August 2022

Dear Friends of Liga MAC

Words no one wants to hear: “Summer is nearly over!” As the summer season winds down, students and teachers contemplate the start of a new school, while our Liga MAC staff continue preparing for student support program registration, orientation, school tuition payments, and uniform voucher disbursal. Classes will begin districtwide in person, for the first time in two years, on August 29 for junior high school (secundaria) students, August 22 for high school (preparatoria) students, and August 29 for university (universidad) students.

In recent months we have highlighted some major donations to one-time fundraising drives and some significant community involvement benefitting individual students. Also significant but flying under the radar are many community sponsors who contribute to Liga MAC on an ongoing basis. Our profile this month is of a local business that has been quietly benefitting Liga MAC and other charitable local organizations for many years.

During the 2021/2022 school year, pandemic learning meant that adaptations to our regular programs were required. We will review one of our outsourced adapted programs from the perspective of the facilitators. This fall should see a return to near normal pre-pandemic activities in Los Cabos and we are happy to share information about several upcoming Liga MAC fundraising events. Dr. Deneb Poli will give us a cautiously optimistic glimpse of the Los Cabos health scene in her Doctor’s Corner column.

Community Sponsor:

Back to the Rack

In 2008, ex-pat Canadian Muriel Olsen and her business partner, Angie Lehmann had an idea to fill a gap in the city clothing market, provide local employment, give back to their community and hopefully make a living for themselves. The pair started a consignment store that they named “Back to the Rack”. The store which outgrew its original location many years ago will be celebrating its 15th anniversary in January and boasts 12 employees in addition to Muriel and Angie.

The relationship between Liga MAC and Back to the Rack will also be celebrating its 15th anniversary and is genuinely a win-win. Liga MAC’s Donation Centre/Bookstore in Colonia Chamizal receives all types of donations which are filtered by the volunteer staff. 

Better quality clothing items are sent to Back to the Rack where they will garner a better price than the 5 pesos most items sell for at the Liga MAC centre. In addition, some Back to the Rack consignors designate their proceeds to Liga MAC or one of the other 4 Back to the Rack supported charities. 

The proceed split to normal consignors is 40% but in the case of the 5 charities 60% of the sale price winds up in the charity’s coffers. Further, once consignment items have run their course in the store, several carloads of unsold items a week are sent to Liga MAC’s Donation Centre for sale at much reduced prices.  

Back to the Rack also provides free clothing to those in need who are looking for work or who have lost their belongings in natural disasters. After Hurricane Odile in 2014, Back to the Rack teamed up with Liga MAC to supply high school graduates with grad gowns and has, for over 10 years, sponsored a fundraising fashion show for another local charity, Ayudando a Mama. As an indication of the income generated for Liga MAC by Back to the Rack, just in the past 18 months, the store has generated over $5,500 USD for Liga MAC’s programs.

The success of Back to the Rack is due, as Muriel notes, to the fact that anyone can afford to shop at the store thanks to prices ranging from 160 to 180 pesos. There is also a wide variety of goods which arrive in Los Cabos in the suitcases of visitors from all over the world. The store becomes the repository for holiday wear, some of it designer, that owners decide not to repatriate. 

As a result, Muriel and her staff have seen some pretty unusual and high end apparel including one consignment item that left them “All Shook Up”: a professional Elvis impersonator suit! 

In the words of the King, Back to the Rack: we “Can’t Help Falling in Love” with “The Wonder of You”!

Program Review: Spanish and Mathematics Tutoring

Recognizing that learning loss would be the fallout from school shutdowns and remote learning, Liga MAC decided to proactively engage professional tutors in the subjects of Spanish and Math for our educational support students. The tutoring program began in May 2022 and was conducted in 8 week intervals to accommodate 10 groups of Grade 8 and 9 students. 

Liga MAC worked together with the teaching staff from Centro Pedgógico del Valle led by Directora General, Griselda Pérez del Valle. In her yearend report, Sra. del Valle noted that the evaluation exercise given to each student at the commencement of the program indicated that 90% of the students were unable to correctly answer 50% of the evaluation questions. The remaining 10% of students scored only marginally better. 

Unable to tackle the entire course curriculum, the teachers concentrated on “the greatest amount of learning expected from the grade” with emphasis on the basic skills of reading, writing, and spelling. Math concepts were dealt with on an individual basis with students sharing their math problems and teachers discussing the underlying math concepts. 

The Directora summarized that, “overall the students were provided with tools that will be very useful in the rest of their academic lives as well as in their work and social lives.”

One of the teaching staff quoted in the report, Lic. Gabriela Sotres Orbezo, noted that although students started the program very timidly, lacking basic skills, they left with more confidence and better comprehension in the area of reading.

 Coming Events

For the golfers in the crowd, please make a note that the 13th Annual Knick Nac Golf Tournament at Querencia Private Golf will return on Thursday, November 17, 2022. A crowd pleaser, the event features an 18 hole team scramble format, dinner, silent auction (with rounds of golf at many hard to access courses), and heaps of fun! 

For more information please contact Linda Myers at lindalgklas@aol.com. 

The much awaited Tequila & Tacos event at Habanero’s Gastro Grill will take place on Tuesday, November 29, 2022. 

There will be “all you can eat tacos” plus tequila tasting plus live music and dancing. 

Come for the food, stay for the fun, and help support Liga MAC. 

As we approach the event, we will provide ticket information so stay tuned…

Learning Centre Update

Plans are now complete and have been approved by the Building Committee and the Board of Directors. Since May, a local contractor and architect has been working with Liga MAC staff to fine tune our needs for the Centre and develop detailed drawings. The plan is for construction to move forward this fall with construction completion in 12 months. 

Doctor’s Corner

By Dr. Deneb Poli

August has begun and we are well into a very hot summer. Along with the heat come storms and mosquitos! Los Cabos is an area where Dengue Fever (also known as Breakbone Fever) is endemic. 

Mosquitoes transmit this virus that causes high fevers, bone pain, headache (especially behind the eyes) and on occasion stomach symptoms like nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. Please take precautions not only to be prepared for the storm season with additional water, canned foods, batteries, candles and lamps but also with mosquito repellent.

COVID 19 incidence rate has slowly been creeping up again over the last 3 weeks, with an increase in cases and with roughly 60% positivity in testing. Thankfully almost all cases have been mild with low grade fevers, sore throat, headache, and in some cases diarrhea. Restaurants continue at 70% capacity and can close at 3 am and masks continue to be mandatory in closed spaces. 

There are currently over 450 active cases in Los Cabos all with reportedly mild symptoms. Vaccination continues to move forward and are readily available at health clinics and also with age specific campaigns on a larger scale at designated locations in both Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. 

We have had the first reports of monkeypox in Los Cabos and thankfully the cases were isolated quickly and effectively. As international travel continues, it was inevitable that at some point we would have the introduction of the virus into our municipality. Thankfully in most cases, the symptoms of monkeypox go away on their own within a few weeks. 

Symptoms include: fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes. This is followed by or accompanied by the development of a rash which can last for two to three weeks. As we see how the virus affects us locally we will be able to determine what health safety measures may need to be put in place moving forward to mitigate the propagation of the virus. 

Closing Remarks

Who doesn’t recall the excitement of returning to class after two months of sun and fun with its incumbent trip to the store for new clothes, shoes and school supplies. The smell of new books, pencils, erasers and paper clogging our senses and helping to build the anticipation. 

Liga MAC’s students will share that same anticipation thanks to the contributions of our community sponsors like Back to the Rack and our many volunteers and donors. But more than shiny new things, our students look forward to the opportunity for learning that many others take for granted. 

With your help Liga MAC is continuing to help change lives through education!

Looking forward to a new school year!

Sincerely,

Maria Lindenberg, President

Liga MAC Board of Directors

Do you want to help our kids?

DONATE HERE 

STAY CONNECTED

Fundraising aside, the work of Liga MAC goes on. Here is a short rundown of the programs currently in session or just concluded:

English as a Second Language – The 10 week program which concluded at the end of March, saw 39 students meet remotely for 90 minutes every Saturday morning. The ESL program which is facilitated by Liga MAC ex-pat volunteers, has been a popular student support program since its inception in 2006. The pandemic strengthened the bond between students and facilitators as each was invited into the other’s home via Zoom. Both students and facilitators find the interactions enriching.

Spanish and Math Tutoring – Another program reinforced by the pandemic, Spanish and Math Tutoring was ramped up in 2021 when Liga MAC’s staff realized that Student Support Program students were falling behind as a result of remote learning. The 108 Grade 10, 11, and 12 students enrolled in the tutoring program meet in small groups once a week for 2 hours of instruction. The program has been so well received that following Easter break, a 4 week “express” course is planned for Grade 9 students to prepare them for entering high school. 

Self-Esteem and Social Skills – This 12 week program conducted by Liga MAC staff is directed at Grade 7 students and is designed to help them negotiate the sometimes difficult transition into junior and high school. Students are introduced to proper “rules of conduct”, learn to handle their emotions, and how to help increase their confidence. Current students report that the class gives them a safe place to express their opinions and share fears without criticism or judgement.

As we have reported in past updates, due to the realities of pandemic learning, Liga MAC’s Board of Directors, made the game-changing decision to repurpose our existing Centro de Apoyo facility into a new Learning Centre.

Renderings for a new building were produced with the help of Querencia’s Architectural Design team and a Capital Campaign Committee was created to pursue funding. At a garden reception on March 16, Liga MAC’s Executive Director and several Board members approached a select group of donors and interested parties gathered at the invitation of Bonnie and Tom McCloskey, owners of Querencia Private Golf and Beach Club.

The evening came to a surprising and exciting climax when Liga MAC donors, Rick and Nicki Larson, moved by the aim of the project, pledged to fully fund it! Other donors stepped forward with pledges to cover Liga MAC’s operational costs. We are ecstatic that the Capital Campaign was launched and closed on the same evening!

What an incredible past two years we have had! No one ever expected that the world would be overtaken by a virus. Thankfully we can now start to feel a little more “normal” in the face of all that has happened.

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COVID-19’s dominance has taken a downturn and worldwide restrictions are slowly lifting. The situation in BCS and Los Cabos is no exception as the state government has raised the health level to “green”and we are slowly able to work our way back to normal. Masks are still mandatory and there is no news on when this mandate will be removed. The vaccination process continues and AstraZeneca will now be available at local public health clinics for first, second and booster dosing. Vaccine coverage is estimated at 86%.

The COVID 4th wave was a monster, with over 12,000 cases reported officially in Los Cabos but thanks to elevated vaccination rates, cases were mostly mild with a rare few needing hospitalization. Schools reopened on March 22nd, 2022 and children, with sanitary measures in place, are back in-person for their classes.

As we move into the warmer season we usually see an increase in cases of diarrhea. Be sure to wash and disinfect your vegetables, fruits and hands frequently. When purchasing drinking water make sure it is from a well known company or grocery store. If you are eating out make sure it is at a well established restaurant with proper food handling to avoid illness. Also, this is the season when we say “no” to seafood unless it is very fresh as transport with warm temperatures can be the perfect place for bad bacteria to grow. If symptoms exhibit, please approach your local medical care provider.

“Gala” aptly describes our Liga MAC 25th Anniversary celebration that was held on March 30 at Querencia’s spectacular outdoor venue overlooking San Jose bay. Gala-goers were welcomed on the pool terrace with canapés, cocktails and a Codigo 1530 Tequila tasting bar before moving to the lower level for the evening’s proceedings. The entire event was underwritten by Querencia and owners Bonnie and Tom McCloskey allowing 100% of ticket proceeds to be donated to Liga MAC.

Reflecting on Liga MAC’s 25 year history of serving the community of San Jose del Cabo, the Gala welcoming address touched on Liga MAC’s grassroots beginnings, growth and evolution to meet community needs, before sharing exciting plans for our future (see “Other Happenings” below).

The sold out crowd of over 200 guests was treated to a delicious chef-curated 4 course dinner prepared and served by Querencia’s wonderful staff while enjoying the stunning decor and beautiful table settings provided by Del Cabo Event Design. A champagne toast to Liga MAC’s future, fireworks and dancing to the music of Picasso Blvd, rounded out the evening.

But perhaps the highlight of the evening was the testimonial given by one of Liga MAC’s first high school graduates and present day Liga MAC Board of Directors member, Fernando Meza. While his mother, Carmen, and wife, Claudia, looked on proudly, Fernando shared his story:

Fernando, his mother (Carmen) and 2 younger brothers fled their remote home near La Paz and the boys’ abusive, alcoholic father. Arriving in San Jose without resources they found shelter with an older brother’s in-laws. Their story might have ended quite differently but for a referral to Liga MAC. 

Liga MAC volunteers visited the family with food and assessed the situation. To sustain her small family, Carmen prepared and sold meals to her neighbours. Fernando, the oldest of the 3 boys, was about to start Grade 7 but without money for uniforms it would be impossible for him to attend school. Fernando was qualified to enter Liga MAC’s fledgling student support program which provided uniforms, tuition, and backpacks as well as basic needs support for the family. 

Six years later in 2011, Fernando was in the first cohort of Liga MAC students to graduate from high school. A bright and hardworking student, Fernando wanted and indeed knew that he needed to go on with his education. Again Liga MAC stepped forward to provide a small cohort of exceptional students, including Fernando, with support for university. Fernando went on to study law, be accepted to the bar, and just recently receive his Masters in Criminal Law. Now married to a lawyer, Fernando and his wife Claudia have their own law firm in San Jose del Cabo.

Our amazing event was an incredible tribute to Liga MAC’s 25 year history and credit for its success goes to Co-chairs Leeann Leboeuf and Susan Cornelius and their hard working committee. With 25 years behind us, we look forward to the next 25 years of service to the community!

As we move forward into 2022 we have seen a major decrease in COVID-19 cases allowing Los Cabos to move into the green light on the local alert system.

OMICRON led to a spike in COVID cases beyond any other wave of cases before, tripling the third wave in mid 2021.

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Fortunately this did not translate into a significant increase in hospitalizations or fatalities as most cases were mild with cold and flu like symptoms.

Tourism is at its highest since the onset of COVID and we still require mask wearing, temperature checks and safe distancing in public spaces although bars, restaurants and other businesses that are non-essential are now allowed to operate at 80% capacity with essential services now able to operate at 100%. Currently there are 176 active cases that have been detected in Los Cabos by government health authorities.

Second dose vaccination has begun for those over 18 years of age. Online sign up is available for a third booster vaccination although the date for this has not yet been established. If you require either of these please check Delegacion de Bienestar BCS on Facebook for updates, links and requirements.

Free testing continues to be available Monday to Friday at the Centro de Salud in front of Coppel on Manuel Doblado street. There are also free testing points in Cabo San Lucas. Testing is also readily available at most local laboratories and hospitals. Let’s all continue to stay safe and healthy.

Our Liga MAC volunteers have been busy organizing and facilitating Zoom “English As a Second Language” classes. Their smaller cohort than in pre-pandemic years of 39 students has been divided into 5 groups that meet remotely for 90 minutes every Saturday morning. The focus is conversational and confidence building.

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Another program that Liga MAC has ramped up as a direct result of the COVID pandemic, is the Spanish & Math Tutoring program. Two years with no direct teacher contact has resulted in most students falling behind in both subjects.

Liga MAC took a proactive approach by privately hiring teaching professionals to work with 108 high school students. The students meet with their tutors in small groups of 6 to 8 students once a week for 2 hours (1 hour of Spanish and 1 hour of Mathematics).

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Teachers are reporting that students are better able to understand math concepts when they can discuss them in person. Students are also improving their Spanish verbal and writing skills as a result of in-person Spanish classes. And not surprisingly, students are showing an improvement in their emotional well being after 7 weeks of in-person classes.

There are a few tickets left for Liga MAC’s 25th Anniversary Gala on March 30, 2022 at Querencia Private Golf and Beach Club but they are going fast! If you are interested in attending this sure to be spectacular event featuring cocktails, a chef curated plated dinner, live entertainment, and dancing under the stars please contact Elva at elva@ligamac.org or visit ligamac.org.

Our Taco & Tequila event at Habanero’s benefitting Liga MAC will now be held in November so watch this space for more information.

Since 2010, Bonnie and Tom McCloskey have been residents of San Jose del Cabo’s premier residential community, Querencia. In 2017, they deepened their commitment to Los Cabos when they purchased the development in which they lived. Entering into the real estate development world in Mexico may have been a new undertaking for the McCloskeys but through their various companies they have built commercial properties and residential communities in Hawaii, Colorado, Florida, and California. In addition to being the place they call home, Querencia, boasts an award-winning championship golf course designed by personal friend of the McCloskey’s, Tom Fazio.

The McCloskey’s success in holdings as diverse as broadcasting, tech companies and wireless communications, organic food products, clean energy, and ocean aquaculture has allowed them to invest in areas in the non-profit sector that capture their interest. And their interests are just as diverse as their corporate endeavors.

Bonnie currently sits on the Board of the Better Angels Society, a non-profit dedicated to educating Americans about their history through the documentary film making of Ken Burns. She is also a Trustee of the Aspen Institute and served as a Trustee of her alma mater, Sweet Briar College. In addition, she is past Chairman of the Aspen Center for Integrative Health and Co-President of the Roaring Fork Friends of the Women’s Foundation of Colorado.

Tom served on the Board of Trustees of the Thacher School in Ojai, California for 12 years as well as the Advisory Council of the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business. He also served on the Board of the Central American Leadership Initiative. Together, Tom and Bonnie endowed the New Venture Competition at Notre Dame, Tom’s alma mater, which awards cash and prizes to a winning proposal for a new product, service or technology.

For Tom and Bonnie, investing in a premier golf community in Mexico also means investing in the local community. As well as maintaining a home in Querencia, they have identified 4 Mexican charities in which they have taken a philanthropic interest, one of which is Liga MAC. Educational non-profits rank highly on the McCloskeys list of charities, so perhaps it came as no surprise that they decided to support Liga MAC and have encouraged others to do so.

As has been noted previously, 2022 marks Liga MAC’s 25th anniversary and, through Querencia, the McCloskeys have committed to fully subsidizing the Liga MAC 25th Anniversary Gala to be held March 30, 2022 at Querencia. Their generous underwriting of the event has allowed the entire purchase price of the tickets to be donated to Liga MAC.

In addition, plans for Liga MAC’s new Learning Centre to be built on the grounds of the current Centro de Apoyo in Zacatal have also been provided by Querencia’s architectural department. Tom and Bonnie’s commitment to Liga MAC is seen by them as an investment in the future of Los Cabos. Today’s Liga MAC students may be tomorrow’s Querencia employees…………or owners!