On July 26 at the Satellite Meeting for all Del Sol Rotarians, Del Sol Past President Michael  Barrio was the speaker.   He is the Executive Director of the Santa Fe Housing Action Coalition.  They work on policy efforts with State and Local Governments and the Santa Fe Board of Realtors to try to stimulate affordable Housing in the Santa Fe area.  Michael said that there is a housing crisis in New Mexico-Not enough housing to go around.  In Santa Fe there is a 2% vacancy rate  which means that there is a real shortage of housing.  The median price for a home in Santa Fe is now $620000 which means that 65% of people cannot afford to move there.  Most Santa Fe City employees live out of the City and commute because of the housing shortage. The Coalition is working with State officials to try to get more funding for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

 

Michael Barrio, speaking at the July 26 Satellite Meeting.

 

 On July 29, 2021 at the Morning Meeting for All Del Sol Rotarians, Sam Parks, from the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta was the speaker.  Sam gave us the highlights of this years festival including contingency plans  necessitated by Covid 19.

 

For 2020 the event was postponed until this year rather than be canceled.  Right now they have 600 balloons signed up and may get as high at 700.  The contingency plans call for a range of attendance between 30000 and 80000 depending on how serious Covid 19 becomes this fall.  When ticket sales opened on July 2, the AIBF sold more tickets than ever before.  Among needs for this years Fiesta is another Park and Ride Location and a new title sponsors which costs $400,000.  Sam said that during the Fiesta the AIBF controls the airspace for 4 nautical miles around Balloon FiestaPark.The AIBF has 20 employees who have their work cut out with all the contingency planning for this year's Fiesta.  

 

Del Sol ill again be staying the sales tent at the Fiesta.

 

Sam Parks of AIBF speaking at the July 29, 2021 Morning Meting

 

Last night at Kent and Melanie Cravens home, Del Sol Rotarians celebrated the first "Freeloaders" of the new Rotary Year.  Kent made barbecue ribs and barbecue chicken.  Among guests from out of town were Honorary Members Julie Frendle from Goodyear, Arizona and James and Wendy Morrison from San Diego.

 

Host, Kent Cravens, (Center) with members Herman Haase and Nicosha Schedlbauer at last nights "Free Loaders"

 

Tomorrow at 5:30pm at Nexus Brewery and on ZOOM the Satellite Meeting will feature our own Joe Corazzi speaking on the program to market this years very successful telethon to other NFP organizations.  

 

On Thursday at 7:00AM at Jimmy's Cafe and on ZOOM the Morning Meeting will feature David Campbell, CEO of Mesa Del Sol, the large Planned Community on the south edge of Albuquerque. This is the largest development of its kind in the Albuquerque area and should be of interest to our members.

 

Please keep in mind the next Ramp Building Project slated for August 14 from 8:AM until 2:00pm.