Presentation of the
KEY TO THE CITY
of Soledad, San Luis Potosi
Mexico
Who is BASC?
• A 501c3 non-profit organization of volunteers
• Politically neutral regarding immigration issues
• Interested in understanding changing
demographics for Alamance County
• Funded by Rotary and private donations
• Travel is funded by the individuals who
participate
How the Firetrucks were financed.
Ten clubs in Rotary District 7690 contributed $10,000
and this was matched 100% by the District for a total
of $20,000. The City of Soledad contributed $4,500
towards shipping.
Burlington and Soledad Rotarians
with the Fire Truck
The Burlington area Rotary Clubs partnered with the San
Luis Potosi Rotary Club in the Rotary Grant that helped
provide the fire trucks to Soledad.
City of Soledad (meaning “Solitude”)
State of San Luis Potosi, Mexico
Soledad and San Luis Potosi
Soledad is a suburb of 500,000 people within the
metropolitan city of San Luis Potosi, with over 2.4 Million
inhabitants (2005 census).
Burlington delegation upon arrival in Soledad
Dr. Janyth Fredrickson, Gary Rutledge, Dianne Ford, Laura
Guzman, Alice Bordsen, Russell Guy, Sang Ho Lee, Sergio
Guzman.
Activities Hosted By Mayor
• Presentation of the Key to the City by their Mayor to
Alice Bordsen
• Tour of the cultural center and art museum
• Meeting with the state Governor and a personal tour
of the Governor’s Mansion
• Visit to the fire and police training facilities
• Visit to the Technical University
• Visit to the quarry workshop where our fountain was
carved
• Tour of the city and its architectural treasures
The two BASC/Rotary fire trucks in Soledad
Gary Rutledge and Sang Ho Lee with the two
donated fire trucks in Soledad.
Soledad Mayor with Burlington group
Sergio & Laura Guzman, Gary Rutledge, Dr. Beth Powell,
Rep. Alice Bordsen, Russell Guy, Mayor Ricardo Gallardo,
Dianne Ford, Dr. Janyth Fredrickson, and Sang Ho Lee.
Presentation of the Key to the City.
Ceremony in front of City Hall in
Soledad.
Rep. Alice Bordsen accepts the
Key to the City of Soledad.
Fire Chief Adolfo Benevente.
With Gary Rutledge and others at the Key to
the City Celebration.
An assortment of donated equipment is in the fire
stations, including this 1958 Studebaker Firetruck.
Comparison of Fire Depts.
Charlotte, NC
• Population = 1.7 Million
• Number of stations = 42
• Paid firefighters = 1,038
• Paid administrators = 126
• Fire trucks = approx. 42 fire
trucks, 15 ladder trucks, 15+
assorted others such as
rescue, foam trucks, etc.
Soledad/San Luis Potosi
• Population = 2.4 Million
• Number of stations = 7
• Paid firefighters = 60
• Paid administrators = 8
• Volunteer firefighters = 45
• Fire trucks = 9 fire trucks, 9
water trucks, 6 rapid
response trucks, and 1
ladder truck.
Meeting the Governor and
Tour of the Governor’s mansion.
Governor Fernando Torranzo, shown here
with Rep. Alice Bordsen, met with the
Burlington delegation for more than one
hour.
Engineering Computer Lab
at the Technical University
A freshman CAD class for engineers. At 9pm
on a Friday night, the lab was full.
Dinner hosted by
Dr. Rafael Cardoso,
Rector of the Technical University
Soledad’s new, and first, fire station
Gary Rutledge tests the fire pole.
Exchange of fire helmets
Chief Benevente and Gary Rutledge
exchange signed fire helmets.
A first responder bicycle in the
Soledad fire department.
Raw stone from the local stone
quarry.
The fountain recently donated to Burlington
was cut from this volcanic stone.
Fountain manufacturing workshop
Cutting rock at the workshop where
the Burlington fountain was made.
San Luis Potosi has many
architectural treasures, such as this
church in the colonial center.
The Cathedral of San Luis Potosi.
View looking out over San Luis Potosi
Why is this relationship important?
• Better understanding of our similarities and
differences
• Improved business development
• A win-win relationship for the City of
Burlington and Alamance County
• BASC website: www.sistercities-burlington.org