dear friends, our first meeting of 2009 will be held on wednesday, jan. 7, at 7:30 at the high school. the first thursday is new year's day, and the second thursday marks the arrival of three visitors from chacraseca, rosa, julio and juan enrique. they are arriving at laguardia from managua and miami at 6 p.m. jan. 8 and are to leave for san diego via salt lake city from jfk at 9 a.m. saturday, jan. 10. on friday, they want to spend time with sisters joan and liz at maryknoll in ossining. if you would like to assist with housing or transportation, please contact pete white at 757-6150 or pedro831@xxxxxxxxxxxxx to coordinate. the cross-country tour is being arranged by the rev. leslie penrose, an experienced chacraseca hand and founder of the just hope nonprofit in tulsa. we have discussed students and friends donating to her effort to bring clean water to several families in chacrasea. we will try to continue holding meetings on the first thursday of the month. in the meantime, a toast to a productive and helping new year.