West Jax Rotary

Noel Antonio
UNF Engineering Student

In an impoverished Filipino farming town, preschool and kindergarten students learn in the two-room building of St. Anthony School. Neighbors from the tiny village volunteered to build the school by hand, using only $5,000 worth of materials. The 60 kids in three classes learn from used textbooks and computers shipped from Florida. The parents even help clean the school. It hardly sounds perfect. But it’s much better than what 34-year-old Noel San Antonio grew up with in the Philippines.

The public school in his hometown packs 50 to 60 students into each of its elementary school classrooms. That’s why the University of North Florida electrical engineering student founded a nonprofit foundation to support the St. Anthony Development and Learning Center. He keeps it going by scrounging up $100 here and $200 there from churches and friends.

In the future, he’d like to add another building and expand classes to 12th grade. “I really think there’s so much we can do to make sure the needy get the right education,” he said. “It really will lift the community.” Jerry Merckel, UNF professor of electrical engineering, said he believes San Antonio “has done far more than most will do in a lifetime in terms of giving back.” After high school, San Antonio spent nine years traveling the globe as a Catholic missionary, helping the less fortunate. Now, he’s encouraging others. There’s just something about him, Merckel said, that makes people want to help his cause. “Some leaders tend to be more vocal and take the bull by the horns,” he said, “but he’s a quiet leader who really brings people together with his passion. “It’s almost like he’s on a mission.”

Most of the people in town of Cut-cut in the Bulacan province are mango, rice and cabbage farmers who don’t make much money. San Antonio’s mother was a dressmaker who would work long hours. He shined shoes and sold newspapers to earn money. As a missionary, San Antonio traveled to Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia, giving speeches to young people about how to live morally. He talked to them about their problems with their parents or friends and guide them through tough situations. While doing his work around the world, he looked online and found — and earned — a National Science Foundation scholarship to attend Daytona Beach Community College in 2004. He moved to Palm Coast, then transferred to UNF to earn his bachelor’s degree. It was always his dream, though, to found a school to help others.

Through his Palm Coast church, San Antonio met Josefina Garcia, a fellow Filipino who shared his passion for helping back home. He told her about his dream and, in 2005, Garcia donated a small amount of land in Cut-cut and $5,000 of her own money. A few months later, the school opened. He named it after St. Anthony, not just his namesake but also the patron saint of poor people. He had a building, but not much else, so San Antonio contacted anyone he could think of to try to find supplies. Flagler County schools donated used textbooks and refurbished computers to send over. San Antonio’s relatives back home organized the school and picked the neediest students to attend. His mother sewed the children’s uniforms. “All I said is ‘This is what I want to do. Do you want to help?’ ” he said, “and people jumped on board.” At the school, students are taught basic math, science and reading along with a Catholic education.

The school even offers classes for parents to help them find better work. San Antonio raises $300 a month to pay for the school’s two teachers, which is actually a good paycheck for the area. The impact of those few thousand dollars — what some people spend on a TV — has been astonishing. San Antonio said the kids he’s met are excited to be learning, and those who were quiet and shy are now outspoken and enthusiastic. subhead San Antonio has visited the school every summer and winter break since it opened, but his main function is to raise funds for the Joy and Care Giving Foundation, his 501c3 nonprofit. If he raises enough money, San Antonio would like to add another building, which would cost $8,000. Ten years from now, he hopes the school will be teaching students up to 12th grade, which he thinks would cost $60,000 to $80,000 to build and $20,000 a year in operating costs.

He’ll continue to send money to the school after he graduates next year, when he plans to take a job in electrical engineering. Eventually, he’d like to go to the Philippines to teach, which is why he’s taking some education courses at UNF. Through education, he said he thinks one of his students could become the next Martin Luther King, Mother Teresa or Pope John Paul II. One person, he said, can make a difference. “When I grow old, I want to be able to say I made an impact on one child,” he said. “Maybe that one child will make an impact on the world.”

Reprinted from jacksonville.com

Notes
John Runion called meeting to order by asking Peter Michaelis to lead the Prayer and Frank Scheu to lead the Pledge of Allegiance.

Ron Roberts spoke of RYLA’s meeting/training to be held June 10, 2010.

Andy Harrington discussed Youth Exchange and asked all interested parties to complete the exchange application as soon as possible. Applications and Rotary Family Volunteers are need ASAP.

John Bickerstaff reminded everyone that the Blood Mobile will be at Rotary on March 20, 2010. The need for blood is great so please give. The Blood Alliance has a daily need of 140 units.

John Runion reminded everyone of the District Assembly to be held March 27, 2010 at the St John Community College in Orange Park. John also reminded all that on March 24, 3010 the meeting will be at the Timuquana Country Club. Meeting, Lunch, Golf and Tennis.

Charlie Wilson reminded all of the St Johns River Celebration (cleanup) both side of the Ortega River on Saturday, March 20, 2010

Diane Ballard’s family received Paul Harris pins for Jody and her son.

Wally Barrs recognized Richard Futch as Police Officer of the Month.

Wyman Dugan, Chairman, Charter Revision Committee was introduced to explain the committee function and as a rebuttal to former Mayor Jake Godbold. Mr. Dugan explain the committee’s job was complete and that its recommendations have been presented to the City Council. The council may or may not accept, act on or reject their suggestion. Nothing is in stone as this was basically and fact finding committee which could or could not make recommendation to change the city’s charter. The committee is designed to be set up during the year prior to the 10 census and can operate for only 8 months. The committee visited various areas to see if the present form of the charter serves the city properly. Areas visited were JEA, Sheriff’s Office, Mayor’s Office, JAA, School Board, Property Appraiser and JPA. Items discussed pertained to appointed position versus elected, recommended that all local elections be moved to the general November Elections cycle. Veto by the Mayor was discussed and suggested a 2/3 majority vote of City Council for overrides. Education was reviewed and compared to state. In the state 77% of schools failed to meet minimum standards. Duval County School’s are ranked #6. There is much need for improvement in our school system. When companies look to move to Duval County and the surrounding area the first thing discussed is the quality of possible employees. If a qualified work force is not available then companies will not locate here. Lack of employment has an enormous social cost, higher police cost and lower work force. Also, the city should look at more charter schools as the quality of education tends to be better. Public School accountability should be addressed. The committee report may be viewed by looking it up on the city web site: COJ.NET or going directly to chamberrevison@coj.net

Visiting Rotarians
Charles Hyatt — South Jax
Bill Abare — St. Augustine
Jody Ballard — Riverside

Rotary Guests
Doug Wilson — Guest of Earl Bright
Guy Leary — Guest of Ken Baker
Eleanor Colledge — Guest of Shep Colledge
Phil Risley — Guest of Mark O’Steen
Jode Ballard — Guest of Diane Ballard
Deborah Ballard — Guest of Diane Ballard
Gartrell Milam — Guest of Mike Prendergast
Boyd Zimmer — Guest of Chad Miller

Birthdays
None.

Next Meeting - March 17, 2010
Speaker: Ed Pratt-Dannals, Superintendent, Duval Public Schools
Greeters: Robert Jones and Scott H. Hudson
Invocation: John Barley
Pledge: David Barksdale
Four-Way Test: Terry Bahn

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