With the title, Economic Development Strategies, Carlos Mendez, Mayor of Aguadilla, showed how his program has created projects that bring funds to maintain and provide employment for the citizens of his town. When he was first elected mayor in 1996, Aguadilla had a deficit of $10 million. His five terms of administering his town has spurred the deficit change to an $11 million dollar surplus. The projects include a sports center, apartments, History Museum, Fine Arts Center, Seaside Boardwalk, and a new Civic Center to name a few. Mayor Mendez served in the US Army from age 17-19 and opened his own real estate business. He returned to the Island in 1995 and in 1996 was elected Mayor. He has served as President of the Mayors Association of Puerto Rico and presently is the Head of the Republican Party of Puerto Rico We thank Dr. Rafael Aponte for bringing us this most interesting and visionary elected official.
PAST PRESIDENT GARY CLARK (1999-2000), after 10 years of passive membership since he moved from Puerto Rico to Gainesville, Florida, he has decided to finally resign from the Club after a decade of continued support in absentia. Gary headed the Centers for Disease Control in San Juan for 20 years and has many great memories of his Rotary activities with an exceptional group of dedicated San Juan Rotarians that promoted dengue prevention programs in Puerto Rico, the Caribbean Basin, Central and South America, and beyond. Gary truly believed that Rotarians made a real difference in all of these areas. Gary extends his best regards and warm wishes to all current members of San Juan Rotary.
Our District "Sistema" has a special offer through September 30. New members can sign on without the initial cost of $25. The only requirement is that you are a Rotarian age 75 or younger. See Pat for more information on how the Sistema works and benefits its members.
