Friends of OFCB Ministries May 5, 2009 Charlotte Meeting

Haiti Meeting Notes
May 5, 2009
Myers Park United Methodist Church, Charlotte, NC

The meet began at 6:06 pm with 13 people present.

Bruce Bailey and David Cribbs opened the meeting with prayer in Creole.

An update from Amilor Fils-Aime was shared with the group. The update gave encouragement to the committee for their ongoing work.

Jim Smith and Bruce Bailey shared about a possible trip involving the American Agronomist Society. We are waiting for final confirmation from 3 and as many as 5 Agronomists. The trip would be August 10-15. Jim Smith (Huntersville Baptist) and Alan Bash (Florence, SC) would be the representatives from OFCB. The purpose would be to do an assessment of agriculture practices to see if they can help the community increase their yield and get a general plan drawn up of possibilities.

• If anyone has suggestions of other activities that might compliment this work, they should contact Jim or Bruce.
   

• The Agronomy Society would like to draw some publicity for this

-  Eddy Ledger gave an update on his progress as Project Manager Coordinator.

• Eddy will meet with a former administrator of a hospital in Haiti next week. Eddy has also identified a doctor who operates a hospital in Haiti who he is trying to track down.
   

• Lumire Ministries has been identified as a potential partner. They have operated a hospital in  Haiti for the last 30 years.

- Bruce presented materials from Partners in Health material.

• Bruce noted that PIH built the hospital in Cange but other hospitals or clinics have been the result of a partnership with the Ministry of Health.
   

• We reviewed the 5 main principles of PIH and in question is how it relates to Bayonnais. The closest facility that they have a partnership with is St. Marks. PIH said that we can stop and visit there if we would like to. The closest hospital to Bayonnais is in Gonaieves and it is a mess.
   

• Pat Christopherson introduced an organization called “Technical Exchange for Christian Healthcare.” Membership in the group costs $1,000 and there are people all over the world who come to it. One of their members is building a clinic hospital in Gonaieves.

- Timeline

• Data gathered before the October Medical Trip.
   

• May 5-June Eddy will gather information Stateside.
   

• Eddy will go to Haiti in June to collection information and do legwork around.
   

• We’ll have a meeting sometime during the Haitians visit July 24-Aug. 10.
   

• By August 1 we will have a recommended operating budget and structure of how the clinic might operate, philosophy of operation. We could invite the Engineers to attend this meeting.

- Compensation for Project Manager Coordinator

• Bruce Bailey suggested that we should cover expenses for traveling.
   

• Allen Smith said we should pay Eddy’s expenses for going to find out what we need to know. If we need an engineer involved on a part time basis, we should make that decision.
   

• Allen Smith volunteered to lead the process of figuring out whether or churches can give money to this cause. He will contact their churches.

- Bus of Food to Haiti

• Jim Smith will contact Actionnel to get more information on this.
   

• Shalonda Goodwin will see if a bus is needed as well.

- Bruce Bailey asked if there would be anyone who could engage in grant writing for the Medical Clinic.

• Kevin will email Katie Crowe to see if there is anyone in their church who might could assist with this.

©2009 OFCB Ministries