Reelin' in outstanding scholars, Isla Mujeres

Students March 2014

A criminologist, a nurse, a human resource administrator, a graphic designer, a petroleum engineer, a linguist, and an animal health specialist all have one thing in common; the Ron Brown Scholarship Fund available to qualified Isla Mujeres students.

Created shortly after Ron Brown's untimely death in the summer of 2009, the scholarship fund assists a limited number of students with tuition and the expenses of living off-island while completing their education at a university or college. 

Reeling for Ronnie tournament - P Parent Photo

Since its creation, Ron's close friend Richard Lock and the Lock Search Group have been the biggest supporters of the fund, along with Ron and Gwen's many personal friends and family members. The fund is incrementally, year by year, increasing the number of students that can be assisted.

In addition to personal donations, the fund also raises money through an annual fishing tournament organized by Richard Lock, Frank Berke and Peter Zukow. 

Patrick Parent - largest fish.

The Fifth Annual Reeling For Ronnie Fishing Tournament was held this year at the luxurious North King Lodge, located in the sheltered waters of Caamano Sound on the northern coast of British Columbia. 

North King Lodge Caamano Sound BC.

Participants from a variety of cities in Canada and the USA - Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton, 

Fort McMurray, Victoria, Vancouver, Minneapolis and Austin – enjoyed a fun-filled four days of fishing and camaraderie. Afternoons were consumed by the recounting of spontaneous and slightly exaggerated fishing stories. 

Airfare to Bella Bella, a helicopter ride to the fishing camp, meals, snacks, beer, wine, equipment, boats, and gear are all included in the price. Best of all (according to the website), there are no fish-stealing Sea Lions in the area! This is serious fishing country!

Gwen Brown and Mike Johnson

Between the tournament and a raffle for an all-expenses-paid fishing trip, the 2014 event raised a record-breaking $15,000.00 CDN; 100% of all money raised is used for paying tuitions and student expenses.

Here on Isla Mujeres, at least two dozen guys were salivating over that trip, purchasing handfuls of tickets in hopes of upping their odds. 

The winning ticket was drawn by Gwen Brown at a Friday night happy hour at Villa la Bella in February. Mike Johnson from Minnesota was the lucky guy, but his nephew was even luckier when Mike gave him the winning ticket. The moans and groans from various ticket holders were painful to hear; everyone wished that they were Mike's nephew.

Sorry guys! Maybe next time.....

Hasta luego
Lynda, Lawrie, Sparky, and Thomas the Cat

Murder. Mayhem. Revenge. Romance.

Isla Mujeres Mystery Series

Death in the Vineyards Mysteries

The Adventures of Thomas and Sparky

The PGA/Mayakoba Road Trip (Lawrie's turn to write)

Seven in the morning - headed to boat.

Sometimes paradise is not what you might think. Oh, yeah, there are palm trees, white sand beaches and crystal-clear turquoise water; all the usual things you would expect.  But paradise is not always about the visual stuff.

Last weekend, a group of guys from Isla Mujeres made the annual trek from the island to the PGA Mayakoba final round. This was our fourth year of getting a bunch of friends together for a day of watching great golf, enjoying each other’s company, and okay, maybe a few cocktails. 

Our day started early with catching the 7:30 a.m. UltraMar boat to Puerto Juarez and boarded the 52-passenger luxury bus, which would take us to Playa del Carmen.  

On the way, we stopped at Krispy Kreme at the south end of Cancun. (After all, it was a guys’ trip. Coffee and donuts are mandatory.)

Patricio - last to board the boat!

The Chameleon Golf Club is located inside the Mayakoba Resort complex, slightly north of Playa del Carmen on the Maya Rivera.  

The complex is so expertly in tune with its surroundings, you can’t even spot a hotel, and there are three on this magnificent property.  

Developed back in the 1990s by OHL (Obrascón Huarte Lain S.A.), this complex is a true jewel, environmentally sustainable, but still a resort where you can have fun.  

On board the 52-passenger bus

Oh, the fun we had; following the pro-golfers from tee to tee, or in my case watching from the 10^th green with a drink in my hand, being served by pretty girls and having the world’s best golfers play right to me.

Okay, now you can tell I’m into maybe my fourth or so drink and enjoying myself a bit too much. 

This is the only PGA event outside the USA or Canada, and as such, attracts great golfers from around the world; players like Harris English, Mike Weir, and Justin Leonard.  Now in its seventh year, this great tournament has top-line sponsors just waiting to give away hats, beer, wine, bottled water, snacks and more. 

I wonder what Brian is taking a photo of?

Alas, eventually the tourney is over, and we walk, or stagger, back to the resort shuttle buses that will take us to our bus and the one-hour trip back to the Isla Mujeres ferry.  

The party continued, however, as a couple of the guys convinced our bus driver to purchase a cooler full of beer just in case we got thirsty on the drive back. 

Headed home - more free hats!

Now you might think this trip is all about the guys; however, this year we sold raffle tickets on board the bus, and will continue to sell them until all of the 200 tickets are sold.  

All proceeds collected go to support the Ron Brown Scholarship Fund. The fund assists qualified Isla students with expenses related to college or university education.

The Raffle Prize is an amazing three-day salmon fishing trip to northern British Columbia in mid-June of 2014.  The fishing tourney is situated at a five-star floating fish camp.  It is the perfect location to land a 40-pound king salmon or a monster halibut.  The prize includes airfare from anywhere in Mexico, the US, or Canada to the camp, all the gear, guide, gourmet meals and fine wines.  Sound good to you?  Great!  Contact me for your tickets.  The ticket price is 500 pesos for 1 or 1000 pesos for 3.  You could be joining thirty-three other guys in the Reeling for Ronnie Fishing Tourney in northern British Columbia in June 2014. 

June 2013 - me, at the Reeling for Ronnie Tourney in BC

So, same time next year for our fifth annual Isla Mujeres PGA road trip!  It’s a date.  Fortunately for me, that’s a little bit away, as I am moving slowly today.

Hasta Luego

Lawrie

Cameras are confiscated at the entrance gate, so no photos of the players or the game.

Lynda, Lawrie, Thomas the Cat, and Princess Chica

Murder. Mayhem. Revenge. Romance.

Isla Mujeres Mystery Series

Death in the Vineyards Mysteries

The Adventures of Thomas and Sparky