The Rotary Club of Poona (RI Dist.3130) has been in contact with the RC of Mission Viejo (Dist 5320 USA)  Due to the initiative taken by PP Col Krishna Mathur and PP George L. Cooper, a concerted attempt was made   resulting in the RFE programme being a key thrust area to bring about concrete interaction between two Rotary CluBs. Both District 3130 and 5320 have given recognition to the Rotary Friendship
Exchange as a vital activity. 
In this context, the RC of Poona had a welcome, though brief visit by Rtn Dr. Pushpa Chandwani of the RC of Mission Viejo. This was followed by a planned Rotary Friendship Exchange visit by Rtn. PPresident Dr. Richard Frieder and his wife Susan. 
During their visit to India, the Chairman District RFE Committee planned a trip for Richard and Susan whereby they would the maximum overview of India and Rotary in India. Visits were arranged to Goa, Bangalore, Mysore, Ootacamund. Udamalpet, Kodaifanal, Madurai, Mumbaiand Pune. Travel was by air, road and train to enable them to have the real feel of India, its beautiful countryside and impact of the realities of India. They were exposed to the people of India, as also its intelligentia. Visits were organized to some of the prestigious institutions of India outside the beat of normal tourists. 

Richard and Susan interacted with three Rotary Clus at Ootacamund; Rotary Club of Udamalpet; and the Rotary Club of Kodaikanal during the D.G.'s official visit; before their detailed interaction with the Rotary Club of Poona Rtn Frieder was guest speaker at three Rotary Clubs. Richard took hundreds of photographs and slides. 

During their stay with the RC of Poona, they were guests of Pravena and Krishna Mathur whom they had met in Mission Viejo on their Friendship Exchange visit. 
 The crux of this Rotary Friendship Exhange visit was to promote Rotary Projects mutually between both clubs to cement this relationship. 

PP COL KRISHNA S MATHUR
CO-CHAIRMAN DISTRICT RFE

Historian Note: In the year 2000, PP COL KRISHNA S MATHUR became an Honorary Member of the Rotary
CLub of Mission Viejo for his service to Rotary and to our club.

Here is an example of one of the projects:

 The Rotary Club of Poona dedicated a much needed toilet facility
for girls of the Satv High School at Wagoli, India . This came about as a result of
matching monies of only $500.00 each from the Rotary Club of Mission Viejo and the
Rotary Club of Poona India. The project was initiated by both clubs when Dr.
Richard Frieder (President of Mission Viejo Rotary) and his wife Susan visited the
Poona Club (District 3130) as part of the R.I. District5320 and District3130 Rotary
Friendship Exchange Program. More projects are being planned by both clubs and exemplifies the importance of our Friendship Exchange Program.

Presentation of the Rotary Club 
of Mission Viejo’s Banner to 
President Carlos Ariza of the Rotary 
Club of Libano by Past President George 
Cooper thereby signify a Rotary 
Friendship Exchange between the two 
clubs and between District 4290 and 5320. 

During the stay, they visited the Barrio Santa Rosa and the thoughts of the children 
and their hunger and poor living conditions prompted themto ask for permission from 
these good Rotarians to work with them and seek help from our club and district 
for this project. With great emotions,these Rotarians accepted our offer and we are 
now working on a project (and potential of matching grant) within not only our club 
but our district. NOTE: As of March 2000, we have raised over US $ 5,000

Here is the initial letter written May 1998 establishing the Barrio Sanat Rosa Project:
For more an update on the project go to our Club Bulletins.

Dear Friends and Rotary Fellows: 
We extend to you and Margaret special greetings from all of our club's members. 
We fondly remember your visit to this city. Please convey our greetings to your fel- 
low Rotarians at your Mission Viejo Club. 

We are very grateful for the interest you have expressed in our programs and the 
great form in which you represented our city and Club to your Club. None of our 
members could have done a better job. 

We thank you for the contribution of $2,750 towards our housing program. 

In a meeting with our District 4290 Governor, I presented your various communica- 
tions, and he offered a contribution of $1,000 and his collaboration to present the 
project to The Rotary Foundation, seeking matching funds contribution. 

Please accept my apologies for a delayed response, but I wanted to first seek ap- 
proval from the city for the project. 

Initially, the idea was to improve existing dwellings; however, upon consultation with 
an Engineer he confirmed that a City Council existing ordnance, which forbids im- 
provements within 15 meters from the creek, on other either side, as well as concern 
regarding land slides in the area surrounding the exisiting dwellings. 

The City Council has given me a copy of the agreement- wbich I have given to the 
attorney, Jame Lopez, who will issue an opinion regardirig our project. Once the le- 
gal opinion is available, we will confirm either that improvements can not be per- 
formed to the existing dwellings, or if it is possible. 

Once the concept was very clear, we visited wiith the Mayor yesterday and 
requested the donation of land owned by the crty, in order to begin the construction 
of 25 houses to relocate families from the high risk zone, The Mayor indicated that 
the City does not own land which it can donate for the project. 
As an alternative, we requested the city to purchase a lot on the corner, in front of 
the stairs leading to the Santa Rosa neighborhood, perhaps you remember where we 
left the car before we descended. The lot has some coffee plants and measures 
30.50 meters by 17 meters and has an L shape. There is another lot which belongs 

to the yard of some homes, and which measures 28 meters by 12 meters, which would 
give an area of 854.5 square meters and are owned by the same owner, who has not 
quoted a price, but which I believe would be between 20 and 25 million pesos. 
Due to the city's difficult financial situation- the Mayor could not make a commitment 
regarding the Purchase of the lot by the city. Nevertheless he asked us to investigate 
the price and indicated that he would try to advance our cause. He did however, com- 
mit the city to provide design plans and some materials such as sand, stone and use 
of city vehicles. 

Because of the answer from the Mayor, we feel it necessary to seek a way to acquire 
the funds to purchase the land. 

The measurements which I provided above, I rectified this afternoon, and we believe 
that we can build 13 dwellings of 6 X 8 meters and some of 6 X 9 meters, as well as 
13 additional dwellings on the second floor in a gated community with a walk 3 meters 
wide for pedestrian access. 

Since we have 25 families, a site will be dedicated to a play yard for the small children 
to gather for child care while the mothers work harvesting coffee and tending to the 
household chores. While in child care, the children will receive educational instruction 
so that they may aspire to better work. 
The child care area will be also utilized in the evenings. for adult education. Particu- 
larly reading and writing to those who are illiterate. 

Carlos Ariza Villalobos, 
President 
Rotary Club of Libano, Tolima, Colombia SA