Pool-ing together through 2008

Right when the holiday heat comes bashing in, CoCuMu's got plenty to celebrate, starting off with our next meeting, Saturday, January 26 at the PCO right after the NVAC meeting around noon - join in on the pizza order or bring your own lunch. We can play Born in the Brothels in the PCV lounge after the meeting for those who want to check out one of the inspirations for Ahecha PY.

As for ahora, our fundraising frenzy is starting to pay off!

Ahecha PY Partnership grant - After Jim announced the Pike's Peak Colorado RPCV group will donate $2000 by check to Washington, that leaves us with a cool $1400 piko to raise. Here's how we're going to bring the plata on home:

• Jim - will talk with Michael about getting through to Friends of Paraguay
• Jen - will talk with Ceci and Jason about dipping into the Partnership general fund and getting access to the donor list for thanking purposes
• Kelly - will visit Kodak headquarters in Rochester for additional funding possibilities/resources
• All - Have we exhausted our funding resources? If not, please contact at least 1 more potential individual donor or organization so we can launch Ahecha PY in Feb 2008!

Ahecha PY tote bags - Our bag sale was a complete success (as in we sold all 50) - Kudos to Allison, Chris and our design trio of Ashley, Adam and Orlando. We are using all 200 mil of our proceeds to buy more bags to fund the Ahecha project's community contribution and future CoCuMu activities.

Now that the Ahecha project launch is in sight, we're focusing the next month and a half on the following:

Resource manual - This is going to go in each of the 4 camera kits, to serve as a project guide for volunteers and PYan counterparts. The deadline for assigned content contributions is January 15, 2008. Please email Word file to cocumu@gmail.com. The deadline for hardcopy production is February 15.
Here's how we divvied it up:

• Ashley, Adam, Orlando - Layout
• Jim - Ice breakers, Project forms (see Partnership proposal for plans)
• Rachel - Texture, How to use and take care of camera (can include general advice then add specifics when we make purchases)
• Kelly - How to compose a shot (portrait, landscape)
• Claudia - Perspective (both camera zoom and photographer's physical position)
• Allison - Translate Nicaphoto assignments into Castellano, Interactive activities
• Jen - Project guidelines, Glossary, Compilation of possible assignments
• ? - Light and shadow

If anyone feels an importantant topic is missing, let the group know and write it up!

Resources to make the resource:

• Teaching kids photo in Castellano: http://colegota.fotolibre.net/como/apuntes-de-un-curso-de-fotografia-para-ninos/
• Jen will give teaching kids photo book to Marianne for in-library use after Jan 3

And with that, Ahecha PY is poised to make a splash!