Rotarians from District 4185 in southern Mexico and District 5495 in Arizona met at the Grand Canyon November 7-10 for their traditional Friendship Conference and Grants Exchange Workshop.  
 
District Governor David Simmer presented a district flag to his counterpart, DG Jesus Pita.  During the project presentations, Allan Cady presented the Aqua Africa grant opportunity that Mesa West Rotary Club was promoting at the conference.  After the grant presentations, attendees at the conference went from table to table seeking additional information from the presenters and the presenters each used their best negotiating skills.
 
Allan Cady sent the following report:
 
"I thought things went well for the Aqua Africa project at the Friendship Conference last week. Overall, we ended up with seven separate club donations totaling $1,950. In addition to that, we had a District 4185 match for another $2,000. So, our total was $3,950 at the conference.

"Also, I got a commitment from Bret McKeand that his club would make a contribution upon his return to Phoenix. Patrick Walsh from Tempe South RC
requested that we make a presentation at his club sometime in the near future...  I will continue to follow up with both Bret and Patrick to make sure we receive donations from those two clubs. Further, Dale Gray told me he likes the Aqua Africa project a lot and stands ready to assist with club donations and the District 5495 match.
 
"I will receive Jim Bissonette’s final report in the next few days. Mesa West RC did make $2.500 in donations to four separate projects all of which were properly authorized by the district. More to follow on that. Here is the list of separate donations received:
$300 Boca del Rio
$100 Puebla Centro Historica
$100 Cuernavaca
$100 Atlatnucan
$100 Kingman Route 66 RC
$1,000 Mesa RC
$250 Sun City RC
$2,000 District 4185"
 
On the way back from the Grand Canyon the Allan and Polly Cady and Bryan, Donna, and Emilee Geotzenberger stopped in Sedona for lunch with several of their friends from Mexico:  Dr. Paci Ramos. Club President of Puebla Centro Historico, District Governor Jesus Pita and his wife Rosa from District 4185, Taci from Puebla Oriente, Gaby from Puebla Oriente, and Erik Friend from club Cuernavaca Juarez.
 
Next year the Friendship Conference will be held in Tlaxcala, Mexico, October 29-November 2.
 
Thanks to Polly Cady and Donna Goetzenberger for sending photos.