email:
mcnellie@mcnellie.com

Updated: April 11, 2007 in red

Date: March 9, 2006

To Prospective Project Belize 2007 Members,

Here is the‘letter’ for this year. Dates are May 24 – June 4, 2007

Updated airfare information as noted below.

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 20th 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 24th out of Houston to Belize City, and others will arrive on the 25^th and take a small plane to Punta Gorda from Belize City. We need at least 11 people to fly in on the 24th to handle baggage as one of the two allowed checked bags for each person will need to be one of the medical trunks. There is a 50 lb limit on all bags, so plan accordingly. Our workdays will be the 27, 28, 29, and 30th, with the rest of the group leaving on the 25th and the return of the main group on June 4th.

We spend the last night of the work portion of the trip at Sea Front Hotel in Punta Gorda and we will have our last group meal at a small cafe a few doors away from the hotel.. 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 and Cherrie-Mae Avilez at the hospital.

Trip Costs: (About 950.00 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, 2007 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 24^th, 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, 2007.

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 or an airport other than Houston and can get a better flight, just be sure you are at Belize City International Airport at 3:00 pm when we arrive so you can catch the vans for the trip to Dangriga and Punta Gorda. 

Here is the flight information as of now:

Thursday 24May07 Continental 1628 Departing Houston Bush Intl IAH  1:30 PM Arriving Belize City Belize 3:06 PM 737-300
Monday 4June07 Continental 1650 Departing Belize City Belize 11:20 a. m. Arriving Houston Bush Intl IAH   2:56 PM 737-800

I think most will be returning on Monday, June 4th, but this is up to personal preference and schedules..

Pam Mueller, will purchase in-country flights for those traveling on the 25th and the 31st. We must have exact flight arrangements nailed down by the first of March, so let me (mcnellie@mcnellie.com) and Pam  (Muellermont@aol.com) know your plans as soon as possible.

If you are going with the main group, you need to leave Houston the 24th of May with the rest of the group if you can, as we will need one of your ‘checked’ bags for the 10 to 11 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 or Cherrie-Mae Avilez on Friday the 25th.  If you cannot fly from Houston, just be in Belize City by 3:06 pm on the 24^th so you can catch a ride with the main group in the vans on the way to Dangriga and Punta Gorda.

For those flying down on the 25th, Pam Mueller will handle booking the flight from Belize City to Punta Gorda, our final destination. Let Pam (Muellermont@aol.com) and me (mcnellie@mcnellie.com) know if you will be going with the main group on the 24th or with the group flying in on the 25th 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 31st  back to Belize City/Houston, group meals for the nights of May 25-30, including one night’s lodging in Punta Gorda on the 30^h, and one nights lodging in Dangriga on the 24th. Remaining personal meals and lodging costs will be in addition to that collected and will be your responsibility (Dinner on the 24^th, breakfast and lunches during the trip, and all meals and lodging beginning May 31st  through return to Houston on the June 4th.)


Group Costs: (approximate per person)

Flights
RT - Houston - Belize City (approximate)                                       $500
(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 25^th for the flight to PG)

Group fees:
In-country Transportation:
Truck/van/rental:
2@130/day for 7 days)= 1820;
1@75/day for 7 days= 525;
Total         .
Gasoline: 3 @ 130 gal ea @ 5.00/gallon= 1950

Baggage handling and tips; 200
Guides: 450
Mules; 200
Dangriga group night; 700
Blue Creek Lodge; 1150
Night in Punta Gorda; 800
Miscellaneous food; 420
Medical Supplies; 1000

Subtotal group expenses: $ 9215  divided by 20 (assuming 20 will go) =           461 

Subtotal Group cost for those Flying in on the 25th- (190 +461)= $651
Subtotal Group cost driving from Belize City on the 24th = $461


 Total (Estimated)
Total cost for those flying in on the 25th : $651 + 428 air rt Houston)=              $1079
Group driving from Belize City on the 24th = $461 + $428 rt Houston) =              $889

Remember the airfare from Houston of $428 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 recently. Once you are certain you are going, I would suggest getting this fare as soon as possible due to the increases in fuel costs.
About: $500 to $550 as of 4/11/2007;
Thursday 24May07 Continental 1628 Departing Houston Bush Intl IAH  1:30 PM Arriving Belize City Belize 3:06 PM 737-300
Monday 4June07 Continental 1650 Departing Belize City Belize 11:20 a. m. Arriving Houston Bush Intl IAH   2:56 PM 737-800 There is a Belize airport departure tax of $35 that sometimes is included in the ticket. Be sure to ask about this when you purchase your fare. It was included in our fare for May 2006.

Specific Costs Not Included In the Above:
Motel costs for nights of May 31th-June 3rd for the "rest and relaxation" 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 cafe at the end of the work portion of the trip on Wednesday night. Breakfast on Thursday morning, the 31st, 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 24th through May 31st and if some of you decide to keep one of them you would need to handle the rental after the 31st on your own. This assumes return of the vehicles on the 31st. Transportation on or after May 31st, 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.For those flying, the $190 rt is figured on getting back to Belize International airport.  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, 2007 $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, 2007 $439 or $249 balance (depending on if you need Belize to Punta Gorda flight arrangements <for those traveling on the 25^th> or if you are traveling with those picking up the vans on the 24^th, due to Pam Mueller, treasurer.

April 26th, 2007 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. 

May 20, 2007 Sunday, 1:30 PM, Tentative Afternoon Packing Medication Party at SFASU Nursing Department – Bring friends to help.

May 24, 2007 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 25, 2007 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 26, Saturday Group free day. Clinic arrangements made.

May 27, Sunday First work day
May 28, Monday Second work day
May 29, Tuesday Third work day
May 30, Wednesday Fourth work day, spend night in motel in Punta Gorda, eat in Punta Gorda.
May 31, 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.

June 1, Friday Free day, spend night your choice.
June 2, Saturday Free day, spend night your choice
June 3, Sunday Free day, spend night your choice.
June 4, Monday Return flight to Houston.

Send your first payment of $200 by February 15, 2007 to:

Project Belize
Pam Warren Mueller, Treasurer
737 Silver Lake, Monticello, FL 32344
Muellermont@aol.com

(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 25th 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, see above in budget. 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 2007
5922 Princess Lane
Nacogdoches, Texas, 75961
409-560-9437 (home)

email:
mcnellie@mailcity.com

List of things to bring: