Preparation for this year's trip began in January with the setting of the date and the collection of names.  The seventeen who went this year were:

Project Belize 2002

BARBARA CORDELL JOE BARTNIK BOBBY JOE YARBOROUGH STEPHEN WAYNE WHIDDON RACHEA FORT ALLISON LASTER DELORES ANN SEAMANS ROBERT CHARLES SEAMANS

QUINN ROBINSON TAMMY ROBINSONERIC LAWRENCE KAREN COLLINGS CHARLES ERIC JOHNSON' JANIS L. JOHNSON CRAIG HUMPHRIES CYD HUMPHRIES  BRUCE MCNELLIE

Front Row: Barbara Cordell, Quinn Robinson, Tammy Robinson, Joe Bartnik, Steve Whiddon, Allison Laster
Back Row: Bruce McNellie, Jan Johnson, Rachea Fort, Cyd Humphries, 'Big' Charlie Johnson, Bobby Yarborough, Delores Seamons, Bob Seamons

Pretrip and Packing

The medication was provided through donations of samples, funds from several groups and individuals in the community, tooth brushes, and dental floss from the Agenlina County 4-H Club, and scrubs from Dr. Robert Lehmann.

The main group left on May 24th to arrive in two legs from Houston to Belize City and then by small plane into Punta Gorda, where they were met by the pretrip group. The group stayed at Blue Creek Lodge, about a mile upriver from the village of Blue Creek, Toledo District.  Clinic days were scheduled for May 26, 27, 28, and 29th.  Following the last clinic day, the group gathered at the home of Mary and Junior Tulcey and then on to Punta Gorda for the night. On the 30th Bruce, Karen, Eric, and Bobby drove the vans back to Belize City and the rest flew to San Pedro, Ambergris Caye for some rest until the return flight to Houston on June 2nd for Charlie, Jan, Cyd, Craig, Bob and Delores and on June 3rd for the rest.

Clinics were held on Sunday (Santa Rosa and San Vincente); Monday (Jalacte and Pueblo Viejo); Tuesday (Dolores and Otoxha); and Wednesday (Golden Stream and Indian Creek).  About 960 patients received treatment.

To one member's diary of this year's trip.

Funding

    Project Belize is self funded by each years participants, but has received donations this year from several individuals and groups.  The Lions Club and Altrusa Clubs of Nacogdoches have assisted in the collection of glasses and funds.  Several other private individuals have donated funds for medications and local physicians have contributed sample and extra medications for the trip.  Funds were received from Dr. and Mrs. Robert Carroll, Dr. and Mrs. John Decker, Dr. David and Mrs. Sanderson, Mrs. Kent Castle, and the Altrusa Club. For the past several years, Dr. Robert Lehmann, a local Opthamologist, and his staff have processed and coded glasses that have been donated and collected by the local Lion's Club for each year's trip.

How to Become a Part of This Effort:
  Participation in each year's trip is dependent on past years participation, one's physical condition, and what someone can offer the trip.  Medical orientation is helpful, but it is not necessary.  There are a good number of tasks such as crowd control, taking histories using interpreters, dispensing medications, carrying and treating water, cooking and camp set up that are equally important. Heat tolerance and the ability to walk hills in high humidity is a requirement as well as being able to camp out for the five to six nights of the work portion of the trip.als and groups. The group usually uses cots and mosquito nets and spends nights in the village school houses. The total cost of the main part of the trip is about $800 including airfare from Houston.  Participants must pay their own way or raise the funds for their costs for the trip.

Educational Opportunities
  It may be possible to earn college or university credit for participation in an annual trip.  In year's past nursing students have gained course credit for preparatory work and back ground research on the Mayan people and the primary medical needs of Belize.  Several of the current members of the group teach at local universities and may be contacted to see if a special tutorial course can be arranged for elective credit.  Contact the trip coordinator for more information.

Staff Qualifications: http://www.projectbelize.org/belize2.html

Dr. Quinn Robinson, Medical Director             Bruce McNellie, Trip Coordinator

    Project Belize is a non-profit, tax exempt 501-C-03 corporation.  All donations are tax exempt and go solely toward the purchase of medications for each year's trip. There are no administrative expenses as all such costs are borne by the participants.  Donations may be sent to:

Project Belize,
% Bruce McNellie
5922 Princess Lane,
Nacogdoches, TX 75961.

Dr. Quinn Robinson is the medical director, Pam Mueller, the treasurer, and Bruce McNellie is the trip coordinator.  For additional information about the group and its work, write or email Bruce McNellie at:  rmcnellie@sfasu.edu

For more information on this past year's trip, Belize 2001

For more information Belize 2000

For information on travel in Guatemala and visiting Tikal National Park

For information on a great hotel near Tikal, Guatemala

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