Today’s post comes from the gals at Mama Vilma’s Family Home. They are doing a great job and have some good news to report on the project.

Hello!

The Executive Committee wants to thank you for your interest in, and support of, Mama Vilma’s Family Home. The members of our organization have been working very hard to make the vision of the Home a reality for families in San Pedro. We are proud to announce that in our first four months, we have placed $30,000 in a six-month CD with Belize Bank! This would not have been possible without the outpouring of support from the entire community.

Our goal for the next 6 months is to acquire the house/property for the Home. In our enthusiasm to begin offering services to those in need, we thought we could get the house/property much sooner. Unfortunately, this is not the case, but we are going to continue to work hard to make this happen by December 1, 2011. Anything you can do to support this effort is appreciated.

Attached is our recently published Business and Action Plan [see below]. It will tell you about our success and our goals and plans for the immediate future. This document will be updated as we grow and will help us to focus and inform you of what we have done, what we are doing and how you can help.

Please note in the Plan that we are adding a Business Membership with four tiers; Platinum ($1000), Gold ($750), Silver ($500) and Bronze ($250). We encourage you to become a business member and ask your fellow business friends to do the same. All business members will be recognized in our literature including fliers, invitations, newsletters, website and newspaper ads and articles. If you’d like to become a member, please send your name, contact information, business name and check to: Shelley Huber PO Box 6 San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Thank you in advance for your support.
Shelley Arceo Huber, President
Eve Dirnback, Vice President
Cheryl Bowen, Secretary

Mama Vilma’s Family Home

“Connecting Families and Children to the Community”

Business and Action Plan
The purpose of Mama Vilma’s Family Home is to provide disenfranchised families and children with
temporary housing, food, medical care, counseling and education to foster their connection with the San Pedro community and assist with developing a strong family unit.

The Memorandum of Association for Mama Vilma’s Family Home lists twelve (12) ambitious objectives.

From January 2011 through January 2012, the Executive Committee and Membership will focus on four (4) major areas and the objectives within these areas; Fundraising, Membership, Marketing and Services.

4 . To borrow or raise any monies required for the purpose of the Home on such terms and with or
without security as may be determined.

9 . To collect and organize the collection of funds by advertisements, lectures, entertainment,
appeals to the public and any other means

To date, Mama Vilma’s Family Home has planned and successfully executed three major fundraisers and has generated $32,295.32.

February 19, 2011 – Gala Fashion Show
March 26, 2011 – Sean McDermott Concert organized with Corry McDermott, Reef Village and Paradise Theater
April 23, 2011 – Oceana Easter Holiday Party in the Park

Continue to plan and execute a variety of fundraisers throughout the community to generate funds. Our next event will be in June 2011, date to be determined. We are working with Romantic Travel Belize to have a Boxing Exhibition in Central Park.

All fundraising proceeds are secured in Belize Bank and will be used exclusively to meet the objectives
of Mama Vilma’s Family Home. As of May 10, 2011, $30,000 is deposited in a six (month) Certificate of  Deposit. There are currently no employees and no one on the Executive Committee or in the Membership is compensated for any work done to support the objectives of Mama Vilma’s Home.

Membership

12. To admit persons to membership on such terms and conditions and subject to such payment (if
any) as may from time to time be determined by or in accordance with the Articles of Association
of the Home.

Membership in Mama Vilma’s Family Home is $100 bzd/year. The Membership Application is the last page of our marketing brochure.

Between May 2011 and October 2011, Mama Vilma’s Family Home will develop a Corporate Sponsorship for local businesses.

$1000 bzd
$ 750 bzd
$ 500 bzd
$250 bzd

4 . To promote awareness of family and child abuse through education and to motivate the public to
seek services for early detection of abuse and other related family concerns.

5 . To enlist the cooperation of the public press.

In December 2011, we wrote, printed an began distribution of our Marketing Brochure. This
brochure “tells our story” and encourages community and business members to become members of
Mama Vilma’s Family Home.

From January – May 2011, there have been numerous articles and advertisements in the San Pedro Sun and the Executive Committee has formed a positive working relationship with the staff of the newspaper.

By July 31, 2011 Mama Vilma’s Family Home will have an interactive website.

Objective:

1 . To provide comprehensive support including housing, food, medical support, counseling and education to disenfranchised members of the San Pedro community regardless of race, creed, color, nationality, gender or citizenship.

By July 31, 2011 Mama Vilma’s Family Home will have an interactive website.
By July 31, 2011 foster a positive working relationship with the Town’s Social Worker to provide
counseling services.
By December 1, 2011 Mama Vilma’s Home will acquire property and/or a house.
By February 1, 2012 Mama Vilma’s Family Home will be open and providing services to the community.

The Executive Committee has secured a volunteer to help develop the website and will work with that individual.

The Executive Committee will schedule a meeting with the Town Social Worker to introduce our
organization and learn more about the role of the Social Worker. We want this meeting to lead to
further working meetings so that we can coordinate services for the community.
The Executive Committee will continue to work with both the Town Board and the Catholic
Church to secure the San Pablo Church property for Mama Vilma’s Family Home. This property
has not been used for the past 17 years. The Executive Committee will work with local business people and interested tourists to secure property and/or a home.

For more information, contact Shelley Huber, President, at 651-3533 or Eve Dirnback, Vice President, at eves[at]telus.net or Cheryl Bowen, Secretary, at cbowen0322[at]yahoo.com