Welcome to the  October 2006 Mi CASA del MAR Newsletter.

• Mi CASA del MAR sets sail on the Sea of Cortez
• Development progress at La Hacienda
• Flights to San Felipe
• San Felipe temperatures cool down, but Real Estate market heats up
  
• Las Casitas Resort at La Hacienda
• Team Member Recognition
• Ask Alicia

Mi CASA del MAR sets sail on the Sea of Cortez
(Employees, family, and friends embark on the Company Cruise to Isla Gonzaga)

There are a lot of companies that plan little office get-togethers, but very few employers will go that extra mile to truly show their appreciation towards their employees.  Most CEO’s and company presidents are very fixated on company profits and the bottom line.  They wouldn’t actually put together a pleasure cruise for their employees, would they?  They do if they are the president of Mi CASA del MAR at La Hacienda.  The day started around 8am on September 27th, 2006. The fishing boat (now party-boat “SS Mi CASA del MAR”), left the harbor with some very hard working people, excited for the relaxing day ahead.  Looking forward to a little breather from the ordinary day at the office, you could see the smiles on all of the passenger’s faces.  There was a DJ that sang and played music.  It wasn’t long before you could see most passengers swaying along more to the music than the motion of the boat.  The weather couldn’t have been nicer.  The Sea of Cortez was unbelievably calm, even once we got close enough to “the Rock” to see the seals.  Some of the passengers chose to just kick back and lounge on the boat, while others were casting fishing lines into the water with the assistance of some of the crew (trying to catch “THE BIG ONE”).  Others chose to fill the smaller pangas (boats) and tried their hand at some fishing, and got as close as possible to the small island that they normally only see from shore.  From Mi CASA del MAR at La Hacienda, it normally looks like a bump in the water.  No matter what they chose to do, they all seemed to have an extremely good time.  It was truly memorable for all of the people who made the trip. 

So, who was the person responsible for giving these people such a memorable day?  It was none other than David La Barre, Mi CASA del MAR’s President.  When asked about putting together this company cruise, he had the following to say.  “We truly believe that what we offer our new neighbors is an “Experience”, and one of the best ways for us to know the enjoyment that is so close to us all is to get out and “Experience” them all. That is why we allow the employees as well as buyers to enjoy the ATV’s and the Wave Runners. That is why we have company pool parties as often as possible all summer. That is why we host Sunset parties and Sunrise walks on the beach. We truly believe that LIFE is to be experienced. It is our commitment to create an environment for our employees and our neighbors that will allow them to Experience a better life. The Cruise to Isla Consaga was just another Experience we thought our employees and neighbors would enjoy. We are truly pleased that everyone had a great Experience.”

For those that were not able to make the cruise, it was “the one that got away”.  But not to worry, the 2007 Mi CASA del MAR Company Cruise is already in the planning stages.

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Development progress at La Hacienda

We are in building a Monterrey model that has a little more outdoor space along one side than the original plan.  To avoid confusion, we are calling this model the Ocotillo. We are also beginning the construction of another expanded Baja model.  Construction of the Monterey and Sonora homes that were mentioned last month is progressing very quickly and efficiently under the guidance of Oscar Leal, an engineer who is now managing the construction of new homes for Mi CASA del MAR.  Oscar Leal brought with him to La Hacienda a wealth of home building experience that he gathered in both the U.S. and Mexico.

We are already starting the interior finish of the Sonora, just three months after the foundation was excavated.  We are also building a large custom home for Loren and Marsha Peake. The new materials being used in the construction will add to the insulation of the home and is very easy to work with.  The home is intended to be both a meeting place as well as a custom home design and display center. The structure of that home is now complete and we are taking the next month to design an interior finish that will showcase optional features for upscale homes. Loren Peake is an engineer working as the Program Manager in La Hacienda's Beach Front Community.  He manages all aspects of the development.  Both Loren and his wife Marsha are investors in the future development of La Hacienda.

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Flights to San Felipe

Why drive when you can now fly the friendly San Felipe skies.  Remember that Grey Eagle Aviation is now coming to San Felipe regularly.  Visit Grey Eagle's easy reservation site to plan your next trip into or out of San Felipe.

Air Transportation is provided by The Developers Association of San Felipe.

The San Felipe Developers Association has entered into a contract agreement with Grey Eagle Aviation, an air charter company, to provide chartered air service to San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico.

The San Felipe Developers Association has chartered Grey Eagle Aviation to transport passengers on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays leaving Southern California in the morning and arriving in San Felipe around 11 am.  They depart San Felipe about 3:30 pm, and return to Southern California destinations about 1 hour and 30 minutes later.

The flights are filling up regularly, so book your trip early.

For information and reservations contact:
From Mexico:  toll free 881-280-8802
From the US:  888-280-8802
For online reservations: http://www.greyeaglecharter.com/sanfelipeinfo.htm

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San Felipe temperatures cool down, but Real Estate market heats up

Las Casitas Resort at La Hacienda

Lower temperatures mean lower prices at Las Casitas and the Villas.  Fall is here and our weather is nearly perfect. Now that high temps are only reaching the low 80’s F., it is a perfect time for our Northern friends to come down to Las Casitas and extend their summer weather a few more days. Our prices are lower too because the busy season here is the summertime when folks from nearby Mexicali and Calexico escape the heat to play on our beaches.

So, what is there to do?  How about

• Some beach volleyball
• A fishing trip to “the Rock”
• sunrise stroll on the beach
• Play in the pool
• Tennis
• sunset stroll on the beach
• some one-on-one basketball
• A desert ATV ride
• A noontime stroll on the beach
• visit to the giant saguaros
• And there is so much more.

Come visit us at Las Casitas and the Villas. For some, it’s the perfect time of year.

Call Dick Botkin in Mexico at 686-165-6667 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it to get started.

See you soon!

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Team Member Recognition

Ruby
 
Rubi has been working for Mi CASA del MAR since January of 2006.  Like the sparkling stone with her name, Rubi is a gem of an employee and a valuable asset to the company.  She is a very proud mother of two beautiful girls, one is 3 years old, and the other just turned 1.  She plays a very significant role in the appearance of Mi CASA del MAR and helps to assure that the company is moving forward. You could say that her job holds substantial impact on the people who visit this community.  When potential investors come to Casa de La Barre, the work she does helps to aide in the perception those people have of the company.  Her primary responsibilities are the cleaning and upkeep of the President’s residence (Dave La Barre).  Rubi always comes with a smile.  Her cheerful attitude and friendly personality are always welcome in our homes.  Rubi is a valued member of our housekeeping staff at La Hacienda.  While we sometimes return to find she has been thinking of ways to rearrange our furniture, Rubi always pays attention to details and remembers the particular preferences of all the people whom she serves.  It is her winning attitude and abilities to cook wonderful Mexican dishes that make her a favorite hostess at many Mi CASA del MAR VIP dinners and events.  She is simply a joy to be around and lifts spirits all around her.

When asked about Rubi and why she was chosen to be recognized this month, Mrs. La Barre had some pretty great things to say.
“We are so happy that we found Rubi.  She is a conscientious problem solver with a sparkling personality. What is most amazing about Rubi is that she definitely has fun doing her job.  From the time she arrives early in the morning, until the day is done, she wears a smile on her face.  At times, you can even hear her singing or humming a song. When asked to go the extra mile, Rubi has no problem at all.  I have had to ask her to come back to fix cocktails or a late meal.  She returns very quickly, looking refreshed and wearing that same warm smile.  I can truly say that Rubi has grown quite a bit as a person during the time she has been with Mi CASA del MAR. She is considered a part of the family here and others really like to work with her.  Whenever people come together at the home for business or social gatherings, people say she is the kind of person they would like to have assist them in their own home.  We are really happy that she works with us here, and are very pleased that Rubi is being recognized.”

Way to go Rubi, thank you for being such a positive part of our team!

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Ask Alicia

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