno
    • 350 pesos gift certificate, Rito's Baci
    • 300 pesos gift certificate, Meson Bay Restaurant
    • Dinner for 2, Quesadillas Don Chava (3 certificates)
    • Coffee and Sandwich (150 pesos), The Coffee Cup
    • 1 Wash Pkg #2, Jero's Car Wash
    • 1 Car Wash & Motor motor wash, Jero's Car Wash
    • 1 Car Wash, vacuum, motor wash, Jero's Car Wash
    • 1-hr Massage By Joann @ Casa Tranquila
    • 2 Night Stay + coffee & Bagels @ Casa Tranquila
    • 200 pesos gift cerificate, Adriano's Bar & Restaurant
    • 300 pesos gift certificate, The Twisted Rose
    • 300 pesos gift certificate, Mar Y Sol Restaurant (2 certificates)
    • 200 pesos gift certificate, Luna Luna
    • 1-Hr Massage In Home, Juliata Ruiz
    • 150 pesos gift certificate, Galeria Artesonia Don Arthur
    • Collectible Christmas Doll, anonymous donor
    • Red Rooster By Ortega, Rincones Magicos de Mexico Galeria
    • Christmas tea pot set, Karen's Tea Time (2 sets)
    • 3-gal Beverage Dispenser, Elements Real Estate Group
    • Mug Tree w/6 Mugs, Elements Real Estate Group
    • 3-platter Serving Set, Elements Real Estate Group
    • 8-pc Acrylic Glassware Set, Elements Ral Estate Group
    • 8-pack Multipurpose Dish Set, Elements Real Estate Group
    • Assortment of Beadwork, Mandala/Herman (3 bags)
    • Beadwork Hairclip, Mandala/Hernan
    • Artist Proof (Calum Calderon), Galeria del Sol
    • Huichol Beaded Crescent Moon, Huichol Gallery
    • 300 pesos gift certificate, Mark's Restaurant (2 certificates)
    • 350 pesos gift certificate, Sandrina's
    • Dinner Gift certificate for 2, Le Fort
    • 250 pesos gift certificate, Shamrock Irish Pub
    • Breakfast for 2 @ La Estancia in CasaMagna Marriott (Courtesy of Kelly Trainor)
    • Lunch or dinner for 2 @ Champions in CasaMagna Marriott (Courtesy of Kelly Trainor)
  • The restaurants donating food:
    • Luna Luna
    • Karen's Tea Time
    • A Lugar
    • TUC Restaurant
    • Red Apple
    • Famar
    • Sandrina's
    • Eva's Brickhouse
    • Ixta
    • Mark's Restaurant
    • Adaulto's
    • Pie in the Sky
    • Rito's
    • Toscana Mia
    • Mezzgierno
    • El Chivero
    • El Oasis

Amigos

Strictly Speaking will kick off the 2008-09 season with a very special presentation.

BOB PRICE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
VALLARTA BOTANICAL GARDENS

In just four years, Bob has led the development of Vallarta Botanical Gardens from open fields to a world class botanical facility. He has put flowers and plants on the schedule of Vallarta residents and visitors alike. All visitors are filled with the beauty of life after visiting not only the botanical gardens, but the excellent restaurant and (for some) taking a swim in the river. It has become the PV location for a special event.

Bob will share his dream and his passion.
December 10th, 7:00 PM
Bucerias Bilingual Community Center

The rest of the 2008-09 season will be announced at a later date. We plan to have all presentations on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. The 2008-09 season runs from December through April.

For further information:
Contact: Curt Firestone
Strictly Speaking Coordinator

Looking Back

Party with a Purpose - December 7th, 2007

The final results are in...

It is estimated that the December 7th Party With A Purpose was Attended by 175 people. It took place in the fiesta yard behind The Lonely Sock Lavanderia. Thanks to Rosa and Carl West, owners of the lavanderia, who donated the use of their facility.

The potluck supper/information fair/fundraiser netted 13,877.5 pesos.

Since there was no “cover charge” to attend the party, the income came solely from sales of beverages and tickets for the raffle.

The money was shared equally by 5 charitable causes. Four Bucerias-based organizations (PEACE, Amigos de Bucerias Civil Association, the new Children’s Library and the Bucerias Bilingual Community Center,) as well as the Tabasco State flood relief fund.

This means each cause received 2,775.5 pesos.

The local causes also benefited from those at the party who visited the information table of each organization to learn of its mission and the volunteer opportunities and, perhaps, to make a “directed” donation to their favorite cause or causes.

The Party Planning Committee members, Dorothy and Mike Simpson, Molly Fisher, past presindent Harold Sokolove and Gabriela Ulloa, would like to thank the numerous Bucerias restaurant, café and bakery owners who donated raffle prizes (dining out or food item gift certificate): Pie In The Sky Pasteleria, La Lomita Restaurant, Karen’s Place, Rito’s Baci, Restaurant IXTA, Mark’s Bar & Grill, La Quinta, Bambu, Adauto’s On The Beach and Sweet Thing Bakeshop & Café. Additional Prizes came from: Art In Amber Jewelry, Banderas Bay Health (La Cruz), Curvas Peligrosas (Puerto Vallarta), Hacienda Furniture, Healing Hands Massage, Art & Philanthropy (Punta Mita), PV Treasures (La Cruz), PV SCUBA and Pancho’s Wagon Rides. There were a total of 23 prizes – some contributors provided more than 1 prize.

Many of those attending the party brought a potluck dish to share...and combined with the nearly 2 dozen Bucerias restaurants which donated food for the event, nobody should have gone away hungry.

Restaurants donating their most popular and/or signature dishes were (in no particular order): La Lomita, Mark's Bar & Grill, Burrolandia, Rito’s Baci, Karen’s Place, Pie In The Sky, Restaurant IXTA, Adauto’s On The Beach. Pasteleria Suiza, Lucky’s Sports Bar, Mar Y Sol, Bucerias Gardens Bar & Grill, Sweet Thing Bakeshop & Café, Chivero’s, Sandrina’s, Jorge’s Cocina, Bambu, Takee Outee, La Quinta, Mezzogiorno and Adriano's.

Several Bucerias businesses donated beverages or funds to help cover some of the party’s expenses: Elements Realty Group, La Vida, ReMax Bahia, Las Palmas, Victoria’s Boutique, Map of Bucerias, El Lugar and Luz's Deposito.

The Party Committee would like to thank the MC for the party, Bucerias Recycling Czar Barry Munro, who took care of announcements and with his wife, “Vanna,” assisting, called out the wining raffle numbers. And a big thanks to the many volunteers who helped set-up and clean-up at the fiesta yard.

A big round of applause for the musical entertainment, provided (donated) throughout the evening by Bucerias guitarist Don Thompson, who also donated the use of his sound system and by international jazz singer Armi Grano from Vancouver, Canada, who is currently performing in Bucerias.

On behalf of the entire party committee and the many volunteers who helped make this year’s Party With A Purpose a success, Thank you and we hope to do it again, even better, next year.

By the way, we’re still hoping someone took pictures at the party and will share them with us.

AED Donation to Bahia de Banderas

Bucerias Recycle

October 15th, 2007

Three AED's (Automatic External Defibrillator) and accessories, which were donated by Phillips Medical System, arrived in Bucerias recently. Transporting them across the border from the US to Mexico raised some questions which caused months of delay . Once they were here, the work of Amigos de Bucerias, A.C. began to arrange a presentation to the municipio.

It was beginning to look like the presentation pf the AED's wasn't going to take place on October 15th, at least not as scheduled for 9 a.m. Nayarit, but once Bahia de Banderas Presidente Cuevas walked into his El Valle office, things started happening.

First, the Amigos de Bucerias, A.C. banner was taken out of Dr. Cuevas' office and hung on one wall of the large building surrounding the interior courtyard of the Presidencia. Dr. Cuevas ordered that a table be brought out and placed below the banner to display the AEd's and accessories. No sooner were the items laid out on the table, another worker showed up with a bright red table covering. Next, an amplifier, speaker and mic appeared.

An audience of curious onlookers started gathering around the courtyard. Many of them asked what those strange-looking devices were for. We estimate 35-40 people watched all or part of the ceremony.

The presenters and representatives of the municipality stood shoulder to shoulder behind the table for pictures and the presentation was off and running.

Bahia de Banderas Tourism Director Hector Sahagun was handed the mic and was assigned to be the master of ceremonies.

After Hector issued a brief welcome, an explanation of the reason for the presentation and its impact on the area, each person behind the table was handed the mic and gave a short speech. First up was Amigos member Sue Fornoff, who read a letter (in Spanish)from Amigos President, Enrique Anaya, because he could not be there due to work obligations.

Following her was Dr. Claudio Estrada (Dir. of Protecion Civil Y Bomberos) in whose ambulances the AED's will ride; Harold Sokolove el presidente anterior, V. President of Amigos de Bucerias; Ms Kelly Trainor (US Cinsular Agent), who helped guide the process of transferring "ownership" of the AED's from Phillips Medical System through Amigos de Bucerias to the Municipio of Bahia de Banderas. Although not yet back in Mexico for the Winter, Curt Firestone, who was the contact with Phillips, was thanked for his efforts in securing this donation. The speeches finished up with Dr Cuevas thanking Amigos de Bucerias for the gift, valued at about 120,000 pesos.

Bucerias Recycle

The first round of training the municipio's paranedics on the proper use of the AED's took place later the same day at the US Cinsular Office in Paradise Plaza Mall. Kelly volunteered her meeting room space and coordinated the training with Pam Thompson and Puerto Vallarta cardiologist Dr. Jorge Chevez.

Additional Protecion Civil personnel will be scheduled for training shortly

Children's Day Movie Fest

May 1st, 2007

While there were not the throngs of children expected and prepared for, the 30 to 40 kids who did come to the Movie Festival (there was coming-and-going) would tell you they had a great time. A number of the kids were residents of the Manos de Amor Children's Shelter. The organizers learned shortly after the festival started that they were not the only "game in town" to celebrate Children's Day. There was some kind of morning activity at the plaza and even some schools were open for special activities that day, they were told. Due to the smaller-than-expected crowd, there was more than enough popcorn and Pau Pau juice available. The children were very well behaved. That is to say, there weren't too many popcorn-throwing episodes.

When not sitting down watching the movies, several of the girls in the audience took on the role of server, to make sure everyone had a cupful of popcorn and a cold bottle of juice in their hand during the show. Four movies were shown, with one intermission to let the DVD equipment cool down. The kids were getting a little "antsy" during the 4th movie, so the festival ended a little early (around 5 p.m.), so there would be plenty of time for the tired volunteers to clean up Academia Bilingue and to return the DVD equipment to Ro Pimiento and the popcorn machine to Isabel Padilla (who stayed through the entire festival making fresh popcorn.)

A Big THANKS to Ro, of Roots Vegetarian Restaurant and Isabel, the popcorn lady by the footbridge, for donating the use of their equipment; to the owner of Video Carocol for letting the Festival "rent" the movies free of charge and to Judi Conrad, for providing the excellent space for the festival. Thanks also go to Manos de Amor for having volunteers at the festival to keep things tranquil and to the Rey Nayar Children's Library, the Rotary Club of Bahia de Banderas and Amigos de Bucerias for funding the festival.
 
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