MINUTES OF CHAPTER MEETING

Partners of the Americas

Colorado, USA – Minas Gerais, Brazil Chapter

Date: December 10, 2006

Location: Waechter residence, Greeley, Colorado

Present: Francis Wardle (President) Roger & Betty Brown (Treas)

Steven Waechter (VP) Mike & Rhoda Rogers

Bryan & Carolyn Cooke (Sec) Jan Brummond

Linda Kay Nedved Mary Gershwin

Dorly Piske and Dwight Hicks (Wyoming Partners)

Guests: Co and Odete Van Herwaarden, Denis and Scotti McCarthy, Maria Craig

From Brazil: Paulo A Gomes de Andrade, Rita Feitosa Trujeiro, Francisco A Lopez, and their interpreter Felipe Alexandre.

Meeting called to order by Pres. Francis Wardle. Minutes of the October 1, 2006 meeting corrected and approved.

Mary introduced three school principals from Brazil. They have been visiting Denver schools on a Fulbright grant through Denver International School.

Roger, Betty, Dwight and Francis reported on their experiences at the November 2006 Partners International Convention in Belize. Over 200 people attended, including the Prime Minster of Belize. A work project to refurbish a local playground was a big success. The Ouro Preto convention committee will find a similar project to be done during the next convention.

Roger and Betty reported on their travel to Minas Gerais to develop projects and prepare for next year’s convention. Increasing membership is the best way to generate funds. Money is available to defray cost of a recruiting brochure. Betty made many notes in anticipation of Ouro Preto convention. Roger reported that the website is up and running: coloradominaspartners.home.comcast.net/default.html

May do a school exchange, playground, art/music exchange, on-line chess matches. Dwight and Roger will work on exchange of computers and books. Alice in Minas Gerais has a contact who works with shipping containers. COMCAB, the association of Brazilian chapters, will all work on the convention. A theme is needed—all ideas are welcome. Jan’s project should be displayed in a poster. Other ideas were a marketplace and an artisan show. Appointed to the convention committee: Roger, Betty, Steve, Jan, Bryan, Carolyn, Dwight and Dorly. Convention date: November 15-18, 2007.

A separate committee will work on fundraising. Francis suggested we have one fundraiser to generate travel funds. Ideas: T-shirts, Crocs, soccer camp. Appointed to fundraising committee: Francis, Bryan, Rhoda, (Jon Monson?)

Linda and Francis reported on the status of the Coffee Project. The Pennsylvania-Bahia Partners are on board. Stephanie will write the grant. Linda moved that the Colorado Partners join the project. Motion seconded and passed.

Jan & Steve reported on the status of contract between the Federal University at Diamantina and UNC. Bryan volunteered to contact Kay Norton, President of UNC.

Betty has brochures regarding Portuguese language lessons.

Treasurer: Betty reported we have $5,519.69 in our account.

Those who attended the Belize convention met many Brazilian students coming to Colorado. After discussion, Francis moved that we offer a student membership of $10 per year, which would apply to anyone under 18 or full-time students over 18. Motion seconded and passed.

Meetings were scheduled for 2007: March 4 at Rogers’, June 3 at Waechter’s, September 9 at Wardle’s, and December 2 at Brown’s

New Business:

Roger will investigate prices for a block of tickets for Ouro Preto convention.

Bryan reported a request from Brazilian friend Paulo Bretas for his daughter to come to Colorado for a veterinary internship.

We discussed finding ways to do inter-partnership exchanges (CO-WY) so we can maximize benefits to both partnerships. Soccer camps, mobile mammogram clinic. Dwight and Bryan will work on this.

Next meeting will be March 4, 2007 at 3:00 pm at Mike & Rhoda Rogers’, 2335 19^th Avenue in Greeley.

Meeting adjourned to social time. Photos, video and CD from the Convention were available for everyone to see after the business meeting.

Carolyn Cooke, Secretary