Hello brigaders!

Thank you to everyone who took the time to come to our mandatory meetings, and to everyone who took a box(es) home.  This was a huge help given our storage problem - hopefully we will sell most of what is left at our next Flea Market Sale so we don't have to take anything home with us!

If you came to one of the Mandatory Meetings, you should be all caught up with what to do before the brigade.  If you need a reminder, please read through our MEETING AGENDA -- this info can also be found in the STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE FOR BRIGADERS.

If you haven't already, please sign-up for one or more of the CLUB GROUPS. Please also refer to the this sheet in case you need to remember which group you have signed up for.   I will have a link to an info sheet describing each group a little bit later. If you would like to sign up for something and are not yet on the list, please email us your info and which group(s) you would like to be a part of.  Everyone should be using this free time to contact the other members of your group to plan the next steps!

• For example, if you have signed up for the fundraising group, get in touch with one another and start brainstorming fundraising ideas (and contacting the event planners, if applicable)
• If you have signed up for the Children's Charla group, start gathering materials needed and brainstorming lesson plans
• We will be emailing each group with info on where to start, as well as some ideas to work off of

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• Get started on your vaccinations now (as listed in our Meeting Agenda/Step-by-Step for Brigaders).  Some vaccinations require more than one shot, to be given months apart.  We have about 5 months before the brigade, so be sure to contact your doctor ASAP.  When making your appointment, let them know you need a "travel medicine" appointment.
• As Foothill students, you have access to the HEALTH SERVICES CENTER on campus.  They provide immunizations and physicals at a very low cost to students.
• Remember that our DEPOSIT DEADLINE is April 30, 2014.  You must have at least $250 in your Empowered.org account by April 30th.

One brigader asked if they can have their money ready in a personal account rather than in the Empowered account -- the short answer is 'No'.  Please be aware that by depositing your fundraising money into Empowered.org, it is made available to our Global Brigades team for purchasing airfare and organizing all of our other expenses (room + board, security, transportation, etc)  With no money in your Empowered account, Global Brigades cannot accommodate you on our upcoming brigade.  Thanks!

Quick overview of the brigade
Before we go on the brigade, you may feel like you do not completely understand how the brigade itself will unfold once we get to Honduras.  I felt this same way last year, so let me give you a quick run-down of what we will do once we get to Honduras and begin prepping for the clinic.

• DAY 1: Land in Honduras and go through Customs.  We will have ALL of our medication packed into large suitcases, which we check at the airport (and pay the necessary fees).  After we get through Customs, we will meet our security and brigade staff, who will lead us to the trucks that will carry our luggage and the bus that will transport us brigaders.  We will help the staff load and unload the trucks.
• We will settle in to our posada (like a private motel with dorm-style rooms) after unloading the trucks.  That night we will begin sorting medication into Ziploc baggies, which will be stored in the pharmacy during the brigade.  We will also have sign-ups for which area of the brigade you would like to work in.  Each person will work in a different area each day, with no repeats. (You will choose from triage, physician consultation, dental clinic, OB/GYN [female students only], children's charla, and pharmacy)
• DAY 2: Every year is a little bit different, but we may visit an orphanage on this day as we did last year.  The orphanage we visited was founded by the same people who started Global Brigades, and we'll get a short and sweet history lesson of how GB started and expanded. When we return to the posada, we will continue sorting medication.
• DAY 3: First day of the brigade.  We wake up early and load the trucks with the medication.  We drive to the site of the clinic (which could be 3 hours away from where we are staying - remember, we will be serving a rural population!).  We will set up the pharmacy, dental clinic, OB/GYN office, children's charla space, and triage.  The clinic will be open from about 8am-3pm (we will try to return to the posada before the rain, as we will be in Honduras during the rainy season and the roads in these rural areas are not paved).  Expect a LONG line of people waiting right when we get there!  There will also be a couple interpreters there to help anyone with communication.  When we leave, we will pack up all of our supplies, load the trucks, and then help unload the trucks when we return to our posada.  That evening we will have a debriefing, led by our GB guide and interpreters.  We will also do data entry of patient information into GB's medical records, both during the clinic and afterward if need be.
• DAY 4, DAY 5: Repeat of Day 3. At the end of Day 5, the GB staff will have something fun planned for the night.
• DAY 6: Volunteer with another brigade for half a day.  Last year we worked with Water Brigades to help finish digging trenches for one village's first-ever fresh water system!  That evening there will be another fun event just for us.
• DAY 7: Departure day.  Enjoy breakfast, help clean up any remaining supplies, and have a safe trip home!