Club Information
Chapala Sunrise Rotary

People of Action

We meet In Person
Thursdays at 10:00 AM
Restaurante Don Juan (Attached to La Palapa Don Juan)
Paseo Ramon Corona 32
Chapala Centro
Chapala, Jalisco 45900
Mexico
Phone:
376 766 0781
Email:
bbwphd@gmail.com
We are meeting both in-person and online via Zoom. Please email Chloe Clemens, club secretary, (using the link at the left)
District Site
Venue Map
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Home Page Stories
Water project - Success!
For three years, the Chapala Sunrise Rotary Club has worked on a Global Grant to get potable water to the homes in an isolated village named Ojo de Agua.  By partnering with the Rotary Club of South San Francisco and the Government of Poncitlán, along with support from other clubs and groups, we were able to dig a well, construct and electrical and chlorination systems, build a water distribution network of underground pipes and provide storage tanks and water filters for each of the 70 homes.  This is a significant improvement to the lives of over 300 people.  This week we did a test run of the system, flipped the electrical switch so that water was pumped into the distribution system.  We will be celebrating with the villagers on August 8th with a fiesta for everyone!
Dream Beauty Academy - Our International Project
Chapala Sunrise supports an international project in Rwanda.  The Dream Beauty Academy trains women with few resources as beauticians, a high paying and well regarded vocation in Kigali.  Two of our members visited the Academy and were impressed by the rigorous 3 semester curriculum and the supportive staff.  When asked if there was anything that was needed, the Director suggested graduation kits of beauty supplies. Scissors, hairdryers, rollers, etc. are tools of the trade.  Upon receiving these kits graduates have the opportunity to set up a business at home, or work at a local salon.  The Club provides money annually, so that these women have the opportunity to work, as soon as they have earned the skills to do so.
Read more...
CSRC Annual "in and out" party 
Every year Rotarians around the world change their club leaders on July1st.  This year, as Barbara Wilson accepted the gavel from Past President Becca Pohl, she lauded Becca's leadership and adaptability in a difficult year.  Despite a pandemic, our Club grew in membership and in service activities as community members looked for connections and ways to "give back". 
Becca thanked her Board members for their outstanding work and a new Board was sworn in.  Paul Harris Awards were awarded for outstanding contributions to our club; Carlos Peña (who was absent) and Gabriel Vázquez Sánchez, Director General of Aipromades, an organization that is combatting the effects of climate change in communities around Lake Chapala.
Busy week of service by Chapala Sunrise
This week Chapala Sunrise engaged in two active service activities.  The first was a return trip to the Huichol community to educate and distribute water filters and to provide more dentistry by Rotarian Carlos Cerda.  Closer to home, 8 Chapala Sunrise Rotarians assembled and distributed 23 wheelchairs to deserving adults at Lakeside, provided by Chairs of Love and Lake Mary Rotary, Florida.  Thank you, to Rotarian Susie Lindeman, for interviewing and identifying some of those most in need in Chapala. 
CSRC Feeds Abandoned Elderly Women
During our Emergency Food Relief program last year, we discovered a home for homeless senior women who could not take care of themselves.  The program is called Las Ancienitas.  The housing and daily services are provided by the Catholic Church, but there is no budget for food.  They simply rely on sporadic donations.  When we first visited the 41 women and the nuns that care for them, they had eaten nothing but lentils to eat for the past two days.
Our club has taken on this project of providing food every other week.  At times the ladies get beans and rice, but at other times a donation will include many flats of local berries.  We check to see exactly what they need and bring that to them.  We are able to do this not only through our only club's efforts, individual donations and through the generosity of the Stittsville, Ontario Rotary Club.  Thank you Stittsville Rotary!
 
Rotarians bring health services to Huichol people
Four Chapala Sunrise Rotarians brought dental, maternal health and sewing service to the Wixrarika (Huichol) people in a remote area of Northern Jalisco, in January. The group is connected to Chapala due to a sacred site that is on Alacranes Island, in Lake Chapala.   The region is isolated and arduous to get to.
 
Rotarian Carlos Cerda and his wife, Lulu, donated their time to drill, pull teeth, clean and provide dental education to 35 people during the 3 day stay.  President Becca Pohl and Administrator Alan Pohl assisted with dental support, teaching women about female body functions, hygiene and providing reusable menstrual pads ( made by local women in Chapala) and also expanding sewing capabilities through sewing machines.  The group left behind tables, desks and supplies for the local school, 3 sewing machines, brightly colored cloth, hygiene materials, food, and a lot of goodwill to a group that is an important part of our local culture.
CSRC provides water training and filters
The Club provided an hour of training about water and sanitation.  57 Attendees received a water filter for home use.   Thank you to the Lincoln, CA Rotary Club for funding these filters!  Hopefully, this will help reduce the incidence of illness and diabetes in the village. 
CSRC Emergency Food Relief Expands
Posted by Barb Wilson
With the generous help of individual and sister Rotary Club donations, our Club has expanded its emergency food relief program in several ways.  In the last month we have increased our direct food purchase/packing/ and distribution of despensas( weekly bundles of food) from 48 to 125 families around Lake Chapala. We are now supporting the food needs of two local orphanages ( Hope House and Love in Action), serving 43 kids. And we are partnering with several like minded charities such as the Tepehua Centro Communitario, Poco a Poco and Lakeside Presbyterian to provide additional food to the communities that they serve.
 
Providing masks to police and needy community
Extraordinary needs being met in extraordinary times.   President-elect, Becca Pohl, has been training local women on how to make masks from specialized materials under a Buy One, Give One Program.  Masks have been distributed to 84 policeman , sick, and elderly people under this program.
Emergency Food Relief - 2020
We're closed but we are busy.  There is a rapidly emerging crisis of hunger in our greater community as factories, restaurants, fields and stores closed under government mandates.  Our Club is partnering with generous individuals and Clubs in Canada and the U.S. to raise funds to pay for weekly food bundles (despensas) with basic supplies and soap.  Club members are buying and distributing dispensas to villages in which we already have connections so that we can assure that the MOST needy are receiving the goods.  We are also working with other Lakeside philanthropic organizations who are doing the same kind of work and are serving different populations to help them fund their expanded efforts in this time of great need.
 
Rotarians Party and Support Projects
Posted by Barb Wilson
On Feb. 25th our Club hosted a fun dinner at Letra Ch restaurant, with live music and a dessert auction. We successfully raised over $38,000 pesos to support our projects.  
 
Frank Ewer shows off his impressive "balancing act" as Club president.
CSRC supports the Chili Cookoff
The 3 day Chili Cookoff is Lakeside's biggest annual charity event. Last year nearly 500,000 pesos was raised to be split by 9 local charities.  In order to contribute to the success of the Cookoff, we run the Mexican food booth and also work behind the scenes in the supply distribution for all of the vendors and operations of the three day event.  We are proud to be one of the cookoff's beneficiaries as our "split" goes directly to support other community groups in our area.
WASH teaching in Ojo de Agua
The 52 children in the primary school continue learning about potable water and keeping the sources of water safe. This week, the teachers also received training about the benefits of filtered water and in return, received Mexican made, low maintenance, filter system for their classrooms. Thank you Lakeside Charities, A.C. and Aipromades for your partnership in these programs!
 
 
Chapala Sunrise finds Clean Water!
Posted by Barb Wilson
The Chapala Sunrise Rotary Club has been working for three years to bring clean water, on a consistent basis, to the village of Ojo de Agua on Lake Chapala. This tiny village of 300 people has only had access to water during the rainy season, from streams off of the hillside.  Nevertheless, when we tested the stream water it was rated as one of the purest sources around the Lakeside.  Working in partnership with the local municipal government of Poncitlán, drilling began early this month and a clean, water was found at 200 feet.  The source appears to be sufficient to supply the village.  Further testing of the water must be done by the State Water authorities.  
Our Club has applied for a Global Grant, with international partner clubs of South San Francisco, Lincoln, CA, Fountain Hills, AZ and Winnipeg West, Manitoba to fund the holding tank, and distribution system and home water filters, throughout the village. In the meantime, club members are teaching water and sanitation classes in the village, using United Nations approved Project Wet materials.
Sunrise Rotarians take action in other areas of Mexico
Posted by Barb Wilson on Dec 14, 2019
Susie Lindeman was recently recognized by our District for her work to prevent Hepatitis C.  She travelled to Morelia, Michoacan to work with Rotarians to support this important effort, in a campaign called Hepatitis 0 (zero).
Winnipeg West Rotary Club donates $1500 Canadian
Posted by Barb Wilson on Dec 13, 2019
The Rotary Club of Winnipeg West, as part of their international outreach, has joined with our Club to raise money for water projects in Ojo De Agua.  Recently they sent a check for $1500 CDN which equals over 27,000 pesos.  Rotary Clubs around the world work together to help the less fortunate have better health, education and economic opportunities.  This is another example of the power of the 1.2 million members of Rotary.
Our New Diabetes Club project
Posted by Barb Wilson on Dec 04, 2019
Mexico has the highest rate of diabetes in the world.  Our local community is no exception.  Club members, in coordination with the Chapala Municipal Clinic, are leading diabetes education and support classes, once a month.  This month's class had 19 people attend.  Attendees can have their sugar levels tested and people who need medical attention or can not afford needed medications are referred to the Municipal Clinic.
Rotary in Action - Playground Rejuvenation
Posted by Ralph Byrd on Dec 05, 2019
At the November 21st meeting, Ken Amendt talked about a children's playground he had come across in the village of La Pena east of Chapala. Ken along with the local Pastor, and a group of children cleared the playground of weeds and debris. Now with funding from our club and matching funds from one of our club members, the playground equipment is going to receive a coat of paint to liven this playground up for the children.
 
WASH teaching in Ojo de Agua
Posted by Barb Wilson on Dec 04, 2019
Two of our Rotary members have begun a series of 7 lessons about water and sanitation in the primary school in Ojo de Agua.  UN approved Project Wet materials are being used.  Students are learning about healthy habits, spreading of germs and the importance of clean water. Through a grant from Lakeside Charities, Chapala Sunrise will also provide water filters for the classrooms and liquid soap containers for the bathrooms.  In the meantime, we are having fun with the kids!
Heart 2 Heart
Posted by Ralph Byrd on Dec 02, 2019
Our 100y100 coordinator, Enrique Garcia, has reported that our project is still in the mix.  For anyone who has missed what we have applied for, we are hoping to support The Chapala Municipal Clinic with 2 Vital Signs monitors and an Ultrasound Monitor for the clinic's Emergency Room.  The total project cost is $132,000 pesos.  A good description of the Heart to Heart program and the 100y100 projects can be found here: https://www.rizones30-31.org/news/heart-2-heart/ .  Keep your fingers crossed!  For the 100 project slots available, our district alone presented 160!  
 
Help Our Sister Club Sell Wreaths!
Posted by Ralph Byrd on Dec 02, 2019
Let's help our sister club promote their Christmas Wreath Sale.  The Rotary Club of Fountain Hills has helped with our projects and now we have the chance to return the favor!  Click on the Download File Link, "Christmas Wreath Sale" on the left of this page to display a pdf flyer with descriptions and pricing.  Feel free to repost this information.  Every little bit helps.
 
 
Dream Beauty Academy Kigali, Rwanda
Posted on Nov 24, 2019
 
Teaching young women to become cosmetologists
 
In this war torn country, the Dream Beauty Academy along with the Chapala Sunrise Rotary Club provides a graduation kit of tools of the trade so that each graduate can now make a living.   Creating self worth and a career path in these young women makes a big difference in this African country.   One hundred dollars ($100 US) buys a graduation Kit for each student.
 
The Rotary Club of Chapala Sunrise celebrates 30 years of Women in Rotary
Posted by Ralph Byrd on Nov 22, 2019
History of Women in Rotary
Until 1989, the Constitution and Bylaws of Rotary International stated that Rotary club membership was for males only.
In 1978, the Rotary Club of Duarte, California, USA, invited three women to become members. The RI Board withdrew the charter of that club for violation of the RI constitution. The club brought suit against RI claiming a violation of a state civil rights law that prevents discrimination of any form in business establishments or public accommodations. The appeals court and the California Supreme Court supported the Duarte position that Rotary could not remove the club's charter merely for inducting women into the club. The United States Supreme Court upheld the California court indicating that Rotary clubs do have a "business purpose" and are in some ways public-type organizations.
This action in 1987 allowed women to become Rotarians in any jurisdiction having similar "public accommodation" statutes. In October of 1987, the Rotary Club of Angels-Murphys D5220 inducted three women and in spite of threats to quit Rotary by some of the older male members - none did. Two of these three women went on to lead the A-M Rotary Club as president and one those has just completed over two years as charter president of the Angels Camp Centennial Rotary Club (a club which which is very proud of its 50% female membership). That president has completed 19 years of perfect attendance.
The RI constitutional change was made at the 1989 Council on Legislation, with a vote to eliminate the "male only" provision for all of Rotary. Since that time, women have become members and leaders of clubs and districts throughout the world.
Barb Wilson presents our newest female member, Velia Unzueta, with a pin to celebrate Women in Rotary.
CSRC helps local artisan's fair
Posted by Barb Wilson on Nov 10, 2019
Nine Rotarians pitched in with a lot of physical labor to help take down the booths, tables and chairs at the annual Feria de Los Maestros.  The coordinator of the Feria was very appreciative of our willingness to do the unglamorous job of "clean up", especially when the other volunteers were exhausted after three days of work.
 
Other Rotarians also pitched in over the three days weekend by hosting artists for 3 days at their homes, announcing ( bilingually) stage events, and helping with admissions.  Truly a weekend of "Service above Self".
Aipromades and Rotarians teach about garbage
Posted by Barb Wilson
Our environmental partner, Aipromades, is following through on a commitment to our "adopted village" Ojo de Agua. In a community assessment last October, villagers identify clean water and sanitation as their top priorities.  We are providing workshops for villagers and kids, over 5 Saturdays, on the identification, collection, disposal, recycling, composting possibilities in the village.
We donate 20,000 MXP for play area roof to local school
Posted by Barb Wilson on Sep 28, 2019
On September 27th, our Club donated 20,000 pesos to Escuela Foraneh #1 Jose Vasconcelos in Chapala for a permanent playground roof that protects from the rain and sun as students play and assemble outside.  This secondaria (middle) school is inner city with little space for students to congregate outside the classroom.  The parent club has been working for three years to raise the funds for this project and our donation gets them nearly to the top.  We hope that other like minded people and clubs will donate to help finish off this project.
Read more...
Frank Ewer steps up as President of the Chapala Sunrise Club
Frank Ewer and a new Board of Directors were sworn into office at a Changing of the Button ceremony of on July 1, 2019 at Manix Restaurant.  More the 50 people attended the lively party in which Hector España Ramos thanked this 2018-2019 Board before he turned the gavel over to our 2019-2020 President.  Frank and his Board committed to making positive change in our communities.  Past President Hector España Ramos and Beverly Denton received Paul Harris Fellowship awards for their extraordinary service to the Club.  A delicious dinner, music and dancing followed. 
 
Club Executives & Directors
President
Barb Wilson
President-Elect
Karl Dyer
Secretary
Chloe Clemens
Treasurer
Charlie Lindquist
Rotary Foundation
LN Jalbert
Rotary Links
 
July 2021
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