The Rotary ambulance restored by Art Bautista of the Rotary Club of University Area Houston was delivered to JG Custom Forwarding in Pharr, TX October 08, 2011.  It will be picked up at the US-Mexico border by the Tampico Campestre Rotary and donated to the Red Cross of Tampico.

The ambulance history is storied.  It was acquired by the Rotary Club of Houston approximately 7 years ago.  It was not transferred to the planned recipient organization due to mechanical problems and remained in storage at Angie Jimenez's facility until spotted by Art in 2009.  After much discussion, donations to cover the cost of a rebuilt motor were received from several District 5890 clubs and Rotarian Art donated his labor and restored the ambulance to good working condition.  Art received several donations in-kind (tires, rear axel/spindle/brake assembly, upholstery renovation, etc.) from his vendors.  District Governor Ed Charlesworth (2009-2010) supported the project: it was destined to be delivered to Haiti to help provide relief from the catastrophic Haiti earthquake that occurred January 2010.  Unfortunately, the logistics could not be arranged to make the transfer.  The ambulance has since remained in storage at Art's home.

With the agreement of PGD Charlesworth, PDG Sharma, DG Kerby and the other involved District 5890 Rotary clubs, the ambulance was offered to and accepted by the Rotary Club of Tampico Campestre to serve the citizens of Tampico, Mexico.

Art is pleased to report that two Rotarians were inducted into his equipment transfer team during the movement of the ambulance to Pharr--Rotarians Dick Stabell and Jay Taylor.  The trip was fun and successful!