School Blog

Hello again from Isla,

It seems like every February the amount of work here at La Gloria English School steps up a couple of notches and doesn’t settle down until April. This year, so much is going on that I find myself near exhaustion, with little time to stop and relax. Although much has been streamlined at the school, and more volunteers are helping, my own workload somehow gets more demanding, and I don’t have the tireless energy that I used to have.

For the school to survive, it needs to stand on its own, not on our shoulders. We are looking to retire within the next 2 years. We will always have our heart with the school, and our eyes on it, but it’s time for Tom and me to devote more time to our family, health and some travel.

So beginning January of 2011, the school on Isla Mujeres will need a salaried Director. And FOLGES, our US-based non-profit, will need a paid Executive Director staring the year after – in January 2012. This means we will need to increase income by at least $18,000 THIS year for the school and another $15,000 for FOLGES in Wisconsin in 2012. It is time for the school to find a viable way to stay financially afloat, paying people to be at the helm.

Ideally, I would love to find an endowment or some sustaining income for the school that would completely remove the need for constant fund-raising as the way to make ends meet, both at FOLGES and at LGES. We do not have a big budget, so I don’t think it is impossible. We have already performed miracles with the hundreds of small donations received and our very small operating budget.

I’ve gotten many suggestions as to how to increase income, from requesting foundation help to writing to Oprah. I deeply appreciate the advice, but I need actual help! I can honestly only do so much of this myself. Letters are always more powerful coming from a 3rd party. They are a testimonial to the work being done, not me begging for help for my project. I need you to help take up the cause on my behalf. Maybe write that letter to Oprah or Bill Gates…or ask people you know about a grant or endowment that will help.

In the little spare time that I have, I am putting together the 2009 Annual Report for FOLGES and LGES, and will have a great document with all the relevant facts and figures for anyone asking questions about where the money comes from and where it goes, and how the school is making a difference in people’s lives here on Isla Mujeres. I will also post it on the website, but if you have interest in receiving a hard copy to show to a potential donor, please let me know, and you will get one when it is ready. Between now and then, you can see the 2008 books on the ‘Finances’ page of our website.

There are 3 ideas I plan to implement within the next year:

1. Explore the concept of ‘volunteer’ vacations. These would be small groups who come to Isla throughout the year with an eye to ‘giving back’. Their fee would include housing, some meals and a donation to the school – as well as the opportunity to be class visitors during their week here in paradise.

2. Start a for-profit aspect to the school to support the non-profit. Specifically, reduce slightly the number of ENGLISH classes taught, and add SPANISH classes for visitors to Mexico. We would charge for these classes, with the plan that we earn enough to significantly help with school overhead. Since there is no Spanish language school on Isla, I think this will help significantly.

3. This idea requires your help. I would like all friends of La Gloria English School to set up an ACH monthly bank transfer of $10 to $50 to the U.S. non-profit FOLGES account. With just a little help from a lot of Isla lovers, the huge burden of constant fundraising will be lifted and the school will be well on its way to independence. I don’t want to post our bank information on the web, so you will need to ask for the information. We will be glad to provide it upon request. (lagloria@gmail.com). And ask your ‘Islaholic’ friends to set one up too. This can be done immediately!!

So, there you have it. It is time for a transition. The school deserves to stand on its own financially. It is not sustainable as it is now. Hopefully La Gloria English School will get the help it needs to continue its existence. We hope to hear from you soon!

Life is good!
Maggie Washa