email:
mcnellie@mcnellie.com
mcnellie@mailcity.com
Date:
November 23, 2006
To Prospective Project Belize 2006 Members,
Here is the ‘letter’ for this year. Dates are May 18 – May 29, 2006.
For those who are new to Project Belize, it is a non-profit, 501-C03
corporation that was created in 1988 by a group of adventurous medical,
dental,
nursing, and community individuals who shared a joint experience of
providing
medical and dental care to Mayan Indians and natives of the country of
Belize.
The trip is self-supporting by its members each year. Some donations
are
accepted from various service organizations to offset some of the cost
of
medicines and supplies. Each participating member pays his/her portion
of the
trip expenses. Each year’s members serve as its board of directors and
the trip
and planning meetings serve as its annual meeting. Its officers are Pam
Mueller, who serves as treasurer, Bruce McNellie, Trip Coordinator, Dr.
Quinn
Robinson, Medical Director, and a series of others who have made most
of the
trips, serving as its officers as the need arises. We are not
associated with a
denomination or mission effort and we work directly with the country’s
primary
health care administrators. Our principal contact has been Dr. Raju,
Chief of
Staff of the hospital in Punta Gorda, Toledo District, where most of
our work
in recent years has been. This will mark our 19th annual trip.
In the past the group has been arriving on two separate days, depending
on
schedules. The main group will be leaving Houston on May 18th out of
Houston to
Belize City, and others will arrive on the 19th and take a
small
plane to Punta Gorda from Belize City. We need at least 15 people to
fly in on
the 18th to handle baggage as one of the two allowed checked bags for
each
person will need to be one of the medical trunks. This year as of
9/7/2005,
there will be a 50 lb limit on all bags, so plan accordingly. Our
workdays will
be the 21, 22, 23, and 24th, with the rest of the group leaving on the
19th and
the return of the main group on May 29th.
Mary and Junior Tulcey, friends of ours in the Toledo District, have
said they
are looking forward to seeing us again and we may eat at a new
restaurant that
Mary and Junior are considering opening in Punta Gorda. We will be
talking to
Oscar Cal soon, the vans are reserved, and the lodge at Blue Creek is
reserved.
Left are the fund raising things to do for the purchase of medications,
packing, and contact with Dr. Raju at the hospital.
Trip Costs: (About 900.00 depending on the cost of this year's flight.
See the
detail below.)
Please send $200 made out to Project Belize,
Pam Mueller,
Treasurer, 737 Silver Lake, Monticello, FL 32344 as soon as
possible but no
later than February 15th to secure your spot. This will serve as a
deposit for
the trip and will be about half of the balance, not counting airfare to
and
from Houston to Belize City and, for those flying on the 19th,
airfare from Belize City to Punta Gorda. This will help in planning for
the
number of people going on the trip. Another payment of $200 will be due
April
15, 2006.
Airfare to Belize City will need to be arranged ‘on your own’, but we
will need
to coordinate the carrier and this year we are going to fly Continental
from
Houston to Belize City. If you are coming from out of country and can
get a
better flight, just be sure you are in Belize City International
Airport at
3:00 pm when we arrive so you can catch the vans for the trip to Punta
Gorda.
Here is the flight information:
Thursday 18May06
Continental 1628 Departing Houston Bush Intl IAH 1:30 PM Arriving
Belize
City Belize 3:03 PM 737-300
Monday 29May06 Continental 1652
Departing Belize City Belize 3:55 PM
Arriving Houston Bush Intl IAH 7:33 PM 737-300
I think most will be returning on Monday.
Pam
Mueller, will purchase in-country flights for those traveling on
the 19th and for the flights on the 25th. We must have exact flight
arrangements nailed down by the first of March, so let me and Pam know
your
plans as soon as possible.
If you are going with the main group, you need to leave Houston the
18th of May
with the rest of the group if you can, as we will need one of your
‘checked’
bags for the 12 to 15 medicine trunks we will be taking. The main
group, as
last year, will get the medical trunks into the country, pick up the
vans, and
meet with Dr. Raju on Friday the 19th.
If you cannot fly from Houston, just be in Belize City by 3:03
pm on the
18th so you can catch a ride with the main group in the vans
on the
way to Punta Gorda.
For those flying down on the 19th, Pam Mueller will handle booking the
flight
from Belize City to Punta Gorda, our final destination. Let Pam and me
know if
you will be going with the main group on the 18th or with the group
flying in
on the 19th as soon as possible. Pam will collect the approximate
in-country
airfare from each as part of the group cost and settle up with each at
the end
of the work portion of the trip (see budget below).
The group costs will cover round trip from Belize City to Punta Gordo,
including ground /air transportation through the 25th back
to Belize
City/Houston, group meals for the nights of May 19-24, including one
night’s
lodging in Punta Gorda on the 24th, and one nights lodging
in
Dangriga on the 18th. Remaining personal meals and lodging
costs
will be in addition to that collected and will be your responsibility
(Dinner
on the 18th, breakfast and lunches during the trip, and all
meals
and lodging beginning May 25 through return to Houston on the 29th.)
Group Costs: (approximate per person)
Flights
RT - Houston - Belize City (approximate)
$378 - 400.00
(This is a guess until you book your flight and has ranged from
400 to 500, depending on the airline
and market.)
RT - air from Belize City to Punta Gorda (PG) (Only for
190.00
those flying to Belize City on the 19th and
on to PG)
Group fees:
In-country Transportation:
Truck/van/rental:
2@130/day for 7 days)= 1820;
1@100/day for 7 days= 700;
Total .
Gasoline: 3 @ 100 gal ea @ 5.00/gallon= 1500
Baggage handling and tips(200); 200
Guides(360): 360
Mules(200); 200
Dangriga group night (200); 300
Blue Creek Lodge (1000); 1050
Night in Punta Gorda (700); 800
Miscellaneous food (200); 200
Medical Supplies; 870
Subtotal group expenses: $ 8000
divided by 20 (assuming 20 will go) =
400
Subtotal Group cost for those Flying in on the 19th- (190 +400)= $590
Subtotal Group cost driving from Belize City on the 18th = $400
Total (Estimated)
Total cost for those flying in on the 19th : $590 + 400 air rt
Houston)=
$990
Group driving from Belize City on the 20th = $400 + $400 rt Houston) =
$800
Remember the airfare from Houston of $400 is an estimate and could be
more or
less depending on the final arrangements. Here are the details of what
came up
under their website as of 11/23/2005. Once you are certain you are
going, I
would suggest getting this fare as soon as possible due to the
increases in
fuel costs. This is the cheapest fare I have seen in several years.
$378.00
Depart 1:30 p.m. Houston,
TX
(IAH - Intercontinental) Arrive: 3:03 p.m.
Belize City, Belize (BZE) Flight:
CO1628 Aircraft:
Boeing 737-300 Fare Class: Economy
(I)
This would put us in Belize City 90 minutes earlier
than last
year and make the drive to Dangriga less of an ordeal. I have checked
with Continental’s
baggage desk and there is a new rule effective 9/7/2005 that limits
bags to 50
lbs or less on all international flights without having to pay extra,
so keep
this in mind packing and know that we will need everyone to check one
of their
bags as one of the medical trunks on the flight as we will need a good
deal
more trunks this year due to the weight limits.
Specific Costs Not Included In the Above:
Motel costs for nights of May 25th-May 29th to cover the "rest"
portion of the trip.
Food costs for personal meals other than the evening meals during the
work
portion of the trip on Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon, Tues and the meal at Mary
and Junior
Tulcey’s at the end of the work portion of the trip on Wednesday night.
Breakfast on Thursday morning, the 25th is on your own as we have to
get up
early for the flights out from Punta Gorda and the van trip back to
Belize
City.
Transportation other than the round trip costs from Houston to Punta
Gorda and
return to Houston. (the above assumes in-country van rental for three
vehicles
from May 18th through May 25th and if some of you decide to keep one of
them
you would need to handle the rental after the 25th on your own. This
assumes
return of the vehicles on the 25th. Transportation on or after May
25th, the
last day of the work portion of the trip, for example, a flight to San
Pedro,
will be "on your own" or what you can arrange with others in the
group. If there is a non-stop flight from Punta Gorda to San Pedro,
approximately $95 of the $190 round trip cost set aside in the budget
that gets
you back to Belize City, would go toward that. Round trip from Belize
City to
San Pedro is about $95. The vans will return to Belize City on Thursday
morning
following the last work day of the trip and those wishing to ride
overland will
save some money in getting back to Belize City. In past years several
have
driven to San Ignacio and into Guatemala. (I plan to do that again this
year
and most of the food and lodging for those going with me will be
covered by a
friend of mine who owns a hotel near Tikal where we will be staying.)
Tentative Agenda:
February 15, 2006 $200 group expenses due to Pam Warren Mueller,
Treasurer
By April 1st - should have more information to you prior to March 1st
about air
fare, but either have purchased your own airfare round trip to Belize
City or
made arrangements with the group, depending on what we find out.
April 15, 2006 $390 or $200 balance (depending on if you need Belize to
Punta
Gorda flight arrangements <for those traveling on the 19th>
or
if you are traveling with those picking up the vans on the 18th,
due
to Pam Mueller, treasurer.
April 26th, 2006 Pre-trip meeting at Memorial Hospital cafeteria at
12:00 noon
for those that can make it to answer questions and make last minute
travel
arrangements to and from Houston. We may use ‘City Economy Parking’
this year
that is closer to I-45 than Hwy 59 as it is less than $5 a day.
May 7, 2006 Sunday, 1:30 PM, Afternoon Packing Medication Party at
SFASU
Nursing Department – Bring friends to help.
May 18, 2006 Thursday, Main group leaves for Belize City, picks up
vehicles,
and meets with Dr. Raju on Friday. Spend first night Pelican Beach
Motel in
Dangriga.
May 19, 2006 Friday, balance of group travels to Belize City, and flies
by
small plane, regular service to Punta Gorda to arrive approximately
6:00 pm.
Group spends night at Blue Creek Camp/Lodge.
May 20, Saturday Group free day. Clinic arrangements made.
May 21, Sunday First work day
May 22, Monday Second work day
May 23, Tuesday Third work day
May 24, Wednesday Fourth work day, spend night in motel in Punta Gorda,
eat
with Junior and Mary Tulcey.
May 25, Thursday Travel day. Group splits up as desired, some to fly
out to
destination of choice, return to Houston, or some to drive vehicle back
to
rental agency in Belize City. Spend night your choice.
May 26, Friday Free day, spend night your choice.
May 27, Saturday Free day, spend night your choice
May 28, Sunday Free day, spend night your choice.
May 29, Monday Return flight to Houston.
Send your first payment of $200 by February 15, 2006 to:
Project Belize
Pam Warren Mueller, Treasurer
737 Silver Lake, Monticello, FL 32344
(And email Bruce when you send your first payment.
mcnellie@mcnellie.com)
If you have other questions please contact Bruce McNellie
409-560-9437 home
mcnellie@mailcity.com
or
mcnellie@mcnellie.com
As noted above, mark your calendar for a brief group meeting at
Memorial
Hospital in Nacogodoches if you can make it at 12:00 on April 26th in
the
cafeteria at to go over any last minute details. You do not have to be
at this
meeting. I will send notes to those who can’t make it. We can
coordinate some
of the after-trip plans as well as travel to the airport.
There are several nice hotels on San Pedro. In years past some have
stayed at
the Holiday House - 011 501 2 62014 or
011 501 2 62295; for approximately $200/nite for a four or five
person
apartment, or 90/nite for a double. They have a web site too:
http://www.sanpedroholiday.com/index.html
Their address is Holiday
House, San
Pedro, Ambergris Caye, P.O. 1140, Belize City, Belize, Central America.
Last
time they gave us a discount so identify yourself as with Project
Belize.
And finally, those of you with connections to clubs or other
funding sources,
please begin updating them on our trip to see if they might be willing
to
donate for the medications and dental supply expenses. We need about
$2500 to
buy necessary medications. This year we are collecting about $40 each
as part
of group expenses to help defray costs of medications. The more funds
donated
the less of this will be needed and Pam will do a reconciliation at the
end of
the trip.
Make sure your passport is up to date and you know where it is.
You have to have it. It takes about 6 weeks to get it updated or get a
new one,
so get on it soon. You get an application from the district clerk's
office in
the courthouse, have two passport pictures taken and send them with the
completed application and your old passport to Houston with about $60
in a
money order or cashiers check. (Sorry, having this much fun is not
cheap, but
this is a pretty cheap 11 day vacation.)
Also, don't forget shots (tetanus every 10 years and a polio booster if
you
have not have one in the past 20 yrs.). Ask your doctor if you have
questions.
We will all need to take some sort of anti-malaria medication as well
as a good
supply of DEET (insect repellent) to ward off the bugs. Dr. Quinn
Robinson will
help with the prescription for Larium or Chloriquin or one of the newer
anti-malaria pills (Malarone?) if you need one.
When you indicate interest, I'll send you a list of things to bring,
such as
mosquito nets, string, canteen, bedding, pillow, soap, washrag, towel,
etc.
See you soon. Bruce McNellie, (Home):409-560-9437
For pictures of past years trips and more information on our group,
visit:
http://www.projectbelize.org
Project Belize 2006
5922 Princess Lane
Nacogdoches, Texas, 75961
409-560-9437 (home)
email:
mcnellie@mcnellie.com
mcnellie@mailcity.com