On June 21, 2021 at the Satellite  Meeting, Catherine Nicolaou of Sacred Wind Communications was the guest speaker.  Sacred Wind is a provider of rural telephone and high speed internet servicest o the Navajo Nation and other communities in Northwest New Mexico.  98% of their customers are Navajo.  They serve 3600 square miles of NW New Mexico out of two offices a Northern Exchange and a Southern Exchange. Those are 120 miles apart so Catherine said their techs have a lot of "windshield time" driving to calls. 

 

They provide fiber and wireless services in an area that would otherwise be underserved. Some of the homes they serve have no electricity but receive internet service by way of solar panels on trailers which Sacred Wind places at their homes.  

 

While 49% of families they serve are at the poverty level, 90% of customers have the highest speed of internet services.  These services are partially funded under the FCC Connect America Fund.  

 

This was an especially relevant program for Del Sol Rotarians because of our recent support of the Navajo Communities during the height of the Covid-19 Pandemic.  

 

John Garcia, District Director for the US Small Business Administration speaking at the Morning Meeting on June 24, 2021.

 

The June 24, 2021 Morning Meeting for All Del Sol Rotarians featured John Garcia, District Director of the SBA for the New Mexico District speaking on the SBA programs during the Covid-19 Pandemic relief efforts.  John said that the SBA serves 30 million small business through 66 District Offices.  He said that there are 157,000 small businesses in New Mexico.

 

He said that a lot of the SBA programs are tailored to Veterans which are near and dear to his heart as he is a Viet Nam Veteran.

 

During Covid under the PPP program the SBA gave out $800 Billion of which $3.2 Billion was to New Mexico small businesses.  

 

On Thursday July 1, 2021 the Morning Meeting for All Del Sol Rotarians will feature the installation of Officers and Board Members for the 2021-2022 Rotary year. Please come  out and cheer on President-Elect Brad Ekhoff and his Board as they embark on their year of  Service as Board Members.  If you can't attend live, please attend via ZOOM.  Club Secretary Davis Riordan will send out a link for the meeting

 

At the same time we want to give our heartfelt thanks to outgoing President Ed Robertson and his board for their outstanding work  during a very difficult year due to the Covid Pandemic making it impossible to meet live for most of the year.