Grace Honduras Mission Home Team Meeting, Sunday, March 10, 2002, 12:15 p.m.

Joe Miller gave an opening prayer and welcomed the Grace Honduras Mission Home Team to the meeting. The meeting focused on the Grace Fiesta that will take place on Sunday, April 14, 2002, right after the 10:45 a.m. service.

Joe Miller noted that it was time to begin thinking about the well project fundraising campaign for April. Preliminary plans include, but are not limited to, a well to be displayed in the narthex. Details are still being worked out and more information will be forthcoming.

The Fiesta activity team leaders then reviewed and updated the team members on the Fiesta. Kerry Fradley noted several ideas for entertainment and music were being discussed. Some ideas include having background Spanish music and/or asking the Sunday Night Alive Praise band if they can perhaps learn some Spanish music. In addition, Mary Ellen Davis volunteered to check on the availability of Spanish dancers. An idea was raised of hiring a Mariachi band, but the sense of the group was that it would be cost prohibitive and the money would be better used for other Honduras related activities. The entertainment committee agreed to meet again to further discuss details and will advise the publicity committee.

A number of speakers were considered to be invited to the Fiesta including a representative from Honduras Outreach International, a representative from the Honduras embassy, and Grace Honduras team member Erik Hawkins, who served in Honduras in the Peace Corps. The group decided that it would be better to limit the speaker to one and agreed that Erik would be the best choice given that he is a member of the team and has first-hand experience in Honduras. Mary Ellen Davis volunteered to ask Erik if he would agree to speak. In addition, the group agreed that a piñata, Honduran flags, and an automatic rotation of slides or PowerPoint’s showing pictures from the last mission trip would also add to the Fiesta’s atmosphere.

Bob McClelland noted that the menu would be taco rice and tamale pie with a fiesta dessert. Attendance is estimated to be around 130 people, which is the average attendance at Grace Café. Bob added that he would like to involve the youth in service and clean-up activities. Kim Hatfield and Mary Ellen Davis will address this with the youth.

Crystal and Doug Sarno and Mirelle Rosera will handle publicity for the Fiesta. Among other things, flyers will be placed in the bulletin and posters will be displayed throughout the church. A donation of $5 per person and $10 per family was agreed to be a fair price for the Fiesta. In addition, the publicity team will design T-shirts for the team (and perhaps sold to others).

The Reverend Jay Click stated that the Grace Honduras team needed to be very clear and specific in what funds were being raised for and how those funds would be used. It was decided by the group that the well project would be the primary focus of the fundraising efforts and perhaps one other area. (Scholarships have already been funded.)

Kerry Fradley and Beth Ann McClelland affirmed that they would create displays for the Fiesta to be set up around the church.

A new decorations committee was formed and will be headed by Kim Hatfield. Crystal Sarno and Mirelle Rosera agreed to assist with decorating the fellowship hall for the Fiesta. The group agreed that no tables would be set up at the Fiesta. (Chairs will be set-up around the perimeter of the room for those who are unable to stand.)

Sarah Cipriano volunteered to serve as the Fiesta coordinator to ensure that, among other things, all of the committees are informed and progressing on their assigned Fiesta activities.

Joe Miller briefly mentioned that he and others made a presentation of Grace’s Honduran mission activities to a church in Manassas that was well received.

Mary Ellen Davis advised the group that the scholarships have been funded. In addition, different members of Grace donated $1,500. With these funds, backpacks filled with, among other things, Grace T-shirts, bibles, pencils, and a letter were mailed to HOI.

Dr. Charlie Barker, who will serve as the team’s physician, talked to the group about the last trip to Honduras, advised the members traveling to Honduras to get their shots, and noted that if any team member has a medical condition to let him know. Sarah Cipriano passed out a shots list and due dates.

Jeannie Patee advised the group that a salsa basket was being prepared by the Honduras team for the youth auction to be held on Sunday, March 17, after the 10:45 a.m. service. Donations to the basket were encouraged. In addition, the team was asked to pick up tickets for the quilt raffle, which will benefit the well project.

Finally, Joe Miller noted that news from the Rotary regarding potential funds for the well project was slow and confusing. He will try to get a clear response from them soon. Joe will also check on when the first payment is due to HOI and will send out a separate e-mail with this information.

Jerry Patee closed the meeting with prayer.

Mike Hatfield, 3/12/02

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Summary of Fiesta Committees

Fiesta Coordinator - Sarah Cipriano (703) 913-6555

Menu & Food - Bob McClelland (703) 451-8494

Serve and clean-up activities - Kim Hatfield (703) 912-3126 and Mary Ellen Davis

Speaker - Mary Ellen Davis (703) 971-7102

Publicity - Crystal and Doug Sarno (703) 719-0818 and Mirelle Rosera

Decorations - Kim Hatfield (703) 912-3126, Crystal Sarno and Mirelle Rosera

Music & Entertainment - Kerry (703)644-0682 & Mary Ellen

Displays - Kerry Fradley (703)644-0682, Beth Ann McClelland & Crystal Sarno

Well Fund Raiser Displays - Joe Miller (703) 313-6216 & Crystal Sarno

Slide Presentation for Fiesta - Joe Miller (703) 313-6216

Grace Honduras Shirts - Crystal Sarno (703) 719-0818 & Joe Miller

Anyone who would like to help with any of these committees, please call the first person listed or call Sarah Cipriano at (703) 913-6555.