Cayo Scoop! The Ecology of Cayo Culture

Intermagia's Magic Tour is coming to Cayo.  They'll be at the Octavia Waight Center on October 5th and 6th.  They'll also be visiting a couple of Cayo primary schools to wow the kids.  Thanks, Rotary, for making this happen!

"The Rotary Club of San Ignacio is sponsoring two nights of MAGIC for the Twin Towns.  The magicians will also be visiting some schools in the area.  More details to come."

The Rotary Club of San Ignacio is having their 13th annual Voice of the West Elocution contest.  It'll be on Thursday, April 16th, at Hode's. 

The Rotary Club had their Rotary Park Dedication yesterday, after working really hard the last few months, and last week for Rotary Week, on the upgrade.  The park is looking good!  Kids are going to love it.  Thanks, Rotary! 

"Dedication day. The Rotary Club of San Ignacio along with our Canadian Partners were honored to have the new Mayor of San Ignacio / Santa Elena speak at our Dedication.  His Lordship Earl Trapp spoke of the importance of parks to the community.  District Education Manger of Cayo District, Luis Carballo also spoke of how play is an integral part of education.  Also present at the dedication were children from Santa Elena Primary School and Eden Primary School,"

The 6 new Rotary Scholars have started high school with the Rafael Cal Memorial Scholarship.  Thanks Rotary!

"On Monday, 25 August, six students started their High School education as Rotary Scholars.  These outstanding Students were selected from the six Primary Schools in the San Ignacio/Santa Elena area and will be sponsored for their four years of study by the Rotary Club of San Ignacio's Rafael Cal Memorial Scholarship.  This year, the Rotary Club of San Ignacio is sponsoring a total of 24 Rotary Scholars attending High Schools in the San Ignacio/Santa Elena area - Eden SDA High School, St. Ignatius RC High School, and Sacred Heart High School."

Feelgood news of the day.  6 of the Rotary Scholars are graduating, and one will be awarded the Paulita Bedran Scholarship.  Thanks, Rotary!

"The Rotary Club of San Ignacio will celebrate the graduation of 6 of our Rotary Scholars on May 29th.  The top scholar over the last 4 years will receive the Paulita Bedran Tertiary Scholarship to help continue their education."

Rotary had their Voice of the West Elocution contest this week.  Congratulations to all the winners, and every student that participated.  Thanks, Rotary! 

"In the eyes of the Rotary Club of San Ignacio all participants were winners. We would like to thank you and your Schools for all the hard work that you put into the outstanding presentations.

Official Winners:

Impromptu Speech:
1st Place.........Kiely Gonzales ........... Eden Seven Day Adventist 2nd Place........Antwan Leslie ........... Our Lady of Guadalupe
3rd. Place........Nelson Hernandez ..... Mopan Technical

Published Poems:
1st Place.........Thais Escobar ..............Sacred Heart College
2nd Place ...... Narsedialia Hernandez . Belmopan Comp.
3rd Place ...... Nyah Trejo ................. Our Lady of Guadalupe

Original Poetry
1st Place ........Vivian Arthurs...............Sacred Heart College
2ndPlace.........Isabel Lanza................ Belmopan Comp.
3rd Place ....... Kristan Usher ...............Belmopan Comp.

Persuasive Speech
1st Place........Teann Marin............... Sacred Heart College
2nd Place ..... Eric DeLeon ................Eden Seven Day Adventist
3rd Place ..... Sissi Valdez ................Mopan Technical"

There was a flash mob in Cayo!  The Rotary Club of San Ignacio and the Rotary Club of Red Deer in Canada, along with a little help from the San Ignacio Public Library and some Sacred Heart primary school students, celebrated Children's Month, and headed to the Cayo Welcome Center for the performance.  Rotary also had one in Belmopan with the St. Martin's Primary School students.  It's all part of their Literacy Alive project.

The SIPL also teamed up with tourism students at SHJC for the Art in the Park day.

"Sacred Heart school participates in flash mob to encourage reading to keep literacy alive.  thanks canadian rotary and SHPS in making the library a part of this event."

Pictures of Rotary's 'Educate Our Youth' fundraiser that was catered by SHJC's Food and Beverage students, Shabla Event Planning and Catering, and CET. 

"The Rotary Club of San Ignacio had their 'Educate Our Youth' fundraiser at CET.  It was a lot of fun, and the Sacred Heart Junior College Food and Beverage students did a great job.  They raised money to send 25 students to school.  Thanks, Rotary Club of San Ignacio!"

The Rotary Club of San Ignacio has finished up their 5 year Belize Literary Project, and they had a small handing over ceremony to the Ministry of Education.  Thanks, Rotary!

"This country-wide project for Belize Literacy sponsored by our Canadian partners in Rotary District 5370 came to an end after 5 years and lots of work from many dedicated folks.  The handing over ceremony was a venue to hand over the last of the equipment to each of the district offices and to the staff of Ministry of Education."

Rotaract had a highly successful BBQ to raise funds for their school projects.  It was delicious!  A big thanks to the sponsors, and to the Rotaractors, for being the change they wish to see in the world.

"On Saturday, May 25th, Rotaract San Ignacio Went out to San Ignacio's Market to do a BBQ sale.  The Club was fundraising for our upcoming event: Living Healthy Campaing.  It was a total success; we were even sold out!  Thank you for everyone who supported and thank you once again to those who never hesitate to sponsor us.  We all did it!

Sponsors: Codd's Drug Store, Atlantic Bank Ltd., The Belize Bank Limited , Rumors Resort Hotel, Astrid Salazar Silva, Matus Dental Clinic, Emil & Sharon Figueroa, Rotary Club of San Ignacio, and Rotarian: Franklin Syrowatka.

Photographer: Asunción Martínez"

Feelgood news of the day.  Two Cayo primary schools have new bathrooms now, courtesy of the Rotary Clubs of San Ignacio and Fairbanks, Alaska. Howard Smith Nazarene and New Life Primary schools both have new bathroom blocks now, and the kids are very appreciative.  Thanks, Rotary, for all you do for Cayo!

"Howard Smith Nazarene School in Benque Viejo has a new toilet block and the smile on the faces says it all. Sanitation and hygiene is as important to education as the subjects the students study.  Thank you Rotary Club of Fairbanks for partnering with the Rotary Club of San Ignacio to make this dream come true."

Thanks, Rotary!  Congratulations to the Paul Harris Fellow awardees!

"There are moments in every Rotarian's life that are just extra special. This was the case Saturday night as Aki Fukai received the President's pin presented by past president Tom Wierum for the 2015-2016 year. Moments like when we welcome our newest member Jaime Reyes to our Club and the extra special moments when we award Paul Harris's to Rotarians and Community Leaders. Tonight Franklin Syrowatka received a Paul Harris pin and certificate exemplifying 'Service Above Self' and in a very touching moment past president Bill Butcher pinned his daughter Shalue Butcher with her Paul Harris pin for all the help she has so generously given to the Rotary Club of San Ignacio and the community. Congratulations all"

Both Rotary Week and Rotaract Week were this month, as well as World Rotary Day, but this has been an amazingly active month for all the clubs around Cayo, from Benque to SI to Belmopan.  They are finishing up the bathrooms at Howard Smith Nazarene.  They have started on bathrooms at New Life.  They had the big dedication at Rotary Park after having added new playground equipment.  They've fixed up Pedro Guerra Mena park.  They've cleaned up Parque de las Americas. And, they've inducted some new Rotaract members along the way too.

Thanks, Rotary and Rotaract, for never slowing down with all the wonderful work you've been doing around Cayo. 

In related news, they are getting ready for the 13th annual Voice of the West Contest, which will be on April 16th at Hode's.  And they've started up Sunday Bingo again.  The annual Wine and Cheese fundraiser is April 25th.

The Rotary Club of San Ignacio is really taking this Rotary Week seriously.  They have quite a few projects going on around Cayo, including building school bathrooms in Benque, Duck Run, and refurbishing Rotary Park in Santa Elena.  Thanks, Rotary, and happy 110th.

Feelgood news of the day. The village of Duck Run had solar lights donated by the Rotary Club of Copperas Cove.  They now have a safe, renewable source of light.  Thanks, Rotary!

"Solar lights for the Village of Duck Run were provided by the Rotary Club of Copperas Cove, Texas.  Duck Run is located Northeast of San Ignacio in the Cayo District of Belize.  These families were living without access to a safe source of light.  Children were studying by kerosene lamps and candles.  Kerosene lamps cause deaths and disfigurement due to burns. It also emits toxic fumes.  The Village of Duck Run is now lit by safe solar lights provided by the Rotary Club of Copperas Cove.  The Rotary Club of San Ignacio, Belize provided transpertation and assisted in the distribution.  Thank you to the Ministry of Rural Development for their assistance in making this day possible."

Congratulations to the 6 Rotary Scholars!  Rotary had an awards ceremony for their achievement.  Congratulations to Rosalba Landero, for being the top student, and getting the Rafael Cal scholarship.

"Oh what a night!  Six High School students, recipients of the Rafael Cal Memorial scholarship fund by the Rotary Club of San Ignacio, were honored and recognized their efforts and achievement.  The top student, Rosalba Landero, of this group of graduating seniors from the three High Schools in San Ignacio and Santa Elena Towns received the Paulita Bedran Memorial scholarship to continue her studies at a tertiary education institution."

The Rotary Club of San Ignacio has been busy lately.  Not only did they bring the flash mobs to Cayo, but they are having their annual Voice of the West Elocution Competition at 6:30pm this Thursday at Hode's. 

"We are getting ready for the Voice of the West competition for the high school students in Cayo, 42 students to be exact.  I found out this event was a staple on Sept 10 back in the day, until the Independence Day celebrations became more about the politicians than the people.  Join us at Hode's, 6:30 this Thursday night.  Voice of the West rocks!"

Congratulations to PC Jason Jones for being awarded the Paul Harris Fellow Award from the Rotary Club of San Ignacio!  PC Jones has shown amazing dedication and service to Cayo, which is what the award signifies.

"On 15th June 2013 Rotary San Ignacio awarded PC 495 Jason Jones with the Paul Harris Fellow Award, for his dedication and outstanding service to the community of San Ignacio and Santa Elena Towns.  Photo: On 15th June 2013 Rotary San Ignacio awarded PC 495 Jason Jones with the Paul Harris Fellow Award, for his dedication and outstanding service to the community of San Ignacio and Santa Elena Towns."