Most of Belize's Rotary clubs were present at the XVI Uniendo America Project Fair between 29th and 31st January at the Radisson Fort George.  The Uniendo America Project Fair takes place annually and rotates between various Central American countries.  This is the second time the Fair has been held in Belize, and many of our local clubs took advantage of the home location to present several projects.

 

The purpose of the Fair is to encourage North American Rotary clubs to support, financially and in other ways, projects presented by Central American Rotary clubs.  Projects must be presented and supported by a Rotary club, and can receive support either in Club-to-Club or Matching Grant formats.  The latter involves making a joint application to the Rotary International Foundation for additional funding under carefully drawn rules.

 

 The Rotary Club of Belize presented almost two dozen projects and made a lot of positive contacts, both for funding and for future projects.  Several visitors were taken on tours, to BERT, Kolbe and the Child Care Center, among others.  Our Foundation Chair, Giovanni Heredia, raised the bar for future presentations by wearing a suit and tie(!), as shown above, and along with Sandra McKay, worked all day Friday and until the Fair closed at midday Saturday to present projects to visitors who stopped by our club's booth.  Sandra and Giovanni were ably assisted by Yvette, Francis, and many other Rotarians.  Only Yvette, however, could match Giovanni's GQ look, and we congratulate them both.  The booth itself was decorated by Francis and Jackie Woods, with orchids on loan from Betty Jean.

 

Congratulations to the Project Fair Committee, led by Chairman Andre Lopez.  Betty Jean Hunt and Felix Reyes managed the Secretariat, with assistance from several other Rotarians, and thanks go to both the Radisson and Old Belize for their excellent service throughout the entire event.