May 26th, 2010 by admin
May 2010
A Letter From Our Newest Addition!
Greetings! I am Alison Hohl, and have just joined the exciting team of FOLGES as the Assistant to the Executive Director. I am the first paid employee of FOLGES; it is growing up!! Tom and Maggie Washa have generously decided to personally donate up to $2,000 monthly to FOLGES for the next 2 years to pay for this position, so that Maggie can retire from the day-to-day workload as Executive Director of Friends of La Gloria English School. The goal is to increase donations by that much in 2 years so she can retire completely and FOLGES will be financially independent. (The FOLGES budget pays the living stipends for the teachers, their housing costs and several other teacher-related expenses.)
I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication and Journalism in May 2009 and since then have been dabbling in the creative side of marketing. I am excited about this new opportunity as I have visited the school and know how wonderful and important it is. I’ve seen firsthand just how much the students and people of Isla Mujeres are benefiting from the School and it’s volunteers. I look forward to the new challenges coming my way. Feel free to contact me at any time!
Here are some of the things you can look forward to in the next few months!
1) We are putting together a limited edition 2011 Isla Mujeres Calendar and we are publishing an Isla Mujeres-based cookbook called IXCHEL’S KITCHEN, with all proceeds going to support the School. Mike Braley and Jana Epperson are the editors, and you will hear more about them later, as they become available.
2) Our Salsa Fiesta date has been set for September 9th – a Thursday evening this year. It will be at KEVA Sports Center on Middleton’s west side. We also plan to have an on-line auction so you don’t have to attend to take part in the auctions! – more will follow soon.
3) We have begun brainstorming a new and exciting competition idea for all La Gloria English School supporters to join in the fun. We are still working out the details, but here is the general idea: We will send you a “Fiesta in a box” with great ideas and materials to throw a small Salsa Fiesta fundraiser in your own state or city. Since competitions make everything more fun, it has been suggested that we have ‘State-by-State’ competitions. The idea is to see which State can raise the most in donations for the School. From what Maggie says, there are some serious ‘Islaholics’ in Texas, Colorado, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, the Carolinas and Ohio. We would also consider a Canadian team or any other State that wishes to participate! Think you’re up to the challenge? Email FOLGES@gmail.com to express your interest! We hope to develop a “Wall of Fame” at the School, with the winners each year. How many years in a row can you get your State (and your name) on the wall??
For you FACEBOOK users, check us out at FRIENDS OF LA GLORIA ENGLISH SCHOOL (http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=100169756299&ref=ts) I am posting lots of pictures there as well!
Thank you to all who have volunteered and donated since the New Year began. We can’t do it without you and hope you enjoy hearing about Isla from our newsletter!
Warmly,
Alison Hohl