Group Meeting #1

Group: Lota Renovación

Agenda: Identify project themes, compile information, assemble map of Lota, create blog
Location: 4th year studio
Date: September 15th, 2010
Starting and Ending Time: 12:00pm - 1:45pm

After much brainstorming, the group has come up with the title, which is reflected in the name of the blog. Lota Renovación spells renewal of Lota, while closely collaborating with and learning from the community.

A high-resolution map of Lota has given much insight and stimulated many questions and comments, such as:

• Football (soccer) appears to be one of the central recreational activities in Lota. There is a large open stadium dedicated to this purpose as well as weekly team meetings in Casa de la Mujer (according to Michelle's presentation)

• Lota combines oceanic air with surrounding forests, which could potentially be transformed into beautiful beaches and National Reserves. Potential for natural studies, hiking, enjoying local beaches. Ecotourism?

  
  

  
• What are Lota's unique features aside from historical coal mines? What are primary sources of income?
• What are some precise problems with funding Lota's rebuilding of homes, provided that Lota's municipal government was exceptionally proactive in dealing with the emergency of the earthquake?
• What could be possible motivations for the community (specifically men) to actively participate in Lota's renewal?
• Where do people of Lota see themselves in 10 years, in 50 years?

The conclusion of this meeting was to further research towns that used to specialize in one industry, became ghost towns, and remained stagnant or rebranded themselves (examples: Sudbury ON, Flint MI). Another direction the group has decided to follow was to research towns damaged by earthquakes and able to come back to life (examples: Skopje in Yugoslavia 1963, Lisbon 1755, Leninakan in Soviet Armenia 1988)

Various methods for establishing communication are to include speaking Spanish (even if most primitive), photography, drawings, small gifts. To achieve the former, the group is to start practicing Spanish language during meetings, share study material, and expand vocabulary.

Agenda for September 16th:

• video conference with IWB on September 16th, 1:00pm
• continue researching and sharing information