| | | | | | | | | | | | | | Introduction of attendees, including special guests and several new to Cuenca members | | | | MVOC visits.Brigada Portete. More | | | | Since last meeting: - Visit to Brigada Portete Artillery Base in Cuenca: We were invited on short notice only a handful attended, but all that went enjoyed themselves and the Ecuadorian Army went out of their way to show us what they do. We will plan another visit, this time with more notice (looking at December – date TBD)
- Visit to Governor’s Office: Ken, John, Clarke and Marianne visited the governor of Azuay’s office and let him know about our group and offer assistance on any upcoming projects.
- Visit to mayor’s office of International Relations – Will, John, Clarke and Marianne visited with Felipe Ochoa and let him know about MVOC. The 30 minute visit covered many topics, including the Ibero-American summit coming in November, and the mayor’s Proposal #42 which aims to involve ‘the foreign community residing in Cuenca’. We discussed how MVOC can help. He stated that either he or someone from his office will attend our next meeting.
Special Guests: - Graffiti clean up project: Cynthia Cornejo discussed, among other things, painting over the graffiti-covered walls and asked for MVOC assistance. The painting will be done on November 9th, a few days prior to the start of the Ibero-American summit.
- Cuenca Soup Kitchen: Des Dizney from Cuenca Soup Kitchen explained what they do and how they feed so many people in need. Volunteer opportunities are available for anyone interested, and donations are always welcome. Several MVOC members participate in their birthday program, which gives a cake and presents to the kids of families the Soup Kitchen helps. If anyone wants to help with that, contact Des. There will also be an Angel Tree for Christmas.
- Local tour guide: Martin Avila – a local tour guide and long time friend of MVOC (he’s an ‘horonary Marine’) spoke about upcoming projects he has, including one to revitalize the environment. He will let us know when that officially kicks off.
- Bigotte Barbershop: Mauricio Granda, of Bigotte Barbershop and Lounge. They have opened a men’s spa just off Ordonez Lasso that will not only feature haircuts, but also manicures, peticures and massages for men. Several MVOC members are already customers and praised the business. When you get a haircut, you also get a complimentary beverage and there’s an opportuntity to get free stuff by throwing darts and golf putting.
- Compassion Kitchen: Steven Ball discussed Compassion Kitchen, which distributes over 5,000 sandwiches a month around Parque Calderon. Several of the regular sandwich makers have left Cuenca, either short term or permanently, and more are needed. If anyone wants to make sandwiches for the needy, please let Clarke know (he is a sandwich maker too)
Upcoming Events: - Veterans Day: On 11/11 at 11 am, there will be a Veterans Day commemoration at the Abraham Lincoln Center. There will be a special speaker from the US Consulate in Guayaquil, along with a flag ceremony and service roll call, talks by MVOC members and a few surprises. Please mark it on your calendars to be there. Should be VERY patriotic and a great salute to those of us who served.
- Christmas Party: Christmas party for the Tadeo Torres Orphanage – This will be our third year sponsoring a party for the kids at the orphanage. We need ideas, a planning committee, etc. We had an electric piano donated and we will give that to the orphanage as our Christmas present to them (before accepting it, we checked with the orphanage director and he graciously accepted and will not tell any of the staff or the kids. Clarke will secure lessons to go along with the piano. We are looking at the second Saturday in December to hold the party – we will confirm prior to the next meeting and let everyone know. We are also looking at the same location – Cuenca Sport Center.
Patches, shirts and hats with new MVOC logo are available for purchase. Patches are $4, hats are $8 and shirts are $16. We are making no profit on these…just provided as a way to ‘represent’ the MVOC. - Blood types – We have a list complied of blood types. If anyone is hospitalized and needs blood, rather than paying for it, vets can help vets and donate their blood. Granted, some of us are too old to donate, but we are never too old to receive…thus our list has names, ages and blood types so we know who can help if the need arises. Just contact Clarke or John by WhatsApp if you need blood or want to donate.
- HCA Clinic – the clinic is open for business. Our Veterans Services Officer, Mark Tomlinson, can help veterans with the paperwork needed to use the clinic. Again, it is NOT affiliated with with the VA, and can only be used for service-related disabilities, but it is there for those who qualify to use.
Next meeting: Our next MVOC meeting will be on Monday, November 4th at Brothers Restaurant. Mauricio, owner of Sabatino’s, will be out of town for the holiday that day, so we are switching locations. | | MVOC Charitable Activities | | | | Christmas party for the Tadeo Torres Orphanage – This will be our third year sponsoring a party for the kids at the orphanage. We need ideas, a planning committee, etc. We had an electric piano donated and we will give that to the orphanage as our Christmas present to them (before accepting it, we checked with the orphanage director and he graciously accepted and will not tell any of the staff or the kids. Clarke will secure lessons to go along with the piano. We are looking at the second Saturday in December to hold the party – we will confirm prior to the next meeting and let everyone know. We are also looking at the same location – Cuenca Sport Center. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
