Witness Talk for the Dominican Republic 200 Club Committee by Dianne Orcutt

January 12/13, 2008

Good Morning/evening.  My name is Dianne Orcutt.  I am speaking to you today as a member of the Dominican Republic Development Committee -- the 200 Club Committee -- and as a past traveler to Monte Plata. This weekend we are launching the 2008 200 Club to raise funds that will be used to improve the living conditions of the people of our sister parish in Monte Plata.

Besides providing critically needed funds for our friends in the DR -participation in the Club is an opportunity for fun and community building because all ticket buyers are eligible to come to a celebratory concluding dinner in April.

In the past three years our 200 Clubs have raised close to $40,000. This money has been used to provide latrines, concrete floors, houses and money for the Portal de Belen day care center. My husband Jim and I feel extremely fortunate to have seen first hand what this money has meant to our friends in the Dominican Republic. During our visit last January the sisters made sure that we saw the completed projects and heard first hand from the recipients how their lives had improved.

We spent time in the day care and helped feed the children. In many cases this one balanced meal would be the only food that these growing children would have all day.

There are many stories to tell.

This year the needs escalated when the Dominican Republic was hit by tropical storm Noel.  It was the worst natural disaster since Hurricane Georges hit the island in 1990. The destruction to roads, bridges and homes was widespread. Heavy rain created floods and mudslides. Many families of the children attending the Portal de Belen day care live in houses with dirt floors and no latrines. A week of rain rendered these houses unlivable. Even before this disaster there were many families on a waiting list for basic commodities.

Please buy a ticket to the 200 Club and join me in celebrating the 10th anniversary in 2008 of our relationship with our sister parish St. Anthony's. The need has never been greater.

The tickets sellers are available this weekend at the main entrance. The tickets are $100.00 each.

If friends wish to cooperate and buy a ticket together we welcome the creativity. Ticket buyers have 45 opportunities to win some of $3,000.00 available in prize money.  Please read the bulletin insert today as well as the copy of "Mi Casa Tu Casa” which gives more information about updates regarding our sister parish.

As Jim and I left the Dominican Republic we were warmly embraced. "Don't forget us" our brothers and sisters asked. We assured them that we would not!

Thank you!