The group packed ten trunks of medication, tooth brushes, dental floss, glasses, and scrubs.
Preparation for this year's trip began in January with the setting of the date and the collection of names. The twenty three who went this year were:
Project Belize 2001
| BARBARA CORDELL
JOE BARTNIK BOBBY JOE YARBOROUGH MEGAN CHOETE STEPHEN WAYNE WHIDDON WENDY HAWKINS GENIE BARTLETT DELORES ANN SEAMANS ROBERT CHARLES SEAMANS AMBER SHIRLEY QUINN ROBINSON TAMMY ROBINSON |
ZACH ROBINSON
BRENTON ROBINSON TAMERA HALL LAUREN ELIZABETH ATKINS CHARLES ERIC JOHNSON' JANIS L. JOHNSON JENNIFER R. STOUT CALLIE TRUESDALE CARDOTT RANDY PAM MUELLER BRUCE MCNELLIE |
Pretrip and Packing
Medication Packing day was May 20th at the Department of Nursing at SFASU. Here are some pictures of members and volunteers packing the trunks for this year's trip.
The medication was provided through donations of samples, funds from several groups and individuals in the community, tooth brushes, dental floss, combs, and sewing supplies from the Agenlina County 4-H Club, and scrubs from Dr. Robert Lehmann.
The main group left on May 25th
to arrive in two legs from Houston to Belize City and then by small plane
into Punta Gorda, where they were met by the pretrip group. The group stayed
at Blue Creek Lodge, about a mile upriver from the village of Blue Creek,
Toledo District. Clinic days were scheduled for May 27, 28, 29, and
30th. Following the last clinic day, the group gathered at the home
of Mary and Junior Tulcey and then on to Punta Gorda for the night. On
the 31st most the group went on go to San Pedro,Ambergris Caye for some
rest until the return flight to Houston on June 3rd or 4th.
Funding
Project Belize is self funded by each years participants, but has received donations this year from several individuals and groups. The Lions Club and Altrusa Clubs of Nacogdoches have assisted in the collection of glasses and funds. Several other private individuals have donated funds for medications and local physicians have contributed sample and extra medications for the trip. Funds were received from Dr. and Mrs. Robert Carroll, Dr. and Mrs. John Decker, Dr. David and Mrs. Sanderson, Mrs. Kent Castle, and the Altrusa Club. For the past several years, Dr. Robert Lehmann, a local Opthamologist, and his staff have processed and coded glasses that have been donated and collected by the local Lion's Club for each year's trip.
How to Become
a Part of This Effort:
Participation
in each year's trip is dependent on past years participation, one's physical
condition, and what someone can offer the trip. Medical orientation
is helpful, but it is not necessary. There are a good number of tasks
such as crowd control, taking histories using interpreters, dispensing
medications, carrying and treating water, cooking and camp set up that
are equally important. Heat tolerance and the ability to walk hills in
high humidity is a requirement as well as being able to camp out for the
five to six nights of the work portion of the trip.als and groups. The
group usually uses cots and mosquito nets and spends nights in the village
school houses. The total cost of the main part of the trip is about $800
including airfare from Houston. Participants must pay their own way
or raise the funds for their costs for the trip.
Educational
Opportunities
It
may be possible to earn college or university credit for participation
in an annual trip. In year's past nursing students have gained course
credit for preparatory work and back ground research on the Mayan people
and the primary medical needs of Belize. Several of the current members
of the group teach at local universities and may be contacted to see if
a special tutorial course can be arranged for elective credit. Contact
the trip coordinator for more information.
Staff Qualifications: http://www.projectbelize.org/belize2.html
Dr. Quinn Robinson, Medical
Director
Bruce McNellie, Trip Coordinator
Project Belize is a non-profit, tax exempt 501-C-03 corporation. All donations are tax exempt and go solely toward the purchase of medications for each year's trip. There are no administrative expenses as all such costs are borne by the participants. Donations may be sent to:
Project Belize,
% Bruce McNellie
5922 Princess Lane,
Nacogdoches, TX 75961.
Dr. Quinn Robinson is the medical director, Pam Mueller, the treasurer, and Bruce McNellie is the trip coordinator. For additional information about the group and its work, write or email Bruce McNellie at: mcnellie@mailcity.com
For more information on this past year's trip, Belize 2000
For information on travel in Guatemala and visiting Tikal National Park
For information on a great hotel near Tikal, Guatemala
